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[onblackwings]

[ This lady's looking a little different, for anyone that's spoken with her before. Not any older, but there's a sort of crooked quality to her nose, like it'd been broken and healed some time ago. She's lounging in the Initiative apartments, looking like she's recently made friends with a superiority complex. ]

I want to speak to those of you who have seen a war before. Not the skirmishes that the Initiative sends us on here, but actual war.

And failing that, I'll take anyone that knows magic — and can teach it. That part is important. Don't waste my time if all you can do is cast it.

Comments

[heirwithouthope]

Perhaps first you should tell us why you want to hear such stories.

[onblackwings]

I'm curious. Why else would anyone ask?

[heirwithouthope]

I know of few that would ask to hear of war. Some children that seek tales of victory and glory. Most that have never seen a real battle in their lives.

As for magic, you may not find it can be taught to you. [In his world at least, he's only familiar with one wizard, and as far as Thorin knew or cared, Gandalf was just born that way.]

[onblackwings]

It can be taught to me, I've already learned much of it. [ not quite enough, though. ]

Victory and glory would suit me nicely— [ with a tiny smirk: ] As would hearing about them. Do you have any tales?

[heirwithouthope]

[And that gets the slightest of eyebrow lifts, of course there was the possibility she was lying. Though it doesn't matter much, because the rest of what she said darkens his expression.]

I have. But tales of glory I cannot tell you. [Only stories of severed grandfather heads and burning thousands of dead dwarves with your pals.] You best know now that any war will cost you dear, regardless of where you stand.

[onblackwings]

Well, yes, of course. That's the point of war. [ WHATEVER, PERSONAL TRAGEDIES CAN'T HAPPEN TO HER. ] If you don't have glory, then what do you have?

[heirwithouthope]

[WELL AREN'T YOU A SPECIAL UNICORN.]

If you are capable as a warrior--and if you are lucky--you will have hard-won victory against your enemy. You will have what you were fighting to keep, and less allies to share it with. And if you were a dwarf, you would have respect. An honorable place among your ancestors.

[Also mass quantities of orc blood. On your face/clothes/mouth/everywhere that means anything to you.]

[onblackwings]

Tell me about your hard-won victory, then.

[heirwithouthope]

I want to know what you mean to gain in satisfying your curiosity. If you make light of this war.

[Not being the most trusting folk.]

[onblackwings]

I spent seasons listening to an old warrior's stories of his time in the war, and when I finally decided to join the ranks for myself, I was brought back here again. I'm hoping to soothe the chafe.

[heirwithouthope]

[He gives her a long, dissecting look.]

Then you have been here before.

[onblackwings]

Some time ago, yes. [ to her, anyway. ]

[heirwithouthope]

[Thorin pauses again, tilting back from the screen and seems to lose interest in it entirely for a few seconds while he scrubs his beard with his hand and stares at something in the far right corner.]

...I would make a trade with you, for my questions answered.

[onblackwings]

[ ooh, lookin decidedly pleased here. A trade, she can do. ]

We trade questions for questions? That sounds fair.

[heirwithouthope]

It would disgrace me to offer anything less.

There is but one term to this agreement.

[onblackwings]

What is it?

[heirwithouthope]

If my tales are to be yours, they will only be yours. I will not say a word to this contrivance where others may hear.

[onblackwings]

Fine. Then where do we meet?

[heirwithouthope]

Somewhere where we can have privacy of conversation.

[He was trying to think of a place that would make that possible without giving him a migraine. There was a pub he found that he was quite fond of (decent food and surprisingly decent ale), but it wouldn't suit him to bring a woman there.]

Are you familiar with the courtyard?

[onblackwings]

[ darn, and she would have enjoyed a pub :c ]

Of course. It's not exactly homey, though.

[heirwithouthope]

[People might think you're a wench, though. There is a slight lift of Thorin's eyebrows. A smaller, less obvious sense of detached amusement at her complaint.]

I find it to be more welcoming than my own dwelling, at this time.

[onblackwings]

Then we'll use mine, instead. Room 1001, be here within an hour.

[heirwithouthope]

[He opens his mouth and then closes it again. There might've been more of a fight about being usurped and then ordered around, but having his questions answered was far more important than his pride.]

As you wish. You will see me no later than that.

shall we make this action?

[onblackwings]

Don't be long.

[ a quick smile, and... shit she meant to hang up cleanly, but it takes a little bit of fumbling. stupid technology. ]

Sounds like a plan o/

[heirwithouthope]

[And it really doesn't take Thorin long at all to reach her door, considering the fact that she was just one floor apart from him (it's a small world, after all).

So after about twenty minutes or so (he wasn't going to rush there), he raps his knuckles loudly on the door and takes a step back. He doesn't have his fur or his armor on, but he does hang onto Orcrist, which his hand rests by out of habit more than intent to use it.]