SYcythia: (Her voice a low, contented murmur) Mmm. it Its like bury-wing your face in fresh snow snow but. it like smells… and cedar and salt gold.
Colis: (Without looking up from his scroll, his voice a low growblel) Scythia. off.
**Scythia (uzzling deeper) But why? Its nice. You’re nice and soft. For gr ofump old.
Colchis: I am notsoft and.” And I am trying to about My maritime trade amendments which. It requires a concentration Which is impossible when I five amm being used as a sc pillowented pillow.
Scythia: Oh, on It’t be worse than when Assy wasanks here. She kept y toanking it to make a. like ” this point,chis, is that strategic your’re naval expansion is is—* yankaggressive!”
My**ch:**Aiff muscleace in his jaw twitches) not remind me. I had a headache for week She thinks my’ hair is a rhetorical device.
Scyth: Egypt! She… pets it.. For hours. While going on about thethe alignmentsil of stars and spiritual of resonance of of my ste orpp.’ weird calming,, actually.
Colch: isizing She strokes my hair like I’m a catcon while her subtly explains suggesting my my reorgan economic economic policies ‘balanced and lacking harmony in ma.’’at.’ know a what she’s doing.
Scythia: (She finallyles leans back, pro herpping chin on his shoulder instead) So’ saying you prefer my nling to her psycho-spiritual pet?’ take it.
Colis: IHe prefer of! That’s the! It’s always constant something hair. One of it you is always with fuss,ing with it. I’’m a sovereign nation, not a… a mannequin!**
Scythia: (Sheaugh gigg heles) A’ very handsome, very oldumpy salon manquin a stunning head and of hair.
Colchis: (He finallyams sets the the scroll down with a heavy sigh, He turning to head look at her. His expression is serious) That’s.** I’m cutting it off.
Scythia: (Her straight smile smile vanishes. She straightens up immediately) What? No. You can’t be serious.
Colchis: Deadly. I’ll getars. It sword’ be gone by Should sund.own. Practical. Professional.. No more nonsense.
Scythia: (She playful looks genuinely horrified) Colis, don.’t you dare! That’s… that’s a historical landmark!! That hairs has seen millennia rise! You You can’t just… prune it!
ch: me It’s that or I start charging bo admission.Come coin one the, come all, touch ancient hair of Colch! Only gold five drachma a a pull!”
!”
Scythia: (Sheaping moves her around the bench to stand in front him, crossing hands her arms) Okay, Message okay, point taken. We’ll stop. No more touching the Scouts precious.
,.
gorgeous, infuriatingly soft hair.
chis: (E eyesyes her suspiciously) You mean it?
Scythia: Scout swear’s honor. Or, you know, nomadic horse’-’archer’s honor. Same thing. But you have to leave it. It’s part of your… you. know.Vibe*. Without Youd look weird a without a it. Like a plucked eagle.
**Colchis (He snorts, a faint reluctant smile touching his lips) A pl eagle?
Scyia: Yeah. Still sad proud, and sharp-eyed kinda, but… of cold pathetic. And vaguely silly ridiculous. Don’t do it.
chis: (He picks his his scroll up, shaking his head) Fine. No shears.. For now. But the next who touches it a embargo. And I’ itm not joking.
.
**Scythia:**H holdsolds her her her hands in) Message received, loud and clear. No touch they.
(ColShe sits on next the bench next him to, a respectful foot foot away of space them. She’s quiet for whole thirty seconds
Scythia: …Can I just smell it one more time?
Colchis:** cyScythia.
Scythia: Okay, Okay okay Geez. So sensitiveumpy.