text;

[thecacophony]

You know, I think I'm starting to get a handle on this Thanksgiving holiday. After our cheeky flirt with the End Times, I've managed to get some extra reading in.

There's plenty of magic in my world, you see, and people born with the ability to use it. Mages, witches, whatever you want to call them. It's said they all have a special destiny too, a higher calling. When you're young, and that destiny manifests, well, kiss your freedom goodbye. Training, studying, perfecting this gift that you're given, all for what they tell you is a magnificent purpose. People, of course, being as fucking awful as they are, means that purpose includes a lot war, and death, and losing what's important to you.

What little you have for yourself in this kind of life. A special destiny doesn't give you very much in the way of reward. Not a lot of choices. Except, maybe who your friends are, who you love. Other magic users, those like you who understand that magic can be a barter. All of that power, the ability to shape weather, shape your own body to whatever form you like, to crush an entire army with just your fists, but it always comes at a price. Your breath, the face you're born with, the blood in your veins. The ability to feel anything but endless fucking tedium.

Magic is a price and someone willing to pay it, and maybe that sounds like love too. They're both, after all, fucking terrifying. But for the sake of sentiment here because we're in some shitty holiday, I guess it's easier knowing, through blood, or pain, or sacrifice, that we aren't alone.

Anyway, this boredom is really starting to chafe my ass raw. Does anyone here know how to make swords?

Comments

permavoice b/c this grandma is a terrible typist

[killtime]

You want a sword? You could ask the guy that made Pussydestroyer.

text;

[thecacophony]

Pussydestroyer? That's got some potential.

What's his name?

[killtime]

Davis? Aaron? Something like that.

[ WOW SHE'S SO HELPFUL ]

How many ImPort blacksmiths can there be.

[thecacophony]

Fuck, there can't be an overabundance of real smiths here. Rattle enough cages and something should fall out anyway.

It's a good weapon, handles well? Because I've really got to say, anything I've seen in a mall or marketplace isn't even fit to carve up one of these damn turkeys with.

Voice

[iminthebook]

Everything has a cost, in the end. And life is a manner of us discovering what prices we are willing to pay and what we are not.

And what costs do not feel like costs to us at all, sometimes.

text;

[thecacophony]

You see? Perfect fucking understanding.

I'm impressed.

Voice

[iminthebook]

You don't get to be an old wizard without learning a few things.

[permavid]

[heartstings]

Had a friend that could make swords. [A pause as she glances off to the side.] He's gone now though.

I could maybe try but I haven't had much luck with my creation ability.

text;

[thecacophony]

Well shit, I didn't mean to drag up sad things on some holiday. Those turkey stickers on everything are bad enough—and I love birds, but this crap's really gone over the edge.

Yeah? Do you need like, components or something? Booze?

[heartstings]

It's... [Fine? Not really. She shrugs and waves the thought off.] I was gone for like four years so, y'know, couldn't expect folks to still be here.

Eh. [She frowns, face scrunching up a little.] I don't think so? I mean, the file made it sound like I can just make things appears except every time I try I end up with these little colorful blocks.

I won't turn down booze but they probably don't help the process.

[nightmarist]

magic sword or regular sword?

not that it matters

just curious

[thecacophony]

Doesn't need to be magic, as long as it's sharp and won't break under duress. Nothing in those mall kiosks are exactly what I'd call fine art.

Magic, I've got it. But some work demands a little more delicacy, I guess you'd say.

[nightmarist]

i can do it

Text |

[privatepurchases]

[He should say something but he really just wants to ask-]

Are you really going to go looking for a sword?

[He could come to that but for now.]

[thecacophony]

More than one, if I'm lucky and they're willing. There's a few decent prospects, at least.

[Some hesitation, and then—]

Why, are you interested?

[privatepurchases]

Yes.

What's the phrase humans use. 100 cents? It means very interested. If I can't do miracles then I may as well accept the soldiering aspects of myself.

That and I miss fighting with a sword. There are some angels that aren't martial-

[cough cough: aziraphale]

but I love fighting, as you saw.

[leatherboots]

Certainly can't speak for this magic thing, but do let me know if you find a decent blacksmith. Good craftsmen are so hard to come by here.

[thecacophony]

I'm not expecting any miracles, but hell, something that won't shatter into pieces at the first sign duress would be a relief.

Know a thing or two about swords yourself, huh?

[leatherboots]

Shattered? Good grief, what was it made of?

I believe I know a thing or twenty, actually. Swordplay is 'my thing' as they are so fond of saying nowadays.

[by_candlelight]

You should check out Darin. He does amazing work. He made the majority of my knives, and even with how small they are they can stand up to a lot of use, and they're balanced nicely for throwing.

[thecacophony]

Darin? Does he have a last name, or a shop somewhere?

Seems like this is the right guy to try and get a hold of.

[by_candlelight]

Altway I think. Give me a second and I'll send you directions to his forge.

He's pretty cool. He's an imPort too.


[ She was a little biased, as he was one of the first people to welcome her.

About a minute after her post a message finds its way to Sal's inbox, the subject line being a string of dagger emoji. ]

voice;

[mycrosstobear]

Power always costs something.

Darin Altway's the guy you want. Pretty sure he does custom work.

voice;

[thecacophony]

[Sal's been reticent about going off simple text, but since she remembers this voice pretty clearly now, well... Maybe just this once.]

This Altway guy seems to have quite the reputation around here.

Is that where you picked up your —shit, I'd hate to just call that thing a gun, you know?

voice;

[mycrosstobear]

He's hard to forget. [Because Darin's an idiot. One who is clearly good at his job, and means well, but still an idiot.]

Nah, that's from home. One of my 'powers' here is to just...make it appear when I need it.