[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

[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.

[disgracedvoid]

[ U N I M P R E S S E D ]

Because you have asked extensively for lessons and have been consistently turned down, haven't you?

[Behold, Tavros, we call this deadpan. It's a sacred art, like slam poetry. You could say there are two types of highbloods, even! Those who indulge in slampoetry and die in stupid ways, and those who deadpan their way into a dignified grave when they're old enough to need a cane.]

Then I suppose you think you ready to try, then.

[He shoves the lump of metal into the water again, watching it sizzle brightly and then moves towards the workbench, passing very close to where Tavros is and ever so casually putting said hammer in his hands.

...did he forget to mention that the hammer weights kind of like a ton or two? Whoopsie. Try not to break your metal toes with that, boy.]

[pushedaround]

[ HE IS SO DONE WITH YOUR SASSINESS !!

Oh no, he's coming his way. Tavros is getting more nervous, but he didn't attempt to run away. Yet. It was pretty stupid of him to reach out for that hammer, but it happened out of impulse and well-

... Let's say he couldn't even get a decent grasp, and it dropped almost immediately to the ground. Luckily, for him, there is no extra broken bones and the hammer landed only inches away from crushing his toes. He looks up at Darkleer, then down to the hammer, and back to him again.

Wait is he serious ???? ]

Wow, no! I can't lift that one! [ Not even going to bother trying! ] I'm not as big and strong as you. But, I will be more than happy to, uh, demonstrate my abilities with a more suitable tool. One that is fitted to my level of strength.

[disgracedvoid]

[Bitch, you'll put up with the sass or he's not helping you do shit. :|

Darkleer doesn't actually stop to see what Tavros does with that hammer, focused on finding a proper piece of sandpaper and going at it on the rough arrowhead in his hand, sitting on a nearby workbench. He smirked, but didn't look up.]

Then anything you'd learn from watching me is useless. Should you attempt that particular technique with a lighter hammer, I can assure you you'll spend the rest of your days hammering away, without getting anything done.

[He blows some metal dust off the surface of the arrowhead, inspecting how smooth it looks.]

Though talking about tools and techniques already is getting ahead of yourself. Do you even have a proper design to work from?

[pushedaround]

... Oh. I guess you're right.

[ Welp, there goes everything he managed to 'learn' so far. Tavros looks a little disappointed, but nowhere close to giving up. In fact, he perked up when he noticed the slightest interest coming from Darkleer. I mean- if he's not interested he wouldn't bother asking for the designs, right? ... Or maybe he is still mocking him but whatever. Tavros didn't care. ]

Yes, I do!

[ He rushed back to his work area and gathered all the pieces of paper that were laying on the floor. The so-called 'designs' were nothing but horrible sketches of him holding the lance, but it should give Darkleer an idea of what he's looking for.

And so, he approached him (slowly and carefully ) before he raised his hands up, showing him what he sketched so far. ]

I'm not sure if it's good enough, but ... It's all I have for now.

[disgracedvoid]

[Of course he's interested. He's bored enough his horns are gonna fall off one of these days. But it's not like he's going to say that. He continues to examine the arrow point while Tavros goes find his design, and then dutifully looks up when the boy approaches him with--

With...

Oh god.]

You've really never done anything like this before in your life, have you.

[No, that's not a question, and yes, he's face palming. He's facepalming so hard he'd be breaking his helmet if he were a troll of lesser self-control. But I mean, seriously, bro. What the hell is that.]

[pushedaround]

[ S T O P !!! He is trying, okay ???????!!!

Tavros looks a little confused. Maybe the highblood couldn't see very well from his helmet or something, but he wouldn't dare say that to him. His arms dropped to his sides again and he tipped his head to the side. ]

I'm sorry ... I know I'm not very good at this, but I really need a weapon.

[ And now, for the moment of truth. ]

Will you help me with this? ... Please?

[disgracedvoid]

[WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT TRYING??

Darkleer puts down the sandpaper and instead goes for a rag to polish the arrow tip, he continued working for a little while, as if he hadn't heard Tavros at all. And then,]

I suppose I do have the time to spare.

[A loud, heavy sigh. And then... the Stare. Get used to the Stare, Tavros. This guy stares like a pro.]

Though I full expect you to pull your own weight in this endeavor.

[pushedaround]

[ O M G !!

Tavros will never get used to that stare. It will forever make him feel so uncomfortable and awkward, but he's far too happy to let it get to him right now. So, he returns the stare with a wide, toothy grin before nodding his head in acknowledgment. ]

Yes, yes! I will do my very best. I promise you.

[disgracedvoid]

[He continues to be painfully unimpressed by your enthusiasm, boy, and the stare will remain heavy and unforgiving because of it. On the upside, so long as you don't have to face The Frown you won't have to worry about getting your body snapped like a bread stick.]

Then you can start by figuring out what a lance actually looks like.

[Deadpan. All the deadpan. Deadpanning into eternity.]

[pushedaround]

But ... I know what a lance looks li-

[ Oh god stop staring at him like this! Tavros fidgets, looking through his papers again before tossing them aside. He'll have to start all over again, right? Great.

Instead of depending on his own brilliant ideas, he decided that he should ask for some guidance. ]

So, uhhh, should I start drawing new ... designs? Or .. ?

[disgracedvoid]

[Dryly.]

You could start by finding a ruler and doing some math.

[Then, after a few more seconds of The Stare, Darkleer sighs. Grubs.]

How much weight can you handle, realistically? Then what metal or alloy will provide you a serviceable distribution of weight and endurance? What's the optimum length you can wield?

[He's being patient. Honest. It's not his fault it sounds reproachful and condescending. It's just how he usually sounds.]

Before you even start working on metal, you should answer those questions. Otherwise you will end up with a useless attempt, in the best case scenario. Or you will simply end up killing yourself in the process.