Open Post: Welters

[sorrowandsorrow]

It's probably been noted before, but Janet's not actually dumb. The people of this mansion are varied and mercurial. They're not like Fillorians, some of whom are little bitches but who were largely cow-eyed and willing to accept her authority just because she was a pretty girl from another world.

So. She has to win people over. Maybe everyone needs a little fun to take their minds off things. Conveniently, welters is absolutely Janet's idea of fun. There's a bunch of insane rules, violence is encouraged, and you win if you're good at magic and being bossy.

The mansion grounds are also a little tempestuous as to their character, but apparently the master magician toying with all their lives is feeling charitable today. She's found a big, flat stretch of undisturbed grass, and she's sketching out welters squares with a piece of chalk.

Comments

[sagramore]

"Wait," grinning again. "Tell me the difference between first-level and advanced."

[sorrowandsorrow]

Ugh, he has a nice smile. It kind of pisses her off, in a pleasantly prickly way, how charming Sagramore is. "First years have to learn... I mean, everything, unless you were born into a family of magicians already. Most people weren't. It's hard as shit." She laughs. "You have to learn how to adjust for everything. Weather, time of day, the stars. And the way you're supposed to move your hands, it doesn't feel natural at all at first.

"But the advanced stuff is, like, theory. Why magic exists and how it does what it does. Using magic to make more magic. Altering the nature of your own magic. That's not my thing," she adds. "If you want a really technical explanation of magical theory, you need Alice."

[sagramore]

"No, no, I like you. So it's a bit like swordwork, then, all the variables, things within you and without you. And you're good at it."

[sorrowandsorrow]

That trips Janet up, just the tiniest bit. Not visibly, she thinks. "I'm good," she says, "yeah."

She's not the best. She knows that. But she is good, and she tries like hell not to make it obvious when she's faltering.

[sagramore]

Sagramore smiles. "You do have that air about you."

[sorrowandsorrow]

That earns Sagramore a smile in return. Janet saunters back toward him, trying to make it look like an accident that she's drawn to him. "What about you? What's your thing? Aside from the obvious." Her smile slides into a grin.

[sagramore]

"No, no, what's the obvious?"

[sorrowandsorrow]

Janet gives him a familiar little pat right between the legs. "Does your ego need stroking, too?"

[sagramore]

That makes him laugh so hard that even Fenyes, indomitable as she is, lifts her head in annoyance. "I genuinely wasn't-- Christ, why haven't we spent time together before now? You're such a splendidly awful woman, I adore you."

[sorrowandsorrow]

Trying not to get too sucked into his orbit, but clearly failing a little, Janet doesn't laugh in turn, but she is smiling whether she likes it or not. It's also clear that she's preening under the specific flavor of the compliment. "Well, whose fault is that?" she says, cheerful enough. "You don't call, you don't text..."

[sagramore]

"You don't seem the sort to want a hanger-on, though perhaps I misinterpreted."

[sorrowandsorrow]

"No, no, you're reading me right." This time she pats him on the chest, and leaves her hand there afterward. "I'm just giving you shit."

[sagramore]

"As long as I've understood." He smiles at her. "I don't want to offend you."

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Sir Sagramore," she drawls, "if you offend me, you won't have to guess whether you have or not." That's followed up with a fresh smile.

[sagramore]

"Now that I've said it, it does sound foolish," he agrees.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"That's okay." Her hand lingers where it is, solely because it's pleasant to touch the solidity of his chest. "I like stupid men."

[sagramore]

That's all right. It's nice to have her hand there. "Well, hast come to the right place." His tone is, unfortunately, fond.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Yeah," Janet says, and despite herself, her tone is a little fond, too. She plants a glancing kiss on his cheek. "You didn't actually answer my question."

[sagramore]

"Oh, which one?"

[sorrowandsorrow]

"You know, I think I was pretty much asking you to brag. Or show off, or whatever. Unless," she adds brightly, "you really are mainly just good at sex. I can accept that."

[sagramore]

"Oh! Yes, mainly sex, I'm afraid. I'm not a very good knight." He does not seem remotely perturbed by the fact.

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Humble and good in bed, wow." Her tone is a little bit mean, but it's just how she shows affection. "I don't hate knowing I could probably beat you in a fight."

[sagramore]

"Not only don't I hate that, I'm open to experiencing it."

[sorrowandsorrow]

"Yeah? You want me to beat the shit out of you with my scary magical ice axes?"

[sagramore]

"Something mildly less grievous than that."