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

[ TOYS. Birds that fly around. ]

I want one. [ This is a request purely from the part of her that always has been and always will be fully feline. It looks fun to attack...or just to watch, admittedly. ] What would it take to get one?

[ She's...apparently just not even going to acknowledge anything he actually asked about, hyper-focused on the bird-thing instead. C a t s. ]

[A cat talking to a dog person. Nothing can go wrong here.]

Youuu... go to a carpenter or a toy store and buy one? [That's totally what she meant, right.]

No, the magic part. I can acquire a wooden bird, but I cannot do the magic part.

[ or...apparently everyone gets magic in the drabwurld, but since shijima has done fuck all to learn any of it... ]

Right. [Oh boy. This can't be good.] Look, I-- I'm still getting the hang out of this spell, so I'm not sure I can help, but... there are lots of magic users around here, it can't be that difficult to, ah- "buy".

You seemed to do it just fine on those.

You mean this little group that won't listen to me? [He points a them with a very accusing finger. The birds play innocent and Dave rolls his eyes.] Right now, my magic can only get objects under my control. But if I manage to make a playful one unlinked from my power, I'll send it your way. Does that sound good?

You mean they're supposed to listen to you? What did you want them to do?

[ CURIOUS... ][ of the enemy court but WHATEVER ]

Yeeeees, they are, that-- that's what I said. [Rubbing his forehead now.] I want to be carrier birds to start with, I may have other activities for them later on.

That would be a useful thing. I am Shijima Kurookano, should you need to reach me.

[ Mostly she wants moving birds to bat at tbh...make her cat toys, Dave. ]

What do you mean by "other activities"?

Ah, right- David Stutler.

[Awkward wave goes here. And he'll definitely be working on toys, he just needs a bit of organization.]

I-- well, I'm still not completely sure, but I think there's a lot of potential here. [Maybe they can gather information instead of only carrying it, but talking to Waver reminded him of being careful with this stuff. That means he looks like a complete idiot while trying to lie.]

[ He gets a faintly incredulous look for his trouble of trying to lie, but Shijima doesn't really care enough to press the matter... ]

Perhaps you could get them to send for help.

[He isn't sure if she didn't notice or just isn't commenting, but either way, he's thankful for her lack of reaction to the pseudo-lie.]

Not a bad idea, though I'd rather work on some kind of faster communication method for that. Something that works during emergencies... [And that's him getting lost in thought, sorry.]

...Such as?

[ PROMPTING HIM TO SPEAK OUT LOUD... ]

Huh? [He shakes his head, snapping out of it, and he can swear he could hear Waver disapproving. Oof.] I-- I'm not sure yet, I need to research more and... master my spells, yeah.

[He's so bad at trying to be smooth and hiding.]

...If you do not wish to speak of something, you could simply say so instead of dodging very badly.

[ YOUR NINJA SKILLS COULD USE WORK, DAVE. ]

[HE'S A SORCERER NOT A NINJA. Dave laughs awkwardly before waving a hand dismissively.]

Maybe I should... go back to working on my birds. [Super smooth.]

Maybe. Later, then.

[ PERHAPS HE WILL BE SMOOTHER LATER. ]

[Video - Both courts]

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