[Ugh. He's still going to snirk a little over here. Barely a smirk, but still making that snorting noise cross between scoff and snicker.]
A kitchen. A workshop. Fuck, you're just a walking bonfire waiting to happen.
[Mental note: if he's ever around her, leave his lighter behind. And don't let her in the kitchen. Precautions are never wastes of time. Normal, precautions. Not going hogwild crazy with them.]
Rude's just an opinion.
[Says the jerk who's rude like a second language.]
[The workshop needed new pegboards installed but that hardly counts as a whole wall, now does it?]
Some people have told me the experience isn't quite the same, but the festivals in Emejre territory are so crowded. And noisy. Surely I'm not the only one with sensitive ears...
I guess that IS the point, if you're trying to be rude. I guess I'm not terribly experienced in that area.
All the furniture in the workshop needed to be placed. And a kitchen counter. And the stove needed some repairs. But no one was hurt, and that's the important thing, isn't it?
Crowds are still a bit overwhelming for me, so I'd much rather avoid them if I have the option. Between the noise and all the smells blending together, it's a nightmare. Oh, and there are no mosquitos on television either.
[She wouldn't disagree with that, but given this whole conversation started in part because she was fiending on cupcakes, it probably isn't surprising.]
If it's all the same, I'd rather not ever be. I can't judge anyone else's behavior but I don't want to make anyone else feel bad if I can help it.
So basically you torched the entire place... Damn.
[No comment on the hurt part. Someone stomping on the fire before it got that large would yeah, burn a bit, but would likely be healed up faster than it'd take to repair all those things? Just his callous opinion.]
Don't blame you. I don't like them either. You can always order or make food if you get hungry while watching.
[He still doesn't think it's gonna do anyone any favors to pack down 24 cupcakes in one sitting... He certainly wouldn't try it.]
You can try. But you can't control how someone else feels, and there's a lot of assholes out there.
No! More like, a quarter of the place. If we're factoring both the workshop fire and the kitchen fires together and coming up with an average. And nothing super valuable was lost. So it could have been way, way worse.
Well, I'd have to order food or do something really basic. I'm not actually allowed to do anything more in the kitchen, for reasons that should be pretty obvious at this point.
[Sadly it's not the biggest splurge she's ever had. Once she'd escaped the lab and made it to safety, she pretty much demolished an all you can eat buffet.]
I can only do the best I can, and that has to be enough. And I'm sure everyone can be an asshole at least part of the time, right? So I just can't take it personally.
My friends have encouraged me to always be proud of my accomplishments, but this is not one of them. To be honest, I'm worried what will happen if I ever meet an Emejre with a Gift to generate fire. I wonder if they've been warned about me.
[She's legit concerned about it now, but that's probably just alcohol fueling the fear.]
Oh, and pizza rolls! My bad luck doesn't seem to extend to the microwave, at least. They do prefer I stay away from the oven. Just in case.
[And she doesn't realize it, but one of the other boarders keeps a close eye whenever she's in the kitchen for so much as a glass of water.]
It's hard, sometimes. People can be so cruel. But I cannot control them, only how I react. And I'm told sometimes it's VERY frustrating to respond to rude behavior with a smile and positivity.
What? You think you're somehow gonna accidentally "nice" them into setting something on fire around you?
[Should've heard that "bfft!" snort of amusement there, but alas, text. It's definitely drunk talk and hilarious.]
Weird. Microwaves tend to start more fires than ovens or stoves.
[People putting metal in them being the biggest culprit.]
No shit. That's why a lot of people don't bother. Assholes aren't worth your time or effort. Though it's easier to just slug them and walk off then smile and pretend to be nice about it.
To be frank, I've been more worried about setting THEM on fire given my history. I know that doesn't make a lot of sense, but then again neither does my bad luck with flames.
Wait. Do you think the fire's angry I'm being too nice?
[Yep. Definitely drunk talk.]
My rotten luck only seems to involve open flames. The kitchen incidents involved a gas stove and the workshop was... complicated, but it involved an open flame, among other things.
[...she's absentmindedly put foil in one before, but the subsequent light show was a pretty potent reminder to never do it again.]
Oh goodness, I've only ever punched one person in my entire life. I'm assuming we're not counting monsters. Is it rude not to count the monsters? I'm not entirely sure.
[Every so often she ponders whether her bad luck with open flame is an indication of some power she's yet to master. For some strange reason, no one's pulling out a lighter to help her test the theory.]
We all make mistakes. So what if mine involved hiring a contractor. An an electrician. And someone to install new appliances.
You know, the more I say it the less defensible it gets.
I've been doing a lot of training! Not to brag, but my teacher is the best hand to hand fighter my people have ever seen. Not that it's helped me improve all that fast. But I'm getting decent with a bo staff, and I've learned a few takedowns and counters.
[That'd be one hell of an interesting power. "Accidental Fire Starter" or something like that. Or just "Bad Luck", which is a comic book superpower, after all.
(And who would pull out a lighter to help?)
Anyways.]
Wait. You hired those people and then fires happened? Because that could be on those assholes.
[On the contrary, actually.]
Okay, now I'm curious... Mind if I tag along to you next class or can we do one in private?
[Testing a bad luck power would at least make for an amusing montage.]
No, I mean we had to hire all those people BECAUSE of the fire. I had to take on a few extra shifts to cover all of that. I appreciate that my friends never made me feel bad but I felt rotten for a week or two.
[Oh! Now this is a much happier subject! Behind the screen her ears perk up and her tail flicks from side to side.]
Sure! I don't think Kimber would mind having another student for one session. Or even just the two of us. It would probably be helpful to learn from someone else's perspective too.
[Not for the ones you'd be testing it on. Everyone else, sure.]
Oh, that sucks. No wonder you try to avoid that stuff now.
[He probably would've given her an earful had he been there. Then again, he's not a friend (in his opinion), so there's that. Though it depends on the "how's" that surrounded the fire. Nothing he's concerning himself with; it's in the past.]
I meant your teacher, the three of us. I just want to check it out, see if I'm interested. Never said I'm teaching you.
Yeah. I've made it a point ever since to stick to my skill set and not rush in with anything new. And I avoid things that might require hiring more contractors if they go poorly.
[Silly, silly Zero. Pandora considers anyone who puts up with her as a friend. It makes for plenty of awkwardness and has gotten her in trouble once or twice, but she's just got too big of a heart to think otherwise.]
Oh, of course! Kimber's pretty picky about who she takes on as a student. I think the only reason she trains me is that we get along so well.
[Hmmm. While Pandora likes him, there's no denying he can be a little... abrasive. So can Kimber. It's a coin flip as to whether they'll bond over that or be at each other's throats. Still...]
If all else fails and you want to join us, Kimber's one of the people the sad puppy dog eyes usually work on.
[Ugh, don't remind him. They already had that talk and he still feels "ugh" about it. No other way to describe it. She's lucky he's considering her an acquaintance as he does. Then again, she's not exactly on speaking terms with him for no reason.
Zero finds her tolerable. Decent, even.]
That's fine. I'm picky about my instructors.
[Even if they don't hit off well, he's willing to have a meeting/lesson just to see if there's something worth gleaning from her. Most combat instructors can impart something he can use. Martial arts, melee weapons, firearms, etc.]
[...maybe Pandora's true Gift is wearing people down until they accept her?]
She's still getting used to teaching, but I think she'd doing great so far. And I don't think you could find anyone who knows more than her!
Oh, but if you take her down, be careful giving her a hand up. She's gotten me like five times with that.
[Oh, darn it. She should've been more clear about that!]
No! I didn't mean YOU would do the puppy dog eyes. I meant I would! I really don't have a problem with it, especially if it helps you get into the training session.
[Upon reading that first message, one word flashes through Pandora's mind: Abort! Abort! Abort! She's almost positive they'll butt heads and she's the one person who wouldn't find that entertaining in the least.]
It's possible to have a great deal of knowledge while being unfamiliar with how to convey that knowledge to others. Ordinarily, she's a loner like you so being around other people is a new experience.
Well, no. I would hope you'd show a little more restraint during a sparring match, though. Your opponents are still your peers and classmates, right?
[That makes sense. Which means if she does use The Look to influence the decision, she'll do it when Zero isn't looking.]
Okay. But I'm sure if she sees what you can do, she'll agree!
[Yeeaah. While Zero has had teachers in the past, they've ever been the sort that can handle his asinine attitude. But they've also been interesting and skilled enough Zero wanted to learn from them in the first place. So wasn't as big an ass.
It's a give and take sort of gamble.]
I get that. Not arguing it either.
[The next part, however, earns a small scoff.]
Restraint, huh. You think someone coming after you to hurt or kill you is going to show restraint?
Nope. If I have to show restraint to the class, then I'm finding another class at my level.
[That's only logical in his mind. An instructor showing restraint is acceptable, because the instructor is (should be) at a level above the students. But the students should be at the same level or very close. Otherwise, it's imbalanced and wasted.
He does this as a big percentage of his life, so... like he said, he's picky.]
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bakerstreet2020-08-01 01:28 am
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[Ugh. He's still going to snirk a little over here. Barely a smirk, but still making that snorting noise cross between scoff and snicker.]
A kitchen. A workshop. Fuck, you're just a walking bonfire waiting to happen.
[Mental note: if he's ever around her, leave his lighter behind. And don't let her in the kitchen. Precautions are never wastes of time. Normal, precautions. Not going hogwild crazy with them.]
Rude's just an opinion.
[Says the jerk who's rude like a second language.]
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[...it's probably one or less, 'Dora.]
Though I'll admit I've never gone to a fireworks show out of an abundance of caution.
It would probably be the popular opinion in this case. Don't you know that sand is coarse and rough and irritating?
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[Dropped a match, set the poptart foil on fire, lit a toilet roll on a dare, that kind of shit.
Accidental arson? Not so much.]
You can watch those on TV. Saves on the hassle of driving and finding a spot.
Yeah. It's sand.
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[The workshop needed new pegboards installed but that hardly counts as a whole wall, now does it?]
Some people have told me the experience isn't quite the same, but the festivals in Emejre territory are so crowded. And noisy. Surely I'm not the only one with sensitive ears...
I guess that IS the point, if you're trying to be rude. I guess I'm not terribly experienced in that area.
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[It's a simple matter to scroll up and he's not bothering to scroll up. Sue him.]
Too many people around for my comfort. The noise doesn't help either. I'm fine watching it on TV.
[Though the carnival food is missed...]
I don't think you need to be.
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Crowds are still a bit overwhelming for me, so I'd much rather avoid them if I have the option. Between the noise and all the smells blending together, it's a nightmare. Oh, and there are no mosquitos on television either.
[She wouldn't disagree with that, but given this whole conversation started in part because she was fiending on cupcakes, it probably isn't surprising.]
If it's all the same, I'd rather not ever be. I can't judge anyone else's behavior but I don't want to make anyone else feel bad if I can help it.
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[No comment on the hurt part. Someone stomping on the fire before it got that large would yeah, burn a bit, but would likely be healed up faster than it'd take to repair all those things? Just his callous opinion.]
Don't blame you. I don't like them either. You can always order or make food if you get hungry while watching.
[He still doesn't think it's gonna do anyone any favors to pack down 24 cupcakes in one sitting... He certainly wouldn't try it.]
You can try. But you can't control how someone else feels, and there's a lot of assholes out there.
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Well, I'd have to order food or do something really basic. I'm not actually allowed to do anything more in the kitchen, for reasons that should be pretty obvious at this point.
[Sadly it's not the biggest splurge she's ever had. Once she'd escaped the lab and made it to safety, she pretty much demolished an all you can eat buffet.]
I can only do the best I can, and that has to be enough. And I'm sure everyone can be an asshole at least part of the time, right? So I just can't take it personally.
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[Enough to get an annoying reputation hanging around.]
So you're looking at bowls of cereal and some kinda fruit and veggie platter. Or ice cream.
[Something that doesn't involve heat, electricity, and other potential fire starters.]
You can. Just a matter of if you want to or not.
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[She's legit concerned about it now, but that's probably just alcohol fueling the fear.]
Oh, and pizza rolls! My bad luck doesn't seem to extend to the microwave, at least. They do prefer I stay away from the oven. Just in case.
[And she doesn't realize it, but one of the other boarders keeps a close eye whenever she's in the kitchen for so much as a glass of water.]
It's hard, sometimes. People can be so cruel. But I cannot control them, only how I react. And I'm told sometimes it's VERY frustrating to respond to rude behavior with a smile and positivity.
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[Should've heard that "bfft!" snort of amusement there, but alas, text. It's definitely drunk talk and hilarious.]
Weird. Microwaves tend to start more fires than ovens or stoves.
[People putting metal in them being the biggest culprit.]
No shit. That's why a lot of people don't bother. Assholes aren't worth your time or effort. Though it's easier to just slug them and walk off then smile and pretend to be nice about it.
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Wait. Do you think the fire's angry I'm being too nice?
[Yep. Definitely drunk talk.]
My rotten luck only seems to involve open flames. The kitchen incidents involved a gas stove and the workshop was... complicated, but it involved an open flame, among other things.
[...she's absentmindedly put foil in one before, but the subsequent light show was a pretty potent reminder to never do it again.]
Oh goodness, I've only ever punched one person in my entire life. I'm assuming we're not counting monsters. Is it rude not to count the monsters? I'm not entirely sure.
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... the fuck?
[He's not even going to go down that path. Drunk talk that starts musing gets weird.]
Uh-huh. No matches or candles for you then.
[And some people put forks in toasters or put their bowl of soup in the microwave with the spoon still sitting in it. All those good things.]
The hell should I know? If something's trying to hurt you, punch the hell out of it. Bash it with a stop sign. Shoot it for all I care.
[It's not rude to fight back.]
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[She'll let the thinking fire thing go. Even drunk, she knows that's a little crazy, even for HER world.]
That's funny! Owen said the exact same thing when I asked if I could have candles on my birthday cake. He seemed pretty panicked at the idea.
Oh, I'm learning to better defend myself! It's been a slow process, though. I don't think I'd care for using guns, though.
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[He's one to talk about weird abilities. It's not "Gift" to him, but it's not leaving either.]
Look, if you tell someone you set two places on fire, they're not going to give you anything flammable.
[And suddenly she has his more-positive interest.]
Oh yeah? What kind of ways you going about that?
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We all make mistakes. So what if mine involved hiring a contractor. An an electrician. And someone to install new appliances.
You know, the more I say it the less defensible it gets.
I've been doing a lot of training! Not to brag, but my teacher is the best hand to hand fighter my people have ever seen. Not that it's helped me improve all that fast. But I'm getting decent with a bo staff, and I've learned a few takedowns and counters.
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(And who would pull out a lighter to help?)
Anyways.]
Wait. You hired those people and then fires happened? Because that could be on those assholes.
[On the contrary, actually.]
Okay, now I'm curious... Mind if I tag along to you next class or can we do one in private?
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No, I mean we had to hire all those people BECAUSE of the fire. I had to take on a few extra shifts to cover all of that. I appreciate that my friends never made me feel bad but I felt rotten for a week or two.
[Oh! Now this is a much happier subject! Behind the screen her ears perk up and her tail flicks from side to side.]
Sure! I don't think Kimber would mind having another student for one session. Or even just the two of us. It would probably be helpful to learn from someone else's perspective too.
no subject
Oh, that sucks. No wonder you try to avoid that stuff now.
[He probably would've given her an earful had he been there. Then again, he's not a friend (in his opinion), so there's that. Though it depends on the "how's" that surrounded the fire. Nothing he's concerning himself with; it's in the past.]
I meant your teacher, the three of us. I just want to check it out, see if I'm interested. Never said I'm teaching you.
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[Silly, silly Zero. Pandora considers anyone who puts up with her as a friend. It makes for plenty of awkwardness and has gotten her in trouble once or twice, but she's just got too big of a heart to think otherwise.]
Oh, of course! Kimber's pretty picky about who she takes on as a student. I think the only reason she trains me is that we get along so well.
[Hmmm. While Pandora likes him, there's no denying he can be a little... abrasive. So can Kimber. It's a coin flip as to whether they'll bond over that or be at each other's throats. Still...]
If all else fails and you want to join us, Kimber's one of the people the sad puppy dog eyes usually work on.
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[Ugh, don't remind him. They already had that talk and he still feels "ugh" about it. No other way to describe it. She's lucky he's considering her an acquaintance as he does. Then again, she's not exactly on speaking terms with him for no reason.
Zero finds her tolerable. Decent, even.]
That's fine. I'm picky about my instructors.
[Even if they don't hit off well, he's willing to have a meeting/lesson just to see if there's something worth gleaning from her. Most combat instructors can impart something he can use. Martial arts, melee weapons, firearms, etc.]
I'm Not. DOING. Puppy dog eyes.
[Dammit, girl!]
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She's still getting used to teaching, but I think she'd doing great so far. And I don't think you could find anyone who knows more than her!
Oh, but if you take her down, be careful giving her a hand up. She's gotten me like five times with that.
[Oh, darn it. She should've been more clear about that!]
No! I didn't mean YOU would do the puppy dog eyes. I meant I would! I really don't have a problem with it, especially if it helps you get into the training session.
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If she's still getting used to teaching, I think I know a lot more who know more than her. People who've been teaching a lot longer.
Psh, you really think I'm someone who helps my opponent back up?
[They're lucky if he doesn't kick them in the head while they're down, to make sure they can't come after him!]
No thanks. If I want in, I'll get in on my own merit. I don't need help or favors.
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It's possible to have a great deal of knowledge while being unfamiliar with how to convey that knowledge to others. Ordinarily, she's a loner like you so being around other people is a new experience.
Well, no. I would hope you'd show a little more restraint during a sparring match, though. Your opponents are still your peers and classmates, right?
[That makes sense. Which means if she does use The Look to influence the decision, she'll do it when Zero isn't looking.]
Okay. But I'm sure if she sees what you can do, she'll agree!
no subject
It's a give and take sort of gamble.]
I get that. Not arguing it either.
[The next part, however, earns a small scoff.]
Restraint, huh. You think someone coming after you to hurt or kill you is going to show restraint?
Nope. If I have to show restraint to the class, then I'm finding another class at my level.
[That's only logical in his mind. An instructor showing restraint is acceptable, because the instructor is (should be) at a level above the students. But the students should be at the same level or very close. Otherwise, it's imbalanced and wasted.
He does this as a big percentage of his life, so... like he said, he's picky.]
All right. I'll give it a try.
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