[Day 3, Public]

[anti_nonsense]

[Oh hey, Rita's actually using the network today. Her voice sounds weak and raspy, but she's got some water handy, so she should be able to make it through talking without hurting her throat too much, at least for a while. Besides, this is important.]

Right... so, apparently, I'm not supposed to do anything too strenuous until I've recovered more... which is fine and all, but the thing is... I've already read every book in my trailer three times over.

Anybody got any books I can borrow? Nonfiction is preferred, but frankly, I'm getting desperate.

Comments

[whattaprick]

Something smarter, maybe. Though it's good to know you put a little more thought into it than Portland. [ Lambert shrugs, but he's smirking ever so slightly, recalling the mess that had turned into. Half-assed plan or not, the conviction is something he likes. A poor choice, maybe, but not one she regrets... that's how Lambert views his own mistakes, too. ]

This is the second time we've gotten screwed going up against fae. [ His expression sobers a bit, looking at her. That's true enough, isn't it? Of course, in the broad scheme of things, the Carnival got universally screwed by the fae, but both of them have directly borne the physical brunt of making the attempt. ]

I'm getting real tired of that. [ He turns his face to the ceiling, scowling as his fingers curl in his lap. In a weird way, perhaps, it's impossible to talk to Childermass and Strange about this. They're afraid of the fae. So many people are, and some part of Lambert is too. More than that, though? He's angry. And he's always found a way to turn anger into something useful, and Rita seems to think the same way.

He just wishes he knew what that something was. ]

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita glowers a bit at the criticism, but manages to keep herself from arguing. She could wear her voice out defending herself, explaining every reason she had for doing what she did, but it's just not worth it right now. Besides, they agree on one thing...]

Me too.

[Rita's sick of losing, and she's sick of these damn fae. She sighs, and when she continues, she's calmer.]

When I first came here, I didn't take anything about this stupid carnival seriously. I thought I could just focus on my research and ignore all the other crap going on.

But... I can't. [That's not the kind of person she is anymore. Not since she first left Aspio and chose to go see the world... In the end, she had to accept that she was a part of that world. Now, like it or not, she's part of this one, too.]

The next time something like this happens... I'm still going to fight.

[whattaprick]

It will. It's just a matter of time. [ Lambert says, seriously. No comment on not taking the carnival seriously -- he can't say he wasn't similar, but experiencing hell so shortly after joining made certain dangers up front and present in a way nothing else was. ]

It's obvious we can't match them for power. [ His lip twists in displeasure, but that's not even a thing that he's a stranger to. Witchers are always outmatched in one form or another, in brute strength or magical force, so all they've got is cunning, and wits. ]

But I'm no strategist either. [ He exhales, tipping his head back against the couch. It's frustrating, coming up against his own limitations, when for once he wants to push beyond them. ] That's part of why Strange gave me those books.

[anti_nonsense]

[Lambert's right. Rita's equally convinced of the inevitability of another encounter with some sort of malevolent fae. That's why she has to be prepared, in as many ways as possible. Sounds like he's been thinking the same.]

Hmm... so you really do take things seriously sometimes. [It's not clear if she's genuinely surprised, or feigning it in jest. But after a beat, she continues:]

Good. Maybe I won't regret this, then.

[There's another pause as she dismisses any lingering hesitation and looks over to meet his eyes.]

I want to join the nightrunners.

[whattaprick]

[ It's Lambert's turn to be surprised -- though now, thinking about it, he shouldn't be. It's too late to hide that she's caught him off guard, so he does the next best thing and takes his time giving her an answer. ]

You'd have to be a mercenary, obviously, since you're not exactly talented at sneaking around. [ He says at last. It's not a yes or a no, but it's certainly teasing, perhaps his own way at getting back for that surprise whether it's feigned or genuine ... ]

You know what we do, right? [ He cocks his head to the side. ] We're the closest thing to an army the Carnival has. We're the first to head into any world we go to. We lose people, we're the ones that go after them. And if the Ringmaster asks us to do something, we do it, or at least we give it our best shot.

You want to be part of that? Why should you be?

[anti_nonsense]

[Her eyes narrow at his teasing. She got caught once, damn it! Once! ... But she is more interested in being a mercenary than a scout anyway, so whatever. She'll try to ignore his stupider comments.]

Like I said, next time something happens, I'm not sitting on the sidelines. If I'm going to fight either way, and you and your team are doing the same, then we might as well do it together.

[It'll give her the benefit of operating with support and intel. As for the benefits to Lambert, well, she figures that's obvious.]

Besides, you could use someone with my level of magic knowledge and power.

[whattaprick]

Probably. [ Lambert smirks. With as impulsive as Rita is, like him, it never hurts to check she's thought it through. ]

You're also going to have to listen to me most of the time. Or learn to pretend to. [ That might be the hardest of all ... well, that and chivvying Rita to exercise. ]

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita's expression sours, and she groans. She's thought it through, all right, including the part where Lambert would be her boss.]

I know. And I know I'm not the type to be an obedient little soldier. [Certainly not in the way those in the knights and warrior guilds were...]

But it seems like our philosophies align more than I expected... so yeah. I'll deal with it. [At least, for as long as she can trust Lambert to make the right calls.]

[whattaprick]

Good, because we don't need those here. [ As a hothead and someone who hates being being ordered around, Lambert has more sympathy than not for anyone who wants to think and act independently. Leadership is already an uncomfortable experience without including micro managing. ]

All right. You're in. Just remember you've still got to keep up with your first job, because I really don't want Peridot to come around yelling about how I'm stealing her people.

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita doesn't react, other than letting the bitterness fade from her expression. But... well, Lambert just showed exactly why she's willing to try trusting him. So long as he keeps that up and doesn't let the authority go to his head, they should be fine.]

Fine. That's just what I wanted, anyway. [Rita doesn't care much for her backstage work, but being in engineering means getting to tinker with technology alien to her world. It's worth the cost of having to provide effects for a few shows every other week.]

So I guess that settles it. [Her voice is starting to get raspy again from all this talking. She'd like to wrap this up, but first...] Anything you need from me before work starts again?