week 2; monday, w/ the crafters

[alchemenace]

[ knock knock. who's there. magic door. magic door who? magic door is being opened by a tiny alchemist who makes bad life choices.

Which is to say, Varian had vaguely wanted to talk to the Crafters previously, but it's only after this weekend that it became a need. It's when he was thinking about it that the door showed up, and while he takes a moment to be properly awed, he's not nearly as hesitant as he should be when he pushes it open. ]

Uh. Hello?

Comments

[alchemenace]

I don't exactly... have the best track record in finding people willing to listen to me. Especially when it matters.

[ he is just sayin? But he just wipes at his eyes (oops) and sighs because fine!! This is fine??? ]

And that's it? There's no other way around it, just... ink? What is this war even about anyway?

[themodsgrimm]

[ . . .

She waves her hand, and Varian will find a soft handkerchief in his grasp.]

The nature of good and evil, from what I understand. To determine which stories are worth preserving, and which are unnecessary.

... I do not like it very much.

But it is what we are given.

[alchemenace]

[ oh. Well now he feels a bit bad taking it out on her. But only. a little. He gives her an awkward smile ]

I don't like it much either, for the record. [ ... ] This might sound stupid, but. You and Tiger, you aren't... Beauty and the Beast, right?

[themodsgrimm]

[She's just been kind of watching and listening impassively but at the question she can't help herself--she bursts into laughter.]

Oh, no, sorry, not a stupid question--just funny!

[alchemenace]

[ if it gets laughed at it is a stupid question wtf ]

Um. Why?

[themodsgrimm]

It's sort of a "you had to have been there" kind of thing.

[But she's still smiling widely.]

No, that isn't us. We're just the Tiger and the Dragon.

[alchemenace]

Because of the whole... banished thing?

[ ??? genuinely but ok then ]

Are those your gifted titles, or were you always just Tiger and Dragon?

[themodsgrimm]

That's just who we are. This is our story, after all.

[alchemenace]

Then shouldn't you be in charge? [ a beat. ] Fully?

[themodsgrimm]

Us?

[She grins, but it doesn't seem like she's very happy at all.]

If characters could write their own stories, they'd all be quite different.

[alchemenace]

[ well. well. if he could, wouldn't he pick something else himself too? so he gets it.

... but. ]

... Then who's writing yours?

[themodsgrimm]

I wonder?

[Her smile turns sharper, but she offers no further clarity on the subject.]

[alchemenace]

[ hm bad ]

... Are we ever going to meet them?

[themodsgrimm]

[Hm.

She doesn't say anything. :)]

[alchemenace]

[ HM BAD ]

...Alright. Ominous.

[ ANYWAY!! ]

Why are we tied to another person? It doesn't fit the "theme" of... war game.

[themodsgrimm]

Every good protagonist has a foil.

[It fits the theme of...something?]

[alchemenace]

Except a protagonist doesn't generally work together with their foil.

[ he hates that he's indulging this narrative terms bullshit ]

[themodsgrimm]

Nobody said you have to work with your partner, really. You're just stuck with them.

[Sucks, don't it.]

[alchemenace]

Then why try to make us bond?

[themodsgrimm]

I don't know that I'd say that's my idea.

[Bonding??? Never heard of it.]

[alchemenace]

So the, the paranoia and the memories, that's not... you?

[themodsgrimm]

[She shakes her head. Nope, not her!]

[alchemenace]

...Or Dragon?

[themodsgrimm]

[She shakes her head as well.]

It's not my doing.

[themodsgrimm]

Not that I know of, but...

[She waves a hand. They don't, uh, exactly talk.]