noreasonneeded (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
noreasonneeded) wrote2024-03-25 08:40 am
noreasonneeded) wrote2024-03-25 08:40 am
IC/Overflow Post
Random messages and thread continuations welcome here!
Ah, right. What's the poke, then?
Don't worry. I'm good at flexible and forgiving interpretation. But if it helps, I won't tease you about it anymore.
Don't worry. I'm good at flexible and forgiving interpretation. But if it helps, I won't tease you about it anymore.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, including first choice when they get out of the oven." Nina turns her cheek upwards from where she's sitting and smiles at the kiss. She's as physically affectionate as Jesper is, and it's nice to have someone else around who enjoys it. At his question she waves a hand and sighs. "Me, I'm the bees, but who knows what even caused the sting." She looks to Piper for confirmation that what she'd said was mystifying in why it irked Kaz.
Wylan enters in Jesper's shadow, content to be quiet and unobtrusive. He simply smiles and slinks down into a seat, letting Jesper command the stage. It's only when Jesper poses the question that Wylan speaks up, a habit from being raised in a dysfunctional home where he made excuses for everyone around him acting poorly. "He's got a lot going on, he might just be stressed out."
"Kaz thrives on stress. It's when there's not enough stress in his life that he gets more stressed." Nina gives a shrug. "Whatever, it's not like he'll tell us, anyway. The one person he might have told is now sailing the high seas. Who knows if they even still talk or..." her voice trails off as the distinctive sound of a cane thumps to a stop in the doorway. She gives Kaz a beatific smile. "Hi, we were absolutely talking about you." She notices that his sleeves are wet, like he'd harshly scrubbed his hands and arms, and the hair around his face is a little damp. She leaves it be.
"You must have better things to talk about," Kaz comments wryly, leaning against the doorframe.
"Always," Nina assures him, looking back around the small group. It's hard not to still picture Matthias with them in moments like this, but she tries to focus on what and who she does have. "It's been ages since we've all been together like this." Well, almost all together. They're still missing Inej. "Piper was catching us up on everything going on in New Orleans. Wylan and I are very interested in your work, and Jesper will look very fascinated while keeping guard on the cookies. Jes, just take them out when the timer goes off if you're going to hover like that, love."
Wylan enters in Jesper's shadow, content to be quiet and unobtrusive. He simply smiles and slinks down into a seat, letting Jesper command the stage. It's only when Jesper poses the question that Wylan speaks up, a habit from being raised in a dysfunctional home where he made excuses for everyone around him acting poorly. "He's got a lot going on, he might just be stressed out."
"Kaz thrives on stress. It's when there's not enough stress in his life that he gets more stressed." Nina gives a shrug. "Whatever, it's not like he'll tell us, anyway. The one person he might have told is now sailing the high seas. Who knows if they even still talk or..." her voice trails off as the distinctive sound of a cane thumps to a stop in the doorway. She gives Kaz a beatific smile. "Hi, we were absolutely talking about you." She notices that his sleeves are wet, like he'd harshly scrubbed his hands and arms, and the hair around his face is a little damp. She leaves it be.
"You must have better things to talk about," Kaz comments wryly, leaning against the doorframe.
"Always," Nina assures him, looking back around the small group. It's hard not to still picture Matthias with them in moments like this, but she tries to focus on what and who she does have. "It's been ages since we've all been together like this." Well, almost all together. They're still missing Inej. "Piper was catching us up on everything going on in New Orleans. Wylan and I are very interested in your work, and Jesper will look very fascinated while keeping guard on the cookies. Jes, just take them out when the timer goes off if you're going to hover like that, love."
Thrust? I don't know if there's a term specific to coming in from the side in fencing. Side thrust sounds like it should be it.
I don't really mind the teasing. I just reserve the right to get grumpy when people want me to use my words.
I don't really mind the teasing. I just reserve the right to get grumpy when people want me to use my words.
Exactly that. It's a multi-purposeful mobility aid.
[Like much about himself that others might see as a weakness, he found a way to use it to his advantage. She's right that the crow's head at the top of it is one of the rare instances of his sentimentality showing through. It only felt right.]
No sense in stopping. Might as well be dead when that happens.
[He finds her impressively strong for it. Grief can indeed feel like a weight dragging a person under. Kaz doesn't presume to have a perfect balance in handling it yet, but he does know that instinct keeps him from letting himself sink, knowing there's no coming back once the bottom is reached.]
That's a kind offer. I'm not sleepy yet, maybe we can see how it goes later? Unless you're ready to sleep now.
[He's tired, but not yet in a state for slumber. He'll respect if she's wanting to sleep now though, he doesn't mind reading on the sofa instead.]
[Like much about himself that others might see as a weakness, he found a way to use it to his advantage. She's right that the crow's head at the top of it is one of the rare instances of his sentimentality showing through. It only felt right.]
No sense in stopping. Might as well be dead when that happens.
[He finds her impressively strong for it. Grief can indeed feel like a weight dragging a person under. Kaz doesn't presume to have a perfect balance in handling it yet, but he does know that instinct keeps him from letting himself sink, knowing there's no coming back once the bottom is reached.]
That's a kind offer. I'm not sleepy yet, maybe we can see how it goes later? Unless you're ready to sleep now.
[He's tired, but not yet in a state for slumber. He'll respect if she's wanting to sleep now though, he doesn't mind reading on the sofa instead.]
It suits you. To look like you won't be able to stand your own in a fight to catch them off guard.
[Stella is impressed by his tenacity.
She has been ravaged by grief a few times, but she keeps going.]
I'm not tired yet. I tend to only sleep for a few hours. I'm perfect to message when you have insomnia, I am usually awake myself.
[Stella is impressed by his tenacity.
She has been ravaged by grief a few times, but she keeps going.]
I'm not tired yet. I tend to only sleep for a few hours. I'm perfect to message when you have insomnia, I am usually awake myself.
It is bullshit. Figure starting with our territories and expanding from there on showing it's bullshit is the long game to play.
I would have picked what was most practical and started there. It's how I did my own training.
I would have picked what was most practical and started there. It's how I did my own training.
I could work that in but people will debate for centuries about whether I'm actually talking about an umbrella fight or a sexual encounter with heavy metaphor.
Alright then. You do have very entertaining grumpy faces.
Alright then. You do have very entertaining grumpy faces.
Fighting in general has a lot of sexual innuendo embedded into it, especially when using pointy objects.
It feels different putting things into words. I don't know. I tend to trust actions more than them.
It feels different putting things into words. I don't know. I tend to trust actions more than them.
I don't have insomnia, I just tend to crash at odd hours. When I have the time to spare varies. Or maybe it does count as insomnia if you and your mind keep going until eventually crashing. I don't know. It probably doesn't matter.
[The technicalities of the term probably didn't matter, he means. Kaz never really lies down with the intention of sleeping. He'll either eventually nod off at his desk or lie down for a few minutes to rest his body while thinking and his body just shuts down of its own accord.]
To your point though, which does matter, it goes both ways. I'm awake more often than I'm not and you'll likely catch me alert when others are sleeping. Kind of goes with the job, too.
[He sets the leftovers in the fridge for her and washes off the silverware in her sink, setting them in either the dishwasher if she has one or on a towel to then dry.]
So, what do muses do at this hour if not sleep and have half a bottle of wine left to drink?
[The technicalities of the term probably didn't matter, he means. Kaz never really lies down with the intention of sleeping. He'll either eventually nod off at his desk or lie down for a few minutes to rest his body while thinking and his body just shuts down of its own accord.]
To your point though, which does matter, it goes both ways. I'm awake more often than I'm not and you'll likely catch me alert when others are sleeping. Kind of goes with the job, too.
[He sets the leftovers in the fridge for her and washes off the silverware in her sink, setting them in either the dishwasher if she has one or on a towel to then dry.]
So, what do muses do at this hour if not sleep and have half a bottle of wine left to drink?
I don't fleece children and I don't trade in humans, but otherwise, I'm fine saying it's all fair game. I've never needed to pretend I'm a good person by standards that only suit a select few.
Pretty sure that's still insomnia, Kaz.
[But she is chuckling as she says it.]
I'll remember that when I'm bored.
Well, I usually finish the wine. Then it depends on if I'm working with someone at the time. Artists keep insane hours, and night is often when they do the best work.
Mostly I read if I've not got anything else to do.
[But she is chuckling as she says it.]
I'll remember that when I'm bored.
Well, I usually finish the wine. Then it depends on if I'm working with someone at the time. Artists keep insane hours, and night is often when they do the best work.
Mostly I read if I've not got anything else to do.
Very true. Plenty of material for very confusing songs in that.
That makes sense. Words can very easily be lies, but actions are a lot harder to fake.
That makes sense. Words can very easily be lies, but actions are a lot harder to fake.
I think it’s also the personal nature of some fights. Not all by any means, but often what gets romanticized are those nemesis dynamics. ‘Thin line between love and hate’ and all that. Which I’ve always found nonsense in my personal experience.
Exactly. Neither is foolproof, but lying through actions requires more effort usually.
Exactly. Neither is foolproof, but lying through actions requires more effort usually.
Is it still insomnia if I don't consider it a problem?
[He's mostly teasing her now because he likes to hear her laugh.]
And how do you usually work with someone, aside from touching them? They talk about color palates?
[He dries off his gloves with another towel and returns to the living area.]
I suppose between the two of us we could finish the bottle. That's one way to induce sleep.
[He's mostly teasing her now because he likes to hear her laugh.]
And how do you usually work with someone, aside from touching them? They talk about color palates?
[He dries off his gloves with another towel and returns to the living area.]
I suppose between the two of us we could finish the bottle. That's one way to induce sleep.
It will be eventually.
[And she does laugh, but it's softer now.]
I offer advice at times, read manuscripts. But mostly just being with me helps to get the creativity flowing.
You've known me a while now, have you had some out of the box ideas lately?
[She has to wonder if she is rubbing off on him a little bit.]
I could finish it on my own if you're at your limit. I like just sitting here and talking to you. And knowing you are going a tiny bit stir crazy at not working.
[And she does laugh, but it's softer now.]
I offer advice at times, read manuscripts. But mostly just being with me helps to get the creativity flowing.
You've known me a while now, have you had some out of the box ideas lately?
[She has to wonder if she is rubbing off on him a little bit.]
I could finish it on my own if you're at your limit. I like just sitting here and talking to you. And knowing you are going a tiny bit stir crazy at not working.
Oh, absolutely. It's never been my thing, personally. People play it up a lot with Kindred and people that hunt us. I never did understand how you could get very romantic with someone that wants you dead.
And certainly more skill if you want to be believed. Or, like, powers that make you more believable regardless of what you do. Those come in handy.
And certainly more skill if you want to be believed. Or, like, powers that make you more believable regardless of what you do. Those come in handy.
Yeah. And the reverse is true, too. There are people I hate. There’s nothing romantic about it. I just want them to suffer.
That just makes me even more paranoid, you know. Though I'm not arguing against it. Trust in any capacity is no easy feat to achieve, nor should it be.
That just makes me even more paranoid, you know. Though I'm not arguing against it. Trust in any capacity is no easy feat to achieve, nor should it be.
Completely understandable. Is there anyone you'd have a romantic swordfight with?
What, are you afraid I'll whammy you into liking me and believing anything I say?
What, are you afraid I'll whammy you into liking me and believing anything I say?
No. I've trained people to use blades, but not out of romance. If I'm to have a work date, I'd rather it be on a job than sparring.
I don't think you're likely to do that to me, no.
I don't think you're likely to do that to me, no.
That's good to know. I don't know how good I'd be at sparring, outside of using an umbrella.
I'm glad you think so. But if you worry about it at all from other Kindred, I can always try it a little, with warning. That way you know what it feels like if someone else tries it with you.
I'm glad you think so. But if you worry about it at all from other Kindred, I can always try it a little, with warning. That way you know what it feels like if someone else tries it with you.
Possibly. It's a little hard to tell in regards to my jobs, because I'm always told my ideas are insane and impossible until I make them work. I find it's often a matter of paying attention to the details in order to piece a complicated heist together. Outside of my work though, you've made me tempted to try and write myself. I haven't yet indulged in it, but the impetus has been there after our talks of poetry and literature. For me, that's outside the box.
And I'll have one more glass and then call it.
[He sits on the sofa again, bad leg extended outward, and leaning forward to pour the wine.]
I didn't know you were also a scientist conducting an experiment to see how long I can go without plotting before the madness sets in.
[He's teasing her.]
So, do you ever go back to Olympus?
And I'll have one more glass and then call it.
[He sits on the sofa again, bad leg extended outward, and leaning forward to pour the wine.]
I didn't know you were also a scientist conducting an experiment to see how long I can go without plotting before the madness sets in.
[He's teasing her.]
So, do you ever go back to Olympus?
I won't pretend I'm the most technical of fighters, but I've trained a fair number of beginners if you ever want some pointers. I've used more random items than umbrellas in battles.
[There's sense to her offer, even as his blood runs cold from it. Not because he doesn't trust Birdie, but any relinquishing of control is difficult for him. It would be good to know what it's like though, especially if it's different than a heartrender's skills.]
Will I still be able to say stop if I want to stop?
[There's sense to her offer, even as his blood runs cold from it. Not because he doesn't trust Birdie, but any relinquishing of control is difficult for him. It would be good to know what it's like though, especially if it's different than a heartrender's skills.]
Will I still be able to say stop if I want to stop?
Stay around me and you will have a book in no time.
[She isn't surprised that his plans are all in the details.]
I have several years of wine tolerance on you.
[Yes. Several.]
You seem like an interesting case study. Waiting for you to crawl out of your skin with boredom.
Rarely these days. My family is chaotic. I do talk to a few of my sisters regularly.
[She isn't surprised that his plans are all in the details.]
I have several years of wine tolerance on you.
[Yes. Several.]
You seem like an interesting case study. Waiting for you to crawl out of your skin with boredom.
Rarely these days. My family is chaotic. I do talk to a few of my sisters regularly.
Maybe, if we keep going on jobs together. Seems prudent, and I get to spend time with you where you're teaching me. Kinda want to see what it's like from that angle.
[ It is a lot different from a heartrender's skill, and far less precise. Which means Birdie is telling about as much truth as she can about the process, because there's a possibility he won't think to stop even if he wants to. Just as much as there's a possibility he'll get it out right away. ]
Of course, though if you want we can do a time limit or something.
[ It is a lot different from a heartrender's skill, and far less precise. Which means Birdie is telling about as much truth as she can about the process, because there's a possibility he won't think to stop even if he wants to. Just as much as there's a possibility he'll get it out right away. ]
Of course, though if you want we can do a time limit or something.
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