[Alicia Elsdragon]

"I believe you" she said, looking at Palacrisis, smiling slightly "I believe that destiny is like a river, really. It has currents, you see. Bear with me, this gets stranger" she smiled gently at him her eyebrows quirking gently as she spoke "The river pulls you in a direction, but you have the option to swim against the current if you want to... but frankly, its hard work and eventually things will get to the point that you're just too tired and sore. So you can swim against the current a while, but eventually, you'll probably end up going in the direction the water is pulling you. I sometimes think that I think too much you know. So yes, everything that happens does so for a reason, and one brightening it may even make sense... one brightening"

She did not sound entirely convinced about this, but she smiled gently. "An estate in the country? Its nice... I used to live in one, you know. But the conclusion that I've come to is that its about who you live near, who your friends are and that sort of thing. I don't know Palacrisis, I've lived in a beautiful place with ugly people and vice versa. I have no doubt which one is better"

At the failed attempt by Palacrisis to throw the bread roll, Alicia laughed gently at his movement."Now, you see, all we have managed to do is shame ourselves mightily... but you know, Palacrisis, it's so nice to sit and talk with someone. When did politics become quite such a lonely profession, I wonder" she mused quietly, looking askance at Palacrisis as she considered the rather sad truth of that.

And as she considered that, she wondered briefly where the river might be pushing Palacrisis and whether he was swimming with it, or against it.