wrackful | CONTACT

What does stupid look like in this situation, John? Explain it to me.

Keeping the magic eyeballs. Or taking them to the guy who's already told everyone he wants to keep them.

Negotiating with her probably isn't going to go over so well, either.

[He wouldn't even consider it an option, several months back. No point. Your hand was empty as soon as you gave them over. But Bellamy, Clarke, they'd say it was at least worth trying.]

It might be worth the risk. [If they could get something for it. And even if they got nothing, the attempt would give them a better idea of their standing with the Duchess. Of her angles, tactical style.] But the odds get lower every day we're stuck here playing around with them instead of giving them back.

I'd never have pegged you for an optimist.

( frankly but with something close to affection. )

Here's my thinking: we can't get through that barrier right now, regardless. So, we've got some time. Would it be so bad to check them out? Talking to your friend in person is probably going to be a lot more effective than arguing with him over the network.

Yeah, I think it was effective enough for "friend" to not apply anymore.

On your side or his?

( anyway, )

Well, my schedule's wide open for the foreseeable future, so unless you have any better suggestions, I'm going to see the godflesh up close. See if there's nothing useful to get from it.

Edited 2023-10-20 17:15 (UTC)

[Does it matter? he doesn't ask.]

Sure, whatever. Just don't go on your own. I don't want to have to tell Mavis I didn't stop you and then you got eaten by the nightmare maze.

John Murphy, are you worried about me?

[Absolutely a flippant comment moment. A joke moment. But guess who else is sore from a recent talk.]

What, you think you can do all the stuff you've done for me and I won't care? Cause I'm just that much of an asshole.

I don't think you're an asshole. I think you've been through some stuff and it's made you wary.

( if anything, he enjoys that directness; less room for misunderstanding. )

But nobody's keeping score, either. Not on our end. You know that, right?

[Been through some stuff is an understatement. Murphy huffs something like a laugh, bitter, but the retort that would come with it doesn't rise. Instead there's quiet for a moment, because some part of him is always keeping score, and he knows, right now, the balance is off.]

Gaius wants in my brain. He cornered me in the castle library, at the dinner. I'll come with you, but I'm not going near him.

( the first thought is, of course, he probably does; whatever's in murphy's head would fascinate anyone with the ability to perceive it.

the second thought is whether the shape of that interest might be a problem in the future and what will need to be done about that. )

I won't leave you alone with him.

Not really what I meant.

[Because he hadn't been asking for protection. But he'd told Aristaeus a concern, a vulnerability, and what else would someone like Aristaeus do with that?]

But thanks.

I get what you meant.

He pulled a similar thing on me about a month after we arrived here, cornered me outside the boarding house. Caught me off-guard, and that doesn't happen often.

( a pause, considering. )

I can't do much more for you right now. Not until I've figured out what his deal is. But maybe we'll have Mavis tag along, too. She's good at keeping him distracted.

She thinks he's a 'good man'.

[The shape of his tone around that phrase is disdain for the idea itself, not Mavis for thinking it. Good men don't exist, as far as he's concerned, and even when they do, that doesn't stop them doing bad things. But maybe it would be useful - seeing how Mavis interacts with him. Seeing how he interacts with Mavis.

Though he dislikes the idea of John cornering Aristaeus just as much as himself. Even if Aristaeus is way more capable of defending himself than Murphy is.]

If you don't know about him being a thousands of years old necromantic ruler of an intergalactic empire, I might be able to give you some details.

Of course she does. He's one of the few people here that doesn't make her feel like a monster.

( a warning; there's a history there nobody wants to fuck with lightly. the last thing they need is for this to turn into another felipe situation. )

Then the unplanned vacation is probably not doing his mood any favours.

[Aaand the All-Sight, John Gaius etc train screeches to a halt in Murphy's brain. Fully derails, in fact.]

People are doing that to her? Who?

They've been doing it to her since her power manifested.

( there's a stunning irony to the fact, honestly. if her people had kept her close rather than shoved her out into the desert, they'd probably still be alive right now, but. )

Here, though? Her ex-roommate did something to her before she moved in. She hasn't shared specifics, which means it's bad enough that I'd probably kill him.

[Do you want to understand? Or do you want to throw things and hit me? Mavis had asked, the day she'd moved in. Murphy hadn't pressed then, had trusted Mavis had dealt with it herself, and for the same reason, he doesn't tell Aristaeus now. If she doesn't want Aristaeus going after him, Murphy won't circumvent that.

But he will make sure to line all the pieces up himself.]

How the hell was he her roommate if he had that kind of problem with her?