Yeah, I didn't think you would. Figured I should be thorough enough to ask, though.
And yes, that seems like a likely possibility. [ Actually, he disagrees--he doesn't think any of his exploration teams had anything to do with this little 'prank'. But his other working theory (some other god or superior being?) sounds insane even in his own head, and he wants Emet-Selch's respect too much to suggest something so purely ridiculous. ]
[He hadn't even been thinking of it as a 'prank' so much as some poorly-communicated delivery of dubious goods.
It made more sense to him than 'a divinity decided to fill his room with old coins'. Or himself, in some fugue state.]
Failing myself and your entourage... I hope you have some other lead.
Still, in addition to all else we're made to suffer, if we're now to be struck by mysterious invasions of our limited privacy, at least it had the decency to leave behind something useful.
[He wouldn't like it either, though. What's the catch? Who did this and why?]
You just need more practice. Annoyance can be eternal.
[Hold grudges. Forgive nothing, no matter how ultimately useful.
And while he considers brushing off the last comment with something neutral, he's frustrated enough to actually answer after a delay.]
It's been awful. I lose more ground to the bird every day.
I can barely walk, with how it's decided to disfigure me next. You would think that would leave me with more time to spend asleep, but it keeps me awake. I hope your other soul has been less of an imposition.
if anything, the cat is eager to increase the amount of naps taken
my physical horrors have been relatively minimal. adorable catboy vibes continue. given what i've seen in others, i keep waiting for my good luck to take a horrible turn.
Neither the cat nor I are very cooperative, but we do have a similar enough nature in many ways to be compatible. So probably that's the different. There's minimal conflict because the cat isn't trying to get me to do anything that doesn't already sound appealing to me. Pouncing people? Taking naps? Causing mischief? Great.
It was too far from the beginning. When we started at 'kidnapping, torture, and experimentation', that was never a good sign.
What concerns me is the ... relative lack of external threat? We're supposed to be here to save the day and protect them, but so far the most urgent quests we've been doing are ... exploring and mapping out the locations of Katalyth. It doesn't seem like reason enough for going to the effort of kidnapping us. I keep waiting for the armies of monsters to show up.
Unfortunately, not all of us are so blessed as to have such a simple mind that a beast's impulses fail to complicate things.
Must you provide more things to be paranoid over? Though your concerns aren't far from mine. If we're meant to be saving anything, they're not pressuring us very hard to do it. They've requested, pestered. All of which I've ignored, without recompense. The more recent drugging aside... they've gotten very little out of me.
Yet bringing us all here surely entailed effort. They've invested in us. There's a direction we're meant to be pointed in, and we haven't been shown it yet. With their technology inside us, they can force our compliance when we get to that stage. Or, we're already providing something of value to them. Gods know what.
[ The 'simple-minded' insult just makes him grin. He's used to lines like that as the way that his friends express affection toward him. ]
I mean, we do get money as recompense. So I've been a little more cooperative because of that. [ Emet-Selch has already seen that Gojo's a sucker for nice things. ]
Do you want me to not provide more reasons for paranoia or do you want to hear my new theory? [ He's pretty sure Emet-Selch will want to hear his new theory. But at least Gojo's managing to be considerate enough (this time) to offer an out. ]
Yeah, with fondness, I don't know who the hell would hire you. Maybe you could be a security guard somewhere? The grumpy glower would be an asset for that.
... Maybe the delay is because our corruption needs to reach a certain level before we're useful for whatever purpose they have in mind.
Only if they accepted that my involvement would only go so far as my glower. I've no interest in chasing down miscreants.
That wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. What good are we to anyone when we first arrive? Even ignoring the mass confusion and potential rebellion, all we have going for us is some resistance to arcane radiation. Whatever they're after from us, it specifically requires us to become more beast than man.
Then far be it for me to remove one source of joy in your life.
[It's... sort of gratitude. Despite himself, he liked the crowns.]
I can barely hobble around this floor, much less go downstairs or anywhere else. Creating my own meals is preferable in flavor to anything this world has, but it's exhausting, given what the bird requires.
[ Without further comment, Gojo just turns up at Emet-Selch's room. His hands are full so he gives the door a couple of bangs with his foot in order to knock. When Emet-Selch opens the door, he holds out a bag filled with several hot sandwiches. They're from one of the restaurants that Gojo frequents now, one that he's brought fresh meat to (so he knows the meat they use is actually fresh, and he gets free or discounted food in return), and that has worked with the Augmented for outworld recipes that are an improvement upon the nightmarish local cuisine. In his other hand he holds a large mug. ] Brought some of the terrible tea from downstairs, too, since you said you were having trouble even getting that far.
[The knock (kick) at his door comes and Emet-Selch twitches sharply, glaring at the door as a reflex over being startled. Grumbling to himself, he limps over to open it, having a few guesses as to what this was probably about- and suddenly has a bag being held out to him. Tea (awful) was also in view.
He's... still a bit of a mess. Not as much as he'd been at his worst, but the main problem (being a bird) wasn't going away. Most of the feather-plucking is hidden by his robes, but his hair is also missing a lot of the black feathers that used to be there, their roots raw. The mobility issue is uncomfortable and visible, as his restructured feet- there's no hiding them in anything- are given over to match the structure of a bird's. Their scales are largely missing, and the talons are little more than buds, the whole package something raw and sore.]
I don't remember asking for help.
[But he'll accept the bag first, in clawed, grey hands, looking at Gojo in some mix of skepticism (why do this?) and embarrassment. If he had enough feathers left they'd fluff up.]
I like the restaurant that does these sandwiches. They're actually good, unlike most of the shit in this city.
[ Gojo leans in the doorway, cheerful and casual but not necessarily expecting to stay and hang out. Not least because what if Emet-Selch brings up the topic of Suguru? Horrifying. Must bail asap. Coming here was a risk. ] Need anything else while I'm here?
[A glower, because it was true. It's more pained, less full-force than it might otherwise have been; one way or another, he was not going to be standing for any longer than he had to.
Given the size of the room, it's not hard to notice its main 'features' behind him. There's a sad assembling of branches on the floor in something barely recognizable as a nest. The prior flower crowns are there, along with a few rings. Leaned up against a wall is a stupidly large portrait of someone who looks a lot like him, but with short, largely brown hair.
But no, he would not invite Gojo in to witness his devouring of gift sandwiches and tea. And as Gojo did not wish to explain Suguru- an inevitability given what he'd come across on the network- Emet-Selch did not wish to explain his unfortunate decor.]
No, this is- plenty. Thank you.
[Stiffly, but- he had some sort of manners, somewhere.]
All right. Take care of yourself, grouchy. I'll try and check in every so often to make sure you don't starve to death.
[ He's already hit the limit of what he can do in a nursing capacity, so Gojo's absolutely going to take this opportunity to bail. Shooting Emet-Selch a grin and a wave of his hand, he turns and heads off down the hallway. ]
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And yes, that seems like a likely possibility. [ Actually, he disagrees--he doesn't think any of his exploration teams had anything to do with this little 'prank'. But his other working theory (some other god or superior being?) sounds insane even in his own head, and he wants Emet-Selch's respect too much to suggest something so purely ridiculous. ]
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It made more sense to him than 'a divinity decided to fill his room with old coins'. Or himself, in some fugue state.]
Failing myself and your entourage... I hope you have some other lead.
Still, in addition to all else we're made to suffer, if we're now to be struck by mysterious invasions of our limited privacy, at least it had the decency to leave behind something useful.
[He wouldn't like it either, though. What's the catch? Who did this and why?]
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But it's hard to remain annoyed in the face of such value. Money is useful, after all.
How's your busy nap schedule holding up?
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[Hold grudges. Forgive nothing, no matter how ultimately useful.
And while he considers brushing off the last comment with something neutral, he's frustrated enough to actually answer after a delay.]
It's been awful. I lose more ground to the bird every day.
I can barely walk, with how it's decided to disfigure me next. You would think that would leave me with more time to spend asleep, but it keeps me awake. I hope your other soul has been less of an imposition.
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if anything, the cat is eager to increase the amount of naps taken
my physical horrors have been relatively minimal. adorable catboy vibes continue. given what i've seen in others, i keep waiting for my good luck to take a horrible turn.
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I never thought a cat would be a more cooperative creature to be paired with. Or perhaps it's too busy napping to disturb you.
The amount of variability between all of us makes it difficult to predict how much worse things will get. Already it's too far.
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It was too far from the beginning. When we started at 'kidnapping, torture, and experimentation', that was never a good sign.
What concerns me is the ... relative lack of external threat? We're supposed to be here to save the day and protect them, but so far the most urgent quests we've been doing are ... exploring and mapping out the locations of Katalyth. It doesn't seem like reason enough for going to the effort of kidnapping us. I keep waiting for the armies of monsters to show up.
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Must you provide more things to be paranoid over? Though your concerns aren't far from mine. If we're meant to be saving anything, they're not pressuring us very hard to do it. They've requested, pestered. All of which I've ignored, without recompense. The more recent drugging aside... they've gotten very little out of me.
Yet bringing us all here surely entailed effort. They've invested in us. There's a direction we're meant to be pointed in, and we haven't been shown it yet. With their technology inside us, they can force our compliance when we get to that stage. Or, we're already providing something of value to them. Gods know what.
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I mean, we do get money as recompense. So I've been a little more cooperative because of that. [ Emet-Selch has already seen that Gojo's a sucker for nice things. ]
Do you want me to not provide more reasons for paranoia or do you want to hear my new theory? [ He's pretty sure Emet-Selch will want to hear his new theory. But at least Gojo's managing to be considerate enough (this time) to offer an out. ]
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Ugh. Don't remind me that I'm going to have to find a job at some point.
[It's text, but the sigh is practically audible.]
Go ahead with your theories. My rest is poor enough as it is, I may as well have something else keeping me awake during the day.
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... Maybe the delay is because our corruption needs to reach a certain level before we're useful for whatever purpose they have in mind.
[ Enjoy never sleeping again, Emet-Selch. ]
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That wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. What good are we to anyone when we first arrive? Even ignoring the mass confusion and potential rebellion, all we have going for us is some resistance to arcane radiation. Whatever they're after from us, it specifically requires us to become more beast than man.
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all right well good times nice paranoia chat
i'll bring you a new flower crown soon. it's relaxing to make them, so i should take some time and do that.
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[But yes great times, good thoughts only.]
If you're expecting more cakes in return, you'll have to wait. I don't have the energy to spare.
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what's up with your energy, do you need something for a refill?
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[It's... sort of gratitude. Despite himself, he liked the crowns.]
I can barely hobble around this floor, much less go downstairs or anywhere else. Creating my own meals is preferable in flavor to anything this world has, but it's exhausting, given what the bird requires.
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what does the bird require, you need some seeds and worms or something?
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Neither. Unless it's seeds meant for general consumption.
No, all it cares about is amount. If it starts demanding raw insects from me I'll starve.
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[ Without further comment, Gojo just turns up at Emet-Selch's room. His hands are full so he gives the door a couple of bangs with his foot in order to knock. When Emet-Selch opens the door, he holds out a bag filled with several hot sandwiches. They're from one of the restaurants that Gojo frequents now, one that he's brought fresh meat to (so he knows the meat they use is actually fresh, and he gets free or discounted food in return), and that has worked with the Augmented for outworld recipes that are an improvement upon the nightmarish local cuisine. In his other hand he holds a large mug. ] Brought some of the terrible tea from downstairs, too, since you said you were having trouble even getting that far.
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He's... still a bit of a mess. Not as much as he'd been at his worst, but the main problem (being a bird) wasn't going away. Most of the feather-plucking is hidden by his robes, but his hair is also missing a lot of the black feathers that used to be there, their roots raw. The mobility issue is uncomfortable and visible, as his restructured feet- there's no hiding them in anything- are given over to match the structure of a bird's. Their scales are largely missing, and the talons are little more than buds, the whole package something raw and sore.]
I don't remember asking for help.
[But he'll accept the bag first, in clawed, grey hands, looking at Gojo in some mix of skepticism (why do this?) and embarrassment. If he had enough feathers left they'd fluff up.]
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[ He knows the type. ]
I like the restaurant that does these sandwiches. They're actually good, unlike most of the shit in this city.
[ Gojo leans in the doorway, cheerful and casual but not necessarily expecting to stay and hang out. Not least because what if Emet-Selch brings up the topic of Suguru? Horrifying. Must bail asap. Coming here was a risk. ] Need anything else while I'm here?
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Given the size of the room, it's not hard to notice its main 'features' behind him. There's a sad assembling of branches on the floor in something barely recognizable as a nest. The prior flower crowns are there, along with a few rings. Leaned up against a wall is a stupidly large portrait of someone who looks a lot like him, but with short, largely brown hair.
But no, he would not invite Gojo in to witness his devouring of gift sandwiches and tea. And as Gojo did not wish to explain Suguru- an inevitability given what he'd come across on the network- Emet-Selch did not wish to explain his unfortunate decor.]
No, this is- plenty. Thank you.
[Stiffly, but- he had some sort of manners, somewhere.]
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[ He's already hit the limit of what he can do in a nursing capacity, so Gojo's absolutely going to take this opportunity to bail. Shooting Emet-Selch a grin and a wave of his hand, he turns and heads off down the hallway. ]