Going for Walkies

[Isolde Schwarz]

"Patient," she gives a toothy smirk.

[Tereza Rozanov]

"I see what you mean now about the traps you fell into," she says, lip curling in a moment of disgust before she schools her face back.

[Isolde Schwarz]

"I have no reason to lie to you, yes?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"I don't know. Do you have a reason to lie to me?"

[Isolde Schwarz]

"What would it get me? Favors? A day in the sun?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"You could be trying to distract me. You've never been clear about why you're here. I know you weren't here for me. I was just a happy accident." She crosses her arms, "I'm not saying I believe none of this. I'm saying you're not telling me everything, and I know it."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"Does anyone ever tell everything?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"When it's important or helpful, people around here tend to, though I can't call it an 'everyone' thing."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"There are always secrets left."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Of course there are," Tereza says with a frown, walking further into the woods. "If you want to be relieved of this 'burden of the alpha' thing you were talking about, then I want you to start being completely straight with me."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"Mmm, which scab are you intent on picking, then?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Why were you here hunting someone?"

[Isolde Schwarz]

"Ask yourself this: how well do you know the other students here?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"I know several of them pretty well, but I don't know all of them. What's your point?"

[Isolde Schwarz]

"If I were to tell you that someone got into something they shouldn't?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"I wouldn't be surprised. It seems to be a popular pastime around here, myself included."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"These things aren't without consequences."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"So someone here crossed your or interfered in your business?"

[Isolde Schwarz]

"Not my business, but I am very good at finding people."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"So this is a mercenary gig for you, then."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"I do what I'm good at. Can you blame me?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"For doing what you're good at? I suppose not." She whirls to face Isolde, "For hunting someone here, though, I sure as hell can."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"All I had to do was find them. I can show restraint."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"So what did this person do?"

[Isolde Schwarz]

"There are things asleep in the earth, in places the mind struggles to process."

"Most people could pass right by one of those cthonic dreamers and not even know it."

"That's for a reason. It's better they sleep."

"Most, but not all."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"So this person wandered somewhere they weren't supposed to and you were hunting them for someone. So, now that you found them, you're just prepared to sit back and watch the world burn?"

[Isolde Schwarz]

"Oh, things won't burn. They'll just... change."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Ah, that's right. The lights going out. And you don't have a problem with that?"

[Isolde Schwarz]

"I've been fairly comfortable in the dark for some time. You?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Once upon a time, I might have been satisfied with the dark. But everyone needs some light now and then. Even you."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"Do I, now? Light burns. Light scrutinizes. Light judges."

"The night has never needed any apologies of me."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"In the dark you can tell yourself whatever shitty stories you want about your behavior and there's no one to tell you you're off-target. Sometimes that scrutiny is a good thing."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"So is that it now? I should be ashamed?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Ashamed? Fuck no. Sometimes you do what you have to do. Your situation was rough and I can't say *I* would have done things differently given your circumstances. I honestly don't know." She shrugs, "But you have options now that weren't open to you then. But to take full advantage of those, you're going to have to allow some light into the dark places. Speaking from personal experience."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"So how does the beaten dog not bite a hand extended?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Through the efforts and care of actually good people as opposed to the people who just claim they're being good. I had to rethink my approach to things and I won't claim to be finished on that road either. Call it a work-in-progress," she says with a half-smirk at Isolde.