voice, un: strange

[rehandle]

To whoever might find this useful, I'm now the patron-by-proxy of all Ephes' magic users.

From what I can tell they're all very eager to help in whatever their patron might ask of them, and given how many people that accounts for there's a fair chance that if there's something you need done, I'll have somebody for the task.

What I don't have is a lot of money. [ And doesn't he just sound thrilled and not at all resentful about it. ] Should anyone wish to be so kind, I wouldn't turn down any generous donations made in the interest of the betterment of the citadel's magical community.

[ Public service announcement and desert-dry plea for somebody, anybody to give him some cash aside, that's everything, and he almost cuts it there - but actually, he'll need to get a sense for this sooner or later, so: ]

While I have your attention, it would be useful to know everyone's current stance on Messalina.

Comments

[wifedup]

It knows the taste of blood.

( The pleasantness remains, but dips in temperature. )

What is noble has nothing to do with it. The creature kills without scruple. It has consumed what is most closely guarded. You can teach it to act human, but it knows now, it will always crave that same thrill. ( A monster is a monster is a monster. ) You think your bleeding heart might save it? It would eat that too.

help they need an adult

[matermali]

I would not wish for him to become human. He ought to be no less than what he is, however unfortunate it is that he must be temporarily muzzled for our needs.

[ Talking to the mother of monsters, here, so the thought of it eating her 'bleeding' heart could make her laugh if it was something to be proud of. She would eat the demon's heart, first. With love, of course.

Wen Kexing probably wouldn't like knowing another bloodthirsty monster is hidden among the group, would he?! Mum's the word! ]

My heart spilled its last drop of blood some some time ago, and any nobility I question I would never claim to have myself. Do not mistake me for kind. If I do speak to anything, it's to the unique span of strengths that those in our company possess. We can kill beautifully, can't we? But we can do far more than that.

If there is a possibility for resolution without further death, would that not be preferable? Bleeding hearts aside, we have no idea how Messalina would respond. She may go into a rage. She may use another demon and set us back where we were.

oh no this is terrible ahaha

[wifedup]

Ah. You want to harness that power for yourself, I see, I see.

( It would be useful, he supposes. There is some benefit to harnessing
a monster for one's own use. He knows what that is like. But he finds the thought exhausting, too close to those of a man he is trying not to be. )

What would my lady suggest then? To collar it? I hope she is of strong fortitude, the snapping of teeth cares not for the difference in chain or flesh. Or perhaps you'd rather we just sit quietly and let it kill whatever it liked? I just hope it steers clear of one of our own, we are unique, like you said.

someone summon the wife

[matermali]

For myself? [ That's a hard pass, friend. She's got plenty. It sucks. ] Messalina is the one to have first collared him, and it serves all of us to avoid her suspicions, or can you not see that for your fear of monsters clouding your vision?

We harness this tragic thing for the benefit of all. And for that, for us, if I were able then I would gladly add another collar to better direct him. [ Though arguments like this sure tempt her to just let him go ham. ] Do not worry for my fortitude, nor my flesh. A lady can bite just as well as a beast.

they'd agree if he weren't trying to not be his usual self

[wifedup]

Why?

( Curious, easy. He isn't afraid, not of the creature, nor of her, and certainly not Messalina. That might be foolish, but his confidence is not ill-placed. )

She advocates for the dead, but no one has yet to tell me exactly why we must bow to Messalina's whims? All I've heard since coming here is that the dead have caused harm, and so I ask again, why? Is it merely fear? Then we are collared ourselves.

[matermali]

To understand the machinations occurring around this citadel, we must investigate both parties to the best of our ability. That involves avoiding their suspicion for as long as we may. How else are we to discover any truths behind this war?

[ Then there's uncovering the beacon, but that thing can jump in a lake as far as she's concerned. ]

I cannot think Messalina to be entirely honest with her claims, but for those that she speaks for, I would wager that many of them would rather live in peace if given the choice. Is it so difficult a concept? For them to want somewhere they can safely call home?

[wifedup]

( He thinks of the girls in the Unfaithful Department, often a part of Ghost Valley due only to the cruelty of others. He would not suggest they were monsters. It is a part of why he wants them all to leave -, part of why, but not all. He is tired. Let him throw the doors open, let him be done. He would have far crueller things than this shapeshifter set free.

Perhaps Messalina is not dissimilar, but he hates himself for it and so he can level that same ire her way. )

No. But if she allows one of her own such cruel feasting, what does that say about her? ( What does that say about Wen Kexing? ) I would not trust her, and I would not this creature be left unchecked. A muzzle is so rarely effective.

[matermali]

You say she allows it, but there may be little she can do to stop it. Her control is clearly not absolute, but she has no better man for the role. She is not here to be gentle, she is here to win a place for her people, and so she will use the tools at her disposal.

[ She sure is being sloppy, but some things apparently can't be helped. No one's control is absolute. ]

None of us have been leaving him unchecked. You underestimate how tirelessly some of us have worked to try and avert disaster. There would be far more trouble if not for our efforts, I assure you.

[wifedup]

Then she is hardly it's master, if she cannot keep it's teeth from gnashing.

( There is something to be said for being the one in charge of vicious things, sometimes you must be the one to be cruel first. The number of ghosts Wen Kexing has killed sometimes feels innumerable, but they paved something like dominance. )

I am sure you are all doing your best. ( He has seen Lan Wangji after all, pale, forced to set aside his scruples in favour of paving their party a better path. ) I merely think we should consider that the thing might have to be put down.

[matermali]

Indeed, he may need a better master.

[ Then again, Messalina has her hands full. It may just be too much to manage at once. ]

We are considering it, but it should not be our first choice. Whatever must be done, it will be a decision made with our company's best interest in mind. We have come this far together.

[wifedup]

( He has half a mind to ask about the natives best interest, considering they're the ones currently being devoured on the regular. But he also has no interest in talking in circles, neither does he of being known to have a bleeding heart.

The Ghost Valley Master does not care for others --. )

As long as it does not eat any of the whores.

( Unpleasant, but it is better that than anything else. )

I'll leave the matter to those more capable.

[matermali]

[ That is genuinely the last thing she expected to hear out of his mouth. Shock is hard for her to suffer anymore, but this is one. How? Why? Is she missing some very relevant context here? ]

And why them...specifically?

[wifedup]

It's bad for business.

( And actually, he's been doing a lot to keep them well looked after these days. )