[voice | private to Breakdown | also backdated]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Hey, Breakdown.

[Sam's tone is one he's heard before---the once before, when Knock Out arrived and no-one yet knew whether he was real or another imposter; serious and slightly apologetic.]

I'm sorry to be sort of springing this on you, but I have something important to ask.

Comments

[10_20_15_5_50]

Okay. I ask at all because somehow she gets--got?--the upper hand with you the once, and I want to make sure it's only the once. She ever shows up here, the situation goes screaming south? I'll be set to spoil her and ensure the advantage is yours. I don't want you to think that this is coming out of any doubt, but when I was working on the ward I thought about what I want to see safe here. Some people, my place. That's it; that's the list. And you? You're one of the people.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He was mildly offended at first, that she thought he needed protection, but he held his peace until she finished. And by then? He’d changed his mind. He was touched that she didn’t think he needed protection so much as she just wanted him safe....did he really mean that much to her...?]

[Oh, you big dope, just ask.]

....I really mean that much to you? [There’s a clear “why” in there.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Well, yeah. [She sounds mildly surprised he should even ask.] I like you, like your company, like the conversation, like that I can rag away on you with reckless abandon; you're a good friend. You're also someone I trust to and who may yet save my life, so I would be... reprehensibly remiss if I didn't at least try to have your back. But that's as-important, not more.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He’s a good friend. That puts a little smile on his face. Hey, it was nice to hear, okay?]

So what are you planning if Airachnid shows up, huh? [Don’t be stupid and get yourself killed, okay, kid?]

[10_20_15_5_50]

I'll start by spoiling her, set up a bit of bad juju to sour what luck she has. If things won't go her way, seems safe to say they're much more likely to go the way you want them to. Spoiling's only for small stuff, though---simple, but for small stuff. If---or when---it looks like the two of you are gonna come to blows...

[Sam's voice is level and sure, as this matter is only a matter of fact insofar as she's concerned.]

I won't be able to do anything to her alt, because I won't know what to target, because it's so hard to tell what you guys see with when you're in your alts. But I can blind the eyes in her face, and if you have a fight on your hands, that's what I am going to do.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He’s shaking his head as he listens to all of this, a little grin on his face.] You really are crazy, you know that?

...Glad to be considered a friend, though. Thanks, Sam. [Means a lot to him, really does.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Nah, man, that's news to me. Why're you saying so?

[She sounds as if she's smiling, now, but she's not kidding with the question; her plan is pretty practical.]

Glad to count you among mine. You don't have to thank me, but you're welcome anyway.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Because someone like you, messin’ with a bot who makes trophies of people, is crazy........and brave.

[He smirks. Take it as a compliment, Sam, he’s impressed.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[She takes a moment to just... process everything this implies.]

Trophies. That's fucked up. But it ultimately does not change a damn thing; I'm already in. And I have an advantage.

Knowing really is half the battle, if adepts are involved---knowing what's happening, how, and cause of who. That last item could be a cause of concern with Dirge runnin' his mouth and the way word gets around, but one; spoiling is subtle. Two; anything which was clearly my witching would be end-game sorta stuff. Three; what I'd need to do, I'd do at a safe distance. And I am taking some exception to this... chick. So, y'know, I think I'm really rather reasonable but'll still say thanks.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Yeah? What would you need to do for your witching?

[10_20_15_5_50]

A good look at her. Given the drones? Not difficult.

Souring her luck would be a bit more complicated because there are actual things involved, but the only potentially troublesome one would be her footprint. I'd need to know the length.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[Blink] ......Her footprint? What would you do with her footprint?

[10_20_15_5_50]

Measure out the length with a piece of string, then burn the string to bring the bad luck. Simplest way to spoil someone.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

........how the scrap is that supposed to "spoil someone"?

[10_20_15_5_50]

It's some sort of sympathetic magic, but I'll be the first to admit it's a far cry from mine. Mine, I know exactly what to expect... with, well, one exception.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

.....It just sounds ridiculous.

[10_20_15_5_50]

I know.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Uh-huh...

[He's having a hard time buying this, okay?]

[10_20_15_5_50]

It sounds ridiculous, but there's something to it.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Uh-huh...

If I didn't know better, I'd say you were delusional. But I do know better, and I think you're messing with me.

[10_20_15_5_50]

I'm not messing with you! This is a serious conversation! And to be honest with you, I turn to the blinding and spoiling because I don't know what else I could do. No idea what would happen if I tried to put a hurt on someone who didn't have blood to bleed, since blood is what it's about.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

"The hurt"? [what?]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Basically throw damaging magic at someone. I always thought of it as putting a hurt on a target, but I've heard that kind of attack called a blast or blast spell. Mine opens so many tiny holes in someone's skin the hit area's almost made a mesh---it hurts like a bitch and bleeds like you would not believe. But, that's organics only.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Huh...wonder what that sort of thing would do to a bot...

[10_20_15_5_50]

I've been wondering myself, but can't turn on the most tempting target without breaking the weird kinda-sorta-truce. Unfortunately. While he would have no way of knowing it was me, it could come back to bite me in the ass eventually.