AUDIENCE: LUP

[retellers]

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[retellers]

[ yeah let me pretend it's not obvious for five minutes. Wolf doesn't even try to stop her anymore. ]

I didn't pick you. It was randomized. [ they shrug a shoulder ] No biases.

[evocationary]

Excuse me? What do you mean you didn't pick me? [ what the FUCK, she's offended

also wolf now has anime glasses. you're welcome. ]

Ugh. Can't believe I'm always the last pick for dodgeball. Anyway. Any updates?

[retellers]

No one picked anyone, you're not special. [ now that she's stopped putting them on, though, they'll take them off. they're... seemingly keeping them? huh. ] Still don't know the details on it, but there's something happening in a day or two. Nova-related.

[ well, it's better than nothing? ]

[evocationary]

You don't have to do the spooky vague NPC thing with me, my dude. You can just tell me.

[ a beat. ] Sora told me you all sacrificed your memories to slow down our memory loss. Is that true?

[retellers]

I'm not... [ they almost sound defensive for a second? ] If I knew more, I'd share it.

[ ah, but that question. they shrug and turn their head away ]

Yeah, I guess.

[ [wolf voice] i am uncomfortable when we are talking about me? ]

[evocationary]

[ she crosses her arms. ]

Just checking. [ she is amused that wolf is the way they are, though. ] Nice of you. Really nice, actually, like way too nice. Kind of makes me wonder what was in it for you?

[ she brings a hand up to tap at her chin absently. ] You guys said you're not running whatever this is, but I do keep wondering why you guys get the cool monikers and masks when the rest of us don't. It just screams essential plot device.

[retellers]

Don't know. We have the memory of accepting the deal... but not quite why. [ dryly; ] Enough to make you think your past self might have screwed you over with their job choices.

[ but that said, they'll cross their arms again. ]

Essential's one word for it. We're connected to the Realm and to you guys both. Guess that makes us the middleman of this whole thing.

[evocationary]

[ that, at least, makes her grin a little. ]

I assume it means if someone stabs you, you won't die, you'll just sort of lean over and wheeze for a second and then stand back up. The immortal switch is flipped on. [ you know, like skyrim. ] Hm. Okay, okay.

Do you guys care who wins? Oh - and what happens if I tell someone my team?

[retellers]

I don't know about immortal, but I'm not that easy to kill in the first place.

[ they seem oddly sure of that despite the whole lack of memory thing? sure. hmm. ]

Don't know about the others, but I don't feel that strongly about a wish. Just want to get this over with. As for telling people... It might cause instabilities to the Realm if you guys start breaking the rule and yell it out for everyone to hear, but one or two people shouldn't be a problem. [ and because they're not ENTIRELY unaware; ] Your twin?

[evocationary]

[ huh. interesting. she notes that certainty. ]

Oh, good, because I already told him. [ yep, her twin. ] Good to know I'm not going to explode at midnight.

It's a good thing you already told me team placement was randomized. I'm not happy about being split up from him.

[retellers]

Not like the teams matter that much. It's meant to be incentive to work harder, that's all. [ there's a hesitation and; ] Don't... siblings do that stuff anyway? Compete?

[evocationary]

Sure, sure, but generally I like to know what kind of competition it is before I really lean into it, and being drafted into a fetch quest where my magic powers are shut off doesn't exactly inspire confidence, my dude.

[retellers]

[ tilts their head like "yeah, okay, fair" ]

So long as the job gets done, I don't care how well we do, so that's fine.

[evocationary]

I don't particularly care either, but as long as it's like... I don't know, actually a friendly competition like you guys keep saying, I won't hesitate, bitch.

[ she loves her brother but the cain instinct is strong ] Hey, what happens if you take off the mask?

[retellers]

That'll be something to see.

[ there's an almost smirk tugging at their lips, but it fades quickly at the question ]

Don't know. Just... have a feeling I shouldn't. [ it's hard to tell with the mask, but there's the distinct impression of a frown there ] Considering the way this place works, I'd rather not test it out.

[evocationary]

[ she will take that smirk as a victory, tbh ]

What do you mean, the way this place works? [ concerning. ]

[retellers]

The Realm works on its own set of rules, and it's strict about how things have to be done. Bad feeling might be its way of telling us not to do something. [ and then after a beat ] Could be I'm going nuts, too, but since none of the others are taking them off either ...

[evocationary]

You should definitely take it off for science.

[retellers]

No.

[ blunt. ]

[evocationary]

Lame. [ pbhllthththttt ]

Have any other people on your team come to talk to you yet?

[retellers]

Yeah.

[ ... add anything else, wolf? no? thank you for nothing. ]

[evocationary]

[ wolf please ]

Dooo I get to know who else is on our team?

[retellers]

I can't give you names outright, but we'll be able to give you hints starting next week. [ there's a beat ] Don't know why it's even a secret.

[ they're so tired ]

[evocationary]

Me and you both, dude. They better be good hints. I expect a prize for managing to find my whole team.

[retellers]

I can do a pat on the back.

[ it's unclear whether they're joking or not. ]