Text to Andrew || forward-dated to Sept 18th

[fixyourproblem]

[When Wynn made the announcement, Brantley immediately decided to join the ranks. He doesn't normally participate in a battle, preferring to support from behind the curtain and talk his way out if he really has to. But this time it's different. He has to fight. For his friends, for the shadowkinds, and for a better future. He doesn't have many things to prepare, so he just spend the hours, talking to his brother by phone, knowing the whole thing might not end well. After that, he decides that he has to at least contact one more person, the guy who has been taking care of him since the day he joined the Knighthood, Andrew Gatewood.]

Hey. We are going to a big battle, right? I just want to say good luck and thanks for everything.

Comments

[badexample]

Good luck, man. And be careful out there.

[fixyourproblem]

You too, be careful. This is quite a big thing to ask, but in case I don't make it, will you visit my brother and maybe have a couple of drinks with him? He might look like a stone-hearted hitman, but he is not that strong inside.

[badexample]

Yeah. That's no problem. You'll be alright, though. Wynn's not going to just throw us to the wolves. You'll have the right kind of back up.

[fixyourproblem]

I'm sure Wynn has plans. But a full scale war usually doesn't end without any loss, even from the winning side.

[badexample]

Believe me, I know. But we've just got to stay positive.

[fixyourproblem]

Yeah, you're right. Nothing good will happen if you keep stuffing your head with unnecessary thought :)

[Someone is learning how to use smileys.

And not long, after the first text.]

So, are you ready for it?

[badexample]

Not by a long shot.

[Honest to a fault, this guy.]

But it's the right thing to do. And I'm sure they'll need something shut down or hacked or what not.

You?

[fixyourproblem]

I don't know if I can actually be ready for this.

I'm pretty sure that my skills are not suitable for a full scale war like this and it's not like I can smooth-talk Sarandis into giving up. [Persuading a bribe-able mercenary not to kill him is not a hard task for Brantley, but convincing a tyrannical megalomaniac to surrender his throne to his enemy, not even Peitho, the Goddess of persuasion, can do something like that.]

I'll probably end up as the distraction while the real Knights do their job. [Like the thing he did at his last mission, being a meat-shield while David and Thoster took down the enemies.]

[badexample]

Wynn's not going to send all of us to Sarandis' doorstop. You get that, right? He knows what you're good at and knows who to pair you with to make you successful. He's going to want ALL of us to come home and going to set it up to make sure we have the best chance of that happening.

You doubting that or doubting yourself? Is only going to get you killed. So you should either change your attitude or stay behind, because you're not doing anyone any favors feeling sorry for yourself.

I'm not trying to be a dick or anything. And it's good that you want to do better than you did on the other mission. But this is fucking war. We're going to WAR for gods sake. Do you think I'm going to be the one that puts a fucking bullet between the eyes of that psychotic bastard? Not a chance in hell. I probably won't even see this evil lair until everything is all said and done.

We aren't all the typical hero types, sure. But we're knights. Or squires, but fuck it. If you really want to be a knight, it's time to start acting like one. Because you've got it in you. I know you do.

[He can't ever say these things to himself, but he can say them to his squire. He can tell him to get up and get out there and be a bad ass. And maybe the message will sink in for himself as well. Maybe.]

[fixyourproblem]

I'm not saying I'm only useful as a scapegoat, but I just wish I have more useful talents like yours at time like this. Even though there is a large chance I won't be able to use my skills, I'm not planning on blocking bullets with my body. I will fight as hard as I can not only to win this battle but also to survive.

Sure I still have my doubts, but with people like you and my brother who won't stop rooting for me, I will have to do my best. Besides, I'm Andrew Gatewood's first squire, I have to show the world that I deserve the title, don't I?

[badexample]

You've always deserved it. I'm just glad you don't think I'm fucking up this mentor thing. I'm not exactly good with people. But hey... guess that's why Wynn put us together. Learning things from each other and all that.

[fixyourproblem]

You might think that you're bad at this mentor thing, but you're not. And that comes from me who has a degree in judging people. You are one of the people I respect and getting on the list is not easy.

I'm glad I decided to join the Knights. People around here like you manage to see the best out of the people. That's something I don't see in my line of work. And that's kind of refreshing.

[badexample]

Thanks

Be careful out there.

[fixyourproblem]

You too. Take care.