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[clockworksoul]

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duonet id: steelsong

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ABOUT ME

Artificer, inventor, scourge of many an HOA. I will definitely, totally, absolutely get back to you as soon as I am able!

NOTE

May not actually get back to you in a timely manner.

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[verselet]

[He's just going to have to get used to this, help.]

For a last resort.

[He huffs, amused at the reaction.]

I'm not one for projectiles. Is that so surprising?

[clockworksoul]

A little.

[ Declan clearly doesn't have much by way of tact. ]

I'm not built for close-quarters combat. And neither, I thought, were you.

[verselet]

[Don’t worry. He’s hardly offended, because no, he doesn’t look built for it at all.]

Oh, no, I’m not built for it at all like this. But… I know how to swing a blade around. If push comes to shove, I’d like to rely on something more than just a cane, that’s all. Especially since I only have one familiar.

[clockworksoul]

Alright, alright. I've already got some ideas brewing, but I can't promise I'll be able to come up with anything quickly, since— [ vague hand motions ] —you know, I'm not at full capacity, even in the ON world.

[ He's gone back to working by now, and falls quiet for a moment in concentration. Then— ]

What do you mean "like this"?

[verselet]

I wouldn't dare rush you. Take what time you need.

[Declan would be doing him a favor. V's not rude enough to burden him with expectations of expediency.

With that out of the way, he allows him to work, silence falling between them. V manages to finish his drink, setting it aside, then watches with his chin resting in his hand. At the question, he blinks.

Oh.] Mm. Did you think I was always this weak?

[clockworksoul]

[ This time, Declan doesn't look up, apparently too focused on what he's doing. ]

And what, pray tell, would I have to compare your current strength to?

[verselet]

Your grand imaginings that I was once a profound warrior.

[Dry. That isn’t said to be taken seriously.]

But to answer your question, I used to be much more capable. That’s all.

[clockworksoul]

Funny how that thought never once entered my mind!

[ Rude, Declan. He still hasn't looked up, carefully building away. ]

If I ask what happened to make you— [ he clicks his tongue ] —less capable, is that a story you're willing to tell?

[verselet]

Rude.

[Tells it like he hears it. But, as always, V doesn't look very offended. He has his pride, but when it comes to how he appears (and how he feels, often), then he knows he's not really fooling anyone.]

That depends. On a scale from 1 to 10, how curious are you?

[He asks, taking this moment to decide just how much he cares to share.]

[clockworksoul]

[ That just gets a chuckle out of him. It was rude, wasn't it? The sound soon tapers off into a considering hum instead. ]

I'm always extremely curious, V, but you were kind enough to change the subject at my request. I would be a poor friend if I didn't do the same for you.

[verselet]

[Ah, the usage of "friend" again. He pauses again, still trying to separate what needs to be said versus what he can get away with not saying.

Not that any of this is a very deep, dark secret. But this is the sort of thing where one explanation will lead to another, which will lead to another, and another... And V is not sure he has the energy or the willingness to unravel the entirety of that tale.

So, eventually, he decides a hemmed-away version of the truth.]

I don't mind telling you, it's just that it's just a messy tale. But in so few words, the reason is this: I was once trapped in a horrible place, and when I was finally free... I was terribly, terribly weak. Dying. And when I tried to heal myself, I was left-

[Gestures at himself with a hand waggle.]

-with this. Not a terrible improvement.

[clockworksoul]

[ Ah, so it's a "do you want the long version or do you want the short version?" kind of situation. It seems the short version is what they're settling on for now. ]

Well. At least you seem to have stopped the dying part!

[ A pause, and he once again looks up with those gigantic eyes. ]

You have stopped the dying part, haven't you?

[verselet]

[This time, unfazed by those gigantic eyes, he just grins at him.]

That's hard to answer.

[Like yes, he stopped the dying part. By not existing like this anymore. Does that count?]

What ailed me should still be ailing me now, let's just say. But this world is keeping me still upright. [And not disintegrating into nothing.] That counts for something.

[clockworksoul]

I'll say.

[ He frowns a little, not unaware of the implication that once they leave this place, V will be right back where he left off. ]

If there's anything I can do that might help when you return to your home— [ he trails off, simply because he has not idea what he even could do. ]

[verselet]

[If he were right back where he left off, that would be ideal. Smushed back into one person again. But there's no guarantee that'll be the case. Maybe he'd be back to square one, a world dealing with Urizen a second time, and he'd have to fight tooth and claw to return-

The very idea makes him weary.]

There's nothing you can do about this physical form.

[Blunt. But, then, a little more airly-]

But there's still value in me being in this world to accommodate the spirit and heart, instead, filling my mind and memory with strange experiences to bring back home... Eventually. Ah. You can be my stalwart companion in new and exciting things. How does that sound, instead?

[clockworksoul]

[ To accommodate the spirit and heart, says V like it's the easiest thing in the world, like his body isn't possibly in danger of dying upon his return. Declan's not sure how he feels about that.

But then, what had Juni said? Let's work hard while we're here so we'll be even stronger when we return to our adventures! Perhaps the same is true for V. Nothing is over until it's over, and who knows how much time they'll have in this strange new place?

At last, Declan's lips curve into a grin. ]

I rather like the sound of that. V and Declan, Declan and V, stalwart companions!

[verselet]

[Nothing for it but to make the best with what time they have, right? In this, he'd agree with Juniper — work hard while they’re here, so they can become stronger upon their return. Bring back so many memories that he’ll have no choice but to regard his experiences in this world as positive. A mind filled with warmth and excitement, and so fewer nightmares.

So, yes, that’ll be nice, he thinks. He’ll help himself again. The same way he did before, just less… perilously this time. (Ideally.)

V’s smile widens, and he nods.]

Perfect. It has a ring to it. [DOES IT THO] I’m sure we can find plenty of things to keep us amused between two worlds. Time to flex that sense of wonderment between us. Personally, I want to try every food place in town.

[clockworksoul]

[ To Declan's ears, it absolutely does! ]

Ohhh. Yes, that sounds like a fantastic place to start. What was that we had for lunch?

[verselet]

[The Chinese takeout?]

...Chicken lo mein noodles. And a soda. We still have fortune cookies to crack open, too.

[Waves a hand.]

But there's hardly anything very novel or culinary about any of that.

[(Even though he did really like it.)]

[clockworksoul]

Chicken lo mein noodles and soda.

[ Said more like he's trying to get it right for himself than memorize it, because, well, you know. There's some inkling of familiarity in the back of his head, as well, though he'd rather make room in his brain for the engineering stuff over the greasy fast food stuff. ]

And fortune cookies?

[ Forget novel and culinary. WHAT IS A FORTUNE COOKIE? ]

[verselet]

[Oh, to be this excited about a fortune cookie. A dark brow arches.]

Yes. One for you and one for me. Would you like to see them now?

[clockworksoul]

Of course I would?? As if you even have to ask.

[ He'll even set aside his work and push his goggles up for this. ]

[verselet]

[Ha. Very important if Declan is bothering to raise his goggles.]

A moment, then.

[He’s going to get up and fetch them, rustling and crinkling in the bag nearby. Then he returns with wrapped fortune cookies, smirking, and tosses one at Declan. Catch!]

Do you “remember” how these work?

[clockworksoul]

[ Oh gods– he barely manages to catch the little cookie, juggling it around in both hands for a moment as it threatens to bounce free. He’s dextrous only sometimes, it seems. ]

Slippery little things, aren’t they?

[ Only for you, Declan.

He turns the cookie over in his hands, the package crinkling lightly. ]

There’s a message inside, isn’t there?

[ you know what time it is ]

[verselet]

[Good thing he caught it, V might have felt a little bad about it crashing to floor and cracking into pieces.]

Yes, they are.

[(They're not.)

He settles back into his seat and unwraps his cookie, then snaps it in half. Then he takes one half between his teeth to free the little slip of paper inside.]

Mm-hm. Words of so-called wisdom. [Give him a moment to munch on that fortune cookie half, before he murmurs aloud, reading from it-] "Conquer your fears or they will conquer you."

How trite.