stuff and things

[wisper]

Uh, no, it's not exactly what I'd expect, as far as animal representations of the soul go, but -- alright. I can see where you're coming from. I have to say I was on team one-and-a-half ants, personally, but I'll take this little guy gracefully.

So -- things look pretty good. Just in time for the grind, too, which, ah -- I hope won't grind too hard. I'm glad to know where I'm settled, now; it's a good place. Lots of roots in magic, lots of -- ah. Students. -- Alright, lots of business. Kids and their coffee and books, right? You keep me going until tourist season.

I think things will work out if you take them slowly. Don't worry about me, it's going fine.

F

Comments

[vagare]

Okay so like - with the magic gay wispy thing. Do you eat people? Honest question.

[wisper]

How much would it bother you if I did?

[jetblacksocool]

It's a fine choice. Suits you.

All I can say to the rest is better you than me. Going in with a healthy dose of confidence is one thing, not expecting the worst is something else entirely.

[vagare]

I mean, if you tried to eat me, I think it would bother me a lot? Otherwise I don't give a shit.

[wisper]

I think that's the key to it: confidence. To a lot of things, actually, although I guess expecting the worst kind of... applies, for that place. Maybe preparing for the worst would be the better thing to do.

[wisper]

I definitely don't eat people. I, uh, don't think that's ever turned up in the folklore, either.

[vagare]

Like I read. Dude, I'm just trying to weigh my chances here. If you don't eat people, it means I have one less person to worry about being... eht. By. Eaten? Ate?

Whatever.

[jetblacksocool]

No maybe about that, Maclaren. The worst is a sure thing as far as I can see. [He points to the eyepatch.] Don't be fooled, I can still see pretty far.

[wisper]

Eaten. Is that a common problem for you?

[wisper]

I meant in lieu of expecting. But, ah -- that's some advice I'd be happy to take. Rumour is you're fairly reliable in that department.

[jetblacksocool]

Fact is I'm fairly reliable in all departments. At least I try to be.

There's really no way to prepare for what you're getting yourself into. Just stay sharp and burn bright. Use what you've got. [Those special skills of yours, Finn.]

[vagare]

It's more like 'pinned down and slobbered on; is my problem. Slobber blood. It's really gross, I don't recommend it.

[wisper]

Yeah, I, ah -- generally try to avoid that too. And who's slobbering blood?

[vagare]

The infected dudes back home, look - you have to level up a bit before you unlock my tragic backstory and world information. I'm easy but not that easy.

[wisper]

[ It's so WEIRD in metaland where people know this stuff. Uncomfortable! ] Thanks. I plan to.

[jetblacksocool]

[He understands the discomfort. Killjoys are a secretive bunch.]

Calm yourself, Sunshine, just trying to show my support. No harm meant. No ill intentions.

[wisper]

But isn't returning a little insight only fair, though, now that you know the magic gay wispy thing won't eat you? I don't need the tragic backstory.

[wisper]

Oh, no, it's fine. It's appreciated. Just not something I often get to acknowledge.

[jetblacksocool]

You've got friends that know, right? Back home? That's your crew. As long as someone knows your secrets somewhere, helps hold all that weight, it's easier to keep your head down and your mouth shut in a new place. Around here, I'll help with the weight.

[reverseproxy]

Your soul ... is a fish.

[wisper]

Your crew must be glad to have you to rely on.

[wisper]

Apparently so. It could be a lot worse, I guess.

[reverseproxy]

Like with the ants? Query: What happened to the other half? A deficiency of .25% is unacceptable. [Smiiiiirk.]

[wisper]

Honestly, I'm not sure. My guess is that it just gave up and fell apart.

[reverseproxy]

From what I hear, that doesn't sound like you at all. Stick with the fish. Fillet of soul?

[wisper]

[ OhoHO! ] I'm, ah, quite the catch.

[reverseproxy]

[Oh no, Findlay you made her snort! She's supposed to be smooth as hell, you can't be smooth when you're snorting.]

Impressive and embarrassing at the same time. Hey, you own a bookstore, right?

[wisper]

[ Hee hee. ] That I do. Curious?

[reverseproxy]

Actually, yeah. You don't see many of those antique relics where I come from. Books are literally a thing of the past.

[wisper]

Ooh, no, don't tell me that. That's a future I'd hate to see.

[reverseproxy]

They still exist! You can still get your hands on them if you've got the cash, but in the age of free information, it's just not all that cost effective. No one in my sector has books. It's data strips and minidiscs or nada.

I bet your store smells real nice.

[wisper]

I know for a fact that it does. I can't really smell it, anymore, but I get a lot of compliments. You really can't go wrong with old pages and coffee.

[reverseproxy]

Is someone gonna watch it for you? Regarding: your absence. It's not like you can boot up a droid in that day and age to keep things running smoothly.

[wisper]

Uh -- from what I understand, everything at home is put on hold. Thankfully, that's one thing I won't have to worry about.

[reverseproxy]

One out of approximately 7565858.8 things. That's just a rough estimate.

Are you scared? Must be some pretty powerful stuff to just hit pause on your timeline and freeze your life.

[wisper]

I don't know if scared is the word I'd use. [ Yeah, it pretty much is. ] Apprehensive, maybe. Not to jinx the pot, but there's a lot I can handle.

[reverseproxy]

With your [air quotes] magical powers?

[wisper]

[ Again with the knowing! Ugh. ] Well, ah, they do help. Without the air quotes, especially. ... Let me guess: magic is also a thing of the past, for you.

[reverseproxy]

[its meta-land finn deal with it!] More like never existed? It's called science. Even your fishy soul is scientifically quantifiable if you try hard enough.

[wisper]

So you think science and magic are mutually exclusive?

[reverseproxy]

Damn straight. So you think magic is better? Mysticist!

[wisper]

Well, ah -- obviously. I think science is capable of uncovering how magic works, in some cases, but that doesn't make it any less what it is. It just makes it more acceptable to humans. [ SHOTS FIRED. ]