[Week 2] Late late late evening 321

[breakaleginhalf]

[The voice that chimes in on the network is tired, and aching, and a whole host of other things Gil is very obviously holding back only tenuously.]

Someone needs... can someone go check on Matthew. Please. Liminal Space. He's...

[A long silence.]

...I dunno if he's-- he's not cavosophia. He's not. [It almost sounds more like he's reassuring himself.] But I-- ...Ghalib hurt him.

Comments

[capital_asset]

What happened?

[Private; Protection II]

I'm not going to ask if you're all right, since that seems rather obvious.

[breakaleginhalf]

[He's too tired to hide the faint huff of amusement at Raidou's private comment, but it's followed by a strong wave of guilt.]

Uhh. Ghalib thought Matthew was weird, had his fucking-- creepy goddamn cult people stalking him for a bit. But. His family found out about Hana, the whole... [Another pause.] That. And, uh. When they tried to talk to him about it, he. Fucking stormed off, thought-- decided that maybe they were only mad 'cos he did it wrong, 'cos that's the fucking issue here, right?

So. So he found Matthew, thought - he's weird, no one's gonna miss him, let's try again. Only, fuckass didn't know about the angels? Wasn't prepared for them to fight back, or to try and turn him into flambé. That's what brought me back.

[capital_asset]

Is he still alive? Ghalib, I mean.

[He's assuming Matthew is, but he's not currently in a position to go and check.]

And Matthew and/or the Angels fled?

[breakaleginhalf]

Yeah. Fire missed, just scorched my coat. Scared him.

I didn't see where Matt went, but I can't Pin him, so. Liminal Space, probably.

[capital_asset]

Probably.

[Hopefully.]

Where are you now?

[youandyoualone]

Ah.

Should we be looking for Ghalib's corpse, then?

[He's ASSUMING that someone lost their head and decided that murder was the best solution.]

[breakaleginhalf]

He's alive. I'm riding shotgun.

[It's hard to say which he sounds more disappointed by. He's too tired to even try and take a shot at Delaunay.]

Almost got torched. 's'more than the fuck deserves.

[fearinahandfulof]

Do you want to be separated from him?

[She's never talked to Gil before, but... well. She can do that.]

[breakaleginhalf]

I...

[He wants to say yes. He wants it so bad.]

...can you... come back to me on that one? Not sure yet.

[youandyoualone]

Ah. Well, that may prove useful, depending how much in control of the body you might be. If naught else, it puts you in a position to repair Ghalib's damage as much as you might, at least until Cabal disposes of him.

[Hi, Gil. Delaunay is done pretending in public that he's not a cold bastard. It only took two years.]

[breakaleginhalf]

[Luckily Gil already knew that about him, thanks to his dungeon and Thorne's breakdown on him.]

's'mine now. Not fucking giving it back if he's gonna try and attack more people.

But I dont... I dont know how to fix this. I can't just - take out the part where Ghalib fucked them up, it--you know it doesn't work like that you fuck, how long've you been you?

[That's a genuine question, despite his grievances. The last thing he knew, Delaunay was flirting with his sister. With Thorne. Goddamnit.]

[lightnovelexperiences]

I’m getting you a drink at Yomi after this. Cause I can’t pay for your therapy.

...It’s super crystal fucking clear that you don’t deserve being Ghalib. [And on this note she sounds fucking relieved.]

[breakaleginhalf]

Hey newbie. I can't get drunk, but I'll take it.

No one deserves to be Ghalib, not even him. This is a fucking mess.

[lightnovelexperiences]

No, no one does. Penny would like you. You’re not one of theirs, though, are you?

[It may not be clear that she means Penuel. Judgement.]

When you’ve got the SP for it, let’s brainstorm ways of dealing with the cult he hypnotized. I doubt they’ll snap out of it just like that.

[breakaleginhalf]

Yeah, no. Brainwashing isn't, like. When you kill a power rangers monster and their evil bullshit goes away. This has fucking... object permanence.



Who the fuck is Penny.

[dragoonrouge]

I shall go and make sure that Matthew is alright, Gil. [Q'uila's tone is calm and soothing] Would you like one of us to come and get you from where you are?

[breakaleginhalf]

Thanks, Q'uila. [he is so tired]

I'm fine here. I just. Need a break.

[desperate_times_right]

Jesus Christ man, you just got me yesterday.

[breakaleginhalf]

Surprise. Ghalib's an unredeemable monster who decided to deflect his guilt onto the idea that he just did it wrong and that's why they're mad.

[he is so tired]

...I am. So fucking sorry, that he did that to you.

[desperate_times_right]

Sorry. Sorry, I’m trying to be cool about it, yeah? But she’s not dead all the way. She’s gone, but I’m still her.

[breakaleginhalf]

You're allowed to not be cool about it. I'm losing my shit from being on the other fucking end of it, that's...

God. I'm sorry.

[happyhalloween]

Am I gonna have to stab someone else now?

[Maria.]

[breakaleginhalf]

Please don't stab me, Maria. I'm investigating already.

[Not that his host doesn't deserve it.]

[happyhalloween]

Okay.



I'll go look for Uncle Matthew. I'm already in Liminal Space anyway, 'cause the Jaunt world isn't very nice.

[breakaleginhalf]

Good girl. You can let him know this is his fault, the- the me riding along inside Ghalib now. Half infiltrating.