[STOP WE DO NOT imagine if we just Friendship is Magic Knives into rehabilitation.
In Luke's opinion this could either be very good news or two seconds away from becoming a horror movie... between the tentacle whip-sparring from their first meeting and Dahut's warning about Callisto's Great Big Brother Feelings, Luke is more inclined to suspect the latter, but he'll reserve judgment for now.
He walks forward, clearing his throat to signal his approach so that he doesn't scare the kids as he approaches the piano.]
[ This catches baby Vash's attention as he turns around in surprise... Knives gives Luke a flat stare, as if he was prepared for this. There's a flicker and the whole atmosphere of the room changes. It's dark now, with not light from the sun but the moon shining through the opening in the ceiling... The piano is still there except adorned with a monstrous figure of a dead plant. Good thing I don't need to link any of this because you know what these look like.
There are no twin boys, but instead Knives here in his plant-tattooed bodysuit. There are no serrated extensions for now because he has spoken to Luke before and has a sense of what the guy is like. ]
[Thank you for not attacking him immediately, Knives, even though Luke was prepared for exactly that. To Luke's credit, he doesn't react as the scene shifts; he just flicks his gaze from where the siblings were up to Knives's face. His demeanor is calm, but with an air of immovability and authority--the energy of Agent Raven, rather than the cute boy next door.]
[That's okay, they can just alpha posture at each other for a bit.]
Yes. Well--mainly, I'm testing our device to make sure I can contact each of you. [This is only partially a lie, he did plan on doing that, he just rearranged his schedule.] But I did want to talk to you.
[HILARIOUSLY NEITHER IS LUKE EVEN THOUGH HE SHOULD BE but listen I don't care if he's a genius, he doesn't get to deduce just from whips and Vash that Knives could Thanos-snap him if he wanted.
But truthfully, he doesn't even mind this energy. It's not that different from being at work.]
He makes a note of this, though; he remembers his own suggestions.]
I told him to forget about us. I don't have any more control than that. [HE DOESN'T LIKE IT EITHER BUDDY WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM HIM.] And the company still won't send an emergency vessel? It could've been halfway to us by now.
[Like yeah sure he understands Things Take Time, but he's not buying that this is the best they could do.]
[STOP HE CAN'T BE PATIENT ZERO even if that's exactly what he is,]
I don't know if I'd go that far. [HE DOESN'T TRUST THE COMPANY TO DO ANYTHING...] I just don't understand the logic, I guess. Aren't companies all about profits?
Hmm. [Don't just say "hmm"!!! But that's exactly what he's doing, and moving on.] I guess I'm just a little surprised you're with them. You don't seem like someone who likes being jerked around.
[Dahut already told him why Callisto is here, but he wants to see if the response is the same--how obvious he is about it.]
[He is correct about this.... Luke doesn't know the extent of it, but he does, at least, very much believe him to be highly capable. He doesn't necessarily know how Knives would do it if Vash is fucking DEAD but it's fine]
Wouldn't it be funny if he just vanished right now like WELL BYE. But no--he decides against playing dumb, since he has a feeling Knives wouldn't believe him. WOULD HE BELIEVE HIM EVEN IF IT WAS TRUE... UNCLEAR...
[ The serrated whips slither in the air like snakes, extending them well beyond human comprehension. They circle wide around Luke, outlining the room in their path. ]
So many of you are proposing some kind of collaboration... For social creatures, I wonder if any of you talk to each other.
Unfortunately Luke is kind of a normie, so this is still weird as fuck--but at least he remembers it from their spar, and between that and his agent training, he manages to hold his ground and stay steady.]
I can't talk to the others. I'm dead. [And HER-MES turned Dahut Italian] If you say no, that's fine. But I don't like leaving my bases uncovered.
[More specifically, he thinks there's no guarantee that whatever's fucking with the living won't extend to the senior crew--and they can't risk losing any tethers to the other side that they have.]
[ Knives is dramatic and you know that. Luke can better see the way the blades are curved, each edge and crook sharp. He would have made a great sushi chef.
He looks unimpressed. ]
But you can talk among your fellow dead, from the pieces I connected. [ Sometimes each person that visits him unfortunately gives him enough. ] I've agreed to collaborate with your group as long as it brings him back.
Unfortunate that all of these have been dreams, but I'm bound to remember soon.
[I wish Luke was less responsible so he could tell Knives to consider becoming a sushi chef
But that's g...ood...? news? Kind of? He really did mostly come here to assess the situation, but if Callisto has already agreed to help, then he's not going to fuck things up by overcomplicating it. So he nods, lowering his hands.]
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In Luke's opinion this could either be very good news or two seconds away from becoming a horror movie... between the tentacle whip-sparring from their first meeting and Dahut's warning about Callisto's Great Big Brother Feelings, Luke is more inclined to suspect the latter, but he'll reserve judgment for now.
He walks forward, clearing his throat to signal his approach so that he doesn't scare the kids as he approaches the piano.]
Callisto? Is that you? It's Luke Pearce.
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There are no twin boys, but instead Knives here in his plant-tattooed bodysuit. There are no serrated extensions for now because he has spoken to Luke before and has a sense of what the guy is like. ]
[ He remembers you. ]
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It's me. [A nod.] Hey, Callisto.
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[ To ask questions, he's assuming. He doesn't know if he's inclined... But he isn't attacking yet, fortunately. The air is not friendly, though. ]
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Yes. Well--mainly, I'm testing our device to make sure I can contact each of you. [This is only partially a lie, he did plan on doing that, he just rearranged his schedule.] But I did want to talk to you.
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[ I hate this, honestly. They really are mad dogging each other, though Knives doesn't feel threatened. He just has to overcompensate. ]
EDIT: THIS IS NOW W2 SATURDAY BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL TIME IT'S FINE
But truthfully, he doesn't even mind this energy. It's not that different from being at work.]
There were two this time. Why?
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[ Luke just doesn't know that Knives could turn him into sashimi for simply being annoying. ]
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There haven't been any new breakthroughs at all?
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... The witch suggested scanning the nanites during lockdown to see if they behaved differently, but there was nothing worthy to report.
Io has gotten desperate enough to look at them despite the consequences and the rest of the senior crew authorized it. Nothing.
[ He says this with little sympathy, mostly disappointed they haven't found anything. Knives himself is not scared of intergalactic jail. ]
You've been dead for some time, but he thinks about how he failed you and the rest of them all the time. It's pitiful.
[ unprovoked blames luke ]
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He makes a note of this, though; he remembers his own suggestions.]
I told him to forget about us. I don't have any more control than that. [HE DOESN'T LIKE IT EITHER BUDDY WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM HIM.] And the company still won't send an emergency vessel? It could've been halfway to us by now.
[Like yeah sure he understands Things Take Time, but he's not buying that this is the best they could do.]
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Then you can know he's a fool. [ Just haunted by GUILT. ] I'm surprised you are holding onto hope that the company can do anything.
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I don't know if I'd go that far. [HE DOESN'T TRUST THE COMPANY TO DO ANYTHING...] I just don't understand the logic, I guess. Aren't companies all about profits?
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He's coinflipping killing Luke so he can just enjoy his dream. It's not even because he's MAD or full of HATRED, he's just annoyed. Let him SLEEP. ]
If the logic doesn't make sense, then what is the obvious conclusion here? Use your brain.
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Hmm. [Don't just say "hmm"!!! But that's exactly what he's doing, and moving on.] I guess I'm just a little surprised you're with them. You don't seem like someone who likes being jerked around.
[Dahut already told him why Callisto is here, but he wants to see if the response is the same--how obvious he is about it.]
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[ It is exactly the same. He doesn't care to hide it because he's confident none of them can stop him from getting what he wants. ]
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Are the rest of the senior crew helping you?
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[ Luke has asked enough questions here. ]
You've met my brother.
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Wouldn't it be funny if he just vanished right now like WELL BYE. But no--he decides against playing dumb, since he has a feeling Knives wouldn't believe him. WOULD HE BELIEVE HIM EVEN IF IT WAS TRUE... UNCLEAR...
Instead, genuinely:]
I can't help you right now.
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Then why are you here?
[ Maybe it's good to start explaining what you mean. The bladed extensions are coming out. ]
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WELL he will lift his hands placatingly, even though the actual energy behind it is not genuinely the vibes of backing down.]
A trade offer. [Meme voice except srs] Help us figure out what's going on, and I'll see what we can do for you on our end.
[DIDN'T DAHUT TELL HIM NOT TO TELL KNIVES WHERE VASH IS well listen he isn't promising anything right now]
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So many of you are proposing some kind of collaboration... For social creatures, I wonder if any of you talk to each other.
[ He finds it annoying. ]
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Unfortunately Luke is kind of a normie, so this is still weird as fuck--but at least he remembers it from their spar, and between that and his agent training, he manages to hold his ground and stay steady.]
I can't talk to the others. I'm dead. [And HER-MES turned Dahut Italian] If you say no, that's fine. But I don't like leaving my bases uncovered.
[More specifically, he thinks there's no guarantee that whatever's fucking with the living won't extend to the senior crew--and they can't risk losing any tethers to the other side that they have.]
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He looks unimpressed. ]
But you can talk among your fellow dead, from the pieces I connected. [ Sometimes each person that visits him unfortunately gives him enough. ] I've agreed to collaborate with your group as long as it brings him back.
Unfortunate that all of these have been dreams, but I'm bound to remember soon.
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But that's g...ood...? news? Kind of? He really did mostly come here to assess the situation, but if Callisto has already agreed to help, then he's not going to fuck things up by overcomplicating it. So he nods, lowering his hands.]
Okay. Thank you.
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