[OPEN] You could be happy and I won't know.

[disgracedvoid]

Characters: Darkleer and YOU
Setting: floor 15 - workshop, floor 31 - staircase end.
Format: Starting with action, but I'll match you.
Summary: Just another day being Darkleer and hating life. Also building things and staring at nothing in particular.
Warnings: Darkleer being Darkleer. Potential violence if you piss him off.

floor 15

[Today you will find Darkleer not working on constructing little trinkets to roll around your ankles, but actually making arrows. Making arrows that he can use, at that. So he will be hammering away, looking disgruntled and focused in his work. He's not actually angry or anything, it's just that disgruntled is basically his neutral expression. Though he was a little irritated to hear the workshop and adjacent floors were unavailable due to an unfortunate accident a few days ago.

Honestly, humans.

He seems to know exactly what he's doing, though. So maybe if you need help making things, you could ask. He might even agree to help.]

floor 31

[When you reach this floor, you'll find Darkleer sitting at the edge of the platform, staring at nothing in particular. Or maybe he fell asleep with his eyes open. Either way, he's just sitting near where the ramp begins, apparently lost in his thoughts.

Or asleep with his eyes open.

Sometimes it's hard to tell and that goddamn helmet doesn't help, okay.]

Comments

Floor 15

[pushedaround]

[ Tavros, on the other hand, didn’t know what the hell he’s doing. He was foolish enough to assume that building a weapon from scratch is going to be an easy task and he can totally get it done in no time. It’s been hours and the only thing he managed to accomplish is a broken finger and some bruises.

Okay, this is not working out at all! Might as well watch a real expert in action, and that’s what he’s doing right now. Tavros is just standing there, watching Darkleer as he worked; not yet introducing himself. He’s not sure if it’s a smart idea to disturb an adult highblood, but if he keeps his mouth shut- maybe he will allow him to watch. Just maybe. ]

[disgracedvoid]

[Most of what he's learned, he learned from experience and experimentation, much like Tavros. The difference being that it's easier for whatever he's working on to break, before any of his bones so much as creaks, and he's had several centuries of boredom to perfect his technique. He hammers on white hot metal not because he needs to heat it up to make it malleable, not with his ridiculous strength, but because the heat is good for the metal. He folds it with the hammer, hits even and rhythmic as he works steadily.

He notices Tavros from the corner of his eye, but doesn't stop his rhythm. It does surprise him a little, to see the boy still around when he moves to put the lump of metal into a water container that is definitely not pail-like at all, thank you very much.]

...is there something the matter?

[It's a fairly neutral tone, though then again, coming from Darkleer there's always an undertone of put-upon-ness even if he's not trying to be an ass.]

[pushedaround]

[ He was so focused in the observation, so when Darkleer finally spoke, it startled the lowblood and in reaction- he dropped the hammer he was holding to his side. Luckily, it didn't land on his foot, but it was still pretty careless of Tavros. It just shows that he's not really prepared for such activities.

With his eyes wide open, he blinked a few times before answering. ]

Uh. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt or anything! It's just- I was hoping by watching you build those arrows, I might be able to learn ... something?

[ He's a little nervous, but since the highblood didn't ask him to leave yet, he figured there might still be a chance to stick around a little longer. He really needs to build a new weapon, so- ]

[disgracedvoid]

[He's just. Going. To stare. A very long, flat stare without saying anything. Maybe he's thinking of the best way to pull Tavros' head from his body. Or maybe he's interested in studying his legs. Or maybe he fell asleep. That helmet doesn't help any clearing matters, all you can know is that he's staring and it's never particularly auspicious when a bulky adult highblood stares at you for long. At least lowbloods from his time knew that much.]

I see.

[He murmurs eventually, shoving the metal back into the fire and finally taking his eyes off the boy.]

What type of weapon?

[pushedaround]

[ Oh, he can finally breathe again. He never wants to relive that moment again; it was both terrifying and awkward. More terrifying, to be honest. It's not like he was around adult trolls much, but he knew he should think twice before approaching one.

It's a good thing he's keeping a fair distance between them. It is almost ridiculous, because he couldn't even look properly at Darkleer's work. Oh well. He'll just shift his weight to his toes and try to get as much as he can. ]

A lance! [ He's usually more talkative, but around Darkleer he settles with answering any given question and nothing more. Yup. Not going to piss off a highblood today! ]

[disgracedvoid]

...you were hoping to learn how to make a lance by watching me make arrows.

[This is not a question and there's a heavily implied you are a fucking moron in that undertone. It's a good thing that helmet hides most of his expression, Darkleer is giving Tavros a look that is all but asking how has he managed to survive this long.]

[pushedaround]

[ Wow, rude !!! Tavros is just going to frown a little. Still nervous as fuck. ]

I don't really know anything about, uh, building ... stuff. I'm trying, at least. It's better than giving up.

[ Don't mind him. He's just trying to make himself feel better at this point. ]

[disgracedvoid]

[He's socially and almost genetically required to be a tool. Why does this still surprise people??]

Trying is the excuse for trolls who fail at accomplishing.

[Yeah, he's kind of a dick. The worst part is that he's not even trying to be mean, so he just makes that sound matter-of-fact instead of snide. Sorry, bro.]

So do not tell me what you're trying to do.

[He pulls out the white hot lump of metal again, placing it on top of the anvil so he can go back to hammering it to his heart's content.]

Tell me what you will do.

[pushedaround]

[ He's receiving orders now? Seems like it. Tavros takes a moment to consider his answer, arms folded across his chest with a serious -yet totally fake- scowl on his face. ]

I will make a weapon!

[ He said it loud and clear, because- fuck this, he's no failure! He'll spend all his days and nights in this shitty workshop if he had to. ]

So, yeah, I guess watching you make arrows is the only 'lesson' I can get around here. So far, I learned how to use a hammer properly! See? I am, indeed, learning.

floor 31

[chainsawn]

[ Oh, is it naptime? Urotsuki doesn't mind that. Well, not that she can tell for sure whether he's asleep or not, he sort of looks like it..

For a few moments she just curiously stares, but then she slowly moves over to sit next to him. Sleeping here? Sure sounds like a plan, she's cool with that. For now she's just sneaking sideways glances at him though. ]

Re: floor 31

[disgracedvoid]

[He's awake, apparently!]

Don't sit so close to the edge.

[The quiet rumble causes the order to almost sound like a suggestion, although he doesn't turn to look at her just yet.]

[chainsawn]

[ She doesn't fully move back, but she at least makes sure her legs aren't over the edge anymore - instead she hugs them to her chest before glancing at him again. ]

... I thought you were sleeping.

[disgracedvoid]

No.

[There's a pause.]

It is not a particularly safe place to sleep.

[chainsawn]

Maybe you couldn't help it.. [ Now she glances away from him, off into the distance - moving her hand up to draw patterns in the air as if it helps her think. ] Like one of those people who randomly fall asleep anywhere. They were talking about those people on TV before.

[disgracedvoid]

There are people who do that?

[He sounds curious, turning his head slightly to look at her curiously.]

I was not aware such a thing was possible. It is simply a good place to sit and think, I suppose.

[chainsawn]

Uh-huh. [ She nods a little to herself, although she's still staring ahead. ] I think they called it.. nar.. narcolepsy.

.. Were you thinking about something important though?

[disgracedvoid]

Depends on your definition of important.

[He tilts his head back, looking back at the distance.]

I'm thinking about a mechanic project I was working on.

floor 31

[geometry]

[Floor 31, and the connected ones, always made Equius a bit jumpy. Maybe it's because he had to make his way up the Tower on a ramp, with no railing that separated him from the open air... as soon as the floors appeared, he'd begun the habit of speeding through the floors without looking at anyone or anything nearby. To his surprise, he found that there was someone waiting on Floor 31 today, not just moving past like he had... and a moment later, he realized with the lurch of his stomach who exactly that person was.]

[So he stood there, trying to figure out what to do. If Darkleer was paying enough attention, he certainly would have noticed Equius by now.]

[disgracedvoid]

[Well, he's not paying the world of attention to it, but then. Equius isn't being overly subtle about it, either. So after a moment he turns his head, looking at Equius from the corner of his eye.]

...yes?

[Fairly neutral, as far as gargantuan, non-Ancestor conversation starters go, right? Right.]

[geometry]

[Equius has two settings: "almost undetectably subtle" and "delicate as a ton of bricks". In the beginning of a new thread, he can only use the latter.]

Just... just wondering what you were doing.

[disgracedvoid]

[Well. At least it's not stuttering. He considers that progress.]

Pondering a way to place an adequate stabilizing weight in a rotor motor within the scope of available resources, yet without compromising total weight, size or endurance, or the integrity of the design.

[The deadpan, through honest, was mostly an attempt to subtly mock Equius. A wordy way of saying "nothing you'd understand", but saving himself the trouble of answering the obvious "try me!" reply that he so often gets. Most people don't care about engineering anyway. He doesn't particularly expect the yellowblood to be any different.]

I find open spaces often help me think.

[geometry]

...

[He's silent for a little while, looking thoughtful. Pretty much every sign indicates that he's going to give up and admit that Darkleer was right at some point within the next minute, just like every other clueless yellowblood on the planet. But unfortunately, even though Equius is significantly worse than every other clueless yellowblood on the planet in some respects, he does exceed Darkleer's expectations in one arena. Take a wild guess what that is.]

[So, the next thing to come out of his mouth is a passively-worded suggestion with multiple hand movements and, more importantly, the correct answer.]

[Yeah. That happened.]

[disgracedvoid]

[There's a significant pause at that, not yet surprised, because Darkleer is running calculations in his head.

Then it turns into a surprised pause because he reaches the conclusion that Equius is, in fact, correct.

And then something terrible happens: Darkleer's lips twitch into the ghost of a smile.]

That is an excellent idea.

[geometry]

[... Well that was a horrible nerve-wracking experience and he never wants to go through it ever again. Guess who won't be sleeping at all tonight? The answer is Equius.]

Um.

Glad to be of service.

[disgracedvoid]

[Hey, look at the bright side. At least Darkleer doesn't tear people apart limb by limb when he smiles, like your old highblood roomie did. POSITIVITY! Also, terror: Darkleer is standing up, once again reminding Equius that he might be tall, but a growth spur might yet still be in store for him in the future. If he lives that long.]

Indeed. You continue to prove yourself full of surprises, boy.