Audience: Grace Monroe

[probe]

Comments

[probe]

That's the general idea. The robot started it, and others followed. Though I'm sure it would have only been a matter of time before someone thought to try it themselves out of sheer desperation.

[alteracion]

Or even just because of all the serial killers we had hanging around.

[ she picks at the grass to grab a blade of it and tickle maus' nose with it ]

So what, will we just... keep going until there's only one person left?

[probe]

Well that just goes unsaid. [serial killers :unamused: maus snuffles at the grass and promptly sneezes before trying to eat the grass blade.]

No, nothing like that. It's always been about obtaining enough indulgence to fulfill your desires. Obviously a smaller number of participants means that there will be more to go around, but it isn't a requirement to go until only one person is left.

[alteracion]

It's not food, silly. [ she takes the blade of grass away and exchanges it for another treat. sometimes you come prepare for someone else's dog, it's fine. ]

So... how do we know when we've got enough?

[probe]

[maus immediately takes the treat instead like a dumbass.]

An age-old question. I'd like to know the answer to that myself before it's too late.

[alteracion]

It'd be nice. [ maus is getting all the good boy pets, but. hm. ] So what happened when you were gone? You didn't just... get maimed and get nothing for it, right?

[probe]

If you're asking if we received items like you all have, the answer's no. We received nothing.

[alteracion]

Actually, I was thinking information, since that's what you went in for...

[ hm. she holds a treat over greed's lap to encourage maus to go back there ]

Were you guys "tested", too?

[probe]

...in a sense, we did. Though now that we have it I'm not sure what to do with it. [maus is trying to stretch so he's on greed's lap and also still touching her with his delicate baby paws. selfish dog.]

It wasn't a test for us. It was a warning. Or a mockery. Either of those.

[alteracion]

[ well. entirely for maus grace moves a little closer so he can stretch and be on BOTH their laps. poor puppy. he deserves this treat she is feeding him ]

A warning sounds right, with what happened to you all. [ ... ] But... a mockery?

[probe]

[streeeech. greed lets his claws scritch at maus gently.]

Whatever took us to that house had been expecting us and made sure to let us know it.

[alteracion]

Because it's been watching all of us. [ including the avatars ] It already knew you were going to do it.

[probe]

Of course it did. I have reasons to believe the end goal was always going to end in our demise.

[alteracion]

But... why? To discourage you from doing it again?

[probe]

Most likely. [which is annoying.] It's only a set-back.

[alteracion]

... Is it? Do you know for sure that there isn't a limit to how many times you guys can heal?

[ like videogame lives. ]

[probe]

Envy's died quite frequently and seems to come back just fine. [it's a horrible comparison.]

I would prefer never to die again. So it's a matter of planning better and being more prepared than before.

[alteracion]

[ it is a horrible comparison and the face grace makes says as much ]

Do you even know what you're preparing and planning against? It can see everything you prepare, too, can't it?

[probe]

I don't know. [which is maybe the crux of the real problem.] But I refuse to stop just because of that.

[alteracion]

Well, obviously. [ both because greed is stubborn and because she gets spite! she do. she stitches maus under the chin ] But is there anything to do to get more info without that thing finding out?

[probe]

...no. [u_u] Likely not. It appears we may have to leave further investigation in your hands.

[alteracion]

[ grace pauses and remembers who they are all like and how great they are at finding things ]

That's not great.

[probe]

Believe me, no one is more pained by this realization than I am.

[alteracion]

Maybe... if you list things you think might be helpful, it'll help?

[ doubt. ]

[probe]

I have been, but so many of you are entirely too willful to do things your own way.