AUDIENCE: ZUKO

[retellers]

Comments

[retellers]

If you all find each other then we can do one. We can even bring snacks.

[ they do not sound excited about snacks. ]

... I dunno. We can sense things, so I'm guessing that's what happening. It sounds more likely than getting an alert, anyway, if whoever is infected is showing symptoms.

[cuedoves]

You'd think the Realm would just let everyone know so multiple leaders don't put out hits on them.

[ that would be awkward. ]

... Hey. If you have to ask anyone, ask me. I can handle it.

[retellers]

[ they are. obviously surprised. ]

Most people would demand not to be picked.

[cuedoves]

I'm not most people.

There are a lot of innocent kids here, [ says the fuckin 16 year old ] a lot of people who haven't had to deal with things like this.... I don't want it to be one of them. They're suffering enough.

[retellers]

A real knight in shining armor...

[ ... ]

Okay. Deal.

[cuedoves]

Don't start.

[ don't embarrass him!! ]

... Thank you. I also wanted to ask you about the nova-eating creature.

[retellers]

[ a nod. ]

What about it?

[cuedoves]

What can you tell me about it?

[retellers]

It's a monster. It's eating nova.

[ they wave their hand vaguely. ]

We're not entirely sure where it came from. Maybe finding out its origin might help, but... I don't know. If this turns into a boss battle I'm going to be so pissed.

[cuedoves]

Gee, thanks.

[ dryly!!! he knew that much tiger-chan ]

Honestly, I'd rather just fight it and get it over with. Do you know how long it's been around?

[retellers]

A while. This whole nova being taken thing has been going on longer than we've been here.

[cuedoves]

Too bad the Realm can't just... kick it out.

[ but it makes sense with how messed up it's been since day 1... ]

[retellers]

Well, normally it wouldn't have been able to do this in the first place, so I think just kicking it out is not an option.

[cuedoves]

I'd be happy to kick it out.

[ if that's an option. ]

How closely do you think it's tied to the splintering?

[retellers]

Honestly, I think it's mostly related in the sense that splintering would never happen if it wasn't already weakening the Realm. So I don't think the two are directly related, but one is still affecting the other and is allowing it to happen.

[cuedoves]

The weaker the Realm gets, the worse things are.... but we can't really do anything except try to shove more nova in, can we?

[retellers]

You guys are actually collecting a lot. Even if it doesn't seem like it.

[cuedoves]

Yeah? It always feels like everything's falling apart to me.

[retellers]

I didn't say you were all doing great. Just, you know, whatever you're doing is getting nova.

[cuedoves]

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

[ dryly!! ]

Are our other team members not collecting that much nova? [ tiger team loses so much ]

[retellers]

Our team fucking sucks.

[cuedoves]

... Well. I'm trying.

[ he is, even though he doesn't care about winning. ]

[retellers]

Well, I'm glad someone is.

[ they sigh. ]

But we'll see if anything changes.

[cuedoves]

Is the rest of the the team really that bad? I'd tell them to step up, but I don't know who they are.

[ he's been so bad at finding people's teams. ]

[retellers]

Some of you are pretty decent.