IC Inbox

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

"This is Intensity. Leave a message."

Comments

Very late day 111, several hours post-game

[puzzlekeeper]

King: Where are you?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

CEO: Hotel.
CEO: Why?
CEO: Are you not?

[puzzlekeeper]

King: No.

[ Trouble in HSS paradise!! ]

King: I can come to you.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

CEO: Don't. Unless you want to fall into the snake pit.
CEO: Pick somewhere else.

[puzzlekeeper]

King: What?

[ Actually. He immediately decides he doesn't care. wtf fin ]

King: Park, then.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

CEO: Fine. Park. I'll be down in 5.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ There's no response to that, but whenever Intensity arrives at the park, he'll find King leaning up against one of the trees waiting - in full blossom, it would almost be peaceful and aesthetic if not for absolutely everything else - looking like he's had several hours of angry brooding already.

He also has literal roadrash on his temple and an array of scrapes and bruises besides, but that's probably unrelated. ]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[King will probably see Blue Eyes approach before Intensity does. Saves him the effort of finding out where King is exactly in the park. She lays down in front of a nearby tree until Intensity finally gets out of the hotel.

He raises an eye at King's brooding look]

What's that look for?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ King gives him an appraising look as he approaches, like he's verifying he's not full of holes anymore. Then there's a pause where he tries to come up with some kind of good answer for that question, opens his mouth, changes his mind, closes it.

Then: ]

How many balloons were you down by in the last round?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Can you really ever tell if this idiot is injured with as much clothing as he wears?]

Two. We were at 9.

Why?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ .... No.

Also, he doesn't answer the 'why' yet. ]

And what was your final number?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Just raises an eyebrow.

Fine. Continue your little interrogation, King]

5.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ ... Fuck.

For a moment he looks both furious and vindicated, but it's shoved back under the mask almost immediately. Then he just looks tired. ]

...

I see.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

We were hit 9 times. Which means unless units died in round 1 and round 2, it was impossible for us not to die.

Does that better answer your question?

[puzzlekeeper]

Completely, yes.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Good. Is that enough to assuage whatever strange guilt complex you're having right now?

[puzzlekeeper]

You really think that's why I'm asking?

If that were the case I'd have a lot more rounds to make.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

So it's not guilt. What then? Data collecting for another "community project" that is going to die before it gets off the ground.

You could have just texted your question then.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ BUDDY IF YOU THINK HE'LL EVER LOOK AT A COMMUNITY PROJECT AGAIN,,, ]

I've been doing a substantial amount of compromising and conceding on my team's behalf, in the interest of keeping them from falling on their own swords or making decisions they would find difficult.

So in the near future, when we have our conversation about why I'm losing my willingness to do so, I intend to have good arguments ready.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

And are you going to be able to deal with their tears and inevitable hurt feelings when it comes down to that?

[puzzlekeeper]

We'll find out, won't we?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

I guess you will.

Anything else, Your Excellency?

[puzzlekeeper]

...

Nothing you wouldn't call me a sentimental fool for.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

I thought you weren't ashamed of that title.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ There's a familiar, defiant tilt of his head ]

Not at all.

It's your tolerance I'm watching out for.