PC: ASTARION

[alldoomnogloom]

Comments

[haematocritical]

I can't believe I'm the one telling you we should at least hear her out in this instance. [ ... ] But I'm inclined to agree. I'm not very good at being altruistic.

[ swamp. he is going in the swamp as soon as he can. no arguments. ]

It's related to what I spoke to you about earlier in the week. Where I told you you couldn't ask questions.

[alldoomnogloom]

I made sure Mathis survived for her, I tried to help bring back Camille when she wanted a solution, and I damned well found my partner to cure myself. She owes me this. Her living, godsdammit.

[ breathing out, more than a little shakily. ]

Right. No questions.

[haematocritical]

[ hmmmm. ]

I do rather like the selfish look on you, my dear. [ ♪ ] But I agree. I'm quite inclined to take and keep taking at this point - her life, the lives of those she's lost, all of it. If there's whispers we might be able to do that, well--

[ why not? ] I'm all for it. I do want to have a good chat with this cowboy of hers, after all.

[ and because goddammit he didn't give up safety and eternity in part because she was there acting as his morality chain, just for her to throw away her own future a few weeks down the line. ]

For the moment. But soon, then you can ask away. [ ... ] Can you stand?

[alldoomnogloom]

[ he actually drums up a bit of a crooked grin at the my dear.

as for karlach. if gale has to suffer the indignities of being dragged kicking and screaming into wanting to live, so does she. that is the trade-off. pain for pain. ]

I can stand.

[haematocritical]

Good.

[ time to stand then. ] Because you got thrown halfway across a bloody room and if you bleed out internally because no one noticed in this whole mess, I will revive you myself just to kill you again.

[ he just sounds tired but the snit is there. ]

[alldoomnogloom]

[ hauled to his feet! it's clearly kind of painful and sucks, blanching a bit, but he's able to and stand and walk all right. ]

Be a bit of an embarrassing way to go, I'll admit.

[haematocritical]

[ gale your ribs. ]

Wouldn't it be? Do save yourself the shame.

[ he'll shift so gale can lean him a little -- even if he can walk all right!!! ] And at least try to stop getting yourself thrown around, please.

[alldoomnogloom]

I know it's just-- I had her calm. She was calm.

[ she wasn't going to hurt anyone. ]

[haematocritical]

She was. [ flurry on the other hand, ready to lash out ]

We are, of course, working on the assumption possessed won't lash out if we leave them be. You didn't exactly antagonise Caelus last weekend and he still turned.

[alldoomnogloom]

Caelus had less evidence against him at that moment. I imagine if we had all let her be, we could have finished. We could have found Kanda's killer.

[ rubbing at the bridge of his nose. ]

Astarion, I don't know what to do.

[haematocritical]

Someone skilled enough with a blade to cut a man's ankles in one strike. Someone who knew about the hallucinogenic drink, and-- I don't know. Do we assume the food was a lure? Do we assume perhaps they tried to talk and the food lured the bear accidentally...?

... At the risk of stirring the pot when it's already about to topple over: Kanda was angry at Rondo, and Rondo has the swordsmanship to make a strike like that. But, he has a sword. He wouldn't have needed to use Mugen. In which case the only person left with swordsmanship and no working weapon I can think of is Anisphia.

[ sometimes you sleep and you get a Thought. but he does quiet at that next part though. ]

I don't know either. We can't let her kill again, Gale. It'd fucking break her.

[alldoomnogloom]

Only two monsters summoned, and we have reason to believe Anis is one of the remaining uncaught.

[ well. that makes sense to him. he'll listen quietly to the conclusion and nod slowly. a problem for tomorrow at best, though.

sort of collapsing sideways against him. ]

I know that much. [ he does! he does get that part. ] The question is not to leave her. The question is whether we bring her back and endure her hatred of that situation, or if we are able to let her go.

An arena both you and I have a bit of experience in, yes? Being brought back against our will?

[haematocritical]

[ astarion blinks slowly. ] Forgive me for being behind, but we have evidence outside of this week? I know Laudna is sure Robin is another uncaught, but I don't think any of the evidence really matched her this time around.

[ lets this happen. he'll tuck an arm around him to keep him supported, bearing his ribs in mind, and so they both don't just hit the ground uselessly. ]

...

You know she'd want us to bring back someone else. I don't... precisely hate that I'm still around now-- well maybe not right this second, this place is testing my patience beyond all belief. But it wasn't easy.

[alldoomnogloom]

My suspicion is that she was Camille's original chimera partner. It is only based on a few stray comments, and perhaps her odd behavior, but I feel fairly certain of it as of late. I don't believe Robin acted this week.

[ where are they headed? ]

Yes, well, it took nearly being disemboweled by a crazed fox to realize it myself.

[haematocritical]

Then it would add up. A swordsman with no sword-- and if I remember correctly, monster hunting in her bulletin board information.

[ ... ] Likely not as strong as Kanda either, hence the hallucinogens and the use of something else to kill him.

[ the swamp he's going to shove him in face first. ]

Everyone has their "aha" moment. Some earlier than others.

[alldoomnogloom]

[ fair enough!!!!! ]

If we speak to her, the monster will likely react. It may be a fight.

[haematocritical]

[ just waves his free arm wide like. ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ]

Everything's a fight here, darling.

[alldoomnogloom]

[ Camille wasn't.

but that's a bit of a dark thought and he grimaces at it. ]

Yes, well, if it is you and I-- ... If we are to be the ones responsible for doing as she wants, then we will need a better plan than standing there.

[haematocritical]

[ a little, but honestly.



he can have a dark thought or fifty. ]

Wizards with busted ribs on the back line, darling. How... in control of herself was Camille when you went after her the other week? [ there's little point in mincing words. ]

[alldoomnogloom]

[ its what the swamp is for!!!!!! ]

She was very drunk.

[haematocritical]

[ literally cannot trust him not to keep busting his ribs!!! or other parts of his body!!!!! ]

... Monster-breaking-drunk, or just Camille-drunk?

[alldoomnogloom]

[ this line of thought is making him very depressed right now. ]

She was herself, for the most part.

[haematocritical]

Then I will hope the same of Karlach.

[ ... ]

I'd rather she wasn't fully possessed and unaware when everything happens. She doesn't bloody deserve that.

[alldoomnogloom]

[ this is making him want to die a little inside so he just quietly nods, glancing over at him. ]

Have you spoken to Daan?

[haematocritical]

Briefly.

[ looks at my ongoing thread. ]

He... looked like he melted at the end there, after he was found guilty. [ strange. ]