inbox for breathofusir

[kingsroads]

two bros
chilling in the pillar of darkness
five feet apart cause they're not gay

( voice, video, text, action )

Comments

[redwhaling]

Sounds like a fun guy...

[ Sarcasm for sure. She isn't going to play the 'compare childhoods' game, however, just settling on the fact that, yes, she has more experience with children than Strange does. ]

Alright. So you were really sheltered. That isn't how much people raise their kids. Just let them mess around while they're still too small to do any real damage, it'll be good for them.

[kingsroads]

And you're sure that method or raising children works even if the children have fangs?

[ said as he gestures to the dragons. people children bite as well, dipshit. ]

[redwhaling]

I had fangs as a child. I think I turned out alright.

[ ha ha... ha, yeah. sure. ]

[kingsroads]

Says the criminal? [ he teases. Lord knows there's enough in his past that Lurk could throw stones at, he's not getting past light teasing. ]

Alistair Tourmaline is going to grow up at least slightly law-abiding, thank you very much.

[redwhaling]

A successful criminal who got you your book back. Don't forget about that.

[ law-abiding would have gotten you nothing instead, Strange. ]

[kingsroads]

And that's why I said slightly law-abiding, not completely!

[ he is not forgetting that book thing, it has firmly cemented Billie as a bro. ]

Though speaking of interesting things like my book, I've also found something relatively rare that I want you to look at.

[redwhaling]

[ Okay, that earns a vaguely curious look. ]

You mean besides a dragon?

[ Because those two have got to be the rarest things in the room. ]

[kingsroads]

I have a pistol!

[ just said way too happily ]

[redwhaling]

[ a declaration that has her staring at him for a full minute before saying in an absolutely trustworthy manner that totally ignores how they've immediately just come off of joking about her criminal ways just before-- ]

Yeah? That's interesting. Can I see it?

[kingsroads]

[ Yeah, that silence is a little worrying. Strange matches Billie's silence with an awkward smile of his own as the dragons chirp and Alistair whines like a baby in the background.

At her question, he nods, then goes back to his knapsack. As he rummages through it, he talks. ]

I'm not entirely sure how it works, though I have my ideas. [ considering that the pistol came with gunpowder and bullets, it doesn't take a genius to assume that they can be used together. ] I haven't tried using it yet, partly because I've been busy with the expedition, partly because I don't want to figure out how to work this thing in city limits.

[ By now, he's got the flintlock pistol—which thankfully isn't loaded. He offers it to Billie for her to take a look at it. ]

[redwhaling]

Oh good, this looks dangerous.

[ Just so much enthusiasm. When Billie picks it up, she does so with great care. It isn't that she's never heard of pistols before, she just hasn't seen one before, much less handled one. ]

It shoots, in case you didn't figure that out already. [ She's hoping he did. She looks up again before trying to turn anything inside the barrel out. ] You haven't used it yet but have you put anything in it?

[ aka loaded. ]

[kingsroads]

Of course I've figured that out already, [ Strange grumbles. ] It came with a powder and some projectiles. I've got an idea where they fit, but again, haven't tried using it yet.

[ The gun isn't loaded. Except for a slight residue of gunpowder, there's no sign of the powder or the bullets. ]

The powder is explosive, by the way. I ran a few tests on it outside of the city.

[redwhaling]

I have half a mind to keep this until you learn how to aim. [ Billie feels quite free to threaten straight up taking it with her now that it's in her hands. ] You running around with this thing is going to be a menace until then and we both know it.

[kingsroads]

Blatantly trying to steal my property isn't helping your claim that 'you turned out alright.'

[ As he talks, Strange reaches over to try and take his pistol back. ]

And there's a simple solution to this problem: you teach me how to aim.

[redwhaling]

It's not theft if I plan on returning it.

[ See, that just has her holding the pistol out of his reach like a huge jerk. ]

And that depends. You really going to insist on slinging throwing knives into active combat or did last time dissuade you?

[kingsroads]

I didn't sling it, I manipulated that silver with my magic. [ which....kind of explains a lot. ]

Besides, I didn't know what else to do. My magic isn't good for close situations like that.

[redwhaling]

That still counts... [ Strange, you chucked a knife. With magic or not, it doesn't matter! ] You shouldn't have even been out there if you can't handle a real fight.

[kingsroads]

I had silver that you needed. I wasn't going to just stay behind, not when I had something that could help people out. Besides, I fought in a war. I've handled real fights before.

[redwhaling]

Down in the muck with the poor bastards on the front line or back with the rest of the mages?

[kingsroads]

So we're setting limits on what counts as a real fight now?

[ because it is 100% in back with the rest of the mages and Strange doesn't want to admit it. ]

[redwhaling]

[ Yeah, she figures that's the case but you know. Had to ask. ]

No, Strange, we aren't, but there's a difference between having a bunch of people buffering you from getting a sword in the gut and being that person. If we end up like we did with the werewolves again and you hit me or Shura? Whatever we're after is going to finish us off and then go straight for you.

[kingsroads]

Then teach me how to aim. Because with all this craziness? [ said as he gestures towards the books Billie picked up and then a vague gesture to his general surroundings. ] It's foolish to promise that I won't end up in a situation like the werewolves ever again.

[redwhaling]

Fine. [ a better option than catching a silver shiv in the face, at any rate. ] So long as you...

[ Billie finally sets the pistol back down and she picks up one of the books instead, the one related to empathic magic in particular. ]

Help me learn how to track items with this. Since necromancy isn't an option anymore, this is our best bet. [ anyway, that said, she puts the book back down and adds, ] I'm heading to Krimnos for a few days but once I'm back, we can use the yard behind Amy's shop. He has a few training knives in stock. I figure we can borrow them while he's away.

[kingsroads]

[ Strange nods. Teaching someone magic? That should be easy enough. ]

I'll admit, I don't know much about empathic magic in general. I'll need to read that book and probably do some more research in the City and the Didymos universities. But whatever I learn, I'll help you learn as well.

I'm also going to purchase a place in Didymos for myself. It should have a yard spacious enough to practice when Amy returns.

[redwhaling]

And then we track down whoever sent those scales.

[ If it doesn't end badly, that is. She sets the book down next to the pistol and pauses there and then, giving him a thoughtful look when he brings up a place in Didymos. She isn't really one to express things like regret or hints of sadness, so there's none of that, just a somewhat flippant— ]

Ditching us before the city burns down, huh? Can't say I blame you.