[ IM ] --> potentially action (ota)

[somatophylax]

[This message ends up being camp-wide instead of targeted because Hephaistion is uncharacteristically too distracted to indicate otherwise. His words are low and apparently through gritted teeth. This son of Athena is Not Happy to say the least.]

I know that quite a few of you are busy, but if I may acquire the assistance of a member of Cabin Nine concerning the forging of [a weapon] something.

It is not of pressing need, so please take care of yourselves first, but I would like to discuss in private if someone has a moment.

Comments

[somatophylax]

Daenerys. [He's good with languages, so his pronunciation is pretty on-point] That's a lovely name, although I can see why it might give people pause.

[He's not in the habit of outright explaining his hangups about his own name, so he won't elaborate unless asked. Although he merely asked her to clarify for the future. Calling someone you've just met by a nickname was not always seen as polite.

He gives her a small smile and glances away, indicating that he doesn't say that to flirt with her. Merely a compliment.]

My plan, if I am assigned to such, is to go after what was stolen from the camp. And, if I am denied that opportunity, to use the weapon to prevent such a thing from ever happening again. The weapon is not just Greek but Macedonian, which is my mortal heritage. It's a symbol, but also quite dangerous if used properly.

[pyrkagia]

Thank you. I quite like it myself.

[She does appreciate it, though, despite the hangups unknown to her. She places a lot of value in being polite, even to those who she doesn't particularly like. (The ability she has to be angry, like a fire-breathing dragon, and well-spoken at the same time, isn't something she's so outright about.)]

I understand the sentiment. My children were taken from me. I can't take this sitting down.

[Of course, she won't tell him about her plan just yet. She doesn't quite know him well. She flits around the forge, looking for materials that might help her.]

Are you trained with this?

[somatophylax]

[Hephaistion, too, has quite a polite-while-angry streak. He prefers to take matters physically into his own hands usually, but there are times when the right words are more potent.]

Your children. [He remembers that IM] How dare they. [There is venom in his voice. Books and parchments were one thing, but living breathing dragon children were quite another.] Please let me know if there is anything at all I can do to help you.

[to her question] I have trained with a wooden and steel one, but never one of this construction. Because of the awkward length, it's meant to be wielded from horseback, but you can [he pantomimed the motions] stick the point at one end into the ground to brace it, raise the other point to the appropriate height, and cause a rushing enemy to impale himself.

[pyrkagia]

They're sick.

[It's clear she's getting angry now, just thinking about them, and she feels the room heating up around her, almost. No. She takes a deep, steadying breath. She cannot allow that to happen. Not now.]

That's actually ingenious.

[Honestly, something she would advise to use against the Red Room. He's a son of Athena, she's a daughter of Hephaestus. Together, they can mastermind something.[

[somatophylax]

[If there is any actual change in the room temperature, Hephaistion will assume it's just his imagination. But he can tell how angry she's getting, and he can't blame her at all. He wishes he could reassure her in some way, but he doesn't have it in him to even try for the moment.]

I wish I could take credit for the design, but it's simply a modification of a very old weapon, circa 600 BCE. Tactics of war may have changed over the centuries, but some tricks hold true.

[He was hoping that they would get along well enough for this task. Looks like they'll be just fine.]

[pyrkagia]

How do you know all this?

[As soon as it comes out of her mouth, though, Daenerys feels like clapping a hand to her forehead. He is a son of Athena. It is part of his nature to know this.]

[somatophylax]

[He gives a soft smile. It might be in his nature, but he has a few reasons in particular why he even bothers looking into this kind of stuff]

Military history, particularly weaponry and ancient strategy, is my specialty. There is documentation of all kinds of weirdly impractical battle techniques that I find fascinating. And, occasionally, one or two can be modified to be effective in a modern application.

I'm glad to have piqued your interest.