CRYSTAL | maybe you should wait.

[poleaxed]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Jone
RECIPIENT: Y'all
NOTES: Comments may be spicy.

Is anybody dreaming of getting back topside? Know I am. Blimey, a sweaty fucking pit, is Orzammar.

We've a tennis court. That's jeu de paume for the rest of you. [Her Orlesian is surprisingly not terrible.] It ought to be finished by the time we're back. I know, I know, you don't like to train in the yard, it hurts your knees or your bloody feelings. That's what the court's for. Let's play a game and get your stamina up, aye?

Noticed we've had some new folk lately, and I wanna say again: I'm Jone, the six-foot-bitch in the training yard with the red hair. I'll train you, and I'll do it right. You ain't for swords, we'll find what you're for. Free fucking service, you only have to make an effort.

Think of it this way: if you work hard enough, get strong enough, one day you'll get to break me nose.

Comments

[poleaxed]

How far'd you shoot?

[littlemissfutility]

Pretty far. [ It feels like so long ago, Daryl showing her how to aim. She can hardly remember the actual shot, just the feel of the crossbow and the snap of a trap around her ankle. ] A couple dozen yards?

[poleaxed]

Yeah, we're setting you up with crossbow and knives. And tennis, it'll up your stamina. We'll set out a schedule and do some basic training when we're out of this pit.

[littlemissfutility]

...That'd be cool. Thanks.

[ A pause. ]

You really do all this for free?

[poleaxed]

Blimey, no. I'm paid by Riftwatch, luv. It's me job.

[littlemissfutility]

Yeah, I know. [ we're all paid by riftwatch jone ] But if you charged extra, it'd be...

[ Unsurprising? Still probably a pretty good deal? She gives up on finishing the sentence. ]

It's just pretty nice. Thanks.

[poleaxed]

If I charged extra, Flint'd have my head.

[Probably? Eh. She doesn't want to find out.]

Not nice, not kind. Don't thank me yet.

[littlemissfutility]

You've been okay so far.

[ Which is no guarantee going forward, but it seems worthwhile to acknowledge it. ]

[poleaxed]

Thanks, luv. It beats killing folk for coin.

[littlemissfutility]

[ There's a sort-of laugh from her, though whether it's uncomfortable or sincere is a little hard to tell over the crystal. ]

Most jobs do.

[poleaxed]

News to fucking me! I thought it were the best you could have. Nineteen years. Fancy fucking resume, I have.

[littlemissfutility]

...Really?

[ oh, my god. ]

[poleaxed]

Mercenary, me luv. Weren't all dragons and demons.

[littlemissfutility]

Oh.

[ Holy crap. ]

I just...didn't realize people got paid for that here. [ Like, enough to talk about it in front of everyone like it's no big deal. ]

[poleaxed]

People get paid for just about anything, here. You bothered?

[littlemissfutility]

Should I be?

[poleaxed]

Really up to you, innit?

[littlemissfutility]

That's not what I...never mind.

[ Turns out magically understanding the common tongue here doesn't make everything clear. ]

I'm not gonna judge you just because you killed people.

[poleaxed]

I mean, you can, if you want. Don't change nothing.

I'll see you in the training yard, luv.