[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

[breakaleginhalf]

I appreciate it. [And he does, genuinely, spend a bit better for knowing it.]

[Psychic Protection I]

How about you, though? You're riding shotgun too, right?

Private; Psychic Protection II

[capital_asset]

It's been going as well as can be expected. Almas is closer to IOUHEI 1.5 than he is 1.0.

[fearinahandfulof]

Yes, it does.

[You're not fooling her at all, Gil.]

Re: Private; Psychic Protection II

[breakaleginhalf]

Small mercies, then.

...oh shit, he knows you're there?

Private; Psychic Protection II

[capital_asset]

It turns out that Cleritors are a bit sensitive to that kind of thing.

[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.

Re: Private; Psychic Protection II

[breakaleginhalf]

Huh. Same as Char-- Thorne. Same as Thorne. She's. A cleritor too.

...she's going to be so upset.

Private; Psychic Protection II

[capital_asset]

I've heard a bit about her overlay. I didn't know she was a Cleritor as well.

[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.

[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?

Re: Private; Psychic Protection II

[breakaleginhalf]

Our... her mum was. Ghalib's was a Magnator too. Dad was a Factor.

Ghalib's mum and grandfather... really hammered all this into him hard.

[breakaleginhalf]

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

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

Private; Psychic Protection II

[capital_asset]

That... doesn't surprise me. That they pushed the beliefs they did.

[youandyoualone]

It has been roughly somewhere between a day and a half to two days since Naoki woke me up inside Anaf--although, being a Cabalist, Anaf is perfectly aware of my presence. We have come to something of an accord together.

And yes, I am aware it does not work like that. That is why I said 'as much as you might.' You're a creative man. You ought to think of something.

[desperate_times_right]

Jesus Christ man, you just got me yesterday.

[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.]

[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.

[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]

Oh jesus christ of course you're a Cabalist, you shifty bastard. [There's not that much venom, to be fair.]

But, like-- I cannot mess with people's heads like that, okay? I don't have the skill or like. The ethical malfunction. And I don't know how to fix Ghalib slapping an ugly bandaid over people's inhibitions about leaving their ENTIRE PERSONHOOD exposed and vulnerable, man, j just. I can't.

[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.

[breakaleginhalf]

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

[lightnovelexperiences]

The Arcana who drafted me. Penuel. Judgement. Redemption.

Yeah. No this Jaunt is way messier than I was expecting and. And I don’t have the right skills for this.

I should have specced as a healer.

Re: Private; Psychic Protection II

[breakaleginhalf]

They weren't bad people, like as such. Just.

[And, very abruptly, Gil is suddenly alert, his attention shifting sharply elsewhere.

--wait, two secs.