[The next time WWX walks through a door, he'll find himself tripping and falling into an entirely new location. Specifically — an empty hospital wing, devoid of all signs of life save for the steady beeping of a heart monitor in the distance. It looks like the only way to go is down the corridor, but WWX won't have to walk for too long before he stumbles across the only open room in the entire hallway.
... In fact, he won't even have to go in. Carlos is waiting for him right outside of the room. He lifts a hand in greeting once he sees him, smiling... and clearly not exempt from this week's status effect.]
[WELL HE LOOKS HAPPY TO SEE CARLOS FOR LIKE A FULL SECOND AT LEAST before his eyes flick up to the ears and dart down immediately in alarm to check for a tail, OOH LORD he's just
sweaty spaghetti
oh my god. Of all the weeks to finally come visit Carlos!! He takes a reflexive step back.]
Ah— [HM. His stupid bun ears are flattened back with One Fear, but at least he's not dealing with a fullass dog, here. HE... HE CAN DEAL. He can... deal. Oh no he forgot what he was even going to ask. HIS PALMS ARE SWEATING.]
Ah - that - right? H-haha, right, yes! Right, I was, ah... Um. [WHAT WAS HE DOING.] —I meant to... check on you earlier but, you know...!!
Carlos is looking at him with rapidly increasing concern because he seemed fine and chill until he moment he saw him and then — sweaty spaghetti. He takes a step forward like he's worried WWX is going to hecking faint.]
[HE'S IMMEDIATELY TAKING ANOTHER TWO STEPS BACK WHEN HE STEPS FORWARD. BEGONE THOT.]
No! No! I don't need to sit!! [If he sits, he won't be able to book it as easily?? Though he's trying to wrangle in both his little frightened rabbit heart and his regularass fear of dogs at the same time after that, forcing himself to... not step back any further. He didn't come here to give Carlos more to worry about!! Deep breaths! He's fine!!]
—Anyway! [Anyway.] Just... came here to give you something, check on you, see if you've been sleeping with enough people, you know.
He lips both his hands up, palms facing WWX like he's trying to show he's unarmed.]
Easy, easy. I won't make you sit down if you don't want to. [Even though he's concerned as heck over his wellbeing. Jesus Christ, what the heck.] But are you sure you're feeling alright? You look, uh.
[For a moment, Carlos stares at him like he has absolutely no fucking idea what that has to do with him.
But then the moment passes, and the realization that it's hecking furry week hits him like a truck. He slaps his hands over his ears, eyes widening as he suddenly remembers that he's, in fact, a dog right now.]
Oh, shit. Dude, I had no idea— Are you going to be alright?!
[On the plus side, as soon as the ears are hidden, he seems to be doing better right away! Though the sigh he heaves out is a little shaky...]
--I'll be fine! I'm fine. [HE'S FINE.] Goodness, this is hardly something I expected I'd have to deal with on a boat of all places. Didn't mean to spook you, there - sorry!
[His ears perk back up a little though, as the DOG FEAR finally starts to ebb away. He even takes a step forward again!]
I'm sure you'd be a very cute dog to people who enjoy them.
Holding his hands up to his ears like this is fine and dandy, though, but his ears are going to get really tired like this? So he glances down the hallway before glancing back at him.]
Wait here. I'll be right back.
[AND THEN HE NYOOMS INTO ONE OF THE ROOMS WITHOUT GIVING WWX A CHANCE TO SAY ANYTHING and comes out
Anyway, he just watches sweatily after Carlos as he goes, but when he comes back-- He definitely bursts into laughter. GOD. The dog threat is gone and he's immediately feeling much better, outside of a little lingering Nervous Energy that probably rings through in his laugh.]
Haha, goodness - you're far too kind! Really... I didn't mean to cause you trouble by coming down here. I had something for you, actually.
[As he rummages around in his... robes... and pulls out a little bundle of something wrapped in napkins.]
[He doesn't know what Halloween is despite that being his birthday... BUT HE'S HERE TO FIND OUT.]
What's that? A day where the living wear mourning shrouds?
[HONESTLY NOT EXACTLY INACCURATE!! But when he unwraps the napkin, he'll find some cookies there! Taako recipe, guaranteed delicious. Fortunately not the ones he'll probably lace with a love potion later either goddamn Taako you agent of chaos.]
I wanted to thank all of you for the work you've been doing this whole time, but I wasn't exactly sure what to get you, haha.
[More like
he didn't want to give Nathan and Carlos the same terrible gifts he'd give to Chuuya or Polly.]
Close. It's a day where people dress up in costumes for fun, kids get free candy, people throw parties... My sister and I used to go trick-or-treating every year when we were kids. It's the best.
[And now he's nostalgic... But, well. Time to shake that off. He offers him a smile once he sees the cookies.]
Heh, cookies are the perfect gift for any occasion. Thanks, Wei Wuxian. [He's so touched, what the heckie... He inspects the cookies for a moment, before holding the bundle out to him.] Take one. There's no way I can accept this without offering you one first.
Oh! That does sound wonderful. We should have our own Halloween!
[Little does he know, they already did and it was ruined by DEMONS.]
Haha, that sounds like a hilarious thing to do with siblings, too... [If only they had Halloween in ancient China so he could ruin his little brother's life in entirely new, fresh ways.
He looks a little surprised by the offer, though! All these good, good beans... After reaching out and taking one:]
Mm, kind of you! Though I can't say I didn't have my fair share while waiting for these to cool.
[But it was ruined by DEMONS and EXORCISMS!! Boo.]
I guess you get a second helping, then. [Wrapping the napkin back up and just... kind of disappearing it into the void of one of his pockets. Huh. Looking at him curiously after taking a bite from one of the cookies:] You got any siblings yourself?
[HE LOOKS SO SAD. TRAGIC... At least he's got this good cookie, though. He doesn't even blink at the void pocket host shenanigans anymore, focusing on the question after taking a bite.]
Mm, I do! None by birth, but I was lucky enough to be taken into a family where I ended up with a little brother and an older sister.
[His little brother hates him and his older sister is dead but that's fine!]
[Of course not! No one ever regrets talking to Wei Wuxian about his siblings other than Wei Wuxian himself.]
Haha, what, do I behave like one? [HE'S GRINNING LIKE A SHIT THOUGH so apparently he thinks whatever conclusion Carlos has drawn is probably not incorrect... Except he's also an idiot and got spoiled by his little brother, too. God. Jiang Cheng has just as much to deal with as Hizamaru.]
It was, though! Jiang Cheng has always had such a temper. You'd say one thing to tip his patience and he'd have the biggest fit you've ever seen! He'd fight with me all of the time, steal the meat right out of my soup, try to beat me at every turn no matter what we were doing, hah! Shijie-- [A beat; his tone is a little tender.] Jiang Yanli, she was far too good for both of us. Always watching out, you know? I'd be falling out of a tree on one side of the courts and Jiang Cheng would be falling into a pit in the other, and somehow she had the time to help both of us up and even bring us snacks! Haha, we'd have probably both died young at the hands of our own idiocy without her there.
[SAYS HE, WHO DIED YOUNG AT THE HANDS OF HIS OWN IDIOCY AFTER SHE WAS GONE.]
[Welcome back to the hospital, WWX! He'll find himself transported to Carlos' "office" the next time he walks through a door, but... Carlos isn't in the hallway to greet him. Hm.
The retching he'll hear coming from the direction of the only open hospital room might explain that, though.]
[HM THAT'S BAD. Bad!! But hey it gives him something to focus on outside of the miserable mess of emotion clawing up through his throat from his chest like Alien, so.
Without much pause, he's going to follow the sound of retching until he comes across wherever Carlos is losing his lunch... Assuming this is a regular hospital room, he'll fill one of those little paper cups with water and approach cautiously from behind so as not to startle him, speaking before reaching out to rest a gentle hand on his shoulder.]
[It is, indeed, designed like a regular hospital room! He'll find Carlos in the bathroom attached to it, kneeling next to the toilet while flushing all the grossness away. He startles when WWX places a hand on his shoulder, halfway through wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, before he seems to settle down.
He'll accept the cup when offered, but the look on his face is... very grimm. It takes him a moment before he speaks up.]
... Sorry, I didn't think I was going to... [Puke. He shakes his head after trailing off.] I assume this is about what happened today.
[THANKS, WWX... Carlos reaches over to close the toilet seat, if only so he can do the worm and lift himself up to sit there. The floor is too cold. :(]
... I'm fine. [Says Carlos, even though he looks pale as fuck with several itty bitty red dots on his face — like he might have burst some capillary blood vessels.] More importantly, how can I not apologize? We're your hosts. We... At least I should have seen this coming.
[insert that patting someone's back with a broom gif
No okay but he'll sit down on the floor of the bathroom so Carlos doesn't have to strain trying to look up at him as he talks.]
You're not fine. [OBVIOUSLY.] You look terrible, for one. [Thanks Wei Wuxian.] Can I get you anything else...?
[As far as continued apologies go, though - he just shakes his head.]
...What's done is done. Whether anyone should have seen any of this coming or not doesn't make much of a different now, you know? We can only press on.
[The bluntness startles a laugh out of him, but it's extremely brittle. He'll shake his head in response to his offer, however.]
... I'm good for now. Thanks.
[Though he wishes this wasn't happening on top of, uh, everything else. He presses his lips into a thin line, eyebrows furrowing as he listens to him. It doesn't look like it helps him feel less guilty, for whatever reason it may be, but...]
I know. [...] You guys are going to figure this out. Chuuya believed in you, and... so do I. Which is why I need you to tell me if there's anything at all I can help you with.
[Everything sure does happen at once, huh? Though while they're on the topic, he squints at Carlos's face for a second longer, and then:]
How long have you been getting sick, anyway?
[Since it's been either long enough or hard enough to burst some vessels...
The rest of that though HAHA oh boy. Well, at least their hosts... believe in them. Hm. But look where Chuuya's faith got him! Super fuckin dead. He barely misses a beat, though, offering a smile in exchange for the unreasonable kindness. Or maybe desperate kindness. Either way.]
At this point, I'm not sure what more there is that I could tell you. The rest of the rooms refuse to unlock no matter what we try- [sans maybe the captain's room but what are timelines] -and we have the rest of the items anyway - beyond that, I already know it's not in your power to offer miracles.
[WHICH IS FRANKLY WHAT THEY NEED RIGHT NOW and wow he hasn't even heard Nikkari's announcement yet (i think) so they're REALLY gonna be needing that miracle, dang.]
[So, uh, probably the latter depending on how long he's been regurgitating his guts. Unfortunate! He sighs, though, taking one last sip from the paper cup before crushing it in his hand.]
Not for a lack of trying. [Which is the most frustrating part, really. Being told you're here to help, but lacking the power to do anything helpful.] ... I just don't get it. We're supposed to be immortal. So what changed? And why did Beck have to get caught up in it?
[Can they phone home for one free miracle... please........]
[PHONE HOME FOR A FREE MIRACLE!! He's definitely looking, hm, Concerned though. DID. DID NO ONE TELL ANY OF THE HOSTS ABOUT THEIR BODY FINDINGS oh my god...]
—It's possible that whatever's been keeping you alive after your first death is wearing off, if what we found in the morgue holds any weight. I don't know what exactly could have triggered that beyond just being close to the fiftieth day, though. [...] Do you know how Beck got caught up in it, by the way? Chuuya - I assume he broke some sort of rule, like Polly. Is that right?
[THESE FUCKIN HOSTS not like he'd have done anything different BUT THESE FUCKIN HOSTS!!]
... I heard about what you found in the morgue. Didn't really put stock in it until today.
[Except now Chuuya is dead and no amount of fingering has brought him back, so. Haha. That's neat.]
I can't give you the specifics. But we don't get into this kind of trouble unless we've done something they really don't like. [He can draw whatever conclusion he wants out of that.] Beck... might have just been collateral damage.
[Which he hates! And he sounds as pissed as he possibly can right now over it, but that's his assumption. God.]
Anyway he just fucking sighs at that because of course he's assuming Chuuya would up and do SOMETHING DANGEROUS AND STUPID FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS honestly everyone on this ship is all equally bad, no one has room to cast any stones.]
Ah, I figured as much. [For Chuuya.] I didn't know Beck might have gotten caught up in it, though... [He honestly just figured between Beck and Zero that they had a rogue fuckin demon running around pushing boxes onto people and stabbing Becks.]
...How about you, then? Do you know when you started feeling ill, or if there was any particular cause? The last thing we need is the rest of you joining Chuuya.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week five, tuesday.
... In fact, he won't even have to go in. Carlos is waiting for him right outside of the room. He lifts a hand in greeting once he sees him, smiling... and clearly not exempt from this week's status effect.]
Long time no see.
im in tears
sweaty spaghetti
oh my god. Of all the weeks to finally come visit Carlos!! He takes a reflexive step back.]
Ah— [HM. His stupid bun ears are flattened back with One Fear, but at least he's not dealing with a fullass dog, here. HE... HE CAN DEAL. He can... deal. Oh no he forgot what he was even going to ask. HIS PALMS ARE SWEATING.]
Ah - that - right? H-haha, right, yes! Right, I was, ah... Um. [WHAT WAS HE DOING.] —I meant to... check on you earlier but, you know...!!
i'm fucking wheezing
What the actual fuck.
Carlos is looking at him with rapidly increasing concern because he seemed fine and chill until he moment he saw him and then — sweaty spaghetti. He takes a step forward like he's worried WWX is going to hecking faint.]
Oh, shit. What's wrong? Do you need to sit down?
same GOD WHY
No! No! I don't need to sit!! [If he sits, he won't be able to book it as easily?? Though he's trying to wrangle in both his little frightened rabbit heart and his regularass fear of dogs at the same time after that, forcing himself to... not step back any further. He didn't come here to give Carlos more to worry about!! Deep breaths! He's fine!!]
—Anyway! [Anyway.] Just... came here to give you something, check on you, see if you've been sleeping with enough people, you know.
[Just casual things it's fine.]
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He lips both his hands up, palms facing WWX like he's trying to show he's unarmed.]
Easy, easy. I won't make you sit down if you don't want to. [Even though he's concerned as heck over his wellbeing. Jesus Christ, what the heck.] But are you sure you're feeling alright? You look, uh.
[...]
Stressed.
[That's one way to put it.]
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I-- [HRHGH.] I'm not really a fan of dogs...!
[To say the least. Boy is that embarrassing to admit, but he doesn't want Carlos to think he's dying for some other, more serious reason.]
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[For a moment, Carlos stares at him like he has absolutely no fucking idea what that has to do with him.
But then the moment passes, and the realization that it's hecking furry week hits him like a truck. He slaps his hands over his ears, eyes widening as he suddenly remembers that he's, in fact, a dog right now.]
Oh, shit. Dude, I had no idea— Are you going to be alright?!
[DOG PHOBIA... BAD!!]
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--I'll be fine! I'm fine. [HE'S FINE.] Goodness, this is hardly something I expected I'd have to deal with on a boat of all places. Didn't mean to spook you, there - sorry!
[His ears perk back up a little though, as the DOG FEAR finally starts to ebb away. He even takes a step forward again!]
I'm sure you'd be a very cute dog to people who enjoy them.
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[IS IT A COMPLIMENT TO BE CALLED A CUTE DOG...
Holding his hands up to his ears like this is fine and dandy, though, but his ears are going to get really tired like this? So he glances down the hallway before glancing back at him.]
Wait here. I'll be right back.
[AND THEN HE NYOOMS INTO ONE OF THE ROOMS WITHOUT GIVING WWX A CHANCE TO SAY ANYTHING and comes out
wearing a bedsheet.
Hewwo.]
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Anyway, he just watches sweatily after Carlos as he goes, but when he comes back-- He definitely bursts into laughter. GOD. The dog threat is gone and he's immediately feeling much better, outside of a little lingering Nervous Energy that probably rings through in his laugh.]
Haha, goodness - you're far too kind! Really... I didn't mean to cause you trouble by coming down here. I had something for you, actually.
[As he rummages around in his... robes... and pulls out a little bundle of something wrapped in napkins.]
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It's fine. [Swivels like he's showing off a fancy dress, tbh.] Kind of reminds me of Halloween, actually.
[Dressing up in bed sheets......... He's not actually sure if WWX knows what Halloween even is, but. He raises his eyebrows once he sees the bundle.]
What's that?
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What's that? A day where the living wear mourning shrouds?
[HONESTLY NOT EXACTLY INACCURATE!! But when he unwraps the napkin, he'll find some cookies there! Taako recipe, guaranteed delicious. Fortunately not the ones he'll probably lace with a love potion later either goddamn Taako you agent of chaos.]
I wanted to thank all of you for the work you've been doing this whole time, but I wasn't exactly sure what to get you, haha.
[More like
he didn't want to give Nathan and Carlos the same terrible gifts he'd give to Chuuya or Polly.]
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[And now he's nostalgic... But, well. Time to shake that off. He offers him a smile once he sees the cookies.]
Heh, cookies are the perfect gift for any occasion. Thanks, Wei Wuxian. [He's so touched, what the heckie... He inspects the cookies for a moment, before holding the bundle out to him.] Take one. There's no way I can accept this without offering you one first.
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[Little does he know, they already did and it was ruined by DEMONS.]
Haha, that sounds like a hilarious thing to do with siblings, too... [If only they had Halloween in ancient China so he could ruin his little brother's life in entirely new, fresh ways.
He looks a little surprised by the offer, though! All these good, good beans... After reaching out and taking one:]
Mm, kind of you! Though I can't say I didn't have my fair share while waiting for these to cool.
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[But it was ruined by DEMONS and EXORCISMS!! Boo.]
I guess you get a second helping, then. [Wrapping the napkin back up and just... kind of disappearing it into the void of one of his pockets. Huh. Looking at him curiously after taking a bite from one of the cookies:] You got any siblings yourself?
[... He doesn't actually know shit about WWX.]
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[HE LOOKS SO SAD. TRAGIC... At least he's got this good cookie, though. He doesn't even blink at the void pocket host shenanigans anymore, focusing on the question after taking a bite.]
Mm, I do! None by birth, but I was lucky enough to be taken into a family where I ended up with a little brother and an older sister.
[His little brother hates him and his older sister is dead but that's fine!]
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[Nodding to himself like that? Explains so much about WWX's whole ass life? Carlos, no.]
Tell me about them. It must have been lively growing up with two siblings.
[Haha! He's going to regret the line of conversation, isn't he.]
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Haha, what, do I behave like one? [HE'S GRINNING LIKE A SHIT THOUGH so apparently he thinks whatever conclusion Carlos has drawn is probably not incorrect... Except he's also an idiot and got spoiled by his little brother, too. God. Jiang Cheng has just as much to deal with as Hizamaru.]
It was, though! Jiang Cheng has always had such a temper. You'd say one thing to tip his patience and he'd have the biggest fit you've ever seen! He'd fight with me all of the time, steal the meat right out of my soup, try to beat me at every turn no matter what we were doing, hah! Shijie-- [A beat; his tone is a little tender.] Jiang Yanli, she was far too good for both of us. Always watching out, you know? I'd be falling out of a tree on one side of the courts and Jiang Cheng would be falling into a pit in the other, and somehow she had the time to help both of us up and even bring us snacks! Haha, we'd have probably both died young at the hands of our own idiocy without her there.
[SAYS HE, WHO DIED YOUNG AT THE HANDS OF HIS OWN IDIOCY AFTER SHE WAS GONE.]
week six, wednesday.
The retching he'll hear coming from the direction of the only open hospital room might explain that, though.]
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Without much pause, he's going to follow the sound of retching until he comes across wherever Carlos is losing his lunch... Assuming this is a regular hospital room, he'll fill one of those little paper cups with water and approach cautiously from behind so as not to startle him, speaking before reaching out to rest a gentle hand on his shoulder.]
Carlos?
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He'll accept the cup when offered, but the look on his face is... very grimm. It takes him a moment before he speaks up.]
... Sorry, I didn't think I was going to... [Puke. He shakes his head after trailing off.] I assume this is about what happened today.
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That's hardly something to apologize for. [POOR CARLOS sometimes you just gotta puke your feelings out... As for the question:]
Mm - that, and I wanted to be sure you were still doing alright, yourself.
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... I'm fine. [Says Carlos, even though he looks pale as fuck with several itty bitty red dots on his face — like he might have burst some capillary blood vessels.] More importantly, how can I not apologize? We're your hosts. We... At least I should have seen this coming.
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No okay but he'll sit down on the floor of the bathroom so Carlos doesn't have to strain trying to look up at him as he talks.]
You're not fine. [OBVIOUSLY.] You look terrible, for one. [Thanks Wei Wuxian.] Can I get you anything else...?
[As far as continued apologies go, though - he just shakes his head.]
...What's done is done. Whether anyone should have seen any of this coming or not doesn't make much of a different now, you know? We can only press on.
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... I'm good for now. Thanks.
[Though he wishes this wasn't happening on top of, uh, everything else. He presses his lips into a thin line, eyebrows furrowing as he listens to him. It doesn't look like it helps him feel less guilty, for whatever reason it may be, but...]
I know. [...] You guys are going to figure this out. Chuuya believed in you, and... so do I. Which is why I need you to tell me if there's anything at all I can help you with.
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How long have you been getting sick, anyway?
[Since it's been either long enough or hard enough to burst some vessels...
The rest of that though HAHA oh boy. Well, at least their hosts... believe in them. Hm. But look where Chuuya's faith got him! Super fuckin dead. He barely misses a beat, though, offering a smile in exchange for the unreasonable kindness. Or maybe desperate kindness. Either way.]
At this point, I'm not sure what more there is that I could tell you. The rest of the rooms refuse to unlock no matter what we try- [sans maybe the captain's room but what are timelines] -and we have the rest of the items anyway - beyond that, I already know it's not in your power to offer miracles.
[WHICH IS FRANKLY WHAT THEY NEED RIGHT NOW and wow he hasn't even heard Nikkari's announcement yet (i think) so they're REALLY gonna be needing that miracle, dang.]
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Since yesterday.
[So, uh, probably the latter depending on how long he's been regurgitating his guts. Unfortunate! He sighs, though, taking one last sip from the paper cup before crushing it in his hand.]
Not for a lack of trying. [Which is the most frustrating part, really. Being told you're here to help, but lacking the power to do anything helpful.] ... I just don't get it. We're supposed to be immortal. So what changed? And why did Beck have to get caught up in it?
[Can they phone home for one free miracle... please........]
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—It's possible that whatever's been keeping you alive after your first death is wearing off, if what we found in the morgue holds any weight. I don't know what exactly could have triggered that beyond just being close to the fiftieth day, though. [...] Do you know how Beck got caught up in it, by the way? Chuuya - I assume he broke some sort of rule, like Polly. Is that right?
[THESE FUCKIN HOSTS not like he'd have done anything different BUT THESE FUCKIN HOSTS!!]
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[Except now Chuuya is dead and no amount of fingering has brought him back, so. Haha. That's neat.]
I can't give you the specifics. But we don't get into this kind of trouble unless we've done something they really don't like. [He can draw whatever conclusion he wants out of that.] Beck... might have just been collateral damage.
[Which he hates! And he sounds as pissed as he possibly can right now over it, but that's his assumption. God.]
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Anyway he just fucking sighs at that because of course he's assuming Chuuya would up and do SOMETHING DANGEROUS AND STUPID FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS honestly everyone on this ship is all equally bad, no one has room to cast any stones.]
Ah, I figured as much. [For Chuuya.] I didn't know Beck might have gotten caught up in it, though... [He honestly just figured between Beck and Zero that they had a rogue fuckin demon running around pushing boxes onto people and stabbing Becks.]
...How about you, then? Do you know when you started feeling ill, or if there was any particular cause? The last thing we need is the rest of you joining Chuuya.