"Okay," Erich takes the bone up again, "who are you?"
That's to David. Who he's kinda squinting at, baffled.
"I mean seriously. Who are you again? I've never even seen you at Cold Crescent before. Not when we were putting our heads together to try to crack the Beloved Horror puzzle, not when we were camping out in a cold dark shut-down Crescent, not when we were fighting down in the Pit, not when we sang Raspberry Sky back to her ancestors, and not even two weeks ago when we went mucking around the basement of the airport.
"The first time you've ever talked to me was just now. And the first thing you did was stand up and try to facedown with me or something. The second thing was to dance around accusing me of pissing on the 'traditions', to call me 'that full-moon' like I don't have a name and I'm not even here, and to wave your arms and rant like you're gonna raise a lynch mob against me.
"What the fuck, dude? I've got no people skills and even I know that's just bizarre. And rude. And not a good way to make friends."
Beat. He turns the cracked bone over in his hand. Goes on.
"Now regarding Cold Crescent and all that. Guys, chiiiiiiill out. We're just having a debate here. 'That full moon' should not have to tell a Galliard and a Philodox to calm down and be reasonable. But seriously, do you two really think I'm trying to tear the Nation from its foundations and piss on the pillars of its justice or something?
"I mean really. For real. Really? You think that. REALLY?
"What I'm saying is, I'm sure one day we can and should be two totally independent Septs. But right now, because we've got half of Beloved Horror out there, because we've got a Pit under Cold Crescent and a Something under the airport, I'd rather have a closer alliance between the Septs. I'd rather just have one Great Alpha at the top so there's no confusion when the chips are down."
Another small pause. A hesitation; and then a decision, a drawing-up, a straightening of his spine.
"I'm saying that as a Fostern Ahroun," Erich says, firmly. "I'm saying that as the guy who called warmoot after warmoot to deal with Beloved Horror. I'm saying that as the guy who sat up on 43 calling you all back to the Sept, and the guy who stood up last time we were all here and tried to put Cold Crescent back in some semblance of order.
"I'm also saying that as someone who went toe to toe with Beloved Horror, twice, and did not enjoy either dance. We killed three of them, true, but they killed way more of us. I don't ever wanna get caught with our pants down again because we're so busy being independent and setting up our own private awesome Sept that things are still messy and in-progress when they come back. 'Cause they will come back. I'd rather trade a bit of independence, just for now, for strength and solidarity against the enemy.
"If you disagree with me, fine. But save the dramatics. Tell me why you disagree instead. I'm sure you've got good reasons, and hell, if I hear a lot of good reasons I'm not too proud to change my stance. But so far all I've heard is 'BUT THE TRADITIONS!' and maybe a bit of 'WE CAN ALL BE FRIENDS EVEN WITH TWO LEADERS!' and then a lot of rehrehrehrehreh."
That's to David. Who he's kinda squinting at, baffled.
"I mean seriously. Who are you again? I've never even seen you at Cold Crescent before. Not when we were putting our heads together to try to crack the Beloved Horror puzzle, not when we were camping out in a cold dark shut-down Crescent, not when we were fighting down in the Pit, not when we sang Raspberry Sky back to her ancestors, and not even two weeks ago when we went mucking around the basement of the airport.
"The first time you've ever talked to me was just now. And the first thing you did was stand up and try to facedown with me or something. The second thing was to dance around accusing me of pissing on the 'traditions', to call me 'that full-moon' like I don't have a name and I'm not even here, and to wave your arms and rant like you're gonna raise a lynch mob against me.
"What the fuck, dude? I've got no people skills and even I know that's just bizarre. And rude. And not a good way to make friends."
Beat. He turns the cracked bone over in his hand. Goes on.
"Now regarding Cold Crescent and all that. Guys, chiiiiiiill out. We're just having a debate here. 'That full moon' should not have to tell a Galliard and a Philodox to calm down and be reasonable. But seriously, do you two really think I'm trying to tear the Nation from its foundations and piss on the pillars of its justice or something?
"I mean really. For real. Really? You think that. REALLY?
"What I'm saying is, I'm sure one day we can and should be two totally independent Septs. But right now, because we've got half of Beloved Horror out there, because we've got a Pit under Cold Crescent and a Something under the airport, I'd rather have a closer alliance between the Septs. I'd rather just have one Great Alpha at the top so there's no confusion when the chips are down."
Another small pause. A hesitation; and then a decision, a drawing-up, a straightening of his spine.
"I'm saying that as a Fostern Ahroun," Erich says, firmly. "I'm saying that as the guy who called warmoot after warmoot to deal with Beloved Horror. I'm saying that as the guy who sat up on 43 calling you all back to the Sept, and the guy who stood up last time we were all here and tried to put Cold Crescent back in some semblance of order.
"I'm also saying that as someone who went toe to toe with Beloved Horror, twice, and did not enjoy either dance. We killed three of them, true, but they killed way more of us. I don't ever wanna get caught with our pants down again because we're so busy being independent and setting up our own private awesome Sept that things are still messy and in-progress when they come back. 'Cause they will come back. I'd rather trade a bit of independence, just for now, for strength and solidarity against the enemy.
"If you disagree with me, fine. But save the dramatics. Tell me why you disagree instead. I'm sure you've got good reasons, and hell, if I hear a lot of good reasons I'm not too proud to change my stance. But so far all I've heard is 'BUT THE TRADITIONS!' and maybe a bit of 'WE CAN ALL BE FRIENDS EVEN WITH TWO LEADERS!' and then a lot of rehrehrehrehreh."
BECAUSE OF LIGHT AND DUTY AND REASONS.