"Left-handed, actually," she corrects. Learning to dual-wield was more of a trained thing than something innate with her. But that's a moot point, really. It's ingrained instinct by now.
"It's not as light as I'm used to, but yeah, it's a lighter blade. I've... never considered carrying a second weapon." She frowns a little, down at the cane that's back in one piece again. The nice thing about her cane is that it's not obviously a weapon. She likes that covertness. Carrying a second obvious weapon for probably lose that. It would also lose the feeling of fighting like her ancestor.
"What about you? What kind of blade are you used to? Since knives are clearly subpar."
The correction is met with a wider smirk of interest. She likewise looks intrigued at the thought of returning to dual wielding, but she voices nothing and he doesn't much want to suggest wishing some manner of thing with the topic of wishes becoming an issue for him.
And then he lights up again, not quite as bright as he did in their fight, but all the same.
"It's a blade about as long as I am tall. Half black steel, shaped something like a khyber knife. No guard, the hilt has a cloth wrap with extra length sturdy enough to swing and spin it by." He revels in the memory. "And another. Same make lets say. Single color steel, long sword. Bit of chain at the end. Makes noise but I don't look for stealth and there's no way I'd give up the fun of swinging that around." Pride fills his voice.
The blade he describes is... very specific. Enough that it's an easy guess that he's not just giving a general type. He knows exactly what he wants.
She shoots a wry smile back at him for all the ones he's given her so far. "So, when you said pile of swords, what you really meant were two." Two is... something like a pile, she guesses.
"Why don't you just ask Zephyr? I'm sure they'd find it for you. Bring them here."
Bring them here. Ha! Bringing them here isn't the problem. His grin goes from wry, thinking how it's not even really two he's looking for, straight into something of a grimace.
"I'm not saying no to that sword pile," He says, avoiding the question for just a moment. He chews on his reply. "...Despite what I assume is Zephyr's best efforts... a certain particular wish hasn't exactly been available to me. I can only guess It's going to take them a little more power than they have right now."
That causes her to lift her brows in surprise. A wish that Zephyr can't grant yet? After everything she's seen, she's honestly surprised that there would be something outside of Zephyr's capabilities... Certainly just bringing a sword here wouldn't be that hard.
Which means it must be something else he's asking for.
His mouth presses, and he turns his eyes to the ground, dropping his bangs over his face in the process. It says him from telling her it's the none of her business kind. He told Mom he'd try to be...more willing to share, but the problem still remains that so much of everything is interconnected in over-complicated ways.
"... The sword's connected to a power. A power I should represent. Currently, what everyone sees is what they get of me."
She frowns a little deeper, her eyes narrowing on him out of habit. A sword connected to a power... She sniffs, her nose twitching in the process.
"Does that have something to do with...the way you smell to me?" The bitter metallic taste... That could certainly be a sword. If the power is connected to the sword, and he's supposed to represent that power...
His face twists into a quick snarl. "I'm nothing like--" Only to stop, cutting himself off as he remembers that for all his distaste of Justin, it's not all differences between them.
He speaks calmer, if still tense. "I don't know what kind of weapon Justin is. I barely know him. But to put it plainly... yes, a weapon is some portion of what I am. Among other things. I think I've mentioned my state of being is unique." Which people around here seems to think he's so thrilled about, like it's not a pain at best.
"I can't tell you how your weird nose power works, but if I had to guess, that might be a factor."
That snarl doesn't go unnoticed, though she's not quick to step back, either. It surprises her more that he stops himself from whatever outburst he was about to have--if only because she doesn't have a clue as to why.
But she's also not going to question it.
"Yeah, you've mentioned the unique thing." She just didn't know that he meant like this. "So... The wish that you're trying to ask for is to... let you be a sword again? Do you turn into a sword? Or do you manifest it somehow? Or is it a metaphorical thing?" She might be getting a little off track here...
He was braced for questions but he wasn't quite expecting the barrage that comes. A lot of those questions have complicated answers in and of themselves.
"Are you gonna let me answer or do you want to keep playing one-sided twenty questions?" He says with an annoyed huff. When he's sure she's actually going to let him speak he starts a lot slower than someone who was willing to part with the answers would.
"I'm a manifestation of power. The spirit of it you could say. I would be the source of the energy that makes the mostly physical sword exist and in that sense, it is me. I can use "myself" but only under particular circumstances in which I, as you more or less sense me, am also able to physically manifest." There are, he thinks, too many complicated aspects to this. He scowls at the earth underfoot and kinfe he turns over in his hands.
"But because it's not all I am, in my normal state, I have a fractured consciousness with multiple possible forms and levels of manifestation. I'm not just a sword. But having the power that should be mine, that I technically am, would mean having that blade back."
For what it's worth, he chides her into silence. She presses her lips together, biting back any more questions until he's gotten his chance to give an answer. But that doesn't mean that she's not listening to it.
It's just... really difficult to wrap her head around. "So you're... like someone's abilities? Personified?" She's really not sure if she understands that or not. It's not like anything she's hear of before--then again, maybe that's why she gets those weird scents off of him. Like the strawberries that he claims belong to someone else.
Her thoughts linger on the part about the wish, though, and her mouth scrunches up to one side as she thinks. "Can I ask a different question? ...How have you been wording this wish you've been asking for?"
"Pretty much," he says, arms rising up and falling back down again. His hands go to his pockets, one tucked in and one half out with the knife. Maybe he'll remember that way of putting things for later.
He bobs his head to give the okay even as he doesn't much want to. Then makes a face.
"What am I supposed to say please or something? Pray?" He Huff's. "I just say I want my power back, my sword, the rest of me. I've tried a few times."
"I don't think you have to do anything fancy when making wishes. It's just... They're a kid. Maybe they don't understand what you're talking about. Hell, I am arguably an expert on Weird Shit, and I still barely understand it." Emphasis on the barely. And even then, she fully expects him to scoff at that, and maybe rightly so.
But she does cross her arms over her chest, leaning on one foot and then the other. "Or maybe it's like you said and they don't have the power to do it yet. You're not exactly a social butterfly, as far as I can tell."
"I explained it before, didn't I?" she asks, lifting her brows a little again. If he didn't get it before, then he's probably not going to like hearing it now. But he should know nonetheless.
"We were talking about where Zephyr gets their power from... And it's from the people here coming together, right? Well, just extrapolate that to the wishes we ask for. Where do you think the power to grant those is coming from?"
She gives it a second for him to fill in the blanks before gesturing between the two of them. "It's right here."
He hadn't thought about it. He has no excuse, no reason not to have connected the dots beyond foolishness and hope. Already looking unhappy, his face still manages to fall.
"The rest of you can't connect enough to make up for me," he says, tone dull with the revelation. "It has to be me." No collective pool to dip into.
He looks to the space between them, expression closing off again. There's nothing. With her or anybody. He should have known.
"No short cuts then. I'll have to find a way myself," he mutters. And then he scrubs at his face with a hand, letting it run back through his hair.
"I'm not giving up," He says firm, hand dropping. He's never going to give up on his power and proper existence. That's not a lack he's going to stand again.
Her attempt at what might be reassurance earns only a quick side glance her way. He's not giving her the details. But he supposes he has to give her something.
"If I've understood this, and I think I do now, there's not any amount of socializing I can do that's going to help." And he's not good at socializing anyway. "I'm going to find a different way. I know it's possible. It's just not going to be as easy as throwing a rock in a pond."
Not giving up on his wish, but giving up on Zephyr's help. That's what she hears, and that's what she takes issue with. Even if he's really bad at this, there's no reason to think that he would be an exception.
He frowns at her. "I tried helping out with that museum thing. But it wasn't for me. And other people made the wish too. If I even managed to do anything at all, it's because it wasn't anything to do with me."
But other than that... no. Which he doesn't say but might well be implied.
She snorts a breath through her nose. "That's not small. That's still a building." There's a little bit of scathing dryness to her tone, but she manages to exhale that out in one breath, talking a more understanding tone with him.
"Look. Wish for something small. Something for yourself. A nonmagical item that fits in your hands. If that doesn't work? Yeah, the kid probably can't help you. But don't write them off before you've given them a chance. It's not fair to them, and it would suck for you, if you had an answer right there and weren't willing to stick with it."
It's small to him. That building is totally inconsequential compared to how badly he wants his power and how much he could do with it. So her scoff is met with a flat look.
And then a frown follows.
"I'm not writing them off. They've already helped plenty and I've got no doubt they can do more. But this wish thing? If it's based off connection then it's just not going to work with me." He huffs. "Besides, I don't even know what I'd ask for." Material items don't mean anything to him anymore.
"Sounds to me like you're just assuming that," she points out. "You say it won't work, but you don't actually know if that's because of your connection issue, because of Zephyr's inability to understand what you want, or because it's just a really damn big wish."
She shifts, crossing her arms over her chest. "I can't make the wish to prove you right or wrong, so you'll have to do it yourself. It doesn't actually matter what it is. Just wish for your favorite food for all it matters. The point is, how much is it going to hurt you to make really sure?"
His eyes narrow at her, far too stubborn to suggest she might be right. But she might be. He doesn't actually know.
Would it hurt to make sure? Probably not.
"Chh. I'll look into it," He says. One thing's certain and that's that his earlier brief lift in mood has met its end. "Either way, this is going to have to do for now." He lifts the knife up, letting it turn over in his fingers before lowering it back down.
Which gets him to notice the holes in his sleeves left from her blade. He's not concerned about the cuts themselves, but rather the marks of color showing through. He tries to tug the small holes back together and smear some of the open cuts to cover. He'll have to change this.
He says he'll look into it, and that's all it takes for her to back off again. It doesn't particularly matter to her if this guy gets back the things that he wants--but it seems silly for him to arbitrarily decide that something's not going to work.
And maybe there's a part of her that wouldn't mind facing off against another swordsman for once.
He starts fussing with his clothing, and it's only then that she notices the colored bits of skin peeking out from the cuts in his clothes. She tilts her head at that, confused and curious in equal parts.
"...What's that? On your skin?" She'd thought that he'd be entirely white from head to toe... but apparently not.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2018-10-16 02:37 pm (UTC)"It's not as light as I'm used to, but yeah, it's a lighter blade. I've... never considered carrying a second weapon." She frowns a little, down at the cane that's back in one piece again. The nice thing about her cane is that it's not obviously a weapon. She likes that covertness. Carrying a second obvious weapon for probably lose that. It would also lose the feeling of fighting like her ancestor.
"What about you? What kind of blade are you used to? Since knives are clearly subpar."
no subject
Date: 2018-10-16 10:16 pm (UTC)And then he lights up again, not quite as bright as he did in their fight, but all the same.
"It's a blade about as long as I am tall. Half black steel, shaped something like a khyber knife. No guard, the hilt has a cloth wrap with extra length sturdy enough to swing and spin it by." He revels in the memory. "And another. Same make lets say. Single color steel, long sword. Bit of chain at the end. Makes noise but I don't look for stealth and there's no way I'd give up the fun of swinging that around." Pride fills his voice.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-16 10:44 pm (UTC)She shoots a wry smile back at him for all the ones he's given her so far. "So, when you said pile of swords, what you really meant were two." Two is... something like a pile, she guesses.
"Why don't you just ask Zephyr? I'm sure they'd find it for you. Bring them here."
no subject
Date: 2018-10-16 11:13 pm (UTC)"I'm not saying no to that sword pile," He says, avoiding the question for just a moment. He chews on his reply. "...Despite what I assume is Zephyr's best efforts... a certain particular wish hasn't exactly been available to me. I can only guess It's going to take them a little more power than they have right now."
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Date: 2018-10-17 12:01 am (UTC)Which means it must be something else he's asking for.
"What kind of wish do you mean?"
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Date: 2018-10-17 12:47 am (UTC)"... The sword's connected to a power. A power I should represent. Currently, what everyone sees is what they get of me."
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Date: 2018-10-17 12:51 am (UTC)She frowns a little deeper, her eyes narrowing on him out of habit. A sword connected to a power... She sniffs, her nose twitching in the process.
"Does that have something to do with...the way you smell to me?" The bitter metallic taste... That could certainly be a sword. If the power is connected to the sword, and he's supposed to represent that power...
"Are you... some kind of weapon? Like Justin is?"
no subject
Date: 2018-10-17 01:08 am (UTC)He speaks calmer, if still tense. "I don't know what kind of weapon Justin is. I barely know him. But to put it plainly... yes, a weapon is some portion of what I am. Among other things. I think I've mentioned my state of being is unique." Which people around here seems to think he's so thrilled about, like it's not a pain at best.
"I can't tell you how your weird nose power works, but if I had to guess, that might be a factor."
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Date: 2018-10-17 01:25 am (UTC)But she's also not going to question it.
"Yeah, you've mentioned the unique thing." She just didn't know that he meant like this. "So... The wish that you're trying to ask for is to... let you be a sword again? Do you turn into a sword? Or do you manifest it somehow? Or is it a metaphorical thing?" She might be getting a little off track here...
no subject
Date: 2018-10-17 01:41 am (UTC)"Are you gonna let me answer or do you want to keep playing one-sided twenty questions?" He says with an annoyed huff. When he's sure she's actually going to let him speak he starts a lot slower than someone who was willing to part with the answers would.
"I'm a manifestation of power. The spirit of it you could say. I would be the source of the energy that makes the mostly physical sword exist and in that sense, it is me. I can use "myself" but only under particular circumstances in which I, as you more or less sense me, am also able to physically manifest." There are, he thinks, too many complicated aspects to this. He scowls at the earth underfoot and kinfe he turns over in his hands.
"But because it's not all I am, in my normal state, I have a fractured consciousness with multiple possible forms and levels of manifestation. I'm not just a sword. But having the power that should be mine, that I technically am, would mean having that blade back."
no subject
Date: 2018-10-17 02:09 am (UTC)It's just... really difficult to wrap her head around. "So you're... like someone's abilities? Personified?" She's really not sure if she understands that or not. It's not like anything she's hear of before--then again, maybe that's why she gets those weird scents off of him. Like the strawberries that he claims belong to someone else.
Her thoughts linger on the part about the wish, though, and her mouth scrunches up to one side as she thinks. "Can I ask a different question? ...How have you been wording this wish you've been asking for?"
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Date: 2018-10-17 02:26 am (UTC)He bobs his head to give the okay even as he doesn't much want to. Then makes a face.
"What am I supposed to say please or something? Pray?" He Huff's. "I just say I want my power back, my sword, the rest of me. I've tried a few times."
no subject
Date: 2018-10-17 02:43 am (UTC)But she does cross her arms over her chest, leaning on one foot and then the other. "Or maybe it's like you said and they don't have the power to do it yet. You're not exactly a social butterfly, as far as I can tell."
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Date: 2018-10-17 02:52 am (UTC)But the confusion is quickly turned around on him.
"What does that have to do with anything?" This is the first he's heard anything like this.
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Date: 2018-10-17 03:01 am (UTC)"We were talking about where Zephyr gets their power from... And it's from the people here coming together, right? Well, just extrapolate that to the wishes we ask for. Where do you think the power to grant those is coming from?"
She gives it a second for him to fill in the blanks before gesturing between the two of them. "It's right here."
no subject
Date: 2018-10-17 01:48 pm (UTC)"The rest of you can't connect enough to make up for me," he says, tone dull with the revelation. "It has to be me." No collective pool to dip into.
He looks to the space between them, expression closing off again. There's nothing. With her or anybody. He should have known.
"No short cuts then. I'll have to find a way myself," he mutters. And then he scrubs at his face with a hand, letting it run back through his hair.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-17 01:55 pm (UTC)"You're giving up?" she asks with no small amount of surprise--or confusion, to be honest. "...You're not that bad at socializing, you know?"
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Date: 2018-10-17 09:34 pm (UTC)Her attempt at what might be reassurance earns only a quick side glance her way. He's not giving her the details. But he supposes he has to give her something.
"If I've understood this, and I think I do now, there's not any amount of socializing I can do that's going to help." And he's not good at socializing anyway. "I'm going to find a different way. I know it's possible. It's just not going to be as easy as throwing a rock in a pond."
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Date: 2018-10-17 09:46 pm (UTC)"Have you tried a smaller wish?"
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Date: 2018-10-17 09:50 pm (UTC)But other than that... no. Which he doesn't say but might well be implied.
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Date: 2018-10-17 10:31 pm (UTC)"Look. Wish for something small. Something for yourself. A nonmagical item that fits in your hands. If that doesn't work? Yeah, the kid probably can't help you. But don't write them off before you've given them a chance. It's not fair to them, and it would suck for you, if you had an answer right there and weren't willing to stick with it."
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Date: 2018-10-17 10:49 pm (UTC)And then a frown follows.
"I'm not writing them off. They've already helped plenty and I've got no doubt they can do more. But this wish thing? If it's based off connection then it's just not going to work with me." He huffs. "Besides, I don't even know what I'd ask for." Material items don't mean anything to him anymore.
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Date: 2018-10-17 10:58 pm (UTC)She shifts, crossing her arms over her chest. "I can't make the wish to prove you right or wrong, so you'll have to do it yourself. It doesn't actually matter what it is. Just wish for your favorite food for all it matters. The point is, how much is it going to hurt you to make really sure?"
no subject
Date: 2018-10-18 12:01 am (UTC)Would it hurt to make sure? Probably not.
"Chh. I'll look into it," He says. One thing's certain and that's that his earlier brief lift in mood has met its end. "Either way, this is going to have to do for now." He lifts the knife up, letting it turn over in his fingers before lowering it back down.
Which gets him to notice the holes in his sleeves left from her blade. He's not concerned about the cuts themselves, but rather the marks of color showing through. He tries to tug the small holes back together and smear some of the open cuts to cover. He'll have to change this.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-18 12:32 am (UTC)And maybe there's a part of her that wouldn't mind facing off against another swordsman for once.
He starts fussing with his clothing, and it's only then that she notices the colored bits of skin peeking out from the cuts in his clothes. She tilts her head at that, confused and curious in equal parts.
"...What's that? On your skin?" She'd thought that he'd be entirely white from head to toe... but apparently not.
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