firstworldproblem | IC Inbox (Imeeji)

[He's sitting beneath the shade of a tree when Thancred comes into view. He stands, slouching as ever.]

And what is it that you wish to speak of?

[Congrats here is Thancred in yet another excessively cutesey outfit. Despite the look he's his usual (at least in the presence of ascians) surly self, stopping at a safe distance and crossing his arms.]

I've made a deal with your noisy compatriot. You factor into it.

Of course. And he calls me the overbearing one.

Well, out with it. You don't like idle talk more than I. Though I can comment on your attire if you need encouragement.

Oh, anything but that.

[He rolls his eyes, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. The outfit is embarrassing but it could be worse. He looks good in ripped skinny jeans, y'know!!]

We'll be signing a contract. Except when necessary for self-defense, I'm not to hurt you outside of a game, and he isn't to hurt the Exarch. We'll not be forbidding ourselves from hurting each other, if only because it would likely end up a pointless and frustrating endeavour for everyone involved.

[He shifts again, and begins to approach!]

But at the moment, I've something to give you.

[No one can say Thancred isn't attractive. Maybe perhaps telling embarassing stories of what he and Lahabrea did in his borrowed body would brighten the mood!]

Whatever contract you keep between the two of you is your and yours alone to choose. I trust Lahabrea and begrudgingly am willing to trust you. I'm rather glad I don't need to sign this contract.

The Exarch has told you of the agreement, has he not?

[He tilts his head curiously on the approach. He was not expecting that.]

And what, pray tell, would that be?

He's said enough.

[He may or may not have grilled Noah yet that thread is still going but EVEN IF HE DIDN'T he won't admit it, so. He's just strolling over as if he is actually going to hang over an item, and then instead trying to deck Emet in the gut. Like a nice reasonable boy.]

Here you go.

[Just reasonable things!

He flinches and drops to his knees with an arm curling around his stomach. He also gives him the best death glare he can muster. Bonus, he's struck a little speechless for a moment. Congratulations.]

After this, you'll be neatly protected from my horrible, savage, mortal wrath.

[There's a part of him that feels satisfied to be looked at that way, but it's an unpleasant part he's going to try to ignore. He's not doing so great ignoring the opportunity to try to get a second (and intended to be final) hit in -- right to the nose.]

But even Lahabrea agreed to me hitting you this once.

[He doesn't dodge the second strike either. One, because he cares little about this mortal flesh, and two, he imagines this is the quicker path to placating Thancred.

However, that still stings as he his head gets knocked to the side but the glare has died down to annoyance. The punch to his face seemed to have bothered him magnitudes less than the one to his gut.

But he is holding his face blood starting to flow between fingers, so the next bit comes out a bit garbled.]

Delightful. I can be disappointed in both of you then.

I can't say I care what you think of me.

[But he is stepping back and crossing his arms again. No more violence, for now.]

A few blows don't come close to righting what you and yours have done to me and mine. I'm aware we're the villains in your narrative, and I understand this isn't the place for an unending feud -- not a violent one, at least -- but given there's almost no one to counsel me otherwise, I wanted a bit of satisfaction before we go hands-off.

Villains is a strong term, is it not? Did I not say I found you all charming in your own way. That for you I do hold an amount of respect for the succor you always provided to those in need. Those words were not lies.

[As much as he wishes they were as he rubs the back of his hand against the blood.]

The situation of your existence was an unfortunate tragedy and one of not your doing. However, the choice of choosing to hold onto said struggle when all could be made whole is simply naive. You aren't meant to be this way.

But such words will continue to fall on deaf ears. If there is anything I have learned from the Exarch in our time here is that neither of us actually enjoy being adversaries. I would seek his council.

I'd rather use strong words than hear praise from you, as I'm sure you're well aware.

[He's also feeling rather defensive -- it's weird, to meet people who aren't ascians but think ascians are correct!]

And your agreement with him won't change how I feel. "Enjoying" it has nothing to do with it.

The agreement is not just with him. It is with you. It cannot work if we do not all agree.

"I said what I meant and I meant what I said", to borrow your words. I will never trust you. I will never be your ally.

[Hi my name's Thancred Waters and I'm a wrench in the works.]

When did I even imply I'd elected to be a part of your plan?

Did you even listen to it?

The laws that once confined us have been opened. Such a path could not exist on a single star alone. But here it can. We can both achieve what we mean to do.