PC - McGillis

[maladied]

Comments

w1, wednesday night

[maladied]

[ McGillis is right to stick around the magic books, because sometime in the evening, Sage steps out.

There's a pause as the puppet watches McGillis for a moment or two, but it eventually speaks up. ]

Waiting for someone?

[ The tone in Sage's voice suggests that they know he's most likely waiting for them, but may as well ask, right? Also... this puppet now has cat ears and a tail, both white. ]

[vogelfrei]

[ They match! McGillis has some fluffy cat ears and a much fluffier cat tail, matching his shade of light blond. The ears perk up when Sage makes their appearance, even before McGillis fully turns to face them.

Or more like... looks down to face them. The puppet to McGillis height differential is noting to sneeze at. ]

Indeed, and you're just the puppet I'd been hoping to see.

[ Important question: are the cat features on the puppet a lifeless costume or are they as animated as the puppet itself is? ]

[maladied]

[ Just as animated! The tail flicks on its own.

He’s so tall the puppet really has to crane its head up just to look at him. ]

You have a request, then. Or an inquiry.

[vogelfrei]

More of the latter, though above all I was simply hoping for a conversation.

[ Out of the puppets, Sage is the one he's had the most pleasant experience speaking to, despite the fact that they also seem to be among the most cagey. Picking his poison. ]

Would you like to sit with me, or are you in a hurry?

[maladied]

[ Sage's tail flicks back and forth as they consider this. ]

I have nothing to attend to at the moment. Choose where you would prefer to sit, and I shall follow.

week 2, monday

[conchy]

[Lobelia had been whisked to the restaurant by the whim of a curious note left, of course, by a rather fascinating man. Order and chaos, was it? Lofty concepts that deserve a longer conversation, and McGillis was right to choose a restaurant as the venue.

By choice, Lobelia arrives early. If McGillis had the same idea, he'll find Lobelia perusing the wine rack, assessing various vintages with muted interest. If he prefers punctuality down to the minute, he'll instead find Lobelia settled in a booth that offers a clear view of every door and exit in the restaurant. In either case, he is greeted with a warm smile and a genial wave.]

Bonne soirée, Monsieur McGillis. Tell me, did you have much trouble braving the cold to get here?

[vogelfrei]

[ By the time the scheduled meeting actually rolls around, McGillis had enough opportunity to experience the weekly haunting for himself that he feels thoroughly on edge. It's not the greatest mindset to meet one of their strange companions in, but it also makes the meeting feel more urgent. He needs something to not make him go out of his mind, something to keep him grounded. Progress. Forward movement. Power.

McGillis takes off the jacket he's grabbed from the clothing store just earlier and takes his seat opposite Lobelia with a smile. ]

Not at all - it's a stark drop in temperature, but you have to be adaptable when your work has you traveling a lot. Are weather changes of this kind common for this place?

[conchy]

[McGillis is composed, polished like expensive porcelain. Lobelia can hear the barest threads of tension in his voice. A man too aware of himself to show discomfort, and too proud to pretend he doesn't feel it. Fascinating.]

Your adaptability is commendable. I'll admit I've never been fond of the cold, nor very tolerant of it.

[He smiles, soft but edged with curiosity. Lobelia's gaze turns to the windows, the snow shivering restless against the glass. Is this normal here? Lobelia shrugs, suggesting he neither knows nor cares to bother himself with the answer.]

Alas, I would not know. I've been here longer than you, but not so long that I've had the time or inclination to study the weather.

[He tilts his head, studying McGillis with frank interest. That is where his attention lies.]

Tell me, Monsieur McGillis... what drew you to such a curious topic as order and chaos? Or rather, what made you think I would be a worthwhile partner for that conversation?

[vogelfrei]

[ Down to business, then. It suits McGillis just fine - even his idle question was nothing but a lead-in that would have gotten them here sooner rather than later. ]

I'm sure you're already aware that your study has been made quite public last week - and being fascinated by books as I am, it was hard to resist surveying the selection.

[ He'd amend that this was before he knew it was Lobelia's, but they both know he would have checked it out even sooner if he had known. Besides, McGillis expects that Ramuda has already recounted this escapade to Lobelia to begin with. ]

You seem interested in the topic. And more than that, you seem the only one of your group to enjoy the goings-on in this place. I was wondering if those two aspects were related?

[conchy]

[Lobelia leans back slightly, as though the answer pleases him more than it should. McGillis's interest is deliberate, but not unkind— that makes him infinitely easier to speak with than the average scholar who only wants to pick him apart.]

Bien sûr, I am interested. The world bends in peculiar ways here, and I enjoy knowing what shape it chooses next. If that happens to be related to commande and chaos... well. I've always had a soft spot for grand ideas.

[His smile spreads, warm but undeniably sharp.]

But you give me too much credit, Monsieur McGillis. I am only as informed as anyone who listens closely and looks where others don't. If my... enjoyment of the goings-on gives me an edge, then that is simply a happy coincidence.

w3, monday

[vivisexual]

[In his search for Yugamu, McGillis will find him in the arcade fucking around in the bowling alley. He's lying on the floor in front of the lanes and just shoving balls down toward the pins. When his ball returns, he uses his stupid stretching arms to grab it without getting back up.

He doesn't seem depressed exactly as much as just sort of completely zoning out? Tired, maybe.]

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis was going to say something productive when he got here. Keep his promise, one and done, have it be over with.

But when he actually arrives... ]

... why are you on the floor?

[ That's all he got. ]

[vivisexual]

[Yugamu flips onto his back so he can look up at McGillis.]

I'm think I'm having an episode of teenage angst.

[Said so forthrightly it feels like a joke. But also it's Yugamu so who knows.]

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis is just standing next to him, staring down. This is a considerable distance because he is tall. Looming... ]

Aren't we all.

[ This is a joke, but only for legal reasons. He stares for a moment longer, and then decides to just...

Sit.

Also on the floor.

Hi, here he is, hanging out crosslegged on the bowling lane. ]

[vivisexual]

[McGillis looks so fancy and regal that Yugamu is visibly surprised to see McGillis sit on the floor. He rolls the bowling ball over to McGillis. Have a throw, buddy.]

You and Ramuda were close, right? I'm sure you're the most thrown by what happened.

w4, monday

[vivisexual]

[As McGillis predicted, he doesn't have to wait long for Yugamu to show up! He looks... slightly unsteady on his feet though not nearly as bad as Cantarella.]

Ah, good morning, McGillis! I don't suppose you're experiencing any new weird symptoms today as well?

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis turns from surveying the tentacle mess in one of the vials in morbid fascination. Does he even want to know? Actually, worse than that, does he want to know how Yugamu feels about this?

Despite these considerations, Yugamu gets a smile in greeting. ]

Good morning to you as well. I am, but it's rather benign for once. I do not seem to be able to perceive any smells at all, despite feeling otherwise fine.

[ Breakfast was confusing. ]

[vivisexual]

[Listen don't worry about it. It's just decor probably maybe. For the vibes.]

Ah, it certainly could be worse. Nozomi can't see and I got a panicked message this morning about it.

[He was very alarmed, as well.]

[vogelfrei]

[ Ah. Yeah, that would be pretty upsetting - and it instantly makes McGillis think of back when Hansa drank the well water. Well, it checks that the Third Power could do this to them even without the direct contact. ]

That spells out a pattern already - and since it is affecting all of us in some form, we can hope it'll be just as temporary as the other inconveniences. I hope this can console her a little.

[vivisexual]

Yeah that's what I suggested to her! Hopefully it proves true.

[A beat before he adds;]

but surely you didn't come here just to talk about that?

w5, Friday

[vivisexual]

[Friday morning, after everyone clears out of the crazy library curfew, Yugamu hunts McGillis down wherever he may be.]

McGillis, can I talk to you for a bit?

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis is... probably still in the library, just lingering after everyone has left with their hangovers. He himself is not hungover because he didn't drink! Someone learned from mistakes! ]

Good morning, Yugamu. Of course you can. I'm as free as can be.

[ It's the first time they've talked one on one since... unfortunate events. It feels a little off. ]

[vivisexual]

[Yugamu is also not hungover even though he drank a lot. As per usual with him.]

You really are. Did literally clawing your way out of death raise your spirits?

[vogelfrei]

[ He truly picked the two worst people ever to get drunk with on that fateful week a while back... Lessons learned. ]

It was not as satisfying as it sounds.

[ He lost a shoe and it was all very embarrassing and also slightly terrifying. ]

But then again, I'm still dead. So maybe the satisfaction will set in when we start my heart back up?

[ He does seem to be in higher spirits though. At the very least, more emotionally balanced. ]

[vivisexual]

Mmm. Hopefully we can find some sort of solution with Magi, but if not, I can always try pulling a classic Dr Frankenstein on you all ti jumpstart it.

[He wants to electrocute you all so badly.]