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[Childe's seated, too, but he doesn't wave or greet Royce with his usual smile. He just nods, waiting for him to get settled.]
I don't know how much Iris has told you, about what we're trying to do. But before I say anything else, I want to make one thing clear. I won't ask you for anything you can't give.
[He's pretty sure Royce already knows that, given... everything. But still, it won't hurt to say it out loud. His face is as serious as it has ever been.]
You don't need to trust my word. [Because that's stupid, at the end of the day. Childe knows his own level of respect for Royce, and knows that he's drawing these lines for that reason--but Royce has no reason to believe that, especially when they've bonded over ruthless determination.] But you can trust that I understand the power you have over us. And I am not so foolish as to make arrogant demands for nothing. With that in mind, will you hear me out?
I don't know how much Iris has told you, about what we're trying to do. But before I say anything else, I want to make one thing clear. I won't ask you for anything you can't give.
[He's pretty sure Royce already knows that, given... everything. But still, it won't hurt to say it out loud. His face is as serious as it has ever been.]
You don't need to trust my word. [Because that's stupid, at the end of the day. Childe knows his own level of respect for Royce, and knows that he's drawing these lines for that reason--but Royce has no reason to believe that, especially when they've bonded over ruthless determination.] But you can trust that I understand the power you have over us. And I am not so foolish as to make arrogant demands for nothing. With that in mind, will you hear me out?
[A nod. It is no longer emotionshare week so nobody gets to perceive his concern, but he doesn't reach out to try and support him. Still, he's keeping an eye on him.]
Forgive me for speaking bluntly. If you need me to stop, let me know.
[Lest they summon the beast here and fuckin die.]
You all need your wishes granted. Anything else is unacceptable--that is our baseline. We dead want our wishes as well, but our priority is survival and revival, in that order. [The others might argue with him and insist on including their wishes in the deal, but they're not here. And if they don't do something, they won't be around to have wishes to be granted anyway, so. He doesn't give a shit about the wishes of the living so they don't get a mention.] Right now, the rules say we can't both get what we want--so we change the rules.
[Which is risky, he understands that. He doesn't think he has to spell that out.]
We need access to our unwanted guest for that, and from what I understand, we don't have the tools to manage it on this side. But Steven and Law have been discussing creating some kind of code to pass over to the living. Iris said she'd look into it, but I'd like to minimize the risk to her, if it can be helped.
[Don't let their Lust go alone...]
If you have a better suggestion, I'm willing to listen. We can only work with what we know.
Forgive me for speaking bluntly. If you need me to stop, let me know.
[Lest they summon the beast here and fuckin die.]
You all need your wishes granted. Anything else is unacceptable--that is our baseline. We dead want our wishes as well, but our priority is survival and revival, in that order. [The others might argue with him and insist on including their wishes in the deal, but they're not here. And if they don't do something, they won't be around to have wishes to be granted anyway, so. He doesn't give a shit about the wishes of the living so they don't get a mention.] Right now, the rules say we can't both get what we want--so we change the rules.
[Which is risky, he understands that. He doesn't think he has to spell that out.]
We need access to our unwanted guest for that, and from what I understand, we don't have the tools to manage it on this side. But Steven and Law have been discussing creating some kind of code to pass over to the living. Iris said she'd look into it, but I'd like to minimize the risk to her, if it can be helped.
[Don't let their Lust go alone...]
If you have a better suggestion, I'm willing to listen. We can only work with what we know.
[he listens!]
Don't know anything about code. [he's a ye olde] But changing the rules is not something I'm opposed to. In fact, I won't stop any of you, if you find a way to change things. I'm not particularly inclined to help. But I won't stop you.
[funny, how most people assumed what he thought without talking to him. this is why he appreciates childe.]
Unless you all decide that you'd prefer for me or Lust to die to get ahead, and then, I will take issue.
Don't know anything about code. [he's a ye olde] But changing the rules is not something I'm opposed to. In fact, I won't stop any of you, if you find a way to change things. I'm not particularly inclined to help. But I won't stop you.
[funny, how most people assumed what he thought without talking to him. this is why he appreciates childe.]
Unless you all decide that you'd prefer for me or Lust to die to get ahead, and then, I will take issue.
I didn't think you would.
[He was pretty offended that everyone assumed otherwise, actually!! But he doesn't say that. He laughs a little, too, shaking his head.]
No. That's off the table. [For multiple reasons, some of which are kinder than others. He's not gonna get into it.
He also doesn't mind doing the work; he doubts the others will, either. But he figures that's obvious, too, given the sort of person Royce knows he is.]
But I did want to ask your opinion on interacting with our little friend. From the sound of it, one of our biggest concerns is getting access to it without it killing us or harming you all. Is it possible to incapacitate it without enraging it? Or distract it, somehow? Iris warned against fighting it, but the ideas the others were discussing last night were... [he closes his eyes for a moment] ...absurd, let's say.
[please don't make him tell Royce about the Furby Fuck Heist]
[He was pretty offended that everyone assumed otherwise, actually!! But he doesn't say that. He laughs a little, too, shaking his head.]
No. That's off the table. [For multiple reasons, some of which are kinder than others. He's not gonna get into it.
He also doesn't mind doing the work; he doubts the others will, either. But he figures that's obvious, too, given the sort of person Royce knows he is.]
But I did want to ask your opinion on interacting with our little friend. From the sound of it, one of our biggest concerns is getting access to it without it killing us or harming you all. Is it possible to incapacitate it without enraging it? Or distract it, somehow? Iris warned against fighting it, but the ideas the others were discussing last night were... [he closes his eyes for a moment] ...absurd, let's say.
[please don't make him tell Royce about the Furby Fuck Heist]
[... thanks, childe. royce will remember this.]
None of us know anything more than you do when it comes to this thing. [just so he knows.] It might be possible to distract it, but it is stronger than anybody here.
... And the ideas you were discussing last night were stupid. Don't be nice about it. [...] Not sure why any of them thought it would show up to inform an Avatar that you were having sex when the Avatar can clearly see it happening right in front of them.
None of us know anything more than you do when it comes to this thing. [just so he knows.] It might be possible to distract it, but it is stronger than anybody here.
... And the ideas you were discussing last night were stupid. Don't be nice about it. [...] Not sure why any of them thought it would show up to inform an Avatar that you were having sex when the Avatar can clearly see it happening right in front of them.
Mm. [A little nod! He believes it--but he values Royce's input anyway. He sighs, then.] So if we manage to get in the same room, we'd have to keep it in a good mood, or pick sacrifices that can hold out for a little while.
[Which probably isn't a suggestion that would go over well. Tch. Being a Harbinger is so much easier than this.]
The living have those books of theirs, but I'm not a fan of sitting on my heels. [So he'd rather spitball a few ideas while they're waiting, just for more options on their end. He doesn't intend on dragging Royce out here again unless he has to, so he's gonna do the best he can with this time.
He also just. Rubs a hand over his face. HE DOESN'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT FURBY FUCK HEISTS.]
...The whole station "recalibrates", doesn't it? Do you think that thing ever stops to do that, too? [Hmmm.] There's that, ah, alternate station it lives in as well... I suppose if we can't bring it to us, we can try to go to it.
[Slime dimension...]
I know it hooks up to you all on Thursday nights, as well, but trying to interact with it while it does that seems like it would put you at risk.
[Which probably isn't a suggestion that would go over well. Tch. Being a Harbinger is so much easier than this.]
The living have those books of theirs, but I'm not a fan of sitting on my heels. [So he'd rather spitball a few ideas while they're waiting, just for more options on their end. He doesn't intend on dragging Royce out here again unless he has to, so he's gonna do the best he can with this time.
He also just. Rubs a hand over his face. HE DOESN'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT FURBY FUCK HEISTS.]
...The whole station "recalibrates", doesn't it? Do you think that thing ever stops to do that, too? [Hmmm.] There's that, ah, alternate station it lives in as well... I suppose if we can't bring it to us, we can try to go to it.
[Slime dimension...]
I know it hooks up to you all on Thursday nights, as well, but trying to interact with it while it does that seems like it would put you at risk.
[he wrinkles his nose. and sways, slightly, grabbing the counter. hrrr.]
It likely sleeps somewhere. Not where I've ever seen it do it. [...] I would prefer you don't try to touch the thing attached to me while I'm sleeping.
You're not going to get close to it while it's aware. I'll tell you that much. It will pick to come to you, if it's going to, but considering what I've seen lately, it's getting angry that you're all looking at it closely.
Not to stop. Just so you know.
It likely sleeps somewhere. Not where I've ever seen it do it. [...] I would prefer you don't try to touch the thing attached to me while I'm sleeping.
You're not going to get close to it while it's aware. I'll tell you that much. It will pick to come to you, if it's going to, but considering what I've seen lately, it's getting angry that you're all looking at it closely.
Not to stop. Just so you know.
[A frown. His hand twitches, like he wants to reach out, but he curls his fingers into his palm and rests it on the bar instead.]
Alright. So we'll need to figure out how to put it to sleep for a while, most likely. [He'll just add that to their list of things to figure out, then. No biggie. It's not like they're trying to cheat death or anything.
...]
...Is this place affecting you? Or is it something else?
Alright. So we'll need to figure out how to put it to sleep for a while, most likely. [He'll just add that to their list of things to figure out, then. No biggie. It's not like they're trying to cheat death or anything.
...]
...Is this place affecting you? Or is it something else?
This place. [he sounds tired.] Can't be here for long, it drains me.
[he's not leaving, though.] Keep your mind open to all possibilities. [he glances up at childe.] Do not get stuck on one solution. That's how you all ended up thinking Kaan was a candy bar for four hours. Be open.
[he's not leaving, though.] Keep your mind open to all possibilities. [he glances up at childe.] Do not get stuck on one solution. That's how you all ended up thinking Kaan was a candy bar for four hours. Be open.
[Ah.]
Let me know when you need to go. [Firmly. He's not going to baby Royce, but it won't do them any good if he collapses here.
He laughs quietly at that, though.] Trust me, if there's anything I'm good at, it's breaking out of the box.
[He took no part in the candy bar discussion because he doesn't care about Kaz... alas.]
I'll tell the others to stay open-minded, too. I have a feeling we'll have to rely on the living more than I'd care to, for this part, but hopefully they'll remember we're listening.
[And then Aoi gets booped back over so that's a thing]
Let me know when you need to go. [Firmly. He's not going to baby Royce, but it won't do them any good if he collapses here.
He laughs quietly at that, though.] Trust me, if there's anything I'm good at, it's breaking out of the box.
[He took no part in the candy bar discussion because he doesn't care about Kaz... alas.]
I'll tell the others to stay open-minded, too. I have a feeling we'll have to rely on the living more than I'd care to, for this part, but hopefully they'll remember we're listening.
[And then Aoi gets booped back over so that's a thing]
[A PRECIOUS ROYCE LAUGH
Iris would be losing her mind... Childe just looks surprised for a second, then smiles. It is endgame week and there's still time to talk shit. Terrible.]
...By the way, do you know anything about that room downstairs? With those maps and that broken machine.
Iris would be losing her mind... Childe just looks surprised for a second, then smiles. It is endgame week and there's still time to talk shit. Terrible.]
...By the way, do you know anything about that room downstairs? With those maps and that broken machine.
[Hey binch guess who has a braincell and was in your head long enough to figure some shit out while everyone else was building a computer
Anyway! More importantly, he is here with a bottle he stole from the bar and two glasses, the same kind Royce brought along for his jail visit. He holds out a glass once he's close enough.
Drink with him!]
Anyway! More importantly, he is here with a bottle he stole from the bar and two glasses, the same kind Royce brought along for his jail visit. He holds out a glass once he's close enough.
Drink with him!]
[Listen. Sometimes you bribe people a lot and you have to remember their preferences. It's fine.
But he'll take a seat next to him, so he can pour! Drinks, drinks for a thousand years.]
We really are a rowdy bunch, aren't we?
[That's one word for it. Childe sounds fond, though; he does love chaos, after all.]
But he'll take a seat next to him, so he can pour! Drinks, drinks for a thousand years.]
We really are a rowdy bunch, aren't we?
[That's one word for it. Childe sounds fond, though; he does love chaos, after all.]
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