[open] I'm not invincible, I'm not afraid

[thereneverwas]

WHO: Barrow & you
WHAT: catch-all! it's been a while
WHEN: Kirkwall/the Gallows
NOTES: prob some mention of Having Died and other violence-related discussion

I. so let me be solid, and let me be sure

The posted times have come, and Barrow is there by the trebuchet he's chosen for practice at each of them, with his sleeves rolled up and a cigarette in his mouth. He starts each session by explaining each part of the machine: what it does, how it can go wrong, and how to fix it, temporarily or otherwise. The lessons then move on to operation, in which each congregated group is tasked with mock-firing the thing (no ammo is provided, ESPECIALLY not people, CHILDREN), rotating until each person has performed every involved task at least once.
Finally, they are shown how to properly clean and maintain the trebuchet.

The tone of these sessions is fairly informal, as Barrow is capable of little else, but there's an air of uncharacteristic seriousness as he runs through the information, and he allows for little goofing off or side chatter. This is important.


II. and let me be honest, and let me be pure

Not that Barrow has ever been one to seek the center of attention, but he's been a little more aloof since they were all brought back: a little sparser in the public areas of the Gallows, more likely to be found tucked away in the library of all places, or disappeared off to anonymously drink an ale or six in one of Lowtown's many dives. The latter isn't especially unusual, but the frequency of it is, and the way he tends to sit and stare at nothing for what seems like hours, taking sips of ale with an oblivious, automatic motion.

He has an uneasy way of looking at people he knows when they should enter his sanctum, and though he smiles, it would appear there's something he's nervous they're going to do, or say, or notice.


III. and if I can't be those things, let me be stubborn and doubt

[wildcard]

Comments

[grindset]

Viktor nods, just the once. "We'll be announcing it in the new year."

He hadn't come out here with the specific intent to redirect Barrow's attention from weaponry to defence, but it pleases him to have done so, if only until the next tutorial group arrives. You need only get one wheel turning, and so on...

The way he gathers his posture around his crutch now suggests he's preparing to move, and indeed that is so: "Speaking of which, I should be on my way—there's still plenty of work to be done."

[thereneverwas]

Barrow knows when he's being teased, but his rapport with Viktor is not such that he can call it out, amiably or otherwise. These Research types; he'll have to just wait and see.

"'Course," he replies, affably waving Viktor away, "thanks for coming out." He means it, too.