voice testing

[durincest]

Ouch! Fili, get off!

It's not my fault we're squished together, now is it?!

[Both brothers turn accusing eyes at the scribe.]

Would it have killed you to give us a little more room?

Comments

[dualtrainers]

Users that come in pairs.

That's new.

[durincest]

Users? [The younger of the brothers frowns.] What is that supposed to mean?

[dualtrainers]

[What amounts to an entire conversation passes between the two in a moment, mostly minute facial tics and very little else. Finally one of the pair answers:] Users, those existing outside the Grid.

[The other continues the line of thought:] Not programs, nor ISOs, though they're programs as well.

[durincest]

I'm lost. [Kili states, and Fili nods.]

We've never heard of anything like that.

[dualtrainers]

[The conversation flows easily from one to the other, they really are two halves of a whole.]
Ah, our User-mun informs us that you're from somewhere else.

Possibly sometime earlier.

Before -or outside- the realm of Programs and Users.

Are pairs a common thing where -and when- you're from?

[durincest]

Pairs? [The brothers are still confused.]

Well...we're brothers...

[dualtrainers]

[The Twins tend to have that effect on people, even where they're from. Another wordless conversation passes quickly between them before Dex, the one on the right asks:] So you share code?

[Sin, the one on the left, amends:] Energy.

[Another brief sideways glance at each other as if to verify before speaking in unison:] Blood?

[durincest]

[Fili and Kili both look confused until the last word. Their expressions clear and they both nod.]

That's one way to put it.

[dualtrainers]

[Blood is something of an abstract concept to the pair, but now that the semantics are sorted they grin, crooked and mirrored.]

It would seem that we've failed to introduce ourselves

And before asking personal questions at that.

[Each nods to the other, introducing them.]
Dex
Sin

Game trainers.

[durincest]

Fili and Kili of the Blue Mountains. [They bow, or rather, incline their heads, before adding the traditional ending.]

At your service.

[dualtrainers]

[That prompts another broad, shared grin from the pair.]

And we at yours.

[durincest]

What's a program? [Kili asks interestedly, and beside him his brother nods.]

[dualtrainers]

We are. [It's the best explanation they've got, but they're going to try harder, bless them.]

Where we're from -and when!-
If there's a task that needs doing -training new recruits for the game arena, for instance- then a User writes a program for that task.

It's like hiring someone for a job -only more precise- yes, more precise because it's like hiring the exact right person for the job.
The person who was made to do that job -and that job alone!-

[Generally they manage to confuse people with the talking over, around, and through each other, but it's not impossible to follow.]

[durincest]

[Hey, they're brothers. They know how the whole finishing each other's thoughts thing goes.]

So...you were made to do a job? And your job is training?

[dualtrainers]

[Dex beams] In as many words, yes.

[Sin's smile is a little smaller, but no less bright.] We were meant to be singular at first. But then our User had other ideas.

Thought a pair would be more adaptable.

[whitespirit]

Is it common for two to be stuck together in this realm?

[durincest]

[They share a glance before both shrugging.] None of our scribe's others are.

[whitespirit]

You must be a special case. (Which is comforting. She can think of only a handful she wouldn't mind being stuck with.) Are you family? Or friends?

[durincest]

Brothers. [They reply in unison, grinning at each other before looking back at her.]

Fili-- [the blond bows]

--and Kili-- [then the darker haired one]

--at your service. [This time they speak in unison once more.]

[whitespirit]

(She smiles faintly, the expression softening her features somewhat.)

I have sisters of my own. There is only one that I wouldn't want to be stuck with. (The one who betrayed her and slept with her husband. Can anyone blame her?) My name is Gwenhwyfar. It is a pleasure, Fili and Kili.

[durincest]

[Kili frowns.] Are you an elf? The name sounds Elvish.

[And Fili elbows him.] Manners, Kili!

[whitespirit]

There were rumors about my mother descending from the Other Kingdom, but I am not an Elf.

(She laughs quietly.)

I'm certain you're not the first to wonder.

[durincest]

What's the Other Kingdom? [Kili is constantly full of questions, and Fili sighs.]

[whitespirit]

The Kingdom where Elves and other creatures reside. I have seen some of them myself, but they cannot be summoned or ordered. Yet, when they do offer aid to humans, they leave their mark behind for future generations.

[durincest]

We're dwarves. [Kili offers helpfully, and Fili fights the urge to face palm.]

My brother's a little...overly friendly.

What? I am not! I'm just being polite!

[whitespirit]

Oh are you? (There's no hiding the curiosity in her eyes.) So you are well-versed with the Other Kingdom. (She shakes her head.) I much prefer overly friendly to hostile.

[durincest]

We have Men living not far from us. [Fili and Kili both frown slightly.] We're in the Blue Mountains right now. Uncle always works in the villages of Men nearby.

[ringmage]

More of them?

[Much like his last time dealing with the dwarves, it would seem that these creatures do come in sets of two. That's quite disturbing.]

How odd. Their numbers seem to only grow.

[durincest]

More of what? [Both brothers frown.]

[sonof_thrain]

Both my nephews at once? [He raised an eyebrow. Double trouble?}

[durincest]

She thought it would be silly to separate us.

Maybe she was right...

[sonof_thrain]

Aye, is that so? [Why did scribes have to do such stupid things?]

So, you will go around in pairs forever?

[durincest]

No, not always.

She says she'll let us go on our own sometimes-

If we want!

[sonof_thrain]

You'd better not wander into trouble like you always do. [He gave them a stern look.]

[durincest]

[They trade grins.]

Trouble? Us? Never.

[sonof_thrain]

[Have this face, lads. Thorin knows you are both like loose canons.]

[durincest]

[They put on the most innocent smiles they can.]

icon wars >_<

[sonof_thrain]

[Ok, so now this face comes out. The rare smile. You only get it once this time though. He does love you.]

[lord_of_moria]

Really, what trouble have the two of you got yourselves into this time then?

[durincest]

Balin! [A familiar face! Kili lights up.]

We're stuck in the same spot. It's a little tight for us both...

:)

[lord_of_moria]

Aye. I can see you’re in a bit of a tight spot there, but you never said on how it happened. You haven’t done anything the two of you to insult your scribe have you?

[durincest]

What? No! [They're both appalled, but then Fili frowns.]

Well...we did sort of...force our way in with her...She only wanted Thorin, but we were bored.