IC CONTACT for lostcarnival

[whattaprick]

✆CHANNEL FREQUENCY: 843.77425 (personal);
DESCRIPTION: Half the time he forgets this thing even exists, or how to turn it on and off.

✉MAIL BOX LOCATION: Next to trailer steps.
DESCRIPTION: The concept of a mailbox is rather foreign to Lambert, who's not exactly what you'd call big on personal correspondence. But there's a wooden crate you can probably drop shit into ???

BUG LAMBERT TO MAKE YOU SHIT: Given time and the right ingredients (which he'll usually ask people to provide) he can make potions (with potential side effects), oils, and bombs. You can bother him more about that in person.

Comments

[atouts]

That would be the preference, yes.

[whattaprick]

With any luck, it won't come to that.

[ At the very least, he can return with ... not good news, but a sliver of hope in this mess. ]

We found the Scribe, and we're not as helpless as we think.

[atouts]

That's good to hear.

But in the off-chance we are all out of luck, take Zangetsu with you when you do hunt Strange down.

[whattaprick]

All right. We can talk about it more later.

We're heading back.

[atouts]

Good.

Try to keep out of trouble until then.

[whattaprick]

You know me. Always keeping out of trouble.

[ Surprisingly, he gets back without much trouble, but then it'll be a few hours of actual work and talking about what needs to be done before he finally has time to drag himself back to his trailer and, if not rest, at least get away from the hectic preparations he feels kind of useless for. ]]

[atouts]

[ Whereas unsurprisingly, Childermass is already back from checking out the footage 9S had. In lieu of his regular shirt, he's swapped out to the gaudy purple with white flowers Alolan shirt he picked up, well, it feels like ages ago at this point. He's already taken over whatever chair Lambert keeps at his workspace, idly leaning against the table and reading the first thing that happened to come to hand.

It could be a report, it could be something stupid. Who knows. It doesn't matter since when Lambert strolls in, he looks up and raises an eyebrow, greeting him with, ]

So. A flaming sword to defend the one you loved. Do you plan on calling that up again for Strange?

[whattaprick]

[ What happens to be closest to hand is the copy of ‘The Many Wives of Vinculus’ Lambert bargained the Curator for, so ... yeah, it’s ridiculous. The witcher’s expression of naked relief at seeing Childermass up and about — sure, he’d heard him on the radio, but it’s not the same — is quickly replaced by an embarrassed scowl at the first words out of the his mouth. ]

First of all, it was not a flaming sword. [ He grumbles, stopping by the table to unbuckle the various belts holding on his sword and shield and the rest of his witcher’s kit ... as well as the borrowed belt, which he’d simply fastened over his own waist. ]

And no matter what the Scribe says, it’s not as easy as just wishing something there.

[atouts]

You have to describe it, don't you?

[ Or narrate it. Something verbal. He's done it before when out hunting down books, but it hadn't crossed his mind to use such a whimsical ploy against the Count, of all people. Although, with books in mind...

He gives the one in hand a less than impressed look and sets it aside. ]

Although I hope you don't plan on using this particular story as fuel for your fight.

[whattaprick]

What?

[ Lambert blinks at Childermass, confused, before his eyes drop to the book in his hands. It’s obvious enough he’d forgotten about having it at all. The time he’d jokingly traded a story for it with the intent of teasing Childermass about it later feels like a lifetime ago, and he snorts, stepping over to rest a hip against the table and managing a smirk. ]

You never know. Maybe marrying Strange out of his fae problems might be the answer.

[atouts]

But then you would be stuck with him, something I doubt Mrs. Strange would be too happy about.

[ Oh, he gathered as much as to the exact reason Lambert has the book. It's a goldmine for making fun of him. ]

There weren't as many wives as the book claims, by the way.

files this under tags lost to the morass of new orleans

[whattaprick]

But everything else is accurate?

[ Lambert grins. ]

It’s pretty impressive he got away with it. Considering what he looked like when I saw him, he’s really not much of a catch.

[atouts]

[ All Childermass can do to that is shrug. It's not as though he disagrees, but he also has no idea what was up with that entire debacle. ]

He was always somewhat popular for his parlor tricks and wild fortune telling, though only God knows how that translates into... that.

[whattaprick]

Hmm. Quick fingers and creativity?

[ There, now we’re all thinking about Vinculus having sex and it’s terrible. ]

You’ve a way with the cards yourself. Must be how you got one of those lovely wives to fall in love with you.

[atouts]

[ He really didn't want to think of that... Thanks, Lambert. ]

Or anyone looks better compared to an absent Vinculus.

[whattaprick]

Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve plenty of redeeming qualities.

[ By now, Lambert’s finally gotten rid of armor and belts, meaning he’s just standing in front of Childermass in a shirt and pants ... but he won’t stay standing for long. Hesitantly, giving Childermass a chance to pull away, he reaches out to gently tug him up to his feet so they can stand face to face. ]

[atouts]

[ More like face to chest but ya know. Childermass allows it, being pulled up to stand, and once there, he just looks up at the witcher, loosely hanging onto his hand. ]

Lambert, you should get some rest while you still can.

[whattaprick]

[ Guess what, Lambert’s completely ignoring that to pull Childermass fully into his arms, shoulders sagging as he feels the relief from the stress of the past few hours finally sink into his bones. ]

You scared the shit out of me. [ It’s a quiet admission mostly directed into Childermass’s hair, not without a heavy sigh. ]

[atouts]

[ Childermass, not much of a hugger. In this case? He'll tolerate it. Considering how much other touchy-feely bull he also tolerates from the witcher, that's probably not even surprising, but still. He breathes out a sigh and leans in against Lambert. ]

I'm fine, Lambert.

[ Physically, anyway. 100% alive and definitely not dying magician right here. ]

[whattaprick]

[ Lambert exhales, and his arms tighten around him for a moment, like that small gesture is enough to ward a host of ills off — the Rose Queen, the fae blood in Childermass’s veins, everything else out there. ]

Isn’t pissing the fae off in stupid ways supposed to be my thing, not yours?

[atouts]

It ended the Elysium, didn't it?

[ As if that was his goal. In part, it was, but he would have taken the courts squabbling or the Rose Queen being foolish or even the Count being able to return everyone for the price of the Silver Mirror's location. Any of that. ]

[whattaprick]

And all it almost cost was you.

[ His voice is tight and controlled, but the rapid thud of his pulse betrays him — as does the way his embrace tightens again, tail lashing behind him as he manages a strangled laugh. ]

Weren’t you done collecting scars?

[atouts]

Good thing it didn't leave one.

[ Which isn't the point Lambert is trying to make, he knows. It's with a sigh that he finally just leans against Lambert and raises his own arms around him, if not quite as tightly. ]

I'd forgotten he could do that... but I'm not going back out there, back out into the library. You won't have to worry about that.

[whattaprick]

Good. Now all I have to worry about is the million other things on my plate.

[ Lambert shifts his grip in turn, sliding clawed fingers gently scratching into thick, dark hair. ]

I keep feeling like I should be pissed at you, for acting like this doesn’t bother you. [ Anger, at least, is a familiar way to process things. But there are other familiar ways to process emotion too. The fingers in Childermass’s hair slip away, resting on the side of his jaw, then tipping the magician’s face up to look him in the eye instead. ]

But it’s hard to stay mad at someone in that damn shirt.

[atouts]

[ He lets Lambert tip his head up but all that greets him is a dry look. ]

Then maybe you should think twice before ruining my shirt next time. [ This one had been front and center and easy to grab. Regardless, if Lambert was hoping to move on to a kiss, he's going to be disappointed when Childermass launches into the actual reason they'd been talking before in the first place. ] You need to take Zangetsu with you when you hunt Strange down.

[ Remember that part, Lambert? ]