clubhouse to barn

[despair_to_live]

WHO: The weeds...?
WHERE: The new Weeds Barn!
WHEN: 105 evening/night

[The Queen is sitting at the poker table, talking to (or more accurately: 'at') anyone nearby.]

...So, you see, my death at the ritual today was just as planned! It was all strategy! I called that demon out with a bet. A bet that no matter what happened, when everything looked pointless, the sheep would absolutely, one hundred percent, no hesitation, decide to throw us, the so-called 'evil' team, under the bus to save their own skin. And they took it! They wagered the sheep would be selfless to the end. Ha! That's the suckers' bet. Never bet on hope. Despair is going to win, every time!

[She finishes shuffling cards.]

So, that's how I won a bet, that's why we have this new barn, and I've got a sore throat.

[she grins]

How was your day?


[feel free to do your own thing and just ignore the Queen, of course.]

Comments

[stirtheblood]

Anyone you know'd prob'ly think it was debauchery, right?

[hotnbothered]

Well, obviously... but I'm not talking to them, am I?

[stirtheblood]

No one's gonna wonder where you're goin'?

[hotnbothered]

[ Huffs. ]

I can spend my days off how I like. Most of my staff hardly pays attention to me in the first place.

[stirtheblood]

Well, if you're fine with that.

[hotnbothered]

... What, are you dissatisfied with that answer?

[stirtheblood]

[now he's quiet for a while. introspection takes so much effort]

...Not dissatisfied, no. 'Cause it ain't about bein' "satisfied." Even the idea that you'd want to be with me enough to make an effort is excitin'... And I'd be happy seein' you.

But you're ambitious. And more than just wantin' to see ya, I wanna see ya succeed. Maybe not marryin' the Emperor. But whatever you wanna do. And you've talked plenty about how you'd get banished from society for thinkin' lewd thoughts or whatever. Slippin' in some days off for some "intimate" moments with a notorious criminal don't seem like it's gonna help you out much.

[hotnbothered]

[ She goes quiet for a bit herself. But when she does speak up, her voice is sharp. ]

... So what? I've never behaved anything like a proper lady should, anyway. I practice magic that could get me executed if I were found out by the wrong person, for mercy's sake! Why should I stop being a shameless villainess just this one time?! And if I have to give up everything I actually want to get it, I wouldn't even call that success!

[ Jabs a finger at him. ]

And maybe it should be about being satisfied! For someone who talks a big game about how you only do what you want to do, you're terrible at being greedy! If I said, "Oh, you're right, I really shouldn't risk it! I'd rather never see your face again," would you just be fine with that?!

[stirtheblood]

Hah. 'Course I wouldn't be fine with it. But if you don't wanna see my face I ain't gonna change that by yellin' about it, I know that one pretty well.

How 'bout you? What if I said you shouldn't be spendin' your life somewhere that's gonna execute or exile you for doin' what you want? Where your way to get power is stealin' someone else's life and then marryin' some guy? What if I said I'm kidnappin' you to somewhere else?

[hotnbothered]

[ Blinks a few times in surprise and then flushes. ]

—L-Like where, exactly? It's not any better for you to be going somewhere everyone tries to kill you on sight, you know!

[stirtheblood]

[he had not thought this through as a real idea so he doesn't have an immediate response to that either]

...I dunno. Anywhere else.

[hotnbothered]

[ ... Huffs. ]

Well, you don't get to just leave me who-knows-where and run off to go change the world or whatever.

[stirtheblood]

...Well, if you wanna come help out with that you're welcome. Long as you know that hangin' out with me means everyone's gonna hate you too.

[still in a hypothetical tone as if he has not QUITE accepted this is a real suggestion. haha unless...?]

Or I can come pick ya up after either Kanata manages to change things or the whole world falls into the abyss, or whatever. Can't be too long before one of those things.

[hotnbothered]

I don't need your help to make everyone hate me. I'm sure I'd end up condemned within the day for something or other. I'd probably be dead within the day, too...

[ Also speaking lightly enough to tell herself they're still just talking in hypotheticals. ]

... And if the whole world falls into the abyss, aren't you going to have bigger problems?

[stirtheblood]

Eh. If you were condemned with me around I could awaken yer blood sin, and I bet you'd hold yer own just fine.

[hypotheticals are so fun]

And, maybe. I'd prob'ly survive in that kinda situation, but who knows. Either way, if we're assumin' we can go back and forth somehow I can assume I'd get outta there.

[hotnbothered]

... I suppose if we can't find a way to go back and forth, all these hypotheticals are a bit meaningless.

[stirtheblood]

...There's gotta be some kinda magic that does it, right? We got here in the first place, and people go back. There's the dream thing, too.

[hotnbothered]

The dream thing?

[stirtheblood]

People can share dreams, right? And there's a place out in the mist where you can do it deliberately. I think it's s'posed to work even for people who ain't here.

[hotnbothered]

I don't think I knew about that... Hmm, so that's ample evidence that it's possible to form a link between worlds. My biggest concern is that Blossom seems too incompetent to figure out how to do that freely, but maybe if I could learn the principles of magic at play...

[stirtheblood]

I bet you can do it.

[he says with completely unsupported confidence]

[hotnbothered]

[ Honestly with as much confidence as she's ever had about anything: ]

Well, as long as it is a skill that can be acquired.

[stirtheblood]

It's gotta be, right? No way it's just that Blossom specifically has some kinda special power.

[hotnbothered]

It might involve a power innate to wolves or demons or what have you... I suppose I'll just have to ask her, though I'm not terribly optimistic about my hopes of getting a useful answer.

[stirtheblood]

I guess...

Tch, this'd be easier if they weren't all idiots.