char who's been floating around for years and i've never tried to play...welp.

[dirtdog]

Look, sweetheart...

[Eli sighs and rubs a hand over his face, gesturing when he speaks.] Look, I get it. I do. And I have every confidence that you're up to this, if you really want it. But do you really want it? I mean, you have to make sure you're doing things for the right reasons.

I know better than to think I can talk you out of this. Just be careful, okay?

...Not too careful, though. I won't break. [And a big grin.]

Comments

[crwydryn]

What, in this case, would be the right reasons?

[dirtdog]

Wanting it for its own sake. I guess more accurately, wanting me for my own sake, because it's fun.

[crwydryn]

That makes sense. This is supposed to be entertainment, after all.

[dirtdog]

Something a little unsettling about being someone's minstrel show, but I suppose there are worse things that could happen.

How are you doing, Rhys? Anything good happening?

[crwydryn]

I'd say there are, but I've heard horror stories about what they can do in the name of entertainment.

I'm fine, actually. And when isn't there something good happening?

[dirtdog]

Maybe, but I'm pretty confident I can take anything she can dish out. From what I hear she's pretty tame anyway, all things considered. [That can change, asshole.]

Yeah? [Grin.] I'm glad, then.

[crwydryn]

Mine can play pretty roughly, but fortunately she lacks the attention span to prolong things. [He shrugs.]

How about you? Anything interesting going on besides her bringing you out?

[dirtdog]

Ha. So, more like an air than like us, then?

Hanging out with your mother a lot. She misses you and your brother more than she admits, you know.

[crwydryn]

She's pretty damned airy. I don't know how I've managed to stick around in her head this long.

We miss her too. It's not my fault she gave me her wandering feet, though.

[dirtdog]

[He has to smile.] Yeah, that's definitely her in you. You didn't get it from me, that's for sure. I still live within thirty miles of where I was born.

[crwydryn]

I can't imagine. I'd go stir-crazy... so would the woods, for that matter.

[dirtdog]

Hm, you and your brother both. [He frowns thoughtfully.] You're both unusual, in your ways. Makes you wonder what's so different about your mother.

[crwydryn]

[He shrugs.] I've looked into it but I haven't found anything definitive yet. In the meantime, I don't mind being a rarity.

[dirtdog]

[His face twitches into a grin again.] Should have known you'd already have thought of it.

[crwydryn]

I'm pretty smart, if I do say so myself.

[dirtdog]

I'm definitely taking credit for that one.

[crwydryn]

I don't recommend insulting my mom right in front of me. [He's not pissed. But hey.]

[dirtdog]

I've known your mom a lot longer than you have. Suck it up.

[crwydryn]

She's still my mom. I'm honour bound to defend her.

[dirtdog]

[Snickering.] Does the fact that she's fully capable of defending herself make any difference here? [It's true, Brenna is entirely capable of burning Eli's face off if she feels like it.]

[crwydryn]

Well, she isn't here, so no.

[dirtdog]

Well, she sortof is, but her coming out would be weird. Suppose I'm the same way, though, anyway.

Speaking of which. Have you met this air your brother's with?

[crwydryn]

No, I haven't, actually. How annoying is he?

[dirtdog]

I have no idea how Noah puts up with him.

[crwydryn]

It probably helps that they're not antagonistic elements.

[dirtdog]

I do have trouble keeping up with him and your mother sometimes, anyway. They take a lot of energy.

[stormminded]

It's so hard for them to make their minds up, isn't it? I mean, not everyone can just make up their minds and then try to out-stubborn mountains, but these muns seem to be absolutely awful about it. Every last one of them with the resolve of a butterfly.

I must admit, I rather like it.

[dirtdog]

[Ohhh dear. Eli takes a breath. Even the way he speaks is grating.]

You would. How are you doing, Ari?

[stormminded]

Hmm, a little bored. Having so much time is nice of course, but after awhile I need something new, something fresh to tackle. It can get so boring up here.

And you, Eli? Still doing bar work? Oh no wait, it's an inn right? Something like that at least.

[dirtdog]

[how does Noah fucking deal with you]

Things are well. [There's a slowness to Eli, a groundedness, that stands in stark contrast to Ari's flitting between thoughts like a hummingbird.] And how's my pseudo-nephew? He seems happy when he speaks of you.

[stormminded]

He's doing well. There was a storm a day or two ago, but he seems to be doing just fine.

[He shrugs, smiling a bit as he remembers] The limp should be gone in a few more days.

[dirtdog]

[Limp? But of course, Eli is an earth, and it doesn't take him too long to make the connection and roll his eyes, although he's smiling a little. Obviously Noah is happy then.]

I'd recommend ice, but...well. It wouldn't help him.

[stormminded]

[Ari almost grins in response, chuckling.]

No, that would just make the poor thing whine. I believe he has a heating pad that he's been making use of. And he convinced me to buy him a heated blanket so long as I don't try to use it while I'm wet.

[he snorts, as if he would do that (okay, so he probably would)]

[dirtdog]

[Eli laughs at all that. Okay, so apparently they can agree on loving Noah, at least.] Yeah, that sounds like him. He's even more of a priss about water than his mom.

[blissd]

You could do it for right or wrong reasons, but really, just do it for yourself.

At least, that's what mine says.

[dirtdog]

Exactly my point. Your mun's a smart lady.

[and your own mun sees you sucking up.]

[blissd]

[That's all in the details, though. She's about as harmful as a pillow.]

It's better than the people who come in here who are all wishy-washy over the little things. At least you know you want to be here.