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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]

[Thorin certainly wasn't planning to take on the weight of his people when his grandfather was slain and his father was lost. And to stick the knife in deeper, Azog hadn't died in Moria.

The expression lines on his face smooths out, replaced by a well-used mask of resolve.]

It served a purpose. There is nothing to be lost with less orcs in the world.

[onblackwings]

Agreed.

[ She watches curiously, like she's about to ask him something else about the story, but— ]

I think you've earned another question, if you'll have it.

[heirwithouthope]

[This woman was interesting--in the sense that she was brash, and spoke her mind without fear. He was slowly getting accustomed to it.]

Have you known others to return to their homelands?

[onblackwings]

Permanently? [ Her face darkens somewhat. ] A few.

[heirwithouthope]

[That one he decides not to let go.]

Does this trouble you?

[onblackwings]

An ally of mine returned home and abandoned me here. I wasn't pleased.

[ nevermind that she knows perfectly well there's not really any choice in it, THAT'S NOT STOPPING HER. ]

[heirwithouthope]

I apologize for your loss.

[Unless it's a dragon. And he finds out she's a dragon; then he's not sorry at all.]

[onblackwings]

Don't bother.

[ She takes a breath, soothes her anger, and looks somewhat placated when her gaze finds him again. That's something to be pissed over in her spare time, not in front of a stranger. ]

If you meant others who have returned home only to come back here again, I'm sure there are a few. I can't be bothered to remember who, so you'll have to ask around.

[heirwithouthope]

[Thorin keeps his gaze level on her, waiting for the anger to pass from her expression.]

I am sure I will find them. [They were out there. That was the most important thing to take from this.]

[onblackwings]

[ She waves a hand uncaringly. She'd been determined to find her way home at first, but after so long here, she's more interested in making the most of Exsilium. Ergo, those people, whoever they are, are not interesting. ]

I'm sure. Do you have any more stories?

[heirwithouthope]

Aye, I do.

I only lack more questions to ask you. [For the moment, at least.]

[onblackwings]

[ and hey, she actually manages to look disappointed. ]

Then our deal is over?

[heirwithouthope]

[He tilts his head and peers at her from an angle, almost as though he was trying to see through her face to her intentions.]

Do you have more information to offer?

[onblackwings]

[ She considers that, frowning thoughtfully. What would he consider useful? ]

Have you been out past the city?

[heirwithouthope]

[From the way that Thorin shifts in his seat, almost as though he was getting comfortable again, she struck a note of interest.]

My explorations have not taken me that far.

ps if you... don't want to dredge up more stories YOU ARE FREE TO BRACKET-SUMMARIZE THEM

[onblackwings]

[ aw yeah. She settles back herself, looking pleased. ]

Then I have a little more information after all.

[heirwithouthope]

[She doesn't need to tell him that was all she was going to say until he told her another story. He thinks for about a minute.]

Am I wrong to assume you never heard the story of how the first dark lord fell from power?