PC - Hansa

[maladied]

Comments

[maladied]

Call it instincts.

[ it chuckles again before looking back at the vial its holding. ]

Not yet. [ it grumbles. ] I keep feeling like I'm missing something important—like it's right in front of me but I just can't see it.

[robopriest]

Don't get your head all up in knots, there. You can do it. I believe in you.

[Actually sincere....?]

Besides, its not like you have a whole lab at your fingertips. It must be hard to gather all these clues scientifically. Or alchemically.

[maladied]

[ foxglove will look up at hansa without saying anything but their voice is soft when it responds. a bit hard to imagine what kind of expression the person behind the puppet had, but. the gratitude would be there. ]

Thank you. I hope that I don't disappoint you.

[ and. a meek laugh. cough. ]

And I do...have a lab...here somewhere.

[robopriest]

[Aw, see, this is why he likes Foxglove. They really seem to mean well, and-]


[...]




[................]

Huh?

[maladied]

[ PLEASE!!!

and cue foxglove becoming very flustered

because

HELP!! it'll drop the vial it had been holding and wave its hands at him. ]

I, it's a bit complicated!

My lab's here but it seems like the same case with my clinic. Last week none of you could see it or approach it even though it was clear to me. I would never prevent anyone from getting medical treatment if I was given the choice.

[ please believe it.... ]

[robopriest]

Oh, your vial-

[FOXGLOVE....but he's blinking as the other explains.]

[So there



was a lab here the whole time?]

Foxglove. [Keeping his voice level. Hoo boy.] Where...is this lab?

[maladied]

[ well, as long as hansa isn't going to call it a liar or point accusatory fingers at it, it'll chill. ]

Beyond where you are all able to recognize and travel. There isn't a way for me to replenish specific compounds that I use, but it's a fully functional lab.

[robopriest]

...How did you get there when we can't?

[What PUPPET TRANSPORT ABILITIES do you guys have???]

[maladied]

[ ....


... it'll cross its arms and tilt its head to one side. ]

I walked?

[robopriest]

Just.



Walked. Where?

[maladied]

To my lab.



[ tilts head in the other direction. ]

[robopriest]

Can I see?

[maladied]

[ uh.

well. .....hmm. ]


I don't mind, but only when it's safe for you to walk there.

[robopriest]

[He has hands on his hips now, one wolf ear flicking down.]

Why is it safe for you and not for us?

[maladied]

[ and foxglove will have one if its ears twitch. ]

I'm...not entirely sure why that is, honestly. I know this sounds like an excuse, but, perhaps its an outside force.

[robopriest]

An outside force...

[He glances up at the sky, for a long moment. So much doesn't make sense. The puppets, this place, the disparity.]

...Do you think you're being used?

[maladied]

Used?

[ hmmmmm... it'll really think this possibility over. ]

If we are then I'm not sure what there would be to gain. If whatever wanted to use us, wouldn't it be better for them to allow certain people access to their special skills and magic?

[ if this puppet is allowed to be so frank. ]

Maybe it's more like a game.

[robopriest]

Are you saying you guys don't?

[But their puppets....]

[He frowns, closing his eye for a moment.]

A game to achieve...what? Entertainment?

[maladied]

Well, Lobelia and Sage have some of their magic but they tell me that it's a small fraction of what they're able to do.

[ it tilts its head to the other side, but hardly sounds very pleased itself. ]

Most play games for entertainment, don't they?

[robopriest]

They do.

[Or...]

Some kind of reward, too. Like those clown box tickets. There's a goal. An endgame. Entertainment, and....something else, perhaps?

[maladied]

What kind of goal would this hypothetical thing have?

[ ... ]

If there's a concern about what we've been doing, then why go through so much trouble?

[robopriest]

Powering something else, perhaps. I know sometimes sacrifices are used to power rituals, for example.

[But they're right. It is too much trouble.]

Agh, what a pain. Honestly, if I were you, I'd take a break to clear my head.

[maladied]

[ it'll laugh softly. ]

Thank you for the concern, Hansa, however I don't think I could take a break.

Not a very long one, anyway. There are a lot of people who are depending on me—on us—to find a way to fix things.

[robopriest]

We could take a break right now? Real quick.

[HOPEFUL]

[maladied]

Hm? What are you thinking?