[OTA] Announcing another drow (w/ human); tic tac toe three in a row for Forgotten Realms

[naturaltwohands]

[About an hour after this whole mess, Drizzt addresses the network with some sort of dazed amusement.]

For those of you who have been warned what to do if another drow shows, I do not believe there will be further threats. It seems the Arcana have decided to only pull drow that are not particular threats to other Travelers.

If you meet our newest drow, Jarlaxle, you will... simply know it is him, I assure you. Do not attack him, even if he says something to make you want to do so.

His human companion, Artemis Entreri, is also from my world. Please do not attack him either.

Comments

[acheat]

Thank the young elf better, Artemis, he's ensuring your surly attitude doesn't start more ill fated pastry fights.

[bitofafop]

[See now, he would try make this private if he could. Really. But he's not a psionicist, he has no idea how this psychic shit works, and he doesn't like he even has to suffer with it.]

[And right now, he's also pissed off enough at THAT VOICE that he wouldn't bother even if he could.]

Last you told me, that young elf was dead.

[acheat]

[Jarlaxle won't bother attempting to shield it either.

He doesn't see a reason to]

So I did.

It appears that I may have enhanced the truth, somewhat.

[bitofafop]

Don't try to dress it up. You lied to me.

[acheat]

I did.

Blatantly, and unapologetically.

And if it were to spare him and you more pain, I'd do it again.

[bitofafop]

[Oh. No. Look, right now, he's only hearing the worst parts of what Jarlaxle has to say, and that's not what he wants to hear.]

Then that's all I need to know.

Leave me alone.

About an hour or so later.

[naturaltwohands]

... May I speak with you in private, Entreri?

[You know, now that the chaos is settled and shit is just. He's upset about the whole argument between Thorne and Jarlaxle but he just. Doesn't. He wants to fix something, okay?]

oh baby boy no

[bitofafop]

[And that is...kind of the last voice he expected to hear, honestly. He's had some time to cool off, but he's still angry. And Drizzt contacting him, of all people?]

Why?

:( Wehhh

[naturaltwohands]

That would defeat the purpose of talking in person.

goddamn all you dumb drow for making him feel dumb feelings

[bitofafop]

[...]

[A sigh.]

Tell me where.

Drizzt would apologize but he's currently suffering

[naturaltwohands]

[Drizzt has to think for a moment. Also he sounds exhausted and subdued.]

The entrance to the workshop. I can find a private room for us to speak.

[bitofafop]

[This time he doesn't get an answer. Artemis has heard enough people mention the workshop to know where it is, so he's already on his way.]

[Reluctantly. But he is.]

[naturaltwohands]

[Drizzt is standing there when he arrives, looking still a bit shellshocked and dazed, but mostly all right. Guenhwyvar is keeping tight at his side. He keeps a hand threaded in her fur.

This probably isn't the best time for this but... He just wants to focus on something else. Anything else. Even Entreri is a better focus than this.]

Entreri.

[bitofafop]

[Fortunately (or unfortunately?) it's only a few minutes before Artemis arrives, as dour faced as he's ever been. But it hides his apprehension, even while his thoughts race. The way his hands stay too close to his weapons as he approaches, though? Not so much. He has no intention to use them, but...]

[He stops just short of the drow, eyes falling warily to the giant panther at his side, before he...nods. Stiffly.]

Drizzt.

[...so this is only a little bit uncomfortable.]

[naturaltwohands]

[Drizzt keeps his hands from his weapons. Whatever change had been wrought on Entreri, it means his quest to defeat or kill Drizzt is over now. Truly over. And for that, he is relieved.

He's still looking unsure and dazed, and quite a bit younger in his expression than Artemis has seen before. Drizzt's hair is also far more well kept than Artemis has ever seen, oddly enough. The man saying his name gives him pause.]

... Does that mean I should call you Artemis now?

[He doesn't know what to do. It's so strange to hear his name said from the man's lips without malice.]

[bitofafop]

[Much younger in the expression than Artemis remembers. But then, Artemis only ever saw him in the heat of battle, save for those few occasions they were forced to rely on each other, and when he was...]

[Something about that question, though, makes him bristle. He's here because he can't avoid this forever. He's here, perhaps, because he feels on some level that he deserves whatever retaliation Drizzt may have in store. That question is a familiarity that doesn't belong here. And instead of answering, he gruffly shoves past the drow to enter the workshop proper.]

You wanted to speak to me. [He doesn't even look back at Drizzt as he crosses into the room, removing his hat and letting it hang against his back as he looks around for somewhere appropriately private.] So make it quick.

[naturaltwohands]

[Well, that answers that question. Entreri it is. The man can use Drizzt's first name if he so chooses.

He follows the man into the workshop, Guenhwyvar close at his heels, and thinks about a question regarding the hat, but then drops that line of thought. Another time. They are most certainly not on friendly terms or even friends. Allies at best.

Drizzt lets out a slight sigh and walks past Entreri toward the library.]

There are private nooks. We can speak in one of those.

[bitofafop]

[Allies at best, and even that is disconcerting to think about. He watches Drizzt pass with a critical eye, noting every movement, waiting-]

[His hands clench useless at his sides before he nods and follows, a good few steps behind. That the other man would turn his back on him is... He could kill him. Right here. The thought sticks in his mind, runs through every possible outcome if he drew his blade on the drow right here. Drizzt is inviting it, showing none of the caution Artemis has seen in him before.]

[It's hard to push the thought away, but he has to.]

What is this about?

[naturaltwohands]

[And yet, Drizzt knows he will not stab him. That he will not kill him. Jarlaxle has shown his affection towards Drizzt, and Entreri is not the man he once was. He is safe enough.

They are close enough to a nook that seems empty that he answers that question.]

Why Jarlaxle kept the truth of my so-called death from you.

[bitofafop]

[...oh.]

[This time, when Artemis looks away, it's to hide the scowl that almost forms before he schools his features carefully back to neutrality. He...might know what is coming. Now that he's had time to dwell on it. But that doesn't mean he wants to hear it.]

[Especially not from a godsdamned ghost.]

There's nothing to talk about there. [Bitter? Well.] And if he's the one that put you up to this, you can tell him that.

He seemed to thoroughly enjoy letting me think you dead.

[acheat]

[this night is turning into a wash isn't it]

Artemis.

You are not listening.

[bitofafop]

[Oh yes. sorry bro you're on the couch tonight]

What part of leave is so difficult to understand?

[He's not sure if blocking people out is possible, and wouldn't even know how if it is, but. He's very good at ignoring. And he's going to be doing that starting now.]

[acheat]

The part where we aren't trying to talk about this like a pair of grown men-

[LOOK THIS IS HARD]

Will it soothe you if I left for a time?

[bitofafop]

Yes.

[God and he wants to say more. But. He'll go burn off some steam, first.]

[acheat]

Very well.

... I will locate you later.

[And merciful silence.]