THE PASSAGE OF TIME

[wooliefrand]

WHO: All
WHERE: The Pasture
WHEN: Day 24 Morning thru afternoon

[THE STORMS HAVE FINALLY CLEARED and the life sliced so now what

how yall doin]

Comments

[catposting]

For using your request to keep relationships out of things as a bargaining chip. It was... pointless, I think. If you want to mess with Angel Devil, you'll do it anyway, right?

[debug_mode]

Oh, right, that. Yes, it was wrong of you, but nothing really came of it, so I guess I can forgive you with just that, then.

I think I understand Angel Devil a bit better, now.

[catposting]

... What changed?

[debug_mode]

I just pity him, now.

[catposting]

[ yeah, not responding to that one. he lets the silence linger a second too long though ]

Do you trust the snake?

[debug_mode]

...

That's a rather personal question. And rather open ended.

[she takes a step back away from him.]

Can you be more specific? And include why you want to know?

[catposting]

[ tilts head, mutters something under his breath. ]

You're not using that truth field of yours. How come?

[debug_mode]

You're trying to cheat? It doesn't work like that.

[catposting]

[ shakes head ]

It doesn't change what I'd say. You just didn't seem like the type of person to take a stranger at their word, that's all.

I'm just curious. He won't talk to us 'sheep', so I have no idea what he really wants aside from 'chaos'. Some of the pasture hate him for deceiving Bluebell, but it's not like he's gotten more people killed than Blossom has. It's... weird how people will give Blossom a pass because she says she means well, right?

[debug_mode]

...

I find it very suspicious that you're saying things I'd like to hear, or at least are making a reasonable guess.

But, go on.

[catposting]

... Has the snake ever forced you to do something against your will? Or brainwashed you, to your knowledge?

[debug_mode]

...Now, answer the second part.

Why do you want to know?

[catposting]

Because Blossom's guilty of it.

I want to know if... you guys have the freedom to choose, I guess. You don't have to answer.

[debug_mode]

Hm... so you're not trying to figure out if I'm some sort of irredeemable figure, the kind loyal to the snake, whatever pain it might cause you all?

[catposting]

[ ah. his lips quirk, realization dawning. ]

No offense, but as far as villains go, the snake's kind of a rookie. Until he pulls a mass genocide, I really have no reason to believe that he's any worse than Blossom.

You're as stuck here as the rest of us, aren't you? Unless you're secretly one of the gods of this world, in which case — go ahead and laugh, it's not like I'd be able to stop you.

[debug_mode]

...That's not what I asked. At all.

[exasperated little huff]

[catposting]

[ shrug ]

No, I'm not.

[debug_mode]

[she sighs.]

...Are you sure?

[truth field.]

[catposting]

I'm sure.

[debug_mode]

That's a surprise. Anyway.

[truth field off.]

Do you see any kind of mind control with any weed, whatsoever? I'd think Leethe handed over the "weed playbook" long ago.

[catposting]

I don't exactly go poking around in every weed's business. Mind-control can be subtle, anyway. Blossom's is like that, if you're not actively looking for it.

So far, though — no.

[debug_mode]

Edgelord doesn't exactly make his presence hidden. And, don't you have your own weed living under your roof.

But, elaborate. What's this about Blossom and mind control?

[she's perking up at that.]

[catposting]

...

Has anyone told you about the uneasy feeling they get when they're away from their flock for too long?

[debug_mode]

...Are you serious?

[no truth field, just listening]

No, I haven't heard anything like that. You mean if... someone just leaves?

[catposting]

[ sighs ]

Yeah. Did you ever wonder why flockmates seem to bond so easily, despite arriving here as strangers? There's an inherent... 'familial' feeling attached to spending time with your flock. I've never had a family, so the sensation was completely alien to me. That's why I noticed.