PBA 022d

[2/16/2014 10:26:05 PM | Edited 10:27:59 PM] Holly: Tarak and Wynn head to the training gallery. Along with Tarak's massive wolf.

[2/16/2014 10:26:35 PM] Wynn: What's wrong?

[2/16/2014 10:27:40 PM] Holly: Tarak pets his wolf. "It's been a weird day. ... and now I get to look at a version of myself that isn't... me."

[2/16/2014 10:29:47 PM] Wynn: Wynn tries to get closer to Lili to see if she'll let me pet her.

[2/16/2014 10:30:12 PM] Holly: She does, and in fact the wolf licks Wynn's face when she gets close enough.

[2/16/2014 10:30:31 PM] Wynn: Wynn smiles and tries to wipe the slobber from her face.

[2/16/2014 10:30:35 PM] Wynn: She's pretty.

[2/16/2014 10:30:52 PM] Holly: Tarak: Hush, she'll get a swelled head.

[2/16/2014 10:31:11 PM] Holly: Tarak: Do I *really* smell that bad?

[2/16/2014 10:31:23 PM] Wynn: Is that really why you wanted to talk to me?

[2/16/2014 10:31:32 PM] Wynn: Wynn chuckles.

[2/16/2014 10:31:42 PM] Wynn: No, not you... just... well, the alcohol.

[2/16/2014 10:32:00 PM] Holly: Tarak: Can't do much on that.

[2/16/2014 10:33:00 PM] Wynn: Don't put too much stock in what Janis says. She's young and.... not very sensitive.

[2/16/2014 10:33:11 PM] Wynn: She also smells like hellhound.

[2/16/2014 10:33:14 PM] Wynn: Wynn laughs

[2/16/2014 10:34:11 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah, well. Might have to make more of an effort. I met the new girl.

[2/16/2014 10:34:18 PM] Wynn: Oh?

[2/16/2014 10:34:55 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah. Looked like she'd been cryin' a bunch.

[2/16/2014 10:35:03 PM] Wynn: Wynn nods.

[2/16/2014 10:35:57 PM] Holly: Tarak: Tried to cheer her up some. Turns out that mighta been a mistake.

[2/16/2014 10:36:19 PM | Edited 10:36:32 PM] Wynn: Wynn closes her eyes and shakes her head ever-so-slightly. "What happened?"

[2/16/2014 10:36:47 PM] Holly: Tarak: Nothin'. She just... made me an offer, I guess you might say.

[2/16/2014 10:37:00 PM] Wynn: Father a child, no strings attached?

[2/16/2014 10:38:15 PM] Wynn: Surprised she's interested after what she had to say the first night she was here.

[2/16/2014 10:38:24 PM] Holly: Tarak: What's that?

[2/16/2014 10:38:58 PM] Wynn: Well, Allys said you were a violent brute, Janis added that you drink a lot, and she was quite.... shocked to hear we didn't have an issue with either.

[2/16/2014 10:40:17 PM] Holly: Tarak: Somebody must've changed 'er mind. Or maybe I did, by lettin' 'er cry on me some.

[2/16/2014 10:40:38 PM] Wynn: So why'd you need to talk to me about this?

[2/16/2014 10:41:37 PM] Wynn: Also, not so much the drinking part, but I did try to explain the violence some. I didn't appreciate her disdain for our calling.

[2/16/2014 10:42:05 PM] Holly: Tarak: Because Allys will be pissed if I talk to her about it.

[2/16/2014 10:42:36 PM] Wynn: Wynn nods. "Probably."

[2/16/2014 10:44:42 PM] Wynn: So, you're what, wondering if you should take her up on the offer?

[2/16/2014 10:44:54 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah.

[2/16/2014 10:45:48 PM] Wynn: Well, that's obviously up to you. I don't know how you'd feel about it.

[2/16/2014 10:46:04 PM] Wynn: You said you don't want kids of your own, but she doesn't want a father in the picture anyway.

[2/16/2014 10:46:56 PM] Wynn: How would you feel about a little half-elf half-Tarak running around somewhere you'd never know?

[2/16/2014 10:47:53 PM | Edited 10:49:22 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... be the only way my family keeps on. Or it will if my younger self goes back wherever the hell it is he came from.

[2/16/2014 10:48:19 PM] Wynn: Wynn frowns.

[2/16/2014 10:50:07 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... she's got some fucked-up views, Wynn.

[2/16/2014 10:50:26 PM] Wynn: I didn't get to hear most of them.

[2/16/2014 10:51:02 PM] Holly: Tarak: Sex is for procreation, and that's special somehow. Uh, she kinda slapped me when she found out about birth control.

[2/16/2014 10:51:19 PM] Wynn: Wynn raises an eyebrow.

[2/16/2014 10:51:32 PM] Holly: Tarak: Apparently that constitutes blasphemy.

[2/16/2014 10:51:53 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... unlike, you know, fathering dozens of children on mothers who may not want them or be able to take care of them...

[2/16/2014 10:52:31 PM] Wynn: I'm sure you've seen your share of odd customs on the different planes you've visited.

[2/16/2014 10:52:53 PM] Holly: Tarak shrugs.

[2/16/2014 10:53:20 PM] Wynn: Guess it's a good thing my views on the matter never surfaced in our discussion.

[2/16/2014 10:53:38 PM] Wynn: So, what are you thinking?

[2/16/2014 10:53:52 PM] Wynn: Sometimes it helps to talk through it aloud.

[2/16/2014 10:54:09 PM] Holly: Tarak: What views on the matter?

[2/16/2014 10:54:16 PM] Wynn: About not having kids.

[2/16/2014 10:54:34 PM] Wynn: Somehow I think it would be worse coming from a girl.

[2/16/2014 10:55:02 PM] Holly: Tarak: You don't want 'em either, huh? Well, you and me both got responsibilities.

[2/16/2014 10:55:21 PM] Wynn: Like I said the other night, this life isn't compatible with families.

[2/16/2014 10:55:53 PM] Wynn: Though I never did give much thought to your earlier comment about ending the family line.

[2/16/2014 10:56:03 PM] Holly: Tarak: Well. You can make it work, if you get the right kind. Allys'n'me stuck together all right.

[2/16/2014 10:56:22 PM] Wynn: She pretty much saved me earlier.

[2/16/2014 10:56:47 PM] Holly: Tarak: She's family.

[2/16/2014 10:57:18 PM | Edited 10:57:40 PM] Wynn: Yeah, but look what's happened. She's summoned another of you trying to help.

[2/16/2014 10:57:24 PM] Wynn: I wouldn't want to be responsible for that.

[2/16/2014 10:57:38 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah. Young and dumb. I remember me then.

[2/16/2014 10:59:09 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... she doesn't think anybody else'll do it. Bell, I mean. An' when you look at her options...

[2/16/2014 10:59:54 PM] Wynn: ....yeah, that's true.

[2/16/2014 11:00:38 PM] Wynn: I don't think Larry would be the type, though maybe Valerian would.

[2/16/2014 11:01:10 PM] Holly: Tarak: Skinny kid in black? Prob'ly not religious enough to her. Apparently that's a priority.

[2/16/2014 11:01:21 PM] Wynn: Wynn raises an eyebrow. "Is it?"

[2/16/2014 11:01:27 PM] Wynn: Has she heard your opinion of the Saint?

[2/16/2014 11:01:29 PM] Wynn: Wynn chuckles.

[2/16/2014 11:02:17 PM] Wynn: Well, there's Larry, Kalor, and Murk. Don't know if they would or not. Also, young you.

[2/16/2014 11:02:43 PM] Holly: Tarak: Sure, but I have his favor anyhow, so my opinion's secondary, I guess. An' young me? He wouldn't know what to do with a woman. Take my word for that.

[2/16/2014 11:03:07 PM] Wynn: Wynn puts up a hand. "Too much information."

[2/16/2014 11:03:31 PM] Holly: Tarak: Prude.

[2/16/2014 11:04:09 PM] Wynn: Wynn rolls her eyes. "Because I don't care to hear when you first learned of women?"

[2/16/2014 11:05:00 PM] Wynn: *Anyway*, you're considering it, then?

[2/16/2014 11:05:12 PM] Holly: Tarak: No, because you're allergic to the whole damn topic. Yeah, I'm considering it. Maybe I could help her.

[2/16/2014 11:05:39 PM] Wynn: Wynn nods. "I can see that. She did seem *very* down over the subject."

[2/16/2014 11:05:52 PM] Wynn: Have you, or she, considered the curse aspect, though?

[2/16/2014 11:06:13 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah, I explained it to her. She cried some more. I changed my shirt.

[2/16/2014 11:06:28 PM] Wynn: Wynn smiles sadly.

[2/16/2014 11:06:49 PM] Holly: Tarak: Just made her in a bigger damn hurry.

[2/16/2014 11:07:04 PM] Wynn: ......even though there's a good chance she could die here?

[2/16/2014 11:07:21 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah, well. There's another thing. I'm not cursed.

[2/16/2014 11:07:32 PM] Wynn: *You're* not, but what does that matter?

[2/16/2014 11:08:00 PM] Holly: Tarak: Well. It means she'll die here. Kid would be left here uncursed too. Seems like that'd mean I could bring it somewhere safe, to good parents.

[2/16/2014 11:08:24 PM] Wynn: ...... that sounds like sticking around to me.

[2/16/2014 11:08:40 PM] Holly: Tarak: I'm stickin' around for you, kid.

[2/16/2014 11:09:04 PM] Wynn: For a year or five?

[2/16/2014 11:09:17 PM] Wynn: Hell, five years is half my remaining life expectancy.

[2/16/2014 11:09:21 PM] Holly: Tarak: Got nothin' better to do.

[2/16/2014 11:09:59 PM] Wynn: Well, it sounds like you've already made up your mind to me.

[2/16/2014 11:10:09 PM] Wynn: What's the problem?

[2/16/2014 11:10:22 PM] Holly: Tarak makes a face. "Yeah, I was hopin' you'd talk me out of it. Gonna be like fuckin' a damn ice cube."

[2/16/2014 11:10:55 PM] Wynn: Wynn makes a face back. "Thanks for that mental image."

[2/16/2014 11:11:22 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah, at least you *only* got the image.

[2/16/2014 11:11:33 PM] Wynn: Well, what do you want me to say? She's cursed.

[2/16/2014 11:11:39 PM] Wynn: You don't want kids.

[2/16/2014 11:12:13 PM] Holly: Tarak grunts. "She cried at me."

[2/16/2014 11:12:15 PM] Wynn: I mean, you can still see if you can push one of the other men towards her if you're that concerned about her mental state.

[2/16/2014 11:12:29 PM] Wynn: You *are* a big softy.

[2/16/2014 11:12:55 PM] Wynn: Damn... I guess next time we're training and I decide I want a break, I can just leak some tears too.

[2/16/2014 11:13:09 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah, tell that to the last person whose head I lopped off.

[2/16/2014 11:13:53 PM] Wynn: Was he crying?

[2/16/2014 11:13:57 PM] Wynn: Wynn smirks

[2/16/2014 11:14:39 PM] Holly: Tarak: No, *she* wasn't.

[2/16/2014 11:14:57 PM] Holly: Tarak: It was that bandit, remember?

[2/16/2014 11:15:07 PM] Wynn: Right.

[2/16/2014 11:15:18 PM] Holly: Tarak: Besides, you won't be cryin' during practice.

[2/16/2014 11:15:46 PM] Wynn: Nah... last time I did that, I had my arm broken.

[2/16/2014 11:16:02 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... you mean you cried 'cause it was broken?

[2/16/2014 11:16:20 PM] Wynn: No....

[2/16/2014 11:17:00 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... you mean someone broke your arm because you cried?

[2/16/2014 11:17:20 PM] Wynn: I wasn't supposed to show weakness in the ring.

[2/16/2014 11:17:42 PM] Wynn: Like I said... Father Markus wanted me to learn everything I could about fighting- fighting through injury, pain, hunger, anything.

[2/16/2014 11:17:57 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... hope I get to meet him someday.

[2/16/2014 11:18:25 PM] Wynn: Felt like that rhino busted more than a couple ribs earlier... but still did my job. Seems like it's effective.

[2/16/2014 11:18:54 PM] Holly: Tarak: Mighta been just as effective either way. Nobody ever broke my arm when I cried in training.

[2/16/2014 11:19:36 PM] Wynn: Anyway, we're off-topic.

[2/16/2014 11:20:06 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah. ... don't know. She needs help.

[2/16/2014 11:20:31 PM] Wynn: Agreed.

[2/16/2014 11:21:10 PM] Wynn: If the only reason you're holding back is because of your physical discomfort for all of 20 seconds, then I guess you just need to suck it up.

[2/16/2014 11:21:26 PM] Holly: His wolf wuffles and drops over onto its side. Tarak kneels and starts rubbing her belly.

[2/16/2014 11:21:59 PM] Holly: Tarak: We-ell, that an' the other thing. She doesn't just need help with that. *Thinks* she does.

[2/16/2014 11:22:17 PM] Wynn: ...what other thing?

[2/16/2014 11:23:29 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... thinkin' sex is for havin' kids. Not for *people.*

[2/16/2014 11:24:09 PM] Wynn: I don't see why that's a problem. That's how her culture feels.

[2/16/2014 11:24:22 PM] Wynn: If she can, she'll go home. Why mess with her belief system like that?

[2/16/2014 11:24:49 PM] Holly: Tarak: Maybe she's better off here. Even with the curse. At least she's better'n'a womb on legs here.

[2/16/2014 11:25:13 PM] Wynn: Wynn frowns.

[2/16/2014 11:25:35 PM] Wynn: She said she had other duties at home. Didn't tell me what, but....

[2/16/2014 11:26:14 PM] Wynn: Wynn shrugs. "It's up to her to decide, and it'll just take time."

[2/16/2014 11:26:14 PM] Holly: Tarak: She's pretty well brainwashed.

[2/16/2014 11:26:30 PM] Wynn: Who isn't?

[2/16/2014 11:26:36 PM] Wynn: That's what culture is, isn't it?

[2/16/2014 11:26:57 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... it's not right, treatin' people as things that way.

[2/16/2014 11:27:32 PM] Wynn: Wynn shakes her head. "No, but it's not something you'll be able to convince her of in one discussion."

[2/16/2014 11:27:42 PM] Wynn: Maybe not ever.

[2/16/2014 11:28:20 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah, well. It might take a while anyway. Which is also... not a comfort.

[2/16/2014 11:28:37 PM] Wynn: Wynn chuckles a little.

[2/16/2014 11:29:32 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... usually when I do that kinda thing with people it's for fun, and because I like people. And it's distracting.

[2/16/2014 11:30:31 PM] Wynn: Well, maybe you can still charm her, just make sure she doesn't think you're trying to control her or the kid.

[2/16/2014 11:30:56 PM] Wynn: Wynn shrugs. "Maybe she'll actually find it fun for once."

[2/16/2014 11:31:35 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah, well. ... dammit, you were supposed to talk me out of it.

[2/16/2014 11:31:53 PM] Wynn: Wynn laughs. "Sorry. Should have told me before you started talking."

[2/16/2014 11:32:23 PM | Edited 11:32:35 PM] Wynn: I mean... if you *really* wanted to be talked out of it, you should have asked Allys.

[2/16/2014 11:33:43 PM] Holly: Tarak: Allys won't be reasonable on the subject. Besides, she's gotta go back to her room and flog herself mentally for bringin' an extra me on board.

[2/16/2014 11:34:03 PM] Wynn: Just mentally? Seemed to have some fresh scars.

[2/16/2014 11:34:21 PM] Holly: Tarak: She can't defend herself, remember? No weapon.

[2/16/2014 11:34:41 PM] Wynn: Yeah, just an errant thought.

[2/16/2014 11:35:12 PM] Wynn: She ran straight at a charging rhino with nothing but that dress on.

[2/16/2014 11:35:43 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah, I said no weapon, not no guts.

[2/16/2014 11:36:28 PM] Wynn: Wynn nods.

[2/16/2014 11:36:45 PM] Wynn: Does your little you believe it yet?

[2/16/2014 11:37:12 PM] Wynn: We decided to call him Grayson, by the way.

[2/16/2014 11:37:21 PM] Holly: Tarak: Li... oh, the other me. Yeah, well, he had to, after I told him some things.

[2/16/2014 11:37:54 PM] Wynn: He was quite.... upset.

[2/16/2014 11:38:44 PM] Holly: Tarak: Yeah. I calmed him down some.

[2/16/2014 11:39:26 PM] Wynn: Wynn nods. "Anything else I can help with, preferably in the exact opposite direction intended?"

[2/16/2014 11:39:55 PM] Holly: Tarak snorts. "Nah, that's it. I s'pose I better go find the Ice Queen."

[2/16/2014 11:40:28 PM] Wynn: I'm afraid I have no words of wisdom or advice to give you.

[2/16/2014 11:40:33 PM] Wynn: Wynn smirks again.

[2/16/2014 11:41:00 PM] Holly: Tarak: I hope she makes you babysit.

[2/16/2014 11:41:17 PM] Wynn: I had four little sisters. I can *do* babysitting.

[2/16/2014 11:41:58 PM] Holly: Tarak: Good. Maybe you can babysit Me Jr. He looks like he's gonna need it. 'specially without Allys Jr.

[2/16/2014 11:42:23 PM] Wynn: You needed babysitting at that age?

[2/16/2014 11:42:45 PM] Wynn: No wonder you think I'm a kid if you're the measuring stick.

[2/16/2014 11:43:14 PM] Holly: Tarak: I was dumb as a brick an' twice as naive.

[2/16/2014 11:44:49 PM] Wynn: ....you may want to start thinking of him as your brother... your *much* younger brother.

[2/16/2014 11:45:07 PM | Edited 11:45:13 PM] Wynn: Seems like thinking of him as a past you is only going to cause issues.

[2/16/2014 11:46:13 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... yeah, you're probably right.

[2/16/2014 11:46:26 PM] Holly: Tarak pats his wolf on the side one more time, and then stands up; the wolf vanishes.

[2/16/2014 11:46:54 PM] Holly: Tarak: ... see, now I fuckin' smell like wolf. I suppose you people want me to take ten baths a day at this rate.

[2/16/2014 11:47:10 PM] Wynn: Maybe just drink better liquor?

[2/16/2014 11:47:41 PM] Holly: Tarak snorts. "Kinda limited in supply, but we'll see."

[2/16/2014 11:47:56 PM] Wynn: Wynn shrugs. "That or toughen up that skin."

[2/16/2014 11:48:08 PM] Wynn: Don't let it get to you.

[2/16/2014 11:49:34 PM] Holly: Tarak: Easier when you *don't* know people.

[2/16/2014 11:49:52 PM] Holly: Tarak: Well. Thanks anyhow. Finish that book I gave ya, tell me what you think. Not just the woodcuts.

[2/16/2014 11:49:56 PM] Wynn: Well that ship has sailed.

[2/16/2014 11:50:03 PM] Wynn: ...ok.

[2/16/2014 11:50:11 PM] Holly: Tarak: See you later.

[2/16/2014 11:50:19 PM] Wynn: Wynn smiles. "Good night."

[2/16/2014 11:50:25 PM] Holly: He heads out, and there we stop.