audience: lucas

[mygod]

Comments

[mygod]

What do you do outside of work?

[faithkept]

I spend time with my family.

[HIS ONE SINGLE FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS STILL ALIVE JUST BARELY. Also crimes.]

[mygod]

[ also crimes ]

Sibling? [ scritches underneath a cat's chin ] ... pet...?

[ is that a family member to some people, probably ]

[faithkept]

No pets, I'm afraid.

[He'd count a pet as one of his family members even if it discovered his people cage, probably... But since he's in a slightly less cagey mood when coming at the topic from this angle:]

I have a younger sister - Nadia.

[THE NADIA HE'S ABOUT TO FCKIN MURDER A PACIFIST FOR.]

[mygod]

You should get Nadia a cat since you seem to enjoy their company so much.

[ help ]

[faithkept]

[HELP.]

Oh? Maybe I should. I'm sure she'd have a wonderful time fussing over and caring for one.

[Tragically hospitals don't allow for pets but it's FINE maybe she can get a cat after he overcomes this last trial and finally fckin cures her with the power of vicks.

He also lifts up one of the big cat's paws and lets it flop back down. The cat does not even bother opening an eye, damn.]

[mygod]

Are you both the caretaking type?

[ these angelic siblings...

famine will reach then to squeeze the pawpads on the big kitty.... henlo.... ]

[faithkept]

[ONE OF THEM IS ANGELIC......

The big kitty does not seem to mind even this. What a chill cat... Lucas gently pats its back.]

How easy-going... [Oh to live that life........] I suppose you could say that, though. She can be a bit fussy, herself.

[The audacity on this man.]

[mygod]

I think it's just lazy.

[ no........ easy-going........ ]

Fussy how so?

[faithkept]

Be nice to this sweet cat.

[EASY-GOING!!!! He lifts its opposite paw again and gives it another gentle squish. He also doesn't want to get into this because the first thing that comes to mind is Nadia FUSSING AFTER HIM TO GET MARRIED BEFORE SHE FCKIN DIES he hates it here.]

Oh, just fussy. Fussy in the way young children sometimes get.

[mygod]

Lazy is a neutral adjective.

[ it's not mean if it's right... they're both just holding the paws of this lazy cat now. also help me nadia you're so right i'm on your side honey ]

I've only recently started to interact with children... Do you prefer their company to adults?

[faithkept]

This cat is very industrious.

[Catching so many mice... That's why it's so fat... ALSO STOP HIS ANGEL IS GETTING MARRIED TO THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA HE'LL NEVER WED BEFORE NADIA DIES NOW.]

Is that so? What changed? [They had a kid. He also just laughs at that like HONESTLY MAYBE!!! BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE GOOD PURE SOULS!!] I don't mind the company of adults. I just happen to spend more of my time with children, between my work and Nadia.

[mygod]

Or very greedy....

[ hungy kitty..... also fucking stoP I'LL KILL YOU ]

I suppose you could say the focus of my life changed directions. [ but they hum faintly at that ] Maybe you're young at heart.

[faithkept]

A hard-working cat!

[HUNGY....... Also listen. AM I WRONG. HE'S ABOUT TO EITHER DIE OR BECOME POSSESSED. But he just nods at that like wow can't believe Famine decided to become a teacher too.]

I hope that you find the new focus rewarding. Children are a joy to work with. [Even when they are being little nightmares... He also just laughs at that! THE WAY HE IS YOUNG BUT HE ACTS LIKE HE'S ANCIENT BECAUSE HE'S ON THE VERGE OF GETTING OL YELLER'D.]

You'd be the first to say so.

[mygod]

It was alright for a while. I didn't mind it, but I don't think I derive joy from it the way you seem to.

[ though famine is also not inherently a joyful person.... squishing pawpads isn't bad though ]

First?

[faithkept]

Is that so... [TEACHER ERA OVER SO SOON.] Well... I'm glad that it's alright, at least. Please return to working with children after you're done here.

[IT'S BETTER THAN WORKING WITH CULTS, DAMN. But yeah! He nods.]

Is it so surprising?

[mygod]

Is that a request? I didn't even fully intend to return my original world after leaving it in the first place.

[ nods also ]

Yes. You clearly have a predisposition to mischief.

[faithkept]

[A PREDISPOSITION TO MISCHIEF. He'll loop back to the other part in a second HE'S JUST BUSY BLINKING AT THEM LIKE ?????? ME?????? MOI????? LUCAS PROUST?????? A TEACHER WHO HAS BEEN LOCALLY ASSIGNED PRIEST BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE??????]

Why do you say that...

[mygod]

[ laughs ]

It is not a criticism.

[faithkept]

Being mischievous is hardly a crime, but it's an unbecoming trait for a teacher, you know.

[Said in the exaggeratedly disapproving way of someone who does not believe in what they are saying.]

—In any case, you don't plan on returning?

[mygod]

I'm sure the children have great fun with you.

[ and that's what matters... ]

I would not have left it if I felt that it could've benefitted from me remaining there. [ a beat ] Well, I'm revisiting the idea. I still remain undecided.

[faithkept]

[There's just a little laugh... HE LOVES HIS KIDS!!!!

The rest of this is wild though, imagine wanting to just leave your world behind.]

So you think that- [A little bit of a puzzled expression.] -there may be some benefit after all?

[mygod]

Perhaps.

[ starts poking and petting at the sneepy kitten in lucas' lap instead ]

It is not that straightforward. There are pros and cons with any decision. When I left, there were simply more benefits from my departure than cons.

[faithkept]

[The sneepy kitten rolls over a little to expose its soft round tum perfect for gentle pets. Oh to be a spoiled barn cat.

Lucas in the meanwhile is thinking about the ink he'd seen and wondering if they don't have anyone or anywhere to return to, and if that factored into the decision. Bleak...]

And now, things look a little more evenly balanced between the pros and cons of returning...?

[mygod]

[ oh.... pets this tum as well, perhaps another trap but it's fine ]

I wouldn't say that it's even.

[ frowns and pauses, as if weighing their words ]

... simply that the more I think on it, the more that I wonder if I left something unfinished. Hindsight is 20/20, after all.