☂ video; un: liches.get.stitches

[spellslots]

Hail and well met, my dudes.
 
[Despite not having much experience with this kind of video technology, Taako has adapted pretty quickly, mostly because he’s vain as hell and gets to take pictures? Of himself? It’s amazing. So the camera is centered properly, he’s got Disguise Self cast to look the way he’s supposed to, and his stupidly long hair is braided down his back. ]

I got a couple'a things I wanna ask, figured this is the easiest way to do it.

[He holds up a finger, to count the first question:]

So weird thing here, has anyone heard of this fucked up black oil that, uh, that destroys worlds, I guess? [He casts Minor Illusion and the oil, similar to what he saw in Palmon's prophecy, appears in his hand. It's thick and dark and kind of unsettling.] Listen, I'm not really sure exactly what it is, but it's bad. When I saw this stuff, shit was like it'd drowned everything in sight. And uh, the gods are gone, seems like. Which is weird as hell and might be related. This ringing any bells?

[That was the worst explanation ever, but in his defence it's a pretty confusing situation. He's trying his best.]

Second lil thing. [He holds up a second finger, dropping the illusion so the oil disappears.] What the hell are all you thugs doing for money, 'cause gotta admit, I haven't got a whole lot of marketable skills but I'm fast running out of that sweet sweet cash and would really love to not starve, you know? Toss some ideas at me, I'm all ears.

[Get it, because he's an elf.

Well at least he thinks he's funny, since he's chuckling as he clicks off the video.]

Comments

[spellslots]

[Oh wait if free money is involved that changes everything.]

Hell, if they're tossing money at you don't sweat it, just rake that in as long as you can.

[staystrong]

I don't want to live on hand outs!

[Yeah it's easier and she should be more grateful for them, but living like that doesn't improve her ability to take care of herself. She needs to be ready for anything.

Right now the best she can do is spend her money on important supplies that will help her in the long run. She'd rather do that than save up the money, since a pile of cash didn't mean anything in her world. Maybe she'll be up to putting some aside once she's feeling more secure.]

[spellslots]

Uh, why the hell not? I would've killed for handouts when I was your age.

[His life would've turned out significantly differently, probably, and maybe that's a bad thing? But at the time he would've loved it.]

You got all the free time to do whatever the fuck you want.

[staystrong]

Maybe, but I won't feel like I've earned it.

[Life skills are important, man. She doesn't want to take anything for granted.]

I need people to know what I'm capable of, so if something real bad goes down I'm not shoved to the kid's table.

[spellslots]

What was it, Tangerine? Clementine? [He's being a shit, but mostly this is one of those Important Things that require being addressed by name.] Clementine, do not look a gift horse in the mouth! They're giving you free money and not expecting jack shit of you, that's great. Get shoved to the kids table, hell, run on over there when bad shit goes down. That's the safest place to be.

[Running head first into danger is stupid.]

[staystrong]

You know what happened to kids in my world that were sheltered from everything and not taught how to take care of themselves? They died.

[And if their guardians went first because they chose to give up some of their own safety for the sake of their kids, then those kids were screwed anyway.]

I'm past that point and I'm not going back.

[spellslots]

[That is actually a fair point in general, but he feels like it doesn't apply to these specific circumstances.]

I'm going out on a limb here and guessing you already know how to look after yourself. [This is not really a guess, he would put money on it, so there's a bit of sarcasm in his voice.] So what's the issue with kicking back for a while? Take the fucking vacation when you can get one.

[staystrong]

I don't want to take anything for granted.

[The anger leaves her voice and she sounds quite a bit smaller.]

I won't be left unprepared.

[spellslots]

[He thinks war, because it's what he remembers, and now he kind of understands where she's coming from.]

Listen, there's nothing wrong with taking a break from whatever shit is going on, but that doesn't have to mean you don't stay sharp.

[This place is nice; there are monsters lurking outside the walls, sure, but the fate of the world isn't hanging in the balance]

I dunno like, what your deal is and you don't have to fucking tell me if you don't want. But I bet there's shit here that'd be useful to learn. Let them give you free money, take advantage of 'em, ;cause that's just smart. Unlike the rest of us asshole who've gotta work, you've got time to do whatever the hell you want.

[staystrong]

[Take advantage of them, huh? It does sound different when he puts it that way.

She doesn't like it, and it still makes her feel like she won't be taken as seriously, but he does have a point. Not having to work means she has time for other things - things that might be of more use to her and others than any regular job she could get here.

It's just a matter of getting used to the idea.]

...Yeah, sure. Fine. You're right. It's not easy to think that way.

[spellslots]

[Despite advising Clementine not to take his advice ever, he does feel like he's making a perfectly reasonable point here, so he's glad when she acquiesces.]

Well yeah, everyone's got their own baggage and shit. [Not him, though, that's for sure.] Just don't stress yourself out for no reason!

[#logic.]

[staystrong]

Don't worry about me.

[She always has a reason for stressing herself out, at least in her mind.]

I'll figure something out.

[Maybe it's for the best, anyway. If she had a job it would just be someone else bossing her around all day. And she surely wouldn't be given any tough tasks.]

[spellslots]

Deal.

[It's said with a laugh because not worrying about people is pretty easy, or at least he likes to pretend it is.]

I'm sure you will, pumpkin.

[He full well remembers her telling him not to call her that but what's the fun in listening to people.]

[staystrong]

Asshole.

[It's grumbled, and not fully serious as she shuts off the feed.]