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Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 2:56:54 GMT
“Well,” Pip paused. “First I thought it would go out right away. Like the moment the metal touched you? That was what I was expecting. I don’t know I guess I thought – um – that the armor would sort of… cancel the spell out,” Pip blinked. “But, then – it only went out a little, and then more and more as you put the armor on. I mean, the lightning was sort of… flickering. But I think it sped up,” she brightened, grinning, much more interested in the magic than Thea was herself. “It accelerated! So it went out even faster than I expected,” she grinned up at Arioch.
“Never ever,” Thea grinned at Arioch, leaving alone the comment about things underneath her clothing. She had, in fact, tried wearing armor; it seemed to make it harder to cast spells, almost like it left her a little… clumsy? She wasn’t quite sure how to explain it. “Nobody’s swinging swords at me in an arena though.”
Speaking of swinging swords.
“I – I’ll come by,” Thea promised, rashly, before she had even really thought it through. She grinned at Arioch, trying to make light of it. “Should I wear armor to the arena, or are regular clothes well enough?”
Watching Arioch fight in the arena? Thea thought she could handle it. Anyway, her not being there wouldn’t mean it didn’t happen; the new scar on his face was proof enough of that. She thought, perhaps, Arioch’s attitude towards life could be summed up as never, ever letting fear win. Thea certainly wouldn’t let fear keep her from being a spectator in the arena. She wasn’t sure she would enjoy it, per se, but that was fine too.
Thea laughed. "I'm not much of a gambler but - sure, I'll bet on you. Can I share the winnings when you win, or is that not allowed either?"
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 7, 2019 3:13:17 GMT
Arioch looked at Pip with a bit of a solem underbite to his expression, and nodded a couple times rising both eyebrows at the same time.
"You know, that's pretty smart"
He praised, almost surprisingly, but in fact also praising himself internally.
"That is to say, I vas expecting the same... Either that or I vould get instantly electrified. But I guess it vas neither... I should have screamed a bit, vhat a missed opportunity"
Chuckled.
Eventually when the moment called for it he turned his whole attention towards Thea and her response at the thought of going to the Arena. It was odd to him that she wasn't wearing armor but maybe with her magic... Maybe she didn't even need it. That made him put things into perspective however. If she could do all this then... Then maybe she could have actually vaporized those two thugs. Maybe. Could she have though?
"You should vear the lightning armor and cheer for me loudly of course. People vill look at me and go "Look at that vhat a fighter, he's even got a valking lightning bolt cheering for him!"
He laughed at the thought, it would certainly make an impression of herself too... And it would make it easier for him to spot her in the arena, but he left that part conveniently out.
"I have an idea"
Arioch proposed and brought up one hand, rising up his index finger
"I'll give you all my money and you place it all on me"
Said, dry, just like that, with a smile upon his face but he was actually serious about it
"Think about it"
He told her
"If I vin it's a lot of money. If I lose I von't have to concern myself vith money anymore, so it von't be an issue. It's vin-vin."
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 3:25:06 GMT
Thea laughed. She was sure, if she wore mage armor to the tournament, she wouldn’t get any awed looks - more like people wondering who the crazy genasi was with mage armor in the middle of the city. But she imagined Arioch would need all the support he could get out there in the ring, and she supposed she would subject herself to a little embarrassment for a friend. And he was a friend, Thea realized, or at least on the way to becoming one.
Then again, maybe he didn’t need the support. Maybe he was already past fear. But - thinking about what he had said, as they walked along the docks? Thea couldn’t help the suspicion that Arioch was terrified. Maybe it was just her own fear of the arena, bleeding through.
Thea laughed again at the suggestion that she should bet all Arioch’s money for him, thinking it a joke. A moment later, it became extremely clear that it wasn’t a joke.
Pip let out a little gasp at Arioch’s explanation. “It’s - to the death?” Her eyes were wide. “You can’t! Those places are dangerous - really dangerous! People die there!” Her voice rose.
“He knows that, Pip,” Thea said, gently. She met Arioch’s eyes. “Sure. I’ll bet your money for you - and hold it safe for when you win.” She extended a hand, wanting a handshake to seal the deal - wanting Arioch to promise he would win, no matter that he couldn’t.
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 7, 2019 3:40:37 GMT
He looked at the hand confused for a moment, but quickly caught on to the gesture and shook her hand; firmly, squeezing it but not hard enough to hurt. Just enough so that it felt like a thing that was happening, and not a flop of a gesture. An acknowledgment of sorts. Arioch looked a Pip after her comment with a curious look on his face. It was like he never ceased to be surprised about the people that lived in Waterdeep and their different views, their different takes on things, and their upbringings.
"You're invited too, of course"
Added then with a smile
"Maybe I can talk with my sponsor and see that you get good seats"
Proposed then with a bit of goodwill, that shouldn't be too hard. By the time he had been Pip's age, he had been forced to kill another child his age. A rite of passage of sorts, but also something to look forward. They all knew it, and had accepted it. And also dreaded it. And even though as much distress as it had caused him the thought that it might have been fundamentally wrong to subject someone to that at such a young age never crossed his mind. It was a thing of life, of a warrior's life as well. He had earned his right to be a warrior, and a man, that day; while someone else, less worthy had lost it.
And death... it was also part of everyday life, not something taboo, to be hidden away where the children don't know, filled with mysticism and unknowns. Just like it was with other aspects of the society he had been a part of.
"Thanks"
He said then. It didn't feel like a big thing right then, but eventually, if he stopped to think about it he would realise the only person to come see him with any relation to him at all was her. To everyone else he was a stranger... or a fantasy.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 3:50:10 GMT
Arioch examined her hand, skeptically, for what felt like a long moment, and just Thea was starting to feel the tension very keenly, he reached out and shook it, a surprisingly firm grip for someone who had apparently been uncertain on the concept. Thea smiled.
Pip’s eyes widened. “I – me?” She looked as if the thought had never even began to occur to her, as if it was absolutely forbidden – and then a light and enthusiasm clicked on in her eyes. “Yes! Yes I definitely want to come! Thea, can I come?”
Thea let out a long, slow breath. At Pip’s age, she’d been off to sea with her mother. Thea wasn’t sure what life in the arena was like, but – well, she had been old enough to handle the rigors of sea then. And she hadn’t been much older than Pip when –
“Sure, Pip. We’ll go together,” Thea grinned at Pip.
“You can send a message to me here any time,” she told Arioch, smiling. “If those seats come through.” Honestly, it was a huge relief to Thea that Arioch had a sponsor; she wasn’t quite sure what a sponsor did in the context of a fight in the arena, but it seemed enormously helpful to have someone who believed in you. Presumably that was where the armor had come from as well? If so, Thea approved.
Thea smiled at Arioch when he thanked her. Telling him to win again felt like it would start to feel as if she didn’t believe in him. “Of course.” Thea said, instead, simply. “We’ll be there.”
“Yes!” Pip grinned. “We’ll be the loudest ones cheering for you!”
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