AUDIENCE FOR: Butt Strife

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Comments

[skyagain]

Infighting and wanting someone permanently stuck in a hell hotel after making this much effort to get everybody out are two different things.

[resumed]

I guess. [there are still some people he only trusts as far as he can throw them, so he'll have to take cloud's word for it.] It doesn't matter anymore. Everyone's checked out, so we just have to wait until tomorrow morning.

[skyagain]

Yep.

[ in the kind of relieved tone after being stuck trying to make sure people get out for eight fucking weeks. he looks at nico sideways ]

You going home after this?

[resumed]

[they can both rest now, goodnight forever. but he looks at his hands, fiddling with a skull-shaped ring on his finger.]

Yes and no. I'm going back, but Will and I have some business to attend to not long after I return. [a pause.] Plus a prophecy to fulfill, I think.

[skyagain]

Sounds like you've got a lot on your hands. [ like. a Lot. for baby. he looks at him curiously ] You two gonna be alright?

[resumed]

[...he shrugs just a little.]

We'll manage. I'm not going to let anything happen to him, and I've been to Tartarus before. I have a few friends who will help get us there and it should be pretty much and in and out job.

[skyagain]

... Alright. Long as you know what you're doing.

[ don't get hurt is very much implied, ]

[resumed]

[...debatable.]

I don't, really. But someone's out there asking for my help, so I have to go and at least see who it might be. I thought maybe it was a friend of mine who sacrificed himself recently, but...I feel like maybe he's already moved on. There's someone else it could be though. And I won't feel comfortable again until I at least go to look.

[skyagain]

[ CONCERN but he also gets the feeling so he's not about to tell nico no go be in a bed and sleep it off ]

... That someone else a friend of yours, too?

[resumed]

Um...sort of. He's a titan that we fought a while ago, but then he became a friend. [he leaves out that it's because percy dunked the titan in the lethe and mindwiped him.] He helped me when I was in Tartarus by myself the first time. And he helped two of my friends. But we left him there and I can't stop thinking that's why someone's calling for me.

[skyagain]

[ he doesn't know what most of this means, it's fine. he has accepted it. ]

... So you think he wants you to go back to help?

[resumed]

Maybe? Like I said at first I thought maybe it was Jason but that doesn't feel right. Either way, I can't ignore him. That's not fair.

[skyagain]

Not saying you should. Just... be careful down there, alright?

[resumed]

...mm. [he nods because...he gets it.] Likewise when you head back. I know you've got a lot ahead of you still.

[skyagain]

... I will. Don't know how long it'll take or exactly what we have to do to get things done, but... I'll be alright.

[ maybe. looks at the camera like im on the office ]

[resumed]

[stop leave cloud alone.]

You and me both. [so they can agree there...] But at least you know what the goal is. Better than this place, right?

[skyagain]

Yeah. And I'm a lot better at swinging my sword around than solving murder mysteries.

[resumed]

[...he just lets his sword materialize in his hand then.]

Again, you and me both. I guess I have a bit of practice trying to understand what prophecies are supposed to mean, but usually it's just easier to fight monsters.

[skyagain]

[ he looks at the sword in interest. he likes swords. it's a thing. ]

Would've been great if we could've just stabbed the Nightman. [ Alas. ]

[resumed]

[enjoy staring at this three foot sword, "black as a nightmare." ]

If that was an option we would've taken it much sooner to stop this game from starting. But some wars are only won with certain strategies.

[but stabbing would make them all feel better.]

[skyagain]

[ thanks he thinks it's neat ]

With guys like that, it's never that simple. You just wish it was. [ which is an agreement but ughhhhhhh ]

[resumed]

Pretty sure there would have been some stipulations there even if we did try to stab him. Something arbitrary like "it doesn't count because we stabbed him on a Tuesday morning instead of Thursday night" or something like that. I'm used to things not being simple though. That part I mind a little less.

[skyagain]

[ urghhhh at even just thinking about it ]

... Can't say the same hasn't been true for me for a while now. [ "just one simple job" my ass, ]

[resumed]

[a nod of understanding. terrible.]

Years, right?

[like. same bro.]

[skyagain]

We ever have anything in common that isn't terrible?

[ it's a dry joke. ]