[Is it a little suspicious that this stranger seems to speak so confidently on the granting of wishes to easily influenced people? Liem hasn’t decided yet, but he doesn’t entirely like the carefree way this man discusses the guests in this den of sin. His regard becomes a little warier.
After a moment’s consideration, though, he moves on entirely from the man’s musing to ask his own query.]
What of you?
[Liem gestures at the candles and papers sitting on the table, available for use. Like him, the stranger hasn’t made a move to write anything just yet—though it’s possible he just made a wish before Liem’s arrival.]
Do you have a wish to present to the powers that be?
[ Liem is intelligent, to be suspicious of Raphael's attitude, obviously. Though the question doesn't surprise him, and Raphael's hand came to his chin, as if he were considering. ]
No, I do not think I would. What I wish for in life is not so easily granted, I'm afraid. Certainly not by the powers that be here.
[ That is an assumption, but... well. Raphael had good reason for assuming it was out of reach. ]
I think there are simply some things we must obtain ourselves, however, hm? It is not truly worth it, if it is handed to us.
[Liem chooses not to pursue his line of inquiry any further and ask what this man is so sure he cannot have here. There are any number of desires that would be impossible to grant within the confines of this resort, and more still that they have no reason to believe the resort's master could grant. Besides which, he assumes that if the man wanted to share the details, he would volunteer them.
In any case, he agrees easily enough with the notion that some things are only satisfying when they are earned.]
That is true enough.
[As they say: in many cases the journey is more important than the destination. Even when the destination itself is also important, he can easily think of boons that would be cheapened if received without first being earned.]
Hard work builds character, in any case—though I would guess some here are seeking a reprieve from it.
[ He agrees, and though Liem has a point, he certainly would not deny the occasional desperate or lazy individual. After all, if everyone built their characters, he would be out of a job. Though, that sort of thing is always the kind of thing shared by the most... resolute, and stalwart of individuals. ]
Would you, do you think? Eventually? Seek reprieve from endless trevail?
[He’d spent well over a year in an almost utopian land of peace and pleasure, his stay financed by the local government for the simple act of being intimate with other people. If he’d wanted, he could have spent those eighteen months in other people’s beds, not worked a single day, and lived in luxury the entire time.
Instead, he’d found a job. The work had been far less demanding than his own job back home, and it had eventually given him the opportunity to travel to lovely places, so to him it had seemed almost like leisure. But it was still work.]
And if I did, it would not be in a place like this.
[ Principled, perhaps? Or merely the type for suspicion? It's difficult to say, at the outset. Raphael, of course, knew what types he preferred to interact with. It was the lazy, perhaps the suspicious. Those that had a desperate want, but not the means. Of course, he was a devil, what better prey was there? Sure, there was the merit of a difficult catch, but...
One could only have so many of those. ]
This display? Or... [ He gestured with a sweep of his arm outward. ] As a whole presentation?
[To Liem’s credit, he says this completely neutrally, as though he didn’t just make his disapproval of such places known. Perhaps this man likes such places. Much though Liem finds the concept predatory and vile, he recognizes the inherent futility (not to mention rudeness) in lecturing random strangers on the subject.
But still, since he was asked to elaborate, he will.]
Gambling is anathema to my faith. Also, it goes without saying that the way in which we were brought here leaves much to be desired.
[ "Faith", as predicted, catches the devil's interest. As it is wont to do. ]
I do agree with you on the second point. [ He said, with a gesture. ]
Nobody enjoys waking up in a place they did not fall asleep in, do they? Particularly if there were no circumstances that would precipitate it, I would think.
[ But of more interest... ]
Quite ironic that they would try to bring a holy man. You said it was anathema to your faith? Not every god asks for such... restraint.
[Liem smiles faintly in reply to the man’s remark, as though they are sharing a little joke between the two of them—though of course Liem never wakes up in unfamiliar places in normal circumstances. He is nowhere near fond enough of intoxicants for that to be the case.]
I would agree; it’s a strange choice.
[Perhaps his stay on Noctium persuaded the power in charge of this place that he might be receptive to this? Alternatively, the idea of corrupting him into indulging might hold appeal for some.
Or maybe the choice was little more than random chance.]
My patron is the Master of the First Vault, Abadar. [He holds up his right palm, displaying an intricate brand in the shape of a key with a palace framed inside its bow.] Gambling is a poor use of the wealth he bestows.
[ Now, Raphael is not familiar with Abadar, of course, but as Liem explains what he rules over, he understands, at least, why this would be a poor fit. Pious men can be found everywhere, after all, it is always just a question of what they were pious toward. In this case, toward wealth.
Raphael's laugh is...surprised, not mocking toward Liem, but toward the casino itself. ]
What a choice they have made, then! You are correct, I can understand why your god would become rather perturbed if you were to indulge.
[ His eyes took in the mark. [raphael will remember this] Though he only nodded toward the jars again. ]
I can see that such an offer would likely be a strong argument with your power on high as well. I suppose they cannot lure everyone then, hm? They will simply have to try harder.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
After a moment’s consideration, though, he moves on entirely from the man’s musing to ask his own query.]
What of you?
[Liem gestures at the candles and papers sitting on the table, available for use. Like him, the stranger hasn’t made a move to write anything just yet—though it’s possible he just made a wish before Liem’s arrival.]
Do you have a wish to present to the powers that be?
no subject
No, I do not think I would. What I wish for in life is not so easily granted, I'm afraid. Certainly not by the powers that be here.
[ That is an assumption, but... well. Raphael had good reason for assuming it was out of reach. ]
I think there are simply some things we must obtain ourselves, however, hm? It is not truly worth it, if it is handed to us.
no subject
In any case, he agrees easily enough with the notion that some things are only satisfying when they are earned.]
That is true enough.
[As they say: in many cases the journey is more important than the destination. Even when the destination itself is also important, he can easily think of boons that would be cheapened if received without first being earned.]
Hard work builds character, in any case—though I would guess some here are seeking a reprieve from it.
no subject
[ He agrees, and though Liem has a point, he certainly would not deny the occasional desperate or lazy individual. After all, if everyone built their characters, he would be out of a job. Though, that sort of thing is always the kind of thing shared by the most... resolute, and stalwart of individuals. ]
Would you, do you think? Eventually? Seek reprieve from endless trevail?
no subject
[He’d spent well over a year in an almost utopian land of peace and pleasure, his stay financed by the local government for the simple act of being intimate with other people. If he’d wanted, he could have spent those eighteen months in other people’s beds, not worked a single day, and lived in luxury the entire time.
Instead, he’d found a job. The work had been far less demanding than his own job back home, and it had eventually given him the opportunity to travel to lovely places, so to him it had seemed almost like leisure. But it was still work.]
And if I did, it would not be in a place like this.
[The remark is dryly disapproving.]
no subject
[ Principled, perhaps? Or merely the type for suspicion? It's difficult to say, at the outset. Raphael, of course, knew what types he preferred to interact with. It was the lazy, perhaps the suspicious. Those that had a desperate want, but not the means. Of course, he was a devil, what better prey was there? Sure, there was the merit of a difficult catch, but...
One could only have so many of those. ]
This display? Or... [ He gestured with a sweep of his arm outward. ] As a whole presentation?
no subject
[To Liem’s credit, he says this completely neutrally, as though he didn’t just make his disapproval of such places known. Perhaps this man likes such places. Much though Liem finds the concept predatory and vile, he recognizes the inherent futility (not to mention rudeness) in lecturing random strangers on the subject.
But still, since he was asked to elaborate, he will.]
Gambling is anathema to my faith. Also, it goes without saying that the way in which we were brought here leaves much to be desired.
no subject
I do agree with you on the second point. [ He said, with a gesture. ]
Nobody enjoys waking up in a place they did not fall asleep in, do they? Particularly if there were no circumstances that would precipitate it, I would think.
[ But of more interest... ]
Quite ironic that they would try to bring a holy man. You said it was anathema to your faith? Not every god asks for such... restraint.
no subject
I would agree; it’s a strange choice.
[Perhaps his stay on Noctium persuaded the power in charge of this place that he might be receptive to this? Alternatively, the idea of corrupting him into indulging might hold appeal for some.
Or maybe the choice was little more than random chance.]
My patron is the Master of the First Vault, Abadar. [He holds up his right palm, displaying an intricate brand in the shape of a key with a palace framed inside its bow.] Gambling is a poor use of the wealth he bestows.
no subject
Raphael's laugh is...surprised, not mocking toward Liem, but toward the casino itself. ]
What a choice they have made, then! You are correct, I can understand why your god would become rather perturbed if you were to indulge.
[ His eyes took in the mark. [raphael will remember this] Though he only nodded toward the jars again. ]
I can see that such an offer would likely be a strong argument with your power on high as well. I suppose they cannot lure everyone then, hm? They will simply have to try harder.