[Putting one strong hand on his shoulder. Squeezing tightly, almost a little too tight. A reminder - Bull is strong, he isn't so easily taken out. Even by a demon hiding in a little girl.]
We're going to get through it. One way or another.
[That helps more than it probably should. Hopefully he's strong enough to not be taken out by a demon hiding other places, too. Liz's cryptic comments are weighing on him, but he can't quite bring himself to voice them.]
This is probably a ridiculous thing to say, but. Maker. Thank you for telling me last week. Can you even imagine? [Laughing, but mostly humorlessly.] It can't be you, you know. They wouldn't bother with the threats if there was any other way.
I never thought I'd be glad for your role, suicidal and cruel as it is. [Well.] No, I'm still not glad. But. [It means more than he really knows how to express, that he can still trust Bull. None of this madness means he has to stop trusting Bull. He can trust him now even more than he's able to trust his own mind.]
You may have been right, you know. The dagger in the back, or whichever was the very apt metaphor you used. I thought if we gave in to what they asked of us, they'd have us where they wanted us. Now, I've no idea how it works. Perhaps nothing we do to evade them matters in the slightest.
I get it. [He's glad for it too. Some measure of certainty - as much as he can get here, anyway. Wouldn't it be just like a demon deal to make you feel safest right before the fall? Best not to think about it too much.]
Never really worked with them before beyond slicing them into pieces, but wouldn't say "sporting" is part of their nature. Yeah, this seems particularly weighted in their favor though. Think it wouldn't be fun for them to play a rigged game.
No. I didn't think so either, and yet here we are. [You know what? Fuck it. He might be possessed by a demon, they both might die overnight when that thing crawls out of the vents, so he's allowed to be sappy. Leaning into him and resting his face against his shoulder.]
Don't tell me they're still going to force you to go through with this. Even with those things about, you've still got to do it, and now you're to hunt them, as well? Did they even give you any means to find them?
Nothing beyond what we already have. Not exactly helpful. Hard to sniff out a thing that can lie perfectly, because it thinks it's telling the truth. Shit.
[Putting an arm around him, because yeah. They're allowed to be sappy.]
Did tell us one thing: we get an alien then we get to live. Even if I get the most votes.
[He sounds a little bordering on the edge of hysterical. Because, yes. That's an absurd, ridiculous, infuriating task when they haven't been given a single guideline. But on the other hand, this was already impossible, only now Bull might live. And they might be able to kill an alien, making this not a monstrous betrayal of everything he resolved not to be but rather a means to fight back. They might even be able to do some good here. And Bull might live. He wants that so much more than he knew he would.]
Well, then. I suppose...if any of us can be made to participate, for reasons we may never learn. I'd rather do it while I've control of my own mind. Besides, it's to save Par Vollen. Father would hate that; always a plus. I'm not nearly as certain of his feelings on murder via demon possession.
Or what I mean to say. [Because he ought to actually say it rather than make bitter jokes.] You have my help, if you want it. I won't see you forced to do this alone.
Hey, if they get as far as Par Vollen, pretty sure it's not looking good for Minrathous.
[It's almost crueler this way. To have a bit of hope - as small and unlikely as it is - that they could get out of this alive. And maybe do some good on the way out.]
. . . Thanks. You don't have to, but. If I'm gonna do this, having someone on my side helps.
[He has a few comments about Corypheus obviously not caring too much about what his place looks like considering he's wrecked pretty much any other crib he's had (just look what he did to the Black City) and has no problem infecting the main bulk of his army with lyrium that's probably going to kill them in like. a year. So clearly the guy has foresight issues but WHATEVER. Distracted enough.]
Alright, glad to have you join the team then. We need a name.
[No, he doesn't really want that either. Tugging him towards the bed to sit.]
Come, you. Enough of this. I've four bottles of now extraordinarily suspect parlor liquor I suppose I must dispose of. But if I'm going to be sober, I'd at least like to polish off the brandy first.
Team names, pouring out innocent beverages, and other necessities can wait until morning, can't they?
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Probably should, yeah.
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Is everything all right? With... [You know. Your secret murder club.] Are you all right?
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Yeah. Everything's alright.
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[He definitely seems a little worked up, but. Who wouldn't be.]
What are we going to do?
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We're going to get through it. One way or another.
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This is probably a ridiculous thing to say, but. Maker. Thank you for telling me last week. Can you even imagine? [Laughing, but mostly humorlessly.] It can't be you, you know. They wouldn't bother with the threats if there was any other way.
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You may have been right, you know. The dagger in the back, or whichever was the very apt metaphor you used. I thought if we gave in to what they asked of us, they'd have us where they wanted us. Now, I've no idea how it works. Perhaps nothing we do to evade them matters in the slightest.
Remarkably unsporting, even as demons come.
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Never really worked with them before beyond slicing them into pieces, but wouldn't say "sporting" is part of their nature. Yeah, this seems particularly weighted in their favor though. Think it wouldn't be fun for them to play a rigged game.
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Don't tell me they're still going to force you to go through with this. Even with those things about, you've still got to do it, and now you're to hunt them, as well? Did they even give you any means to find them?
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[Putting an arm around him, because yeah. They're allowed to be sappy.]
Did tell us one thing: we get an alien then we get to live. Even if I get the most votes.
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[He sounds a little bordering on the edge of hysterical. Because, yes. That's an absurd, ridiculous, infuriating task when they haven't been given a single guideline. But on the other hand, this was already impossible, only now Bull might live. And they might be able to kill an alien, making this not a monstrous betrayal of everything he resolved not to be but rather a means to fight back. They might even be able to do some good here. And Bull might live. He wants that so much more than he knew he would.]
Well, then. I suppose...if any of us can be made to participate, for reasons we may never learn. I'd rather do it while I've control of my own mind. Besides, it's to save Par Vollen. Father would hate that; always a plus. I'm not nearly as certain of his feelings on murder via demon possession.
Or what I mean to say. [Because he ought to actually say it rather than make bitter jokes.] You have my help, if you want it. I won't see you forced to do this alone.
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[It's almost crueler this way. To have a bit of hope - as small and unlikely as it is - that they could get out of this alive. And maybe do some good on the way out.]
. . . Thanks. You don't have to, but. If I'm gonna do this, having someone on my side helps.
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[Even though this isn't exactly a romantic moment (well, maybe Bull thinks it is), tugging his face down for a kiss.]
Nonsense. This isn't your side, it's ours.
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Alright, glad to have you join the team then. We need a name.
[To pull off murders with.]
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[Smiling a little, though. It's easier to put the reality of it behind him.]
Then again, Cassandra doubtless would not approve.
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[He seems amused at the image for just a moment before his face falls slightly.]
. . . You think they're doing okay? Going on two months without us around. Must be boring as shit there.
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[Looking at him fondly. Don't be worried.]
Boring as shit indeed. Selfishly, if I must be trapped here, I'm glad it was with decent company.
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[This. Is gross!!!!! He doesn't want to ruin a nice moment by getting back to the practicalities of having to murder someone.]
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Come, you. Enough of this. I've four bottles of now extraordinarily suspect parlor liquor I suppose I must dispose of. But if I'm going to be sober, I'd at least like to polish off the brandy first.
Team names, pouring out innocent beverages, and other necessities can wait until morning, can't they?