A fucking dream-- [Good word choice; he seizes on them immediately, repeats them with relish--] --that we don't half remember! Just bits, right? And those're fading on their own. And it's like--he might say, oh, I was only joking, I was only taking the piss, which I wouldn't believe anyways, but even if he were, he's still said. It's still in people's heads.
People can't be punished for things they haven't done. Things they might not even do. And needling at them, that only makes everything worse.
And I would like to kick the shit out've something, if you meant that.
Yeah I doubt he's gonna say anything like that. It'd be like admitting he's wrong.
[ It's a harsh read, but...well. By's gone and done something royally stupid, now.
The effort with which Athessa launches herself to standing from where she'd been reclining is easily heard in her voice. A little hup as she gets ready to go where she's needed. Her friend needs to wreck shit! ]
But yeah, of course. We can bust shit in the training yard, orrrr...that warehouse by the docks?
I'm not in the Gallows. Wanted to get out for a bit. I can take the ferry back if you like the training yard better.
[Once he's done, you know, kicking a wall in frustration. Better to save it up and take it out on whatever breakables might be found in the warehouse or the yard or wherever. Not to worry, he has plenty to spare.]
Well, it just so happens I'm not in the Gallows either. I'll meet you at the warehouse.
[ It's a location that doesn't see much change, really. Eventually they might run out of discarded and forgotten crates to bust open and dispose of, but for the time being it's still a shitty old warehouse with things to break and a wooden pallet over a hole in the wall instead of a door.
The hole in the wall is a little trickier to get through today because of the ice making the stones just this side of it precariously slippery to walk on, but Athessa manages to move the "door" aside without beefing it and waits for Matty to appear before venturing inside. ]
You wanna chuck things off the loft there, or maybe take up a bit of wood and try and hit stuff out of the air with it? I think me n' Laura tore through most of the teacups last time we were here.
[Following behind Athessa, Matthias can freely do a little flinch at Laura's name without being seen. He moves to grab up a piece of wood as she'd suggested. It's more of a slab than a bat. Its wide surface will make it hard to miss whatever is thrown at him.]
Hitting.
[He hefts the piece he's got, testing its weight. Finding it satisfactory, he casts around for something to throw.]
We can trade off. [Here's a manky old bottle. Perfect. Matthias picks it up in his other hand and tosses it in the air, catches it again.] I'll throw first for you.
Point, that. And that is making me want to say yeah, I'll do all the hitting, but you're holding a broomstick and I want to see how you reckon you'll be able to hit anything with it.
[He holds the bottle up for her to see.]
Here. Ready?
[And once she gives a sign, he'll throw it at her--overhand, too aggressive to be gentle.]
[ She nearly misses it, not expecting the overhanded throw, and when the broom-handle hits the bottle, it's more like...the other way 'round. Bottle attack handle. It knocks the wood out of Athessa's hands and she ducks to avoid being hit by the handle's spin and juggle-catches it before it can clatter to the floor. ]
Fuck, okay, that had a bit more oomf behind it than I expected!
[Despite everything, Matthias laughs--it's short, but it's a laugh.]
What, you think 'cause I'm a mage, I can't throw for shit? [He hefts his plank of wood, readying himself for her throw that will follow in return.] Nice trick of your own there, with that catch. I'd've dropped it.
As if I'd ever think that, [ She scoffs, and picks up a small decorative vase that looks to have been abandoned purely because of a single chip in the rim. ] I haven't forgotten those riots we started.
[ Athessa draws back and let's fly the vase, helpfully aiming on the side that Matthias is holding that plank. ]
[He taps the plank on the floor of the warehouse, then squares up just before her throw. Tracking the trajectory, he shuffles back a step, draws back the plank, and hits the vase with a crack.
It's not a very solid hit, but the vase is fragile, and it shatters in a shower of porcelain. Matthias grins, pleased with himself, and grabs another bottle that is laying nearby.]
Sometimes it feels like nothing changes, yeah. [ She is expecting it this time, so she keeps a good hold on the broom handle and the wood CRACKS against the glass very impressively, very loudly.
And the broom handle breaks, while the bottle merely loses its neck.]
Woah. Strong bottle. [ Athessa laughs and looks for something else to throw, and something else to use as a bat. ] D'ya ever feel like you've changed a lot, but nobody really...notices?
[ This plate would be interesting to Frisbee at him, but first: the matching, handleless teacup. Athessa lobs it high, so Matty will have to track its trajectory to hit it. ]
[The full break on Athessa's side had made him smirk, but now he's ready, plank of wood raised in anticipation. There's time enough to answer, though.]
Yeah, 'course I do, I'm bloody seventeen which makes me, what. Ten years of age to everyone? Nothing I can do to prove I've done any changing. Except grow a beard, I reckon.
[She throws the teacup and Matthias has to stop talking so he can shuffle back, craning his neck as he tries to figure out where he needs to be to get the hit. He ends up being off by a bit, and ends up doing an awkward downswing, trying to catch the cup and smash it to the ground--but the swing whiffs by, and the cup hits the floor and cracks.]
Aw, no, you can't grow a beard! [ Athessa whines, loose-limbing her way to an old broken chair. Its legs are carved in such a way that breaking one off should make a good club. ] It'd totally ruin our friendship if I had to be jealous of you growing a fucking beard, Matty.
[ The chair splinters with one swift kick to the seat, and she gives the leg a few test-swings. One, two, and on the third her smile fades into something a little more rueful. ]
I don't think you'll have to worry about that for long. Not you.
You could tie your hair round the front of your face. [He gives her a little grin as he grabs up a porcelain sphere.] Don't worry, though. Couldn't grow one if I tried.
[The sphere turns out to be a doorknob. It had been painted, once, the pattern now small and faded and all but flaked away. Matthias rubs his thumb against it, flaking off a bit more. He tosses the doorknob and catches it again in his hand.]
What makes you say that? That I'm not going to have to worry?
I dunno. Just that you're seventeen and already a super capable mage, ya know? If you weren't a mage and there weren't a war on, you'd have to wait until you got married or were successful at some trade to be taken seriously.
But it's just a matter of time before your name's said the same way anybody says Rowntree.
[ She really does believe that Matty is due some recognition, overdue respect, no matter how much she'd rather let him stay a kid a bit longer.
She holds the chair leg at the ready. The memory of Matthias standing up for her in Ghislain plays. That's another way he has a leg up, but she'll keep that to herself. ]
[Matthias scoffs, casts his eyes down and scuffs the heel of his boot against the dirty floor of the warehouse. His incredulity doesn't wash out how pleased he is to hear her say that. Embarrassment suffuses all of what he's feeling and shows most obviously, especially in the red that tints his ears.]
I dunno about that. I'd need a surname for starters. [He glances up at her with a shy grin, an acknowledgement of how stupid the pseudo joke is.] Thanks, though. Means a great deal hearing that from you. Think you're saying that 'cause you're fond of me, but--
[He gives the doorknob another toss, catches it--then winds up for the throw. Overhand, a good even throw that comes in straight for her. A good easy hit.]
[ A satisfying hit, too. The club-end of the chair leg smacks hard against the porcelain, disintegrating the flaking paint into a fine powder and the knob itself into a million tiny pieces. Athessa grins and taps the dust off of her makeshift bat. Tap tap. ]
Sure I'm fond of ya, but more than that I trust you, [ Why else would she have turned to him to help save Mhavos and Vanadi in the dream? That much was her own doing. As she looks about for something else to throw, she starts to tie her hair into a little makeshift mustache, just under her nose. ]
If it was just fondness, I'd be tryin' to keep you away from the war stuff so you could just be a kid a while longer. [ Ooh, perfect, she's found a doll. Body of cloth, head of clay, face once painted but faded due to the weather that manages to get in through the roof of the warehouse.
She holds it up, and drops her voice a little, pretending to be an old man. ] Enchanter Squarebrush, what say you? Just the head on this one?
[ The body would be fun to hit, but wouldn't break. ]
[The explosion of porcelain makes Matthias cheer, a genuinely pleased little yeah! and a fist pump. He grabs up his bat, readying himself for whatever she finds to chuck back at him.
Okay but being a kid?]
Eurgh, [with feeling,] and I wouldn't thank you for that. I was a kid fifteen years ago.
[Still kid enough to grin at her moustache and put on voice. He pitches his own into posh territory, nose in the air--puts one finger under his nose in place of a moustache of his own--]
I quite agree, Milady Athessa, the head and only the head. Anything more t'wouldn't be sporting! [--And before she can try to surprise him, he grabs firm hold of his plank and readies himself.]
[ His claim at being a kid when he was all of two years old gets a dismissive wave of her hand, limp-wristed enough to suggest: 'tis neither here nor there. ] You were a baby fifteen years ago.
[ Her attention then turns to the doll, and she tries to wrest the little clay ball off of the cloth body with only a little more effort than she thinks it should require. It's a sturdy doll. ]
I was a kid fifteen years ago — [ Oof. Erg. C'mon, you stupid doll— ] — not that — what the hell, this is the strongest doll in the world — not that you'd be able to tell by — grab its feet, yeah? Teamwork —
A kid's a baby that can walk and talk — [ Is her opinion, but she yanks and twists on the doll's head at the same moment that Matty does and with a quiet little pop! off comes the top.
Athessa manages to catch herself before she falls, but it's a close enough thing that she can't help but crack up a bit, laughing with one hand braced on a big seat-less settee and the other gripping a doll's head. ]
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2021-02-13 05:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-02-13 08:42 pm (UTC)People can't be punished for things they haven't done. Things they might not even do. And needling at them, that only makes everything worse.
And I would like to kick the shit out've something, if you meant that.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-14 12:04 am (UTC)[ It's a harsh read, but...well. By's gone and done something royally stupid, now.
The effort with which Athessa launches herself to standing from where she'd been reclining is easily heard in her voice. A little hup as she gets ready to go where she's needed. Her friend needs to wreck shit! ]
But yeah, of course. We can bust shit in the training yard, orrrr...that warehouse by the docks?
no subject
Date: 2021-02-14 01:29 am (UTC)[Once he's done, you know, kicking a wall in frustration. Better to save it up and take it out on whatever breakables might be found in the warehouse or the yard or wherever. Not to worry, he has plenty to spare.]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-14 01:50 am (UTC)[ It's a location that doesn't see much change, really. Eventually they might run out of discarded and forgotten crates to bust open and dispose of, but for the time being it's still a shitty old warehouse with things to break and a wooden pallet over a hole in the wall instead of a door.
The hole in the wall is a little trickier to get through today because of the ice making the stones just this side of it precariously slippery to walk on, but Athessa manages to move the "door" aside without beefing it and waits for Matty to appear before venturing inside. ]
You wanna chuck things off the loft there, or maybe take up a bit of wood and try and hit stuff out of the air with it? I think me n' Laura tore through most of the teacups last time we were here.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-14 06:37 am (UTC)Hitting.
[He hefts the piece he's got, testing its weight. Finding it satisfactory, he casts around for something to throw.]
We can trade off. [Here's a manky old bottle. Perfect. Matthias picks it up in his other hand and tosses it in the air, catches it again.] I'll throw first for you.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-14 07:32 am (UTC)It's a broom handle. ]
I mean I'm not the one who had to deal with Byerly this morning, so.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-15 06:11 am (UTC)Point, that. And that is making me want to say yeah, I'll do all the hitting, but you're holding a broomstick and I want to see how you reckon you'll be able to hit anything with it.
[He holds the bottle up for her to see.]
Here. Ready?
[And once she gives a sign, he'll throw it at her--overhand, too aggressive to be gentle.]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-15 06:32 am (UTC)[ She nearly misses it, not expecting the overhanded throw, and when the broom-handle hits the bottle, it's more like...the other way 'round. Bottle attack handle. It knocks the wood out of Athessa's hands and she ducks to avoid being hit by the handle's spin and juggle-catches it before it can clatter to the floor. ]
Fuck, okay, that had a bit more oomf behind it than I expected!
no subject
Date: 2021-02-15 08:59 pm (UTC)What, you think 'cause I'm a mage, I can't throw for shit? [He hefts his plank of wood, readying himself for her throw that will follow in return.] Nice trick of your own there, with that catch. I'd've dropped it.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-15 09:24 pm (UTC)[ Athessa draws back and let's fly the vase, helpfully aiming on the side that Matthias is holding that plank. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-15 10:47 pm (UTC)[He taps the plank on the floor of the warehouse, then squares up just before her throw. Tracking the trajectory, he shuffles back a step, draws back the plank, and hits the vase with a crack.
It's not a very solid hit, but the vase is fragile, and it shatters in a shower of porcelain. Matthias grins, pleased with himself, and grabs another bottle that is laying nearby.]
Almost like it happened to someone else, y'know?
no subject
Date: 2021-02-15 10:51 pm (UTC)We've come a long way since then. [ Haven't they? ]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-15 11:01 pm (UTC)[He winds up--overhand again--and chucks the bottle. She'll be expecting it this time, so it's more straightforward a throw by default.]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-15 11:16 pm (UTC)And the broom handle breaks, while the bottle merely loses its neck.]
Woah. Strong bottle. [ Athessa laughs and looks for something else to throw, and something else to use as a bat. ] D'ya ever feel like you've changed a lot, but nobody really...notices?
[ This plate would be interesting to Frisbee at him, but first: the matching, handleless teacup. Athessa lobs it high, so Matty will have to track its trajectory to hit it. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-16 03:53 am (UTC)Yeah, 'course I do, I'm bloody seventeen which makes me, what. Ten years of age to everyone? Nothing I can do to prove I've done any changing. Except grow a beard, I reckon.
[She throws the teacup and Matthias has to stop talking so he can shuffle back, craning his neck as he tries to figure out where he needs to be to get the hit. He ends up being off by a bit, and ends up doing an awkward downswing, trying to catch the cup and smash it to the ground--but the swing whiffs by, and the cup hits the floor and cracks.]
Shit.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-16 04:28 am (UTC)[ The chair splinters with one swift kick to the seat, and she gives the leg a few test-swings. One, two, and on the third her smile fades into something a little more rueful. ]
I don't think you'll have to worry about that for long. Not you.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-16 03:19 pm (UTC)[The sphere turns out to be a doorknob. It had been painted, once, the pattern now small and faded and all but flaked away. Matthias rubs his thumb against it, flaking off a bit more. He tosses the doorknob and catches it again in his hand.]
What makes you say that? That I'm not going to have to worry?
no subject
Date: 2021-02-16 03:43 pm (UTC)I dunno. Just that you're seventeen and already a super capable mage, ya know? If you weren't a mage and there weren't a war on, you'd have to wait until you got married or were successful at some trade to be taken seriously.
But it's just a matter of time before your name's said the same way anybody says Rowntree.
[ She really does believe that Matty is due some recognition, overdue respect, no matter how much she'd rather let him stay a kid a bit longer.
She holds the chair leg at the ready. The memory of Matthias standing up for her in Ghislain plays. That's another way he has a leg up, but she'll keep that to herself. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-16 08:11 pm (UTC)I dunno about that. I'd need a surname for starters. [He glances up at her with a shy grin, an acknowledgement of how stupid the pseudo joke is.] Thanks, though. Means a great deal hearing that from you. Think you're saying that 'cause you're fond of me, but--
[He gives the doorknob another toss, catches it--then winds up for the throw. Overhand, a good even throw that comes in straight for her. A good easy hit.]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-16 09:24 pm (UTC)Sure I'm fond of ya, but more than that I trust you, [
Why else would she have turned to him to help save Mhavos and Vanadi in the dream? That much was her own doing. As she looks about for something else to throw, she starts to tie her hair into a little makeshift mustache, just under her nose. ]
If it was just fondness, I'd be tryin' to keep you away from the war stuff so you could just be a kid a while longer. [ Ooh, perfect, she's found a doll. Body of cloth, head of clay, face once painted but faded due to the weather that manages to get in through the roof of the warehouse.
She holds it up, and drops her voice a little, pretending to be an old man. ] Enchanter Squarebrush, what say you? Just the head on this one?
[ The body would be fun to hit, but wouldn't break. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-16 10:49 pm (UTC)Okay but being a kid?]
Eurgh, [with feeling,] and I wouldn't thank you for that. I was a kid fifteen years ago.
[Still kid enough to grin at her moustache and put on voice. He pitches his own into posh territory, nose in the air--puts one finger under his nose in place of a moustache of his own--]
I quite agree, Milady Athessa, the head and only the head. Anything more t'wouldn't be sporting! [--And before she can try to surprise him, he grabs firm hold of his plank and readies himself.]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-16 11:29 pm (UTC)[ Her attention then turns to the doll, and she tries to wrest the little clay ball off of the cloth body with only a little more effort than she thinks it should require. It's a sturdy doll. ]
I was a kid fifteen years ago — [ Oof. Erg. C'mon, you stupid doll— ] — not that — what the hell, this is the strongest doll in the world — not that you'd be able to tell by — grab its feet, yeah? Teamwork —
no subject
Date: 2021-02-17 03:53 am (UTC)[--But of course he drops his plank of wood and closes the distance between them, and grabs for the doll's feet as requested.]
Twist it, see if that does it. And I'll pull from this end. Three, two, one-- [A word he says with effort as he tugs sharply.]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-17 04:11 am (UTC)Athessa manages to catch herself before she falls, but it's a close enough thing that she can't help but crack up a bit, laughing with one hand braced on a big seat-less settee and the other gripping a doll's head. ]
Damn, what's this thing made of?!
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