26th moon [action/voice]

[vibrafinal]

[Action

Should anyone be visiting the item shop in the morning or early afternoon, they'll be graced with the presence of a paladin! ...Which would normally be an extremely banal and commonplace event, but today said paladin happens to be a) turning the whole place upside down while looking for something, b) muttering some nasty curses that are directed at the items available in the shop, not at its patrons, promise, and c) wearing a long-sleeved turtleneck shirt over his mouth that happens to muffle most of point b). In the middle of July, if one must be reminded.

Some weeks, waking up is just not worth it.]

[Voice

The journal message comes later during the day, weary-sounding and still slightly muffled by that turtleneck.]

Would anyone be kind enough to help me find a razor? My visit to the item shop was... very fruitless. I'd owe you a favor in return, of course.

Comments

[action]

[foundafamily]

Actually, you're not far off the mark. I think he was an acrobat, but he could probably do anything. He's always been a show off--and people back home said he was a genius, too!

[action]

[paladinlost]

Showing off is much easier with a fascinated audience indeed, but did he not feel that he could gain just as much recognition by using his genius to improve your world?

[action]

[foundafamily]

[Firo shrugs.]

I don't think he really cares about improvin' the world or anything. He already thinks it's his and he controls what happens, so...

[Claire's different.]

[action]

[paladinlost]

...That might be a foolish question, but is he right or wrong about that fact?

[With other worlds, it's sometimes hard to tell.]

[action]

[foundafamily]

I guess it's not that weird considerin' how weird some people's worlds are.

He's wrong. Definitely. He has to be.

[action]

[paladinlost]

I wonder what gave him the impression that he has that control, then. Is he particularly lucky?

[action]

[foundafamily]

Unfairly lucky. Not that he's not skilled, too--he get's sensitive about that--but he's lucky.

He's also crazy, so I guess it didn't take too much to convince him.

[action]

[paladinlost]

...Perhaps the, ah, craziness was caused by a combination of both his luck and his talent. Those could easily skew one's perspective.

[action]

[foundafamily]

I think it's just as much a part of him as anything else.

Oh, and he'd hate to hear you say he's talented. He wants people to know he's earned everything.

[He says it matter-of-factly. It's just another one of Claire's quirks.]

[action]

[paladinlost]

There's nothing wrong with natural talent, as long as you work hard to maintain it.

[Wasting it is a crime, though.]

[action]

[foundafamily]

Eh, I think he just wants all the credit for what he can do. But then again, I never really understand his logic, so...

[He shrugs.]

[action]

[paladinlost]

[Cecil sighs.]

I fail to see why he'd not get credit for his own talent, but perhaps he's been the target of pointed remarks before. Or perhaps he thinks talent is too easy. If even someone who knows him does not understand his logic...

[action]

[foundafamily]

Yeah, I think it's got somethin' to do with people always sayin' he was lucky to be a genius and stuff. But who knows? Like I said, he's a total weirdo.

Not that I don't still like him.

[action]

[paladinlost]

Of course not. Strangeness and different priorities are no reason to dislike someone.

[action]

[foundafamily]

I never put it into words like that, but you're right. He and his brothers are all pretty different, but we've always gotten along. Actually, even though he's the weirdest one, he's done a lot to keep us together.

[action]

[paladinlost]

He does sound as though he has a very engaging, magnetic personality.

[action]

[foundafamily]

I'm surprised you got that. Didn't think I gave him a really glowing description.

...I guess you could say he does. He definitely thinks so.

[action]

[paladinlost]

Thinking it might be the first step to making it come true, in this case.

[action]

[foundafamily]

It hasn't worked with the hundreds of girls he's tried to convince to marry him...

[action]

[paladinlost]

...Hundreds. Does he propose to them in large groups, or merely after a single week?

[action]

[foundafamily]

Not a week. More like a few seconds. A minute, tops.

[action]

[paladinlost]

...What woman would say yes so quickly, unless he'd just received a large inheritance and she cared for nothing but money?

[action]

[foundafamily]

Definitely no inheritance. And none of 'em have said yes, obviously. I don't think any girl out there is as crazy as he is--not that he thinks it's crazy. He says it's love.

[Firo rolls his eyes.]

[action]

[paladinlost]

Is he aware that expressing love so quickly might frighten away potential partners?

[action]

[foundafamily]

You'd think he would be, right? After every single one of 'em turns him down?

[He shrugs.]

That's why I say he's crazy. I hope the next girl he asks tunes him up--maybe then he'd learn to leave 'em alone.