"Well, if it isn't the most vainglorious of my rivals and the most indomitable of my dearest friends. It is a pleasure to note that you are yet living, Robert."


*A masterful pause*.


"Perhaps you have noted a detail plaguing the otherwise impeccable serenity of the previous twenty-four hours, for I am irked, Robert. An eventful occurrence that seems far from credible and yet tantalisingly factual has occurred. An encounter so sprighfully alien to any previous, predicated, perfunctory acts of Fortuna's design that I wonder as to the exact depths of its utility. Regardless, the visitation which which I have been graced far exceeds that of any divine power - even if the respective archangel in this instance proves such a bastion of servitude to our one, mutual, exemplar deity (excepting ourselves, naturalistically), that he may as well bare a smattering of omnipotence about his wings. Certainly, the dialogue bore the impression of the eagles around the exchange".

"As we are all quite prickishly yet politely… nay, poignantly aware; the essence of a mutual exchange is the subtlety with which the thread is sown. Since the thread hap'd to be bound rather tightly in this instance, it is illusive to conduce as to whether the individual (of parties unnamed) with which I held my somewhat, hm, untowardly initiated council is attempting to tie us together firmly, tie us up, or worse, stitch us up for the trussed (and thoroughly dead) turkeys we would certainly be if our delicacy failed us; would one wish a man neutered of his sense of discretion? I certainly hope not!"

"…The devil bears a silver tongue, a tongue which, lamentably, cannot be severed from its host mouth without immediate fatalistic ramifications for everything we hold dear. However, I (alluding to myself, of course), am entirely prepared to disease of a soul if Lucifer proves sufficiently ambition-sating in return."

*With an obscure grin*

"…Be mindful, old acquaintance, that freedom is a commodity best kept in rarified quantities, and the Raven is a free bird, truly…"

"…However, every bird comes from an egg, as the adage goes, and every egg requires a roost. Why not consider a handler as part of the due process?"



"It would be tittilating to have you accompany me anew. Perhaps our next encounter with the satanic forces can be braved as the singular rather than the half-measure, hm?"

"I pray (in the most atheistic manner possible) that you will dwell on the proverbial "it", Roberto, before responding. One must not be flippant in the face of destiny, after all".


"I'll heed your call".