[Gilbert comes back quicker than Clover if only because he literally RUNS UP THE STAIRS AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT SCREAMING "OZ!!!!!" and busts back through the door (figuratively instead of literally this time, FULLY READY TO CONTINUE SCREAMING--
But ah, it looks like he's jumped back in the middle of some deets-dropping instead, so he'll just. Actually be smart for once and remain quiet, cutting himself off mid-shout.
...
Though after a second he'll go over to stand by Break because he sees that blood and now he feels like, 5% bad. Kind of.]
... Nothing Sir Rhys said just then was a lie. [ So if Clover doesn't manage to hit an arm button that will make her regret moving closer (SHE STILL REMEMBERS BEING TOSSED), she'll move to pat Rhys on the back.
And keep an eye on Gilbert, because that was a lot of screaming. ]
Also, it really is easier if such discussions aren't widely-known.
[ Less concerning people to listen in. ]
But I would never discuss anything or hide anything that would harm anyone involved.
[ SHE DIED FOR A MANNEQUIN. Break and Rhys are a lot sketchier though, so she can't really say the same for them, but she inexplicably likes them anyway okay Alisha. ]
For now... the hostage situation is what we need to focus on.
[Undyne can do subtlety when she needs to shockingly enough, she once quietly stalked a kid across her entire part of town!! (This is not something to be proud of.) So she gets what Rhys is saying without needing to ask for further explanation, but on the other hand...none of this information seems helpful in the least. Still, it's enough to get her to calm down and hold her temper marginally.]
I know you wouldn't. And I know Break and Rhys wouldn't discuss anything...that would harm their friends. [SO THERE'S THAT AT LEAST??? They might be sketchy, but she does trust in their loyalty to the people they care about. Which hopefully includes people other than Gilbert.]
But as easy as it might be, it also means people outside your discussions can't really help you since we have no idea what's going on. And we can't work together unless you trust us as much as we trust you! I didn't try to kill that woman just so I could become someone else's tool!
[Which is the crux of the matter, really. Look, as much of a shounen moron as she is, Undyne's not actually stupid. She gets that they can't spread information because if Certain People found out, it might ruin everything. But she's sick and tired of feeling like she's just being used for some greater purpose without any idea what's actually behind it, and it hurts even more when it's coming from her friends.]
[Clover's totally about ready to screech her way through all this exposition here, she is that upset, but she deflates real fast when Break snaps at them because caring about people and what they think of you is a pain in the ass. She doesn't manage to build up the momentum to continue her tantrum until after Rhys starts speaking, at which point she realizes she'd better shut the fuck up because they're actually going somewhere with this. Controlled one whole impulse today; way to go, Clover.
For now, she just nudges closer to Undyne since she's her favorite, nodding along.]
Definitely—definitely the hostage situation. Those are some of our most important people, it's not fair if...if something's happening—if we don't know... [GESTURES VAGUELY she's tired and sad, words are hard]
[ By the time Rhys finishes his explanation, Break emerges from the bathroom, at least having wiped off the majority of blood... It's a little more difficult when you can't see, but it's a good effort and significantly less gross. He is slightly surprised by Rhys's explanation, since considering what he had said to Alisha, he also expected more. Yet even so, this is a better explanation and outcome, so far as he's concerned. Fuck you, Katerina, you ain't gettin' shit, more or less. ]
It's probably Gilbert, Undyne, and Clover, at least. Alisha doesn't usually stop by, but— [ He pauses, since he doesn't want to sound like that's a bad thing, so he bows his head lightly as he corrects himself. ] But welcome, Alisha. Please keep these idiots in line for us, hm?
[ He doesn't even know that the ghosts already got yelled at, but he can imagine that someone that knows what they do would be equally frustrated by... Whatever the hell just happened. Break sighs heavily, but then goes back to flop onto the bed, but more listlessly this time around. He's feeling more tired than he was a few minutes ago, and it's only partially because he just coughed up blood. ]
It's not a matter of trust that we're keeping things from all of you. It's safety. What's happening here is something that we're all just pawns in, and to an irritating extent, to be honest. But that's why we have to be smart. We have very little power here, so every advantage we have, we also have to conserve.
Clover? [ there's surprise from rhys and he looks wide eyed over at break. ] Oh, wow.
[ he didn't ... really want clover to know about what he's been doing but well, seems that's where he is. he rubs the back of his neck awkwardly with his flesh hand before moving on, speaking to the ghosts next. ]
... Irritating is the understatement of the year, Break. We're cows to the slaughter here for someone's petty grievances and she --
[ rhys cuts himself off then because hey, clover? remember how you were messing with his robot arm? he didn't really use it when he was speaking but now as he gestures upwards in his frustration, it freaks out. there's a sharp jerk and it just sort of...
throws rhys to the ground. heavily. he lets out a yelp as it fritz out on him and tries to grab the useless lump of metal with his flesh hand. ]
Did someone mess with my arm again?! Come on! This is expensive equipment!
Meanwhile Gilbert's just sort of over here contemplating everything that everyone has said so far - because he can certainly understand both sides, as he's been on both sides of the equation before. Being kept in the dark for personal safety is awful, and having to keep people in the dark for theirs is just as bad. He understands Undyne's frustration, but he also understands Break's aim.
Okay but he's still going to be assblasted about the Oz thing for like the next 5 years probably.]
...It's like I said earlier, right? [This, he says after looking up and over toward Undyne. Then, back to Break (he is seriously just ignoring Rhys NOT THAT HE DOESN'T CARE RHYS, HE'S JUST OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW--)] If this is the decision they've made, I can't imagine that it wasn't made with the best intentions, even if... [A pause; his brow furrows.] -It seems like things might not be working out the way they - expected. Or hoped.
[Because like Undyne, he's a king moron but he can be surprisingly observant, too.]
It was never a matter of me not trusting you-- any of you. And I'd never use--
[ Look, she really will talk about this later, because there goes Rhys' arm, and she's jumping back, startled. Sorry, Rhys, she won't be of much use either. She's got to conserve the rest of her energy now, and... tackling an arm requires way more than she even has. ]
[She returns Gilbert's glance, then sighs as she looks back at Break and Rhys as well. Even Rhys flailing around with his robot arm isn't enough to get her to snap out of serious mode at this point.]
Look, I'm not doubting that their intentions are good. But 'conserving advantages' from your own allies at this point might turn out to be a lot more dangerous than taking a risk - especially if you're right about things getting out of hand. [Then again, her perspective on matters like these might be biased thanks to her boundless confidence of being able to handle whatever danger gets thrown at her or anyone else. Who cares if some sinparent shitlord finds out, she'll just kick their ass, this plan has no flaws!!
She rubs her face, looking tired for once.] If the only way we can help is to rush in blindly when they ask, then so be it, I trust you guys. I'm just not a fan of sitting around uselessly and letting someone else carry the burden for us.
What are you so surprised about?! [clover he can't hear you being snappy. but really, she can't imagine Rhys deciding to make a priority and calling her a good kid independently, without realizing she's already something vaguely resembling involved here, so what the heck. Normally Rhys getting beat up by his own arm would be the cure-all for every problem she's experiencing but this time she just sorta winces and frowns. Not that this is her fault or anything. Bye, Rhys.
But okay, serious conversations!! Sometimes Clover is capable of those, this is one of those times.] Undyne's right. We're in this together. We want to help. I mean—I don't know about everyone else, but I'm way more concerned about doing something than staying safe or whatever. [she's already dead who CARES]
[ Break laughs, but it's sharp, short, and clearly displeased. ]
I was being polite. I have my own world to worry about, so this one is irr—
[ Ah, but there Rhys goes onto the floor, and Break rolls over his way with concern. He starts to sit up, but he ends up just flopping down again partway through. He's already proven that he can't be of much assistance to Rhys in terms of helping him get up, so you're on your own there, buddy. He would help if he could, though. ]
...Can you lot behave for at least one minute? Please?
[ ghosts sure are a struggle, huh! this is a bit of a weird conversation when rhys is pretty sure the others are standing around arguing but... he doesn't know what they're saying. he can only guess and he's not sure he'd guess correctly.
... man, maybe he should have gotten to know these guys better before they died! ... pfft haha, nah. that's stupid.
instead he just finally drags himself back from the floor up to his bed again as he tries to reactivate his arm and glances over at break. what do they say now? he doesn't know, so instead rhys will just grumble, bitter and defeated. ]
Politeness is kind of a waste when we're being killed over a spat.
[THEY SURE ARE A STRUGGLE but hey, at least they're not throwing each other at Rhys! Only old man Break has to deal with his bones being broken (kind of literally)...
That said, as soon as Rhys makes that little comment, he immediately glances over toward Alisha and incredulously repeats that back.]
Killed over a spat—?
[WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. Between the sin parents? Between Miata and Katerina?? He also reaches out to nudge Break's shoulder, as if prompting for further explanation.]
[ Alisha gazes back at Gilbert, more than a little unhappily. Truthfully, she's not pleased with the situation either, but she can let Break and Rhys explain it, she thinks. Or what they can, anyway. All she can really say is... ]
The one in charge of this... is incredibly single-minded, to begin with.
[ But she'll move over to nudge Rhys' shoulder instead, because, well. There, there. She knows you're pissed. ]
That's it? People are dying over some dumb argument we're not even involved in?
[Actually, it's not that much of a shock to hear - Sans had already proposed a fairly similar theory to her beforehand. But it's still incredibly irritating.]
Then that should be easy enough to solve! We just kill whoever the spat's between! [GUYS YOU'RE SAYING THIS LIKE IT'S HARD????]
[They'd be throwing each other at Rhys if Clover had anything to say about it. But for now!!!]
...All this trouble and crap over...an argument? What? [The longer this goes on the less she actually understands ugh!!!! But she nods along with Undyne because that sounds totally legit, that's not anywhere near the worst idea she's ever heard, go kick everyone's asses glittersis.]
[ Break glances towards his shoulder briefly, but it's largely idle, considering the gesture's request is clear enough. He sighs, since this doesn't exactly make him happy either, though Rhys definitely has more salt about it. Which is fair, all things considered, since he's been a part of it longer. ]
We've managed to at least figure some things out about why we're here. There's a war going on that has nothing to do with us at all.
[ Break waves his hand dismissively, since this shows roughly how much he cares about that fact. It may be something he's meant to felt sympathy for, but he really doesn't. Considering the state of his own world, it's wholly irrelevant to him. He has no interest in dying for the sake of some other place's war, even if the process were different. ]
In short, we're just being used as coal for the fire of Katerina's revenge. There's no larger purpose to this other than her wanting vengeance. So perhaps "spat" is a bit light, but it's completely accurate to say that this is just a girl with too much power throwing a tantrum.
[ He sits up at this point, though he's rubbing his temple tiredly.]
Which I'm only sharing because it's going to end soon regardless. The idea that seven people will get to leave is a lie, and that includes Buddy, I should note. We all die, or we find another option. That's the sort of path we're facing here. We do have another option, but that I can't speak of. This is all irrelevant at this point, but if it clarifies anything about our secrecy, we did find that Katerina is able to listen and watch us, hence why it's had to be kept so quiet.
[ He motions generally to the room, but then something seems to occur to him. Break laughs, though it comes with a much sharper smile. Wow, it's like Break is an ex-serial killer or something... ]
Ahhh, though on that note, if you are listening, Katerina~? I do at least know by now why you've never shown your face. It must be rather frightening to be a rather normal girl when you've brought so many competent killers to play your game. I look forward to finding out if your demons would be willing to lay their own necks out to save yours. Somehow, I feel that this may not be the case.
[ there's a bit of a surprise over here from rhys as break talks because whoa, that wasn't even vague. that was the outright truth! but they're both kind of in a right fuck it state and this is a bit of a relief to him. he feels the nudge from alisha and relaxes because he knows she understands what he's going through.
he lifts his flesh hand to pinch the bridge of his nose and sighs. if they're going all in, why not just do it? ]
We only know Buddy will die because I asked, by the way. All that shit with Morrigan should have been worth something, right? Nope. We can't even protect Buddy. We can't protect anyone from this stupid, stupid, stupid revenge plot.
[ rhys being forced into the shounen life is really pissing him off just fyi. casually protecting everyone he hates in the background!! this isn't what he wanted!
but break's call out to katerina makes rhys laugh and he grins a little, wry and... honestly, pretty tired. ]
Everything's going to come to an end soon. All I want to do is make sure the hostages are safe and go back home. [ a slight pause and rhys confesses something that may seem a bit out of character for him. ] It... doesn't really matter what happens to me as long as that's taken care of. Fiona deserves to live, not me.
[ he's probably blushing a little about it too, ugh. this is awkward. ]
[Ah, that is a bit surprising to hear... Gilbert's quiet, listening intently to everything that Alisha, Break and Rhys have to say and weighing their words against everything that's been happening within his visual scope.
...Of course, even if he didn't believe any of it (which he does), he'd still end up trusting Break.]
...Everyone here should go back home, where they belong.
[SOME PEOPLE deserve it a little less than others looking at you 90% of team sloth, but considering they wouldn't even be in this situation if it weren't for this, he's able to differentiate his enemies pretty well.]
We'll need to pass that part on to Morrigan too, if nothing else.
... We do. Lady Morrigan was already determined to find some way to get us out of this, and I agree. It's not just the hostages... I want the others to be able to go home, too.
[ So the nudge to Rhys' shoulder is more of a squeeze this time, you too. Say what you want, Rhys, but she definitely wants you alive. ]
So all of this is just because some brat's too weak to get revenge on her own? If she wanted revenge, she should get it herself instead of using other people who had nothing to do with whatever she's mad about! Vengeance doesn't mean shit if it's not by your own two hands!
[WOW LOOK HOW MUCH SYMPATHY UNDYNE HAS ABOUT THIS it's zero. She has zero sympathy. Actually, it's so low that it's in the negative, aka this explanation just makes her hate everyone involved more. Maybe towards the start of the game she'd find some small shred within herself that cared about the town's backstory, but not anymore.
But she does care about Break and Rhys, so she sighs and ruffles both their heads gently.]
I agree. The ones dragged here to play this game as just as innocent and deserve to live just as much as the hostages do. [She pauses.] Well, most of them are. [Another pause.] I mean, some of them are definitely huge murdering jerks, but we probably can't leave them behind if it's an all or nothing deal, huh?
They were going to kill us all from the start?! [HOLD THE FUCK UP CLOVER NEEDS A MINUTE, THIS ISN'T EVEN THE FIRST LIFE-OR-DEATH GAME SHE'S HAD TO PLAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S REVENGE BUT AT LEAST THEY STUCK TO THEIR OWN RULES] Of course we've gotta tell Morrigan! All of this—nothing anybody did even mattered! [She's like eighty different kinds of pissed the fuck off, including the kind that's getting her all teary-eyed again. Being an angry crier is a problem.
But the hostages are her priority, too, and that weird bout of selflessness from Rhys manages to distract her from her latest upcoming temper tantrum. She tugs lightly at his not-robot arm (no button pressing this time!), less to get his attention and more an attempt at "same, dude." Not being dead anymore would be great and all, but she'll be struggling to consider it an actual possibility until it's been done.]
Yeah—yeah, me, too, but...I wanna make sure the hostages are safe first thing. [AGREEING WITH RHYS IS WEIRD SHE DOESN'T LIKE IT] I know they said all-or-nothing, but...
[ It is a bit funny to hear Rhys being rather selfless, but Break doesn't comment on it. After all, he really has no room to talk here, considering his own goals. He's spared from the teasing from the living, at least. Though there is a moment where Break pauses thoughtfully, since that's quite a lot in itself. He's not sure just how much he can or should give beyond this, but something ends up occuring to him, and he laughs lightly. That sharp smile softens, but there's still a mild edge to it. ]
...In any case, we're doing what we can. I suppose that's the short of it.
[ He gestures vaguely, though the pause is largely because Break needs it to take a rattling breath so that he doesn't start coughing again. Even so, he doesn't pay it any mind or draw attention to it, because he continues on smoothly. ]
I have a bit too much pride to stand back and let the people here be used as pawns, I think the phrasing was? I just didn't realize the extent of it until tonight, so I'm not feeling quite as sympathetic to this mess as she was perhaps hoping.
[ oh my god, all of you with the hair ruffling and the arm tugging and the nudging. he knows they're all there and reacting and reacting by touching him since they can't say anything aloud but it just leaves him feeling rather flustered. he runs a hand through his hair awkwardly and goes an even brighter shade of red because what is this. what is this weird brand of ghostly affection?
still, the only response he can hear is break and he catches onto the gist of the conversation anyway. what break says makes him realize maybe he should explain what happened tonight, why he was so mad. things are becoming clearer as they speak -- still vague enough to not get them in trouble but clear enough for the ghosts to understands. rhys nods to himself but then replies, to everyone really. ]
She basically just asked me to sit on my hands and do nothing this next week because I didn't react how she wanted when she told us her plan. I don't want to die for someone else's problem and somehow that's a... bad thing? Pfft. Even if I let her do her thing... [ a pause and this is something he's been considering, so it's pretty new information to everyone in the room. ] I'm not going to make it easy for her. I'm not going to let her think this is the right thing to do and I'm just going to sweep it under the rug. No, I have a plan.
[ a short nod and rhys seems determined now to do... something. what that is, it's still kind of a mystery, but it looks like he has some weird plan in his head. good job, rhys! for not telling anyone much of anything! ]
[AAAAH WHAT THE FUCK RHYS NOW HE'S KEEPING SECRETS FROM THE SECRET-KEEPERS and honestly Gilbert isn't sure if that's a great idea-- Break is the only person in this room that has his Unquestioning Trust.
But it's not like he's going to bodyslam Rhys for being a secretive saboteur or anything. For all he knows, maybe things will work out - okay?!]
... [Though he's definitely looking back at Alisha now.] If not even all of you are on the same page, just how solid do you think this plan you have is...?
[Not to throw the wrench of doubt into this conversation but. He's gotta know. Since he's with Undyne and Clover and he'd prefer to act, especially if this is the sort of thing they're dealing with.]
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But ah, it looks like he's jumped back in the middle of some deets-dropping instead, so he'll just. Actually be smart for once and remain quiet, cutting himself off mid-shout.
...
Though after a second he'll go over to stand by Break because he sees that blood and now he feels like, 5% bad. Kind of.]
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And keep an eye on Gilbert, because that was a lot of screaming. ]
Also, it really is easier if such discussions aren't widely-known.
[ Less concerning people to listen in. ]
But I would never discuss anything or hide anything that would harm anyone involved.
[ SHE DIED FOR A MANNEQUIN. Break and Rhys are a lot sketchier though, so she can't really say the same for them, but she inexplicably likes them anyway okay Alisha. ]
For now... the hostage situation is what we need to focus on.
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I know you wouldn't. And I know Break and Rhys wouldn't discuss anything...that would harm their friends. [SO THERE'S THAT AT LEAST??? They might be sketchy, but she does trust in their loyalty to the people they care about. Which hopefully includes people other than Gilbert.]
But as easy as it might be, it also means people outside your discussions can't really help you since we have no idea what's going on. And we can't work together unless you trust us as much as we trust you! I didn't try to kill that woman just so I could become someone else's tool!
[Which is the crux of the matter, really. Look, as much of a shounen moron as she is, Undyne's not actually stupid. She gets that they can't spread information because if Certain People found out, it might ruin everything. But she's sick and tired of feeling like she's just being used for some greater purpose without any idea what's actually behind it, and it hurts even more when it's coming from her friends.]
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For now, she just nudges closer to Undyne since she's her favorite, nodding along.]
Definitely—definitely the hostage situation. Those are some of our most important people, it's not fair if...if something's happening—if we don't know... [GESTURES VAGUELY she's tired and sad, words are hard]
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It's probably Gilbert, Undyne, and Clover, at least. Alisha doesn't usually stop by, but— [ He pauses, since he doesn't want to sound like that's a bad thing, so he bows his head lightly as he corrects himself. ] But welcome, Alisha. Please keep these idiots in line for us, hm?
[ He doesn't even know that the ghosts already got yelled at, but he can imagine that someone that knows what they do would be equally frustrated by... Whatever the hell just happened. Break sighs heavily, but then goes back to flop onto the bed, but more listlessly this time around. He's feeling more tired than he was a few minutes ago, and it's only partially because he just coughed up blood. ]
It's not a matter of trust that we're keeping things from all of you. It's safety. What's happening here is something that we're all just pawns in, and to an irritating extent, to be honest. But that's why we have to be smart. We have very little power here, so every advantage we have, we also have to conserve.
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[ he didn't ... really want clover to know about what he's been doing but well, seems that's where he is. he rubs the back of his neck awkwardly with his flesh hand before moving on, speaking to the ghosts next. ]
... Irritating is the understatement of the year, Break. We're cows to the slaughter here for someone's petty grievances and she --
[ rhys cuts himself off then because hey, clover? remember how you were messing with his robot arm? he didn't really use it when he was speaking but now as he gestures upwards in his frustration, it freaks out. there's a sharp jerk and it just sort of...
throws rhys to the ground. heavily. he lets out a yelp as it fritz out on him and tries to grab the useless lump of metal with his flesh hand. ]
Did someone mess with my arm again?! Come on! This is expensive equipment!
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Meanwhile Gilbert's just sort of over here contemplating everything that everyone has said so far - because he can certainly understand both sides, as he's been on both sides of the equation before. Being kept in the dark for personal safety is awful, and having to keep people in the dark for theirs is just as bad. He understands Undyne's frustration, but he also understands Break's aim.
Okay but he's still going to be assblasted about the Oz thing for like the next 5 years probably.]
...It's like I said earlier, right? [This, he says after looking up and over toward Undyne. Then, back to Break (he is seriously just ignoring Rhys NOT THAT HE DOESN'T CARE RHYS, HE'S JUST OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW--)] If this is the decision they've made, I can't imagine that it wasn't made with the best intentions, even if... [A pause; his brow furrows.] -It seems like things might not be working out the way they - expected. Or hoped.
[Because like Undyne, he's a king moron but he can be surprisingly observant, too.]
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[ Look, she really will talk about this later, because there goes Rhys' arm, and she's jumping back, startled. Sorry, Rhys, she won't be of much use either. She's got to conserve the rest of her energy now, and... tackling an arm requires way more than she even has. ]
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Look, I'm not doubting that their intentions are good. But 'conserving advantages' from your own allies at this point might turn out to be a lot more dangerous than taking a risk - especially if you're right about things getting out of hand. [Then again, her perspective on matters like these might be biased thanks to her boundless confidence of being able to handle whatever danger gets thrown at her or anyone else. Who cares if some sinparent shitlord finds out, she'll just kick their ass, this plan has no flaws!!
She rubs her face, looking tired for once.] If the only way we can help is to rush in blindly when they ask, then so be it, I trust you guys. I'm just not a fan of sitting around uselessly and letting someone else carry the burden for us.
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But okay, serious conversations!! Sometimes Clover is capable of those, this is one of those times.] Undyne's right. We're in this together. We want to help. I mean—I don't know about everyone else, but I'm way more concerned about doing something than staying safe or whatever. [she's already dead who CARES]
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I was being polite. I have my own world to worry about, so this one is irr—
[ Ah, but there Rhys goes onto the floor, and Break rolls over his way with concern. He starts to sit up, but he ends up just flopping down again partway through. He's already proven that he can't be of much assistance to Rhys in terms of helping him get up, so you're on your own there, buddy. He would help if he could, though. ]
...Can you lot behave for at least one minute? Please?
[ leave britney alone ]
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... man, maybe he should have gotten to know these guys better before they died! ... pfft haha, nah. that's stupid.
instead he just finally drags himself back from the floor up to his bed again as he tries to reactivate his arm and glances over at break. what do they say now? he doesn't know, so instead rhys will just grumble, bitter and defeated. ]
Politeness is kind of a waste when we're being killed over a spat.
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That said, as soon as Rhys makes that little comment, he immediately glances over toward Alisha and incredulously repeats that back.]
Killed over a spat—?
[WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. Between the sin parents? Between Miata and Katerina?? He also reaches out to nudge Break's shoulder, as if prompting for further explanation.]
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The one in charge of this... is incredibly single-minded, to begin with.
[ But she'll move over to nudge Rhys' shoulder instead, because, well. There, there. She knows you're pissed. ]
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[Actually, it's not that much of a shock to hear - Sans had already proposed a fairly similar theory to her beforehand. But it's still incredibly irritating.]
Then that should be easy enough to solve! We just kill whoever the spat's between! [GUYS YOU'RE SAYING THIS LIKE IT'S HARD????]
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...All this trouble and crap over...an argument? What? [The longer this goes on the less she actually understands ugh!!!! But she nods along with Undyne because that sounds totally legit, that's not anywhere near the worst idea she's ever heard, go kick everyone's asses glittersis.]
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We've managed to at least figure some things out about why we're here. There's a war going on that has nothing to do with us at all.
[ Break waves his hand dismissively, since this shows roughly how much he cares about that fact. It may be something he's meant to felt sympathy for, but he really doesn't. Considering the state of his own world, it's wholly irrelevant to him. He has no interest in dying for the sake of some other place's war, even if the process were different. ]
In short, we're just being used as coal for the fire of Katerina's revenge. There's no larger purpose to this other than her wanting vengeance. So perhaps "spat" is a bit light, but it's completely accurate to say that this is just a girl with too much power throwing a tantrum.
[ He sits up at this point, though he's rubbing his temple tiredly.]
Which I'm only sharing because it's going to end soon regardless. The idea that seven people will get to leave is a lie, and that includes Buddy, I should note. We all die, or we find another option. That's the sort of path we're facing here. We do have another option, but that I can't speak of. This is all irrelevant at this point, but if it clarifies anything about our secrecy, we did find that Katerina is able to listen and watch us, hence why it's had to be kept so quiet.
[ He motions generally to the room, but then something seems to occur to him. Break laughs, though it comes with a much sharper smile. Wow, it's like Break is an ex-serial killer or something... ]
Ahhh, though on that note, if you are listening, Katerina~? I do at least know by now why you've never shown your face. It must be rather frightening to be a rather normal girl when you've brought so many competent killers to play your game. I look forward to finding out if your demons would be willing to lay their own necks out to save yours. Somehow, I feel that this may not be the case.
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he lifts his flesh hand to pinch the bridge of his nose and sighs. if they're going all in, why not just do it? ]
We only know Buddy will die because I asked, by the way. All that shit with Morrigan should have been worth something, right? Nope. We can't even protect Buddy. We can't protect anyone from this stupid, stupid, stupid revenge plot.
[ rhys being forced into the shounen life is really pissing him off just fyi. casually protecting everyone he hates in the background!! this isn't what he wanted!
but break's call out to katerina makes rhys laugh and he grins a little, wry and... honestly, pretty tired. ]
Everything's going to come to an end soon. All I want to do is make sure the hostages are safe and go back home. [ a slight pause and rhys confesses something that may seem a bit out of character for him. ] It... doesn't really matter what happens to me as long as that's taken care of. Fiona deserves to live, not me.
[ he's probably blushing a little about it too, ugh. this is awkward. ]
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...Of course, even if he didn't believe any of it (which he does), he'd still end up trusting Break.]
...Everyone here should go back home, where they belong.
[SOME PEOPLE deserve it a little less than others looking at you 90% of team sloth, but considering they wouldn't even be in this situation if it weren't for this, he's able to differentiate his enemies pretty well.]
We'll need to pass that part on to Morrigan too, if nothing else.
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[ So the nudge to Rhys' shoulder is more of a squeeze this time, you too. Say what you want, Rhys, but she definitely wants you alive. ]
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[WOW LOOK HOW MUCH SYMPATHY UNDYNE HAS ABOUT THIS it's zero. She has zero sympathy. Actually, it's so low that it's in the negative, aka this explanation just makes her hate everyone involved more. Maybe towards the start of the game she'd find some small shred within herself that cared about the town's backstory, but not anymore.
But she does care about Break and Rhys, so she sighs and ruffles both their heads gently.]
I agree. The ones dragged here to play this game as just as innocent and deserve to live just as much as the hostages do. [She pauses.] Well, most of them are. [Another pause.] I mean, some of them are definitely huge murdering jerks, but we probably can't leave them behind if it's an all or nothing deal, huh?
[why does she sound so contemplative about this]
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But the hostages are her priority, too, and that weird bout of selflessness from Rhys manages to distract her from her latest upcoming temper tantrum. She tugs lightly at his not-robot arm (no button pressing this time!), less to get his attention and more an attempt at "same, dude." Not being dead anymore would be great and all, but she'll be struggling to consider it an actual possibility until it's been done.]
Yeah—yeah, me, too, but...I wanna make sure the hostages are safe first thing. [AGREEING WITH RHYS IS WEIRD SHE DOESN'T LIKE IT] I know they said all-or-nothing, but...
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...In any case, we're doing what we can. I suppose that's the short of it.
[ He gestures vaguely, though the pause is largely because Break needs it to take a rattling breath so that he doesn't start coughing again. Even so, he doesn't pay it any mind or draw attention to it, because he continues on smoothly. ]
I have a bit too much pride to stand back and let the people here be used as pawns, I think the phrasing was? I just didn't realize the extent of it until tonight, so I'm not feeling quite as sympathetic to this mess as she was perhaps hoping.
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still, the only response he can hear is break and he catches onto the gist of the conversation anyway. what break says makes him realize maybe he should explain what happened tonight, why he was so mad. things are becoming clearer as they speak -- still vague enough to not get them in trouble but clear enough for the ghosts to understands. rhys nods to himself but then replies, to everyone really. ]
She basically just asked me to sit on my hands and do nothing this next week because I didn't react how she wanted when she told us her plan. I don't want to die for someone else's problem and somehow that's a... bad thing? Pfft. Even if I let her do her thing... [ a pause and this is something he's been considering, so it's pretty new information to everyone in the room. ] I'm not going to make it easy for her. I'm not going to let her think this is the right thing to do and I'm just going to sweep it under the rug. No, I have a plan.
[ a short nod and rhys seems determined now to do... something. what that is, it's still kind of a mystery, but it looks like he has some weird plan in his head. good job, rhys! for not telling anyone much of anything! ]
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But it's not like he's going to bodyslam Rhys for being a secretive saboteur or anything. For all he knows, maybe things will work out - okay?!]
... [Though he's definitely looking back at Alisha now.] If not even all of you are on the same page, just how solid do you think this plan you have is...?
[Not to throw the wrench of doubt into this conversation but. He's gotta know. Since he's with Undyne and Clover and he'd prefer to act, especially if this is the sort of thing they're dealing with.]
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