Envoy finishes lacing up her blouse now that she's finished her daily sponge-bath.

From outside the room, a quick triple-knock sounds on the door.

Envoy sings out, "Come innnnn!"

Chiaroscuro opens the door, stepping inside… and taking in a light gasp of breath at Envoy's new outfit… "Hello, Envoy… " He smiles. "Those clothes are just as stunning upon you as Lady Viela had said they would be."

Envoy smiles and brushes some gold curls away from her face. "Thank you, Chipper!"

Chiaroscuro settles a small pack down on the desk, and extracts a few coins from it. "The bazaar was better than expected today… though it does not come near my pay from the Tavernum troupe." He sets the coins in Envoy's palm. "This will have to be my share of the rent this week, I am afraid."

Envoy adds the coin to pouch that she keeps under the thin mattress, with RENT written in red paint on it. "That's okay. Anything interesting happen to you today?"

Chiaroscuro thinks a moment, then lets out a small sigh. "Not really. I was reminded of a few things, however… and need to discuss something with you."

Envoy sits down on the edge of the cot, and looks up at Chiaroscuro, "Yes?"

Chiaroscuro paces a moment… then sits on the floor, facing Envoy. "Do you recall the story I told the young bat… 'Skireee', I think it was… about having an ear trimmed off to match the other?" he says in a somewhat offhand manner.

Envoy nods.

Chiaroscuro says, "Did you believe that to be the truth?"

Envoy says, "Wasn't it?"

Chiaroscuro shakes his head. "No, Envoy… simply a tale to amuse the youth. I would have thought you would have recognized it as such, even with your… unique perspectives."

Envoy rubs the side of her muzzle with a finger. "Are you sure it was a made up story?"

Chiaroscuro touches his right ear with a finger. "Few others have kept as close track of my ears as I," he says with a grin.

Envoy blinks, and nods. That sounds reasonable.

Envoy says, "When are you going to grow it all back?"

Chiaroscuro shakes his head again, more vigorously. "It was a made-up story, Envoy. My ears have not been trimmed; not a bit. To say it simply… it was a lie."

Envoy says, "Isn't there a difference between fiction and lying?"

Chiaroscuro nods. "That there is, though it can be a subtle one. How would you say the difference is, Envoy?"

Envoy smiles, "Well, a fiction is meant to amuse. A lie is meant to be taken seriously as the actual truth for the express purpose of deception."

The mongoose nods, speaking in a controlled voice. "So the purpose of a falsehood is important? Whether it is meant to amuse, deceive, or some other purpose?"

Envoy nods, "Yes, intention defines it, since interpretation will be different for each listener."

Chiaroscuro takes a deep breath before continuing. "Okay, that established… did you think your dream to be true as you were dreaming it?"

Chiaroscuro clarifies: "The long dream, after Isstan's spell?"

Envoy blinks, and nods. "I didn't know it was a dream, so of course I believed it to be true."

Chiaroscuro nods… "And yet when you awoke, and after I had explained what happened… you considered it to be a fiction?" He speaks as if reciting or presenting a formal argument, each word crisp, yet his eyes have a softer look about them.

Envoy opens her mouth, but doesn't say anything for a moment. Then she says, "It was a dream. Dreams aren't made up stories though. They are self-generated experiences. The effects of experience are always real, whether the experience is true or not. Dreams aren't fiction."

Chiaroscuro thoughtfully rubs the small scruff of fur upon his chin, then nods. "Experience, indeed, can be gained through dreams- and they are not fiction in that sense. I am sure what you felt must have seemed very real… "

Chiaroscuro's voice seems to drop a bit quieter. "Being arrested by the guards after Latania tried to throw you and I out of the College, Latania ripping up my pass, your comments to the guards about eating their heads, the imprisonment thereafter… "

Chiaroscuro says, "These must have seemed very real, indeed."

Envoy blinks three times, and stares at Chiaroscuro. "I didn't tell you about all of those details. Was I talking in my sleep?"

Chiaroscuro shakes his head.

Envoy says, "How did you learn them?"

Chiaroscuro says, "Let me finish, and you may understand how… in your dream," he says, making the word sound artificial, "I was taken away from the cell, was I not?"

Envoy nods.

Chiaroscuro drums his fingertips together… "From that point, who knows what may have happened to me in the dream? I might have been made to talk to an inquisitor, and tell what happened. I may have been released from the temple, only to be called back later… and finally been told what had happened to you: you having suffered a mind injury under a Temple machine, that sent you into a coma. The Temple may have told me to tend to you, and inform you when you had awoken that everything since Isstan dies was a dream… which, of course, it was. All of it a dream, as according to the truth, " emphasizing this word almost to spit it out of his mouth, "Of the temple."

Chiaroscuro stops, and looks up, watching Envoy's reactions…

Envoy blinks SIX times. "Is that what really happened?"

Chiaroscuro raises a hand. "That is not what the Temple says, and on Rephidim, the Temple is the law. What the Temple says happened is considered to be what happened, whether or not it is the facts- at least," he emphasizes with great care, "When dealing with those who might report to the Temple." He looks directly into Envoy's eyes. "As for others, they might consider your dream to be very real indeed, no matter what the Temple claims."

Chiaroscuro says, "But to help the Temple establish their version of truth… they might be made to speak what they do not believe."

Envoy's brow furrows… "But… which really happened, Chipper? I don't understand!" Tears are beginning to form at the base of the Exile's eyes.

Chiaroscuro reaches up and pats Envoy's hand… "I… am required by the Temple to say only what they consider truth. To protect you, and I. As for your dreams… you might well wonder how I know these facts, and consider carefully what was real and what was not- for you." He sighs softly… "Do you understand now? Why I must only speak of dreams, yet speak knowing your dreams as if they were fact?"

Envoy sniffles, and rubs at one eye. "I don't want to understand why you had to lie to me. I don't want to accept things like this! Why didn't you just let me believe it was a dream?"

Chiaroscuro sighs deeply, shuddering… and says in a very quiet voice, "Lying tears at my heart, as it does for all children of Rik'. And to lie to such a friend as you shreds like the goshawk's claw. Because I wish you to trust me, I must speak of dreams… until you gained an understanding."

Envoy throws her hands up in anger! "UNDERSTANDING?! They play games with me because of what I know and what I want to know! The only reason they don't get rid of me is that they can't tell which information is IMPORTANT to them yet!"

Envoy rants on, "All they know how to do is hide things!"

Chiaroscuro looks up at Envoy, startled at her anger… shrinking back slightly.

Envoy stands ands starts stomping around the small room. "Well, I don't want to be hidden anymore! So… So THERE!!" She smacks the wall ineffectually with her fist, and immediately has to immerse her knuckles in the washbasin. In a perfectly calm voice, she says, "I think there are bricks under the plaster in these walls. How tall can you build something just out of bricks?"

Chiaroscuro blinks slowly, stunned at all this…

Envoy pulls her hand out of the water, and dries it off while checking the knuckles for any damage.

Chiaroscuro stands up off the floor, taking a half-step closer to Envoy. "Ar- are you all right, Lady Envoy?"

Envoy refolds the towel and places it next to the basin, then returns to where she was sitting on the edge of the cot. "I think that I am in a state of physical tension, Chipper. I don't care for it. The next time I use an interface helmet, I won't let them drug me first."

Envoy looks to her roommate, and asks, "What do I do now?"

Chiaroscuro takes a gentle breath… still a bit unnerved from Envoy's outburst. "I would have told you just minutes ago to go along with the Temple's truth, staying far away from them for your safety." He looks up, eyes a bit sad and concerned. "But seeing how you feel about hidden things just now… I do not know." He flicks his tail in front of him, chewing on the tip out of nervous habit.

Envoy narrows her eyes. "They had this planned all along. That's why they let me use the interface helmet, just so they could administer their drug to make me delusional enough to accept the idea that it never happened."

Chiaroscuro shrugs noncommittally. He cannot speak of the matter, directly, after all.

Envoy looks at Chia again. "Don't worry, Chipper. I'll go along with the lie for now." She smiles, "I can learn this game, I think."

Chiaroscuro nods at Envoy, speaking gently, "I am sorry for… " he circles his hand in the air while closing his mouth tight, indicating things he cannot say. "… The Temple threatened to me they would lock you in a dungeon for all time if I did not do as said… "

"In the dream.", he adds hastily.

Envoy nods. "I understand. It is not quite the betrayal I truly dreamt, at least, and you've corrected for it. What do you want for dinner?"

Chiaroscuro half-smiles, worried inside over the whole matter… Whether Envoy truly forgives him, or is merely accepting. A dozen things he wishes to say come to his lips, but the only one said is "Well, the kyootcumber pie at Wedthala's is always good… "