abraxaslogs | [open] test your metal

[ So Thancred refuses to be a freeloader? That explains it. Not everyone can so easily walk away from the allure of free food and running water. Dante's a simple man with simple needs.

But Dante has grown a bit too since they last spoke. He's working. Not just lazing around. Sure it may seem like harassing passersby in the hallway, but it's really actually truly very important. ]

And most people haven't.

[ He can understand that plumbing may not seem as important to people who are used to it working all the time. But where there is a hole in the ground with water, there is plumbing. ]

That may be the key, you see. Keep it all part of the day-to-day workings of your average magical castle set-up. But where does it go?

[ It's true, most people don't want to think overly hard on waste disposal or any of the associated logistics. Thancred's relieved that the castle does seem to be equipped to handle all of their bodily waste without much incident, but Dante seems to believe he's onto something here.

As unpleasant as the subject matter might be, Thancred has to admit he's curious to see where Dante's going with this. Even if he's also half-suspecting it to be a waste (har har) of his time. ]

It's either magically disposed of or there's some manner of sewer system. Below the dungeons, I would guess. Why are you so set on this?

[ He wants to know this is going somewhere before he gets too invested. He's only hunting down sewage if there's a compelling reason to do so. ]

[ Dante believes he's onto something, yes. And that's really all that's needed. Whether or not he actually is, he can at least say he was making a concerted effort. And that's got to earn some points where family matters are concerned. ]

Given the fact that magic is the de-facto method for most things around here, I'd say it's a good guess.

[ Or so he hopes. Really, only one way to find out...messy business as this is. ]

What goes in must go out, when it comes to what we do in this castle and how we got here in the first place.

[ See, Thancred? This is big brain plans in the making. ]

[ This is not where Thancred would have expected this conversation to lead, and yet it doesn't seem like he can be certain about much of anything when it comes to how Dante views the world around him.

There's a brief sigh as he reaches a hand up to squeeze the bridge of his nose. ]

Then you believe the method of waste disposal has something to do with the summoning process? Due to the use of water in how we're brought into this world, I assume?

[ It is something that is consistent across all three factions, and he'd noted that when he first arrived. Yet he isn't quite sure that sewage has anything to do with it. He is still curious about how exactly the summoning works, though, which is why he hasn't thrown his hands up and abandoned this conversation outright. ]

Bringing in the good shit while washing away the bad.

[ It's poetic, right? Though really it's more that he assumes medieval plumbing has to do with the same water flow that wells work. Thank god Dante is completely wrong about that, but that's neither here nor there. The idea that going out the same door you came in through isn't too terrible, despite the other connections he's drawing. ]

Granted, I haven't been able to fit down any of the old pots around here. So I think we'll need to go back to the well room.

[ This is quite the theory. Thancred scrubs a hand down his face, half-tempted to just dismiss himself and leave it at that. On the other hand, he doesn't imagine Dante will let him wander away so easily. ]

And what do you plan to do? Jump down into it?

[ He's only going to get roped so far into this, and so he crosses his arms over his chest, settling his gaze on Dante's face. ]

I'm happy to observe from above, but I'm only following you if you find something of worth down there. [ A beat. ] And how do you plan to get back out?

Bingo.

[ Yeah. That's.

That's literally the whole plan.

But it's a plan so Thancred should be pleased about that. Not all of his teammates thikn that far ahead. ]

Don't worry about that, I can manage my way.

[ Air Hikes and the potential of devil trigger are always an option, but he really doesn't want to go into the nuances of demonic powers when he doesn't have to. AKA ever if he can void it. ]

Just know that if I don't come back out I've either made it across the void or drowned.

[ The longest of long sighs follows this explanation. If Dante is convinced that he has the means of getting back out of the well, then so be it. Thancred will see it with his own eyes soon enough, it seems. ]

As long as you don't expect me to jump in after you and save your life...

[ While he says this, if Dante truly did get in danger, he would do something about it. Dante doesn't need to know that, though.

Thancred starts moving down the halls, well aware of where the well they supposedly came out of is located. Dante had come quite close, actually, so they don't have far to go. ]

[ Dante is not at all convinced he has the mans of anything. But he is convinced that he's got to try something, at least for Nero's sake. Having people relying on you makes sitting on your ass feel a little less cozy. ]

Every man for himself, eh?

[ Nah, Thancred doesn't seem like the kind of person to leave him high and dry, but he can take good humor. Besides, he can handle himself.

Moving back down the hallway towards the good old well room though won't be easy. There are areas of the Castle that are communal, residential, and anything goes. But other areas...guards are more present, the higher up mages flitter about. The real goal is getting by them.

When they stop to see a pair of guards standing by a door, Dante steps back to keep behind the corner. ]

Doubt they're just hiding their mother's meatloaf recipe in there.

[ Meatloaf? Does he mean mole loaf? Not that now is the time to ask, when they're around the corner from some guards that appear to be patrolling the area. It is odd that they're keeping an eye on this part of the castle, Thancred will give Dante that much. ]

What's your plan?

[ He keeps his voice low as he speaks up. Stealth is his area of expertise and he imagines he could get by the guards if needed, but he doesn't know if the same could be said for Dante. Then again, it's not like he's seen him in action, though he does strike him as the sort who simply rushes in ready for a fight.

That isn't going to work here, so Thancred watches Dante closely, anticipating his next move. ]

[ Let's be honest--stealth is not at all Dante's forte by any stretch of the imagination. This is why he needs a partner because his normal method of blow up monsters and crash through walls until something shakes out isn't really the right way to handle things this time around.

But he's trying, that much can be said. Dante rubs the stubble on his chin as he eyes the guards up and down. ]

Maybe a little "razzle dazzle" will distract them. Think you can slip by to see where that door goes if I create a distraction?

[ Being noisy and hard to miss is something Dante is very good at. ]

[ That's the idea, then, is it? This is the sort of plan that Thancred can support, as it's one that he's carried out more times than he could count. The other Scions are quite good at being distracting in most cases.

He can't say he knows what "razzle dazzle" is, exactly, but he is fully confident that Dante can claim the attention of every guard between them and the door in question. ]

You could say that's my area of expertise. I will not disappoint, if you can hold up your side of the bargain.

[ He reaches out then, giving Dante a firm pat on the back. He'll have to take the lead here. ]

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