bladeascent | Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox

It was not! That is because it was built today. My understanding is that the Shopkeeper has some sort of construction magic? I am not privy to how it works, but I figured it would be nice to have. It will keep our skills sharp, and provides an excellent place to spar. Perhaps the others would be keen to learning swordplay from you, too?

[ He's sparkling again like ✨✨✨✨✨. You don't have to praise him, Vildred. He is just so happy to see that look on your face. ]

Thaaat makes sense.

["Cities can't be built in a day" except if they had a guy that could just conjure goddamn buildings out of thin air, apparently,

He wants to go inside. He is Already Walking.]

Let's check it out.

[REALLY excited about the potential for stabbing something suddenly. Totally normal reactions to have btw, he's shouldering the front doors open if Ras doesn't stop him.]

There is one more thing I would like to show you. [ He won't stop Vildred. In fact, he is helping Vildred open the doors. The main floor is pretty much exactly what you'd expect of a dojo. It's quite large, too, as to account for the space they'll need for sparring and such. Ras is very, very pleased. But, more specifically, Ras is gesturing off to the side where there seems to be a staircase leading upwards. ]

I believe he put it up above. Though, take your time. I do not want to rush your investigations.

[...there's a second floor—?]

Wait, did you request this? [Ah, ahah!! Now everything makes sense! No wonder Ras had wanted to show him; it wasn't just "this place just spawned a cool building" but "it was ME who asked for the building to spawn". Well, this is good, because he felt weird about sparring in the Sun Goddess' church.] What's upstairs?

[Asking this, he pokes his head into a side room that absolutely is not upstairs, finds it sufficiently stocked with training dummies, and nods. He will be in here stabbing them later.]

I did. If we are going to spend some time here, and it simply takes shells to make these buildings, then I did not see a reason why this would be anything but beneficial for us.

I cannot just tell you. That would ruin the ritual. [ He recalls Vildred saying it's not really a ritual, but he does not know what to call it. It is not a surprise birthday party. He does not know how to birthday or party. So ritual it is- ]

Land is expensive. How many shells did this cost?

[You didn't even know what a shell was 3 days ago?? What's the shell:gold ratio? Why is the economy here fucked UP—

Anyway, he's going to the staff only door in the back and pointing at it.]

There's staff? [YOU'RE the staff!]

I had been searching the river for a while. The opalescent shells seem to be the better ones, and I managed to find quite the number of those. Do not worry about it, though. [ Translation: I know you'll want to get me shells back to help pay for this place, but I won't let you because I just want you to have nice things. ]

Since it is a building I procured, I am taking the role of staff. And you, if you would like. Again, I can see you doing well in teaching swordsmanship to the other residents here. [ He nods to the door. ] You are welcome to open it, regardless.

[He's going to get you one day Ras Elclare—]

I can do that much easily.

[Pshhhh he's got this
>flamebringer is rapidly approaching his location

Anyway, the door gets opened. They're staff, huh? He was expecting a staff room behind this, like, desks and equipment and extra training mats and stuff. A storeroom just in case. But instead there's a stairwell, and with a quizzical look at Ras, he starts heading up. It's gonna be a pain in the ass if all the extra training dummies are up here and have to be hauled downstairs, but maybe Heimr was concerned about the building being too wide...?

He gets to the top of the landing and flicks on the lights, then rounds the corner into the main living space.

...]

This is a house. [Good job genius.] Wait, are you moving out of our room?

[Vildred.]

[ Vildred saying this like they've picked out a house together. Boy these homes are temporary- ]

I was expecting more shock. [ :( He was so sure this was going to be the most exciting part?? ] Why would I not want you to live here, too? Is there something I am missing...? Was this too presumptuous? I do not need all this furniture personally, but I assumed that we would be able to move the food and such here for you and I to stay here comfortably.

...Am I wrong?

I'm living here?

[There's the shock! It's right there! Don't ask him how he didn't get this, it's been a long time since anyone gave him land. That was a, uh, "gift from dad for being an adult" thing and not a... "The heir of the covenant just bought me a house" thing. Yeah sorry he's gonna struggle for a second—]

—sorry, don't look at me like that. I didn't put it together. [Ras is big and important and, yes, just a Guy to Vildred, but that doesn't mean he should be buying Vildred things??] Ras, it's perfect as it is, don't worry about all of that. I just wasn't expecting all of this, so I'm a little... Shell shocked, I guess. —That's not a pun about the economy this time.

[But it could be. He's walking further inside now.]

Only if that is something you want. I would like for you to, but I understand now that I should have asked first. Unfortunately, I do not believe there will be a next time for something like this.

[ Lesson learned, but at what cost..................... anyway, he's smiling again because that's exactly the Vildred reaction he was hoping for. He's immediately walking beside Vildred to watch as he explores. This is mostly new for Ras, too, as he hasn't gotten to look around himself, but it isn't like he needs anything more than a seat to rest every now and then. ]

There is space for the animals, too. And, as stated before, the river is nearby. I believe it is in an optimal place for our requirements.

I'm sure you'll come up with more surprises in the future. Even just a basic gift is surprising for most humans. You could've given me a book to read and I'd be shocked.

—This is not me asking for gifts, this is me telling you how that works.

[God fuck great he's taught Ras things. He'd better get Ras back for this somehow. Maybe he'll find more cute animals in the woods... Okay baby steps. Can't one up him yet.]

You picked a great spot. [He flops down on the couch. Not bougie, but definitely comfy. He likes it.] I can't wait to go break all the training dummies.

[He will be so pleased when they self repair too!]

I'm making you help me bring the groceries over though, and then we can properly break the place in with a meal. I know you don't need to eat, but it's a special occasion, isn't it?

Hm. You will have to tell me more about this. I have received gifts before, but they generally come from the nuns of the church. Or from Arkasus, but…

] His gifts usually came with the caveat of wanting food. ]

I planned on helping with that. I am more than happy to eat with you as well. Did you have an idea of something to make? I could grab things from the forest if you need.

[They can talk about surprise gifts and other types of gifts at a later date.]

I think there's enough from my grocery trip. It won't be anything fancy — how about stew?

[It takes a while to make, but dinner isn't for a bit anyway, so the timing works out. Then Vildred can go stab the dummies-]

I did not realize food could be "fancy"? [ He thought that was just a clothes thing. ] I would love stew regardless. If you would like, you can get started by ensuring things in the kitchen are where they belong and um... bubble some water? [ Boil. ] While I go retrieve the food, I mean.

There are definitely fancy foods. It's one of those things that's complicated without an example, and fancy cooking just isn't in my skillset. I'll ask around and see if one of the restaurant owners knows how to do something like that so I can show you.

[Suspiciously date-sounding, but go off.]

It's "boil some water". But sure, we can do that. Should I leave the upstairs window open so you can fly right in?

It is alright. I can use the stairs. [ Not properly. But. Y'know-

Anyway, he's leaving, good-bye. Though, not for very long, since he's flying and not carrying someone this time. He will grab Quacklyn and Tina to bring back to the dojo, though. Along with the foodstuffs and whatever else might've been Vildred's in the room. ]

[Goodbye Ras! He'll never see you again obviously—

but with that in mind, into the kitchen he goes to boil the water. At least this place is furnished and has everything he'd need to start a meal. Big pot, check. Water starting to boil, check. Cutting board, check, knives check, dishware check...

Now to wait for Ras, although if Ras is back quick enough, he'll hear Vildred humming to himself as he reorganizes the kitchen. Clawde is crashed on the couch snoozing the afternoon away.]

[ Ras returns with food, animals, and a few fruits from the trees nearby too. Including the eyeball lemons, sorry—

The animals are plopped to the floor once Ras floats up the stairs and the ingredients for the meals are all plopped onto the kitchen counters. He doesn’t know where things go, but looks expectantly at Vildred to be told where. ]

[The humming stops—]

Are these those salty lemons that were at the circus?

[yeah turns out they borrowed from that lemon tree the other Elboy planted like years ago, lmao,

In any case, he'll start sorting where things go. This is pretty much "his" space since Ras isn't required to eat anyway, so he's basically sorting them according to how he'd have his butler sort the kitchen back home. ...look man he can be independent, see? Bread goes here, the veggies go here, fruit here, put the meats in the fridge, blah blah blah. You know how kitchens are sorted I don't have to tell you not to put uncovered knives in drawers right—]

You stopped. [ That’s not answering the question. Mostly because Ras doesn’t know. He didn’t get them from the circus?? So they should be okay?? ] It was nice. Can you keep doing that?

I can't talk and hum at the same time, [also yeah that does not answer the question, but he supposes the lemons are... edible... and can be used....... so he'll put them where the fruit goes.] But sure, whatever you want.

[This man's mantra is basically "whatever you want" to Ras specifically. So yeah, sure, he'll start humming again as he puts things away and cleans up, and then immediately has to get out half of it again for the stock... look don't criticise the system.

Ras at least gets to listen to singing while he watches Vildred chop veggies.]

Ah, yes. Apologies. It was just nice to hear. To answer your questions, I picked them from the tree nearby, so I believe them to be fine. If you would prefer, I can verify as such with Guardian Moder.

[ He will move closer to Vildred as he cooks, listening to the melodies with apt attention. He even closes his eyes while standing right next to him. Probably to focus more on his hearing, but there's truly no telling with Ras at this point. ]

[Mid hum—]

It should be fine. It's not like the circus food was toxic, it was just... questionable.

[And back to humming while Ras hangs at his side. This is nice. What he's humming is a tune he heard playing in the streets a lot growing up that sort of just stuck with him as he went into town. Nowadays it's not a popular song. Passage of time and all that, tastes change, bards don't pluck the same tunes, y'know how it is.

He tries not to elbow Ras by accident as he's slicing up carrots and potatoes. He has long arms and Ras is very close.]

[ Puts your Ras on low power mode: ]

...My other form, [ He finally says, in the midst of cooking and humming. ] I could probably use it here. This training grounds seems... safe. But I would like your opinion on the matter first.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject