Open

[muckspout]

WHO: Edgard and YOU
WHAT: I'm doing the catch-all thing too
WHEN: Now-ish, post-Murderhaus and Satinalia
WHERE: Various places
NOTES: Open to all unless otherwise specified. Post-murderhaus stuff might have murdery discussions

All prompts in comments! Feel three to throw wildcards in here if you so desire. I love you.

Comments

[lumelume]

"Intimidation has never been my strong suit," Mado says a little sadly, looking down at himself in his too-large yellow coat and tattered clothes.

"I think I need a wash," he observes, "did you know that you can just do that here, with Riftwatch? Just take a bath whenever you want?"

Luxuries beyond imagining!

[muckspout]

Edgard glowers.

"Why would you want to take a bath?" He states flatly.

[lumelume]

What an alarming question. What an alarming way to ask it.

"They feel nice!" Mado enthuses, "the water's hot and everything smells good, especially you, when you get out of it! And then people don't avoid you on the streets."

That last bit is more or less the sticking point, at least for a busker.

"I used to have to wash with cold water in public cisterns, and people would get angry about it. I'm very lucky now, don't you see?"

[muckspout]

"If you say so." He grumps. "I think it feels weird and makes everything smell bad."

He has a thought.

"But, dogs aren't particularly clean." He points his finger like he's making a point, but he's not sure what point he's making.

[lumelume]

"Well," Mado replies, but then pauses, because Edgard is right. "...that's how they get fleas and mange."

He definitely has had (currently has??) the former, but it's an occupational hazard. Mange, however, is a different story.

"If it helps," he cheerfully continues, "your smell is very distinctive! One can learn all sorts of things just from breathing near you."

[muckspout]

Edgard is fascinated.

"Really? Like what? Tell me everything!"

[lumelume]

"If I knew the scents that match the dirt I could tell you where you've been in the last couple days, though I'm still not quite familiar enough with Kirkwall to do so accurately!" Mado chirps, "but it's been--" he snuffs the air with his human nose, as if it'll help him remember, "--months since you washed your clothes, if ever. You smoke elfroot often, and did so recently, and you have a bun and three apples in your coat."

[muckspout]

Edgard listens rapt and then frowns when he concludes. He reaches into his coat in various places and then finally pulls out a bun. He takes a bite.

"Didn't even know that was in there. Amazing!" He speaks thickly around a full mouth. He offers it to Mado.
"Want some?"

[lumelume]

Not about to turn down free food, Mado cheerfully takes the bun and bites from it himself.

"Thank you, amico!" He pauses a moment as he chews, looking back over his shoulder.

"...you didn't kill the man, did you?"

[muckspout]

Edgard shakes his head.

"No, I just knocked him out."

He wrings his hands and scratches his neck.

"Should I have killed him? He might do this again."

He hadn't really thought it through, the man just seemed like he needed to be punched.

[lumelume]

"No, no, I'd--" Mado realizes what he's about to say, and sighs, because he still means it.

"I'd hate for anyone to die." He sinks down onto a nearby crate. "Even someone so cruel."

[muckspout]

Edgard lowers down onto a crate next to Mado. He puts a hand on his shoulder. He understands.

"I agree with you. I try not to kill people if I can help it."

He sighs.

"Sometimes, though, it has to be done."

[lumelume]

"I suppose that's probably true," Mado admits, "at least in your line of work. I think. My line of work?" He scratches behind one ear.

"Do you think I'll have to kill someone, working with Riftwatch? Is it frightening? Oh, I'm sorry, I'm asking too many questions." He smiles self-consciously.

"I thought I should make a real effort, after all."