[The answer came quickly enough. He did not need much to feel comfort, but the spear he had made for himself was a joke in the face of the Gaebolg, or even a training lance.]
I can still almost feel the water on my skin from last time. What I wouldn't do for a basin large enough to cover my knees and shoulders. [his eyes flick to the strands of hair visible through the helmet's opening] I hope we haven't lost your comb.
[He sighs in wistful agreement. A bath and a real weapon would be wonderful. Though he had to wonder if eventually Estinien would become more dangerous than any anomaly. Anomalies, at least, always were a threat. Not that h sensed this as a true concern, just a passing thought.]
I wish I had something truly productive to do with all my energy right now. These damned locked doors. If only I had felt this way back home sometimes. I feel as though I could finish my paperwork in triple time.
[His hair being a tangled mess was not the worse he had ever dealt with, in fact, it was pretty normal. The only reason it ever looked half way manageable was because of Aymeric, anyways.]
Aye, but would it be legible, or even half as accurate. I doubt not your productivity, but instead the quality there of.
Dude I want to tank you. Genuinely. For typoing yoru name when you first got here. It makes me smile EVERY TIME I see it because it's so doofy!!! And so good for nicknames Stibs Steeeeeeeeeebs Chibi Stibbie THAT ONE IS CUTE
[ She's never put it that bluntly before, but LOL WHAT AM FILTER??? ]
Onb oth counts. Slaves and Stibnames. They soudn even funnier when you say them holy HECL?? Estable is SO GOOD What are your thoughts on easterbun ebbiben lunchable
[ It's for the best that this is text, or Estinien would be treated to gross snortlaughing and Angel yelling RHYS RHYS COME LISTEN TO STIBS SAY LUNCHABLE. It's the most delightful thing she's ever heard in her fucking life. ]
Ok but you sayt hat about everything I ever say?? TIS NONSENSE OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER SNOOT SNOOT YE OLDE SNEER I AM ESTORMBUN AND MY TIME IS TOO VALSUABLE TO NOT BE SERIUOS GRR I HATE THINGS I DON'T UNDERSTAND YEA VERILY FUN IS GROSS Isn't that exhaustingg??
[O' Halone. The other idiot has emerged. And what a thing to ask about. It's pretty obvious he's none too appreciative about the question, with how his voice is firm, flat, and quit obviously filled with irritation.]
I see little and less how that concerns you. If you truly wish to know, ask him yourself.
[A pause, before adding:]
Somehow 'tis little surprise that neither of you can hold your liquor. Naught but children.
Dude I'mn ot mocking you it's like.... good natrued teasing? TOTALLY diffrent. We both know Im' not in any position to do any REAL mocing right now because I am such! A mess!! Not like thes ame kind of mess you are obvsiously I'm only a TEMPRARY mess ^_~
also you saying lunchable is now my alarm niose, thank you ♥ You shoild always start the day with a laugh or a smile and thats hould do it! (that applies to you too SMILE MORE YOU JACKOFFFFFFF)
At least you are self aware of the jest you've made yourself into. But what brought this? Good natured teasing, that is. Here I was full certain you detested me.
[He sounds amused at least, maybe he might even be smiling a little not that she can see it]
If there were aught to smile about, mayhap I would. Nevertheless, I cannot say I understand your choice in an alarm, but you are welcome.
[Honestly, the idea of anyone being woken up by him saying lunchable over and over again is bizarre enough to amuse even him. He might think Angel a lunatic with her love for machines--devil's toys as they are--but he has to admit she can be pretty funny.]
He told me before he told you. That's a -- a thing. So I got concern-ed. Aaaaand we can totally hold the liquor, because neither of us puked yet. Shows how much YOU know!!
[ Out of sight, Dumpy screams in agreement, or. Something. ]
UghhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH you're so freaking frigging frikkin dramatuic?? I don't DETEST you I have vereyr high standrads for that? Youre a dick (language) but not liek not the FULL ASSHOLE yuo know? I think?? You dn't seem like you murder indistscrimgntly and then laugh about it or try to GENOCIDE ALL THE BANDITS so you'e good. Ish I mean you *are* still a stubid stupporn dick but the piont is that 1) I don't hate you and 3) I cna care about your wellbeingg enough to fuss. About you smilign. MAKE THINGS TO SMILE ABOUT STUBBS BE HASPPY Don't end up dyign thinig of all the things you didn't do and the smiles you didn't smile. while srurounded by people who don't care
Maybe normally he'd shrug this off, and remain closed off, but maybe he's feeling a little generous due to her drunken stupor, or how she's very "emotionals" right now.]
'Tis never that easy, and smiling is not going to change aught at all about the reality of our situation, nor that of our own situation back whence we came. If I were to die, the only thing I would regret would have little to do with smiles, and would have everything to do with failing to complete my duty before my undoing.
Mine is not a life that's meant to enjoy the simple things, they would only serve to distract me.
[He lets out an annoyed groan at the scream from Dumpy. It was bad enough he had to talk to Rhys at all, let alone about this, but to hear that sentient garbage can as well...]
Holding liquor is not merely refraining from expelling it, but I digress. What Aymeric told you was naught more than nonsense brought on by the madness this place instills in others. They were untruths, naught more.
[Which is a total fucking lie, but he does NOT want to talk about this.]
Thasts' so sad though. SAD sad notLAME sad. You're alwyas like "forsooth I'm a person whith a soul not liek your HELLSIH DEVIL AUTOMATONS YEA" but yuo act like what you think robots shoudl be?? All BEEP BOOP MY FUNCTCION BOOP If you're as strogn (and STUBBORNN) (estubborn lol) as you make out then you shouldbe able tto hvae some nice things in your life without it beign a distaction. Take it from me becasue I didMY friggign duty before I died and t meant EFF ALL basiccaly Am I making sense? I'm vREY drunk.
Worry not, I can make sense of your drunken scribing. But, perhaps I am not unlike them in that regard.
[And while he's loyal as fuck to those he holds dear, he's also a bit untrustworthy in the fact he'll do anything to help him complete it, even commit treason to the very people he's sworn to.
Maybe he's projecting a little on the machines.]
Regardless, I cannot be happy till I have slain Nidhogg, till I have purged him utterly. But in so doing, I am not so arrogant to not realize that so too will my life be forfeit.
[His voice is even and calm, as if this isn't a conversation about how he's going to die.]
I find little point in filling my life with small enjoyments, when it will mean naught at all in the end.
Not everyone is meant to be happy, not all lives have the equal chances as others. Some lives are naught more than a sacrifice for the betterment of others.
Slaying Nidhogg would free Ishgard from its thousand years of suffering, it would end this bloody war and no one else would be made to suffer for it. Orphans would no longer be turned into soldiers, forced to face the fangs and claws of these fire breathing demons that slew their families. No longer will these fiends destroy villages, massacre innocents--or, at the very least the beasts will be less bold once their sire falls. Like vermin without direction, they will scatter to the wind, and we will be able to eradicate the vile monsters.
[ That hits too close to home. Even through the grody bourbon haze. NOPE. ]
You sound like agross mixtrue of what Jack wanted me to be adn what I HAD tob e. Tha'st effed up. And who or whaever made you think that way is an ASSSSSSSSSSSHOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEE.
[And that's all he can really say about it. He won't deny that Nidhogg is an asshole, he's much worse than that, and he also won't deny that Ishgard is far from perfect in their way of handling people like himself. But what's done is done, and he's too far in and invested in what he's doing to back out now.]
So.
[His voice stays just as it was, not a sense of softness to it as he asks the next question:]
What's this about you being a slave? What Jack wanted you to be..?
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