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.

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[ ... 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.

[ That sounds too good to be true, in McGillis' opinion - but he'll try to take Izou at his word for it anyway, because his word is all he has to go on. ]

And after that assignment is over?

After that s'far as I know, Chaldea keeps a handful of us around on standby cause there's always some new shit happening. Before it was just Da Vinci and Holmes, but if there was someone around ta make a case fer more...

[Looking at McGillis pointedly.]

[ The situation is so emotionally charged that McGillis doesn't even take a second to internally scream at those names. ]

So essentially your idea is that I make myself useful enough to Chaldea that they'll be willing to consider my priorities and keep you summoned permanently... for at least my lifetime.

[ Because that is another thing he has to consider now, isn't it? If it's not a scenario in which Izou becomes human with him, he'll be outlived by an unchanging immortal being. ]

[Izou groans because god why are you making him THINK OUT LONG TERM PLANS right after he just used so much brain power to get murderously enraged!!!]

I dunno! I didn't think that far! I just know I couldn't rest easy abandonin' Fujimaru and I thought you'd be a lotta help to have along! And that's just on top of the fact that I don't wanna be apart from you!

... your world certainly meets my requirement for giving me something to do.

[ And it's... interesting, in a variety of ways. McGillis would learn a lot about things he so far only read about in books - or at the very least about bizarre versions thereof.

Still, the whole servant matter keeps him hesitant even now. But before getting into that further, he tilts his head at Izou and pats the bed again. ]

Will you come sit with me for a bit, now?

[He stands there another couple moments calming himself down properly but then;]

Ok I just gotta tell Eli real quick I changed my mind cause he was worried.

[Which he does. But then trots on over and sits. Doggy.]

S'not like I don't wanna help Eli. But Fujimaru ain't here ta have a say in it. What's she gonna think if I just up and disappear fer real?

[ Well, this just prompts McGillis to also check his phone and quickly read through the worry-conversations. They're... kind of endearing. He can't help at least back Izou up a little that he could and would absolutely murder McGillis if he crossed him - this incident has only proven it. And it's because it has proven it that McGillis immediately wraps an arm around Izou's waist once he sits. ]

Well, she'd certainly be worried. But if there was a way to contact her first, you'd consider it?

[And in response to the casual contact, Izou will just lean against McGillis. Though not before unstrapping his swords from his waist. They're kind of obstructive for cuddling.]

I... I guess?
[He thinks about it longer. Hm.]

No. Well, I mean, I guess I can't rule out thinkin' about it, but it's not like Fujimaru was the only person there that mattered at all. I wanna... I gotta talk to Ryouma too.

[He thinks for a long moment.]

I mean, I don't wanna have ta choose, but like you keep sayin' we can't really rely on Braphine letting us hop around. I think the second best bet's makin' use of the Storm Border.

[ The what now................. McGillis is not going to ask for the specifics right this second, because he's just get hideously side-tracked through it, but boy is he wondering. ]

That raises a good point... From the sounds of it, your world is filled with magical possibility far beyond what everybody else has access to. If we have to pick and choose a singular world to go to, it would be a solid plan to go to yours and work on re-establishing contact from there.

[ Especially because there is non way Eli and Celeste are going to come with them, which... Well, McGillis would get over it. It'd be a dull ache of nostalgia, but it'd be fine. Izou... He's not sure Izou would take it quite as well. ]

And... it would be interesting to see your Ryouma for myself, I suppose.

[That last comment actually gets a relieved sigh out of Izou.]

Here I was worried you were gonna get all territorial and wanna keep me as far away from Ryouma as possible.

[He's glad in this case that McGillis isn't... since he really does feel like being able to talk to Ryouma properly would help settle a lot of things. McGillis didn't ask, but following up does feel like it adds further support to his theory.]

Yeah. It can already drive though the... the made up whatever sea ta move us to timelines that're so off course they'd normally get pruned... Doesn't seem like that big a stretch ta me that it could go ta Eli's world too!

[ ......... yeah, that's about as unbelievable as he expected. If he's truly coming with Izou, McGillis is going to spend the first several months in Chaldea's library and data logs to catch up on all of this.

For now, he nods at the explanation. It's the other thing that requires further comment though. ]

If you were to leave me for Ryouma after making me choose your world out of all possible options... It'd be well-played revenge, at least.

[ Like, the long con would be impressive. ]

[He snorts at that.]

It'd be fucking stupid is what it'd be, even if that was an option, that snake woman'd eat me before she'd share her husband with me.

[Irrelevant since he doesn't think Ryouma would even go for such a thing, but also;]

Meanwhile I don't gotta share you with anyone.

You made that quite clear just now.

[ That he doesn't have to share McGillis and also that he won't, at threat of death. McGillis is practically purring though, so clearly this was not a point of offense. ]

[Snugging up a little closer.]

Mm. Obviously it's only fair you can do stuff with Eli and Celeste if you want, but you just ain't allowed to pick them instead of me.

[ McGillis isn't the cuddly type per se, but there's just something about the way Izou keeps trying to find ways to melt more and more into him... It'd be hard to imagine he'd just come here resolved to kill, yet it's the undeniable truth. ]

I would not.

[ Would not, could not. Izou is a frustrating individual, still. Overemotional, stubborn about all the wrong things, loud and sometimes graceless... But it's Izou who's scarred McGillis for life, it's Izou whose heated emotions are melting McGillis' defenses. He needs to see how far they can go, together. ]

And this... incident made me more certain that you would not do so either. I do apologize for getting you worked up over nothing though.

[McGillis becomes a dog owner, to his own surprise.]

S'fine. I get that you get all hot and bothered when I get murdery on ya.

[It's said like teasing but also he's pretty sure this is just a true fact. It's one of the reasons he's so unguarded with McGillis and so attached. He can be his whole Too Much self, and McGillis seems to not only tolerate it but revel in it.]

I could still kill that guy for you if ya change yer mind.

[ Well, McGillis can't deny that assessment. The whole murder thing would be less endearing if it kept him from reaching goals he set for himself... but seeing as that's not the case now, McGillis can simply bask in the obsession being heaped upon him. Things he wouldn't have let himself appreciate in life that feel deeply precious now.

Then Izou brings up Iznario and startles McGillis with it. But unlike the other time this has come up, he's not freezing up now. It's progress. ]

... I'm starting to see the appeal in watching you slice him into tiny pieces, but no. I don't think either of us should ever go back to my world.

If we opened a path to that place which doesn't involve returning to my moment of death, I'd want to figure out a way to go home after all.

[ In fact, if the faint possibility of it had occured to him a few weeks back he'd already be completely set on it. ]

That's not in your best interest either.

[Izou, of course, hadn't even thought it through far enough to realize said logistical issues that it would present. But these issues make sense to him so that settles that as far as he's concerned. He was mostly bringing it up as an act of flirting. Offering acts of service but all he knows how to do is kill.]

Mm. In that case, I guess you'll just have ta see me in action in some other scenario so you can imagine it properly.

[Izou in the middle of a mission just shouting MCGILLIS WATCH ME KILL THIS GUY!!! IT'S FOR YOU!!!]

I'll be looking forward to that. Palaces hold you back too much, so they feel like they're only a preview.

[ Can't aim to kill the Palace owner, as McGillis has learned the hard way.....

But when Izou does what he does best, kill humanoid enemies... McGillis knows he'll be spellbound watching it. The power of a demon is the greatest bewitching power in this world. ]

It ain't just that we gotta hold back in palaces, but bein' here all of my parameters are basically back to what they were when I was alive. I'll be stronger and faster when we're back in Chaldea.

[He leans away just so he can flex like a big dork.]

[ This is why he called you cute at the polycule meeting...

But also he's genuinely interested in the power metrics here, so he won't even comment on it with anything other than a smile. ]

How strong is that, exactly?

[Considering this.]

Well I ain't that strong fer a heroic spirit, but I could still pick you up easy. Far as speeds concerned I can do a proper flash step.

[McGillis learns his boyfriend can teleport.]

[ He's not asking about flash step now. This is both because he feels like it'll be more impressive to just make Izou show him once he's able, and because he has something much more important to say instead: ]

Should I look forward to a romantic bridal carry then?

[ It's a joke because it'd look ridiculous but it's also not a joke because it would be genuinely funny. ]

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mid-week 11; un: monday

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