Esse: “You wouldn’t think me capable of that, now would you?”
Me: “Capable of what, Esse?”
Esse: “Me? Conducting an autopsy?” *
Me: “Oh, no. I couldn’t see you doing that.”
Esse: “That’s a relief.”
Me: “Not when I’ve personally been your subject for a vivisection. Five occasions that you have allowed me to remember. Heh. For a svartalf, the dead does not interest you. The living, however…”
Esse: “The dead is inert. The living isn’t. You do not come to me with accusation. That is a strange smile upon your lips.”
Me: “I seek advice.”
Esse: “Oh?”
Me: “I need to know [a certain thing].”
Esse: “Your era is one of extensive documentation of human anatomy. Surely you can find that information in one of your tomes, physical or otherwise.”
Me: “If I was only interested in blood and bone, I could. But I come as under contract for [someone else]. I need to know [a certain thing] so I may map it to [another thing]. And I need to know it [under a certain paradigm]. Now the paradigm is the easy part. Knowing where to put the esoteric probe, that I do not know and don’t have the means of discovering first hand.”
Esse: “Yes, you do. If you are willing to pay the price. I suggest you look elsewhere for your information first. If you still wish to learn it from me, you must commit to my fee.”
Me: “And what is your fee, Esse?”
Esse: “Your trust.”
I haven’t decided yet.
*: Why could I not see him performing an autopsy? Because autopsies are performed on the dead. Vivisections are performed on the living. Esse is a sadist. Any other questions?