Closed A Playful Show (Alexander Faircroft)

[Theo Popcampio]

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Theo looked at the white goo in his hands. The proverbial life blood of that extra-life. A product of his own body. A show of his craftsmanship, a show of his progress, a show of his work.

Theo took the clean, white essence and placed it on the table for Alex to see. Theo took another drink of liquor, this time straight from the bottle. And then another.

Theo could feel the leaping excitement coming from Alex. He could feel the judging too. Regardless of his prior experience, Alex was getting ready to kill. His hand was ready to draw, and any time Theo could be in a sword spat with this blade-happy potential cutthroat.

Theo was tired of it.

He took another swig. "Ya know, Alex. There's a lot in life, a lot in this world, that I don't know. Scratch that, I hardly know any of it. But I do know this: Not believing in Rhysol doesn't mean he doesn't exist. All those ghost stories you've heard? Maybe they have some truth to them, they probably do. But what're we taught here? To stand for what's right, or so they say. That means setting aside your own prejudices for the values of the Knighthood.

"Now, how far you choose to go with that is up to you, but you'll see magic in all of your tenure as a knight, I say get used to it. You seem like a nice-enough sort. I'm not going to hurt you. This is a terrible place for a murder anyways, I've been trying to tell you that.

"Anyhow," Theo took another sip of the liquor. "That one was spicy!" He passed the bottle by sliding it to Alex. Theo made a swigging motion with his hand, and started plucking imaginary hairs from his own chest. "Anyhow, this stuff right here is soulmist. Ghost love this shyke, it gets them all gooey, and it's a pretty good way to get one to talk. Contrary to popular belief, most of them just like keeping to themselves, so you need something to offer them. Touch it, it feels weird."

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

The strangeness of the events that had unfolded was something that still didn’t sit well in Alex’s stomach. The off white semi translucent goop in Theo’s hands had a strange feeling to it. Not a texture nor a smell but e general feeling. Like it was something otherworldly and once Alex had gotten passed the overall oddity of the situation. After a moment adjusting his hand slipped from the sword as Theo began to speak out. Knowing and not knowing. The more Theo talked the more Alex began to feel like he could understand where the man was coming from.

However the leap to the assumption that Alex would get hurt by Theo that may have been a little much of a leap but then again the man had produced fire from literally thin air. Though Theo did have appoint about magic. “It’s not really a prejudice. I spent a year in Sunberth, during that year I’ve seen magic be used to hurt people in a variety of horrible ways. So excuse me if I’m a little apprehensive towards it.” Though the motion of the bottle being pressed into his hands was something that gave Alex a small chuckle. What damage could a single drink do? Alex ran his thumb around the rim of the bottle sighing softly as Theo continued Alex took a long swig from the bottle.

The moment he pulled away his eyes opened wide like he’d just been punched in the gut the sheer volume of the smell of alcohol at the back of his throat made his eyes water lightly and he missed what Theo had said about the goop and ghosts. A small cough resonated from him as he spoke. “No offence Theo.” He broke speaking to cough and continued. “But I’m not touching that white mass of oddity. I’ll leave the magic for offence and coercion to the professionals. I’m not inclined to that sort of thing. No aptitude.” He gave a small honest smile just enough to be noticeable and polite.

“Just out of curiosity though Theo. How many magics do you know of?” An honest and open question. “I only ask because I want to know what to look out for in the future. If you’ve no idea then that’s fine I won’t push.”

[Theo Popcampio]

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"I assume your year in Sunberth taught ya a little bit about mages, huh? From what I hear, everyone gets along just fine down there except for the mages. They're the trouble makers."

"Why wouldn't you like magic? It's pretty, a good way to drop some pants, instantly makes you the talk of the town, and it makes killing things a lot easier. You know you have to kill things here, right? Besides me, I mean." Theo winked at Alex.

He rotated his neck and pushed it back in attempt to crack it, and rolled his head around quickly. "Damn, I'm feelin' that now. Have another sip, because you're touching that goop right there before you leave, or else I really will burn this place down."

Theo took another swig from the bottle and passed it back to Alex. "But, answering your question, I know everything there is to know about magic. Kidding. These good looks have only gotten me so far as of now. Pretty soon I'll have to charm another wizard into giving me his big secrets.

"I can play with fire, that's reimancy. You can do other cool things with it too like move big rocks and pour water on people without a bucket. I'm sure you've been wondering how to do that. I can also talk to ghosts better than your average folk. A ghost possesses you: You're petched. One possesses me? Well we're going on a date because he's staying until I let him out. Usually I get a ghost tuggie out of it.

"About what I don't know: Pretty much everything. There's a lot of magic. You can store spells, do other stuff. And, in case you don't know, gods give magics too, or so they tell me. That's pretty much it, now you know as much as me. If you like Sylir enough, maybe he'll give you some of his own brand."

"Anyway, touch it." Theo pointed at the goop and looked at Alex in the face, twisting his head a little and rising out of his seat. "Don't make me grab you, my hands have been in far worse places than that."

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

“More than I care to admit. Mostly it taught me that Sunberthians are a paranoid. Some of the people that got killed, were simple merchants.” A single line of words that spoke of everything Theo needed to know. Though between the two of them Theo seemed to miss the message. Alex was a pious sort, a man of the gods and of simple wants and needs. “Dropping pants” wasn’t a way to get him to take an interest in magic. Though at the mention of “killing” Alex visibly winced a little.

“I’d prefer it if people didn’t have to kill each other. After all, violence only breeds violence." Alex handed the bottle back to Theo. However Alex listened to what Theo had said. Three things sprang to mind He could cut of his hands right now and save a lot of issues. Two he could do nothing allow him to hurl a ball of fire and watch every knight within the mile radius decent upon him. Or option three he could just prod the semi-translucent white gloop. The simple torrent of words falling from Theo was enough to let Alex know what he really liked the sound of his own voice. And to couple that he had a high opinion of himself.

The mention of being able to mess around with the elements like he was playing at god didn’t sit too well with him. However he could see how useful that would be to be able to do. Producing water from almost thin air in the desert for one could be invaluable. Alex stepped up to listen to Theo talk about how if a ghost possessed him that Alex would be in trouble and how Theo would be alright with that sort of thing. A dry and sullen look pushed over Alex’s features as he groaned and gingerly prodded the gloop. A strange sponginess to it almost like rubber.

Theo then informed Alex that he in fact didn’t know everything. As such Alex was disinclined to believe him on a few things but he’d heard about people with the powers of the gods. Small fragments of their power given to mortals and then of course there was the knights with all of them being marked by sylir. All of them possessed a piece of the power of the god of peace. Something Alex himself wanted. The ability to say that he could diffuse a situation without resorting to violence. “For some reason I believe you when you say you’ve had your hands in bad places. On another note though. That stuff is odd…And if I ever find myself in the market for learning magic of…This variety I’ll be sure to give you a call. In the meantime can you do something with that?” Alex paused to gesture to the gloop and made a small grimace.

[Theo Popcampio]

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"Violence begets violence until it doesn't. One side wins and then the fight stops. Pacifism is an unrealistic approach. Wave a white flag next time someone tries mugging you. Tell me how that goes, smart guy."

Theo looked on and smiled wide as Alex reached with his head half turned at the soulmist. His finger barely broke the translucent barrier of the stuff and then Alex brought his hand back to himself. Theo looked up at him and showed his teeth in a great, big smile. Then he burst into a laughter, going on for the better part of a minute.

"I didn't think you'd do it." Theo said in between recovery breaths. "I really didn't think you had it in you. Wow, Alex, I'm impressed. You're more than the typical squire, maybe you don't belong here after all." Theo laughed to himself again.

Theo stood up and pulled a cylindrical glass vial from the inside of his robes. "You obliged me, Alex." Theo said. The soulmist was hard to gather from the table, but Theo got a good portion of it into the vial. In a circular motion the squire rubbed the rest into the table. "It'll be gone in a day, my soulmist isn't so good right now."

"And with that I'll bid you a goodbye, Alex. I've got to get my beauty rest, you know? I'm sure you can relate." Theo winked at Alex, he couldn't leave Alex without something to wonder on.

"But you keep your head on straight, you're a good fellow, maybe a little too good for the knights. All jokes aside, it was a pleasure meeting you, Alex." Theo extended his hand to his new acquaintance. "Let's see that grip, pal."

"I wish you luck and god's graces in all that you do."

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

“I know pacifism isn’t an approach.” Alex retorted with a sharp word but then softened as he continued to speak. “But that doesn’t mean that, violence has to be met with an escalation of it. Everything in mediation.” Alex’s expression shifted however when he saw Theo burst into laughter. He’d done something funny? However when Theo spoke again between drinking hearty breaths of recuperation from his laughing fit it became clear as to why he was laughing. He didn’t expect Alex to actually touch it.

“If that was the case the why’s you make me do it?” He exhaled firmly looking down at the pile of gloop being steadily gathered into a vial, a small glass tube of sorts. He didn’t belong as a squire? Or he didn’t belong being ridiculed by a mage? Whichever the answer was he shook his head. “No I made my decisions and I deserve what I get for them. The only one accountable for my actions is me.” Though the parting words or at least pre parting words were something that Alex dwelled on a little bit. “Theo, what you do behind closed doors is for you and you alone to know.” Alex said in a very dry tone. Almost giving away the fast he’d not really had any experience in that area.

As Theo spoke of the pleasure of meeting and that Alex was a “good guy” Alex nearly scoffed but instead chose to smile a soft one full of well-meaning but disbelief in his words as his hand outstretched to meet Theo’s shaking it with a firm resolution. Luck and the god’s graces. Alex smiled and returned the gesture with his own personal words. “Light of faith and home watch over you Theo” Alex gave a small smile and pulled away from Theo heading back into the archives. He still had reading to do but now he was a little more knowledgeable about magic.

[Samuel Longwell]

Grading Complete Name: Theo XP Award: Reimancy 2 Socialisation 5 Intimidation 2 Observation 1 Running 1 Spiritism 1 Persuasion 2 Teaching 2 Rhetoric 1 Lore: Reimancy: Signs of overgiving Alexander Faircroft: Softly spoken squire Alexander Faircroft: Doesn't usually drink spirits Persuasion: Repetition works Notes: Nice thread, I enjoyed witnessing Theo's slightly mean streak. Please edit the grade request so it's obvious that it's been graded! No shield points awarded as you've left the order. Name: Alex XP Award: Weapon: Bastard Sword 3 Shield 2 Stealth 1 Socialisation 5 Observation 1 Planning 2 Rhetoric 2 Lore: Swordmanship: Intricacies of footwork Magic: Beautiful and Terrifying Theo Popcampio: Mage squire Theo Popcampio: Likes the sound of his own voice Soulmist: Ghosts love it Shield Points: +2 Training Notes: Alex coped very well with the constant harassment, I think many people would have walked away or lashed out. A good read!