Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"I know how to hunt and forage and the basics of fighting, but I don't know how to... how to handle cities." Or how to guard her heart. Or how to-- "Or, uh, how to make people like her."

[Kenta]

"Make people like her?" Kenta repeats, looking perplexed. "Is that a feat oft left undone?"

[Carver Amell]

"No, she's-- well, yes, but not because of her. People are just... mean."

[Kenta]

"Alas, 'tis truth that the word is filled with many that seek to hurt and harm, all to many of them for petty, selfish reasons," Kenta says with a sigh. "So seek you the means to deflect and defuse those sorrows by way of word and wit?"

[Carver Amell]

"Seek me... What?" Carver blinks.

[Kenta]

Kenta slows, brow furrowing in deep thought. "Seek you the means to... avert, weaken, thine sister's sorrows by way of peaceful word and clever wit as well as strong arm and fearsome mien?" he offers after some consideration.

[Carver Amell]

"I uh... I mean, I want to learn how to use a sword, but I guess I probably can't just stab everyone, so... I think that's what you're saying?"

[Kenta]

"Verily, one cannot stab everyone," Kenta agrees soberly. "Nor can one chop everyone," he adds, tapping the... hatchet? A simple woodcutter's hatchet on his belt.

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "Right. So a way to handle people I can't stab is, I guess, good."

[Kenta]

"Given that many that would upset thine sister would not be evil, but rather simply in disagreement with her, very much so, lad. All righteous gods- and mortals- would frown severely at the wholesale slaughter required to deal with all that would require such during the course of even the shortest of lives," Kenta says sagely. He adopts a slightly baffled expression. "Furthermore, I have oft found it that those we would shelter in our strength protest greatly when we offer to do violence upon their rivals and irritants. Perplexing but such is life."

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah, tell me about it." He doesn't understand everything Kenta said, but he got the gist: Bethany would be upset if he stabbed their mother. "So what do I do?"

[Kenta]

"...not stab them," Kenta says slowly as they resume walking.

[Carver Amell]

"Right, right, but how do I get them to stop?"

[Kenta]

"Ah!" Kenta's face brightens as he understands Carver's question. "Alas, that question is one that can have many answers," he rumbles. "Oft times, I have found that simply informing them in a firm tone that they are erring is sufficient to quell hostilies." Given his size and appearance, that's not surprising. Carver is likely starting to realize Kenta's not the brightest Bright's ever, but the guy is built like a six foot dwarf.

"Other times, 'tis more than simple tempor or rudeness and one must enter into laborious dialogue. But with patience and empathy, rare is the time that peace cannot be reached. I must confess that I am not the best at such matters, being slow of wit and possessing a mode of speech that many find distracting. Still, with enough time, it is oft possible to simply keep tempers even and people talking until they can come up with an agreement that, if not pleasing to both, is acceptable." By this point, they've reached the inner courtyard, where a half dozen youths are practicing combat moves. Two of the, the clear elders of the group, are sparring with metal weapons under the watchful eye of a cleric. The other four, children a few years younger than Carver, are doing simple drills.

[Carver Amell]

Yeah... none of that is going to work for me, thinks Carver, but before he can speak, he's distracted by the sparring. "Oh! Can I learn how to use a sword here?"