FJ Irene Talk Part 3

	Arkalest	She snorts loudly. "Frankly it's more mom's thing if I haven't come up half-specist."
	Sabina	"Ah, I see."
	Arkalest	"She's the one who pushed for me to follow dad and get around these parts- Which are absolutely rife with aliens."
	Sabina	"From what little I know of her that does seem like something she would do."
	Arkalest	"Yup. Now that I think about it, it was pretty much an att5empt to manipulate me emotively and get me attached to her."
	Sabina	nods. "I think well of the Chief, but she is someone who I step lightly around as well."
	Arkalest	She shrugs. "And it did work, I guess?"
	Arkalest	"I am not..Exactly bitter about it, as you may have noticed."
	Sabina	"True, I cannot say that my mother has not done the same, and I harbor no ill feelings about that matter. It is, afterall, a parent's duty to raise their children to be the best people than can be."
	Arkalest	"Well, technically Tuissant is my aunt."
	Sabina	"You think of her as a mother however."
	Arkalest	A nod. "My biological one pretty much hauled ass on me, so forgive me if I am trying to latch onto someone else."
	Sabina	shakes her head. "No, it's fine. You call her your mother, I did not wish to imply that I thought you were wrong to do so."
	Arkalest	" 'S okay, felt the need to clarify anyway- Now, what do you actually do in here?"
	Sabina	"With the Constables you mean?"
	Arkalest	She nods.
	Sabina	"I haven't gotten a official placement quite yet, but they have me acting as a negotiator and a psionic heavy-hitter."
	Arkalest	"I figured the former part, really. The latter- How old are you?"
	Sabina	"16."
	Arkalest	"Waqit what."
	Sabina	says nothing, once more waiting for Irene's mind to catch up
	Arkalest	She leans forward a bit, opening and closing her mouth. ".....Okay that's...I guess it's tied to the burn-rate,"
	Sabina	"Somewhat. The Instrument is passed on to the Keeper's apprentice when they die. While the usual length of service is about 20 years, it can vary by as much as 5 in either direction. The previous keeper was of the former category, he passed on sooner than we expected and I had to take on the Instrument sooner than we expected me to."
	Arkalest	"Oh, that's...God....." She falls silent and looks away, clearly disquieted.
	Sabina	"It is as it has been." Sabina says serenely
	Arkalest	"..........Guess...So. Still.." Irene looks aqway and joins her hands, tail arching.
	Sabina	"I can't say I find the situation entirely to my liking, but I was, am, the best choice for the role. Anyone else would be lucky to last 10 years, how could I ask at least 2 of my fellow clan members to give up their lives for the same length of time that my own would give?"
	Arkalest	She remains silent.
	Sabina	says nothing, and instead sips on her tea, not quite sure what more to say.
	Arkalest	Eventually Irene turns her head towards you. "Well, that's....Life, I guess.." Her tone is somewhat between the pensive and dejected.
	Sabina	"So it is."
	Arkalest	"........Erm." She rubs her neck, looking away still. "Sooo...Got any other hobbies other than painting?"
	Sabina	"I enjoy practicing my clan's martial art style, and I have recently found a interest in pole-arms, the glaive specifically. I also enjoy learning about new people and cultures, their mythology in particular."
	Arkalest	"Mythology, mmh?" She leans back,r eganing some composreu. "That's something I've got a bit of interest in as well.
	Sabina	"I can't say that surprises me given the focus of your education, though I'm afraid to admit I haven't had as much of a chance to look into much so far. Though I hope to change that as my schedule clears up of training and orientations."
	Arkalest	Irene nods. "There's actually lots of stuff around these parts that may interest you- Epsecially from New Meridian's history- Back when it was all still Meridian."
	Sabina	"Oh? Might I ask you for some pointers then?"
	Arkalest	"There are three different mythological supra-structures here- Three trends. These imported from the Core, these of the survivors that lived on this planet, and these of the NM as a whole."
	Sabina	nods.
	Arkalest	"And each one has its own internal differences, but generally they're somewhat separate- Especially since the natives of this planets have had a history of dealing with aliens."
	Sabina	nods, still listening
	Arkalest	"Of course, there are some general pointers on them that you can donwload off the hab- Howev.er" She raises a finger. "You  should visit Haidar Market, in Spiral City. It's a nice little quarter that has its own library and whatnot that concerns mythology."
	Sabina	"I will next time I get down there."