[ for absolute funnies as this memory happens, astarion is in one of those rooms where you end up on the ceiling so here he is just hanging from the ceiling like a bat.
Oh at this point I might as well just roll out a welcome banner from the skies every time this happens. Roll up, come and gawk at Astarion's memories! Whether you want to or not!
You are going down a hall. Besides you are two people who you know very well-- or, you think you do. As well as anyone can know a person, while also being guarded against them. But you are all together, and hurrying, trying your best not to get caught by security. You know that you can't trick everyone who might question why you brought others inside here.
After all, it's a little early to get caught.
"The elevator up ahead will take us straight to Control's office," you say.
The woman, Saria, shakes her head. "It's safer if we take the fire exit in the back."
That really is just like her, to give her input. She hasn't been here for months, but she still moves like she belongs here. You think she does, but you know she'd say otherwise.
"I know, but aren't we in a hurry?" you ask. "It'll be faster if we head straight there, and run into less armed personnel along the way."
"Wait, don't go over there—"
You step into a sensor, and an alarm starts blaring in the building. You at least have the decency to look flustered. "Whoopsie. I forgot this area's monitored..."
She sighs, before looking at the other person with you. "Doctor, it's time for plan B."
And with that, she runs off to face the incoming guards. You knew she would, because Saria will always be the one at the front of the line instead of letting others deal with it. You smile, watching her go, before you and the Doctor continue to run together. You're on the move for a while, as the guards keep coming and you are both forced to dodge their attacks and keep moving. You are far away from where you left Saria at this point.
"What do we do? The Defense guys just keep coming and coming," you call out to the Doctor. "Ferdinand's got all the sites covered. It doesn't matter how much of a fight Saria can put up. There's no way she can take on so many at once."
"We're counting on you," they reply.
That makes you pause. "Me...? No way! I don't know how to fight. All the running around to dodge their attacks is exhausting already... Don't you hear all my panting, Doctor?"
"As long as you stop deliberately wasting time..."
Oh. You thought you were doing a pretty good job at hiding your intentions. You had completely fooled Saria, who had way more reason to doubt you than the Doctor did, considering the tension in your relationship with her. But here they are, looking at you through their mostly covered expression, as if it's obvious.
"You... You know?"
"You've been blocking Saria's line of sight, intentionally or otherwise. You've been pretty calm ever since you heard me guess this is where Control is."
A shot flies towards you, and you do not see it in time to react. But a hand reaches out and yanks you backwards. You watch the bullet zoom by and hit a wall, and you glance back at the Doctor.
"Doctor... You pulled me back? You... You'd still do that for me? Even though you've figured out that I might have other ideas?"
Even though you're not as trustworthy as you lead them to believe?
"You're free to have other ideas. I want you to help Saria," they say. "This is for the benefit of both Rhodes Island and Rhine Lab. And this is for you, too."
You do not react right away, but there is something about the words that pull at you. This is for you, too, you repeat in your head, and you are not sure when was the last time someone said something like that to you.
"That's the second time you've saved me now," you say. "Let's call this my way of repaying the favor, then. I'll stand with you guys at least this once and help Saria get where she wants to go."
You begin to gather the moisture into the air. Water forms around you, something that you can use against the guards still approaching both of you. "You hear me, water molecules? Step up and give these nice people a little kissy, and wash away all the dust under our feet!"
Basically, the building was on high alert since we had just gotten out what was essentially a bomb threat. I was sneaking those two in after, but our intentions just weren't as... aligned, as I lead them to believe.
In a "very active sabotage" kind of way, or a "I would like to delay them because I don't think they should do whatever it is they were trying to do" way?
It's okay, I wasn't causing them harm. They're the last people I would want to get hurt. But, ya know, sometimes you just want a different ending than the people you care about do.
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hi.
anyway ]
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pestilence blinks. not that he can see this happen because of the mask, but.
but they try to think about what they just saw. ]
Would you prefer if I ignored that?
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Oh at this point I might as well just roll out a welcome banner from the skies every time this happens. Roll up, come and gawk at Astarion's memories! Whether you want to or not!
[ he's pissy. ]
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Mm... so I guess you don't want to talk about it. [ ... ] Should we stay in here?
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no make him talk about it, he's a little shit ]
I don't like the feeling of being watched, I'd rather leave.
[ he sighs. it sounds a little sulky. ]
Exposure to all this is making it less daunting. If you have questions, just get them over with.
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they take a moment to think. ]
... how did that end?
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... how did you feel after?
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[ wow! ]
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... what about now?
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Oh well I'm very sorry this cult's timing didn't meet your approval. [ rude. ]
Good question though. I haven't really had much time to think about it.
[ i'm being a pest now. mem 🥺 mem for me? ]
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[ THEY WON'T COMMENT THEN GEEZ!!!
but ok mem time
pesto sighs. ]
Again... that's not too bad.
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This place really loves digging into our brains, I see. Also, that was hardly the worst thing I’ve ever seen. [ all of his have been nasty. :( ]
What were you trying to do there — whatever it was that your companions saw right through?
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Basically, the building was on high alert since we had just gotten out what was essentially a bomb threat. I was sneaking those two in after, but our intentions just weren't as... aligned, as I lead them to believe.
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[ it's fine ]
It's okay, I wasn't causing them harm. They're the last people I would want to get hurt. But, ya know, sometimes you just want a different ending than the people you care about do.
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... but it all worked out in the end for them, so no hard feelings.
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Just rarely for everyone.
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[ unleashes francy into the wild ]