[handmaiden of unsheathed swords] audio posted:

[darkeststars]

[ There's a businesslike voice on the network that only some of you will recognize -- clearly filtered through the translator, and fortunately not interrupted by too many moans. ]

So I imagine I probably know the answer to this, but hope springs eternal: Did anyone else come here with technology?

Not all of my things are useful at the moment, but they do appear to be working. We should continue to keep proper tabs on our collective supplies.

Comments

un: Taste of twilight’s trickled honeydew

[pinkxeno]

Technology? Like what?

[darkeststars]

Whatever might have come with you? [ dryly ] Don't know that I expect it to be any more helpful if I instead ask everyone to show me their commlinks, holoprojectors, in-ear implants or jetpacks.

[pinkxeno]

[ she thinks for a second ] I guess my hero suit is tech. [ it's specially made to be acid resistant and keeping her safe, too. ]

I don't have any of the things you just said, tho.

[darkeststars]

A hero suit, hm? What makes it heroic? [ His voice still has that dry note to it. ]

[pinkxeno]

It's the suit I use during my Hero work. [ naturally ]

[darkeststars]

...Your... hero work. [ at this point he's thoroughly distracted from his original question, voice sounding rather incredulous ] That is-- what, a profession where you come from...?

[pinkxeno]

yeah! [ pretty much!! ]

It's a very popular profession, but very hard to get in there.

[darkeststars]

Fascinating. [ The word is a deadpan drawl. There's a quip on the tip of his tongue about how he thought he already knew all the professional heroes given his own line of work, but with his run of luck in this place she'd probably take him seriously. ]

And what does that entail, exactly? May I presume you can fight?

un: undaunted snake in lonely gardens

[descendency]

[ Were you hoping for this asshole to be on topic? Sorry. ]

Oh fair handmaiden, you've looked a fair bit less fair as of late. Run out of makeup?

Your face is uncomfortably naked. It's scaring the customers.

[darkeststars]

[ There's about a half-second of sputtering from the other end of the line. Direct hit, apparently. ]

Y-- I somehow doubt that my "naked" face is cutting into your business. [ He grits this out at last with an irritable sigh. ] Yes, I've run out of my dab of kohl, so what? Did you have something actually useful to contribute or not?

[descendency]

You were using coal? Disturbing.

Do you know where my quarters are?

[darkeststars]

What? You know, kohl, the cosmetic, it goes around the-- Why am I discussing this with you. [ deep sigh ]

I've seen you in and out of one particular room, I assume it's that one? [ his voice is a low, sardonic drawl ] Do you feel a deep need to insult my looks some more in private? I didn't expect that to be your speciality here.

[descendency]

Come and find out. Or don't.

But frankly, I think you like me. I think you might even miss me when I'm gone.

[ He also deeply suspects you might be a masochist. ]

1/2

[darkeststars]

[ Masochist, sadist, sadomasochist, who's keeping track? ]

How bored exactly are you? Save the lines for your clients.

[ There's another sigh before his voice cuts off. ]

2/2 action

[darkeststars]

[ Arche never said anything about actually coming over, of course, but it's probably no real surprise when ten minutes later or so there's a knock on Mingyu's door. ]

I trust you aren't so crass as to invite me over in the middle of an assignation?

un: heart-fluttering hummingbird

[downswing]

A sword.




( #technology. )

[darkeststars]

Well, I can't argue with that. [ You can't hear his amusement on the other end of the text post, but it's definitely there. ]

Our foe has gathered more swordsmen here than I would have expected. Suppose that leaves me to be the distance fighter.

[downswing]

It does not.


( Plan to... say more, Wangji? No? Thank you. )

[darkeststars]

Oh?

You remind me a bit of an apprentice of mine. Man of few words. Can clear a battlefield in twenty seconds.

[downswing]

Perhaps he needs wide path.

[darkeststars]

Hm. Can't argue with that either.

What is your name, stranger? I don't think we've spoken.

[downswing]

You speak with all?

[darkeststars]

Several. Not all yet. Why?

[downswing]

I wished to know our tally.

[darkeststars]

So far I have personally spoken with 1 "magician", 4 sword fighters counting the two of us, 3 distance fighters counting the two of us -- I presume, given your remarks -- 2 with medic skills counting myself, and 1 "hero".

Most of those are the same few people. I have seen several around that I've not had opportunity to evaluate. This local warlord was, it seems, quite overeager for new recruits.

So. Your name?