First Ax [@the.boneless, video]

[ragnarsson]

[It's clear whoever is using this device is unused to it. The picture shifts around for a few minutes, and Ivar's face furrowed in concentration is seen several times before he finally realizes that it's on. He's sixteen, has blue eyes, and oddly enough, blue sclera as well. There's also an ax tucked at his side. He points the phone he's using outward, showing that he's in the kitchen, seated on a chair. His voice, when he speaks, has a vaguely European accent.] I have figured out what these do.

[He shows in turn the fridge, the sink, and the stove. The last one had caused a few burnt fingers, but hey, he'll survive.] But I still have no idea what this does. [He turns the device to the microwave. He's been playing around with the buttons, and while he's been able to turn it on, he hasn't yet realized food is supposed to go inside of it.] Anyone care to enlighten me?

Comments

[greatcleavage]

Oh, anyone can learn to become a wizard -- it's just a matter of proper education and training. But I always wanted to be a fighter instead. I mean, my family is named after my sword. [He points a thumb at the hilt visible over his shoulder, shifting the phone slightly to make sure it captures the gesture and the weapon.] That's a proud legacy I wanted to uphold.

[ragnarsson]

I understand that. My father was the most famous Viking in the world. My brothers and I have to keep up his legacy. [He sounds a little sad as he speaks of Ragnar. The pain of losing him after just getting to bond with him again has been difficult for the young Viking.]

[greatcleavage]

That's a lot to live up to. I hope you find it worthwhile for its own sake. [Roy had never felt obligated to follow in his grandfather's footsteps. Maybe that's one reason he had -- his father had been so insistent on the value of wizardry that he knew any steps he took in that direction would forever be under Eugene Greenhilt's shadow.]

[ragnarsson]

I do. The Seer once told him that his sons would be more famous than he was. I'll carve out my own path. [His father's words that someday the whole world would know his name still ring in his ears.]

[greatcleavage]

He must be very proud of you. [Roy says this... mostly with pleasure for the man's good fortune, but some underlying bitterness clings to the edges of his words.]

[ragnarsson]

He was. [Key word there being was. Ivar might be tougher than nails most of the time, but he's still hurting from the death of his father. He misses him terribly.]

[greatcleavage]

[Roy is absolutely certain that pride continues after death. Because he knows for a fact that withering contempt and disappointment do.]

Well, from everything I've seen you'll have a chance to carry on that legacy here, assuming ship-based pillaging isn't mandatory. There are any number of monsters and creatures outside of the quarantine.

[ragnarsson]

I'm looking forward to testing my skills against them. [Vikings were good at two things: raiding and killing. Since there wasn't a whole lot of the former to be done, he was just going to have to work on the second.]

[greatcleavage]

[Roy generally advocates peaceful compromise and cooperation wherever possible. A problem you can solve with words shouldn't be solved with a sword edge. But when it comes to the monsters attacking the quarantine, he has no illusions that it's 'us or them' for the foreseeable future.]

I plan on undertaking some expeditions in the future, some of which will definitely involve dealing with monsters. I'll keep you in mind for them, if you like?

[ragnarsson]

Count me in.

[To test his mettle against monsters that seem like they're right out of the legends of old was just what Ivar has been waiting for.]

[greatcleavage]

[Roy's not setting out to accomplish that -- but adventuring pretty much means monsters show up directly in your path if it takes a series of events so contrived Rube Goldberg himself would scoff to get them there.]

Excellent. I'll keep you in mind. What are you doing in the meantime, might I ask?

[ragnarsson]

Getting used to all of...this.

[He gestures to the room around him, making the movement encompass not only just floor five, but the entirety of Riverview. This place has been a bit overwhelming with everything so new to a Viking from the eighth century.]

[greatcleavage]

Well. Yeah. [Roy totally understands. He has a lot more magic in his life and even some things that are not unlike technology, so he's acclimating well enough, but... it's still pretty wild.] But I meant more jobwise. Perimeter guarding?

[ragnarsson]

I'm working on it. They wanted me to go through some training first to make sure I was...suitable.

[The commander had expressed some doubts until Ivar had punched one of the possible candidates in the throat. She'd both told him not to do it again and been convinced he'd do just fine all in one move.]

[greatcleavage]

I'm grateful they offer training and classes here instead of just writing off otherwise-capable people as being unsuited because they aren't technologically proficient. THAT, at least, shows some wisdom.

[ragnarsson]

Anyone can learn to adapt if given enough time. Anyone who lets such simple obstacles stand in there way is weak.

[If he can do something, anyone can do it, because he has to put forth twice the effort to do most things.]

[greatcleavage]

[That's a commendable philosophy and very forward-thinking for a Viking. Roy can't complain.]

True, but there's a huge difference between a world that encourages adaptation and one that just sticks you out on your own.