linkingup | mid-week 11; un: monday

mid-week 11; un: monday

[ With the regression of the city, working at Sunset Theater has quickly become less enjoyable than it used to be. Though the cast remembers the rapport McGillis had built with them, even if they're more standoffish now. And it's not as though McGillis had placed much stock in his interpersonal relationships to the random citizens, but... the shift in atmosphere serves as a tangible reminder. That this is temporary. That this world is susceptible to insane levels of mind manipulation. That he wants to leave.

Leave and... do what? That's the question that has haunted McGillis for weeks now, and the countdown is mercilessly continuing. Soon Braphine will release them from her hold, one way or another. Soon, he'll have to know. And so will everyone else. ]

Just a little over two weeks until we're free from this, if Braphine really keeps her word and the God of Conflict doesn't swallow up all her power. Until then we'll doubtlessly face a number of additional challenges and hassles, but while we're still in the quiet before the storm...

Are you going home to your own worlds after this? Or will you take Braphine up on her offer and come along with one of your 'bonds'? What is your world like? What is making you return? What is making you abandon it?

And if you're like me and cannot return to where you came from no matter what, maybe the answers can give you some perspective.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ This response... unfortunately makes him smile. ]

You could come along.

I can't! I gotta go back and help Fujimaru since I'm her bodyguard!

[Realistically she has plenty of servants without him, but.]

If you've suddenly decided you like Eli better go ahead!!! Just sleep with one eye open.

I'll be waiting for you to find me, Izou.

[ Who doesn't like a good callback?

Also he's in his room, come join him there to have this talk in person. ]

[Damn he wasn't going to try and kill McGillis right NOW for this OBVIOUS BETRAYAL but with an invitation like that!!! He has to!!! Celeste would understand!!!

I hope McGillis' door is locked because otherwise Izou is just opening it without announcing himself.]

[ The door was locked, but it's actually been unlocked the moment he sent that message because he knows now that Izou works quick.

He's just chilling on his bed, legs crossed and comfortable, when Izou barges in. ]

You're really time efficient. It's a nice quality.

[It genuinely didn't occur to Izou that he'd been lured here on purpose and McGillis wasn't just RUDELY PICKING SOMEONE ELSE, so the casual tone really throws him off guard and the Murderous Scowl drops from his face, replaced by confusion. Which is then replaced by anger.]

Wh- Don't act like this's a social visit! You underestimatin' me or something!?

[HE HAS TWICE THE SWORDS HE HAD LAST TIME HE TRIED TO KILL YOU]

[ McGillis is at least going to be nice enough to not remain lounging and instead flip his legs off the bed and sit properly. He'll pat the space next to him though, come sit with him. ]

I know you could kill me with ease. I don't even have my gun in arm's reach - it'd be child's play.

[ But he also knows that Izou likes him too much now to just swing lethally with no questions asked first. (If he's wrong about that, well, then he'll deserve the idiotic death he'll die. ]

But I don't like anybody better than you. Nothing has changed at all.

[He wasn't getting any less mad until the last line, when it finally fully occurs to him that he hasn't been betrayed at all. Probably. He removes his hand from his wakizashi which he was moments away from drawing.]

Then what the hell're you doin' saying yer gonna pick Eli over me? I know shit's bad where I'm from too but it's not like Eli's got it much better.

[ Now he's starting to feel a little bad for having let this stunt go on for so long... but after all the jealousy he'd been bottling up over the whole sexual freedom situation, it had felt... good to confirm materially that Izou feels just as intensely about him. ]

I'm considering worlds, not people. And his world is appealing because it's a mess - I'll grow restless without a project to work on.

[ And because he should maybe properly admit this out loud: ]

And I truly would want you to come with me.

Shit's a mess fer me too, didn't I tell you the whole world got bleached!? That's why I can't just fuck off somewhere else! Sure, she don't need some idiot like me, but she chose me! Same as you did!

[He's getting worked up, but not in the sexy angry way. He's realizing he'd just started assuming McGillis would come with him, without even thinking about it.]

So why do I gotta decide between comin' with you or stayin' loyal ta Fujimaru! That ain't fair!

Edited 2024-10-18 22:15 (UTC)

[ ... ah. Here's where he could say that life isn't fair, because it isn't, but the way Izou is phrasing that is... Hm.

Sure, she don't need some idiot like me, but she chose me!

Of course that would be a big deal for him. Even as a servant, because in the end Izou keeps clinging to his leash as if it's going to turn into a red string of fate one day. ]

... because I don't want you to be somebody's weapon that can be factory reset at will.

[ Unlike Izou, McGillis hasn't taken it as a given that they'd go to the same place. They never talked about it, not even once. But once he'd made his own choice, McGillis would have wanted to take Izou along with him. He's realizing that with full clarity only now. ]

[He rankles at that, reflexively, since he's already keyed up.]

That- She ain't like that! Fujimaru's different! She treats all of us like people and doesn't make us do anything we don't wanna do! She-

[He sniffs, as if realizing he needs to calm down.]

I'm the one who decided I'm her bodyguard. She ain't usin' us a shield or weapon or nothin'. She ain't smart enough fer that, she's almost as dumb as me an' Eli.