Private Stellar Exchanges

[Astra Sadow]

"Drift isn't an issue. You need enough faithful that they correct any drift. That becomes the issue if it festers. Complacency. Self-interest. Infidelity. Those are anathema to a thing -- an idea -- enduring." Silent dissolution was the worst. People in large numbers quietly disassociating with little to no sign, and when the time comes correction is necessary... it just never happens. Collapse is inevitable at that point.

Astra reached over to touch Lysander's arm. "A small clarification. An idea taken root captures the minds of people with or without your involvement. A thing or body, however, is far less powerful in isolation. Its reputation can linger for a short time, but with no one to bear its banner it is doomed to failure. All things, in the end, involve the people. Only a matter of whether you have to constantly entice them to care, or if it sustains itself -- and even that requires... upkeep."

Her hand lifted and she rolled her shoulders. "What you choose to do with your life, Lysander, is yours to decide. Within reason. If you were one of mine then some choices would have been made for you, but as you are a customer you are free to do as you will -- as am I -- within the boundaries of our contracts." There was a pause to smile. "Though I won't mind if we engage socially like this. No contract necessary. All rights retained."

Lysander von Ascania​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Astra Sadow​

There was practical wisdom to what she said, even if he felt the shape of his own thoughts diverging.. as they did with so many. “I think we’re circling the same truth,” Lysander glanced down to where her hand rested, following the idea there. “The people are what give something its life. Without them, the body becomes a shell, and a reputation becomes an echo, if you will. Where I’d put it just a little differently is that the body still matters because it organizes that life. Gives people somewhere to act from.. something to maintain together.” Sometimes the thing people are supporting is what allows them to support one another. He didn’t think it was a weakness.

“I suppose I can permit the occasional conversation to exist outside the bounds of a formal agreement.” He met her gaze anew, the corner of his mouth creasing. “With the understanding, of course, that this doesn’t grant you retroactive billing privileges.” Or an itemized list for his time.

Enough had gone sideways in the recently to make him fond of the obvious. “I’ve become a fan of announcing the weather, you know.” One shoulder lifted slightly. “Rather than both of us standing there getting rained on. Radical, I know.”

Lysander offered his elbow. “I’ll get you back before you traumatize another musician.” Whether the man had been psychologically maimed or something else, he couldn’t decide; he wasn’t looking to investigate.

 

[Astra Sadow]

"Traumatize?" Astra stared at Lysander for just a second. "That musician should bow at my feet in worship for what I gave them." Slowly, she pressed off the bar with her forearms and stepped into her companion's arm. She took his elbow even as her eyes never left his own. "Some of the patrons in this dive, on the other hand..." then she grinned. When you gave something to someone, you had to take it from something or something else. Even the Force wasn't as magical as some believed.

"I'll admit, Lysander, it's pleasant talking with someone like you. You're not my subordinate. You're no Jedi with their ill-conceived notions of right and wrong, good and evil. And you listen. Whether you agree or not, you listen. Sometimes even someone like me needs to air certain thoughts to determine if they're true, or deluded." Almost anyone else she wouldn't have been half so forthright with. So many had their own agendas and would twist her words. Lysander had an agenda, but it wasn't the sort that needed to tear down everyone else around him to accomplish it. For better or worse.

Lysander von Ascania​