Sidestory 2: How to Have Fun

[Carthrat]

[14:27] <Kamvakua> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[14:29] <Kamvakua> It was a surprisingly quiet night following the adventures in the magma plane, one that unsurprisingly left folks feeling a bit greasy and with no desire to see a devil again any time soon.  Kamvakua was mediating outside the inn, displeased with a devil having gotten so easily into his mind.
06[14:34] * Mari paces in her room a bit. Tries sleeping, is woefully unsuccessful. This won't do at all! People should celebrate after a job well done, right? And drinking that devil out of her mind would be a nice bonus. She stalks in and out of her companions' rooms, ready to assault whoever's around. "HEY. Whose turn is it to entertain me?"
01[14:37] <Knight> Knight is sitting on a stone chair within her quarters; most of her gear is laid out in neat, precise arrangements across the floor and desks, and she seems to be in the process of inspecting her faintly-shining rapier. "I, ah, that's not really where my talents lie, Mari..."
06[14:39] * Mari adopts an authoritarian pose, hands on her hips. "How would you know? I mean, when's the last time you tried? Open yourself to new experiences! It's not like you have plans for tonight, right?"
[14:39] <Kamvakua> "Are you restless, Mari?" Kamvakua's voice resonated from just outside.  His hearing must be pretty good.
[14:41] <Mari> "Well, I'm pretty sure that's what I was trying to communicate with the blatant cry for attention," Mari calls back.
01[14:41] <Knight> "Well, no, but I just..." Flipping the sword back into it's narrow sheath, Knight stands up! "No, it's nothing. What would you have me do, Mari?"
06[14:42] * Kamvakua actually laughs at that, standing and coming into the inn.  "Lively indeed.  Ah, your both still up?  Good Eve," He acknowledged Knight.
[14:44] <Mari> "Well, you know, the thing about fun is that it dies before you get to it if you plan too much in advance. I figured we'd find a bar and just see what happens."
01[14:47] <Knight> "It might be nice to go to a shop that doesn't have some kind of clandestine motivation behind it," remarks Knight. "A drink or two wouldn't go astray, either."
06[14:50] * Kamvakua nods simply, stepping back outside and holding the door open.  "Is Adail or Nikkolai up?  That was a rough trip, and a good drink does help it go down easier."
[14:51] <Mari> "One or two sounds like a decent start," Mari says, heading outside. "I haven't seen the other two around, but I'm not exactly Nik's keeper."
01[14:52] <Knight> "Perhaps it's better that I don't see Nikkolai at present," mutters Knight, trailing dispiritedly after Mari.
[14:53] <Kamvakua> "Did you two have a fight or something?"  He nodded.  "Perhaps Adail is asleep then."  He stepped along easily, eying Knight.
[14:55] <Mari> "Aw, come on. *All* of us looked like fools in that shop. It's not like you're alone here."
[14:56] <Kamvakua> "It was...indeed humiliating that such a thing could so easily pierce into one's mind."
01[14:58] <Knight> "It isn't something I can laugh about, Mari," replies Knight, nodding along with Kamvakua. "How can I tell when my thoughts are my own ever again? I suppose the only solution is to never lose focus. Never be distracted."
06[14:59] * Kamvakua smirks. "And next move the moon to the oearth and empty the ocean with a bucket."
[15:01] <Mari> "Right, and that's a good idea when you're in a dangerous situation, but if you think like that all the time you'll drive yourself crazy. We're in town, we're safe, you should just relax. Sometimes the best solution to a problem is just to forget about it." Mari nods confidently.
[15:02] <Kamvakua> "A lesson well learned," Kamvakua grinned toothily.  "But I bet it won't easily leave our minds," He opened the door to a nearby bar, more of a small dive really with a few tables, half occupied by hardsoil residents.
01[15:03] <Knight> "I suppose Hardsoil is a very different place to that city, but even here, it seems a woman can be take advantage of. But at least we're not alone," replies Knight, finding a shadowy corner to take a seat in.
[15:04] <Mari> "Yeah, good thing. Not as much fun if there's no one to look at."
06[15:07] * Kamvakua laughs hard as he sits down, more than a bit amused by Knight's words, though he doesn't immediately say why.
01[15:08] <Knight> "Is something amusing?"
[15:14] <Kamvakua> "A bit.  I just find it hard to heard you worrying about folks taking advantage of you as a woman, Knight.  You come off as more...  militant."
01[15:15] <Knight> "IF it was just a matter of combat, then I would have no concerns," replies Knight, with a frown.
06[15:19] * Mari sighs. "Knight, you sound like you expect everyone we meet now to assume you're weak just because you're a woman. You know what you do if we meet someone who thinks like that? Punch them in the face until they learn otherwise."
06[15:19] * Mari looks around the establishment for someone to bring them drinks.
01[15:20] <Knight> "Is that what you do?" asks Knight, peering closely at Mari.
[15:20] <Kamvakua> "If one sees enemies everywhere, exhaustion is clear to follow, and then it won't matter when they arrive," He repeated, like it was something he was told.  "And definitely." He concurred with Mari.  "You're far stronger than one would think at a glance.  Though that's a quick way to get a fight.  Sometimes a stern glance works just as well."
[15:21] <Mari> "Well, no, but you can probably get away with it where I can't. Me, I'd smile and play along and then nick their coinpurse when they turn around."
01[15:24] <Knight> "Right. If I think someone is trying to take advantage of me, I'll defeat them quickly. Yes.. yes, it sends a message, after all." Knight cracks her knuckles, and gives Mari a nod. "I'll have Adail instruct me on the proper forms. If a mouse can fight in such a fashion, then surely it is something I can also learn."
06[15:25] * Kamvakua eyes. "Have you ever learned how to stare someone down instead?"
01[15:25] <Knight> "And let them get in the first blow?"
[15:27] <Mari> "Well, if you *can* scare someone off without a fight, why not do so?"
01[15:29] <Knight> "It would depend if I thought they might come back later," replies Knight, reaching for a mug of something suspicious-looking.
[15:30] <Kamvakua> "Not everyone who may fight, will fight...or wants to fight.  In the wild, animals will posture to show strength, to avoid a battle where both of them will lose."
06[15:31] * Kamvakua flips the stealthy waitress a coin, taking a rather large mug of ale and drinking some with ease.
[15:31] <Mari> "Yeah. You have to know the difference between an enemy and a nuisance."
01[15:34] <Knight> "I suppose that's it, isn't it? It isn't that I don't understand the use of fear and intimidation," remarks Knight, setting down her mug. "The use of making enemies retreat is obvious, and there is certainly a psychological aspect to all combat. It is just.. hard to see when it's appropriate to begin thinking that way."
06[15:35] * Mari sighs. "This is all way too serious. Is this how you think all the time, Knight? What do you do for *fun*?"
[15:35] <Kamvakua> "One doesn't have to be an enemy to misunderstand one's place.  Or who one is dealing with," He waved it off.  "Sometimes a simple glare will deal with those who somehow confuse you for a wallflower.  though, they might as well be blind," He drank easily.
01[15:38] <Knight> Knight pauses at Mari's question, and thinks for a moment in silence.
01[15:39] <Knight> It is a very long moment.
[15:39] <Mari> "This shouldn't be something you think about! You should just know! Thinking defeats the point."
01[15:39] <Knight> "Games!"
[15:40] <Mari> "Alright, that's a start. What kind?"
01[15:40] <Knight> "Or, specifically, those with an element of risk. It's.. there's something intoxicating about people risking important things. Money, reputations, friends, all of it- when things hang on the line. Gambling."
01[15:40] <Knight> "Combat is a kind of gamble, and so that's fun, but it isn't the only one."
06[15:41] * Kamvakua looks somewhat intrigued.  "you mean like...with sticks?" He thought back to some of the exceedingly primative gambling games back at his tribe.
[15:41] <Mari> "Well...I guess I can understand that. I've got into all sorts of trouble in my time just for the challenge of it."
01[15:43] <Knight> "With cards. Or dice, or many other methods. I admire the gamblers, as well. After all, it's only by their bravery that I can come into this world."
[15:44] <Mari> "So, I dunno if I asked before, but how long have you 'been in this world' anyway? In this, uh, Knight-shaped shape we're used to."
01[15:46] <Knight> "I cannot be precise. Time flows in such strange ways... but, let's see. It would have been at least a month with my former master, and then two more spent searching before I encountered all of you..."
[15:48] <Kamvakua> "I've never gambled with cards or dice," Kamvakua admitted curiously.  "...you only have three months of memories?"
[15:48] <Mari> "So you're six months old maybe? Give or take a bit." Mari downs a drink, visibly digesting this new fact for some time afterwards. "This explains a lot."
01[15:51] <Knight> "Oh, no. My age would extend into the millenia by now," replies Knight. "Of course, I cannot precisely remember past forms, but the Deck was created some time ago."
[15:52] <Mari> "Well, if you can't remember, it's as well as not happened. Wow. So everything's new to you. I feel like I should be jealous."
[15:52] <Kamvakua> "So...how do you know things?" He wondered, sipping his ale.   "You have likes and dislikes...have you ever been out this long?"
01[15:55] <Knight> "Of course! I have been dispatched for years at a time. In fact, I believe once, I had a body perish of old age, rather than combat. A certain minimum of knowledge is necessary to function as a warrior, of course, so those memories always remain. As for the likes and dislikes, well... I'm not sure. I suppose it makes sense for a Knight to enjoy fighting..."
[15:57] <Mari> "But if you lived to die from being old, you must have been doing *something* other than fighting for part of that time. I mean, it's hard to fight much of anything when you're leaning on a cane."
01[15:59] <Knight> "Well, I... I don't know," replies Knight, with a tiny shrug. "Is it important? What do you do?"
[16:04] <Mari> "Of course it's important! Life's more than just, you know, duty and obligation. For most people at least. And I...well, I wander around and look at things, I guess. Things if I haven't seen before, if I've got any say in the matter. And I, you know, mingle with people. sometimes because they're interesting, sometimes because they have interesting things which they maybe don't need as much as I do."
[16:04] <Mari> "I sort of just take each surprise on its own terms. I think I might die a little inside if I knew what to expext from every day."
01[16:08] <Knight> "So, if something is new to you, that's fun?" asks Knight, curiously.
[16:08] <Mari> "Uh. Not always." Mari looks distant for a moment as she recalls her brief sojourn into orchood. "But at least there's a good chance it won't be boring."
[16:09] <Kamvakua> "Sometimes.  Sometimes its not.  But living is seeing things that you did not see yesterday."
01[16:11] <Knight> "I see. There is excitement just before the cards fall, and perhaps this is similar."
[16:14] <Mari> "Yeah, you're sort of getting the idea--you just need to apply it to life itself! I mean...hey, I'm not really one to tell someone how to live their life, but I do know that if you don't poke your head up and look around once in a while you could miss something that would be important to you."
[16:16] <Kamvakua> "Expand your horizons.  You can journey a thousand miles, but the horizon won't get any closer if your eyes are on the ground."
01[16:18] <Knight> "Understood. I'll never miss something that could be important. You can count on that," replies Knight, glancing at Mari and Kamvakua with uncertain eyes. "We'll have to travel to many places. I'm sure there'll be much we haven't seen there. It should be fun, yes."
06[16:20] * Kamvakua smiles warmly. "Aye, fun in a way.  Enlightening in others.  Knight, have you gone drinking before?"  He leaned back a bit, not much given how fragile the seats were.
[16:21] <Mari> "I'm not sure you sound entirely convinced there. Say it with *enthusiasm*!" Mari thumps a fist on the table to emphasize the point. "You know, philosophy's nice and all, but it doesn't mean anything if you don't practice it any. We need to do something Knight's never done before. What could--oh hey, brilliant idea."
01[16:22] <Knight> "Yes, I've had drinks before," replies Knight. "I did drink an awful lot just after I left Limbo, though not so much since."
[16:23] <Kamvakua> "Had drinks and gone drinking is somewhat different.  With friends?"
[16:24] <Mari> "Oh yeah? Drink anything good? ...Anything bad? I had something back in Stratusberg--I don't know what it was, but I won't be drinking anything else that smokes anytime soon."
01[16:27] <Knight> "It was mostly wine, I believe. In a bar in Ysgard," replies Knight, squinting. "It made you belligerent, fortified the nerves. You'd feel like you could take on anything..."
[16:28] <Kamvakua> "Heh, Liquor tends to do that."
[16:29] <Mari> "Weeeell, the good thing about drinking is sort of also the bad thing--you might get into all sorts of trouble you normally wouldn't think of. Me, I think it's good to just have it all out once in a while..."
01[16:33] <Knight> "No, it was different to the usual stuff. It definately made you want to go out and fight for no reason. That's part of why I detested Ysgard, actually. What's the point in that conflict? Win or lose, it's all the same when you're revived the next day, correct?" Knight reaches for another mug. "So pointless!"
[16:34] <Kamvakua> "Mmm, losing control after drinking was a sign of weakness, back home," He smiled, draining his mug.  "Though those were lighter competitions."
[16:35] <Kamvakua> "Pointless...?  I have not been to such a plane, but that sounds like it would possibly be a great area to train and push one's limits, knowing that going beyond them would not bring death."
[16:35] <Mari> "Yeah, that was pretty pointless. I was glad to leave the place. It's totally safe to drink here, though. You should keep doing it," Mari says with a grin.
01[16:36] <Knight> "
01[16:38] <Knight> "Then it is pointless for me, at least. And dangerous. There's just something about it... it's like gambling with stones instead of coins."
[16:40] <Mari> "Well, me, I just thought it was a plane full of boys trying to beating each other up to be king of the hill. I didn't see the point when I was a kid and it's no more fun now."
[16:40] <Kamvakua> "That...doesn't seem that pointless, if the goal is to show who is better without lasting harm," Kamvakua shrugged, seeing it quite differently.  Maybe as one who'd gambled with stones.
01[16:46] <Knight> "Only to give each other a second chance the next day. There's no finality, no consequence," replies Knight. "The struggles there don't excite me, I suppose? Although the constant danger is a bit of a thrill."
[16:46] <Mari> "Yeah, well, the next time we see a gang of kids trying to see who's best at swinging a cobblestone in a stocking, maybe I'll think differently about it. Right now, I don't think I need that on a planar scale." Mari watches Knight to ascertain the progress of her intoxication.