[δέκα]

[winewomenand]

[video post]

[the camera shows the leaves of a bush rustling pretty violently-- if a person wasn't informed, they'd assume the camera was being held backward by someone leaving them. but no. robin's pointing it at his face, which would appear very irritated, if it...appeared.]

I took it off. Why isn't it working? Why isn't it stopping?

This isn'

Comments

[banditfox]

You are meant to break the curse before you use a cursed object yourself, Robin, unless you're willing to endure the consequences.

[winewomenand]

Do I look like a witchdoctor or something ridiculous to you? I don't deal in magic. I have no need to deal in it when whatever I want I can obtain for myself.

[banditfox]

You admit to being an amateur?

Had you not seen fit to include me in your predations, I might have offered my services when they would have been of use.

[winewomenand]

I admit to nothing. I profess only to being a master within my own domain. A man abroad for the first time in his life must learn the lay of his new land at a pace. I've learned my lesson, now, and the scars will have healed over the wound and be done with and you'll mock me no more.

If the sails don't work, you take to the oars next time.

[banditfox]

Did you ever move beyond Athens?

I'm not certain if I should offer you lessons. As a friend, it would be worth my while, but as a professional, it would be unwise to encourage more competition than you've ignited already.

[winewomenand]

I've moved across all of Europe and Asia. I've moved across the Bering land bridge. I've moved across the entire planet. I've moved across Pangea from sea to damn sea without leaving the treetops. But I've never moved outside of a universe which functions by the same rules it always has.

A smart man wouldn't offer me lessons after this. Adversity is a decent professor.

[banditfox]

Your mentality. Not the rest of you.

A smart youkai wouldn't offer you lessons because he sees the potential to convince you to pay for his services in the future.

[winewomenand]

Why should I when Rome sucked so badly.

I don't pay for services. Money is too useful a commodity when I have so many other superior talents at my disposal.

[banditfox]

As I understand it, you have more than fifteen centuries after Rome to live in.

Your useful talents now including invisibility.

[winewomenand]

Novelty is no reason to deny that a good thing was good. You wouldn't understand. I have memories of Mediterranean sunshine. Feasts of light and color and wine and silks and freedom. And yet there I am, shoved into smoggy Manhattan like a sardine just to survive.

Still not funny.

[banditfox]

Wouldn't I? Your memories are of olive groves and the revelry of gods. Mine are of the rising sun viewed through the blossoms on Mount Yoshino and the offerings left in all sincerity at a dozen shrines before I made my way into another world without restriction. And yet there I was, shoved into a tiny, helpless human form in a city that was too loud and too full, just to survive.

You may of course call on me to examine the artifact as a favor, if you find yourself in need of a second opinion.

[winewomenand]

Maybe I haven't given you enough credit. I'll say this, though. I love my job and I love Neiman Marcus.

Now I've just got to figure out what the price of your favors is. Provided it's not trying to kill me, it may be cheap in comparison to favors these days.

[banditfox]

I love my mother and her cooking. We can't allow similarities between you and me to become rampant.

For favors I expect an even exchange, if any. The question you need to answer is whether or not this one is a free sample.

[winewomenand]

It's less about similarities and more about grand thematics. I can appreciate a good bit of cosmic-level irony.

I never expect anything for free. I may be a crooked salesman, a liar, a cheat, and a shameless whore, but I'm not in the habit of handouts. I work hard for my ill-begot gains.

[banditfox]

Think about it. Call me if you're still wandering through the streets unseen despite your efforts to the contrary next week.

[winewomenand]

I presume to have a lot of time for thinking during the next few days.