Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

[phaselocknroll]

I can stay as long as I have the means, and I have Sophis' entire life to sustain me, on top of whatever I get from you. I'll likely find another contract before too long.

But if you don't dismiss me, I can help you learn to use your abilities. [ because yes, she's pretty sure he's a wizard of some kind, but if he was taken when he was a boy, it's likely he never knew. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

... I'm pretty sure you're still mistaken on that, sorry to say. I mean, you were in that relic for a while.

[phaselocknroll]

And you were raised in an environment that hates and fears magic, weren't you?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He blinks, surprised. ] What makes you think that?

[phaselocknroll]

The way you look at me sometimes, like you think I'm going to eat you.

And the way that other man looked at me, when I had him in my Phaselock.

[nostalgiabomb]

Well, let's be fair: you're scary as hell, and you've got the power to back it up. Anyone would be afraid of you.

[ After a beat-- ] No offense.

[phaselocknroll]

There's a difference, though, between fearing my powers because of what they can do, and fearing them because they're magic.

I know that look- the Order had me go through more than my fair share of "nonbelievers".

[nostalgiabomb]

... Yeah, you pretty much caught me out. I imagine you find it annoying, then, that I'm a-- a "nonbeliever," huh.

[phaselocknroll]

First, the Order's beliefs are not my own.

Second, I only find it annoying that you won't even consider the possibility of what I'm suggesting.

[nostalgiabomb]

I'm just finding it difficult to believe, that's all. If I had any abilities, I'd think they would've manifested by now, in some way.

... Tonight's events withstanding.

[phaselocknroll]

Maybe they have, but subtly. Or in situations where you haven't had time to consider what just happened and why.

Or perhaps you're just a late bloomer.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He sighs -- clearly they're at an impasse with this argument. ]

Maybe, maybe not. All I know is that I've never knowingly done anything magical, aside from break you out of the relic -- and even that was still an accident.

[phaselocknroll]

[ Clearly, but now she's at least got him thinking about it. ]

Accident or no, I am grateful.

[nostalgiabomb]

Still an accident, but if I had known your situation-- [ He glances over at her, looking thoughtful. ] Well. Twenty-something years being stuck somewhere you don't want to be is shitty.

[phaselocknroll]

I'm guessing you can empathize.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He shrugs. ] Ravager for twenty-six years.

[phaselocknroll]

That is a long time to be stuck somewhere you don't want to be.

But the fact that you would have been willing to free me based on my circumstances alone is-- I appreciate it. Truly.

[nostalgiabomb]

Well, it's probably for the best to get the powerful Siren on your side. At the very least I probably could've asked you for a quick favor.

[phaselocknroll]

What sort of favor?

[nostalgiabomb]

Practical jokes. Scare some of the Ravagers shitless. Nothing that'd warrant you taking time off my life, probably.

[phaselocknroll]

You're miserable enough to want them all dead, but you'd ask me to just play some practical jokes?

[nostalgiabomb]

No, I was just joking around. I'd probably still ask you to help me kill them. [ He says it lightly. ]

[phaselocknroll]

Well, I'm glad we cleared that up.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He laughs a little at that before lapsing into silence for a few seconds. ]

Can't remember if it was your turn or mine.

[phaselocknroll]

I think it was mine, but I've run out of questions to ask. You can go ahead.