< You could say that. You never know what you're going to find next. >
[They keep their gaze straight ahead as they respond. Not that they have a face to give anything away, but better to be careful, just in case.]
< ...A little worse than what we have to deal with here. > [That much is safe to admit.] < But better in other ways too. Almost got impaled, but it didn't hit me in the end. And hey, didn't get shot by any weird doppelgangers of myself either. >
[It's disconcerting, how few details Dante seems willing to share. Not in the sense that he detects any level of distrust in the other—he takes it more as the way that they must have to cope with whatever constant disasters they've had to deal with, both in this world and their own. Plus, with the lack of their memory... it must be difficult.
He lets out a breath through his nose in what's almost a frustrated sigh.]
Avoiding violence and injury is always preferable, [he remarks with some helpless exasperation. His normal guise isn't the sort to make jokes about being harmed, even if that might be the inclination of others around him. He might have to get used to it, though.]
Is that why you're so eager to get back into simple errands? Sorting through expired groceries is certainly less dire...
[And once again, their attempts to lighten the mood fall flat on their face. How did Rodya make it look so easy back home?
They look back at him in confusion, head tiling ever so slightly.]
< Not really. I mean I don't mind how calm things are right now--it's a nice change of pace--but this is still part of my job here. > [They gesture to their lack of mouth] < None of these are going to me, after all. And keeping track of who has what will save me time on future trips. >
[Jumping right back into it, just because it's their "job"... is that really all there is to it?
Look. Altius is very much a workaholic himself, who largely doesn't know what to do with free time. But on one hand, he recognizes that this is not exactly "healthy" for a typical person, and on the other hand, his typical day to day stressors are things like profit projections! Or flight cancellations! Not... being impaled??]
I can't argue with your logic, but... [His brow is tilted with a bit of his own confusion.] I would think most people would take a bit of time off to—enjoy the lack of immediate danger, perhaps...?
[They've tried to give the Sinners time off on occasion, when they felt they were able to. But that was mainly on the Great Lake, where there wasn't that much to do besides wait to get back to shore. And even then, those attempts at a break tended to be interrupted by something or another.]
< I guess it's just easier for me to keep going. Something else will come up eventually, so I might as well be ready for it. >
[Is the amnesia and only having a yearish of life experience the problem here, or is it more of a personality thing? Altius has to wonder.]
Easier for now, perhaps, but no one can 'keep going' forever. Being prepared isn't the same as never resting.
[His "scolding" is only mild; neither of them are currently injured or in danger, so it's easier to word it as life advice rather than a lecture. And speaking of taking time off:]
It's a shame you just missed the holiday season here. Especially with these questionable sales being the only aspect remaining...
[He lets out an ambivalent-leaning-positive hum, followed by:]
It wasn't without its challenges, but the locals did inform us of how to avoid the some of the trouble, this time.
[So unlike some people, he followed instructions! Mostly. It's not like he couldn't immediately go indoors after sating his curiosity.]
Perhaps I was lucky to avoid being briefly stuck to someone by the odd animals that appeared during the month? But that all sounded barely more than irritating, and the solstice feast was enjoyable.
[Altius doesn't hide the look he turns towards them, the light of an idea in his eyes—but his gaze turns forward once more as he examines that idea with more scrutiny. It simply seems unfair that Dante was unable to enjoy that brief reprieve, and instead was thrown back into who-knows-what horrid nonsense they deal with regularly, then right back here.]
I'd share some of it with you if I could. [Even with the thought of treating them to something of a mini-holiday, he can't invite them out for dinner, he can't invite them out for drinks... how does one even celebrate without these things??] What do you do to enjoy yourself, Dante?
[They stare at him for a moment in surprise, then look away, ticking softly as they think.]
< Uh, well... Vincent and I play Queen's Blood--a card game--together from time to time, and I've been trying to get more cards for my collection. And given how many books are in the library, I should probably try and read more than just the ones I need for research... >
[There's a brief rise of his brow as if to say yes, you.]
A card game? [Not a standard deck, if they're talking about getting more of them. He's taught himself a few of the usual, just for purposes of socializing, but he's not disdainful of the idea of—trading cards, he supposes they must be?] And they sell them here... interesting.
[Well, if it can integrate diseases and horrible powers from other worlds, why not card games? Unless it originates here, which he somehow doubts. Back to Dante's potential hobbies, though:]
My own choice in literature tends to be rather dense, but... my ward is fond of detective novels, if you're looking for somewhere to start.
< Not just sell it. I'm pretty sure it's the main game played in the casino in town... somehow. >
[They aren't sure what that has to do with gambling, and they've yet to step foot in the casino themselves, but it's there!]
< But detective novels, huh? It's a place to start. >
[And for what it's worth, they do sound curious. It helps that they've had the chance to play detective themselves, even if they were mostly there to supervise. It leaves them to wonder how a professional (or a fictional professional) might do things.]
[At the casino as well? It had his attention before, but now he's definitely interested.]
I'll bring by a few recommendations later, if I can find them.
[Because weirdly the library does have... books from home that he recognizes. If they have Kant, surely they'll have a bit of Doyle and Christie. It does seem like a good excuse to get Dante off their feet, plus:]
Then maybe you could teach me a bit more about this game?
< Sure thing. > [An eager nod] < I'm not a master or anything, but I've got the basics down well enough to feel confident passing them along. >
[And they won't say no to having someone else to play against.]
< Vincent and I play in the library, but we can always go somewhere else. Just as long as there's a table to set everything out at. Anywhere you'd prefer? >
[He vastly prefers more solitary settings and private conversations, and while Purgatorio's office isn't entirely unoccupied otherwise, he won't have to think quite so much about who might come in or out compared to the library. He's not about to explain all of that, so jokingly, he says:]
Just in case I turn out to be an embarrassment—or a sore loser.
[That one might have gone over better if Dante knew anything about how surly he used to be when he was younger... ah well. He remains unfunny, which is why he sounds mildly defeated when he replies:]
Well, of course. I just tend to prefer learning in a more private setting.
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[They keep their gaze straight ahead as they respond. Not that they have a face to give anything away, but better to be careful, just in case.]
< ...A little worse than what we have to deal with here. > [That much is safe to admit.] < But better in other ways too. Almost got impaled, but it didn't hit me in the end. And hey, didn't get shot by any weird doppelgangers of myself either. >
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He lets out a breath through his nose in what's almost a frustrated sigh.]
Avoiding violence and injury is always preferable, [he remarks with some helpless exasperation. His normal guise isn't the sort to make jokes about being harmed, even if that might be the inclination of others around him. He might have to get used to it, though.]
Is that why you're so eager to get back into simple errands? Sorting through expired groceries is certainly less dire...
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They look back at him in confusion, head tiling ever so slightly.]
< Not really. I mean I don't mind how calm things are right now--it's a nice change of pace--but this is still part of my job here. > [They gesture to their lack of mouth] < None of these are going to me, after all. And keeping track of who has what will save me time on future trips. >
[In other words... they're just a workaholic]
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Look. Altius is very much a workaholic himself, who largely doesn't know what to do with free time. But on one hand, he recognizes that this is not exactly "healthy" for a typical person, and on the other hand, his typical day to day stressors are things like profit projections! Or flight cancellations! Not... being impaled??]
I can't argue with your logic, but... [His brow is tilted with a bit of his own confusion.] I would think most people would take a bit of time off to—enjoy the lack of immediate danger, perhaps...?
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[They've tried to give the Sinners time off on occasion, when they felt they were able to. But that was mainly on the Great Lake, where there wasn't that much to do besides wait to get back to shore. And even then, those attempts at a break tended to be interrupted by something or another.]
< I guess it's just easier for me to keep going. Something else will come up eventually, so I might as well be ready for it. >
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Easier for now, perhaps, but no one can 'keep going' forever. Being prepared isn't the same as never resting.
[His "scolding" is only mild; neither of them are currently injured or in danger, so it's easier to word it as life advice rather than a lecture. And speaking of taking time off:]
It's a shame you just missed the holiday season here. Especially with these questionable sales being the only aspect remaining...
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[They sound genuinely surprised.]
< Hm... Though that fall festival wasn't too bad either, was it? Well. Aside from the funhouse. But everything else was actually pretty fun. >
[A pause]
< ...There wasn't anything like the funhouse this time around, was there? >
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It wasn't without its challenges, but the locals did inform us of how to avoid the some of the trouble, this time.
[So unlike some people, he followed instructions! Mostly. It's not like he couldn't immediately go indoors after sating his curiosity.]
Perhaps I was lucky to avoid being briefly stuck to someone by the odd animals that appeared during the month? But that all sounded barely more than irritating, and the solstice feast was enjoyable.
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< Wouldn't be this place without something strange thrown into the mix. And it's good to hear the rougher parts were mostly avoidable. >
[There's a certain lightness to their "voice," slightly affected, but with some sincerity there as well.]
< I'm glad you guys managed to have a good time, stranger moments aside. After the past few months we've had, it had to have been appreciated. >
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I'd share some of it with you if I could. [Even with the thought of treating them to something of a mini-holiday, he can't invite them out for dinner, he can't invite them out for drinks... how does one even celebrate without these things??] What do you do to enjoy yourself, Dante?
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[They stare at him for a moment in surprise, then look away, ticking softly as they think.]
< Uh, well... Vincent and I play Queen's Blood--a card game--together from time to time, and I've been trying to get more cards for my collection. And given how many books are in the library, I should probably try and read more than just the ones I need for research... >
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A card game? [Not a standard deck, if they're talking about getting more of them. He's taught himself a few of the usual, just for purposes of socializing, but he's not disdainful of the idea of—trading cards, he supposes they must be?] And they sell them here... interesting.
[Well, if it can integrate diseases and horrible powers from other worlds, why not card games? Unless it originates here, which he somehow doubts. Back to Dante's potential hobbies, though:]
My own choice in literature tends to be rather dense, but... my ward is fond of detective novels, if you're looking for somewhere to start.
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[They aren't sure what that has to do with gambling, and they've yet to step foot in the casino themselves, but it's there!]
< But detective novels, huh? It's a place to start. >
[And for what it's worth, they do sound curious. It helps that they've had the chance to play detective themselves, even if they were mostly there to supervise. It leaves them to wonder how a professional (or a fictional professional) might do things.]
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I'll bring by a few recommendations later, if I can find them.
[Because weirdly the library does have... books from home that he recognizes. If they have Kant, surely they'll have a bit of Doyle and Christie. It does seem like a good excuse to get Dante off their feet, plus:]
Then maybe you could teach me a bit more about this game?
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[And they won't say no to having someone else to play against.]
< Vincent and I play in the library, but we can always go somewhere else. Just as long as there's a table to set everything out at. Anywhere you'd prefer? >
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[He vastly prefers more solitary settings and private conversations, and while Purgatorio's office isn't entirely unoccupied otherwise, he won't have to think quite so much about who might come in or out compared to the library. He's not about to explain all of that, so jokingly, he says:]
Just in case I turn out to be an embarrassment—or a sore loser.
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[No matter how strange it is to think of it that way.
Definitely a house. Not so much a home.]
< I don't think it'll be that bad, though. In the end, it's just a game, right? >
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Well, of course. I just tend to prefer learning in a more private setting.