NPCJae is striving to maintain her business-like air of indifference, but her shoulders are sagging as though under a heavy weight, a haunted look flickers in her eyes, and her mouth is set in a forlorn moue.
YOU"I see a different future for us. We do not need to end things."
NPCThe cold mask falls from Jae's face, revealing what lies beneath: a tortured expression and tears rolling down her tawny cheeks. "And how long will we be able to keep playing 'The Simpleton and the Rogue Trader'? You have a protectorate full of women just like me. Before, I was able to make myself stand out from the crowd, but now with every passing day, in your eyes, I'll just become more ordinary. More trivial. I'm like a performer whose props for his tricks have come tumbling out of his sleeves — I need to get off the stage before the crowd start throwing stones and rotten food. I... I don't want to have my heart broken by you."
YOU[Go down on one knee] "Jae Amira Fathreen Tameri ash Efreet, I'm begging you to show mercy. Don't leave me."
NPCJae shakes her head, frowning, but a traitorous smile of hope steals across her face. "Stop. Now's not the time to play around... Don't look at me like that. Damn it all, I can feel those eyes weakening my resolve, even when I know I'll come to bitterly regret it."
NPCJae helplessly throws up her hands. "You win, [Name]. I can't resist your charms. I will drink the cup of our passion to the very bottom, no matter how bitter the dregs in the last swallow. I am yours."
end of branch
YOU"I won't break your heart. I like you as you are."
NPCJae shakes her head, frowning, but a traitorous smile of hope steals across her face. "You say this now. But I can't help listening, even though I know I'll come to regret it."
NPCJae helplessly throws up her hands. "You win, [Name]. I can't resist your charms. I will drink the cup of our passion to the very bottom, no matter how bitter the dregs in the last swallow. I am yours."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I haven't always been the Rogue Trader either, but that's who you see in me. You become who you pretend to be. Let's pretend together."
NPCA crooked smile appears on Jae's face. "Two swindlers leading everyone else on a merry dance? The Princess of the Cold Trade and the Rogue Trader... it's like something out of a mawkish story for girls on the cusp of womanhood. I must confess a peccadillo of mine — I love those kinds of stories."
NPCJae helplessly throws up her hands. "You win, [Name]. I can't resist your charms. I will drink the cup of our passion to the very bottom, no matter how bitter the dregs in the last swallow. I am yours."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I give up. I see you have already made up your mind."
NPCCovering her hands, Jae nods sadly. "It's better this way, shereen."
NPC(sequence)
NPC"The weapon you gave me is here as well. It was a pleasure to wield it. A true work of art."
end of branch
NPC"The jewellery you gave me is here as well. It belongs in the dynasty's treasury, not on a Cold Trader."
end of branch
NPC"The sumptuous gown you gave me is here as well. I hope one day it will be worn by someone more worthy of it."
end of branch
NPC"The deed to the colony you gave me is here as well. Without the watchful eye of its concerned mistress, it will surely wither, but it was wonderful to dream of a home of my own for a time."
end of branch
NPC"The deed to the ship you gave me is here as well. It won't be as profitable under a new captain, of course, but it was wonderful to have command of my own vessel."
end of branch
YOU"If that's what you want — so be it."
NPCWith a weary smile, Jae sadly replies, "It isn't what I want. But it's the right thing to do, shereen."
NPC(sequence)continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 3
NPCJutting out her chin, Jae exudes the cold detachment of someone who has already decided everything for herself and who is not troubled by the slightest doubt.
YOU"I see a different future for us. We do not need to end things."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If that's what you want — so be it."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 3
NPCJae is briskly counting the treasures that have suddenly appeared in your chambers. "Shereen, I decided that it is only right if I return all of this to you. No matter how lovely and valuable a gift may be, it becomes a millstone around the heart when it is obtained by deceitful means."
NPC"I thought the safest thing would be to bring them all here. If I had handed them to Danrok, it would have been a monstrous temptation. And your avaricious Factotum does not strike me as someone who is good at resisting temptation."
YOU"What — are these my gifts?"
NPC"Yes, shereen. Tokens of your interest that you lavished upon me as generously as the sun lavishes its light and heat."
YOU"What — are these my gifts?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not recall giving you quite so many gifts... I think you must have given some of these to yourself."
NPC"It's possible I availed myself of certain privileges granted by my status as a favourite of the Rogue Trader. It is impossible to hold a spoonful of honey in one's mouth and not taste it."
YOU"What — are these my gifts?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not recall giving you quite so many gifts... I think you must have given some of these to yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is this your way of telling me that our relationship is at an end?"
NPC"Well, do you see any kind of future for us, shereen?"
NPCJae speaks with vehemence, almost desperation, like a column of foot soldiers storming a fort: "I refuse to close my eyes to what's right in front of me, [Name] — I am not the one for you. Rogue Traders do not keep no-name commoners by their side. This mismatch will diminish you as long as it continues, and when it ends, I will be the one diminished."
YOU"There is no need for this."
NPC"On the contrary, shereen. Decency dictates that I do this."
NPCJae speaks with vehemence, almost desperation, like a column of foot soldiers storming a fort: "I refuse to close my eyes to what's right in front of me, [Name] — I am not the one for you. Rogue Traders do not keep no-name commoners by their side. This mismatch will diminish you as long as it continues, and when it ends, I will be the one diminished."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Well, this is very decent of you. I appreciate it."
NPC"A girl without principles is nothing but a kaskha, shereen."
NPCJae speaks with vehemence, almost desperation, like a column of foot soldiers storming a fort: "I refuse to close my eyes to what's right in front of me, [Name] — I am not the one for you. Rogue Traders do not keep no-name commoners by their side. This mismatch will diminish you as long as it continues, and when it ends, I will be the one diminished."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is this your way of telling me that our relationship is at an end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There is no need for this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Well, this is very decent of you. I appreciate it."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not recall giving you quite so many gifts... I think you must have given some of these to yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is this your way of telling me that our relationship is at an end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There is no need for this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Well, this is very decent of you. I appreciate it."continues where this line first appears above