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[bluescreenwhitedragon]

"This is Intensity. Leave a message."

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[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.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

I'm not the one having an emotional outburst.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ A scoff ]

Outburst? Really?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

What then? Hiccup?

Just hold your breath. It'll be over soon.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ EXASPERATED ]

You're insufferable.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

And self-sufficient.

No need to fret, Your Excellency. If the producers give us even the slightest option to avoid it, I'm not going to let my unit die anymore than it already has.

1/2

[puzzlekeeper]

[ A better person than him should probably argue against playing hard, but



y'know ]

Good.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ And then, almost like a pissy afterthought, ]

And I'll "fret" [ he doesn't actually do finger quotes but it's strongly implied regardless ] as much as I please.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

If that what makes you happy, Your Excellency.