The Insurrection Day Three: And Suddenly Everything got Terrible Again

[Purple Masks]

Rashei turned her eyes at the doctor, smiling lightly as she let her fear fade slowly away. Finally registering what he had said, she spoke up rather softly, "Well, then who are you being today?"
She looked half-earnest, half-sly, unable to determine if she was being serious or not.

[Dragongirl30894]

He wasn't really playing the detective, per se - he just wanted context for the goings-on so that he wouldn't be walking into more of a hornet's than he already was. Revyss's brusque reply was ignored - Maleno hadn't expected Revyss to listen to him, but Magnea had done as he'd hoped and sent the glubgrub elsewhere. That was one less headache for all involved.

"I'm here because Amazar asked me to come. And, more specifically, to keep pretty much everyone else away from Raelis so he doesn't go bonkers. While I can wait to talk to him until later, I'm staying so we don't wind up with something like what you said Ithlena pulled off. I've already limped halfway across the valley, I'd at least like to sit for a bit." With the hand that wasn't clinging to the makeshift crutch, Maleno rubbed his temple to emphasize how... ridiculous? the situation was. None of this would've happened if Raelis had listened to him.

"At the very least, I want to talk to Rashei. Preferably before surgery, so that she's not stoned out of her thinkpan on painkillers. And while it's just a tad presumptuous of me, I'd like to think I know her better than most of you guys, unless one of you decided to actually talk to her about her interests and get to know her as more than just 'that strange digger troll.' I've got a few things to discuss with her, too."

Magnea wasn't really sure what to do now. She listened to Maleno's and Zillie's words while watching Revyss walk away, standing on the same spot. When he was out of her sight, she let out a sigh, and went to sit against the side of Raelis' hive, leaning her back on the wall and crossing her legs on the grassy ground. She seemed oddly tired, despite the fact that the night had just started. She really had an awfull lot of things going on on her mind, including the building process for Rashei's new robot body, which would lead to the surgery, and amidst all that the unrequited red feelings for the rustblooded troll also deserved a spot on the flurry of thoughts going on her thinkpan. Really, there was pretty much no way that feeling such opposite emotions at the same time would be good for a troll's health and/or sanity. So she'd have to get one of them out, right? Looking up at Maleno, she started speaking. "Don't worry, Mal, the surgery won't happen right after I'm done talking to them. But before that, and while Raelis takes some time to get himself together, I want to talk to you about something.". She glanced at Zillie for a moment. The indigo blood already knew about what she was going to talk about, so there would be no problem in that. Magnea just hoped she wouldn't interfere or interrupt.

[ZDG]

Ithlena finally arrived at the small body of seawater where she lived a couple days ago. She removed the ribbon that was acting as a belt for her skirt and threw it on the ground.
She also ripped the lower part of her shirt and her sleeves. Good, now, if her skirt wasn't purple, no one would recognize her.
She threw the ripped pieces of cloth on the ground,bet used the sleeves as bandages for her arms. She dived into the water, got back on the ground after a few minutes, then tamed her hair a bit. The perfect disguise.
She took out the very last item that remained in her sylladex. Her PDA. She uninstalled Pesterchum and replaced it with trollian. She should have done that a long time ago.
She only added Amazar, Salvia, Likkllu, Riotte and Phidal. She would need them.
She touched the trolltag text field. She wrote MentalExile, then shutted the PDA down.
She ran to the woods, hoping she would find a calm spot where she could start a new, calmer life.

[Panzerbear]

"I'd ASK why Amazar sent YOU here, but to BE honest, I don't REALLY care." Zillie muttered, rolling her eyes. "And REALLY, what makes you THINK you can help RAELIS, anyway?" Her voice picking up volume, "You HATE him, don't you? OR did he hate YOU? Frankly, I think I CAN help him more THAN you can." One of her arms dropped to her side and the other she pointed towards him. "Oh, AND do you really THINK you can protect THIS hive on a CRUTCH?!" Then she quieted down a bit, scratching her head. "But uh yeah sure go ahead and sit down I guess."

Honestly, Maleno wanted to lose his temper at Zillie. He would've been fully justified, considering the alcoholic thought she was the one who could be helpful in this situation. But, in the name of civility and a friendship that he was trying not to malign, the mechanic bit his tongue. He gave a slow nod, reaching up to grab his hat and idly toy with the brim as he pulled it from his head. "I didn't mean fend them off with the crutch, so much as tell them off and send them home. I don't just run in swinging, you know." He took on a somewhat sardonic tone toward the end, but then turned his attention toward Magnea for a moment, though his words were still directed at Zillie. "I'll give him a moment, sure. Go... I dunno. Pacify him or something, make sure he's not about to go axe murderer on us the moment someone steps in his hive again."

After nodding in satisfaction at... what honestly struck him as something of an order (again, the mindsets Argead was attempting to force on him were a bit on the agitating side), Maleno hobbled over next to Magnea and sat down. The awkwardness of having to move around on the crutch wound up situating him where he was practically touching the woman, but the mechanic figured it was better if she didn't have to raise her voice much anyway. Something about her tone suggested that the nature of the conversation was a very... private one. He shoved the hat back on his head, though it sat at something of an odd angle. After a moment of fidgeting, he sighed and put it back in his sylladex. Apparently, bowlers didn't quite suit him. It was replaced by the Holmes hat. Because, y'know, they were at a crime scene and all. A HATE crime scene. Yeah, the typist just went there. "Did... something happen that I missed, or is this not even related to what's going on?" he asked, furrowing his brow in concern as he looked at Magnea.

... Okay, why did he had to sit so close? Well, she knew why. To him they were just friends. But that wouldn't help at all. If anything, it would just make Magnea do something stupid. "It has nothing to do with what's going on. I...". She hesitated, and her hands came together on her lap, the fingers entwining together, almost as if to keep the hands from going anywhere else. She kept staring at them while she spoke again. "I just need to sort this all out, and I thought saying it to you might help.". She stopped again, looking up at him. Gog, why did he have to be so close?! It'd be so easy to just grab him and kiss him, but she was trying to make the feelings go away, and that would just make them worse. It wasn't like he was helping either. And she was hesitating again.

He twisted in his seat, tilting an eyebrow ever so slightly in a questioning fashion. Normally, Magnea was one of the confident ones! Why was she acting so nervous? Whatever it was, the uncertainty was borderline infectious - if something was getting under her skin, it had to be something serious. But it was his obligation, as her friend, to try to set things right! He set his hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's not that bad. I mean, nothing more than we've already talked about, like Argead plotting against you and all that. Though that should be over now..." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. Deductive reasoning was taking place, but he didn't have the pipe to gesticulate with. "Which means it couldn't be that. And it's not relationship problems, unless you've got a black crush I don't know about..." Has it been mentioned before that Maleno was fond of guessing games?

And now he had his hand on her shoulder. Great. That almost sent a shiver down her spine, both because of the touch by itself, but also because she didn't even want to think about what Revyss would say if he knew about what was going on. She wasn't sure if she should push his hand off or not, because that'd make her touch his skin intead of simply feeling the pressure of his hand through the fabric of the shirt. She couldn't help but to let out a light chuckle at his guesses. Well, she might as well make it a game. Maybe it would take away some of the awkwardness once he guessed correctly. "Think brighter, Mal.". Simple and small hint. Let's see how close he'd get with just that.

Maleno sighed, patting her shoulder before letting his hand return to his lap. Of course. This was what always came of forcing a relationship, of taking things too quickly. He wondered if Likllu had had a hand in the original pairing, which would perfectly explain how things had already started to go awry between the two of them. "Yeah, well, honestly I wasn't that happy about it when it was brought up that you and Revyss were a thing. I mean, the guy's so self-absorbed, and obsessed with the image of himself, that I don't really think he'd make anybody a good matesprit. And you deserve better." He frowned with concern, furrowing his brow. "Though I may be a little bit hasty on my judgments, and I'm sorry if- well. No, sorry would mean that I think I'm doing the wrong thing. I know I'm badmouthing your matesprit, but the guy's a liar, a jerk, and a bit on the violent side on top of that! I mean, if he's flushed for you now, I guess that's okay, but it might just be his way of being grateful for the arm, and that gratitude won't last forever."

It didn't even occur to Maleno that he was the only one nearby who actually disliked Revyss. Zillie and Raelis seemed to count the guy as a friend, after all.

Of course he'd assume she was talking about Revyss. He didn't like the guy. She'd have to (metaphorically, of course) nudge him in the right direction. She looked back down at her hands, an amused and shy smile curling her lips. "This is not about Revyss. It's about the flushed quadrant, yes, but not about him.". There, now she had just admitted red infidelity out loud. Maybe it wasn't just a nudge. She wondered how he'd react to that. She had pretty much forgotten that Zillie was nearby at this point.

He blinked in confusion at first, reaching under his hat to scratch his head. It... felt weird to actually consider encouraging infidelity, if it ultimately lead to her not being tied up with that inthufferable prick. "Okay, so... I'm, uhh... going to have to guess, aren't I?" he pondered aloud. In a way, this guessing game, in spite of how serious it was (okay, so it wasn't as bad as he'd expected. Infidelity was a lot less worse than, say, finding out her lusus had a terminal disease or something), was still actually a little on the entertaining side - and would lead into one of his favorite activities, being able to tease someone about their potential matches. "Hrmmm... Well then, who could it be? I don't really think Kimio or Acroto would be your type... And Riotte is otherwise taken, so I doubt you'd go after her... Phidal's something of a ladies' man I guess, maybe you like yourself a guy who knows his way around carpentry?" It had taken a great deal of self control to avoid the innuendo that came so naturally.

The smile faded while he was listing the options. He'd never guess himself. She held a sigh. "Getting closer, but you're still not there.", she said simply. She was not going to tell him. At least not now. She kept her eyes down all the time.

Downward gaze. This implied shame. Maleno pondered the implications. Could Magnea actually be embarassed about the who of her flushcrush? And apparently Phidal had been a tad closer. Maybe it had been the "ladies' man" implication. Alright, so who in the valley fit that general motif? But would also be embarassing to have a crush on? ...Could it be the guy that Maleno was pretty much certain half the valley was pining red for? "...Don't tell me it's Raelis now, is it? That guy has more suitors than Argead! ...Oh god, it's not Argead, is it? Please tell me it's not him, I really, really don't think I could handle you being flushed for the runt right now!" In spite of his words, he affected a gently teasing tone, hoping to make light of the situation so that Magnea wouldn't feel so terrible about it.

"Not Raelis, and certainly not Argead. And you're just getting further away again. Hemospectrum-wise and guessing-wise.". Well, that was fun and all, but she was starting to get a little impatient. If he didn't guess right this time, which he probably wouldn't, then she'd just tell him right away and watch him stutter. Or whatever he'd do.

Ultimately, logic would prevail. Maleno thought it over aloud, partially for his benefit while explaining his thought processes to Magnea. "Alright, so... Blue's too high. Phidal, Acroto, Kimio, and Riotte aren't it. Unless I'm mistaken, you don't know Cesaro or Rashei well enough to develop any feelings like that for them. That leaves potential matches of Likllu, Tettra, and... uhh..." He blinked. Okay, it suddenly made sense why she was embarassed to admit it. On multiple levels. And he... had just made a guessing game out of a very serious matter. And wasn't sure how to respond, at least not immediately. Instinctively, he began to fidget, rubbing the back of one hand with the thumb of the other. "Oh. Umm... Well, I uhh... That's a little... Unexpected?" the mechanic gave an embarassed half-grin.

"I mean, you know Tettra and I are together. There's no question in that, but uhh... There was a time... Umm... Yeah, I'm not. I'm not good at the admissions part, so I'm going to stop right there. You get the jist, that's what counts." He coughed nervously, reaching up to grab his hat and practically crush it between his hands, alternating between that and pulling at the fabric.

Magnea looked up at him again when he started stuttering. It was amusing, even with the tension in the air thickening. "Now you see why this is complicated to me. We both have our own matesprits, and yet here I am, confessing a red crush for you through a guessing game.". Her hands finally separated, and went to rest on the grass instead. "Likllu told me that I might be flushed for what you represent instead of who you are. Y'know, a mechanic. Someone who fixes machines, while I build them. I'm not sure if that's what happens, I haven't really examined it too much.". She gathered some courage, and put one of her hands on his wrist, since his were occupied with the hat. "And I want you to know that I'm totally fine with us just remaining as friends. I know you don't like Revyss and all, but I'm totally flushed for him, and I'm sure he's for me as well. And I'd hate to ruin that, both for me and for you and Tettra. She's my friend too.".

There was a time and a place for an explanation of the nuances of trollmance, and this was, as far as Maleno could figure, not it. Maybe at a later date, he'd have her sit down and watch some of those documentaries and the like on the subject, read a few heavy texts - but of course, only if she was interested, which he found rather unlikely. He nodded in understanding, eyes trailing from the hand at his wrist, up the arm, and eventually finding the face of the troll to which the appendage belonged. Maybe in an alternate timeline, if such things were to be believed in. "Yeah, I know where you're coming from. And, uhh... Thanks for letting this not get too awkward. Being friends means a lot to me. And maybe eventually colleagues, if I ever get into robotics and programming." He offered a smile. Okay, good, the situation wasn't getting out of hand. He'd just have to... be careful around Magnea in the future, avoid anything compromising. Because, let's face it, chemistry does strange things.

She offered him a reassuring smile, looking him in the eyes. That went a lot better than she thought it would. Sure, the feelings were still there, and she still half wanted to just take him by the shoulders and kiss him without permission, but she wouldn't do that. "I never did show you how to build anything robotic. But I guess we should avoid that, at least for now. Let the dust settle down.". She pulled her hand off his wrist, letting it fall on the grass again. "And thank you for... I dunno, being so understanding? ... you're a good friend, Mal.". Shifting her weight, she leaned towards him and hugged him, not in a romantic way, but in a friendly and somewhat like a sister would do with a brother. Not like trolls really had the concept of siblings, that's just to give a better description for the readers. "I knew telling you would help.", she said on his back, with her head resting on his shoulder from the hug.

A borderline forlorn smile etched itself upon his features, and he returned the embrace in a properly platonic fashion. Goodness, how the pities could be confusing sometimes! "I try to be. Hell, sometimes it even works. But hey, enough about, uhh, those kinds of things. What're Rashei's chances looking like? I'm not really familiar with the whole going prosthetic thing, not as much as I should be." He pulled back a bit so that he could tilt his head in a curious fashion.

She went back fully, breaking the hug and letting her hands slide off his back by his sides before going back to waiting on the grass. "Ugh, don't get me started on that. There's a fair chance that she'll die on the process, and it'd be all because of me, since I'm going to have to properly connect her brain to the robot while her blood is being transfered to it. Raelis will help me, sure, but the most pressure is still on me. He doesn't know how to connect nerves to robotic receptors, and it's not like he'll learn it in a few hours.". She leaned her back against the wall again. "I'm just trying not to think about it too much, but when you have something like this on your mind, it's pretty much impossible not to think about it.". Now they were back to normal friendly talk. Good.

Maleno gave Magnea a broad grin, reaching over to pat her knee. "Hey. You'll do great. Just gotta keep that in mind, and you'll be fine. Nobody here's better at what you do! Sure, it may be scary now, but just think - when you're done, you'll have successfully performed an almost full-body prosthesis!" Yes, it was hard to break the cycle of tending to pat people reassuringly when building their confidence, regardless of whether or not they'd just admitted to flushed feelings for him that might make such contact have a different context.

She looked at his hand when he patted her knee, and smiled. "Heh. Yeah, I guess. It's just a bit of a big jump from an arm to a whole body, but I think I can pull it off. I have to.". She looked up, not at him, but at the landscape of the valley in front. She took a deep breath, letting her head go back and lean against the wall as well, looking up at the nightsky. She felt much more relaxed now, and the initial tired look was gone. Simply saying it out loud and having it understood so easily had helped tremendously, and now she was even a little bit more confident about the surgery than before. Maleno sure was helpful. "Thanks again, Mal. You helped me a lot.".

"Hey, if anyone in the valley can pull it off, it's you," he said, nodding seriously before bringing his hand back to his lap and situating himself against the wall in a fashion similar to hers. Ahh, yes, landscape. It was the wrong time of night for it to be a particularly interesting one, but at least the two moons were keeping things lit well enough.

[Julia]

Zillie was leaned up against the wall of Raelis' hive as the two spoke. She had a good idea what they were talking about, when she considered the conversation Maggie and her had earlier this night. Though she was entirely interested with romance, she didn't really give the slightest fuck about what was transpiring and her mind was focused on Raelis. She was thinking up how to talk to him- how to get him to understand that she was pale for him. No ideas. She was so shit at this moirail thing. Maybe she could just go with the flow?

She watched the two moons in the sky, sighed gently to herself. Fuck- there goes her PDA again. She pulled it out, and OH FUCK ARGEAD. She really wanted to just slam her fist into her PDA and break it, but that would be stupid! She slowly cooled down, breathing in and out as she calmed herself. This conversation wasn't so bad, anyway.

-- encroachmentArchitect [EA] began trolling sizzlingFirecracker [SF] --

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EA: 1. Hi Zillie.
SF: WHAT.
EA: 2. Nothing, just wanted to talk.
SF: UM, OKAY
EA: 3. Look, about two nights ago.
EA: 4. I was acting completely alone.
EA: 5. No one but me is at fault.
SF: HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM OKAY
EA: 6. I don't want you to hold anything against Phidal or Riotte, if you did.
SF: I DON'T
EA: 7. Alright.
EA: 8. I still don't feel like I've made things up to you.
SF: YEAH, !!*THAT'S*!! TRUE!
EA: 9. I know Phidal was going to your hive to help fix it.
EA: 10. I'm rubbish at that sort of manual labor, unfortunately.
SF: I !!*WOULDN'T*!! TRUST IT WITH !!*YOU*!! ANYWAY.
EA: 11. But I am willing to do what it takes to earn your trust.
EA: 12. So name it.
SF: HM.
SF: I !!*THINK*!! THERE'S STEAM COMING !!*OUT*!! OF MY EARS, !!*I'M*!! THINKING SO HARD.
EA: 13. Haha.
EA: 14. I've already taken a pact of non-aggression for you, so maybe this should be something a bit more...material.
SF: IF I !!*THINK*!! OF ANYTHING (AGAIN) !!*I'LL*!! TELL YOU.
EA: 15. Okay.
EA: 16. Because I know you don't believe me, but I really am sorry.
SF: REALLY TRULY?
EA: 17. Yes.
SF: ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY?
EA: 18. It was a tremendous mistake and I want to take it back.
SF: ALRIGHT.
SF: I !!*BELIEVE*!! YOU
SF: I !!*MEAN*!! WHAT KIND OF...!!*SICK*!!, TWISTED, INSANE, SICK, !!*TERRIBLE*!!, FILTHY, DISGUSTING TROLL !!*BEING*!! WOULD DO SUCH !!*A*!! THING WITH NO REMORSE?
EA: 20. I really didn't want to hurt anyone.
EA: 21. I just wanted to fight Phidal.
EA: 22. I'm sorry that I used you like that.
SF: WELL !!*YOU*!! MADE A LOT !!*MORE*!! FIGHTS I'M AFRAID.
SF: DON'T !!*LET*!! IT HAPPEN AGAIN.
EA: 23. It won't.
SF: SO
EA: 24. So?
SF: WHAT HAPPENED !!*LAST*!! DAY AT RAELIS' !!*THAT*!! I DON'T KNOW !!*ALREADY*!!?
EA: 25. Not much.
EA: 26. Acroto's lusus talked with Raelis'.
EA: 27. I don't know how that went.
SF: WEIRD
SF: WELL !!*IT*!! DIDN'T EAT THEM, !!*SO*!! THAT'S GOOD.
EA: 28. I'm very worried about Raelis, frankly.
SF: I !!*AM*!! WORKING MY SUPER !!*AWESOME*!! MOIRAILING TALENTS ON !!*HIM*!!
SF: !!*SARCASM*!! OF COURSE, I !!*SUCK*!! ASS
EA: 29. Well, I wish you luck regardless.
EA: 30. Who else is there?
SF: UHH !!*JUST*!! MAGNEA AND MALENO !!*AND*!! REVYSS IS NEARBY !!*I*!! THINK
SF: YOU !!!*PROBABLY*!!! KNOW WHY
EA: 31. Yeah.
EA: 32. Well, if you all manage to change Raelis mind about all this, that'd be fantastic.
EA: 33. It's not my place to interfere with his life anymore, though.
SF: I !!*THINK*!! I'M MAKING PROGRESS
EA: 34. If you succeed, tell me.
EA: 35. I want to apologize to him in earnest.
SF: UHHHHH
SF: OKAY
SF: JUST !!*DO*!! IT OVER TROLLIAN
EA: 36. He blocked me.
EA: 37. %: (
SF: YES !!*YES*!! I KNOW
SF: IF I !!*FIX*!! HIM THOUGH, EVERYONE !!*WILL*!! BE UNBLOCKED
EA: 38. Right.
SF: HE !!*BLOCKED*!! ME TOO, DON'T !!*TAKE*!! IT PERSONALLY
EA: 39. But it's all my fault.
SF: TRUE.
SF: NICE !!*JOB*!! DOUCHEFUCK >:(
EA: 40. Atonement is difficult.
EA: 41. It's easy to do bad things.
SF: YEAH.
EA: 42. Lot harder to make up for them.
SF: NOT !!*TO*!! MENTION YOU'LL PAY !!*FOR*!! THEM IN THE !!*LONG*!! RUN ANYWAY
EA: 43. I already have, but okay.
SF: HAHA OKAY
SF: HOW'S !!*YOU*!! AND PHIDAL?
EA: 44. Why don't you ask him?
EA: 45. He likes to talk about that sort of thing.
EA: 46. I don't.
SF: CONVENIENCE
SF: BUT OKAY
SF: ANYWAY, BYE?
EA: 47. See you.

-- encroachmentArchitect [EA] stopped trolling sizzlingFirecracker [SF] --

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Zillie shrugged and deposited her PDA into her pocket, then returned to waiting. What was Raelis doing in there, anyway?

[Alyss]

MEANWHILE.

After chatting with Amazar, Salvia floated/swam up to the shore, throwing up her crutches for extra support. Walking would definitely be more of a challenge, at least until her water-logged clothes stopped weighing her down. The sea-dweller staggered on to the good-doctor's hive, taking care not to slip because that would be horribly hilarious. And maybe she could stop at Zillie's to say hello. Eh, and she wasn't in any rush either way. Raelis or anyone else couldn't possibly have been doing anything horrible while she was walking there.

Of this she is certain.

Back at the girl's hive, a disgruntled lusus paced around, deep in thought, possibly taking all this a bit too seriously. She shouldn't have let her charge swim off so easily... Taking the injured state she came back in into consideration, what ever was out there must be rather... Unsafe. Knocking down desks and flower pots (her troll's possessions were not of importance now), Divinora came up with a plan. Yes... Precautions would have to be taken. Her charge would never be harmed in such a way again.

Of this she was certain.

With some amount of stumbling and tripping later, the sea-dwelling girl finally arrived at the blue-blood's hive, quite frankly surprised at what she saw on his lawn.

"I...What? ... Who is... Where... Holy fuck."

[momatoes]

Rashei turned her eyes at the doctor, smiling lightly as she let her fear fade slowly away. Finally registering what he had said, she spoke up rather softly, "Well, then who are you being today?" She looked half-earnest, half-sly, unable to determine if she was being serious or not.

Raelis focused on the sharp moonrays wafting down from the windows. Rashei's voice seemed far, too far away, but it was alright. He would ask forgiveness from her, and she will pardon all his transgressions. As he spoke, his voice gradually grew in excitement and fervor.

"who, am i? yess; a, good question; a, very good question; i'm, being someone i've alwayss dreamed about;" He paused to take a breath. "in, my nightmaress...i, alwayss see myself eating the fruit; i, would feel, the juice running down my chin; the blue pulp would catch in my teeth and i would lick it; it tasted so good; when i would wake up it wass horror that i felt; disbelief; but, you know what?" He laughed. "i've, alwaysss envied him for being stronger and better than what i could ever be;"

Raelis lifted up the left sleeve of his shirt up to his elbow. He traced the distorted lumps on his arm, the twisted scarring that marked him for life. "i, think i'm finally being what my lususss wanted me to be; but i feel so confused...rashei;" He looked back into her eyes, his eyes wide, his whole face in taut stress. Light beads of perspiration started forming on his temples. Slowly he raised his hands as if in supplication. The right one still clenched the stained scalpel. "what, should i do rashei?" he whispered.

[adamantRevolutionary]

Phidal made made it to Zillie's hive, limp and all. He went about detaching the bundle of planks from his Lusus, then knocked on Zillie's front door and waited. No response. He knocked again and waited a few more minutes, then pulled out his PDA to see if she was online. She was.

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-- adamantRevolutionary [AR] began trolling sizzlingFirecracker [SF] --


AR: i-'M aT yOUR hIVE.
SF: HEY PHIDAL!
SF: I'M !!*AT*!! RAELIS' RIGHT NOW
AR: sHOULD i be-GIN any-WAY? tHE dam-AGE lOOKS pret-TY sim-PLE tO fIX.
SF: THAT'D !!*BE*!! AWESOME.
SF: I'LL BE !!*BACK*!! SOON.
AR: al-RIGHT. how-'VE yOU bEEN, zil-LIE?
SF: WELL !!*I*!! WAS HAPPIER EARLIER, !!*THEN*!! A BIT PISSED, !!*THEN*!! A LITTLE ANXIOUS, !!*I*!! GUESS.
AR: hMM. sor-RY tO hEAR iT.
AR: i-'M go-ING tO gO a-HEAD aND gET start-ED, hOPE tO sEE yOU sOON.
SF: YUP! !!*SEE*!! YA.

-- adamantRevolutionary [AR] ceased trolling sizzlingFirecracker [SF] --

... Wow, she seemed more relaxed than usual. Weird. Phidal was about to put his PDA away and get set up when it beeped and another log popped up on his screen... Oh, great. Argead.

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-- encroachmentArchitect [EA] began pestering adamantRevolutionary [AR] --

EA: 1. Hey.
AR: hEY.
EA: 2. Where'd you run off to?
AR: zil-LIE'S hIVE, could-N'T pUT iT oFF an-Y lon-GER. sor-RY i did-N'T sTAY tO cud-DLE.
EA: 3. Oh, it's okay.
EA: 4. Maybe next time.
EA: 5. For my first time, I think that went alright.
AR: jUST al-RIGHT? i-'M flat-TERED.
EA: 6. Well, maybe if I had a kismesis who could put up a decent fight.
EA: 7. Fighting you is so trivial, there's really not too much fun to it.
EA: 8. Like playing SWUPOH with the computer on the lowest difficulty setting.
AR: may-BE yOU cOULD tRAIN mE. tEACH mE sOME oF tHOSE fan-CY choke-HOLDS sO yOU cAN bE oN
tHE re-CEIVING eND fOR oNCE.
EA: 9. That's what I was thinking, actually.
EA: 10. I never imagined that I actually knew how to fight.
EA: 11. I thought what I had taught myself was just, like, compensation for my size.
AR: yOU don-'T nEED tO bE a hUGE mASS oF mus-CLE tO bE a gOOD fight-ER. tech-NIQUE iS
every-THING, wHICH i hap-PEN tO lACK iN mORE depart-MENTS tHAN oNE.
EA: 12. You're also out of shape.
EA: 13. Nail-gun practice isn't exactly physically exertive.
AR: aND throw-ING sPEARS iS?
EA: 14. You think throwing is all I do?
EA: 15. Spears are all about footwork.
AR: on-LY iF yOU tHINK shoot-ING a gUN iS aLL i dO.
EA: 16. What else do you do?
EA: 17. Practice pistol-whips?
AR: i rUN, tO sTART wITH.
EA: 18. Oh, that explains your stamina.
EA: 19. You lasted longer than I expected you to.
AR: it-'S aLL wILL pow-ER. i-'M tOO stub-BORN tO ev-ER ad-MIT de-FEAT tO yOU.
EA: 20. You're lucky I decided not to choke you out.
EA: 21. I guess I'm just merciful like that.
AR: merci-FUL? i hAVE a lIMP tHAT sAYS other-WISE.
EA: 22. Was that a result of the fight or the afterwards?
AR: tHE... after-WARDS.
EA: 23. Thought so.
EA: 24. Well, first thing is you're going to have to build muscle.
AR: wHAT dO yOU recom-MEND?
EA: 25. Running was good, but now you'll have to start with some other exercises, every day.
EA: 26. I'll show you some later.
AR: i-'LL lOOK for-WARD tO iT.
EA: 27. Secondly, it's all about being aware of your surroundings.
EA: 28. A spearsman needs to be aware of his sides and back at all times, so I have that.
EA: 29. But your spatial awareness is lacking.
EA: 30. So we'll be sparring daily from now on.
AR: tHIS jUST gETS bet-TER anD bet-TER.
EA: 31. Finally, I saw what you call food.
EA: 32. You're going to be eating a lot more fruits and vegetables from now on.
AR: oH bOY, a di-ET.
EA: 33. Some good news, then.
EA: 34. I'm cleaning the mess we made.
AR: wHAT a gentle-TROLL. yOU bet-TER nOT bE charg-ING ME fOR tHIS.
EA: 35. It's a favor.
EA: 36. I owe you for carting me around the last two days and giving me a place to sleep.
AR: i wANT tO tALK tO yOU ab-OUT some-THING, aND i-'D lIKE tO dO iT nOW.
EA: 37. Okay.
AR: tett-RA iS mY moi-RAIL. i-'VE kNOWN hER aND bEEN wITH hER fOR mORE thAN hALF oF mY lIFE.
i can-'T sTAND bY aND dO noth-ING iF yOUR pur-SUE yOUR gRUDGE ag-AINST hER.
EA: 38. Okay.
EA: 39. Well, rest assured.
EA: 40. I will bring no physical harm to her.
EA: 41. Nothing permanent, anyways.
AR: :/
EA: 42. She's just a means to get to Maleno.
EA: 43. Nothing more.
AR: mal-ENO iS a mEANS tO en-SURE tett-RA IS pro-TECTED. wHAT dO yOU sAY tO tHAT?
AR: i hAVE tO en-SURE hER weLL be-ING, aND mal-ENO iS ve-RY bene-FICIAL tO tHAT.
EA: 44. I am not going to tell you my plans, Phidal.
EA: 45. They are private.
AR: i don-'T ex-PECT yOU tO.
EA: 46. However, I can promise you that seeing Tettra harmed is not my intent.
EA: 47. Besides, she can regenerate.
EA: 48. She'll be fine.
AR: sHE can-'T regen-ERATE a brok-EN hEART.
EA: 49. Awww.
AR: sHUT uP.
EA: 50. Frankly, Phidal, I don't care about her emotional well-being.
EA: 51. And I don't think Maleno cares about mine.
AR: aRE yOU say-ING hE wOULD att-ACK ri-OTTE?
EA: 52. Had I not planned for that, yes.
EA: 53. Luckily I have a way to keep her safe.
AR: wOULD hE sTOOP tHAT lOW? mal-ENO would-N'T dO tHAT tO a by-STANDER.
EA: 54. You'd be surprised at what Maleno would stoop to.
EA: 55. I spoke with him earlier, and he made it rather clear he would exploit my weakness for her in a heartbeat.
AR: i-'M learn-ING nOT tO tRUST an-Y fIRST hAND acc-OUNTS fROM yOU. a lATE les-SON con-SIDERING aLL that-'S hap-PENED, bUT a nec-ESSARY oNE.
EA: 56. Ask him yourself.
EA: 57. Actually, I can tell you my trump card in that case.
AR: oH?
EA: 58. The vial.
EA: 59. I have solemnly sworn not to use it on Maleno if he swears to not harm Riotte.
AR: nOT tO uSE iT oN hIM oR tett-RA, yOU mEAN.
EA: 60. I never said that.
EA: 61. But I told you I don't want to hurt Tettra.
AR: bull-SHIT. hE would-N'T ag-REE tO lEAVE yOUR mate-SPRIT al-ONE un-LESS yOU ag-REED nOT tO tOUCH hIS.
EA: 62. Why do you think I asked him right after he woke up?
EA: 63. He didn't realize I never said I wouldn't use it on Tettra.
AR: i-'M tell-ING yOU tHAT yOU won-'T.
EA: 64. You're right, I won't.
EA: 65. But Maleno doesn't know that.
EA: 66. First War of Unification, the Troll Allies used an army consisting of inflatable war machines.
EA: 67. Same strategy here.
EA: 68. Make him think there's a threat when there really isn't.
AR: kNOW tHAT there'S a ve-RY re-AL oNE wait-ING fOR yOU iF yOU dO, ar-GEAD.
EA: 69. You?
EA: 70. Don't make me laugh.
EA: 71. I'm not going to hurt her, but not because you asked me to.
EA: 72. It just happens to fit my interests.
AR: calig-INOUS sparr-ING iS oNE tHING. ven-GEANCE fOR tHE dEATH oF yOUR moi-RAIL iS anoth-ER fIGHT en-TIRELY.
EA: 73. Yes, yes.
EA: 74. This is good for you, actually.
EA: 75. I'm not even going to count this as repayment in my debt to you.
EA: 76. You'll have to think of something else.
AR: i-'M sURE i cAN pUT yOU tO uSE some-WHERE.
EA: 77. Training you will go a long way to that.
EA: 78. But I owe you my life, so there's that.
EA: 79. I never properly thanked you, did I?
AR: nOT oNCE. lAST nIGHT wENT a lONG wAY tow-ARDS some-THING OF aN apol-OGY, tHOUGH.
EA: 80. Right.
EA: 81. Well, then, thank you for saving my life, Phidal.
AR: fUCK yOU, i would-N'T dO iT ag-AIN.
AR:
EA: 82. Ugh, I'll have to save you at some point, won't I?
EA: 83. Can't say I'm looking forward to that.
EA: 84.
AR: aND i-'LL nev-ER lET yOU for-GET IT... tHE oNE tIME ar-GEAD hyl-LUS pLAYED tHE wHITE kNIGHT fOR hIS spite-FUL mATE iN dis-TRESS.
EA: 85. I can see you swooning in my arms right now.
AR: i dOUBT yOU cOULD car-RY mE iF i-'M sO oUT oF sHAPE.
EA: 86. Maybe I'm stronger than I think, who knows?
EA: 87. I'm just full of surprises.
AR: yOU cAN sAY tHAT ag-AIN. i did-N'T ev-EN kNOW tHE tROLL fORM' cOULD bEND lIKE tHAT.
EA: 88. What are you...oh.
EA: 89. Yeah, that.
EA: 90. I tired myself out doing stuff like that, no wonder you were up before me.
AR: wE cAN tAKE iT slow-ER nEXT tIME... oR nOT. cOULD bE a gREAT sTART tO aN exer-CISE rou-TINE.
EA: 91. Considering we both passed out for about 30 minutes, I disagree.
EA: 92. But I won't keep you.
AR: i-'VE en-JOYED to-NIGHT, ar-GEAD. i hOPE tHIS cAN bE a reg-ULAR occ-URANCE bet-WEEN uS.
EA: 93. Yes, me too.
EA: 94. I'll be spending the rest of the night with Riotte and Likllu.
EA: 95. But perhaps our paths will cross again later.
AR: yOU hAVE tO cOME bACK tO sLEEP some-TIME.
AR: or per-HAPS nOT, wITH ri-OTTE.
EA: 96. I don't plan to do that with her, at least not today.
EA: 97. Likllu advised me to take things slow with her.
EA: 98. I want our relationship to be less spontaneous than the one you and I have.
AR: that"S us-UALLY tHE cASE iN fLUSHED mat-TERS. i wISH yOU lUCK, odd-LY en-OUGH.
EA: 99. Thank you.
EA: 100. I wish you luck with your crush on Zillie.
AR: sHE mIGHT bEAT mE wORSE tHAN yOU dO... bUT tHANKS. lat-ER, grub-FUCKER.
EA: 101. Do you realize what you just called yourself?
AR: ... fORCE oF hab-IT.
AR: fUCK yOU.
AR: bYE.

-- adamantRevolutionary [AR] ceased pestering encroachmentArchitect [EA] --

Hmph. Inthufferable prick as uthual. It was a hell of a lot better than the conversations they were having before, though... The thought of giving up all his precious grains and protein for straight up greens almost engaged Phidal's bluh reflex, but he'd be a trooper and suffer through it in stride if it meant being able to beat the shit out of Argead one day.

Phidal looked down to his PDA. He was supposed to get started on fixing this hive, but... it beckoned. Who to Troll, who to Troll...

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-- adamantRevolutionary [AR] began trolling vocalOvertone [VO] --

AR: even-ING, lik-LLU.
VO: Phidaaaaaaal~~~~~
VO: I was just thinking about calling yoouuu~~~~
AR: hOW hAVE yOU bEEN?
VO: I have been greeeeaaaaaattt~~~~
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheeheeee~~~~
VO: How about yoouuu~~~~~?
VO: I hear Argy was over there~~~~
AR: ... sORE. :x
VO: Ooooooooooohhh~~~~~ Really?
VO: Is that a good kinda sore, like when you work out?
VO: Or a bad sore, when you sleep funny?
AR: it-'S a...
AR: uM
AR: roman-TIC kIND oF sORE.
VO: }]{:O
VO: Heeeheeheeheheheheeheeheeee~~~
VO: SSSQQQQQUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VO: YOU AND ARGY DID IT, DIDN'T YOU?!?!?!?!?!?!
AR: uM, uM, uM
VO: You and Argy got your hatepails on, diiiiidn't yooooouuuuuu~~~~~~~~~
AR: s-s-s-sO in-DECENT lik-LLU
VO: }]{:}
VO: }]{ :}
VO: }]{:}
AR: ... aff-IRMATIVE.
VO: Heeheeheeheheeheeheeheeheeheeheeeeeeee~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
VO: Oooooh, I'm so proud of you twoooooooo~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!
AR: iT wAS sO
AR: mes-SY
AR: aND vio-LENT!
VO: but it was
VO: Romaaaaaaantiiiiic~~~~~~~
AR: i tHINK hE bROKE MY nOSE ag-AIN.
VO: Ooooooohhhh, you're a tough troll~~~~
VO: So!
VO: did you liiiiiiike iiiiiit~~~~?
AR: hE wAS sO domin-ATING... iT wAS im-POSSIBLE nOT tO
VO: Mmmmmmmmm~~~~~~~ Heeheeheeheeheeeeeee~~~~
VO: You know what's reeeaaaally funny~~?
AR: ?
VO: Argy asked me how it felt, not too long ago~~~~~
VO: Now he knooooooooows~~~~~
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeeeee~~~~~~~~
AR: oH MY...
AR: wAIT, hOW wOULD yOU kNOW hOW iT fELT?
VO: }]{
AR: mISS lik-LLU! :#x
VO: Heeheeheeheee~~~~
VO: }]{;#)
VO: Okay, okay~~~
VO: Heeheehee~~~
VO: So, what else is up~~?
AR: oN mY wAY tO zil-LIE'S fOR sOME hIVE re-PAIR, tHEN i hAVE sOME pri-VATE con-TRACTOR wORK.
VO: Neat!
VO: You are a busy troll~~~
VO: Working with your wood all day, trying to win over a matesprit~~
AR: i-'LL bE nail-ING aLL nIGHT lONG iF aLL gOES acc-ORDING tO pLAN.
VO: Be sure to pace yourself, you might tire out too quickly
AR: pSSH, i cAN han-DLE my-SELF. i hAVE tHE bruis-ES tO pROVE iT nOW.
VO: Ooooh, I'm sure you can, but you need a lot of stamina for all that nailing and woodworking
AR: i-'LL cALL mal-ENO iF i nEED sOME hELD handl-ING mY wOOD. i-'M nOT ve-RY kEEN oN hIM nail-ING at zil-LIE'S wh-ILE i-'M ar-OUND, tHOUGH!
AR: hE mIGHT ste-AL MY thun-DER
VO: Oh I dunno, you've been working with wood for sweeps now, I think you'll stay ahead
VO: Just don't get too sweaty, you might slip and shoot your nails everywhere
AR: oH pLEASE, that-'S wHY every-THING iS cov-ERED iN rub-BER. i won-'T dROP an-Y oF mY wOOD wITH tHOSE gLOVES ar-OUND MY hANDS.
VO: Well that's good, gotta stay safe after all~
VO: I bet Zillie's gonna just fall head over heels for your woodworking, and leap on you to make out with such a strong and experienced troll
AR: i cAN on-LY hOPE. :#x
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheeee~~~~~
VO: So, was there a reason you called me, or do you just wanna talk~~~?
AR: i jUST want-ED tO sHARE wHAT i dID aLL even-ING.
AR: i fig-URED yOU sHOULD bE oNE oF tHE fIRST tO kNOW...
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeeee~~~~
VO: I'm glad~~
VO: I just looooooove hearing about romance~~~
VO: }]{
AR: ... iF yOU don-'T mIND ME ask-ING
AR: who-'S thE luck-Y tROLL tHAT man-AGED tO wOO tHE mOST rom-ANTIC mis-TRESS iN tHE val-LEY?
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheeee~~~~
VO: He's the other green blood~~
VO: He's my mio amore~~~~
AR: mi-O a-MORE? nev-ER hEARD oF hIM.
VO: Heeheeheeee, he doesn't like people knowing his name~~~~
VO: He's big and strong, and has the most
VO: Romaaaaaaantic way of talking~~~
AR: ... hMM. does-N'T rING a bELL.
VO: Heeheeheeheee~~~ He doesn't go out that much~~
VO: But, he wants to meet everyone!
VO: so, I'm gonna bring him out, and he'll know eveyone, and it will be great~
AR: i lOOK for-WARD tO iT. wOULD yOU bOTH lIKE tO cOME ov-ER fOR din-NER oNE nIGHT? wE cAN in-VITE every-ONE, aND hope-FULLY iT won-'T tURN oUT lIKE tHE lAST part-Y iN tHE val-LEY... a coup-LES on-LY nIGHT, fOR calig-INOUS aND fLUSHED!
VO: OoO
VO: YYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VO: We have to do that~~~~~!!!
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeeee~~~~~
AR: ... i mUST hAVE a con-CUSSION fROM tHIS even-ING. wHY aM i sO ex-CITED ab-OUT tHIS
VO: Because you know how fun romance iiiiiis~~~~~~
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheeee~~~~~
AR: aff-IRMATIVE. i-'D bet-TER gET mY man-LY mAN car-PENTRY oN, lik-LLU. en-JOY yOUR nIGHT.
VO: Heeheeheeee~~~
VO: Talk to you later!
VO: Mwah!

-- adamantRevolutionary [AR] ceased trolling vocalOvertone [VO] --

Good gog, so much romance... Wait, the other green blood? The one Phidal had arranged an arms deal with? Hmm. Phidal would be able to make an assessment of him soon, then.

Alright, enough stalling. Phidal walked to his Lusus and uncaptchalogued a spider-like device tied to a thick rope. There was a clip at the opposite end of the rope that he attached to his harness, and he handed the device to Kennedy. His Lusus spread it's wings and ascending to the very top of Zillie's hive, tapping a large button on the top of the ARACHNIGRAPPLING HOOK and engaging it. The drone climbed onto the highest point of Zillie's hive and spun a web composed of high density fibers, settling in the center once it was complete and locking it's legs around the strings of the web. This would allow Phidal to climb up and lock himself in place at various heights to work on the exterior damage, then repel down if he needed to descend. Phidal climbed up to her Respiteblock, swinging inside and detaching his harness once his feet touched. Zillie had done a good job of sweeping out debris, but there were still small sections of the old wall attached to her hive that would need to be cleared out.

Phidal uncaptchalogued a cordless power saw and got to work. He tossed chunks of drywall through the convenient hole in the wall, leaving a perfectly rectangular opening that he'd be able to work with. A tape measure came out next and Phidal got the exact dimensions of the new hole, then he repelled down and began to build the skeleton of what would become Zillie's new wall.

[Dragongirl30894]

"Oh, hi Salvia. Stuff happened. I'll let the others explain.". Magnea looked over her Wristop.

-- roboticBlacksmith [RB] began pestering superiorInstrumentalist [SI] --

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RB: H1 AMAZAR.
SI: HellO OncE AgaiN, MagneA.
RB: S0, WHAT'S UP?
RB: ANYTH1NG NEW?
SI: NO. I AM SimplY SittinG HerE AT ThE HivE, PassinG ThE TimE.
RB: 1'M TRY1NG T0 PASS T1ME T00.
RB: H0W AB0UT WE PASS T1ME T0GETHER THEN?
SI: AhhH, YeS.
SI: PardoN?
RB: Y'KN0W, JUST CHAT AND ALL.
RB: 1 DUNN0, MAYBE 1'M START1NG T0 L1KE TALK1NG T0 Y0U.
SI: YoU DO NoT HavE A ParticulaR ReasoN?
RB: 1 TH1NK 1T'S BECAUSE Y0U ST0PPED BE1NG S0 B0R1NG.
RB: WHY ARE Y0U N0T B0R1NG ALL 0F A SUDDEN ANYWAY?
SI: I DO NoT ReallY UnderstanD WhaT YoU FinD DifferenT, FoR I AM MucH ThE SamE PersoN.
RB: 0F C0URSE Y0U ARE
RB: 1 D0N'T REALLY KN0W WHY Y0U ST0PPED BE1NG B0R1NG.
RB: THAT'S WHY 1'M ASK1NG.
SI: PerhapS YouR InitiaL JudgemenT WaS SimplY FlaweD?
RB: MAYBE.
RB: Y0U SURE N0TH1NG D1FERENT HAPPENED T0 Y0U LATELY?
SI: WelL, YeS, SomethinG DiD HappeN, BuT NothinG ThaT WoulD HavE ImpacT ON MY BasE BehavoiR.
RB: WHAT WAS 1T?
SI: TO PuT IT SimplY, I MaY HavE HaD A FurtheR MomenT OF EnlightmenT, AS IT WerE.
RB: THAT'S N0T PUTT1NG 1T S1MPLY.
RB: C0ME 0N, ELAB0RATE!
SI: WelL, ThE DetailS ArE A RatheR PrivatE MatteR FoR ME.
SI: ThE ResultS ArE WhaT IS ImportanT.
RB: WHAT'S THE RESULT THEN?
SI: AfteR A DiscussioN, I DecideD TO ChangE MY WayS IN RegardS TO... RomantiC MatterS.
RB: AWW, L1TTLE AMAZAR 1S LEARN1NG!
RB: WHAT D1D Y0U GET? MATESPR1T?
RB: 0R MAYBE A K1SMES1S?
SI: PleasE, SparE ME ThE... WhateveR SorT OF HumoR ThaT IS.
SI: BotH.
RB: 0H, C0NGRATULAT10NS!
RB: MAY 1 KN0W WH0 ARE THE LUCKY TR0LLS?
SI: SalviA IN ThE WaY OF ThE ReD, LikllU IN ThE WaY OF ThE BlacK.
RB: G00D F0R Y0U.
SI: ThanK YoU KindlY.
RB: NEVER TH0UGHT L1KLLU W0ULD GET A K1SMESS TH0UGH.
RB: Y0U MUST'VE P1SSED HER 0FF PRETTY BADLY.
SI: ShE IS FaR, FaR MorE DetestfuL ThaN ShE LetS ON.
SI: NO- ShE PisseD -ME- OfF PrettY BadlY.
RB: H0W S0?
SI: OncE AgaiN, DetailS ArE NoT ImportanT AT ThiS TimE.
RB: F1NE. 1'LL TRY T0 ST0P ASK1NG QUEST10NS L1KE THAT.
SI: ThanK YoU. I AppreciatE ThaT.
RB: 1'M N0T SURE 1F Y0U KN0W, BUT 1 G0T A MATESPR1T T00!
SI: YeS, RevysS InformeD ME.
SI: CongratS.
RB: THANKS!
RB: 0H, SALV1A JUST ARR1VED HERE!
SI: OH, YeS... YoU ArE AT Raelis'S HivE, TheN?
RB: YEAH. JUST WA1T1NG 0UTS1DE F0R N0W.
SI: I SeE.
RB: HE NEEDS S0ME T1ME BY H1MSELF APPARENTLY.
RB: DUDE G0T K1LLED, S0 1T'S UNDERSTANDABLE.
SI: ConsiderinG HE TrieD TO BlocK US, I AM No-
SI: ...WhaT?
RB: 0H, YEAH. Z1LL1E T0LD US.
RB: APPARENTLY 1THLENA SH0T H1M 1N THE HEAD.
SI: WHAT?!
RB: AND THEN Z1LL1E HERSELF ARR1VED AND FENDED HER 0FF.
RB: HE'S G0T REGENERAT1VE AB1L1T1ES, S0 Y0U SH0ULDN'T W0RRY.
RB: 1 SAW H1M UP AND RUNN1NG WHEN 1 G0T HERE.
RB: EVEN TALKED T0 H1M F0R A T1NY B1T.
SI: YeS, IF HE IS FinE, I AM NoT ConcerneD WitH HiS PhysicaL StatE.
SI: I AM NoW ConcerneD WitH ThE MentaL StatE OF BotH HiM AnD IthlenA, SO SaY ThE LeasT.
SI: AS WelL AS ThE SafetY OF ThosE IN ThE PremisE.
RB: WELL, HE STABBED Z1LL1E AFTER HE CAME BACK FR0M THE DEAD, BUT 1 D0N'T KN0W WHAT HAPPENED T0 1THLENA.
SI: ThankfullY, ShoulD SomethinG GO WronG, I WilL KnoW VerY SooN.
SI: ...AH.
RB: N0TH1NG WENT WR0NG REALLY, HE WAS PR0BABLY JUST C0NFUSED AFTER C0M1NG BACK T0 L1FE.
RB: TH0UGH 1THLENA'S REAS0NS T0 SH00T H1M ARE A M1STERY.
SI: YeS, ThaT WilL IndeeD BE InvestigateD.
SI: I WilL NoT StanD FoR A WoulD-BE MurdereR TO EscapE WithouT QuestioninG.
RB: SURE.
RB: BECAUSE Y0U JUST L0VE JUST1CE, D0N'T Y0U?
RB: JUST1CE, AND 0RDER, AND ALL THAT K1ND 0F STUFF.
SI: YeS, ThaT IS CorrecT.
RB: 1'M W0NDER1NG N0W...
SI: WonderinG AbouT WhaT?
RB: MAYBE 1 D0N'T TH1NK Y0U'RE B0R1NG ANYM0RE BECAUSE Y0UR NEW R0MANT1C PA1R1INGS M1GHT'VE CHANGED Y0U W1TH0UT Y0U N0T1C1NG 1T.
SI: I AM NoT FonD OF ThE DiscussioN OF ChangE, EspeciallY -SelF- ChangE.
SI: EveN SO, MY SpeecH PaternS AnD MannerismS ArE ThE SamE.
RB: TRUE.
RB: 1 ST1LL TH1NK Y0U'VE CHANGED AND D0N'T KN0W AB0UT 1T.
SI: IT IS MY TheorY ThaT NO TrolL EveR TruelY ChangeS.
SI: ThuS, I WoulD OpposE ThaT StatemenT.
SI: ThougH I DO NoT FeeL LikE DebatinG SucH TopicS AT ThiS TimE.
RB: WHY N0T?
RB: W0RR1ED AB0UT SALV1A?
SI: YeS, AS A MatteR OF FacT, I AM.
RB: WELL SHE'S Y0UR MATESPR1T N0W, S0 0F C0URSE Y0U' BE W0RR1ED AB0UT HER.
RB: BUT THERE'S REALLY N0TH1NG T0 W0RRY AB0UT.
SI: NonethelesS, GiveN ThE DangeR AnD HorriD CircumstancE RaeliS SeemS TO BE AttractinG, I WilL NoT BE RelaxeD.
RB: 1 UNDERSTAND.
RB: REVYSS' DUEL W1TH CESAR0 GETS ME W0RR1ED T00.
RB: BUT 1 KN0W HE'LL PULL 1T 0FF.
SI: AH, YeS, ThaT WilL CertainlY BE InterestinG.
SI: I ShoulD BE AblE TO ResT YouR MinD, ThougH:
SI: I HavE SpokeN WitH... CesarO, IS ThaT HiS NamE(?), AnD HE HaS TolD ME ThaT IT WilL EnD AT ThE FirsT SigN OF BlooD.
SI: HE AppointeD ME HiS SeconD, BeinG ThE EnforcerS OF ThE RuleS, AnD ThuS I WilL BE TherE DoinG SucH A JoB.
RB: AND 1'LL BE REVYSS' SEC0ND.
RB: WHAT D0ES A SEC0ND D0 EXACTLY?
SI: I CaN ShoW YoU, AS WE EssentiallY WorK AS A TeaM FoR ThE MosT ParT.
RB: 0H, G00D!
RB: MAYBE WHEN 1 G0 T0 G1VE Y0U Y0UR NEW PDA?
RB: 1'VE G0T A BUSY SCHEDULE T0N1GHT.
SI: WE EnsurE ThaT AlL RuleS OF ThE DueL AnD AlL TraditionaL CodeS ArE FolloweD, ExaminE BotH WeaponS FoR EqualitY AnD FairnesS, DeterminE A FaiR TerraiN, AnD EnsurE ThaT NO CollateraL DamagE IS SustaineD.
SI: BuT YeS, PerhapS.
RB: BLUH AT TRAD1T10NAL C0DES.
RB: BUT 1 UNDERSTAND.
SI: TraditioN AnD CodeS ArE AN IncrediblY ImportanT ParT OF SocietY.
SI: I HappeN TO OwN AN UnabridgeD ManuaL OF AlL ThE DuelinG RuleS.
RB: SURE, BUT "TRAD1T10NAL C0DES" JUST G1VES ME 1DEA 0F 0LD 0UTDATED RULES.
SI: IF SomethinG IS NoT BrokeN, DO NoT FiX IT.
SI: TherefoR, ThE OldeR A TraditioN, ThE BetteR IT MusT BE, NO, FoR IT HaS WorkeD FoR SO LonG?
SI: YeS.
RB: HEH. N0W 1'M THE 0NE WH0 "W0ULD 0PP0SE T0 THAT".
RB: TRAD1T10N 1S 0LD AND 0UTDATED, AND 0FTEN NEEDS T0 BE REPLACED W1TH NEWER, BETTER RULES.
SI: YeT ThE TraditioN ThaT SurviveS, OncE AgaiN, IS TherefoR, FoR LacK OF A BetteR TerM, PerfecT.
RB: N0 TRAD1T10N SURV1VES T1ME.
SI: EveN SO, ChangE ThesE DayS IS OfteN RusheD AnD HastY, AnD ReformerS OfteN CausE MorE DamagE IN TheiR ZeaL ThaN HelP.
SI: MY CasE IN PoinT, FoR ExamplE?
SI: Phidal'S "RevolutioN."
RB: THAT'S A SPEC1AL CASE.
SI: NoT AT AlL.
RB: MA1NLY BECAUSE 0F ARGEAD'S STUP1D1TY AT THE T1ME.
SI: EveN SO, I WilL NoT ConcedE AnY OtheR VieW ON ThE MatteR AT ThiS TimE, SO PerhapS WE HaD BesT EnD ThiS DebatE BeforE WE GO IN CircleS.
RB: HMM. L00KS L1KE Y0U STUBB0RN JUST L1KE ME.
RB: AND YEAH, Y0U'RE PR0BABLY R1GHT.
SI: IndeeD.
RB: 1 TH1NK 1 HAD AN0THER TH1NG T0 TALK AB0UT W1TH Y0U, TH0UGH.
SI: OH, WhaT IS ThaT?
RB: 1 WAS JUST TH1NK1NG AB0UT MY QUADRANTS.
RB: AND WAS C0NS1DER1NG P0SS1B1L1T1ES F0R M01RA1LS.
RB: CAN Y0U SEE WHERE 1'M G01NG?
SI: NoT ParticularlY.
RB: WELL, Y0U WERE 0NE 0F THE P0SS1B1L1T1ES THAT CAME T0 MY M1ND.
RB: 1S 1T CLEAR N0W?
SI: ...AH, YeS.
SI: I AM CuriouS, ThougH.
SI: WhY?
RB: BECAUSE Y0U'RE ALWAYS S0 AFRA1D 0F CHANGE.
RB: 1 JUST TH0UGHT Y0U'D BE A G00D CH01CE F0R S0ME0NE WH0'D NEED T0 PAC1FY ME AT T1MES.
SI: HmmM.
SI: IndeeD, YeS, ThaT IS RatheR JustifieD...
RB: 1'M JUST BE1NG... PRACT1CAL 1 GUESS?
RB: TH0UGH, WE C0ULD GET T0 KN0W EACH 0THER A L1TTLE BETTER BEF0RE START1NG AN ACTUAL M01RA1LLEG1ANCE, 1F Y0U WANT.
SI: I WoulD PrefeR ThaT, YeS.
RB: THEN WE CAN HAVE A N1CE FR1ENDLY TALK WHEN 1 G0 T0 DEL1VER Y0UR PDA.
RB: WHAT D0 Y0U SAY?
SI: ThaT SoundS LikE A FinE IdeA, YeS.
RB: 0KAY THEN.
RB: AND 1 JUST REAL1SED 1 MADE MY SCHEDULE EVEN M0RE FULL F0R T0DAY.
RB: TH0UGH N0T BY MUCH 1 ASSUME.
SI: AhhH, YeS.
RB: AT TH1S PACE 1'LL HAVE N0 T1ME AT ALL F0R MY MATESPR1T AT THE END 0F THE N1GHT.
SI: PooR RevysS.
RB: AND P00R ME T00.
SI: IndeeD!
RB: BUT M0ST 0F 1T 1S F0R A G00D CAUSE TH0UGH.
SI: NoT TO CuT ThiS ShorT, BuT I MusT EnD ThiS ConversatioN, FoR MY HusktoP IS AbouT DeaD.
RB: 0H, 0KAY!
RB: TALK T0 Y0U LATER THEN!
SI: IndeeD.
SI: GoodbyE.

-- superiorInstrumentalist [SI] ceased pestering roboticBlacksmith [RB] --

Well then, it was settled. Now she'd have a nice moirail soon. Filling her quadrants was being easier than she thought it would be. Maybe it was because she was making the right choices for each quadrant? Eh, whatever. She just went back to staring at the shimmering starts and the twin moons high up in the sky.

[eruditeScholar]

Bringing his husktop to the room where he had performed for Salvia eventually, Amazar hunkered into one of the high backed chairs. Alright, lets pull yourself together here: Who can you get more information from? Phidal did bring Argead to Raelis's hive, so... him, perhaps?

-- superiorInstrumentalist [SI] began pestering adamantRevolutionary [AR]

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SI: GooD EveninG, PhidaL.
AR: even-ING
SI: YoU TooK ArgeaD TO Raelis'S HivE LasT NighT, DiD YoU NoT?
AR: cor-RECT.
SI: DiD YoU StaY TherE OR SimplY DeposiT HiM ON ThE DoorsteP?
AR: ... i accom-PANIED hIM aND tHEN tOOK hIM tO mY oWN hIVE fOR thE rEST oF tHE dAY.
SI: ThaT IS NoT AnsweinG MY QuestioN.
SI: HoW LonG WaS SpenT AT Raelis'S HivE?
AR: per-HAPS aN ho-UR.
SI: WhaT -HappeneD?-
AR: rae-LIS threat-ENED tO kILL ar-GEAD fOR hav-ING a vi-AL oF hIS poi-SONOUS bLOOD. i tHOUGHT iT wAS a gener-IC dEATH tHREAT fOR every-THING ar-GEAD hAD dONE aND i inter-VENED.
SI: ...HiS BLOOD IS PoisoN ToO?
AR: i uSED mY sylla-DEX tO lAUNCH mY offic-ER'S hand-BOOK aT rae-LIS... i for-GOT tHAT i hAD mY na-ILS wITH mE aND hE wAS pier-CED bY ab-OUT a doz-EN.
SI: ...YoU ATTACKED HiM?
AR: yES, appar-ENTLY. hIS bLOOD aND sal-IVA.
AR: in def-ENSE oF mY kis-MESIS. i-'M nOT pROUD oF iT, bUT hE wOULD hAVE kILLED ar-GEAD other-WISE.
SI: JeguS ChrisT...
SI: SO I SupposE ThiS IS WhY He'S IssolatinG HimselF NoW, IS IT NoT?
AR: aff-IRMATIVE.
SI: AnD AS A FirsT HanD ObserveR, WhaT DO YoU ThinK ThiS SayS FoR HiS MentaL StabilitY?
SI: WhicH AlreadY SeemeD PrecariouS.
AR: ex-TREMELY un-STABLE... en-OUGH tO dis-REGARD hIS medic-AL stan-DARDS aND tRY tO kILL a pat-IENT.
SI: AnD YoU ArE CertaiN OF ThiS?
SI: AnsweR CarefullY.
AR: i hEARD iT my-SELF.
SI: TheN OnE FinaL QuestioN:
SI: ShoulD HE BE BothereD BY AnotheR IN PersoN AT ThiS TimE, ThiS WoulD BodE VerY BadlY, YoU SuspecT?
AR: per-HAPS. i don-'T tHINK he-'D att-ACK oN sIGHT, ar-GEAD wAS a spec-IAL cASE aND mORE oF a per-SONAL gRUDGE.
SI: EveN SO.
SI: TheN TelL ME, PhidaL:
SI: ShoulD I BE AS ConcerneD AS I AM WitH ThE FacT ThaT CurrentlY MY MatespriT IS WalkinG TO SeE HiM TO InvestigatE ON Argead'S SuggestioN?
AR: i wOULD BE vigil-ANT. tHERE iS nO nEED tO gET uP iN aRMS, how-EVER.
SI: HrmpF.
SI: YoU SeeM MucH CalmeR ThaN UsuaL.
AR: ... i-'VE hAD aN oppor-TUNITY tO lET oFF a lOT oF sTRESS. let-'S lEAVE IT aT tHAT fOR tHE sAKE oF dec-ENT con-VERSATION.
SI: HmmM, FinE.
SI: ThanK YoU FoR AnswerinG MY QuestionS. YoU TolD ME MorE ThaN ArgeaD DiD.
SI: IF YoU HavE NothinG TO AdD OR AsK, I WilL CeasE ThiS ConversatioN.
AR: un-DERSTOOD.
SI: GoodbyE.

...Oh dear. Oh my my my. Oh dear, oh my...! This is... quite bad...

Before his thoughts could go on, though, Amazar was trolled in a conversation that we have already seen with Magnea. Closing his husktop with it completed, for it was indeed running out of power, Amazar adjusted his monocle in thought.

The platonic quadrants can be defined as simpler in the fact due to the lack of reproduction, yet more complex in the fact that one has a moral obligation to their partner, or partners as it were with the ashen... Encouraging consistancy in others and pinning down agression would be a rather fine job indeed, yes...

------------

From his perch above, Birddad watched the group of trolls mill about Raelis's lawnring with a careful eye... Wait! That one, oh, that was her! Alright, alright, alright: Showtime. Time to... keep watching... harder!

[Corny]

Tettra had remained on the floor for a moment before getting up and wondering what she would do with the night. First of all, she needed to change out of these sopor soaked clothes. As much as she liked wearing Maleno's shirt, it was a mess now. She switched back to her usual long sleeved black shirt and another one of her vests. Essentially, she looked the same as she did at the beginning of the sequence of events that were changing her life so suddenly. But such was the way of most trolls, completely out of tune with fashion. With sopor on her mind, she noticed that her floor was now effectively covered in sticky green tracks. Maleno hadn't wiped his feet before leaving her respiteblock.
Great.
Might as well get out the mop. After she'd cleaned up all the slop from her respiteblock, she started to move on to the hallway. It would take most of the early evening to get it all up, but at least it was something to do. Or it was, until Likllu began pestering her.

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-- vocalOvertone [VO] began trolling teemingProngs [TP] --

VO: Teeeeeeeeettttttteeeeeeeeeeetttttttt~~~~~~~~~~~-
TP: hi likllu!
VO: }]{:D-
VO: How are yooouuuuuu~~~?
TP: I'm pretttty good I tthink :^)
VO: Yay!
VO: Heeheeheeheeheee~~~
TP: how aboutt you?
VO: I'm great!
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheee~~~
VO: Did you hear about Phidal and Argead~~?
TP: no, haven'tt ttalked tto anybody yett tthis evening :^0
TP: jeeze I haven'tt even ttalked tto phidal
VO: You should totally talk to Philly!
VO: Heeheeheheeheeheeheee~~~~
TP: did sometthing happen??
VO: Yesssssss, something awesome~~~~
TP: oh? are you going tto ttell me or...
VO: Nope~~~~
VO: It's Phidals news~~~
TP: ok, I guess I'll ask him aboutt itt aftter we finish ttalking
VO: Yesssss
VO: And then you should call me back!
VO: So we can talk about the juicy details~~~
TP: oh um... ok
VO: Heeheeheeheeee~~~
VO: So, what are you up toooooo~~~~~?
TP: cleaning sopor slime off my floor
TP: gott ttracked all over tthe place
VO: }]{;)
VO: Heeheeheeheeee~~~
TP: he forgott tto wipe itt off when he leftt :^/
TP: now tthere's foottprintts all over the place
VO: Well, he's got a busy schedule~~~
VO: Give your flushy a break~~~~
VO: Heeheeheeheeeheee~~~~
TP: you don'tt tthink I'm ttoo clingy do you?
VO: Mmmmmmmmmm, naaaaaw, I don't think so~~~~
VO: Just don't be smothering, let him go about his business~~
VO: He's a good troll~~
TP: I know :^)
VO: Do you wanna tell me about him, and your feelings~~~
VO: Little Likllu Listens~~
TP: I guess... I mean tthere isn'tt much tto complain aboutt, if tthatt's whatt you mean
VO: No, no, not that~
VO: I mean, just talking~
VO: You probably have so many things you want to say about him~~~
TP: I don'tt really know where tto sttartt :^0
VO: How about his personality~?
TP: well, I like tthatt he's always tthere for me. nothing I do botthers him
TP: he's never frusttratted witth me
VO: }]{:)
TP: it justt feels like he's always tthere for me, you know?
VO: Oooooh, your guys' love is so pure!
VO: You two are going to be together and happy forever~
VO: I'm so jealous and happy~~~~!!!!!!
TP: I sure hope so :^)
TP: heehee
VO: So, have you two~~~
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheeeee~~~~
VO: Shared a bucket~~~~?
TP: oh uh, um
TP: no
TP: I tthink we... almostt did, butt... um
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeeheeee~~~~~
TP: :#^I
VO: So, you're getting close~~~
VO: It's so wonderful~~~~~~~~~
VO: It's like, you share something so pure, so passionate, and then you have a pail full of both your love, as proof~~
VO: }]{:)
TP: yeah.... tthatt sounds really nice
TP: I'm justt, um, nott sure if we're ready for itt
VO: Well, when you are, just know~~
VO: You will never regret it!
TP: :#^)
VO: And I know it for a fact now, too~~~~~~~~~
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeeee~~~~~~
VO: }]{;#)
TP: um
TP: do you mean...
VO: Me and my matesprit~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VO: Did I tell you about my matesprit~~?
VO: He's sooooooo romantic~~~~
TP: I don'tt tthink you did :^0
TP: who is itt?
VO: He's the other green blood~~~~
VO: His tag is culturedGodfather~~~~
VO: The way he talks, it's just~~~
VO: Oooohhhhhh~~~~~~~
TP: oh, I didn'tt know tthere was anotther greenblood here
TP: well tthatt's really good to hear likllu :^)
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeee~~~~ Thank you Tettet~~~
VO: So, what are your plans for today~~?
TP: I'm nott acttually sure
VO: Oh, well, that's good too, I guess~~~
VO: Spontenuity!
TP: when I finish cleaning up I mightt justt go for a walk or sometthing
VO: That sounds nice and peaceful~~~!
TP: yeah, I could use a bitt of relaxattion on my own
VO: See, you're not being clingy~~~
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheeee~~~~~
TP: yeah :^)
VO: Well, I'll let you clean now~~~
TP: okay. I'll ttalk tto you again latter
VO: I'm going over to Riotte's and gonna watch Argy get his hair all ribboned~~~
VO: Talk to you later~~
VO: Mwah!
TP: bye

-- vocalOvertone [VO] ceased trolling teemingProngs [TP] --

That was nice. She was happy Likllu had her own matesprit now. She deserved it, and maybe it would keep her out of everybody's hair for a bit. There was a definite curiosity planted in her as well. She wondered what she was so excited about with Phidal and Argead. As she was about to open his name, she was instead pestered first by Argead himself.

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-- encroachmentArchitect [EA] began trolling teemingProngs [TP] --

EA: 1. Hello, Tettra!
EA: 2. How are you feeling on this fine night?
TP: oh, um, fine
TP: justt doing a littttle cleaning
EA: 3. Oh, I just finished with some cleaning!
EA: 4. I'm a little bit cleanliness obsessed, hehehe.
EA: 5. Though maybe I should stop!
TP: you sound, uh, cheerful
EA: 6. Oh, I'm in a phenomenal mood!
EA: 7. Don't really know why I decided to give you a chat!
EA: 8. We are enemies, after all!
TP: yeah... itt's a littttle weird
EA: 9. But I guess I owe you a little!
EA: 10. After all, you saved my life!
TP: whatt?
EA: 11. Okay, saved isn't really the word.
EA: 12. Spared is a better one!
TP: yeah :^I
TP: ttottally could have shott you
EA: 13. I know you could have!
EA: 14. You hit 20 out of 20 targets at approximately the same range half a sweep ago!
TP: yeah, I did
EA: 15. I never expected you to be such a good shot!
EA: 16. And you can regenerate!
TP: yeah, ok
TP: whatt's gott you in such a good mood
EA: 17. Ooooh, fighting you is going to be fuuuuuun %: )
TP: whatt
EA: 18. Yeah!
EA: 19. That's what enemies do!
EA: 20. Fightfightfight!
TP: I promised tto be a noncombattantt.
EA: 21. In the war!
EA: 22. But the war's over!
EA: 23. Now it's just me, and Maleno, and you!
EA: 24. And I know I can beat Mal, so that's just you!
EA: 25. Well, I'm pretty smart.
TP: you won'tt beatt him.
EA: 26. I think I'll figure something out!
TP: and you won'tt beatt me.
EA: 27. You shouldn't be so overconfident, Tettra!
TP: you're one tto ttalk.
EA: 28. I didn't say I WOULD, I said I CAN!
EA: 29. I have the ability to do so!
EA: 30. If I knew for sure, it wouldn't be any fun!
TP: ugh, I don'tt even wantt tto fightt.
EA: 31. But it's too late!
EA: 32. After all, you made yourself a part of this when you decided to attack my hive!
EA: 33. Not that I'm holding it against you, Tettra!
EA: 34. I'm willing to forgive you.
EA: 35. But first I've got to destroy you!
TP: ...
TP: are you really ttrying tto tthreatten me again
EA: 36. Sorry about all the suffering I'm going to put you through!
EA: 37. Nah, I'm just telling you how it's going to go down!
EA: 38. Maybe you'll even come out of it stronger, who knows?
EA: 39. I sure don't!
TP: You're so obsessed witth who'll come outt sttronger.
EA: 40. Yeah, and you're so obsessed with numbers!
EA: 41. I'll try calculus if you try war!
EA: 42. %: )
TP: I doubtt you'd be good att itt.
EA: 43. I love trying new things!
TP: Now ttell me, whatt's witth tthis sudden burstt of good spiritts? You didn'tt answer me before.
EA: 44. Oh, it's a magical feeling!
EA: 45. As Likllu would put it...
EA: 46. True loooooove %; )
EA: 47. And now I'm acting like a giddy moron!
EA: 48. I can't stop smiling!
TP: Ugh.
TP: You ruin itt.
EA: 49. What's wrong, I thought you'd be happy for us!
EA: 50. Maybe I was wrong about you Tettra, maybe you aren't as nice as I thought you were!
TP: Yeah, I'm so happy for tthe guy ttelling me he can'tt waitt tto desttroy me.
TP: I'm overjoyed.
EA: 51. Just because we hate each other doesn't mean we can't be civil!
EA: 52. Do you hate me, Tettra?
TP: In a plattonic sense.
TP: I wantt you tto just leave us the hell alone.
EA: 53. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
EA: 54. I'
EA: 54. I'm so glad!
EA: 55. Oh, man, if you didn't, that would be so awkward!
TP: I don'tt tthink you could very much expectt me tto like you.
EA: 56. No, I really couldn't, could I?!
EA: 57. But I can apologize!
TP: Somehow I doubtt any apologies from you are sincere.
EA: 58. No, I never apologize if I don't mean it!
EA: 59. So here I goooooooooooo~~~
EA: 60. I'm sorry for threatening you two nights ago, Tettra.
EA: 61. It was wrong of me to lose my temper like that, and I'm sorry.
TP: Uh huh.
EA: 62. I mean, it's too late now for it to make any difference!
EA: 63. But I wanted to get that out there!
TP: Mmhmm.
TP: Anytthing else?
EA: 64. Oh, how is your lusus?
TP: Itt's fine.
EA: 65. That big, squishy sea cucumber?
EA: 66. Oooh, he's so cuuuuuuuuuuute! %: D
EA: 67. See, your matesprit is a big fan of poetic justice!
TP: Don'tt you dare ttouch itt.
EA: 68. But I, personally, love another creed!
EA: 69. "Do unto others as they do unto you."
TP: If you come anywhere near here, Argead, I swear
EA: 70. What if you had to choose?
EA: 71. Between your lusus and Maleno?
EA: 72. Which would you pick, I wonder~~~
TP: Tthatt's not going tto happen.
EA: 73. Yeah, but a good general always thinks about the hypotheticals!
EA: 74. And you never know!
TP: Itt
TP: Will
TP: Nott
TP: Happen.
EA: 75. Ooh, there's that overconfidence again!
EA: 76. You should be prepared for heartbreaking situations like that %: (
EA: 77. I mean, I hate to do it to such a nice troll!
EA: 78. But what must be done must be done!
EA: 79. Ah, it's true what they say.
EA: 80. War is bliss~~~
TP: I'm done witth you.
TP: I'm sick of listtening tto your bullshitt.
EA: 81. Oh, that's cool!
EA: 82. No hard feelings Tettra!
EA: 83. See you soon!
EA: 84. <3
TP: >8^(

-- teemingProngs [TP] ceased trolling enduringArchitect [EA] --

...Ugh. Tettra was practically shaking from how angry he'd made her. How dare he threaten her again. It made her want to just...no. No. She mustn't. She needed to talk to Phidal.

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-- teemingProngs [TP] began pestering adamantRevolutionary [AR] --

TP: Phidal
TP: I need tto ttalk
AR: hEY tett-RA. some-THING wRONG?
TP: Argead justt messaged me.
TP: And... I need help calming down.
AR: oF cOURSE... wHAT dID hE sAY? don-'T fe-EL yOU HAVE tO ans-WER iF iT wILL on-LY mAKE yOU fe-EL wORSE.
TP: He tthreattened me again.
TP: And tthe cucumber.
AR: wHAT a bas-TARD. don-'T lET hIM gET tO yOU, tett-RA: hE HAS a sPEAR aND you-'RE pack-ING hEAT. rem-EMBER tHAT.
TP: I know. Apparenttly he's actually excitted tto fightt me.
TP: I justt wantt tto be leftt alone.
AR: under-STOOD. i-'M sor-RY yOU gOT mIXED uP iN aLL tHIS, tett-RA.
TP: I am ttoo.
AR: wE nEED tO hANG oUT ag-AIN. sET uP tHE tar-GETS aND un-LOAD oN tHEM lIKE oLD tIMES... iT hELPED be-FORE, rIGHT?
TP: Yeah... tthese lastt few days have been awful. We've barely seen each other :^(
AR: sIGH, i kNOW... we-'VE need-ED each-OTHER mORE tHAN ev-ER tO bOOT.
AR: sO mUCH hAS hap-PENED aND i don-'T tHINK we-'VE ev-EN tALKED tO each-OTHER ab-OUT iT.
TP: I wish I hadn'tt lett tthis happen
TP: I could have sttopped mal, and tthis sttupid grudge wouldn'tt existt
TP: I could have ttalked tto you firstt aboutt it
TP: why does hindsightt always have tto be 20-20
AR: yOU sTOOD uP fOR yOUR mate-SPRIT aND tHE tWO oF yOU aRE clos-ER aS a res-ULT. wOULD yOU rath-ER ar-GEAD bull-IED yOU aND mAL aND neith-ER oF yOU ev-ER stOOD uP tO hIM?
TP: I'd ratther we justt ignored him
AR: i hAVE a con-FESSION, tett-RA. some-THING i sHOULD hAVE spok-EN tO yOU ab-OUT before-HAND tHAT i did-N'T aND wENT tHROUGH wITH any-WAY.
AR: aND iT pAINS mE be-CAUSE i fe-EL lIKE i-'M be-TRAYING mY res-PONSIBILITY tO yOU aS yOUR moi-RAIL.
TP: oh?
AR: i be-CAME ar-GEAD'S kis-MESIS. i can-'T bRING my-SELF tO kILL hIM ev-EN iF i need-ED tO... i-'M har-BORING tHE ass-HOLE tHAT'S bEEN threat-ENING yOU iN mY oWN hIVE, aND i don-'T kNOW wHAT tO dO any-MORE.
TP: ...
TP: fuck
TP: I don'tt even know how tto deal witth tthatt.
AR: i can-'T de-AL wITH hIM fOR yOU... bUT i can-'T sTAY oUT oF tHIS. i-'M go-ING bACK oN mY res-PONSIBILITIES aS a moi-RAIL aND a kis-MET eith-ER wAY.
TP: I don'tt know whatt tto do.
TP: I feel like I'm running outt of opttions, butt itt feels like tthere's none tto begin witth.
AR: aLL yOU cAN dO nOW iS kEEP your-SELF sAFE... aND mal-ENO. ar-GEAD can-'T tAKE yOU bOTH iN a fAIR fIGHT.
TP: I tthink... I tthink I need tto justt go for a walk.
TP: I need tto clear my head.
AR: i-'D jOIN yOU bUT i-'M wAIST dEEP iN rub-BLE aND de-BRIS fROM zil-LIE'S hIVE...
TP: maybe I'll justt head over tthere. I wantt tto att leastt see you again.
AR: aff-IRMATIVE. i-'LL lOOK for-WARD tO see-ING yOU tOO tett-RA. <>
TP: ok, see you tthen <>

-- teemingProngs [TP] ceased trolling adamantRevolutionary [AR] --

She finished her mopping silently and blankly, practically throwing her cleaning implements back in their closet. She needed to see him again. She just needed his reassurance that everything would be okay in person.
She really needed a hug :^(

[adamantRevolutionary]

Phidal had conversed with Tettra as he finished the base of Zillie's new wall. He was clutching his nailgun so tightly that his knuckles turned yellow and he was practically shaking with rage. Argead had fucking lied about fighting Tettra right to Phidal's face. He had to take this up with the blueblood - and he wasn't going to let romance prevent him from speaking his mind.

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-- adamantRevolutionary [AR] began trolling encroachmentArchitect [EA] --

AR: ex-CUSE mE, bulge-SUCKER
AR: i jUST gOT dONE talk-ING tO mY moi-RAIL ab-OUT yOU.
EA: 1. Oh hello Phidal!
AR: sHUT iT. dID yOU threat-EN hER?
EA: 2. Depends on your definition of threatened %; D
AR: wHAT iS yOUR def-INITION oF threat-ENED, tHEN?
EA: 3. I never said I would hurt her!
EA: 4. I even basically told her I didn't want to kill her, but I don't think she noticed...
EA: 5. Ah, well, that sort of thing is good!
AR: sHE sAID yOU threat-ENED tO kILL hER aND hER lus-US.
EA: 6. Not the former...
EA: 7. Though the latter was implied!
AR: ... some-THING iS wRONG hERE. wHY aRE yOU sO bubb-LY aLL tHE sud-DEN? i tHOUGHT smil-IES mADE yOUR stom-ACH tURN.
EA: 8. Oh, I'm just a bit giddy around my matesprit!
EA: 9. She's so perfect, it's hard for me not to be really happy!
EA: 10. Not like you, you pathetic idealistic waste of slurry!
EA: 11. I'll calm down soon enough, don't you worry!
AR: i-'M call-ING iT nOW, you-'VE snap-PED. i-'M go-ING tO hAVE mY tHROAT sLIT iN mY oWN recup-ERACOON to-NIGHT, aren-'T i?
EA: 12. No, I'm not freaking out, really!
EA: 13. I'm just so happy around Riotte~~~
EA: 14. Man, I think these are some potent red feelings, it's so great!
EA: 15. Oooh, I've never been so happy before!
AR: ... uGH, you-'RE mak-ING mE sICK. pLEASE gO BACK tO tHE tROLL i fELL hate-FUL hEAD ov-ER he-ELS fOR sOON, i can-'T sTAND yOU lIKE tHIS.
EA: 16. I will, don't you worry!
EA: 17. But back to Tettra!
EA: 18. I promised that I wouldn't hurt her physically, and I'm not!
EA: 19. But you didn't say anything about miiiiiiiiind games %; )
AR: i wANT tO wALK yOU tHROUGH a tHOUGHT ex-PERIMENT, ar-GEAD.
EA: 20. Sounds fun!
AR: hope-FULLY yOU cAN com-PREHEND iT iN yOUR cur-RENT sTATE oF ec-STASY.
AR: yOU sAY yOU hAVE pot-ENT rED feel-INGS fOR ri-OTTE. wOULD yOU dIE fOR hER?
EA: 21. A hundred thousand times, each more painful than the last!
AR: tHEN tELL mE tHIS
AR: hOW wOULD yOU fe-EL iF i tOOK tHAT pret-TY lit-TLE hEAD OF hERS aND bASHED IT ag-AINST a sol-ID con-CRETE wALL un-TIL sHE wORE mORE oF hER oWN bLOOD thAN tHOSE stu-PID gog-DAMN rib-BONS?
AR: pret-TY pISSED, rIGHT?
EA: 22. ...
EA: 23. Wow, that really ruined my mood.
EA: 24. Thanks for that.
AR: that-'S hOW i fuck-ING fe-EL wHEN yOU threat-EN mY moi-RAIL.
AR: kNOCK tHIS sHIT oFF, hyl-LUS. i-'M nOT play-ING al-ONG wiTH yOUR mind-GAMES.
AR: lEAVE HER al-ONE.
EA: 25. Oh, but I don't have to worry about you doing that!
EA: 26. Or anyone, really!
EA: 27. I'll keep her safe, and no one will ever lay a finger on her!
EA: 28. Even if it kills me!
AR: i cAN on-LY hOPE iT dOES.
EA: 29. So while I get where you're coming from...
EA: 30. You don't have to worry about Tettra getting hurt!
EA: 31. But if I have to ruin her mood sometimes, well, that's her fault~~~
EA: 32. Don't worry, you can give her a big hug and tell her mean old Argead won't hurt her!
AR: i gROW ti-RED oF tHIS. bYE.
EA: 33. Oh, don't go, PhidaL!
EA: 34. I want you to know something first!
AR: pro-CEED.
EA: 35. Okay, I know it was just a hypothetical.
EA: 36. But if you ever.
EA: 37. EVER.
EA: 38. Hurt Riotte in any way, I will rip you bit by bit until there is not enough left of you to bury.
EA: 39. Do you understand?
AR: on-LY iF yOU under-STAND mE.
EA: 40. I will not puss out halfway through like Maleno did.
EA: 41. I will pursue you with such burning, relentless fury that you will be BEGGING me to kill you.
AR: yES, yES, you-'RE a bIG mac-HO tROLL aND you-'RE a mas-TER oF melo-DRAMA.
EA: 42. No, not really.
EA: 43. Most things I can spare.
EA: 44. You, for example.
EA: 45. But I will not be accountable for my actions if you harm a hair on her head.
EA: 46. I told you that I wouldn't hurt Tettra.
EA: 47. I intend to keep it that way.
AR: i won-'T hURT ri-OTTE aS lONG aS yOU kEEP uP yOUR eND oF tHE de-AL.
EA: 48. But if you even have thoughts of hurting her as some way to get to me, drive them from your head.
EA: 49. Even if I end up hurting Tettra, you should kill me first, do you get it?
EA: 50. Kill me first and leave her alone.
AR: ag-REED. ri-OTTE wILL nOT bE tOUCHED.
AR: under-STAND tHAT you-'RE put-TING yOUR lIFE oN tHE lINE aS eq-UAL punish-MENT fOR any-THING yOU dO tO tett-RA.
EA: 51. Fine.
AR: i wILL mAKE tHIS extreme-LY per-SONAL.
EA: 52. So long as she is safe.
AR: i sWEAR oN mY hon-OR.
EA: 53. I will fight you and be swept away in your fury, so long as nothing happens to her.
AR: wOULD i hAVE tHE sHAME gLOBES tO kILL ri-OTTE iN cOLD bLOOD?
EA: 54. I hope not.
AR: i-'M gLAD wE coULD cOME tO aN under-STANDING. bYE.
EA: 55. As long as I get Maleno ready, and as long as Riotte is safe, I can die.
EA: 56. I hope I won't, but I can.
EA: 57. Bye.

-- adamantRevolutionary [AR] ceased trolling encroachmentArchitect [EA] --

Beads of sweat had formed on Phidal's forehead when he typed that threat about Riotte. He felt unlike himself - swept away in rage from long overdue discussion of his moirail. He hated Argead passionately, he was a perfect kismet - but Tettra had been his moirail for as long as he could remember, and he cared for her easily as much as Argead cared for Riotte.

Phidal reloaded his nailgun and took his anger out on his wood.

[alexthewhite]

To her hive?

… Oh right. Somehow, Riotte had thought that it would be over Phidal's, again. Woops. Well, Argead would just have to deal with her messy, messy hive then, she guessed. She shrugged, and then said- ”Ookay, then, I'll lead the way,” Definitely not a problem, there! She started off, a few paces ahead... before turning around again, remembering something important. ”Ooh, and Likllu said soomething aboout wanting too watch oor soomething?” How would that work?

Argead shrugged, limping as fast as he could after her. " 1. I suppose she would sit around and giggle while you put ribbons in my hair or whatever." He caught up with her and chuckled. " 2. She's annoying, but I don't think she'll get in your way. 3. Besides, she's pretty fun to be around."

”Whatever yoou say, Argead-” Oh wow. That name wasn't going to work at all. She'd have to think of an annoying nickname for him sometime. ...Or something. Romance 101: Annoy the fuck out of whoever you were romancing.

Noticing his troubles in keeping up with her, she decided to continue on slower- yeesh, the kid. Just had to go and burn his own legs up, didn't he. Couldn't have just shot a firework off at the balcony ground and not burned his legs. But Riotte didn't really want or need to think about that again. ”Liking the foorest soo far?”

"4. It's, uh, different." He said distractedly. " 5. Lots of uncertainty."

But Argead hadn't looked at the forest too much. He had been busy sneaking glances at Riotte at every opportunity. He was too coy to stare, but there really was something incredible about her in motion. She had this bounce in her step that was just...indescribably alluring.

" 6. So, what's your lusus? 7. Like a big flying ribbon?"

“Hey!” she huffed- pseudo-offended. ...That would be the best lusus ever. Although, the idea of wearing one's lusus was pretty creepy. And she had no idea what a giant flying ribbon would even be like. Aside from weird. and so awesome. ”It's not a big flying ribboon, it's a 'enoormoous' flying ribboon. Get yoour adjectives straight!” She stuck her tongue out at him.

They were going at an easy, leisurely pace now- a bit slow, for her, but she didn't really want to leave Argead in the dust, either. That would be so rude. “Noo, I'm kidding, it's noot a giant flying ribboon. Oor an enoormoous flying ribboon! Even thoough that woould be soo cooool.”

" 8. Hmm. 9. I'm guessing I have to figure out what it is, then?" Argead stepped over a fallen log. " 10...I give up, that's completely impossible to guess. 11. What is it?"

Riotte attempted to stifle a giggle. She failed. ”It's proobably better a mystery!” she responded, before she smiled- ”It's... a tufttailed sneak beast. Booring, right?- and here yoou were hoping it was soome soort oof ribboon tentacle beast oor soomething,” Again! A lusus better than hers. What a shame.

" 12. That's not boring at all. 13. Suits you perfectly." Argead heard a rustling noise from several yards away. He whipped around, pointing his crutch at the origin of the noise. " 14...Riotte, what sort of animals live in this forest?"

Riotte shrugged, nonchalantly- living in the forest all her life didn't really do much to make her terrified of it. ”Just the usual stuff,” she responded, ”Noo need too woorry, if soomething coomes, I proomise I'll kick its ass with ribboonKind.”

That was a joke. RibbonKind had to be the worst strife specibus ever. Still though, she doubted anything would be hungry for two trolls in the middle of the night, and the fact that they were staying together would probably make said beast reconsider. It wasn't like she hadn't wandered around in the forest her fair share of times. And look at her now! Completely not eaten. ”Moost oof them are harmless, I'm sure.”

Argead nodded, his eyes not taken off the bush. As they walked, it became smaller and smaller until it had disappeared from view.

Wait...ribbonKind? Argead stifled a laugh. That was a completely preposterous sylladex. But Riotte might be sensitive about it. Better to test the waters.

" 15. Ribbon-kind, eh? 16. I must have underestimated your love of ribbons. 17. At first I thought it was just some sort of fashion statement. 18. But the fact that of all the weapons in the world, you chose colorful strands of fabric..."

[Veriama]

She blushed, before responding, defensively (but of course, jokingly) ”It seemed like a good idea at the time! It was late, and I was tired, and I wanted a place where I coould stuff all of my ribboons really easily without me having to worry aboout them, and it seemed like such a great ooptioon foor the clinically untidy!” she smiled again, before adding, ”And besides, it's noot like I knoow hoow too use a sword oor anything. Oor even have oone. Coome on.”

" 19. I could show you how to use a spear, if you like." Argead, rather daringly, caught up to her and placed his free arm over her shoulder. " 20. You can even decorate it with all of your ribbons." He smacked his lips thoughtfully.

" 21. That reminds me, what exactly do you mean when you say you're going to 'style' my hair? 22. How many ribbons will this involve?"

A ribbony spear? What was the use of that? She laughed at the imagery- no, she'd rather just stay with her lame old ribbonKind- its not like that will ever come to bite her in the ass later. Not like she'd ever need a weapon for an actual fight with an actual someone at some point in her life. Absolutely not.

He caught up to her, and put his free arm over her shoulder, and she had to resist saying something stupid along the lines of 'getting touchy feely now are we???' or 'yess this is riotte resident crutch and ribbon whore, what is it that you need'. Everyone was probably lucky that they didn't read her mind. So many bad taunts.

”It will involve all of the ribbons ever. You won't be anything but a mass of ribbons once I'm done with you!” She looked ahead- this was getting to the area that her hive was in. Destination very close by! ...She supposed she would warn Argead how much of a mess her hive was when they got there. ...Oh, and how much of a grumpy jackass her lusus could be at times. Yeah. Whoops.

"23. Oh no!" He said in mock horror. "24. How will I move, or eat, if I've been drowned in this torrent of ribbons?!" He giggled stupidly at the tease. Okay, so he usually held himself to a higher standard of deadpan snarky humor. But he felt like Riotte wouldn't mind that much.

He briefly considered nuzzling his face in her shoulder, but decided that would be too forward. His arm was fine right where it was-resting comfortably on her shoulder.

”We're here,” she said, stopping. Granted, it wasn't all that obvious to tell where her hive was, compared to... say, Zillie's hive. It was definitely not large in the least- and blended in well with the forest surroundings- she figured she would need to lead Argead to the entrance for him to be able to see it clearly. One floor. From the outside, it almost managed to look tidy. And small, that too.

Of course, this was because Riotte already knew what to look for when finding her own hive. She turned to Argead- this was as good as a time as any to spring the topic! ”Ookay, uhh, a coouple things befoore yoou goo inside, kay?”

The hive was difficult to see. It was concealed by trees and foliage, and didn't look all that large. Then again, Argead's hive was/is quite spacious, and it was just a steel door from the outside. So perhaps there was some sort of surprise inside!

"25. What kind of things?" He asked airily.

”Uhh, oone?”, she started, holding up a finger to represent the number that she was talking about. (Hah, Argead's strange way of talking!) ”My lusus is soort oof a jerk. I doon't knoow if he'll like yoou oor noot, but its better too be safe rather than soorry and avooid dooing anything stupid. Like... petting him, oor soomething,” She didn't really believe Argead would do something like that! But again, better safe than sorry. This was going to be so interesting.

"26. Got it, give your lusus a wide berth. 27. I can do that." Argead was a bit worried, but he wasn't going to tell Riotte that. "28. Anything else?"

”Twoo is,” she paused for a while, wondering how to phrase it- ”I really wasn't kidding when I said my hive's a mess. It's coompletely noot Argead proofed. Soo, just soo I doon't have too rescue yoou oout froom under a pile oof ribboons oor roomance moovies, coould yoou stick aroound me?” It must be so tempting to snoop around in your matesprit's hive- but she really didn't want to risk it just so Argead could uncover something 'interesting', whatever interesting meant in this context.

"28. Of course, I won't wander off," he assured her. Argead followed her into the hive and couldn't help but look around. Naturally, she'd made him curious. It was indeed a mess, clothes, ribbons, boxes, used dishes, and more were haphazardly scattered about. Practically a dump, but he found it more endearing than anything. So casual about the way she lived- so completely unlike himself. "29. It's not that bad."

"It's hoooorrible," she responded, with a laugh, "I keep oon meaning too clean up, but theres SOO MUCH," she shrugged, feigning more dismayed than she really was at this. She lead him to her room, which (at least) was a bit less... in complete dissarray, before sitting down in a chair and beckoning Argead to sit down in front of her. The hair! Yesssss.

Argead grinned at her, his eyes scanning the room for-wow, how old was that plate? And where was this lusus of hers?
He sat down, and affectionately patted his hair one last time. "30. Alright, my lady. 31. Let's see what you can do."

[ZDG]

Ithlena stared at her chumroll for a while. It was most likely trying to connect.
After a few minutes, Likllu's handle finally changed color, showing that she was online.
She touched her handle, which made a tab pop up. She began to type:


-- mentalExile [ME] began pestering vocalOvertone [VO] --
ME: Likllu?
VO: Ooh?
VO: Who is thiiiiiiis~~~~?
ME: Id' rather not say. You could always want to lynch me and skim the whole valley to find me.
VO: Well, if you're going to be so mysterious~~~
VO: I might look for you anyways~~~~~
VO: And if you know my name
VO: Then you obviously know me~~~~~
VO: Heeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeeee~~~~~~
ME: Yes, Yes, i do.
ME: In fact, i already gave you two hints about my identity.
ME: I think you already know who i am.
VO: I might have some guesses~~~~
VO: And, since you know me, you know I never advocate violence eveeeeeeeer~~~~
VO: So, why would I be all lynchy on anybody~~?
ME: I guess you don't know what happened at Raelis' hive, right?
VO: No, and stop talking about Raelis.
VO: Whatever's going on, I can't help him right now
VO: And I don't like it when I can't help.
ME: You are totally clueless, aren't you?
ME: Raelis is dead.
ME: DEAD.
ME: And i killed him.
VO: LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA
VO: This is me covering my ears and going LALALALALALALA because you obviously are trying to ruin my good mood by throwing lies at meeeeeee~~~~~~~
ME: Likllu, stop acting like a 3 sweep old grub.
ME: You can't hear text.
ME: And its not a lie.
ME: Although, knowing his abilities, it is POSSIBLE he is still alive.
ME: But he's most likely brain-dead or something.
VO: You know, I don't think you are who I thought you are.
VO: Because SHE would never be so rude and meany to me.
VO: You didn't even say hi.
VO: }]{>:P
ME: Likllu, right now, we are not in a time for civilities.
ME: I got half of the valley trying to decapitate me or something.
ME: And you know, people never stay the same.
VO: No one's after you.
VO: I think you are either overestimating everyones anger or underestimating their forgiveness
ME: You obiviously weren't here.
ME: Zillie already tried to kill me.
ME: Anyone who gets in Raelis' hive will know i tried to kill him, and thus, do the same to me.
ME: It's only thanks to sheer luck that i'm still alive.
VO: If Zillie wanted to kill you, you'd be in several pieces across the valley~
VO: Now, listen to me, as you obviously need my advice~~
VO: Running away makes people think you are guilty, or afraid, or whatever~
VO: By the looks of it, you didn't even explain yourself, the situation, or the reasons.
VO: So, you panicked and ran away~
ME: I'm both guilty and afraid.
ME: And if you want to know what happenned, me and Raelis fought eachother, and i shot him in the face.
ME: Are you happy now?
VO: Yes, yes I am.
VO: Now, Ithlena, I think you should stop and think.
ME: Think about what?
ME: Right now i'm making sure the persons i care about don't want me dead or anything.
VO: Well, running away isn't helping your case.
VO: People would have listened to you if you stayed at your hive and waited for people to call you
VO: But, you changed your handle, stopped using your quirk, and basically it looks like you want to disappear.
VO: That means people are guarenteed to look for you, and try to kill you, instead of going to you and hearing you out for a fair trial.
VO: Basically, you screwed yourself over, girl~~
ME: Likllu, i don't have a hive anymore. Running to a nonexistant place would be useless.
ME: And yes, the thing i wanted is to disappear. I want to be left alone for now on.
ME: I seriously got enough of this place.
ME: And if they want to kill me, fine. It's going to be one more way to get out of here.
ME: It's not like i care about anything now.
VO: ......
VO: You selfish weak little bitch.
VO: You're giving up.
VO: I thought you were strong.
VO: Fine, if you're not even going to try, then go ahead and leave.
-- vocalOvertone [VO] blocked mentalExile [ME] --
ME: Hehehe.

Excellent.
Now Likllu wouldn't meddle with her life anymore. Exactly what she wanted.


Ithlena suddently remembered about the ribbon she wanted from Riotte.
Better take care of this fast.

-- mentalExile [ME] began pestering xanthicInsigna [XI] --
ME: Riotte, screw that purple ribbon.
-- mentalExile [ME] blocked xanthicInsigna [XI] --

One more person that wouldn't meddle with her anymore.

The other ones weren't on yet, better wait for them.

[Purple Masks]

"what, should i do rashei?"

Rashei took a moment to stare in nigh-complete confusion at Raelis. Why had the doctor chosen her, of all people, to ask about this? What was he talking about, being weak, being stronger, being what his lusus wanted him to be? What was with the fruit metaphor? Was it a metaphor? It only just then dawned on her that it would have been a better idea to interact than to spend her six sweeps building up her fortress.

But there was a question to answer. Well, what should he do?

She looked at the blurry form of his arm, the vague hint of scarring that she could perceive through glasses that weren't quite strong enough. What caused that? Others? Himself?

"You should help people," she answered slowly, looking back into his eyes with more worry than confusion this time, "And you should help yourself. It's... good to be strong, but you need to use that to help people. Don't let them take you for granted."

[momatoes]

"why not?" he asked, excitedly. "i, already know they don't deserve me; and they only harm me in the end...thiss, iss all their fault; everything; i, want to hate them all;

i, want to fix myself but they find wayss of getting under your skin...hurting me...asking, endlessss questionss; 'your, lususs iss evil' 'don't, isolate yourself' 'why don't you find a cure' and i just want to curl up in a ball and escape from them; but, thiss time i can be strong...i'll prove it, i'll eat it i really will;"

Raelis found himself rambling, his fingers a frantic knot of repressed energy and anger and fear and hatred.

[Purple Masks]

"If they harm you, you have to harm them back," Rashei's simple code of morality came into play as she watched his fingers with innocent confusion, "But I don't... I don't think you should isolate yourself. A lot of the trolls here are insane, but there are always good ones. There will always be some that will try and harm you or force you into doing things, and those are the ones you should hurt."

She looked back into his eyes, "But don't hide from them. Your problems should be met head-on."

[momatoes]

Her voice was strangely calm and quiet.

He stared back at her. Placing his hands on his temple he started taking deep breaths to calm himself down. If there was anybody he could be sure who truly meant no ill will towards anyone, it was this girl. Raelis thought it with a certain conviction in his mind. She couldn't help him - at this point, it was almost with a touch of pride that he though himself immutably irredeemable - but she could tell the truth. Or, at least, he could trust her to do her best.

Raelis leaned his head against the cool recuperacoon. There was still the overriding need to bite and maim but he found a small comfort at that moment. He found peace, however momentary, in her words. This was what he wanted at the beginning, to lay his head and hide in the cool shades of the room, but Raelis knew the madness and confusion hid a hair's breadth away. He tried to express it again to Rashei, to tell her that mingling with other trolls was what made him wrong, and that he was blameless, but he couldn't find the words. Instead, he made do by shutting his eyes and trying to expel the thought of the outside world from his mind.

"we'll, get you your new body tonight; and, after that...i, want to rest for awhile;" he spoke, very quietly.

[ZDG]

Ithlena kept watching her chumroll, hoping that someone else would appear.
A few minutes after she pestered Likllu, Amazar finally appeared.
Ithlena touched his handle and began to type:


--- mentalExile [ME] began pestering superiorInstrumentalist [SI] --
ME: Amazar, are you here?
SI: ...YeS, WhaT IS IT, YeT... MaY I AsK WhO YoU ArE...?
SI: ThougH... ColoR AnD ThiS HandlE ReminD ME OF... IthlenA?
ME: At least you found that faster than Likllu.
ME: I need your advice.
SI: I DO NoT GivE AdvicE TO EveryonE FoR FreE. FroM WhaT I HeaR, YoU HavE DonE SomethinG I MusT FirsT QuestioN.
SI: NO DoubT YoU KnoW WhaT I RefeR TO.
ME: Raelis' murder?
ME: I don't want to talk about it.
SI: SucH ActivitieS CannoT BE AvoideD.
SI: ThougH, YoU ArE IncorrecT: YoU DiD NoT KilL HiM.
SI: I HavE SpokeN TO ThosE WhO ArE AT ThE ScenE NoW, AnD TheY HavE InformeD ME OF HiS AstonishinG AbilitY TO HeaL FroM WoundS... RemarkablY QuicklY. ThuS, HE IS AlivE.
ME: He is alive? Oh well, maybe they'll give me more time before going on a trollhunt.
ME: As i said, i don't want to talk about this.
SI: YoU CannoT RuN FroM ThE HanD OF JusticE, FoR IT IS UnavoidablE. IT WilL FinD YoU, AlwayS.
SI: EveN SO, I -SupposE- I CaN HumoR YoU AT ThE MomenT.
SI: TelL ME TheN, WhaT MatterS ArE -SO- UrgenT ThaT TheY WoulD OvershadoW ThiS?
ME: I need some people to help me.
ME: People i trust.
ME: I need you to do something. Something very simple.
SI: ApparentlY YoU DO NoT KnoW ME WelL EnougH.
SI: I WilL DO AlL IN MY PoweR TO EnsurE ThaT ThiS SituatioN IS SolveD AS IT ShoulD BE. I CannoT TurN A BlinD EyE. JusticE MusT BE DonE.
SI: EveN SO, OncE MorE, I WilL HumoR YoU AnD HeaR WhaT YoU MusT SaY.
ME: Alright, i just want you to tell everyone but Salvia that i'm dead.
ME: I want to be left alone for now on.
ME: But don't do it yet, i need to speak with Phidal.
SI: ImpossiblE.
SI: I WoulD NoT TarnisH MY HonoR BY LyinG TO OuR ValleY SocietY.
SI: EveN SO, I WoulD CertainlY NoT DO SO TO OnE WhO HaS FaltereD IN ThE PatH OF OrdeR.
SI: ApologieS, BuT I CannoT.[/color]
ME: Amazar, i don't give two flying shits about honor anymore.
ME: Don't you even DARE do your little "noble highblood honor" speech on me. I am way higher on the hemospectrum than you are.
ME: Even Higher bloods need the help of the lower ones.
ME: Even those who got "out of the path". I'm sure i'm not the only one.
ME: So think about it well. I'm thinking of two ways of ending this. Passively, and very, very brutally.
SI: BlooD HaS NothinG TO DO WitH ThiS MatteR.
SI: ThE LAW AnD ORDER DoeS NoT FolloW ThE SpectruM. IT IS AbovE IT.
SI: ALL MusT PaY ThE PricE FoR TheiR ActionS IN DuE TimE.
SI: AS SucH, WhilE I DO RepsecT YouR StatuS, I CannoT BrinG MyselF TO AssisT YoU WitH WhaT YoU WisH. ThaT WoulD MakE ME A CollaboratoR.
SI: ThiS IS SomethinG I WoulD NoT BE AblE TO DO WitH A SounD MinD.
SI: MY ChoicE ON ThiS MatteR IS UnablE TO BE ChangeD, WhicH I DO ApologizE FoR. IF YoU SimplY AnsweR FoR YouR ActionS InsteaD OF RunninG, AlL WilL EnD EasieR.
SI: IT TakeS ThE BoldesT OF CouragE TO AdmiT WheN OnE HaS FaltereD IN ThE PatH OF LighT.
SI: ThaT IS MY VerdicT, AS I HavE SaiD. A BrutaL EndinG WilL NoT EnD WelL ShoulD YoU TrY IT: YoU StanD AlonE ON ThiS MatteR.
ME: Amazar. Seriously. I'm trying to help you all.
ME: I already admitted that i almost killed Raelis several times.
ME: Don't you think it would be better if everyone forgot me and moved on?
SI: NoW You'rE SimplY SoundinG LikE RaeliS HimselF.
SI: AnD LooK HoW WelL ThaT IS WorkinG FoR HiM.
ME: Raelis is just a coward. He doesn't even tries to resist.
ME: I'm acting like a coward because i can't resist.
ME: Unlike most, i'm not as physically gifted.
ME: Being smart doesn't always matters.
SI: EveN IF ThaT IS TruE, ThE SituatioN IS WhaT IT IS.
SI: I CaN PromisE YoU ThaT YoU WilL NoT BE LefT AlonE.
SI: AT ThiS TimE, I OnlY ImplorE ThaT YoU SeeK AnotheR MethoD ThaN InvolvinG ME, FoR I DO NoT WisH TO BE A ParT OF ThiS. AS I SaiD, I AplogizE, BuT I CannoT BrinG MyselF TO IT.
ME: Well then.
ME: Salvia will be more useful.
ME: I still have trouble understanding why she is in matespritship with someone like you.
ME: It doesn't even fits her.
SI: InsultinG ME WilL GeT YoU NowherE.
SI: EveN SO, I FinD IT HorriblY LoW TO BrinG HeR IntO ThiS DebatE.
SI: I AM NoT DoinG AnythinG WronG: I AM SimplY ChoosinG NoT TO LiE TO OuR SocietY. ThaT YoU FinD ThiS A BaD TraiT IS DisapointinG.
ME: I've had enough, Amazar.
ME: This joke of a conversation lasted for too long.
ME: I hoped your sense of hemoloyalist respect would have been better.
ME: I was obviously wrong.
ME: Farewell.
--- mentalExile [ME] blockedsuperiorInstrumentalist [SI] --

[Julia]

Zillie was even more surprised as Salvia showed up. What was she doing here? "Salvia? WHAT are you doing HERE?" Then, suddenly, the responsibility had been left in her hands to explain exactly what had happened just a few moments ago. "Oh, a BUNCH of shit happened. ITHLENA shot Raelis, I SCARED her off, but RAELIS is okay now. HE wants to be LEFT alone right now THOUGH." She explained.

[momatoes]

From his sylladex Raelis heard the distinct beep of a message.

Someone was messaging him.

He stood up and took out his grubphone. There must be a mistake - he was sure he blocked everyone. Every single one of them. And none of them had any inclinations towards hacking. It must have been an error, he thought, bringing the phone closer to his eyes. The bright flash of the screen seared him for a brief moment before the unmistakeable words were registered on his mind.

-- perspicaciousPotentate [PP] began pestering serpentMedic [SM] --

PP: kid
PP: kid i need ur help

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SM: ...who, iss thiss?
SM: ithlena?
SM: no...argead?
PP: no im
PP: uh
PP: not important who i am
PP: im not in this valley
SM: that'ss, impossible;
PP: not really
PP: i am the one who put the blackout on u kids
SM: ...what, do you mean?
PP: so i can break it too
PP: most trolls can talk to other trolls anywhere
PP: not u kids
PP: big deal cant get into details
SM: ...you're, seriouss;
SM: how, do you even know uss?
SM: ???
PP: okay look
PP: you dont need to know who i am
PP: but i know who u r
SM: you've...kept, tabss on uss??
PP: yes all of u
PP: its all very entertaining
SM: from, outside the valley...
SM: it'ss, not entertaining at all!!!
SM: i, don't know who you are;
SM: or, why you're indulging in some...sick, voyeurism...
SM: why, are you even messagine me?
PP: what is that word
SM: it'ss, a psychological disease -
SM: that'ss, not the point!! don't, derail me;
PP: okay look kid i will make this really simple for u
PP: a million lives are in your hands
PP: and if you fuck up then they will all be killed
SM: okay;
SM: if, you've been watching uss ass you said you did
SM: then, you would know that
SM: i'm, not in a very happy mood right now
PP: i know
PP: but i also dont care
SM: please, if you're joking then please stop;
PP: im not joking
PP: okay i know what this sounds like
PP: but we really need ur help
SM: ...what, kind of help?
PP: okay look
PP: chances are someone else is going to get hurt in that valley
PP: and u have got to treat them
SM: they, deserve it;
SM: that'ss, all i'm going to say;
PP: im not going to argue with u about that sort of thing
PP: but i can reward u if u help me
SM: ...
SM: i, don't like dealss;
SM: mystery, stranger;
PP: what if i could give what u wanted more than anything
PP: normalcy

Raelis stood, cradling the phone in his two hands. He stared at the word. This man -

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SM: i
SM: that'ss, stupid;
SM: you, don't know what you're talking about;
PP: i know about ur blood kid
PP: and i can fix it
SM: you're, meddling too . . .
PP: okay look
PP: i can prove to you im not just some nobody
SM: ?
PP: look up at the green moon
SM: ...now?
SM: ...fine;

He walked towards one of the larger windows and stared out. The green moon hovered over the still violet clouds. There was nothing to see.

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SM: i'm, looking;
PP: you are going to see three flashes of light
PP: that is from a cloaked battleship orbiting ur planet

This was stupid. They were, they were humiliating him again, he felt it. This was a prank. What an idiot Raelis is, the man must be thinking. So gullible. So pathetic -

A small pinpoint of light shone, grew, outbrightening the harsh reflection of the Alternian Sun. It blinked. Raelis counted under his breath.

One.

Two.

Three.

And there was silence once more.

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SM: you...
SM: how, did you do that??
PP: i told u kid
SM: cloaked, battleship?
SM: what, are you...?
PP: im watching u right now
PP: hows the head
SM: ...
SM: it'ss, none of your businessss what i do;
SM: or, maybe it iss;
SM: but, i'm still me and you can't help me;
PP: everything u kids do is my business
PP: so i can cure u
SM: don't, you think i already tried??
SM: it'ss, impossible;
PP: kid no offense
PP: but ur just one kid
PP: ive got a legion of scientists up there
SM: you're...
PP: nobody
PP: just a person who we can be mutually good for
SM: ...and, thiss nobody wantss me to magically cure everyone in the valley;
PP: no just u
SM: ..?
PP: c no offense but of all the kids in this valley uve got the biggest issues
PP: and if u continue like this then things r going to get bad
SM: ...and;
SM: what, if i want thingss to go bad?
SM: what, are you going to do about it?
PP: then i will have to punish u
PP: battleships have this really precise laser
PP: so i could say blow up ur hive
SM: !!!
PP: or maybe even the top floor
SM: ...
SM: and, the termss of...thiss, deal are?
PP: really simple
PP: u get lets say 3 vials of ur blood
PP: take them to a place where u know no one will find them
PP: leave
PP: come back the next day and ull have a vial of antidote for ur blood
SM: ...will, it work?
SM: the, antidote;
PP: yeah
PP: were pretty sure we know what u got
PP: but we need to check
SM: oh;
SM: and, what iss the price?
SM: for, being cured;
PP: well 2 things
PP: 1 if any kid gets a bad injury u have to save them
SM: the, second?
PP: 2 u stop feeding urself to ur
PP: whats the word
SM: lususs...my, lususs...
PP: yeah that
SM: you're, asking me to...starve, her to death?
PP: no
PP: ur so dumb kid i dont know y u didnt do it before now
PP: just cut off your arm then feed it to her
SM: it'ss, different, it'ss, not the same
SM: don't, talk like you know everything
PP: whatever
PP: shell live
SM: because, it isn't the same
SM: i
PP: what would u prefer
PP: i kill her right now
PP: or she lives with shittier meals
PP: ur choice
SM: ...fine;
SM: i, understand;
SM: i, never had a choice in the matter...did, i?
PP: no not really
PP: sorry kid
PP: but most of these kids actually care about you
PP: the one with a bunch of horns who giggles too much
PP: the weird one with glasses
PP: even that poofy haired kid
SM: i'm, not unblocking them;
SM: but, fine...i'll, play the good doctor again;
SM: just, don't kill her;
SM: please;
PP: fine
PP: oh yeah
SM: ..?
PP: dont tell anyone about this conversation
PP: also
PP: i dont know if i made this clear
PP: but if any troll in this valley dies and i think u could have prevented it
PP: well
SM: the, laserss go off;
SM: that'ss, what you're saying;
PP: yes
SM: i, understand;
PP: hopefully i wont have to talk to u again
SM: ...yess;
SM: wait;
SM: what, should i call you?
PP: dont see how its important
PP: but my name is
PP: you know what just call me orve
SM: ...orve;
PP: yeah it means wisdom
SM: i'll, leave the vialss in the rocky place northwest;
SM: ...that'ss...all;
PP: oh um
SM: ?
PP: a lot of trolls go there
PP: think about a new place
PP: or just wait until everyone is asleep
PP: i dont want any bullshit
PP: of like that kid without arms going
PP: "hey what r u doing here"
PP: choose someplace more private
SM: ...i'll, think of something;
SM: i...don't, know what else to say to you;
PP: not much
SM: but, i hope at least...those, livess you mentioned...
SM: did, thiss help?
PP: yes
PP: u help me i help u
SM: alright;
SM: have, a pleasant night...orve;

Raelis sat down on the floor. He buried his head in his knees and clutched it with his hands. The sound that came from his lips might have been anguish, might have been happiness.

[ChaosWolf]

Likllu skipped into the forest, still singing. Ithlena? Ithlena who? There never was an Ithlena. No way was some non-existent troll gonna bring down her mood. She was going to see Argead's hair ribbonized. This would be the best! But, it was a little hard to find the hive. Where was it? She stood where she was, looking around (unaware that she was not ten feet away from the door) seeing if she could find it. She tapped her chin in thought. Well, if she couldn't find the hive, they would have to find her! She took a deep breath and began to sing in a loud, reverberating tone. The trees echoed her voice, and made it seem as if a chorus of Likllu's were singing. It was gorgeous.

[Panzerbear]

"And Amazar would appreciated it if you retreated to a safer locale," Maleno remarked to Salvia in an oddly cheerful (...okay, maybe not oddly for him, but given the context, it was a little strange) fashion. But Zillie's comments about Raelis being left alone did nothing to dissuade the mechanic from his mission. Pulling on the crutch for support, he managed to lurch into a standing position.

"So, where's Rashei? I'd appreciate not having to search the entire hive on my own, but if you're going to be stubborn, I've done more annoying things recently." He tilted a questioning eyebrow at Zillie, not really expecting her to cooperate.

[Purple Masks]

Raelis's phone's various beeping noises and his own inner turmoil kept Rashei's rapt, if confused, attention as she watched him move around the room and tap on his little screen. Who was he talking to? Was that confusion and annoyance on his face?

Rashei didn't ask what was going on when the doctor looked up out of the window. He seemed to have purpose and she--well, she was confused still! That, and she didn't want to interrupt him or anything.

But then he was just sitting on the floor. After a moment of listening to the little noise he made, she spoke up, "You can rest, I don't mind, but you don't get to just be miserable on the floor over there. What's going on?"