eachdraidh | [Video - Both courts]

[Elmie has told him that the lockets are being watched but Dave can't help it, he wants some information, and locking the post to only one court would reduce the amount potential informants. If he makes it sound just like some history lesson he can't get in trouble for it, right? Right.

He still uses video instead of just audio to avoid any nasally voice confusion again - if this really bites him in the ass later, better leave it clear it's all on him. He's in his room at the castle, not a commoner's for anyone who doesn't know about his magic yet, and he's surrounded by books he borrowed from the library, which shouldn't be surprising. At all.]

Many of you have been here for a long while, right? Like... a "whole year" while, give it or take. [Get ready for the hand gestures, everyone.] Any chance you know more about the history behind this war they want us to fight? The books say the-- ah, maybe "a"? A jabberwock attacked during-- [He glances at a book to get the term right.] --Blàr Geur and some-- entity? called "the Mother" healed the land afterward.

[Sighing, he runs his fingers through his hair. It's so frustrating for this nerd not to be able to find what he wants by researching.]

They connect her to something called "sigils" too but that's all I got. And there isn't much more I can do with the state of the castle's library... [Plus the fact it isn't objective doesn't help, but he isn't going to say that.] So maybe anyone can tell me where to find--

[He interrupts himself when what it looks like a wooden bird lands on his head, using his hair as a nest. Two more fly by a second later, the wind made by their flight turning the pages of his books and shuffling his notes. Dave facepalms and closes his locket - it seems his spell still needs a few adjustments.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Don't laugh! The memory of the mop incident is embarrassing! Dave rubs his face. regretting bringing that up (damn mouth of his).] I just-- want them to do their job. The whole project deal is about making them carrier birds.

Oh! That's a brilliant idea.

But they can't be doing their jobs all the time. They must be able to have their own fun while they aren't working. [WE GIVE THAT EVEN TO THE LOWER CLASSES jk they're always working—] Have given them a job to do, to see if they'll be efficient then?

Give them a-- [A sigh.] Dorian, they were supposed to stay perching on the window, not nesting on the books!

[How about lack of discipline for efficiency?]

That doesn't sound very comfortable for them.

[things dorian is bad at empathizing with: other humans

things dorian is great at empathizing with: MAGIC BIRDS]

[Dave is usually nicer to animals. But the memory of what happened last time he tried to use this spell is still strong, so at the time he's a little reluctant.]

They're made of WOOD, they don't KNOW the meaning of comfortable! [Their ruffling of their tails may contradict that though.]

I don't think your companion agrees.

[RUFFLED TAILS, DAVE!!]

[Facepalming now. WITH BOTH HANDS.]

Aren't you supposed to be on MY side? What kind of BFF are you?

[Dorian mutters the letters to himself to try to understand them—nope.]

I don't know. What is a BFF, and what kinds does it come in?

...oh, right, you wouldn't know what a-- oh boy. [Now he's embarrassed, looking down as he grabs the back of his neck.] BFF stands for, ah... best friends forever. I don't know much about the kinds they come in, I didn't exactly have many at home.

[Oh. Dorian smiles. If he could, he would reach out a hand to Dave's own.

So Dave is lucky they're long-distance or he'd be exposed to so much touchy-feely Victorian male bonding.]

Nor I. I would say that I'm the kind that tells you to be sweet to the birds you hope to employ in the future. No doubt they'll be easier tamed that way.

If you're sending them out, would you care for me to ward them? I think I can work on my runes so that you can keep the stones, rather than forcing them to bear them.

[Let's be honest, he probably could do with a hug or two. But let's go with a smile for now.]

A kind that actually gives me useful advice? I think I can get used to that. [Because his roommate at home only has wolf metaphors. At the offer of wards, Dave's eyes widen, and so does his smile.] Really? Oh man, oh man, that would be amazing. They're hollow inside so they carry them in their bodies and-- man, I'll own you big time.

When we meet, we can discuss how it will work. [And then Dave's cute messenger birds won't die in unfortunate accidents.]

[Video - Both courts]

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;