be discreet

[msmage]

It's not much later, in Isabella's room, that she asks:

"So... is Alex really a dom?"

Comments

[eclipsi]

"I didn't say they were the best possible immortal mages."

[mrmage]

"It sounds like at its worse merely a range and scale problem. Surely if someone focuses on that for long enough they'd be able to encompass the whole world? Or at least a small city?"

[eclipsi]

"Well - you might not want to actually do that per se because you'd want to filter for consent, you're going to get religious objections and suicidal people and stuff."

[mrmage]

"Well, yes, sure, that's why I said that's the worst-case. Unless magic has some... weird limits... immortal mages haven't chosen to share, the least efficient way to do it still sounds like it could've been done a long time ago."

[eclipsi]

"Maybe no one's figured out a way to do it without maintenance and people kept assassinating immortals for some reason."

[mrmage]

"Well, did they? Keep assassinating immortals?"

[eclipsi]

"I know it happened some, it's been mentioned in Asian history."

[mrmage]

"Any reason pertinent to immortality or just the fact that if you live long enough in ancient Asia you're bound to irritate someone enough that they want to off you?"

[eclipsi]

"Various reasons, but many not recorded."

[mrmage]

"Well, here's to hoping there isn't some secret conspiracy that wants to snuff out any mages that reach four hundred."

[eclipsi]

"I don't think it's anything so organized."

[mrmage]

"Which is exactly what they want you to think!"

[eclipsi]

She swats him on the rear, giggling.

[mrmage]

He eeps and says, "That's not an argument!" giggling, too.

[eclipsi]

"It's true, it's not."

[mrmage]

His mouth opens in a round 'O'. "You're one of them!" he accuses. "Sneakily planted here to ensure my cooperation!"

[eclipsi]

"If I ever tell you to murder somebody for being old please feel free to disobey that one."

[mrmage]

"This surely is a ploy, too," he mutters.

[eclipsi]

"How so?"

[mrmage]

"I wouldn't know! But in the end, in four hundred years, I will be visited by someone who will tell me to keep all the dread secrets of magery to myself or else."

[eclipsi]

"Little do you know that just when you think you're safe and this was a silly conspiracy theory after all it turns out the limit is four hundred fifteen."

[mrmage]

"So that's how it works, mages become so paranoid and looking over their shoulders they never reveal their secrets out of fear. Sneaky, but I'm onto you now!"

[eclipsi]

"Oh no. I'm found out. What are you going to do about it?"

[mrmage]

"Oh, I cannot hope to resist your influence, clearly I must submit to you to have any hope of being saved."

[eclipsi]

"Good." Kiss.