[popdrop] [IC Inbox]

[warpweft]

This is Hex. Leave a message. Or don't! If I wanted to talk to you, I probably would've called you first.

Comments

[ugly_split_ends]

Encouraging.

Hey, actually pick up. I'm using a text-to-speech thing anyway.

[warpweft]

Hello, and thank you for calling Hex. Your call is important to us, and may be recorded for quality assurance.

To leave a glowing compliment about how Hex has changed your miserable life for the better, please press 1. To swear vengeance against Hex for how she's destroyed your miserable life, please press 2. For billing, please press 3. Or stay on the line and Hex will be with you shortly.

[ugly_split_ends]

...Those aren't mutually exclusive.

[warpweft]

You're not mutually exclusive.

What?

[ugly_split_ends]

Is that a crack about Jane?

... [she sighs]

I have a question for you.

[warpweft]

...let's pretend I came up with something that clever off the cuff and say, yes. Yes it was. An incisive cut to your very core.

But because I am gracious, I will also allow you to seek my knowledge. What's the question?

[ugly_split_ends]

...

...

Do you believe in dating down?

[warpweft]

This is me we're talking about. I kind of have to, or I'd never get dates.

[ugly_split_ends]

Yeah, pretty much.

...

[warpweft]

What? You have a crush on someone but it's interfering with your steadfast dedication to your master?

[ugly_split_ends]

S-Shut up. Like any mere crush could distract me from my master!

... But, uh. Let's... build from that thought.

[warpweft]

Is it me?

[ugly_split_ends]

Mnnnngggggh.... you're one of those types who reads the ending chapter first, aren't you??

[warpweft]

No, I'm one of those types who figures out the twist in the first chapter and then smugly congratulates herself when she gets to the end.

So, this person, whoever it is, what's the issue. Are you concerned you're not good enough for them or they're not good enough for you?

[ugly_split_ends]

... Yeah. Anyone by definition would be 'dating down' for me. But then add on "went to university to learn witchcraft and can do all this other shit while simultaneous dealing with crazy Grandma and other family stuff."

...So?

[warpweft]

They sound incredible. Is that why you're suddenly beset by feelings for them?

[ugly_split_ends]

...I wouldn't say "suddenly," really. It just sorta occurred to me. Even though I was in this situation with incomprehensible people looking for this 'void heart,' it was really important to me that I stick with it and finish it. Even if it meant facing off with scary Grandma. For the 'sake' of saving this person.

And it occurred to me that this person seemed concerned for my well-being and getting me safe.

--Then you add on the physical element and how they're pretty sexy, even when the sex has been in succubus-mummy form.

So, I started to think, maybe this is something beyond friendship and more like 'affection'.

[dumbjockenergy]

Hey.

I'm making a list of people everyone wants to protect and the teams they're on for future games moving forward.

Is there anyone besides Spectre?

I get wanting some space, so don't feel you need to rush with your answer.

[warpweft]

You're basically asking for my permission to brutalize everybody that I don't name right now. You understand how garish that is, right?

[dumbjockenergy]

I'm not asking permission for anything. I'm offering you a chance to make it clear who is off-limits in bad games to try and avoid a repeat of the other day.

My wife, her other self, and my other self are all on this team, and I will not compromise their safety. As your teammate, I won't compromise yours either.

I'll always try to avoid hurting others if I can. But we need some kind of plan when we can't.

[warpweft]

I don't want to make little lines in the margins and spare people I care about by killing others.

I want to fucking ruin the fae that are responsible for this.

[dumbjockenergy]

Trust me, if I ever get my hands on them, there won't be much to left to ruin.

[warpweft]

Then we should be spending our energy focusing on a way to do that.

[dumbjockenergy]

In the place that I was in before this, we had these awful games constantly. And during them, I said the exact same thing. We needed to stop hurting each other and focus on getting to the ones making us do them at all.

In the end, it got me right here, still playing these games.

I'm absolutely willing to help hunt these fairies down and end this all. But until we can do that, I have to protect the people I love. I won't watch them die anymore.

I respect that we're likely not going to agree on what to do. But in the games that come, I still encourage you to let us know if someone you care about is in our line of fire so we can avoid it.

[warpweft]

You never successfully killed one where you were before.

We did.