(no subject)

[skinny-cartman.livejournal.com]

Looking back on events I do wish that they had proceeded better than they did.
I did not set out to antagonise one of the largest covenants in my domain, nor did I really wish to see them chastened, in fact quite the opposite. Whilst I do not share their pagan blood-soaked savagery, and I find their need to test everything and everyone terribly destabilising, they have proven to be good subjects and whilst in some cases not as loyal as I'd like as loyal as they could be given the circumstances.
My issue is of course that I was wishing to offer the boy a way out, I don't want such things being public it causes a mess, increases entropy.

I do not think people understand my code of honour at all. Once a matter is public in even the barest sense it needs to be acted upon, whether I wished it or not, that is one.
If someone insults my honour, especially publicly, then that demands action, that is two.
And whilst yes a victorious outcome is always better than a loss to have stood and taken an insult makes you a lesser man, that is indeed three.
Mr. Kovacs said that it made me look like a "chump" I have no idea what one is, I imagine it is some new world animal, but it did not sound good however to have a Prince who would not stand and fight for his own honour? What does that say about how one would command a domain? He cares nought for the Prestige for his subject? no.. I care very much for them. Better they see their Prince fight for his principles and lose than to have a Prince with no principles.

Of course the other amusing matter is that I knew I was not going to win, one might say I engineered it thus. Asking Dr. Morel for a swords or pistols duel against a man who moves like lightening? Folly one might say..
However I believe I could have bested him. But not with the rules I stipulated.

It is however far better for tradition, by the sword, and honour, my manner of conduct, to have been served. Indeed it does mean that he gained his prize, and likely I have gained yet another foe, and perhaps set their covenant against mine locally. But I do trust that they can respect that protocol is more important.
They are after all ritualists, and one does not conduct a ceremony in a manner that does not pay great heed to protocol.

So what to make of my Grand Champion then?
Physically adept, true. Fast mostly, his first blows cut the hardest, I imagine he used something akin to the blessings of the sanctified upon his weapon, After that.. flesh wounds. True with his speed it became a matter of time rather than attrition but..
He has a chink in his armour.
If he wishes to be the best, and to prove himself worthy, then I should do him the grace of showing him his own failings.

However the man is completely lacking in social graces. One does not end a duel, even as victor by laughing in the face of ones foe and yelling further insults. Such invites further combat after an issue has been laid to rest.
He has little understanding of the correct protocol for anything, after a duel has been called one does not stand around and further insult the injured party.

If his skills did not say otherwise I would think him the worst kind of feral debased savage. That he could yet have a higher clan as kin leads me to wish him taught courtly manners.

He may consider it a mark of the "profane society" however if he truly believes in testing himself and in bettering himself through tribulation as the Acolytes attest, then perhaps a deal might be struck in which he learns in my arena, whilst he "teaches" me in his. What however a scion of Le Jemal has to learn in a gladiatorial arena however is somewhat beyond my comprehension. My skill did not fail me, I simple needed to use a different tactic which I had foregone the use of.

Comments

[sea-of-flame.livejournal.com]

Nice. Rational and measured - self-justifying without being self-pitying.

More early mention of more of the characters' by name (I'm guessing from conversations on G+ that Lucius was Dr Morel's opponent?) would make the scene easier to picture for those who weren't present, but you may well have deliberately been skirting around dignifying the various parties by referring to them by name...

[akonken.livejournal.com]

I love his voice. :D

[mionassmaster.livejournal.com]

This is awesome. I am almost tempted to do a bit just like it...Like the other side of the coin.