text.

[camouflage]

Let's talk hypotheticals.

You're crossing a suspension bridge. You have to reach the other side at any cost. The bridge is wide enough only for one person to pass at a time.

A man approaches from the other side with a gun. How do you cross?

Comments

(text)

[camouflage]

[unfortunately, john is not in the business of getting on video on the network. it's one thing to have his picture attached to his name, but people can read into things too much when they can see your expressions.

or lack thereof.]

Sorry. I'm not familiar with anything but, or I'd have made a more appropriate scenario.

[you damn magic users]

But alright. Good answer. Now the person is someone you're friends with/care about. There's no way to reason with them and they'll be killed if they don't keep you off the bridge. What then?

Video <forever>

[liberaltus]

[Dorian has no such qualms, he is pretty to look at and wonderful to listen to in his own biased opinion. Why hide his charming good looks.]

Don't worry about it, it seems many people are unfamiliar with the wonders of magic.

[We spoil everything.]

Hmm a little trickier but not impossible to navigate. I might use mind blast against them...I suppose it would be something like a knockout gas to you except more complicated [he is just keeping it simple for you] then I would drag their silly arse along by their feet, because they did try to attack me. I would find their would-be killers and kill them, relieving the one I care for. Then I would make certain this person I cared about spent a great deal of time groveling, because...fun for me.

[camouflage]

[well, at least john would agree that dorian certainly isn't hard on the eyes. but he's not blond enough to really take notice.]

You don't do anything by halves, do you?

[liberaltus]

[which is a shame, because that is the best part of looking handsome and being vain about it, so people notice.]

I'm not fond of loose ends, the cleaner and less complicated a situation, the better. That aside, I do enjoy a good flaunting.

[camouflage]

I agree on the 1st half, but that 2nd bit? Flaunting is dangerous, gets you distracted, gets you made a fool of.

[ocelot knows all about that.]

[liberaltus]

I've never had that problem, flaunting has never been an excuse for a lack of caution. I always throw up a barrier if I know I'm going to flourish a bit.

[camouflage]

[he's assuming barrier isn't in the literal sense]

Well, at least you know it leaves you open to retaliation. Do you make people grovel often? [cause it sure sounds like it]

[liberaltus]

[You should never assume when it comes to mages, Ishmael.]

Only a foolish mage would display magic ostentatiously and not protect their arse. [Dorian was flashy, but always cautious.] Ah, I only make people grovel when they really deserve it. You want to get back into my good graces after trying to kill me? Grovel a bit, I'll get bored eventually and then we can celebrate moving beyond past ugly business with a good stout.

[Out of curiosity.]

Does that sort of thing bother you?

[camouflage]

Nope. You're just the first person I've seen so ready to forgive if someone grovels in front you.

[it's kind of a hilarious concept]

If we're ever in this situation, you're gonna have to make me do something else. I'm old, my knees are too stiff for groveling.

[have some levity with this metaphorical mess]

[liberaltus]

What can I say, I'm easy...with some things at least. The friendship wouldn't be quite the same after that, admittedly, but holding onto a grudge can be stressful. I try to avoid that when I can.

[except for when it comes to his father]

I have a poultice for that, and pillows, soft pillows. I'm sure we can ease the suffering of your stiff knees in order to make it work. Of course you'd have to attempt to kill me first, but why would you want to kill someone so charming and handsome?

[Dorian is good with levity]

[camouflage]

Good to know. Someone people just don't know how to move on. Healthier to just let some things go.

[like a man shooting out your eye or your partner getting into the proverbial bed of your enemy]

Maybe you're too charming and I can't let you live.

[is he being flirty??? serious??? just A Dad with a Bad Sense of Humor????? who knew]

[liberaltus]

Some things just don't have that sort of value, so why waste the energy on it? And the things that do have value should be treated as such. Spending so much time hurting someone you love over a grudge has no meaning.

[because you shouldn't want to hurt the one you love, right papa Pavus?]

That just makes you sound like a jealous lover I would have to put in line. Not that I could blame you -- all of this? It's difficult to share.

[if you weren't flirting before, you are now. there's no getting around it.]