open

[inkindled]

WHO: Matthias, Nikos, Salvio (tbd if Doki, Val, and Darras will get open stuff. how did I get all of these characters) + YOU
WHAT: just open stuff, man
WHEN: NOW
WHERE: various
NOTES: tiny bit of self-harm but it's so small and it gets fixed so fast

Comments

[muckspout]

[Edgard starts a little and laughs awkwardly at Matthias’ reaction. Maybe that wasn’t a question he should’ve asked. He raises his hands.]

Easy, I just didn’t realize. What do you usually do around here? Surely not, uh, just paperwork?

[inkindled]

[Mollified, but also a little embarrassed at himself, Matthias settles back.]

Yeah, well. [Fine.] Forces isn't paperwork. Just this bit is, the assistant bit. I do loads of other things, missions and all. We're what it sounds like. The force bit of Riftwatch.

[muckspout]

Good. I imagine paperwork would be dull. Or [Edgard looks at the balled up papers, still finding the mess of them appealing and shrugs] maybe not? I guess I wouldn't know.

[He squats down to pick one up.]

[inkindled]

[oh shit wait; Matthias scrambles to get up and come around the desk so he can grab that paper before Edgard gets at it.]

These aren't that. Paperwork for Forces, I mean. They're--mine. I'm working on something. It's not important.

[muckspout]

[Edgard is very tempted to grab the paper, but instead allows Matthias to take it from him. He's now all smiles.]

You are up to something!

[Edgard, laughing, folds his arms over his chest, satisfied, and waits for Matthias to explain further.]

[inkindled]

Hardly.

[--Defensively, but, ugggh. He's clearly settling in, there's no getting around this. Matthias puts the page back on his desk.]

It's mage stuff. So it wouldn't mean much to you, as you're not a mage. Just--lessons and things that I want to learn from the enchanter that's teaching me, and it's not anything big, all right, so you haven't got to crow over it or tell anyone.

[muckspout]

[Amused]

Alright, keep your shirt on. Even if I wanted to tell, which I don't, [Edgard's no snitch] I've got nobody to tell. But, you're right, I don't know anything about mage stuff.

[Teasing] Probably shouldn't be giving one such a hard time, but I never had much sense.

[inkindled]

I'm not going to explode. You can give me a hard time, and same goes for any other mage as well, I reckon.

[Explode, after the abomination, is a word with some weight to it. Matthias feels it. That weight is also why he uses it. He pushes at the crumpled page until it is tucked up against a ledger book, left there after his actual work day.]

And it's not that special. I mean, it is, 'course, but it's like anyone learning anything. I just don't want anyone thinking I'm skivving off my actual work to do it. I can manage both.

[muckspout]

Did you just give me permission to give you a hard time?

[Edgard laughs, he has no inclination to stop giving this kid a hard time anytime soon. He waves a hand to say nevermind.]

I'm not here to judge, secret or no, special or no. You seem very responsible, just a little messy. But, [shrugging] I like messy.

[inkindled]

[His ears go a little red, but he manages not to say anything terribly stupid, just--]

I'm not that messy.

[--a little stupid.]

I'm just working on it and it's not easy, coming up with--y'know, this sort of a list. Haven't you ever worked at something before?

[muckspout]

I have. [Well.] Nothing that requires papers or lists, I guess, but I’ve worked hard at things.

[And failed at most of them.]

Usually trying not to care too much is a good place to start.

[inkindled]

[Matthias wrinkles his nose.]

Right, only I do care about this, so it wouldn't do me much good to try not to care.

[muckspout]

[Edgard puffs air out his mouth.]

I don't mean don't care at all, I just mean--sometimes when you try too hard, then its kind of like not trying.

[He's not expressing it well, but Edgard actually has a lot of experience with this concept.]

[inkindled]

Uh-huh.

[--With flat teenage affectation. Matthias looks down at the pages on his desk again and curls up one corner with his thumb.]

So, you're a mental. Got it.

[muckspout]

[Edgard stares at him, initially insulted, and then bursts out laughing. He likes this kid.]

You know what? Maybe I am.

[inkindled]

[A little smirk lifts up the corners of his mouth.]

Reckon you'll fit in all right here, then.