[Which is saying something for a vampire spawn with a high healing ability. His own voice is tense with that same kind of frustration.]
He was hallucinating. And, he'd also been stabbed. Best I can guess, the knife had something on it. As for who it was that attacked him... we have no clue. I don't think it was a favored.
[There's a pause, as Edgar wrestles with a momentary bafflement, as though he's just remembered who he's talking to. Or, more precisely, who he isn't talking to.]
Right. Okay. Then, then you need to stay where it's safer.
... Shouldn't have called you to come out there, maybe, but --
[Why does Max suddenly have the feeling Edgar is disappointed in him?]
No! No, I didn't mean it like that. I'm glad you called me. It's not like I don't know how to defend myself at all. I do have some training. You saw me in that bar fight, right?
I just...well...
[How does he explain this? It's not like he's a coward. He doesn't want to sit on the sidelines. But he's objectively worse at fending off things like this. The attack from that feral vampire, and his subsequent losses at the tournament proved that lesson to him painfully. He's not ready for real combat. Not really.]
See, Lucas is the expert and he's out there investigating. And Rowan is doing some of that, too. So I... I don't want to give them someone else to worry about. If they have to fear for my safety, it might distract them.
[It's good to have something else to talk about, and he answers eagerly.]
Oh it's going great, I can show you sometime. Hasn't happened by accident since that first time, and I'm getting real good at making it go where I want.
I think that sounds like a pretty good goal to work to. If you can gain that kind of control, you'll be pretty advanced, I think.
That reminds me, I found mention of something in the library that could be useful. Apparently there's berries that grow in the wilds that can keep a person from getting hurt by fire. They only come around when there's snow, but it's about to be winter so I can't think of a better time to bring them up.
That really is a big step, isn't it? How about I give you a call when the first good snow comes down and we can go out hunting for them together.
I... uh. You know, actually, I'm not sure if I told you this? I can turn into a wolf. Which might make me better at sniffing them out. The fae gave that to me as a gift.
No, no. The attic is fine. As long as you don’t mind a little wolf fir mixed with the sheets. I’m on my way over now.
[Sure enough, very soon a wolf would be stepping through the upper landing of the attic. He uses the knock-teleport method to get up here and not the stairs because, frankly, climbing a spiral staircase on all fours is way harder than it looks.
Once he makes it through the door, he woofs to announce his arrival, before jumping up onto the low bed to join Edgar. Hello! Look how cool he is!]
His head bobs up and down once in an oversized nod. Yes! It's him. And just for good measure, have a big slobbery doggy kiss. Right before he flops over on his side next to Edgar with his big furry head in the other's lap. This is his favorite part of being a wolf, getting to go ham on the good puppy act.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: [Voice]
[Edgar did the right thing and Max thinks that's worth noting.]
I'm mostly okay. I hate seeing anyone in a state like that. Something very wrong is happening around here. It worries me.
Re: [Voice]
[There's a sharp note of tension in his voice, that same tangle of emotions, tightly leashed and frustrated.]
Cause that wasn't just him losing his mind, right, something did that.
Re: [Voice]
[Which is saying something for a vampire spawn with a high healing ability. His own voice is tense with that same kind of frustration.]
He was hallucinating. And, he'd also been stabbed. Best I can guess, the knife had something on it. As for who it was that attacked him... we have no clue. I don't think it was a favored.
Re: [Voice]
People been talking on the tomes about ... things coming out of the forest, this month. Monsters. Fuck, I don't know, do monsters stab people?
Re: [Voice]
Re: [Voice]
Okay look, the point is we're not standing for this shite, are we?
Re: [Voice]
Standing for it? No, of course not. But... well, I'm not sure what I can really do about it. I'm not equipped to fight things like this.
[He's leaving that to Rowan and Lucas. They're the ones with experience fighting monsters.]
I'm just as likely to get myself hurt again. I'd just make things worse if I got myself in trouble and someone had to come save me.
Re: [Voice]
Right. Okay. Then, then you need to stay where it's safer.
... Shouldn't have called you to come out there, maybe, but --
Re: [Voice]
No! No, I didn't mean it like that. I'm glad you called me. It's not like I don't know how to defend myself at all. I do have some training. You saw me in that bar fight, right?
I just...well...
[How does he explain this? It's not like he's a coward. He doesn't want to sit on the sidelines. But he's objectively worse at fending off things like this. The attack from that feral vampire, and his subsequent losses at the tournament proved that lesson to him painfully. He's not ready for real combat. Not really.]
See, Lucas is the expert and he's out there investigating. And Rowan is doing some of that, too. So I... I don't want to give them someone else to worry about. If they have to fear for my safety, it might distract them.
Re: [Voice]
I get it. And I mean, I don't want you to get hurt either.
Specially not by anything like that.
Re: [Voice]
How uh... how is that going, by the way?
Re: [Voice]
Oh it's going great, I can show you sometime. Hasn't happened by accident since that first time, and I'm getting real good at making it go where I want.
Re: [Voice]
[He, too, is grateful for something better to discuss.]
Yes. I'd love to see. Maybe if you keep up the practice we can set up some kind of obstacle course test to really give you a challenge.
Re: [Voice]
... Think maybe I could get good enough to just, like, heat up a cup of coffee?
Re: [Voice]
That reminds me, I found mention of something in the library that could be useful. Apparently there's berries that grow in the wilds that can keep a person from getting hurt by fire. They only come around when there's snow, but it's about to be winter so I can't think of a better time to bring them up.
Re: [Voice]
... Never thought I'd be looking forward to snow.
Re: [Voice]
I... uh. You know, actually, I'm not sure if I told you this? I can turn into a wolf. Which might make me better at sniffing them out. The fae gave that to me as a gift.
Re: [Voice]
A wolf, is it? What will they think of next.
Re: [Voice]
Sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out with that. It uh... it's pretty cool, actually. I could show you?
Re: [Voice]
[The initial unnerved reaction is slowly melting into one of fascination, and his response is entirely sincere.]
Re: [Voice]
Where are you? I'll come meet you. Just, uh, if you see a big black wolf coming, don't panic. It's me.
Re: [Voice]
Re: [Voice]
[Sure enough, very soon a wolf would be stepping through the upper landing of the attic. He uses the knock-teleport method to get up here and not the stairs because, frankly, climbing a spiral staircase on all fours is way harder than it looks.
Once he makes it through the door, he woofs to announce his arrival, before jumping up onto the low bed to join Edgar. Hello! Look how cool he is!]
-> action
Re: -> action
Re: -> action
Re: -> action
Re: -> action
good place to call it?
yep!