*One of these days I will have complete logs. This is picked up from an earlier talk with Charlotte, tryng to convince her to let Erika walk the pattern.*

Erika says, "I really am sorry; I like you." She blinks, gesturing. "No shit. I'm sorry that that happened."

Charlotte says "However, despite the fact that your grandfather has broken his word, I am not willing to start another eternal vendetta between him and Rebma's; so if you would just walk the Pattern, I think I can call all associations with him to an end."

You say "No problem with that."

You say "Just sorry that we didn't get off on better turns."

Charlotte says "It has nothing to do with you; but there is also nothing you can do."

Charlotte says "Dalt is an oathbreaker."

Erika says, "I'm not."

Charlotte says "Can you make an oath not to attack Rebma?"

Erika says, "I." She looks at her, and is silent for a time. That's an answer, then, "I owe Dalt my life."

Charlotte says "I can't let people on my Pattern if they can't make that promise."

Charlotte says "It is Rebma's resource, and it is the very least I can ask of someone."

Erika says, "I'll make the promise that I won't instigate it. Even. . . I'll do what I can to stay out of the way. I'll make things difficult."

Charlotte says "I wouldn't expect you to instigate it."

Erika says, after a moment, "I know I'm going to be killed for this someday, but. Just don't, for the love of God, tell Dalt."

Erika bites her lip, looking at Charlotte with a great deal of frustration. "I won't attack Rebma."

Charlotte says "I promise I will not tell Dalt; thank you, Erika."

You say "Yeah, well, I just have this feeling like you should owe me, but I'm the one who. Damn it."

Erika runs a hand through her hair, looking at anything but her Highness. "Where is this fucking thing?"

Charlotte says "Just through here."

Charlotte brushes through the curtain of strung shells that hangs across the archway to the Great Hall.

Charlotte has left.

Erika floats/swims/walks. It's hard to look frustrated in posture like that, but she's doing a good job of it.

*Which eventually leads to. . . *

Rebman Pattern Room

The cool blue fire of Rebma's Pattern does little to dispel the murkiness of the chamber in which it is inscribed. The glowing lines waver and flicker with the tiny currents that eddy above and around it, and illuminate the undersides of those fishes whose wanderings carry them close to the glassy black of the interstices. The Pattern stretches nearly the length of the chamber -- over 130 metres -- and is over 40 metres wide.

Contents:

Charlotte

Obvious exits:

Heavy stone door

Dropped.

Erika walks along, silent, and is even silent as she looks at the damn thing. She almost takes a step back, but settles for altering her balance.

You say "Fuck."

Charlotte looks at Erika. "Are you alright?"

You say "Other than the fact that I'm about to walk that fucking thing with someone who probably wouldn't mind a gun to me or my boss's head being nearby while I do it, yeah, just fucking fine."

Erika gestures at the thing. "Just. Not what I was thinking."

Charlotte says quietly, "I don't bear you any ill will, Erika, and I don't desire anyone's death by violence."

Erika glances at Charlotte briefly, before looking back at the pattern. Not replying to that. Just chewing her lip again and thinking.

Charlotte says "Have you been told about the Pattern, Erika?"

You say "Yeah."

You say "Different when you look at it."

Charlotte says "You need to walk, and never stop until you reach the end. That is all there is, but it is long, and hard."

You say "You've done it, right?"

Charlotte says "I have."

You say "Well, yeah."

Erika slings off her sword, and gives it to Charlotte. "Give this to Dalt, or throw it out, or whatever. If I don't make it."

Charlotte says "You'll make it."

Erika says, "Yeah, I hope so. Please."

You say "Come on, promise for promise."

Charlotte says "I promise I will give it to him, if you don't make it."

You say "Thanks."

Erika settles for putting the sword on the wall, after a thought, then says, "See ya." Simply walking in that direction.

The pattern. Gah. I suck.

Charlotte watches at the side of the room, as anxious as she might be for any other person walking.

Erika walks it. There's a stutter, brief but powerful surprise as she steps on the thing. She keeps going, though, as if a heel had come from under her feet and she was simply acting like nothing happen. It's frustration, anger, resentment, circle, stir, repeat, circles and sparkles and the forming of energy and friction and the creations around her feet. Two things are clear from the instant she hits the first veil, sparks at her knees and simply another obstacle she burrows through. She is strong. She is walking the thing quicker than others might, and even though clearly having a painful time, is barreling through like she was to knock someone over.

Charlotte stays silent and still, not wishing to add even the slightest distraction to Erika's concentration.

The second veil, pain, the third, crying. Memories, alternating flinches that are not always synched up to a physical challenge of the pattern. A shiver, a scream, a yell of frustration, a laugh, the second. The third, relentless, horrifyingly difficult crying, something other than gaze helping guide her as the sparks overtake her head. Another scream, a fall, feet giving under her as she makes it to the center. The reaction of punching the floor is not the Universal SIgn of Victory.

Charlotte lifts her voice, "Erika, are you alright?"

Erika looks up at Charlotte with a face that would be tear streaked were it not already in water. The gaze in her eyes is just confused, and she opens her mouth. And disappears.