‡6th Treasure‡ video;

[totallytrustworthy]

Hello again, Esilium. Long time no talk-- [Chloe's looking under the weather in terms of wear and tear only; her bright eyes actually bright today for a change. For the first time in months, as a matter of fact.] good god does it feel good to be free again. Never thought I'd be saying those words, but there you have it.

And don't worry, no more lectures on this end. No more daily mutineering announcements: I can catch up on what I missed in lock up by scrolling though the network on my own and I've got a more important issue that needs addressing first. [There's a brief pause before she adds, gently as possible:] Obviously anyone that wants to talk shop about what went down is welcome to, of course. Just-- you know. We're on the fast track to recovery around here from what it looks like, so I'm not about to force anything else down anyone's throats as long as that remains the case.

Thanks, by the way, for not unanimously voting for throwing us all out the airlock. [Nice to know not everyone wants them done in or worse.]


Right, though, to the point. I need someone willing and capable of doing tattoo work. Good tattoo work.

In this case I'm even willing to consider the magical sort so long as nothing additional goes along with it. Not really a fan of curses and poisoned apple nonsense.


Additional text addressed to Vanozza:

not sure if I should be thanking you for this or asking why you of all people are signing up to look after someone like me right now

Comments

[theguideless]

[a weak laugh in his voice:] Right...I know, I mean. I mean I don't know – the details, either. Only just what you said.

But it should be a help, at least...

[totallytrustworthy]

[A beat:] Are you always this on edge, sweetheart?

[theguideless]

Uh...?

[hesitating.] Oh, I'm...not. I guess I'm just... [awkward.] Not too great with words...

[totallytrustworthy]

Nothing wrong with that. Conversation is a learned art, after all.

[theguideless]

I have to learn a lot of everything, too. So it's...mm. [he shrugs, smiling weakly, face pink.]

[totallytrustworthy]

[Which means it's time for a subject change.]How old are you?

[theguideless]

Ah, I'm...I'm not sure, really. I never had to count it before. Past twelve, I mean. And that was a long time ago...

[totallytrustworthy]

--a long time ago? [She stops for a beat, eyes searching.]

[theguideless]

I mean...it feels like it was. I don't know how much time it's been, being here. And...not being here. If that counts or not...

[trailing off, puzzled, thoughtful.]

Madoka gave me a birthday, but I must have missed one since...

[totallytrustworthy]

You mean in and out of time, yeah? Had that happen to me once. [Thanks de-aging event, those memories weren't weird at all.]

[theguideless]

[nodding.] And a lot of time went by here. And then I was different for some of it, coming back. So, I...I don't really know how any of it can count.

[totallytrustworthy]

Suppose it doesn't matter all that much. Technically I was here when I was twenty-three after I'd been here at my current age for half a year.

[theguideless]

[he squints, trying to make it add up.]

What's...the current one?

[totallytrustworthy]

Tack on ten more years and you'd be at about the right point.

[theguideless]

[PLEASE HOLD.]

...Oh... [he's got it.

he thinks.

squint.]

So you were...older...before you were younger?

[totallytrustworthy]

Exactly. And then older again. [TIME NONSENSE???]

[theguideless]

That... [his face scrunches up, then the tension leaves with a weak laugh. he shakes his head.] That doesn't make a lot of sense, but it has to be true because it can be!

[totallytrustworthy]

Right? This whole place is just a bout of utter madness. Beginning to wonder if we'll ever stop getting dragged back in.

[theguideless]

But it's...good, isn't it? [he's squinting, despite the smile, trying to figure out if he should be smiling at all.] I mean, even if it's all very strange and hard to understand...and scary or dangerous, too...

It's still good, being here.

[a beat, ducking his head and scratching just short of his ear. he gives the ribbon tied to his wrist a thoughtful look.]

That's what I think, I mean. How it feels to me...

[totallytrustworthy]

Honestly I don't know how to feel about this world. [Which is the truth, completely and utterly.] But I do know I don't want to lose what I've got in it right now.

[theguideless]

Me, either. [smiling weakly.] I think it will be alright, Chloe. Somehow.