just-a-frayed-knot

[just-a-frayed-knot]

I was so obsessed with cutting keys. Yeah, your standard house keys in the US these days are probably an SC10 or a KW1, which is what I usually cut, but every once in a while someone would come in with a key for some closet in their house keyed back in 1913 and they’d be like “can you copy this” and I’d be like uhhhhhh and find some keys that haven’t even been in circulating since 1970 and I’d be like “let’s find out” and usually I could manage it but then the real challenge was for the manager to price the thing

[just-a-frayed-knot]

Fray offers Brango a light smile, his icy blue eyes flickering to meet Brango’s for just a tiny moment. “Yeah, I think that’s where I am on the concept. But I could be full of shit, too.”

The sun beats down, not that it seems to be bothering the summer courtiers much during the joint training. Even so Brango sighs heavily as they plop onto the grass in the shade to drink some water. They give a friendly smile and wave to Fray, inviting him to say hi if he wants.

Fray’s wiping his face off with a towel as he moves to join Brango, plopping down almost audibly and setting his wooden training axes on the grass beside himself.

“As glad as I am for the opportunity to train with people who I don’t know the rhythms and patterns of, it always seems much hotter when we train with you Summers.”

[just-a-frayed-knot]

“I can talk to Sirona about you getting an invite, if you want. Even though it definitely is a lot of people. Jack’s fun to spar with because he’s all about polearms. I’ve had to learn how to account for reach with him.”

Darcy had a Face she did when she was concentrating, which was the same Face whether it was sparring with Fray physically, and going up against him in chess. She moved a knight into position, knocking over one of his rooks. Leaving herself massively open right down the middle. By where she was looking, she hadn't seemed to notice this yet.

Fray keeps his own expression neutral as he moves in the other rook to take advantage of the flaw.

“Are you doing alright?” That sort of error’s something that he hasn’t seen from her in a while. Perhaps it’s One Of Those Days.

[just-a-frayed-knot]

“I think...choosing to act instead of being indifferent, in the face of a world that’s fuc--full of problems. That’s noble. Some of us do it by fighting. Some by healing. Some by creating safe spaces, or even creating art. You see a world where the people you care about can’t always live and be happy, and you’re choosing to do something, right? That’s noble.”

His response comes out just as serious as anything he ever says does.

The sun beats down, not that it seems to be bothering the summer courtiers much during the joint training. Even so Brango sighs heavily as they plop onto the grass in the shade to drink some water. They give a friendly smile and wave to Fray, inviting him to say hi if he wants.

Fray’s wiping his face off with a towel as he moves to join Brango, plopping down almost audibly and setting his wooden training axes on the grass beside himself.

“As glad as I am for the opportunity to train with people who I don’t know the rhythms and patterns of, it always seems much hotter when we train with you Summers.”

[just-a-frayed-knot]

“I’m sore, but it’s not just you. There was a mass training with the Adamantine Arrow and the Summer Court on Wednesday, and I got my ass kicked more than once.”

But from the look on his face, he’s not mad about it.

Darcy had a Face she did when she was concentrating, which was the same Face whether it was sparring with Fray physically, and going up against him in chess. She moved a knight into position, knocking over one of his rooks. Leaving herself massively open right down the middle. By where she was looking, she hadn't seemed to notice this yet.

Fray keeps his own expression neutral as he moves in the other rook to take advantage of the flaw.

“Are you doing alright?” That sort of error’s something that he hasn’t seen from her in a while. Perhaps it’s One Of Those Days.

[just-a-frayed-knot]

“I mean, I think...the fact that your way of going about this goal is to pick up a sword? That’s kind of grand, too. You know?” Fray favors Brango with a smile. “It’s noble.”

The sun beats down, not that it seems to be bothering the summer courtiers much during the joint training. Even so Brango sighs heavily as they plop onto the grass in the shade to drink some water. They give a friendly smile and wave to Fray, inviting him to say hi if he wants.

Fray’s wiping his face off with a towel as he moves to join Brango, plopping down almost audibly and setting his wooden training axes on the grass beside himself.

“As glad as I am for the opportunity to train with people who I don’t know the rhythms and patterns of, it always seems much hotter when we train with you Summers.”

[just-a-frayed-knot]

“If you need a chess game to tell you that, you’re really not paying attention.” He sticks his tongue out at her playfully.

Darcy had a Face she did when she was concentrating, which was the same Face whether it was sparring with Fray physically, and going up against him in chess. She moved a knight into position, knocking over one of his rooks. Leaving herself massively open right down the middle. By where she was looking, she hadn't seemed to notice this yet.

Fray keeps his own expression neutral as he moves in the other rook to take advantage of the flaw.

“Are you doing alright?” That sort of error’s something that he hasn’t seen from her in a while. Perhaps it’s One Of Those Days.

[just-a-frayed-knot]

Fray doesn’t bother with sitting up as he accepts the fistbump. “What about you? Any grand goals for the future?”

The sun beats down, not that it seems to be bothering the summer courtiers much during the joint training. Even so Brango sighs heavily as they plop onto the grass in the shade to drink some water. They give a friendly smile and wave to Fray, inviting him to say hi if he wants.

Fray’s wiping his face off with a towel as he moves to join Brango, plopping down almost audibly and setting his wooden training axes on the grass beside himself.

“As glad as I am for the opportunity to train with people who I don’t know the rhythms and patterns of, it always seems much hotter when we train with you Summers.”

[just-a-frayed-knot]

His expression gives her nothing, as he moves one of his bishops. He’s pretty sure that even after pointing that out, he still has her. Probably. Maybe.

“On some level, I’m tempted to try to psychoanalyze what it means that you’re always on the attack. But at the same time, it’s as simple as ‘you’re aggressive’ a lot of the time.”

Darcy had a Face she did when she was concentrating, which was the same Face whether it was sparring with Fray physically, and going up against him in chess. She moved a knight into position, knocking over one of his rooks. Leaving herself massively open right down the middle. By where she was looking, she hadn't seemed to notice this yet.

Fray keeps his own expression neutral as he moves in the other rook to take advantage of the flaw.

“Are you doing alright?” That sort of error’s something that he hasn’t seen from her in a while. Perhaps it’s One Of Those Days.

[just-a-frayed-knot]

He smirks. “Fuck shit up, if you’ll pardon my language. I’m planning on taking it to the Seers someday, maybe leaving this city for someplace bigger and with more problems with them.”

The sun beats down, not that it seems to be bothering the summer courtiers much during the joint training. Even so Brango sighs heavily as they plop onto the grass in the shade to drink some water. They give a friendly smile and wave to Fray, inviting him to say hi if he wants.

Fray’s wiping his face off with a towel as he moves to join Brango, plopping down almost audibly and setting his wooden training axes on the grass beside himself.

“As glad as I am for the opportunity to train with people who I don’t know the rhythms and patterns of, it always seems much hotter when we train with you Summers.”

[just-a-frayed-knot]

“I like how they feel in my hand. I’ve been working a little with a battleaxe, but I still feel too slow to use it in sparring situations. I’ve considered trying something like a khopesh or a machete, but for now hand-axes are a good fit for what I’m trying to do.”

The sun beats down, not that it seems to be bothering the summer courtiers much during the joint training. Even so Brango sighs heavily as they plop onto the grass in the shade to drink some water. They give a friendly smile and wave to Fray, inviting him to say hi if he wants.

Fray’s wiping his face off with a towel as he moves to join Brango, plopping down almost audibly and setting his wooden training axes on the grass beside himself.

“As glad as I am for the opportunity to train with people who I don’t know the rhythms and patterns of, it always seems much hotter when we train with you Summers.”

[just-a-frayed-knot]

“You’re over-extending yourself. If you take the rook with that pawn, I’ve got ‘mate in three. Look at where my queen is.” He points out the position of the pieces.

Darcy had a Face she did when she was concentrating, which was the same Face whether it was sparring with Fray physically, and going up against him in chess. She moved a knight into position, knocking over one of his rooks. Leaving herself massively open right down the middle. By where she was looking, she hadn't seemed to notice this yet.

Fray keeps his own expression neutral as he moves in the other rook to take advantage of the flaw.

“Are you doing alright?” That sort of error’s something that he hasn’t seen from her in a while. Perhaps it’s One Of Those Days.

[just-a-frayed-knot]

“Better now that I had been. I’ve decided to really lean into it--learn about the art of sabotage and precise structural damage, and spells to degrade my enemies’ weapons. And a Legacy that’s built for all of that.”

While he’s not lying about the fact that he’s doing better, there’s a sort of intensity now when he talks about it.

The sun beats down, not that it seems to be bothering the summer courtiers much during the joint training. Even so Brango sighs heavily as they plop onto the grass in the shade to drink some water. They give a friendly smile and wave to Fray, inviting him to say hi if he wants.

Fray’s wiping his face off with a towel as he moves to join Brango, plopping down almost audibly and setting his wooden training axes on the grass beside himself.

“As glad as I am for the opportunity to train with people who I don’t know the rhythms and patterns of, it always seems much hotter when we train with you Summers.”

[just-a-frayed-knot]

Darcy had a Face she did when she was concentrating, which was the same Face whether it was sparring with Fray physically, and going up against him in chess. She moved a knight into position, knocking over one of his rooks. Leaving herself massively open right down the middle. By where she was looking, she hadn't seemed to notice this yet.

Fray keeps his own expression neutral as he moves in the other rook to take advantage of the flaw.

“Are you doing alright?” That sort of error’s something that he hasn’t seen from her in a while. Perhaps it’s One Of Those Days.

[just-a-frayed-knot]

“And all your Mantles overlapping might have something to do with it, even if we can’t all sense them in detail. Though better your Mantles than my Nimbus going off, of course.” Fray flops back to lie down on the grass, face up, catching his breath.

The sun beats down, not that it seems to be bothering the summer courtiers much during the joint training. Even so Brango sighs heavily as they plop onto the grass in the shade to drink some water. They give a friendly smile and wave to Fray, inviting him to say hi if he wants.

Fray’s wiping his face off with a towel as he moves to join Brango, plopping down almost audibly and setting his wooden training axes on the grass beside himself.

“As glad as I am for the opportunity to train with people who I don’t know the rhythms and patterns of, it always seems much hotter when we train with you Summers.”

[just-a-frayed-knot]

The sun beats down, not that it seems to be bothering the summer courtiers much during the joint training. Even so Brango sighs heavily as they plop onto the grass in the shade to drink some water. They give a friendly smile and wave to Fray, inviting him to say hi if he wants.

Fray’s wiping his face off with a towel as he moves to join Brango, plopping down almost audibly and setting his wooden training axes on the grass beside himself.

“As glad as I am for the opportunity to train with people who I don’t know the rhythms and patterns of, it always seems much hotter when we train with you Summers.”

[just-a-frayed-knot]

Gold Ball - 200715