It's not that it's longer, it's that it's darker. Another part to the previous snip.
"Too little too late I would say." Cornelius started conversations like this often enough and expected people to either remember his point from years ago, or just get lucky shooting in the dark.
Roland sighed in response before he said, "yes, and? I'm not actually deaf to my kid growing up; and not that you asked, I think it a great deal better for her to explore in a method much healthier than rape." A shudder ran down Roland's spine as he said his piece, remembering something horrible from long ago and far away.
Cornelius tilted his head ever so slightly to better stare at his friend.
"What?" Roland didn't snap, that wasn't his way, but there was a look of increasing irritation.
"Yes, that was the way of young men for millennia, wasn't it? Increasingly elaborate courtship rituals or kidnapping and assault. Disgusting behavior."
Roland sneered at him; "like your people were any better."
"See 'increasingly elaborate courtship rituals.' " Cornelius went about the ritual of lighting his pipe.
"Sabines." Roland deadpanned.
"Before my time, I'm old, I'm not that old; regardless, yes, indeed. Funny you should mention rape." Cornelius waved a hand, ash scattered in the wake of the motion.
Roland's eyes hardened, though a tremor of worry entered into his tone as he said, "do tell."
Cornelius righted his posture before he responded, "From what she's told me; though heaven alone knows why, your daughter likes the attention of her elders, not her peers."
Roland threw up.
