You all were the biggest news of the day, so, not really. I imagine we'll convene as a group early tomorrow, seeing as how we aren't all locked into rooms.
[ he's just flopped out in the common room, feet upon the couch, holding a bottle of wine on his chest, which he lifts to wave vaguely in childe's direction ]
I've got a thousand and a half questions for you, seeing as how you could see us, but not the other way around.
[ yeah this is like routine now. he just picks his feet up off the couch to make room and deposits them in his lap. can you believe this. friendship.
he'll hand over the bottle after a moment, too. ] Ah. First.
[ and then, feeling around in his belt pocket, he pulls out childe's wedding present (?) and holds them out. ] Here. I'm sure your spouse would be thrilled to know you've let another man carry around such an important present. May the blessings of the dragon and the phoenix find your home.
[ CAN'T RESIST THE QUIP but also, yeah, he was a trustworthy person to leave these with, so! he hands them back. ]
he would like zhongli actually, probably, but that's besides the point. anyhow. ] Alright. Since Aoi was particularly useless in this regard, what did you all end up sending over to us, and what was that even supposed to do? I've been curious if some of our curses might have come from you all.
[Though the idea of Gu Yun being forced to sit and listen to a 30 minute speech about why this particular rock is so fascinating is hilarious. Terrible.
Also hilariously he's asking about one thing I don't think Childe knows about but it's endgame weekend so for the sake of simplicity I'm going to handwave that he got the gist of it.]
Some of them did, yes. [THE CURSES.] Most of their efforts were attempts to draw attention to your many living murderers, I believe. I don't think anything they did manifested the way they intended. You'd have to ask them their intentions to know for sure, though--we were mostly preoccupied with our unwanted friend by the time I arrived.
[So they didn't spend a lot of time talking about haunting the living. Or doing it.
....Well--]
And with Ming Yi. [EVERYONE WAS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT OUTING THE VORE.]
anyway. gu yun snorts, a little, at that. ] It's hard to believe that people being eaten is a problem we all have twice. I suppose it doesn't really matter - obviously, I wasn't interested in being outed, but I knew it wouldn't be an issue if I was.
[ ah yes... being well liked and also a sneaky bastard who plans terrible things perfectly!!! it's so hard being gu yun! so hard being perfect.
anyway he makes a reach for the bottle back now, please. ]
Was your unwanted friend the creature, I'm guessing? What all was happening?
That's because most people here are terribly soft. I thought Iris had lost her mind when she gave me that revival ability, until I spoke with you.
[And immediately saw the writing on the wall and started planning around his inevitable demise. But look, sometimes murder is a requirement to win, so you do it? Why is everyone so pissed at his reasons? He will never understand on a personal level, but yeah, he wasn't surprised at the way things turned out.] I do wish you'd told me beforehand, though. I'd intended on getting him caught during the trial for Aoi. Then again, it's his own fault for losing to you...
[Childe please blame your own murder on the fact that you literally murdered.
ANYWAY. Not important anymore. Bigger fish to fry!]
Yes, that's what I've been calling it. [For safety reasons.] Steven got most of it across to Medb. We're first on the list to be consumed, so obviously, we had a vested interest in preventing that. I talked it through with Royce and Iris, and we were expecting some form of help, but not this.
[He was really just expecting Ryan to pop over with a flash drive. God.]
I'm sure it's furious with us all now, though. It, ah, had multiple heads that were trying to attack us, on the way out.
Well, that, and I chose my target well. [ unlike you, that clearly says!! very lighthearted, though. this is a popularity contest and he was winning ] A shame, but that's the way the tiles fell, so here we are now. Traitors and liars and louses, every one of us.
[ then again he already knew that!!! trust no bitch etc this is why he and childe are friends, actually.
onto plot! he doesn't care if childe blames his murder on mahito gu yun blamed his murder on mahito also and he was the one who killed him. back to work. ] Ah, I gave it a milk name - Xiaohei. [ little ugly! so rude ]
Lup had mentioned it was furious. She and I have been in communication all week, because she was helping behind the scenes on Monday, and it punished her for it, severely. It's only getting larger, too...
So far, it sounds like this "reprogramming" plan might be our best choice, but I can see multiple flaws with it. [A sigh.] Then again, we won't come up with anything foolproof.
[So cost-analysis it is.]
I was advised to tell them not to get stuck on one solution, as well. We'll need to be prepared to adapt quickly. Even if we can't fight it, I have a feeling they'll need our strength to keep it occupied.
We've already fought off one unrealistically powerful monster, I don't see why we won't be able to stave off another until we can find a solution.
[ considering their cyoa!!! at least this time it won't have their friend's face. it's good to have the deadzos back for a few reasons - but if they are going to have to face off against this thing somehow, it is, admittedly, good to have childe. just a couple of cockroaches. ]
It's not like I know much about 'reprogramming', either. I'm not exactly a Ling Shu Institute graduate. [ fucking nerds ]
What happens with you all, too? You aren't really 'back', right?
[Like, he's not forgetting what the thing did to the Avatars, who are way more powerful than them at the moment. But he's also well-aware of their own capabilities, and he's confident they'd both be able to refrain from antagonizing it. I think about how literally no one has seen them work together and I get tired.]
I'm not sure what will happen to us now. [He holds out his wrist; Gu Yun will be able to feel his lack of pulse. No heartbeat! Fun!] I'd considered going back to that room with our bodies, but messing blindly with the buttons seems like a bad idea, especially when our friend is probably watching us very closely. There's also the matter of that "meter"--how to check its status, and whether or not this whole ordeal set the Avatars' progress back.
[He doesn't think it did, because otherwise there probably would've been more resistance to the plan, but he doesn't know how to confirm it.]
[ LITERALLY NO ONE!!! EVEN VLAD BECAUSE HE WAS KILLED
anyway!!! he reaches out to check his pulse, and frowns. weird. ]
I wouldn't be surprised if the meter is where that creature has been keeping its nest. That would explain why neither side could find it. So, hopefully, by going to find the creature itself, and... do whatever they're planning on doing to it, [ 'reprogramming' ], we'll be able to find that as well.
Ideally, it'll just expel whatever energy it drained from you all.
But if that energy is lost, does it put their wishes at risk?
[Honestly, he doesn't care that much about his own wish. He doesn't even care that much about everyone else's wishes, aside from some concerns he has, as one of the dead. But they're not going to get anywhere if their actions risk the wishes of the Avatars, some of whom will easily wipe them out and start all over with a new group, as many times as it takes to get what they want.
Also--]
I'm a little worried that this thing can't actually grant anyone's wishes at all.
From what I've heard, the creature's consumption of our energy doesn't have to do with the wishes. Only the meter does, and the more full it is, the more things are granted. On the one hand, if that energy is expelled, it could cause problems... but on the other hand, if it finds its way to the meter, then that would be highly beneficial. I'm not sure how symbiotic the relationship is.
[ that last bit though, he nods, brow creasing. ]
... That's always a possibility. [ don't like that! he wants his wish, of course, but... there are others that are a literal matter of life and death. ] Lup seems to think that it'll work, though. So do some of the more cynical of the group - it's just a matter of dealing with the creature, first.
That's good news, then. [One of his worries (hopefully?) put to rest. He sighs, though, pushing his bangs out of his face.] This would be so much easier if Il Dottore was here.
[His shitty mad scientist coworker...]
With any luck, a few of them will join us at the meeting tomorrow, so they'll be able to offer more insight. I'd prefer to keep them well-guarded; it may retaliate against them tonight.
[ SIGHS ] What is it about coworkers who prattle on about this sort of thing that don't make themselves available when it's actually relevant?
[ WHERE IS SHEN YI!!!! ugh!!!!!!! ]
.. I agree, though. I'll likely stay with Lup tonight, just in case. On Monday, she - [ he pauses, here, frowning. ] ... She was more lava than person. It took a long time to calm her back down - all because that thing was infuriated by her helping us.
I'm still halfway-convinced he created our friend in the first place. It's exactly the sort of thing he'd do.
[This is a joke but also not. And normally Childe doesn't care but he also doesn't usually have to deal with it? (gu yun voice) you have terrible taste in allies
Anyway he nods.]
I'll be in the recreation room with Iris and Royce, if you need us. I told her I'd rest at some point, but it might be a while yet.
[Too much thinking to do, and, y'know. Not exactly relaxing sleeping conditions.]
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[ he's just flopped out in the common room, feet upon the couch, holding a bottle of wine on his chest, which he lifts to wave vaguely in childe's direction ]
I've got a thousand and a half questions for you, seeing as how you could see us, but not the other way around.
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[God... a meeting with everyone again... he already has a headache just thinking about it. Moving over to sit with him, though!]
I should be able to answer--they were quite organized over there, I was impressed.
[Their whiteboard...]
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he'll hand over the bottle after a moment, too. ] Ah. First.
[ and then, feeling around in his belt pocket, he pulls out childe's wedding present (?) and holds them out. ] Here. I'm sure your spouse would be thrilled to know you've let another man carry around such an important present. May the blessings of the dragon and the phoenix find your home.
[ CAN'T RESIST THE QUIP but also, yeah, he was a trustworthy person to leave these with, so! he hands them back. ]
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He's not my spouse. You'll be delighted to know that he was most likely making fun of my ignorance when he made me buy these, and nothing more.
[...but he tucks them back into his pocket with care anyway. And doesn't say thank you, because--yeah. He knew.]
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[ lmao he looks so amused
he would like zhongli actually, probably, but that's besides the point. anyhow. ] Alright. Since Aoi was particularly useless in this regard, what did you all end up sending over to us, and what was that even supposed to do? I've been curious if some of our curses might have come from you all.
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[Though the idea of Gu Yun being forced to sit and listen to a 30 minute speech about why this particular rock is so fascinating is hilarious. Terrible.
Also hilariously he's asking about one thing I don't think Childe knows about but it's endgame weekend so for the sake of simplicity I'm going to handwave that he got the gist of it.]
Some of them did, yes. [THE CURSES.] Most of their efforts were attempts to draw attention to your many living murderers, I believe. I don't think anything they did manifested the way they intended. You'd have to ask them their intentions to know for sure, though--we were mostly preoccupied with our unwanted friend by the time I arrived.
[So they didn't spend a lot of time talking about haunting the living. Or doing it.
....Well--]
And with Ming Yi. [EVERYONE WAS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT OUTING THE VORE.]
no subject
anyway. gu yun snorts, a little, at that. ] It's hard to believe that people being eaten is a problem we all have twice. I suppose it doesn't really matter - obviously, I wasn't interested in being outed, but I knew it wouldn't be an issue if I was.
[ ah yes... being well liked and also a sneaky bastard who plans terrible things perfectly!!! it's so hard being gu yun! so hard being perfect.
anyway he makes a reach for the bottle back now, please. ]
Was your unwanted friend the creature, I'm guessing? What all was happening?
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[And immediately saw the writing on the wall and started planning around his inevitable demise. But look, sometimes murder is a requirement to win, so you do it? Why is everyone so pissed at his reasons? He will never understand on a personal level, but yeah, he wasn't surprised at the way things turned out.] I do wish you'd told me beforehand, though. I'd intended on getting him caught during the trial for Aoi. Then again, it's his own fault for losing to you...
[Childe please blame your own murder on the fact that you literally murdered.
ANYWAY. Not important anymore. Bigger fish to fry!]
Yes, that's what I've been calling it. [For safety reasons.] Steven got most of it across to Medb. We're first on the list to be consumed, so obviously, we had a vested interest in preventing that. I talked it through with Royce and Iris, and we were expecting some form of help, but not this.
[He was really just expecting Ryan to pop over with a flash drive. God.]
I'm sure it's furious with us all now, though. It, ah, had multiple heads that were trying to attack us, on the way out.
[HYDRA FURBY.]
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[ then again he already knew that!!! trust no bitch etc this is why he and childe are friends, actually.
onto plot! he doesn't care if childe blames his murder on mahito gu yun blamed his murder on mahito also and he was the one who killed him. back to work. ] Ah, I gave it a milk name - Xiaohei. [ little ugly! so rude ]
Lup had mentioned it was furious. She and I have been in communication all week, because she was helping behind the scenes on Monday, and it punished her for it, severely. It's only getting larger, too...
[ ... ] And we can't even kill it. Such a waste.
no subject
[CAN'T EVEN FIGHT IT... TCH...]
So far, it sounds like this "reprogramming" plan might be our best choice, but I can see multiple flaws with it. [A sigh.] Then again, we won't come up with anything foolproof.
[So cost-analysis it is.]
I was advised to tell them not to get stuck on one solution, as well. We'll need to be prepared to adapt quickly. Even if we can't fight it, I have a feeling they'll need our strength to keep it occupied.
[Durable cockroach power.]
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[ considering their cyoa!!! at least this time it won't have their friend's face. it's good to have the deadzos back for a few reasons - but if they are going to have to face off against this thing somehow, it is, admittedly, good to have childe. just a couple of cockroaches. ]
It's not like I know much about 'reprogramming', either. I'm not exactly a Ling Shu Institute graduate. [ fucking nerds ]
What happens with you all, too? You aren't really 'back', right?
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[Like, he's not forgetting what the thing did to the Avatars, who are way more powerful than them at the moment. But he's also well-aware of their own capabilities, and he's confident they'd both be able to refrain from antagonizing it. I think about how literally no one has seen them work together and I get tired.]
I'm not sure what will happen to us now. [He holds out his wrist; Gu Yun will be able to feel his lack of pulse. No heartbeat! Fun!] I'd considered going back to that room with our bodies, but messing blindly with the buttons seems like a bad idea, especially when our friend is probably watching us very closely. There's also the matter of that "meter"--how to check its status, and whether or not this whole ordeal set the Avatars' progress back.
[He doesn't think it did, because otherwise there probably would've been more resistance to the plan, but he doesn't know how to confirm it.]
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anyway!!! he reaches out to check his pulse, and frowns. weird. ]
I wouldn't be surprised if the meter is where that creature has been keeping its nest. That would explain why neither side could find it. So, hopefully, by going to find the creature itself, and... do whatever they're planning on doing to it, [ 'reprogramming' ], we'll be able to find that as well.
Ideally, it'll just expel whatever energy it drained from you all.
no subject
[Honestly, he doesn't care that much about his own wish. He doesn't even care that much about everyone else's wishes, aside from some concerns he has, as one of the dead. But they're not going to get anywhere if their actions risk the wishes of the Avatars, some of whom will easily wipe them out and start all over with a new group, as many times as it takes to get what they want.
Also--]
I'm a little worried that this thing can't actually grant anyone's wishes at all.
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[ that last bit though, he nods, brow creasing. ]
... That's always a possibility. [ don't like that! he wants his wish, of course, but... there are others that are a literal matter of life and death. ] Lup seems to think that it'll work, though. So do some of the more cynical of the group - it's just a matter of dealing with the creature, first.
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That's good news, then. [One of his worries (hopefully?) put to rest. He sighs, though, pushing his bangs out of his face.] This would be so much easier if Il Dottore was here.
[His shitty mad scientist coworker...]
With any luck, a few of them will join us at the meeting tomorrow, so they'll be able to offer more insight. I'd prefer to keep them well-guarded; it may retaliate against them tonight.
[laughs in mingle]
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[ WHERE IS SHEN YI!!!! ugh!!!!!!! ]
.. I agree, though. I'll likely stay with Lup tonight, just in case. On Monday, she - [ he pauses, here, frowning. ] ... She was more lava than person. It took a long time to calm her back down - all because that thing was infuriated by her helping us.
[ also laughs in mingle ]
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[This is a joke but also not. And normally Childe doesn't care but he also doesn't usually have to deal with it? (gu yun voice) you have terrible taste in allies
Anyway he nods.]
I'll be in the recreation room with Iris and Royce, if you need us. I told her I'd rest at some point, but it might be a while yet.
[Too much thinking to do, and, y'know. Not exactly relaxing sleeping conditions.]