Oh nore an event post

[autumnswarm]

 Sullivan stands in the park, adjusting their hat. If you're careful, you can see them slip an eyepatch and a package of cigarettes into their coat, check their phone, buzz happily, and start playing Puzzles and Dragon on their phone. 

Comments

[snakebitesbythebeach]

So you're saying your luck is horrible, is what you mean.

::Chews on another cake, sipping on her tea in between bites.::

[autumnswarm]

"Yes! That. I mean, it's on an upswing, but the other shoe is going to drop soon, I can feel it~ But~ until then, I'm enjoying my peace while it lasts."

[snakebitesbythebeach]

So you have a feeling something's in the air, too.

::She gets a lot more uneasy sounding.::

[autumnswarm]

"...Yeah."

Now they fidget with their tea cup.

"I'm looking into LDS as that new synchro professor. Wronski is me. But besides one of my colleagues and... quite a few of the students, nothing seems amiss about it."

[snakebitesbythebeach]

... I vaguely remember hearing something about the CEO's buying patterns but it's probably nothing and I don't remember the details.

[autumnswarm]

"Hm." They stare down at their tea.

"Not much that I think I can do with this, unfortunately~ I fear if I pry too deep one of two things happens. 1. They find me, they deal with me. I never get tiny cakes with cute people again. 2. It interests me and then Onni deals with me, and I still never get tiny cakes or cute people again."

[snakebitesbythebeach]

So why bother digging. That seems like Clydesdale logic.

::Chews on a cake.::

[autumnswarm]

"Mm~ If I hadn't already taken up the name and dumped the real Wronski, I would just stop~ But really, I... enjoy teaching."

They turn a little yellow, blushing. Embarrassed buzzing.

[snakebitesbythebeach]

... Why?

::Seems baffled yet interested. And it's something to focus on besides Noriko.::

[autumnswarm]

"It's... hard to explain. I've always been a good duelist, because I thought it'd help me rule the world." They laugh at that. "I wouldn't even know what to do with the world if someone handed it to me, even then, though I'd never admit it."

"I'm legally dead, so going pro would be hard. But it's like~ taking this thing I'm good at, making sure other people are good too, learning from me. Which means I'm making a difference, that to someone, even if it's a weird kid with teeth made for eating meat only, a fumbling ditz, or a grumpy Samasu~ I'm someone too, even if it's a fake face. I'd do the same with magic, if anyone ever had any interest in learning from me."

They look up, practically beaming.

"I made nothing happen before I died and the swarm grabbed me. And I don't think I can ever really move mountains or kill huge eldritch beings, and it's kinda small and stupid and it's not going to matter much in a decade, but it's my thing I'm doing, and no one can take that away from me~"

[snakebitesbythebeach]

So. It's a desire to feel like you're doing something. Hrm. I'm trying to grapple it and it doesn't make much sense to me, the concept of empathy, ultimately. And compassion. Then again, I didn't evolve those as necessities.

And even with these feelings I'm being forced to feel, the concepts are still too alien.

Except for this one semi-human boy. I think. And one of the Da Eiza's slaves.

[autumnswarm]

"Ah, so there are exceptions for you then~" Buzz buz, as they munch on a cake, considering.

"But if it applies to them, is is possible that it's going to start applying to other people you're around alot~?"

[snakebitesbythebeach]

::Deer in headlights face.::

[autumnswarm]

"Ah, sorry~ I didn't mean to panic you."

They titter, opening their mouth wide and swallowing an entire snack cake.

"Why's empathy the end of the world for you anyway~?"

[snakebitesbythebeach]

Because it's distorting who I am.

[autumnswarm]

"Ah, but are you really the same person you were the day before? Every day is a new one, with new experiences. That's something to think on~"

[snakebitesbythebeach]

That's getting too philosophical and starts reminding me my entire existence is a grandfather paradox .

::Waves hand dismissively.::

Don't go too deep.

[autumnswarm]

"Ah~ Maybe sometime later. Paradoxical existences are what, a third date~?" A tittering buzz, before they stare back at the cup.

[snakebitesbythebeach]

Yes. Those would be a 'third date' item.

[autumnswarm]

"I'll keep it in mind! But until then~ Do we try and batten down the hatches for whatever it is on the horizon? I'd say flee for higher ground, but~ Running never works out well."

[snakebitesbythebeach]

It doesn't.

You just get dragged back.

I can tell you that from experience.

[autumnswarm]

"Exactly my point~ So we prepare for this as best we can as resident mages, yes? Since. Wakahisa is probably mishearing angry lesbians or whatever it is she does."

It pours another cup of tea.

"And you're welcome to use my room rather than stay at the Wakahisa estate or sprawling demiplane or whatever it is~ I got the idea you're not very happy there. I'd say with me, but that's forward~ and even if accepted, people would wonder why you're staying with the scary Polish man."

[snakebitesbythebeach]

It's a Tesseract.

[autumnswarm]

"I was really close then."

Super smug, as they sip tea and devour another cake.

[snakebitesbythebeach]

::Chomps on a cake.::

Besides, I'm not sure I want to stay anywhere near that ogre.

And I have 'school' to attend. If I don't thinks will probably go bad for me and I'll be babbling about pink, unicorns and boy bands.