[ota][sws-style]

[messire_messer]

This time will work out perfectly.

Comments

[fiddlerjohnny]

Perfectly?

[Yes, that's about a metric ton of dubiousness in his tone, Rap.]

[messire_messer]

Absolutely perfectly.

[He can see your doubting Thomas streak, Johnny. He is happy to ignore it.]

[fiddlerjohnny]

Really? What's changed, then?

[messire_messer]

Many things. Better materials, for instance.

[The bridge will look the same as before when it's done. Mostly.]

[fiddlerjohnny]

Better builder?

[It's okay to throw something in his direction, Rap.]

[messire_messer]

[There is nothing to hand which integrity he wishes to compromise by damaging it with Johnny's head, unfortunately. So he'll kick out at his ankle instead.]

You do realise I'm not working alone.

[fiddlerjohnny]

Yeah. [He says, drawing it out into two syllables.]

Didn't actually answer the question though.

lazarus this is not the time to stop working o9

[messire_messer]

It's still applicable to multiple people.

[And also still pure bullshit on Rap's part.]

[fiddlerjohnny]

Designer, then?

[Not going to not take credit for your artistic vision, are you Rap?]

[messire_messer]

My design is still perfectly sound with the new reinforcements, thank you, Johnny.

[fiddlerjohnny]

Good to know, good to know. Would hate to fall in the water on the way out to the island or something.

[messire_messer]

You'll have to climb over the railing for that this time around. Though I think I might put buoys every few meters.

[Excuse the moment of scribbling on his palm.]

[fiddlerjohnny]

Hope your hands don't get sweaty.

[Or you know, the ink will smudge.]

[messire_messer]

[He holds up his hand for Johnny's inspection. The scribble isn't writing but a drawing of a pair of parallel lines with circles between at intervals.]

Don't worry, I think I'll get the gist even so.

[fiddlerjohnny]

Guess its better than getting paper wet.

You know, if you did. Because then it'd melt.

[messire_messer]

...and why would it melt? I'm not about to dive in again very soon.

[fiddlerjohnny]

So you dove? Huh.

[messire_messer]

Inadvertantly, but the word suits.

[That is, it's a more ego-boosting word than 'fell'.]

[fiddlerjohnny]

Gotch.

[He's not laughing. But he might be smirking a little.]

Happens to the best of us.

[messire_messer]

[He cocks an eyebrow at Johnny.] And the ones in between, I suppose, muddle along with neither success nor failure?

[fiddlerjohnny]

Sounds like it, doesn't it?

[messire_messer]

Maybe those who do their best with nothing to show for it think differently.

[fiddlerjohnny]

Not following you.

[messire_messer]

You know. There's always someone putting in oodles of work and having only enough talent to be mediocre rather than a failure.

[fiddlerjohnny]

Better that they figure out eventually, I guess.

[spysinspades]

Of course it will.

[Because being vaguely encouraging while leaning comfortably against a doorway is David's new hobby.]

[messire_messer]

[He beams, waving a hammer at the Joker. Soon the spot David's leaning against will be covered by proper brick. Just as soon as this bridge is fixed and strong.]

That's the spirit. Care to pitch in?

[spysinspades]

I think that depends on what "pitching in" entails.

[messire_messer]

There's fetching and carrying. Or you might pick up a tool. Or! [He can't help grinning a bit wider. This almost always works on Cynric.] Maybe you've some idea how to keep our spirits high.

[spysinspades]

A tool?

[David tries to look like he's never really considered the idea, lifting one of said tools in his hand and looking at it dubiously.]

I suppose I could make an effort, hm?

[messire_messer]

Every little bit helps.

[Which is not to say David will do more help than harm.]

[spysinspades]

Indeed.

[One more considering look at the tool, and then a smile]

Very well. Direct me, oh taskmaster.

[messire_messer]

This way, then. Mind your step- don't worry, most of us know how to swim. [Just not this Spade here.]

[spysinspades]

Do we? [David seemed to remember something to the contrary, but why press it beyond amused sarcasm.]

And what, exactly, will you be having me do, oh mighty taskmaster.

[messire_messer]

[He'd heard it all by now. It just stung a little more from this man.]

There ought to be a spare hammer somewhere abouts. Unless you worry about your aim and your fingers?