2 Ashan 700
"Excuse me," the words were breathy and hoarse, heard before their source could be seen but listened to all the same, "Do you have the time?"
"Does anyone?"
There was a gentle puff of heated air, ruddy cheeks flushed with both the exertion of effort and the exasperation of miscommunication. "Philosophically no, but that doesn't stop anyone from supposing they do, does it."
"Rhetoric?" Identification was always the first step.
"If you're wondering whether or not I'm expecting an answer to mine? I'm not."
What was the second step?
"Now, again, I ask you to consider my own as strained and fading, do you have the time?" Large grey eyes stared across the short distance between them. They were wide and watery like two oscillating lakes of suspiciously uniform diameters. Something dripped out of the corner of one of them. The left... or the right?
"Are you wishing to open a dialogue on the matter?" Identification was always the first-
"No!" Both of the eyes began to drip, dribbling their silvery liquids down the soft and supple folds of skin that constituted what surely must have been a neck many, many years ago. "I just want to know the gods be damned time!"
"Have they changed it again?"
There was a brief moment of silence before a slow and steadying breath of air was pulled in through the small gaps between the many large, square teeth that filled the other's mouth. "Changed... what again?"
"Time."
Full and pouty lips gracefully draped themselves over a bulbous chin in what was clearly an award-worthy performance of a frown. "It's... always changing. That's why I asked in the first place."
"Is it?"
"It is."
"Then there is nothing to worry about."
"Come again?"
"The time, I mean. I may not have it now, but you will surely have it later."
"Changing... changing hands you mean?"
"Do I?"
"I believe you-" Panic flooded those two grey lakes. "No, no, no! I don't have time! I've wasted too much already!"
"How can you waste what you do not have?
"Conversation," the words grew fainter as the huffing and puffing voice bustled off into the distance, "Has a way up racking up one's personal debts."
That was entirely nonsensical, of course.
"Excuse me?"
"Yes, how can I help you?"
"Do you have the time?"
"Do you?"
"What? No, I-"
"Should I be expected to have something that you do not?"
"I-"
"And if so, in what capacity do you expect something like that?"
"Well-"
"In great quantities or small?"
"I imagine-"
"And under whose guarantee do you suppose mine to be both valid and reliable?"
"N-no one's, I- I think...?"
"Just so."
"Then... what you mean to say is even if you had it, I shouldn't trust you either way?"
"I say exactly what I mean, and I, quite naturally, mean exactly what I say." There was a slight pause. "Excepting those times where I blatantly disregard truth in favour of lies and general deceit."
"Understandable."
"So now - supposing I have the time - would you like me to give it to you?"
Nervous breath moved in through slender nostrils and out through hairy, slightly parted lips, almost like a whisper had a whisper any reason to tend towards trepidation. "...no?"
"Have a pleasant day then."
"And... yes. And to you."
"It has been, thank you."
"Has been what?"
"Pleasant."
"Oh, yes, of course. Of course."
It hadn't been pleasant. That had been a lie. Words were tricky in that sense, meaning one thing but meaning another. One could easily speak a simple statement completely void of truth, but without the desire to pursue veracity in all things, it was much simpler to assume truth to things said. So much so that even lies had the propensity to shift and warp and change themselves into the complete opposite of what they once were. The day hadn't been pleasant, but the only words that had been said about it spoke to the contrary, leaving the truth of the matter somewhere in an uncertain limbo. As far as anyone else was concerned, the day was, indeed, pleasant not because it necessarily was but because it had been said that it was.
"Excuse me?"
"If I had the time, I assure you, I would give you something that would, at worst, resemble it."
"The... the time? Does anyone even have that?"
"An excellent question and one I would be relieved to know the answer to."
"An answer I'm afraid I don't have."
"If you did, perhaps you might have the time as well." A short sigh. "And that is, in all likelihood, a fortunate lack thereof."
"But had I the time, do you not think things would be a bit easier?"
"That seems a question only someone who has the time might be able to answer with any accuracy."
"Then neither of us seem to be qualified."
"Allow me to definitively state that to be the case entirely regardless of whether or not that is, in fact, the way of things."
"I wholeheartedly agree."
"With the prior or the latter?"
"Was there a latter to support?"
"Would you believe I was testing you?"
"I wouldn't, no."
"Did you want something?"
"I do, or rather, I have been wanting something since the start."
"The start of what, may I ask?"
"You may not."
"Well, I am hardly partial to the alternative."
"You'll allow it still?"
"I will not deny you of it if that is any indication as to how you should proceed."
"I need the truth."
"A difficult thing to come by." If not impossible. "And an even more trying thing to swallow, so I am told."
"But that's just the thing. Once you swallow it, it's gone, you know."
"Is it?"
"Like quality after improper repetition."
"Or the past without means to retrieve it?"
"Exactly like, only different as we're speaking of the truth and the past is clearly very much a part of time."
"And we have established neither of us has it."
"We have."
"And you say you are seeking the truth?"
"So I've said, I won't deny it. Not so close to when I first spoke of it, of course."
"The proximity would make it difficult to claim otherwise, I agree."
"Do they exist in location like that, or is it merely rhetoric?"
Identification was always the first step. "How can I help you?"
"Is an opinion truth?"
"Is that a question or a statement?"
"Should it be?"
"I think so."
"But under what conditions? Surely it can't be that way in every situation."
"No, that would be overwhelming. A question, then."
"I can agree to that."
"Then you wish to know the answer? Or merely an answer?"
"I would consider myself fortunate indeed if you held the answer. Any will suffice, I understand that even expectations should have limitations."
"Then I say... no."
"No?"
"No."
"In what sense?"
"There is a truth to it, bear no doubts, but is an opinion truth?"
"That was the question."
"No."
"It was."
"No, the answer is 'no'."
"Oh, yes, I see."
"And as for why-"
"Yes?"
"No-"
"Oh!"
"Yes-"
"Right."
"Yes, so-"
"Of course, my apologies." Another beat, this time of silence. "Please continue."
"Thank you."
"My pleasure."
"And as for why-"
"I lied."
"I know. It is not the time for confessions. We are engaged in edification not deprecation."
"Has that been properly scheduled?"
"Absolutely not."
"I see."
"Would you like to know why?"
"Why...?"
"Why."
"Oh, why! Yes. Let's."
"And as for why-" Only expectation, polite and properly quiet. "As for why, I have no idea. It simply seemed like the proper thing to say."
"'Climactic' would be a misnomer in this case, would it not?"
"It would not not be if you mean to politely describe what it is I believe you are referring to."
"The answer, of course."
"Of course."
"It wasn't very much like it, don't you think?"
"I could have done better, it is true."
"But you didn't."
"I did not."
"How much extra would it be?"
"In terms of...?"
"Resources."
"At least fifty."
"That's quite a hefty amount."
"It would be if the term had any weight to it."
"Weightless, then?"
"Both would attribute weight to them in any case, and it just would not apply."
"So it would seem."
"I guarantee it."
"Under whose authority?"
"A valid question."
"One worthy of an answer?"
"The answer?"
"Tsk. Expectations."
"Ah, of course. That would be a mistake then."
"Unless you have it."
"The time?"
"No, the answer."
"Is there a difference?"
"Not in availability, no."
"You would think so."
"And yet you seem to know so?"
"Rhetoric?" The first step was-
"I've changed my mind. I'd like a suggestion, neither truth or lie."
"Can it be done?"
"If anyone can, surely it is one like yourself, I imagine."
"Would that be a truth or an opinion?"
"In this instance, is there a difference?"
"...there should be."
"Excuse me," the words were breathy and hoarse, heard before their source could be seen but listened to all the same, "Do you have the time?"
"Does anyone?"
There was a gentle puff of heated air, ruddy cheeks flushed with both the exertion of effort and the exasperation of miscommunication. "Philosophically no, but that doesn't stop anyone from supposing they do, does it."
"Rhetoric?" Identification was always the first step.
"If you're wondering whether or not I'm expecting an answer to mine? I'm not."
What was the second step?
"Now, again, I ask you to consider my own as strained and fading, do you have the time?" Large grey eyes stared across the short distance between them. They were wide and watery like two oscillating lakes of suspiciously uniform diameters. Something dripped out of the corner of one of them. The left... or the right?
"Are you wishing to open a dialogue on the matter?" Identification was always the first-
"No!" Both of the eyes began to drip, dribbling their silvery liquids down the soft and supple folds of skin that constituted what surely must have been a neck many, many years ago. "I just want to know the gods be damned time!"
"Have they changed it again?"
There was a brief moment of silence before a slow and steadying breath of air was pulled in through the small gaps between the many large, square teeth that filled the other's mouth. "Changed... what again?"
"Time."
Full and pouty lips gracefully draped themselves over a bulbous chin in what was clearly an award-worthy performance of a frown. "It's... always changing. That's why I asked in the first place."
"Is it?"
"It is."
"Then there is nothing to worry about."
"Come again?"
"The time, I mean. I may not have it now, but you will surely have it later."
"Changing... changing hands you mean?"
"Do I?"
"I believe you-" Panic flooded those two grey lakes. "No, no, no! I don't have time! I've wasted too much already!"
"How can you waste what you do not have?
"Conversation," the words grew fainter as the huffing and puffing voice bustled off into the distance, "Has a way up racking up one's personal debts."
That was entirely nonsensical, of course.
"Excuse me?"
"Yes, how can I help you?"
"Do you have the time?"
"Do you?"
"What? No, I-"
"Should I be expected to have something that you do not?"
"I-"
"And if so, in what capacity do you expect something like that?"
"Well-"
"In great quantities or small?"
"I imagine-"
"And under whose guarantee do you suppose mine to be both valid and reliable?"
"N-no one's, I- I think...?"
"Just so."
"Then... what you mean to say is even if you had it, I shouldn't trust you either way?"
"I say exactly what I mean, and I, quite naturally, mean exactly what I say." There was a slight pause. "Excepting those times where I blatantly disregard truth in favour of lies and general deceit."
"Understandable."
"So now - supposing I have the time - would you like me to give it to you?"
Nervous breath moved in through slender nostrils and out through hairy, slightly parted lips, almost like a whisper had a whisper any reason to tend towards trepidation. "...no?"
"Have a pleasant day then."
"And... yes. And to you."
"It has been, thank you."
"Has been what?"
"Pleasant."
"Oh, yes, of course. Of course."
It hadn't been pleasant. That had been a lie. Words were tricky in that sense, meaning one thing but meaning another. One could easily speak a simple statement completely void of truth, but without the desire to pursue veracity in all things, it was much simpler to assume truth to things said. So much so that even lies had the propensity to shift and warp and change themselves into the complete opposite of what they once were. The day hadn't been pleasant, but the only words that had been said about it spoke to the contrary, leaving the truth of the matter somewhere in an uncertain limbo. As far as anyone else was concerned, the day was, indeed, pleasant not because it necessarily was but because it had been said that it was.
"Excuse me?"
"If I had the time, I assure you, I would give you something that would, at worst, resemble it."
"The... the time? Does anyone even have that?"
"An excellent question and one I would be relieved to know the answer to."
"An answer I'm afraid I don't have."
"If you did, perhaps you might have the time as well." A short sigh. "And that is, in all likelihood, a fortunate lack thereof."
"But had I the time, do you not think things would be a bit easier?"
"That seems a question only someone who has the time might be able to answer with any accuracy."
"Then neither of us seem to be qualified."
"Allow me to definitively state that to be the case entirely regardless of whether or not that is, in fact, the way of things."
"I wholeheartedly agree."
"With the prior or the latter?"
"Was there a latter to support?"
"Would you believe I was testing you?"
"I wouldn't, no."
"Did you want something?"
"I do, or rather, I have been wanting something since the start."
"The start of what, may I ask?"
"You may not."
"Well, I am hardly partial to the alternative."
"You'll allow it still?"
"I will not deny you of it if that is any indication as to how you should proceed."
"I need the truth."
"A difficult thing to come by." If not impossible. "And an even more trying thing to swallow, so I am told."
"But that's just the thing. Once you swallow it, it's gone, you know."
"Is it?"
"Like quality after improper repetition."
"Or the past without means to retrieve it?"
"Exactly like, only different as we're speaking of the truth and the past is clearly very much a part of time."
"And we have established neither of us has it."
"We have."
"And you say you are seeking the truth?"
"So I've said, I won't deny it. Not so close to when I first spoke of it, of course."
"The proximity would make it difficult to claim otherwise, I agree."
"Do they exist in location like that, or is it merely rhetoric?"
Identification was always the first step. "How can I help you?"
"Is an opinion truth?"
"Is that a question or a statement?"
"Should it be?"
"I think so."
"But under what conditions? Surely it can't be that way in every situation."
"No, that would be overwhelming. A question, then."
"I can agree to that."
"Then you wish to know the answer? Or merely an answer?"
"I would consider myself fortunate indeed if you held the answer. Any will suffice, I understand that even expectations should have limitations."
"Then I say... no."
"No?"
"No."
"In what sense?"
"There is a truth to it, bear no doubts, but is an opinion truth?"
"That was the question."
"No."
"It was."
"No, the answer is 'no'."
"Oh, yes, I see."
"And as for why-"
"Yes?"
"No-"
"Oh!"
"Yes-"
"Right."
"Yes, so-"
"Of course, my apologies." Another beat, this time of silence. "Please continue."
"Thank you."
"My pleasure."
"And as for why-"
"I lied."
"I know. It is not the time for confessions. We are engaged in edification not deprecation."
"Has that been properly scheduled?"
"Absolutely not."
"I see."
"Would you like to know why?"
"Why...?"
"Why."
"Oh, why! Yes. Let's."
"And as for why-" Only expectation, polite and properly quiet. "As for why, I have no idea. It simply seemed like the proper thing to say."
"'Climactic' would be a misnomer in this case, would it not?"
"It would not not be if you mean to politely describe what it is I believe you are referring to."
"The answer, of course."
"Of course."
"It wasn't very much like it, don't you think?"
"I could have done better, it is true."
"But you didn't."
"I did not."
"How much extra would it be?"
"In terms of...?"
"Resources."
"At least fifty."
"That's quite a hefty amount."
"It would be if the term had any weight to it."
"Weightless, then?"
"Both would attribute weight to them in any case, and it just would not apply."
"So it would seem."
"I guarantee it."
"Under whose authority?"
"A valid question."
"One worthy of an answer?"
"The answer?"
"Tsk. Expectations."
"Ah, of course. That would be a mistake then."
"Unless you have it."
"The time?"
"No, the answer."
"Is there a difference?"
"Not in availability, no."
"You would think so."
"And yet you seem to know so?"
"Rhetoric?" The first step was-
"I've changed my mind. I'd like a suggestion, neither truth or lie."
"Can it be done?"
"If anyone can, surely it is one like yourself, I imagine."
"Would that be a truth or an opinion?"
"In this instance, is there a difference?"
"...there should be."
