eachdraidh | video; unseelie.

Well, now that that silver nonsense seems to be sorted out, I think we need to start talking about things we can actually fight back when they attack us.

[ About as direct a greeting into the topic of this message as you can get. Katsa sits somewhere outdoors, cross-legged in the grass with her locket angled to show the sky clear behind her: fitting for the mismatched colors of her eyes, unusually bright green and blue. ]

I know our High Majestic King and Queen [ the titles spoken with a hint of irony ] don't seem to care always how old someone is or how much experience you've with weapons or fighting when they decide to claim you. Whatever you think of this war, whether you'd rather run right into the Void right now or wait for it to come to you, everyone here should have the skills to unlock their own strength. It's better that you've the ability to jam a knife into a man's eyeball and never have to do it than find yourself at the end of an attacker's blade with no way to get out of it. You shouldn't have to rely on anyone else.

So I'll teach you if you've no experience of your own. I usually teach young girls—children—but I'll not turn my back if you need it. That includes how to use your shard—the thing that Seelie will try to take right out of your chest.

[ She moves to close the locket—then halts, fumbles, and picks something off the ground to hold flat in her palm to show anyone watching. ]

And what in the name of the Middluns am I supposed to do with this?

[ WHO HAS TURTLE CARE TIPS???? ]

( dated after boon delivery on the 25th! )

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[This was almost like talking to Liara, but at last Katsa came across as somehow less naive than the asari.]

If you do not know what to do with it, why do you have it? It is too small to be of any use.

[Barely even a mouthful, really.]

Well, that's what I thought. But supposedly it's going to grow, and supposedly it will be useful when it does, but I've no idea what it's supposed to do in the meantime.

[A pause, and a blink, and he seems to figure something out.]

It was a boon, then. Tell me what they told you about it. Aside from its supposed size.

I didn't ask for it. I asked for Tarz.

[ She's not going to explain that she's aware that he's dead and made the request in nothing but a fit of irritation, a last-ditch hope that she could stick a sword even in his corpse. ]

Somehow Morla took that to mean I wanted a turtle. A warturtle, apparently.

[And he's not going to ask, because he probably doesn't want to know. Her little adventure at the Citadel this spring had been bad enough.]

It has a long way to go before it will see any sort of war. I did not know Tarz, but perhaps the High Queen knew something about him that you did not.

[But really... a turtle?]

What—that he pretended to be a turtle in his spare time?

[ She's grumbling. Katsa may actually be considering asking the imps why it was a turtle, of all things.

...That will be a gleeful discovery when she makes it. But for now— ]

I'll ask someone, anyway.

What do you even eat?

[ javik is not a turtle katsa no ]

Would that surprise you?

[Because really, have you seen the world around them, Katsa? Fun fact: Javik could turn into a bear.]

What I eat is none of your concern.

From Tarz? Yes. I'd have thought he'd wish to make himself become something far bigger or more impressive. That's what he liked to pretend to be around others as it was.

[ That little factoid about Javik's transformation abilities would probably not process. Why do u need to be a bear, Javik ]

I never imagined it would be something so secret. Surely you don't have such a pathetic appetite. Or should I be feeding the turtle nothing but blades of grass and the dew you drink in the mornings?

Do not presume to understand your enemy.

[That goes for friends, too. 'Friends', in some cases. Also, he didn't ask for it, okay, blame Morla.]

No one here knows anything about my species. If they do not know what I consume, then they cannot poison me.

[Mostly a lie. He had to give up the paranoid habit of eating in private in this world, especially when travelling in groups. Right now, he's just being purposefully obtuse.]

[ Katsa ignores him. She can make as many assumptions as she wishes 8U ]

I don't like you, but I've no intention of poisoning you, Javik.

[You know what the humans say, Katsa, to assume is to make an ass out of u and me, har har.]

Giving your word is meaningless, though I believe you would prefer to kill me with your bare hands.

[It only lasted a moment, but there was definitely the flash of a toothy smile in there.]

[ Katsa in turn is so surprised by what he's said that she actually laughs. ]

I certainly would—you're not wrong. And I almost believe you'd prefer I did it that way, too.

[ okay but are protheans' organs all in the same places as on humans?? ]

Poison is no way to kill someone you truly hate, lieutenant. You would be robbed of the satisfaction of revenge.

[So yes, please take him out with a sword, or your bare hands. Also, she'd have to get through a couple layers of armor before she could worry about his organs.]

[ That sobers her quickly and suddenly, though it's only apparent in her sudden quiet. That's what's happened to her already, and it comes with its own set of moral dilemmas.

...But for once she doesn't take it out on Javik. Though she'd be happy to try to hack at him with a weapon at some point, and all without even actually wanting to kill him. ]

You should feel very safe, then, that I won't be trying to put hemlock in your supper. I suppose satisfaction can be found somewhere else.

[Her reaction was obvious, even over the locket, and he knew it wasn't worth it to push the subject. Vengeance was its own monster, and he knew it well.]

I will never feel safe, nor will I rest easy. But I will take some comfort in knowing that when you kill me, it will be a good fight.

[This was, apparently, their way of agreeing and getting along. Talking about killing each other. Good talk.]

Well, I’m glad. [ GLAD WE HAD THIS TALK DAD ] I’ll feel better knowing that, too.

[ She’s serious—that’s not a joke at all. If Katsa has to kill someone, she knows that she can kill that person. But it makes her feel less of a beast and more of a person to know that there are still enemies who could give her a fair fight. ]

[BETTER THAN THE BIRDS AND THE BEES, KATSA.]

Regardless, when I am at Caer Scima, you may ask me to help you train others. It will be more necessary than ever, I think, in the coming months.

[ DO THEY EVEN DO IT THE SAME WAY

Katsa opens her mouth to say something—then closes it. Despite the almost condescending way he had offered, Javik has nonetheless indicated he has willingness to help. ]

I thought that you thought if someone couldn’t fight, that was their problem.

That has not changed. I am, however, in a position of authority that allows and requires me to train others in my skills. Those that are willing will be taught.

[Meaning, he wasn't anybody's babysitter. If there were tears or some stupid resistance to authority, they were out. Time was precious.]

How conveniently lucky for all of us.

[ and, you know, back to this. but that isn't quite as acerbic as usual. ]

You are entirely fortunate.

[He is 100% serious, don't ever doubt him, Katsa.]

I will leave you to your pet, lieutenant. We will see one another soon enough.

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