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[sterngaze]

[What kind of tax laws does Constantin have in his country, that this would be a reasonable thing to propose... no, never mind.]

I do know some poetry, actually. Alas, none of it is about taxes, but then I am no poet and I didn't write any of it.

[takeroot]

[Liem, please, he is merely flirting. Relax.]

Yes, and? What must I do to get a verse out of you?

[sterngaze]

I could certainly type one out for you, but poetry seems rather flat when it isn't spoken aloud, don't you think?

It hardly has the same impact when it's written on a screen.

[takeroot]

I don't know, it seemed to do wonders for amusing Nikolai.

If you would like to read me poetry when I see you next, however, I will not say no.

I spent too long looking at poems online because of this thread

[sterngaze]

Then I will indulge you a little, for your amusement. Here is a short little rhyme I know:

At draw-gloves we'll play,
And prithee let's lay
A wager, and let it be this:
Who first to the sum
Of twenty shall come,
Shall have for his winning a kiss.

call that method rping

[takeroot]

[Lesson learned: he asks for things and Liem just does them? Noted and remembered, thank you sir.]

For my amusement, and how! That one is very sweet. And very subtle!

[sterngaze]

A lot of poems I've heard back home are quite overwrought, but I do enjoy that one. I didn't bring any written poetry with me, so I'm limited those I can remember in their entirety.

Unless I were to trawl the network for local works. But I think that might be amusing in a rather different way.

[takeroot]

Or you could write your own! That may be more fun than simply browsing.

[sterngaze]

You're certainly correct, though it has been longer than I care to recall since I last had the occasion to try writing verse.

[It would have been before he moved back to the city, so... decades ago, at least.]

Let me ask you a question, since you've already quizzed me. [He didn't, really. Anyway,] What kind of poetry do you enjoy?

[takeroot]

I don't know! The kind with some heart in it, I suppose. What is the point if it wanders around a meter and belabors a rhyme and does nothing for the emotions? None!

That kind.

[sterngaze]

I would have to agree. I can't imagine wanting to read verse that feels lifeless.

But I will tuck that away so I have something to point to should my heart ever lead me to write you something truly dreadful.

[takeroot]

I would make an exception for your dreadful poetry, of course! I would even compliment the metaphors!

Really, you needn't try so very hard.

[sterngaze]

I promise that it was just an innocent question, and not part of a survey meant to suss out how to please you best.

But I still do want to please you a little. I'm afraid that just comes with the territory.

[takeroot]

You can please me as much as you like. Within reason.

[Like, don't be Weird, but Liem is far too fussy to be Weird, he thinks.]

I will be expecting at least one verse, you know.

[sterngaze]

["Within reason" is an excellent limiting factor, and Liem fully intends to stick to it.]

Are you expecting an original verse? I do know other charming little poems. You might like "Kissing Usury."

[What is not to like about a poem that combines the ideas of kissing and money lending? He's not kidding.]

[takeroot]

[See, he knew there had to be weird fussy man poems out there... kissing and money lending... mercy.]

Of course I'd like an original verse! But tell me about Kissing Usury anyway.

[sterngaze]

[Ah, he wants both... Excuse Liem a moment while he types and formats this entire thing.]

It goes like this:

Fair treasure, let
Me pay the debt
I owe thee for a kiss
Thou lend'st to me;
And I to thee
Will render ten for this.

If thou wilt say,
Ten will not pay
For that so rich a one;
I'll clear the sum,
If it will come
Unto a million.

He must of right,
To th' utmost mite,
Make payment for his pleasure,
(By this I guess)
Of happiness
Who has a little measure.

[How can a merchant prince not like this excellent combination? Surely one doesn't have to be a fussy man to appreciate a romance poem full of money-related wordplay.]

[takeroot]

[Credit where credit is due: it's very cute, for a poem about kissing-as-debt-repayment. Very charming, and okay, it gets him to chuckle. Liem, sir...]

I do like it, but it didn't make me blush. Perhaps your original verse will go the distance, as it were.

[Kissing debt poem but make it lewd: the challenge.]

How do you like games? For the date.

[sterngaze]

[Hmm... The bar has been set, perhaps, ambitiously high now. Can Liem write salacious poetry of a quality that he'll be willing to let it see the light of day? Only time will tell. If nothing else, at least he'll now have something to occupy his mind during nighttime walks.]

What kind of games? Are you meaning ones like those in that arcade? Or... board games? I'm not much of a strategist, I confess.

[War games are quite popular in Taldor, but he's never found them especially absorbing. He may be kind of a fussy little nerd, but evidently he's not that kind of fussy little nerd. Aside from those... what other kinds of games do adults play? He has no idea.]

[takeroot]

[Board games, huh. That's Liem's cool date idea. Not that Constantin doesn't have a small pile of board games sitting around in his house someplace, purchased all at once on a whim and only barely cracked open, but still! Board games!!]

No, more along the lines of sports. You said yourself we ought to avoid sitting around in one place for too long!

[sterngaze]

[Oh, sports... On a date? A novel concept, but he's listening.]

Ah! I see your meaning.

[Does he, though? The last time Liem participated in a game that involved moving around, it was a combination war game and ballroom-dancing competition. These Taldans...]

I'm interested. What sort of games does one play in this city?

[takeroot]

I don't know! I will do some research. You will express and/or feign delight as is appropriate when the time comes.

[Date Rules]

I will find the most exciting one, rest assured.

[sterngaze]

Feigning will hardly be necessary, whatever your choice. The main attraction is your august company, after all.

Not that the idea of trying some sort of sport isn't novel. Did you ever have the leisure to do this sort of thing back home?

[takeroot]

No, of course not. I was often sickly and my mother felt my time was best spent on other studies, when I was not. Sometimes I would get to kick a ball around!

[Pure athleticism......]

[sterngaze]

Hm, yes, that aptly describes my younger years as well.

[At least, if you replace "mother" with "caretakers and/or senior clergy." Also if you imagine that instead of a palace, this is all happening in a temple that is also a bank.]

But I spent plenty of time doing sums, so in the event that we need a scorekeeper, we will be well supplied.