kenoscomm | OTA;

[What comes first through the flung open door of Alice's communion is warmth. To some a warm spring day, to others an inviting hearth banked to a low, slow fire. Or maybe it's a campfire, a ring of bright light against the encroaching darkness. However it is viewed it's inviting, calling for rest and calm.

She's nudged her way into several communions by now but she's never opened herself up at large and it shows. Or maybe it's just that Alice is never one to hide much save the emotions she keeps buried away beyond the light of her fire and warmth.

Alice herself ... well, her image of herself is fuzzy. Ever present fire eats at her heels and in times of passion might silhouette her. She herself though is only as sharp as her mental image of herself and she's obviously not that great at conjuring it up.

At least she still feels warm though? And her tone of voice is the same even if her words are quite business-like.]

I apologize if I'm doing this wrong in some way.

[Apology given, she dives in.]

I would like to find someone to commission a sword from. I wish to be prepared for future fighting and in order to do so I really do need to keep up my training with my other weapons as well. My current weaponry can only offer so much in terms of weight and distance.

[... Should she give an example of what she wants to commission? She's drawn up something by hand, exact specifications given from memory and years of handling this particular weapon of hers.

Amusingly -- or maybe not -- Alice's mental image of the Mähne is much clearer than her mental image of herself. It's a good six foot in length, two longswords butted end to end with grips between them.]

I have saved up some for this and am willing to work off the extra should what I have not cover the cost fully.

[... How do you close these out? Just ... leave it open for communication? There's a sweep of heat as Alice flusters just a touch.]

Th-thank you. I appreciate any assistance that can be offered.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Some people strive for them at the cost of all else. There is... purity in that, if not always wisdom.

[ He's lost too many people to really be that romantic about it, though. ]

I hope your ideals are good ones. And that they bring you your own sense of peace.

[... Peace, hm? Alice's vague mental self seems. Confused perhaps?]

I suppose it does?

[Has she ever thought about her own sense of peace? Maybe now is when her sister's concerns should echo a little more firmly.]

I do enjoy fulfilling my duties.

To be sure of what you are doing, to know that you are doing right... it's something I think is worthwhile.

[ Although he's seen it go terribly wrong in the past, honestly. ]

... I believe what I'm doing is right, yes. At the very least I am sure in my ideal of justice.

[How does she put this though.]

At times it feels inadequate however.

Inadequate? How so?

[She sort of freezes up for a moment here.]

I --

[Mmh.]

I arrived here at trying time at home. It's ... given me a lot to consider.

I think I understand. I've... dealt with those trying times myself.

[There's a strain of understanding to her tone. She's thankful he does understand.]

I can imagine so.

[Given his role his trying times must be harder than her own ... or so she thinks at least. The problems of a noble can't be the same as the problems of royalty.]

When I say inadequate though ... people wish for results, not ideals. I am happy to put my ideals to action of course but things are never quite that easy.

[She's quick to wave a fuzzy mental image hand here.]

Not that I think they ever would be easy. Sometimes though when you arrive too late or your actions aren't enough ...

[Well. That's what she means by inadequate. She won't delve into how she herself is inadequate of course, that's a bit much to dig into even if she could.]

Not everyone can be saved. No one can succeed all of the time - and those failures weigh heavily.

[ He doesn't think he needs to know specifics. It sounds familiar enough to him. Something he can grasp and something he wrestles with himself. ]

But even so... the effort alone is something to be thought of and remembered.

I do agree there. Any effort is better than not trying at all.

[Though when it comes to guilt, well ... that can be cold comfort sometimes. There's some cheer to her voice again though.]

Which is of course why it's important to keep my skills sharp. The idea of practicing more with other types of weaponry is a welcome one. Alongside regular blades I'm experienced with swordbreakers as well if you know of those.

Sword-breakers? Yes, I know of them, although they're not common in my own land. It would be interesting to give them a try...

[ They can nerd out about weapons together. ]

Perhaps I can commission some of those as well. Swords breakers are excellent as an off-handed weapon. I used them fairly often during my academy days.

I'd be interested in getting my hands on one for a bit of practice. I wonder if it would work against lances... although there's less cutting with a lance.

[Alice's fuzzy mental image perks up a good bit. Yes, nerding out about weaponry and fighting techniques is very much her thing.]

It's worth a try. My experience against lances and other blunt weapons is chiefly with civilians -- I've never used weaponry of my own against them. However I can certainly see the advantages of an offhanded parrying dagger with the main gauche technique against lances. Redirecting the force and energy of a weapon can open up a window of striking opportunity in the midst of a fight after all.

It certainly can. Especially if you can exploit the opportunity to get inside their reach.

[ Hmmm. ]

Although I never ran into such a thing when I was using one - nor have I. I'd be interested in experimenting.

Then we will. It couldn't hurt to test ideas before the next big fight, whatever it might be.

[She says it with such quick determination and then seems to realize just after:]

Well, once I've commissioned them of course.

Of course I it should be quite productive! I'll look forward to it.

[ When ever she does get them commissioned. ]

OTA;

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