Hard choice. Give it a day. [ His amusement is harder to spot, but it might be glimpsed beneath the deadpan. A brief moment passes where Geralt's giving her the same once over. His gaze catches on the unusual inking decorating her arms. Interesting. ]
Geralt. [ He bends to collect the glass ball that's rolled between her books. It's empty, with some dusty residue inside from the smoke. Might as well return it. For, ideally, an improved model. He peers through the hole where the bats fled, just to make sure they're not lurking for a second ambush. He has no damn idea how infections affect him here and now's not the time to experiment. ]
You're researching. [ The moss or the area in general? It looks that she's been set up here awhile, with her books and equipment. Between her tools and the fact that she seems not especially disturbed by rabid bats nearly chewing her face, she reminds him of the scholars he sometimes runs into out in their caves or dig sites: the ones that inadvertently disturb some tomb or troll in their eagerness to dust off old rocks. ] You've been here long?
( Honestly? Rabid bats chewing her face off is actually kind of tame in comparison to a regular day on the job, although unlike the scholars from Geralt's world? Her job is usually trying to fix other people's mistakes too. Still, she catches that very subtle humour under the flatness of the man's reply, and offers him a broad grin in return. )
I'll sleep on it, don't you worry.
( She winks, then drops to her knees next to her research to make sure she didn't accidentally step on anything in the chaos. )
Anyway, Geralt? I'm Nico. I got myself set up here this morning — I swear it was fine until those bat things decided to get involved.
( No damage to her samples, or so it would seem! Pleased, Nico sits back on her knees to look up at Geralt again. He doesn't much look like a scientist, but they do say not to judge books by their covers, and so: )
[ With the bats cleared out, Geralt leans his shoulder against the rocky tunnel wall. She's already caught his interest, half from what she might have learned and half because—
Mm. Just something about her. ]
Investigating. [ She's right to judge: he's not a scientist. But he is good at finding information from the people who do the research. Whatever's going on, he has a feeling the solution will end up needing someone like him to fix
Or at least linger nearby so nothing eats anyone while they do the fixing. ]
I thought I'd ask around, if anyone's guessed where it all might be coming from.
( Nico sits back on her knees with a knowing look: the red algae is becoming a serious problem, apparently, and she definitely isn't the only person who's trying to get a better understanding of what's going on. If he's interested too, maybe there's a chance he'll want to stick around for a while? Just in case those bats decide to make another cameo appearance.
Ugh. Nature. )
Oh yeah?
( She rakes a hand through her hair to pull the loose coil back from her face — but it promptly falls back to where it had settled before. )
You get anythin' interesting out of anyone so far?
( She gestures to her work. )
'Cause I'm still runnin' on theories here, like maybe it's parasitic, or maybe it's some kinda man-made mutation ...
( You know, that kind of thing. )
Say, if you help keep those bat things from makin' a meal of me, I could share my research with you?
[ Signs of said blizzard might still be vaguely clinging to him, hair damp from the weather. He's only just made it down here once the storm had calmed. At least his company in the cabin hadn't been terrible. And they managed to get the source of the blizzard sorted without anyone dying. He'll count it as a win.
Geralt considers both her theories and her offer for a second. He doesn't dwell long. It's an easy decision to make. ]
Deal. [ He sheathes his sword. He's been told there are bigger things than bats. With some luck, they'll avoid those. He tips his head towards a fork in the tunnels, leading in deeper. ] This way?
( Yup, a blizzard would do it. Nico carefully gathers up her samples so that she can tuck them away into her bag, then stacks the books so that she can lift them all together. On her way down, stashing them in with her phials and jars hadn't been a problem at all, but now that any damage might risk cross-contamination ... )
Hey, you mind holdin' some of these?
( She doesn't wait for an answer. Two of the thick books are thrust towards Geralt's chest so she can hold the third open in her hands. )
Thanks. Appreciate it.
( Have a lop-sided smile as they head towards the fork. A vague gesture is made towards the right-hand tunnel when they reach it, because what's the point in hemming and hawing when it's going to be equally dangerous either way? )
So investigating aside, what's your thing? You, uh ... got a kind of a "look", y'know?
[ His eyebrow lifts when he winds up with an armful of books. Geralt sighs in return to her winning smile, but tucks the tomes under one arm. He wants at least one hand free.
They make their way down the tunnel. His steps are lighter than what one might expect out of someone like him. The smell of the moss permeates the air. There's scratching in some places, echoing in the distance. Nothing nearby, though. Not yet. ]
A look. [ It's not really a question. He knows what she means. He's just still getting used to having to explain what that look indicates. Back home, no one asks. They know.
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trulygifted) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
middaeg2020-07-20 08:13 pm
no subject
Geralt. [ He bends to collect the glass ball that's rolled between her books. It's empty, with some dusty residue inside from the smoke. Might as well return it. For, ideally, an improved model. He peers through the hole where the bats fled, just to make sure they're not lurking for a second ambush. He has no damn idea how infections affect him here and now's not the time to experiment. ]
You're researching. [ The moss or the area in general? It looks that she's been set up here awhile, with her books and equipment. Between her tools and the fact that she seems not especially disturbed by rabid bats nearly chewing her face, she reminds him of the scholars he sometimes runs into out in their caves or dig sites: the ones that inadvertently disturb some tomb or troll in their eagerness to dust off old rocks. ] You've been here long?
no subject
( Honestly? Rabid bats chewing her face off is actually kind of tame in comparison to a regular day on the job, although unlike the scholars from Geralt's world? Her job is usually trying to fix other people's mistakes too. Still, she catches that very subtle humour under the flatness of the man's reply, and offers him a broad grin in return. )
I'll sleep on it, don't you worry.
( She winks, then drops to her knees next to her research to make sure she didn't accidentally step on anything in the chaos. )
Anyway, Geralt? I'm Nico. I got myself set up here this morning — I swear it was fine until those bat things decided to get involved.
( No damage to her samples, or so it would seem! Pleased, Nico sits back on her knees to look up at Geralt again. He doesn't much look like a scientist, but they do say not to judge books by their covers, and so: )
Is that why you're down here too? Research?
no subject
Mm. Just something about her. ]
Investigating. [ She's right to judge: he's not a scientist. But he is good at finding information from the people who do the research. Whatever's going on, he has a feeling the solution will end up needing someone like him to fix
Or at least linger nearby so nothing eats anyone while they do the fixing. ]
I thought I'd ask around, if anyone's guessed where it all might be coming from.
no subject
( Nico sits back on her knees with a knowing look: the red algae is becoming a serious problem, apparently, and she definitely isn't the only person who's trying to get a better understanding of what's going on. If he's interested too, maybe there's a chance he'll want to stick around for a while? Just in case those bats decide to make another cameo appearance.
Ugh. Nature. )
Oh yeah?
( She rakes a hand through her hair to pull the loose coil back from her face — but it promptly falls back to where it had settled before. )
You get anythin' interesting out of anyone so far?
( She gestures to her work. )
'Cause I'm still runnin' on theories here, like maybe it's parasitic, or maybe it's some kinda man-made mutation ...
( You know, that kind of thing. )
Say, if you help keep those bat things from makin' a meal of me, I could share my research with you?
no subject
[ Signs of said blizzard might still be vaguely clinging to him, hair damp from the weather. He's only just made it down here once the storm had calmed. At least his company in the cabin hadn't been terrible. And they managed to get the source of the blizzard sorted without anyone dying. He'll count it as a win.
Geralt considers both her theories and her offer for a second. He doesn't dwell long. It's an easy decision to make. ]
Deal. [ He sheathes his sword. He's been told there are bigger things than bats. With some luck, they'll avoid those. He tips his head towards a fork in the tunnels, leading in deeper. ] This way?
no subject
( Yup, a blizzard would do it. Nico carefully gathers up her samples so that she can tuck them away into her bag, then stacks the books so that she can lift them all together. On her way down, stashing them in with her phials and jars hadn't been a problem at all, but now that any damage might risk cross-contamination ... )
Hey, you mind holdin' some of these?
( She doesn't wait for an answer. Two of the thick books are thrust towards Geralt's chest so she can hold the third open in her hands. )
Thanks. Appreciate it.
( Have a lop-sided smile as they head towards the fork. A vague gesture is made towards the right-hand tunnel when they reach it, because what's the point in hemming and hawing when it's going to be equally dangerous either way? )
So investigating aside, what's your thing? You, uh ... got a kind of a "look", y'know?
no subject
They make their way down the tunnel. His steps are lighter than what one might expect out of someone like him. The smell of the moss permeates the air. There's scratching in some places, echoing in the distance. Nothing nearby, though. Not yet. ]
A look. [ It's not really a question. He knows what she means. He's just still getting used to having to explain what that look indicates. Back home, no one asks. They know.
He keeps it simple. ] I hunt things. For a price.