inbox.

[exsecutus]

Comments

[champions]

He wants me not to stonewall him. Perhaps to soften Kostos and Gareth's views of him. It is hard to say, even if he says one thing, I can count on him to mean something quite different.

( It's such a BURDEN, Nikos )

[exsecutus]

Is he a simpleton, that he expects you to soften Kostos?

[Like come on.]

What is it you would get in exchange, if you were to be open and friendly with him and, by miracle and the grace of the Maker and some temporary madness, utterly change my brother?

More scorpions?

[champions]

( A quiet laugh. )

Perhaps we can use you as a stand-in, and play make-believe.

( She is not convinced by the idea, either. )

If I were open and friendly with Isaac? I would win myself a knife in the back.

( No. She shakes her head. ) No matter how I play the game, I fear we will be at each other's throats

( It is less a fear than a promise. )

[exsecutus]

How amusing that would be.

[Isaac. A name Nikos is committing to memory, while he sharpens his knives.]

If you're truly committed to the game analogy, then we could outmaneuver him now. I'd prefer you be plain and tell me who he is. What's the likely implication, if it comes to throats?

[champions]

I think to move so swiftly would be less—

( fun )

— informative. He has grander schemes, I think. Greater ambitions. Learning his aims might lend me some greater insight.

( Unseen, her head tilts to the side, but perhaps he is familiar enough with the gesture. ) A mage of the Circles. No one of consequence.

( That's what all mages are, after all. Salt salt salt. )

[exsecutus]

'No one of consequence, with great ambitions', is a shit combination. One of the worst.

[He's familiar with the gesture. Even the sound of Marisol's voice can conjure up a very clear image of her, posture and face and sometimes even what she might be wearing. The crystal is not quite the same, but Nikos has had a lot of voice-only conversations with Marisol. Usually he was laying on some thick carpet during these conversations, somewhere in the Vivas or the Averesch mansion; usually he was drunk, with his eyes closed or his face buried in an overstuffed pillow. This is not so different.

For one thing, he's a little drunk.]

The bright side is, if he's no one of consequence, he won't be missed. But if we're spying, I'll put my knife away.

[For now.]

[champions]

You are very good to me. Thank you.

( For the readiness to kill, for the not killing. Both are very appreciated. )

Can I ask you a question? About killing. Perhaps more than one.

[exsecutus]

Mm,

[Vague agreement, of a sort, lest he accidentally say anything more damning.]

If I say 'no', will you ask it anyways? [Probably. So:] Ask. If I get bored, I'll stop speaking to you.

[champions]

How does it make it make you feel? Is it all business and necessity, or... is more complex?

( feelings are his favourite topic right )

[exsecutus]

[Uggggggh feelings]

It gets me hard.

[So flat.]

Do you think there's something unnatural about that?

[champions]

You too?

( A sigh of relief. )

And here I worried I was the only one.

[exsecutus]

[She says it quickly enough--and Nikos is, in turn, surprised enough--that he nearly laughs.]

Now that is unnatural.

[champions]

Don't judge me for my many talents.

( sorry about your life, Nikos )

[exsecutus]

A talent.

Your slang is outdated, prima. They call it something else these days.