FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 5:20 PM
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 5:27 PM
"You are the wandering salesman." 'That's right.' "You trade with people of all walks of life, without bias. You are currently my best source of alchemical mixtures while I remain in hiding." 'Uh... trust me, you'll never be in hiding when you look like that.' "And, if I may be honest, you are a large part of the reason why I currently exist."
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 5:33 PM
'Hey, don't misunderstand me, but I'm usually just the middle man.' "You sold arcana to Plague Knight." 'A lot of it was trade.' "I still have them. "My abilities to heal, withstand injury, sneak around undetected, avoid falling into innumerable bottomless pits... I have you to thank." 'Uh... next question.' "What is it?" 'Doesn't Plague Knight have them, too? Did you just... duplicate my wares?'
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 5:40 PM
"Bluntly, yes, and you have nothing to worry about. The procedure is expensive, unlikely to be repeated, and you overcharged him in the first place." 'What's that supposed to-' "Increased prices for those you believe can craft their own gold, I believe you said?" 'Okay, I get it. You practically are him. Without the constant insults.' "It's hard to justify now." 'I'd normally think it's easier.'
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 5:45 PM
"That was when I had a purpose in life. And a home. "I cannot return to my... his lab. It would throw his life into disarray at the moment he doesn't need it. "I tried heading back to the Explodatorium, but it's occupied as well. The lieutenant alchemists are running the place now. "And he's been working on his reputation. Traveling, meeting with old rivals... I'm running out of places to hide."
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 5:58 PM
'...uh... once again, I have to ask... how can you possibly expect to hide?' "It wasn't funny the first time." 'Didn't you have a reason to create that potion in the first place?' "...it was the wrong reason." 'For your ex-girlfriend, sure. What about right now? 'I don't need to hear you worrying about yourself when I watched you take down a dozen guards last week. Right here. While giggling.'
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 6:07 PM
"It was self-defense." 'Not my point. I don't have time for a wife, so I can't tell you if a woman is ever worth becoming a giant supercharged force of alchemy. 'But I can tell you, I can think of more than five things I'd start doing if I had that power. '...uh... not all of them legal.' "You are naive. I need more self-control than that. For everyone's sake... especially his and hers."
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 6:18 PM
'You know, ever since tiny you fell into town, it's been infested with alchemists. I've traded with a few of them, and guess what? 'Most of them, as far as I can tell, aren't Plague Knight either. 'You don't want to hurt him? Good. Don't. 'Just existing isn't gonna do it. He isn't that weak. He shouldn't lose his hopes and dreams just because some new guy might be better than him.' "Better?"
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 6:20 PM
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 6:27 PM
I worked so hard... to make myself better than I was... because I thought I needed to. To claim the things I wanted. And in a quirk of fate, I lost them all... ...except for the obvious one. The one I spent the past week proving. That I successfully became better than I was. It is no longer for the wrong reason. It no longer has a reason. ...it's a good time to come up with a new one.
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 6:36 PM
"Thank you. I needed that." 'No problem. Will that be all?' "All?" 'The advice is free, but the potions...' "Give me four days." 'Days? You can't put this stuff on a tab!' "Bring a full pack of tonics. Also a fresh stock of chemicals. I'll have money for them, too." 'You promise?' "Promise." 'Usual alchemists' rate?' "Regular price and you don't explode.' '...perhaps my pep talk was too good...'
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 6:45 PM
I can do this. I can demolish a building without plans or preparation. I can take a sword to the chest without flinching. I can disperse a mob without coming within ten feet of them. I can walk by a crowd unnoticed even when my steps are longer than their jumps. If I can do all that... surely I can rebuild a life. Without scrapping the old one. It's still in use.
FalconPain FalconPain
03/03/2016 6:52 PM