[ Laughs as his hand is swatted away, and then he turns to make his way over to the couch, dropping down into it and falling back to lie on the cushions comfortably. Unfortunately, he is a manspreader, so his arms and legs are kind of all over the place as he stares up at the ceiling. ]
Tell me about this machine you and the others were making.
It's fine, he'll stay resting against his desk until affection week gets to be too annoying. ]
I've told you as much as there is to know about the machine. I remember the schematic, but it won't matter since we can't get the parts. So what comes next is figuring out where we are, and what this place is.
I haven't seen any sign of cult presence yet. And now there's two of you without your monsters. It's interesting.
[ Yeah, he's going to throw a leg over the back of the couch that's how extreme the manspreading is. He's going to end up upside down at this point.
At the same time, he extends an arm to display three fingers, pointer finger and thumb tucked in together. ]
The three of us "died" which is how we got to this place. It doesn't seem to be the death of our monsters that causes the dimension-hopping, otherwise you wouldn't be here. So is it simply death itself?
[ Brings his hand closer to his face for just a moment, then drops his hand over his eyes. ]
And for some strange reason, we're able to watch the living.
Correct. I was never afflicted, but we've ended up in the same place. Unless we've all been conveniently dropped into hell together, it's possible that anyone that dies over there could end up over here.
[ He raps his good hand gently against his desk, thinking. ]
This place holds some similarities to the village. The fog, even the layout... and how empty it is. Perhaps the two places are connected enough that we can witness the others. Two sides of the same mirror, except only we can look through it.
But there's no sign that we can do that right now. Maybe if we can learn more about this place, find more resources... [ he fades off and stops before he makes any promises. ] Eager to get back, aren't you?
[ After a moment's pause, like he's deliberating whether to engage, he does oblige the request and come over. He taps Aventurine's knee with his cane so he'll stop manspreading and give him some room on his own couch to sit. ]
I don't know if it is. Possible, I mean.
[ Just because there's a connection doesn't guarantee that's enough. Just because you break the mirror between the two worlds, doesn't mean you can step through to the other side. ]
But it's good that death—deaths, excuse me—haven't broken your spirit. ...I do intend to see you both to safety, so I'm not telling you to give up.
[ ON HIS OWN COUCH. Unfortunately, Nehan is unfazed as he sits, besides a brief eyeroll. Beats the itchy feeling of being a room apart, and he's not shy. ]
You say that, but you seem tired.
[ Not all the time, but in close proximity. An empty gaze here, a moment of quiet weariness there. ]
[ Amazing, thanks for taking up less than 90% of his couch with your twink body. The question hangs in silence for a moment, his tone unchanged when he does answer. ]
...Nothing. I'm just going where fate takes me. Why?
Not too long ago, my sole reason for living was to survive. To preserve what I had. But before fate takes me, truly takes me, I want to be able to look back on my journey and think that the end wasn't for nothing.
[ He frowns thinly. Rests his hands neatly against Aventurine's... leg... since it's the only part of him he can reach and this week is a nightmare, and taps a finger against his knuckles as he looks at nothing in particular. ]
...Surviving. I guess it was the same for me. I'm tired of how much surviving costs, too.
[ Not in a monetary sense. He spares Aventurine a sidelong glance now. ]
You're a nuisance, but I admire the energy. Maybe someone as annoying as you will make something of yourself in the end anyway.
[ He finally pushes himself up, drawing his leg to his side of the couch. But then he returns to invade Nehan's personal space as he twists around to drop the back of his head against the other man's lap instead.
[ A NUISANCE!!! He flicks Aventurine's temple now that it's in range. ]
Keep your expectations low.
[ But since they've made this into some sort of game, he's more careful as he pushes Aventurine's bangs to the side, out of his face where they usually hang, looking him in the eyes. ]
Are you going to be able to rely on him, too? [ He means Boothill. ]
But okay, Nehan can gayly stare into his eyes... There's not a hint of light in them.
At the mention of Boothill, Aventurine lets out a long sigh. It had been so satisfying getting to hit him with a tire iron, but he can't help thinking back to what he'd seen on the screen during the Ranger's final moments. ]
I'll have to talk to him, won't I? [ small grumble ] I'm sure we can come to some sort of understanding... A common goal and whatnot.
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Tell me about this machine you and the others were making.
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It's fine, he'll stay resting against his desk until affection week gets to be too annoying. ]
I've told you as much as there is to know about the machine. I remember the schematic, but it won't matter since we can't get the parts. So what comes next is figuring out where we are, and what this place is.
I haven't seen any sign of cult presence yet. And now there's two of you without your monsters. It's interesting.
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At the same time, he extends an arm to display three fingers, pointer finger and thumb tucked in together. ]
The three of us "died" which is how we got to this place. It doesn't seem to be the death of our monsters that causes the dimension-hopping, otherwise you wouldn't be here. So is it simply death itself?
[ Brings his hand closer to his face for just a moment, then drops his hand over his eyes. ]
And for some strange reason, we're able to watch the living.
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Correct. I was never afflicted, but we've ended up in the same place. Unless we've all been conveniently dropped into hell together, it's possible that anyone that dies over there could end up over here.
[ He raps his good hand gently against his desk, thinking. ]
This place holds some similarities to the village. The fog, even the layout... and how empty it is. Perhaps the two places are connected enough that we can witness the others. Two sides of the same mirror, except only we can look through it.
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... Connected. We're connected. Then there might be a way to make this into a two-way connection.
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[ He's more of a half-empty sort of guy. ]
But there's no sign that we can do that right now. Maybe if we can learn more about this place, find more resources... [ he fades off and stops before he makes any promises. ] Eager to get back, aren't you?
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I need something to focus on. I need to know it's possible.
[ Otherwise he will go insane. ]
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I don't know if it is. Possible, I mean.
[ Just because there's a connection doesn't guarantee that's enough. Just because you break the mirror between the two worlds, doesn't mean you can step through to the other side. ]
But it's good that death—deaths, excuse me—haven't broken your spirit. ...I do intend to see you both to safety, so I'm not telling you to give up.
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[ Lifts his leg at the tap to give Nehan room to sit between his spread legs. :)
He laughs, quiet and thoughtful. ]
Nothing in all the cosmos, mine and this one, could convince me to give up. Not after I've made up my mind.
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You say that, but you seem tired.
[ Not all the time, but in close proximity. An empty gaze here, a moment of quiet weariness there. ]
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True enough. I don't hide it as well these days.
[ The constant nightmares have only exacerbated the problem, but that, at least, he's kept to himself. ]
But... this isn't the same kind of tired that I was before.
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Is that so... What's changed?
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[ Folds his hands on his stomach as he thinks about this. At least his arms are nice and polite and not splayed out everywhere now. ]
Nehan, what do you live for? [ Slight pause when he remembers their current situation. ] You know what I mean.
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...Nothing. I'm just going where fate takes me. Why?
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I'm going to find something to live for.
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That implies you haven't found it yet. So what are you living for in the moment?
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[ Nothing. Questions without answers. ]
Not too long ago, my sole reason for living was to survive. To preserve what I had. But before fate takes me, truly takes me, I want to be able to look back on my journey and think that the end wasn't for nothing.
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...Surviving. I guess it was the same for me. I'm tired of how much surviving costs, too.
[ Not in a monetary sense. He spares Aventurine a sidelong glance now. ]
You're a nuisance, but I admire the energy. Maybe someone as annoying as you will make something of yourself in the end anyway.
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[ He finally pushes himself up, drawing his leg to his side of the couch. But then he returns to invade Nehan's personal space as he twists around to drop the back of his head against the other man's lap instead.
Like this, Aventurine smiles up at him. ]
Don't get too tired, Nehan. We're relying on you.
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Keep your expectations low.
[ But since they've made this into some sort of game, he's more careful as he pushes Aventurine's bangs to the side, out of his face where they usually hang, looking him in the eyes. ]
Are you going to be able to rely on him, too? [ He means Boothill. ]
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But okay, Nehan can gayly stare into his eyes... There's not a hint of light in them.
At the mention of Boothill, Aventurine lets out a long sigh. It had been so satisfying getting to hit him with a tire iron, but he can't help thinking back to what he'd seen on the screen during the Ranger's final moments. ]
I'll have to talk to him, won't I? [ small grumble ] I'm sure we can come to some sort of understanding... A common goal and whatnot.
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Until we can get outside assistance, he's all you have to work with.
[ Nehan doesn't count himself, he's a cultist and should not be trusted. ]
Besides, you seem pretty soft. If you didn't kill him already, I doubt you're going to. So you may as well broker an alliance.
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I have no interest in taking lives.
[ It slips out a little more seriously than he means it to, so he throws in something lighter. ]
Only livelihoods.
[ IS THAT LIGHTER? ]
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...You're less dangerous than you look.
[ WAS THAT NOT DANGEROUS ]
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