King Michalis of Macedon (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
iote) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
1_800_hotline2019-06-29 11:39 pm
iote) wrote in 1_800_hotline2019-06-29 11:39 pm
i want to be your best friend, or just eat you whole [night 12]
[Among all the patterns that may or may not have been seen by all those that have been brought here - the notion that sometimes shitty things happen to well-meaning people, the isolation that comes with not knowing what to do, the realization that we may not know ourselves as well as we thought we did, the thought and fear that love truly has no place in the world… Among all of that, there is one interminable truth, one universal constant that ties us together.
That being, of course, that Ladd Russo is an asshole.
Whether you liked him or not, that does remain a fact of life; Ladd Russo is an asshole, and it's a truth he may have laughed at and thanked you for noticing once. But then, perhaps it's for the best that the dead don't get to have opinions that affect the living.
Wherever you end up tonight, there's unfortunately one other truth to this place that seems to hold - almost no one sleeps well after trials. Perhaps you'll seek solace with one another; perhaps you'll find it at the bottom of a bottle or a highball glass at the bar. Perhaps you won't find it at all. But the reality of things remains as we perceive it - the days and nights aren't getting any cooler, and our numbers here are dwindling.
Rest if you can, but in the end, do what you have to.]
That being, of course, that Ladd Russo is an asshole.
Whether you liked him or not, that does remain a fact of life; Ladd Russo is an asshole, and it's a truth he may have laughed at and thanked you for noticing once. But then, perhaps it's for the best that the dead don't get to have opinions that affect the living.
Wherever you end up tonight, there's unfortunately one other truth to this place that seems to hold - almost no one sleeps well after trials. Perhaps you'll seek solace with one another; perhaps you'll find it at the bottom of a bottle or a highball glass at the bar. Perhaps you won't find it at all. But the reality of things remains as we perceive it - the days and nights aren't getting any cooler, and our numbers here are dwindling.
Rest if you can, but in the end, do what you have to.]
wandering around town;
But he's never been the best at such things. ]
Good enough.
[ ... ]
Do you plan on asking everyone in this place that question?
no subject
The ones I run into, at least. I believe it's important to try to look out for as many people as I can.
[It's certainly not something he can really do here, under these circumstances, but that doesn't mean he's going to stop trying.]
no subject
[ Testament will then turn his burning gaze right back onto Xander, which turns into something indicative of slight curiosity. ]
If I asked you that question, how would you answer?
no subject
I am...
[The answer starts out practiced, just as poised as usual, but it doesn't last long before he trails off with a frown.
He'd want to hear an honest answer from anyone he asked, so it's only fair for him to give an honest one in return, isn't it?]
...I'm worried about my family. I've been trying to convince myself that the message meant nothing, that there was simply no way they could be harmed, but I don't know if I can believe that. If I was brought here so easily, there's no telling what could have happened to them. If anything were to happen to my siblings, I...
[He doesn't know how to finish that. His hands tighten into fists for a moment before he forces himself to relax.]
My apologies, I didn't mean to go off on a tangent like that. I am doing all right, aside from the worry. This is hardly the worst I've been through.
no subject
There's a brief pause, as he feels an emotion turn in him enough that he grimaces, thinking about the person he considers his "family", and reconsidered his earlier answer. ]
You were trying to answer honestly, and that was simply the result. Nothing more, nothing less.
...Still, I may as well add that I've had something of a similar worry. Though, I've done my best to ignore it, using the fact she's on a ship full of people to protect her to help make it possible, but realistically it is what it is.
I can also state for the record that there's been worse I've faced. [ ... ] However, it's just hu - it's in our nature to feel the way that we do.
no subject
[Since they snagged him so easily, of course they could have taken his siblings.]
...I do hope your friend is doing all right. But you're right, of course; it's only natural that we feel threatened and worried about those messages. They wouldn't be sending them if they didn't think they'd do exactly that.
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...I'd give my congratulations, but it seems inappropriate somehow considering our situation. It was also rather bold of them to take you in the middle of such. I doubt there were no shortage of guards in that time.
[ Testament supposed he'd have less faith in the Jellyfish Pirates (yes...really) if things hadn't been smoothed over. Not to mention, taking down a Gear like Dizzy would be more of a trial than if they were to try with him. ]
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[So it could probably happen, somehow.]
Thank you, though. Even if the circumstances are less than ideal, it is a position I'm honored to hold and once I've returned, I'll do all I can to make things right after the war.
no subject
I imagine they must be keeping my familiars away from me as well by some sort of spell in addition to all of this. Which is unfortunate, but at the time there's nothing to be done about it.
[ Testament just refuses to believe that Dizzy can be placed in danger so easily, even though part of him knows he's being kind of illogical about it. But, it's for the best if he is rather than assuming the worst and going on a rampage...
He also just...pauses at the 'thank you'. No one's ever said that to him before, so he just... nods and moves along. ]
...Here's to our swift return, so you can do what needs to be done, like the rest of us. We've been here long enough.
no subject
[He nods at that.]
Thank you for listening. I hope you're able to find what they've done with your familiars and return home as well. We should be able to uncover more information, which could lead us in the right direction. There must be a way to put an end to this.