[YEAH!! YOU PUT IT UP AND WE ALL RAN OVER, THE SOUND OF OUR CLEETS SLAPPING ON THE PAVEMENT GROWING INCREASINGLY LOUD!!!!
Anyway, there's something in his expression that's hard to read for a second, and his usual exuberance fades a little. His shoulders rise.]
I'm not. Actually, I'm pretty sure someone will sooner or later! If not Endorsi, definitely Childe. That's just the nature of people, especially when they have something to win.
Of course I do. I was born from humans, after all.
[And sure, some of these people aren't human by name, but a lot of them sure behave similarly enough that Mahito has a pretty good understanding of them, too. He's always braced for the worst!! Because people in general are the worst!!!
As for that:] What, between the three of us? With this whole group? Or just in general?
Anyway, hopefully Greed is ready for Mahito to be a Debbie Downer once again.]
I don't think so. Not in the long-term, anyway. Short-term, for sure! People cooperate all the time, whether they're fighting against a common enemy or connecting over stuff they share or just wanting to keep the peace. But cooperation can't last forever, with the way people are. General conflict of interest and desire for personal gain are pretty strong deterrents to that.
[Greed your agreement... Mahito looks vaguely intrigued by it, but pauses for a second to think that through.]
Mm... Another couple of weeks, maybe? People here are forming bonds pretty fast, so it's only a matter of time before someone steps on a landmine, you know? The peace is already starting to break down a little.
[Douman threw Fukuda under the bus so fast it was hilarious, holy shit.]
I've noticed. So many of you are quick to turn on each other...though I suppose with good reason. Without truly knowing who you can trust and with such high stakes it's hardly a surprise.
But then there are some who are entirely too optimistic. [sqx...mineo...those types.]
Yeah. [A little shrug.] I'm a little surprised there hasn't been more of it? It's kind of exciting to see who's gonna be next on the chopping block and who'll spill their secrets.
[He says this even 100% knowing fully well that it could very well be him someday. He's an equal opportunity chaos demon.]
[there's a light huff, a slight flash of fangs almost like an unamused smile.]
Not everyone is so willing to show their hand immediately. I understand it's a concept you're unfamiliar with given your nature, but it isn't uncommon for even the most ruthless of men to simply bide their time.
[...but that's fair.] I've never quite known what to do with optimism, admittedly.
[me in tears, pointing: IS THIS ANOTHER FUCK DEMON]
Hah... Yeah, true. I definitely don't have the patience for the long games some people play! I don't think I'd be able to last that long, anyway.
[Before his curse instincts kick in and he just fucks everything up... Goddamn. This four week period of time is truly the longest amount of consecutive days he's spent trying to play nice.]
Really? Huh. [Again, he seems a little intrigued.] I don't mind it, usually! It's interesting to see how those people react to things.
You wouldn't. [they have learned this about mahito and they accept it, unfortunately.] Some men burst before the end of the day, and others can last fifteen years before coming back to finish the job. I imagine both kinds exist here.
[there's an uncomfortable lingering sort of pause though.]
It's foolish is what it is. [they don't sound entirely convinced, but at the same time they do?] But it works well enough for some people.
Yep! A lot of people here have waited a really long time... [He trails off, absolutely just thinking about Ming Yi in particular. Thanks memshare week.
But his attention draws back to Greed, and he cocks his head to the side curiously at the pause that he can read discomfort in.]
It is, yeah. [He just sounds convinced entirely, but given what he is, it's probably not a surprise. There's a little pause, and then:] You're pretty interesting after all, huh?
It's weird! [What a nice start.] I have the hardest time getting a sense for what kind of person you are out of all eight of you.
[Unfortunately he can understand the Very Inhuman Avatars pretty decently by nature of being inhuman himself, and he can also understand most of the behaviorally-adjacent-to-humans ones by nature of being a human curse. Greed baffles the fuck out of him, though.]
You sound gloomy sometimes, but I get the feeling you don't necessarily want to be?
MAHITO SEES THAT CHALLENGE THOUGH!! There's a little twinkle of amusement and interest in his demon eye. Suddenly, he's holding his hands out, palms flat and facing upwards.]
HE JUST STANDS LIKE THIS FOR A LITTLE WHILE....... Not doing anything, just fuckin vibing while holding Greed's demon hands.
When he finally lifts his head again, there's something - content? satisfied? - in his expression. It's probably still fine. He holds his palms flat; Greed can take their hands back any time.]
[STOP LOOK he'd be like this literally two minutes after killing people, he's just out here doing whatever the fuck.
Anyway, with a bright smile:]
Mm, nothing! Ah - you probably don't like having too much of your time taken up though, huh? I'll go get started on these books and come find you when I'm done.
[also because it should be mentioned, greed's hands are pretty cold so hopefully mahito wasn't bothered by that. nevertheless, they are absolutely leaving this conversation more confused than they started, but that's. literally all conversations with mahito.]
...alright then. Keep them for as long as you'd like and do not damage them.
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...how can you be sure Miss Jahad won't betray you?
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Anyway, there's something in his expression that's hard to read for a second, and his usual exuberance fades a little. His shoulders rise.]
I'm not. Actually, I'm pretty sure someone will sooner or later! If not Endorsi, definitely Childe. That's just the nature of people, especially when they have something to win.
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Ah. So you do understand that. [they give him another curious look from under their hood, claws hooked into the fabric of their sleeve for a moment.]
You don't believe that cooperation is possible in the long-term?
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Of course I do. I was born from humans, after all.
[And sure, some of these people aren't human by name, but a lot of them sure behave similarly enough that Mahito has a pretty good understanding of them, too. He's always braced for the worst!! Because people in general are the worst!!!
As for that:] What, between the three of us? With this whole group? Or just in general?
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In general. [there's maybe a specific answer they're looking for, but they're not going to clarify it.]
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Anyway, hopefully Greed is ready for Mahito to be a Debbie Downer once again.]
I don't think so. Not in the long-term, anyway. Short-term, for sure! People cooperate all the time, whether they're fighting against a common enemy or connecting over stuff they share or just wanting to keep the peace. But cooperation can't last forever, with the way people are. General conflict of interest and desire for personal gain are pretty strong deterrents to that.
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also funny you should say that because greed...actually nods. just once.]
Your bets on how long things will remain peaceful here then?
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Mm... Another couple of weeks, maybe? People here are forming bonds pretty fast, so it's only a matter of time before someone steps on a landmine, you know? The peace is already starting to break down a little.
[Douman threw Fukuda under the bus so fast it was hilarious, holy shit.]
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I've noticed. So many of you are quick to turn on each other...though I suppose with good reason. Without truly knowing who you can trust and with such high stakes it's hardly a surprise.
But then there are some who are entirely too optimistic. [sqx...mineo...those types.]
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Yeah. [A little shrug.] I'm a little surprised there hasn't been more of it? It's kind of exciting to see who's gonna be next on the chopping block and who'll spill their secrets.
[He says this even 100% knowing fully well that it could very well be him someday. He's an equal opportunity chaos demon.]
But that's true, too! I like them a lot.
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Not everyone is so willing to show their hand immediately. I understand it's a concept you're unfamiliar with given your nature, but it isn't uncommon for even the most ruthless of men to simply bide their time.
[...but that's fair.] I've never quite known what to do with optimism, admittedly.
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Hah... Yeah, true. I definitely don't have the patience for the long games some people play! I don't think I'd be able to last that long, anyway.
[Before his curse instincts kick in and he just fucks everything up... Goddamn. This four week period of time is truly the longest amount of consecutive days he's spent trying to play nice.]
Really? Huh. [Again, he seems a little intrigued.] I don't mind it, usually! It's interesting to see how those people react to things.
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You wouldn't. [they have learned this about mahito and they accept it, unfortunately.] Some men burst before the end of the day, and others can last fifteen years before coming back to finish the job. I imagine both kinds exist here.
[there's an uncomfortable lingering sort of pause though.]
It's foolish is what it is. [they don't sound entirely convinced, but at the same time they do?] But it works well enough for some people.
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Yep! A lot of people here have waited a really long time... [He trails off, absolutely just thinking about Ming Yi in particular. Thanks memshare week.
But his attention draws back to Greed, and he cocks his head to the side curiously at the pause that he can read discomfort in.]
It is, yeah. [He just sounds convinced entirely, but given what he is, it's probably not a surprise. There's a little pause, and then:] You're pretty interesting after all, huh?
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[...they mirror the image, tilting their head as well.]
I'm afraid to ask why you think so.
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[Unfortunately he can understand the Very Inhuman Avatars pretty decently by nature of being inhuman himself, and he can also understand most of the behaviorally-adjacent-to-humans ones by nature of being a human curse. Greed baffles the fuck out of him, though.]
You sound gloomy sometimes, but I get the feeling you don't necessarily want to be?
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Who's to say? [which isn't an answer, like, at all. but it is a challenge.]
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MAHITO SEES THAT CHALLENGE THOUGH!! There's a little twinkle of amusement and interest in his demon eye. Suddenly, he's holding his hands out, palms flat and facing upwards.]
Can I see your hands again?
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but fine. they hold out their clawed hands. what. what do you want with them you absolute gremlin.]
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gently
just kind of rest his cheek against the backs of them, closing his eyes.
He doesn't say anything. It's probably fine.]
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in
the fuck
OKAY??????????????????????????????
greed doesn't move because what in the everloving fuck are you doing, flea.]
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HE JUST STANDS LIKE THIS FOR A LITTLE WHILE....... Not doing anything, just fuckin vibing while holding Greed's demon hands.
When he finally lifts his head again, there's something - content? satisfied? - in his expression. It's probably still fine. He holds his palms flat; Greed can take their hands back any time.]
It's not so bad.
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greed almost immediately snatches their hands back.]
What are you talking about now?
[the greatest thing about this thread is that this is literally two days after mahito killed two people.]
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Anyway, with a bright smile:]
Mm, nothing! Ah - you probably don't like having too much of your time taken up though, huh? I'll go get started on these books and come find you when I'm done.
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...alright then. Keep them for as long as you'd like and do not damage them.
(no subject)