Audience: Grace Monroe

[probe]

Comments

[alteracion]

I've only got the one anyway. [ mauuus nooo the drooool. it's fine she'll just clean her glove. she boops his nose with her other hand ] And because it's kind of a dud unless I want to mess with people.

[ which she could do but she'd get caught immediately now that people know which three of them have it smh ]

[probe]

Have you considered asking another Avatar for a second one?

[grace, you're aligned with greed.]

[alteracion]

Yeah, but I thought they just gave them out to people they liked?

[ and grace has not exactly endeared herself to any of the others because sometimes you are terrible at tagging ]

[probe]

Not necessarily. I've given them to people who presented their case for why they wanted them. It's possible you can receive one from one of the others.

...you have spoken to some of the others, haven't you?

[alteracion]

Pride, Wrath, Despair. Sure.

[ like, once or twice each, but it counts? she plays with maus' pawpaws again ]

[probe]

[maus lets this happen, smiling his dumb doggy smile. greed hums to themselves at that.]

And you have your reward from Despair, I imagine?

[alteracion]

Yeah. It's one of their crystals and it can destroy any item with a spell? So that's cool.

[ destruction abounds. well, except grace is busy massaging paw pads right now, so not really. ]

[probe]

Perhaps speaking to Wrath, Pride, or even Gluttony and Sloth may benefit you. If you ask them for a way to help with the next trial or a clue of what to do next, you might find their answers to be different than mine.

[alteracion]

Alright. [ she thinks she has the best chance with wrath, but she's definitely noting that for later. but: ] Literally everyone on the ship says talking to Gluttony for anything is the worst, though. Usually unprompted.

[ it's funny but it has 100% biased her ]

[probe]

Gluttony is a very particular sort of person. But they will make you a deal if that's the avenue you would wish to take. And if not, their perspective may have its own value.

[alteracion]

I don't think I like cats enough to go that route. But good to know.

[ dogs are fine. like maus, who is getting pets forever ]

[probe]

Suit yourself then. [he can't force her to do anything so he shrugs! maus rolls over to give grace his belly instead]

[alteracion]

[ maus is getting all the belly rubs. good boy ]

I'll try with Wrath, probably. [ she hesitates and after a long pause. ] You're... okay, right?

[ with medb in the medbay and mahito dead she is wondering about how greed feels and it's horrible she does not know how to deal with asking that ]

[probe]

...Wrath will likely help you. And if they resist, you may tell them I sent you.

[this is sunday so no emotion sharing, but he nods anyway.]

I believe I am. There's nothing to be done to change the past now.

[alteracion]

[ she nods in thanks at the first part, and watches him for a second after he answers ]

Okay. I guess I'll let you finish working in peace?

[ she says. petting the dog still. ]

[probe]

[...]

If you'd like. Though I'm sure Maus doesn't mind the company. [neither does greed, but apparently it's too hard to just say that.]

[alteracion]

[ oh, good, she was unsure. she settles in a little more, petting maus. there is no emotionshare but she's clearly pleased at that answer anyway ]

Well, I did say I was coming here to kidnap him, but he'd just come right back to you.

[probe]

[maus is busy rolling on the tabletop in a very undignified manner.]

He would. [greed sounds amused.] He's...very loyal to me that way. But he does have other people he likes.

[alteracion]

[ grace laughs but tries to direct him away from the tea and paperwork and. also the side of the table. maus please ]

You're his favorite, obviously, since you're his master. [ boops the dog's nose ] So even if he does like me, I'd have no chance in keeping him away.

[probe]

[maus licks her finger.]

He'd stay for a few hours at least. He knows his way around the base quite well with or without my assistance.

[alteracion]

Hmmm. Not worth it. I might as well hang out here and check your opinion on the tea. [ a beat ] Which you're not allowed to dislike, because a very strong minded six year old recommended it to me.

[probe]

[...he picks up the tea cup and takes a pointed sip. can't wait until he keels over from poison.]

And what precisely are Hazel's tea opinions?

[alteracion]

That you know it's the good stuff because the bug on the box has a cowboy hat.

[ grace jokes, but she did learn a thing or two about tea from hanging out in the tea room with gu yun, so it's not like she doesn't know how to brew it. it's just also very funny to say this.

there is no poison because this game has cursed her into being good ]

[probe]

[...kids are so strange. he seems briefly mollified by that before he shakes his head.]

Well. Who am I to question great taste? [this is absolutely a joke, even if the delivery is dry. the tea itself is fine though so he takes another sip.]

[alteracion]

Exactly! Can't possibly object to it with that kind of argument, right? [ grace seems pleased he's going along with it, moving back to pet maus again ] I would've bought coffee, but you seemed more like a tea person.