2nd Circuit, Text [Unseelie Locked]

[zerotohiro]

[The following appear steadily over the course of an hour. Someone's taking a different route to his own research.]

Regrouping and Restructuring

Me: Teenage male, scrawny but stronger than appears. Wields dagger and studied martial arts. Can heal own wounds.

You: Capable of teaching other styles of hand-to-hand combat or weaponry. Also able to take a punch or two. Serious inquiries and offers only.

Location: Caer Scima. Only willing to travel within Dorchadas.

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Wanted: One infused weapon

Currently seeking someone to forge a dagger of some kind or recommendations of smiths to do so. Must be capable of infusing with very specific properties and must be able to provide within a few weeks. Willing to pay for best product. Private message if interested.

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Wanted: Information on textiles

Also currently seeking anybody who knows the best location for specific fabrics. Need to match something I already have. The wardrobe at Caer Scima is severely lacking materials necessary. Message with details.

It's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Comments

voice.

[zerotohiro]

You're embarrassing. [Is he...whining? Maybe. So yes he's trying to turn it serious but he's losing badly.]

voice.

[uneulogized]

Ah, you left out a word:

You're embarrassing me.

voice.

[zerotohiro]

That too. [...granted it's better than the alternative so he doesn't mind too much.] I'm so glad you're amused.

voice.

[uneulogized]

Not like it's hard to be, really. Craigslist? No clear offers in return? Why, you're ... being you! I had to run with it.

voice.

[zerotohiro]

But I'm being a somewhat more honest version of me. Don't I get credit for trying? A for effort and all that?

voice.

[uneulogized]

Wow, that's a stunning way to twist that. Where's Loki to give you your gold star?

voice.

[zerotohiro]

Well am I wrong?

voice.

[uneulogized]

You're trying to lead me to agreeing that you made this sound as selfish as possible on purpose.

I'm not going to.

voice.

[zerotohiro]

[The sound of him drumming his fingers on a desk somewhere.]

Okay. So that was an accident. But I'm going to offer what I can if people want payment.

voice.

[uneulogized]

And now you got even more in return for it!

Why, Hiro, I think you owe me for this gift I've laid at your feet.

So, what're you gonna give me?

voice.

[zerotohiro]

I dunno, a kiss with a fist? [You're such an asshole Jason why does he like you so much.]

...could design you some more gear though. You might need it. [Considering.]

voice.

[uneulogized]

Well, if you want. [Though Jason imagines Hiro is offering in part because he's bored.]

I'll get you more of your sleeping juice.

voice.

[zerotohiro]

[Yes that's part of it, but also...] It'll be good practice. And maybe by the time I'm done you'll have time to teach me how to use some of it? [Maybe?

There's a slight noise of surprise though at the other offer.] Oh. ...I mean I can do without it for a while. I've been sleeping a little better? [Not really. And he's well aware Jason will know he's just bullshitting that, too.] It's okay.

voice.

[uneulogized]

No, you haven't been sleeping. [He remembers their last call.] And no, I'm not going to teach you. [In the current state of things, that seems like a really, really bad idea.]

voice.

[zerotohiro]

[...] I've been sleeping sometimes? And why not? Because you're busy? [He can be patient. He can totally be patient.]

voice.

[uneulogized]

Because if you get more skills like that, you're going to get it in your head that you belong on a battlefield instead of behind the battle lines making weapons.

voice.

[zerotohiro]

Better to know what I'm doing and be on a battlefield than be forced out there empty-handed. [But he gets what Jason's point is.] And how can I keep making better tools if I don't know how to use the ones I'm already making? I made my microbots because I knew how Megabot was designed. It's kinda like that.

[A beat.] I already know I don't belong out there. But I want to be ready anyway. For whatever.

voice.

[uneulogized]

I'm going to ignore everything you said, because I don't believe you. [Sorry, their second meeting was on a battlefield.]

Being ready for a direct attack is fine. The lessons you're picking up from the poor souls taking pity on you should be more than enough.

voice.

[zerotohiro]

[...Jason.]

You really think it's pity, huh?

voice.

[uneulogized]

Oh, that's what you took from that. Interesting.

voice.

[zerotohiro]

Not entirely, but it's an interesting choice of words. [And deliberate, as far as he can tell.] I also took that you're okay with it and that you're mostly okay with it because it frees up a little of your time and I'm probably gonna get my ass kicked a bunch of times.

voice.

[uneulogized]

Oh, my time was already freed up and away from worrying about one Hiro Hamada. [Figure out that mystery, Sherlock. (Hint: it's Loki. Loki is how.)]

But you're going to get used to getting your ass kicked, and I'm actually looking forward to the "I can take a punch so I should be out there fighting."

You're like clockwork. Predictable.

voice.

[zerotohiro]

I'm aware, Jason. [Mystery figured out a few weeks ago bro.] And I meant from training me, not...the other thing.

[...you know. He pauses, considering this for a moment. There's really only so much he can take from Jason being...Jason. And while it's entirely hypocritical and he can understand how much Jason puts up with by Hiro being Hiro, the combination of this conversation and Jason basically running free and teasing the crap out of him is finally getting under his skin.

So. He makes a decision.]

Sometimes I think to myself "wow, maybe I'll actually make a sort of decent decision that Jason won't tear apart and throw back into my face. Maybe I can actually work on fixing something." And then I remember that it's pointless because you're actually just kind of a jackass and nothing's going to change your mind right now.

[And he's just going to throw up a private filter on this.]

I don't know what you're doing with Ariadne and Loki. But I'm not stupid either. [He's not even asking Jason to tell him what he's doing. It's more acknowledgement that he knows Jason has much, much bigger things to worry about and that he's accepted that.] Just...you know. [Be careful?]

voice.

[uneulogized]

We're not doing anything. [This conversation is also in public. Jason's not going to take it to a private venue lest someone take that as confirmation that he's actually doing something. There's a reason why they're keeping aspects of their business a secret.]

Getting training isn't a bad idea. Did I say anything differently? But hey, Hiro. Keep acting like you're some kid who's been put into timeout.

It's not my problem.

voice.

[zerotohiro]

[Point. Even with the private filter in place, even with that extra precaution it's not safe. He can be as vague as possible but even then…so he leaves it off again.]

You're not--[He just sighs.] Never mind. This isn't about that and you're. [Words. Words are hard and he's not sure what he can and can't say, what he should and shouldn't say.

So he leaves it.]

Training. Katsa, Thrall, Bellamy and Clarke seem to be volunteering right now. Pretty good line-up. And Eren said I can punch him a few times. [Shrug.] Staying in Dorchadas, too.

Buuuut yeah. Not your problem. I forgot. "Don't bother checking in."