>>2441455
What videogames do, or did you like to play, VOX

>>2441455
Cool story bro.

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>>2441455
"Then there's just one more thing for me to do before I leave," you announce, before you grab your beer and finish it in one long pull. You set the glass down with a satisfied feeling. "Forum, can I take you up on that offer from before?"

"I can dig it. You'll have to entertain yourself for a bit while I handle some of my own shit but that shouldn't take me more than an hour. Sec." Forum chugs his own Cherry Bomb (you can see the Rook close his eye and visibly restrain himself from sighing), sets it on the table, and the two of you get up at the same time. "Erin, thanks for the drink."

Erin raises her own glass and drinks instead of answering. The last you catch of her before you and Forum leave is Sally coming back to the table while the Rook is more slowly enjoying his own drink.

"I drove here," Forum tells you. "I'd prefer to drive back."

"I...could ride."

You cannot ride. Five minutes in, Forum pulls into a parking facility and lets you out of the car. You stagger out and catch your balance on a black SUV, breaths coming hot and quick while you try to force your heart to slow the hell down. You can feel your stomach churning in terror.

"John thing really fucked you up, huh?" the Troll asks in gentle tones. "Vickie said she can pick the car up."

You spare a glance for Forum's car, an old Saturn that has seen better millennia, kept alive only through patient maintenance. You can do this. Deep breath one. Deep breath two. Exhale. "A-are you sure?"

"You are so not okay, Colors. C'mon, let's get walking."

It's a block and a half before your nerves are steady again, though every street you cross gets less of a 'look both ways' and more of a 'whip your head side to side like a mad thing'.

"You never did ask me about Autumn," Forum comments.

"Never seemed important," you tell him. "Or...you're not Autumn now. You're Winter. I never asked about who you were before you started introducing yourself as Forum either."

"Right, that whole Spring thing." He thrusts his hands into his big coat's pockets. "I'm not sure I ever was the person I was before I got to being Forum Troll. Trolls're good with riddles but I'm kinda stuck on 'if one, little, thing can destroy everything else about your life, was it really your life?'. I read a book, way back in the day, when I was a foot shorter and human, and it said something that stuck with me. Said you can only own something if you know it's yours and you're willing to give it up."

"Sounds hard to do," you say.

"It is. And it's a pretty Spring idea, with hindsight. The idea that so much about us is forced on us by others, and you can either make it your own or let it define you on their terms forever. So, what'cha do for fun?"

The sudden segue catches you off-guard. "Um. Burlesque shows? I make glass art, play with Fido and shelter dogs, um." You cough. "Adult entertainment. Training or teaching. Reading more these days..."

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>>2441495
"I'm trying to figure out what to get you into," Forum explains. "There's a whole awful fucking lot of options, and everyone finds their own. Wonder if you might be into something rhythm-action, done to music. Or a fighter?"

"What're you into?" you ask.

"Strategy games. Just about anything where you have to plan and manage a lot of resources, soldiers, and factors. Roleplaying games too, still, from back when I had other life problems. Y'know, your basic 'you live in a magical realm, horrible things are happening, do something about it.'

Uhh.

> Forum that's just real life
> Let it go, ask about card & board game instead
> What's the Rook into? I saw a bunch of stuff in his house but I didn't have context for any of it
> Write-in?

>>2441466
That's a bit of an open-ended question. Also the last time I answered it y'all got weird about it.

>>2441499
> Forum that's just real life

> What's the Rook into? I saw a bunch of stuff in his house but I didn't have context for any of it

IB4 Rook is into world of darkness.

What would Colors be into given her personality...
Eh we can try stuff.

>>2441499
> Forum that's just real life

Also

>>2441504

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXcwYgoGR0E

>>2441510
I see Colors as being into Warhammer. You get to paint a bunch of figurines, and she already has the autism down.

Also she can play as the clear cut good guys by being Orks .

>>2441527
...Can we make colors into a ca/tg/irl?

my god

>>2441499
> Forum that's just real life

>>2441545
Remember anon, role play responsibly.

>>2441545
Forum WOULD probably link her to /tg/.

Hm.

Would there be an /cg/ for changelings?

>>2441767
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/1668718/#p1682888

Don't forget to vote, y'all.

>>2441499
>Forum that's just real life

Colors would be so into HeroQuest, the board game.

>>2441499
> Forum that's just real life

As much as I want to get to the card games, I wanna see where this goes first.

> Forum that's just real life

> What's the Rook into? I saw a bunch of stuff in his house but I didn't have context for any of it

2 for 1!

Gonna call and write in about an hour.

>>2442912
Well that was a lie but now it's called, writing.

>>2443545

It’s ok, Vox. We always know that “an hour” means anything between three hours of dishes and two days of retail hell.

>>2443709
Retail isn't that bad. I work part-time to get out of the house now that the kids are gone, and I've always enjoyed it. You have some easy chores to do throughout the shift, and get to chat with people who come in.

Being poor really sucks though. But that's not really the fault of the job itself.

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>>2441499
Uhh.

Uhhhh...

"I say something that reminds you of 'Nam?" Forum asks at last.

"That just sounds like real life," you tell him, finally finding words for the feeling the whole description had inspired in you. "I'm magic. You're magic. We do magic. There's a whole magic dimension that produces magic stuff and horrible things come out of it and we fight them."

"Do 'we'? 'We' is a hell of a word, Colors. I don't fight shit, not usually. I know I'm learning to, but it's definitely not my first fuckin' plan. We just had this talk where my whole violence MO is to jump people from behind with a brick." The Troll gestures while he talks; the motions make his coat flap in the evening mist, swirling it around the two of you. "You know a lot of Winter boys?"

"Just you and Misery," you admit. "I've talked with a few but...mostly I don't even know their names except when they're pointed out to me..."

"Mmhm. Any of us strike you as conquering heroes? Nah? There's a reason for that. And I signed up in part because I'm down with it. Someone's gotta handle the information work. Someone has to do the scouting, the lying, the spying, the cheating, the stealing. I like to think I'm pretty decent at all that so far and that I'll get better, and I like the work. I've got a skill set that's hard to find, in demand, and that pays well because Winter pays well to keep me from thinkin' thoughts about leaving. I ain't like you or Vickie, I don't get a thrill from the fight or the kill. It's grim shit and all it makes me feel like is grim. But sometimes, it's nice to be the big hero, or the grand wizard, or Commander fucking Shepherd, and that's what those're for. That and, I mean. There's a whole lot more kinds of magic shit in the imagination than in the real world we live in, y'know."

"But...pretending to be someone you're not is something you do professionally," you say, feeling your way through it. "Why do it for fun?"

"Well, two reasons. One, the idea that Winter is full of liars is only half true. The ideal Winter boy presents all stoic, doesn't talk much, so they don't reveal much either. It doesn't happen that way a lot, but it sorta informs our whole schtick when it comes to getting things done. But, two, who says I'm being anyone I'm not? Maybe I'm just being someone I am, but in a different way. I mean, fuck's sake, you're about to help someone carve out a bit of her soul because that's how hard it is to be someone you're not. I don't think Bioware is rated to help me pull that trick."

"It sounds like it's gotten more complicated since Space Invaders," you say, because it seems like the thing to say in response to that. Forum's words feel...oddly heavy, almost?

>>2444277
Colors missed vidoegameing blossoming into a burgeoning art form I take it?

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>>2444277
"Mm. I don't expect you to get it yet. I hope you will. Might help you get an idea of me and the Rook, plus, y'know, fun. Hell, with the four of us going we can do some co-op stuff. We're here, by the way." Forum stops so suddenly that you take a step past him before you can halt yourself. You appear to be next to a bakery, and you stare at the cakes on display in distant confusion until Forum sighs and says, "Up."

Ah, fuck, there's stairs and an apartment. That makes a lot more sense.

The Troll shakes his keys out of his pocket and leads the way up the steps. The apartment he lets you into is cozy and well-kept. The front room is dominated by two things: a truly massive television, and an equally massive aquarium, which nestles between the two windows in a riot of water and color. Fish swim in it, darting amid corals and anemones that wave in the artificial current.

"You made this?" you ask. You kick your boots off onto a tray on the floor near the door and step closer, ever-so-gently touching the glass. "It looks like what Doc Ripples did in the Juniper building."

"It is. Bought it off him for some work, year and a half back," Forum tells you. "It's a small, self-sustaining ecosystem. One of the things I've gotta do tonight is take care of maintenance ahead of time and arrange for someone I know to check in on it every couple of days, but it oughta be fine. Take a seat, I'll get something going in a second..."

Forum's couch is surprisingly comfortable. Actually, everything in here is surprisingly comfortable. For such a small place it's appointed well, including a few framed pieces of art that seem oddly familiar. Their style is definitely like others you saw, before everything went down...

"So...how do you start with this?" you ask. "I know for combat you start with your stance, with your breathing, and you work on those basically until you die. Glassblowing's different. What about games?"

"Depends on how seriously you feel like taking it," Forum answers with a shrug. He hangs his coat up and offers his hand out. You realize after a second that he's looking to hang yours up too; you dig your phone out, put it in your jean pocket, and toss him your coat. "I used to be a snotty piece of shit about it, honestly. I'd go at people for playing on easy or not doing ladder games, that kinda thing."

"What happened?"

"The Rook happened. He don't put up with that sort of thing. But, and this is a big but, I don't wanna frustrate you or put you off. I've got some stuff that's hard as balls but not unfair. I've got some stuff that can be played like that but also easier. I've got fluffy stuff with go-karts and turtle shells. 'cha thinking?"

> Ease into it
> Go hard

AND

> Try something that sounds familiar
> Play one of the RPGs he was talking about
> You said strategy games?

> Ease into it
> Strategy games, hmmm?

Honestly thinking Civ 5, buuuut let's see

>>2444390
Very much so. She was taken in the 80s, missed more or less all of the 90s, and spent her career in Summer either having a rampage or taking a breather between chunks of rampaging. As you might have noticed from her lack of film knowledge she's been out of step with American culture even since getting back.

>>2444451
> Ease into it
> Try something that sounds familiar
Lets not get ahead of ourselves.

>>2444451
>Ease into it
>Play one of the RPGs he was talking about

>>2444451
>> Go hard
>> You said strategy games?

Warhammer 40k.

>>2444451
>>2444539

Alternatively, whatever THQ Space Marine would qualify as if this is restricted to vidya.

>>2444451
>> Ease into it
AND
> Try something that sounds familiar (like Dark Souls maybe)

>>2444451
> Play one of the RPGs he was talking about
> Go hard


But an action-rpg like Dark Souls or Space Marine.

>>2444451
> Go hard

> Try something that sounds familiar

Not gonna be able to update before work, but I'll be available via phone for questions & discussion.

>>2444909

Now that Forum's brought up the subject of tabletop games, how close an analogue to Changeling: The Lost exists in this world?

How deep does the rabbit hole go?

>>2445048
I'd think that Summer Court would like to play the barbarian class in D&D, but beyond that I wouldnt know.

>>2444909
What race in warhammer would Colors play? I'm thinking the wood elves or bretonnians

>>2445355
Past Colors=Grey Knights

Current Colors=Blood Angels

God this shift has been hell so far. Let's answer some questions.

>>2445048
Deeper than you might think. The religious beliefs, myths, and perversions thereof that inspired Changeling in the real world still exist in the World of Darkness, and continue to inspire games like Castle Falkenstein & Dungeons and Dragons. Is there a direct analog? Probably not. But to an extent, Seek and Ye Shall Find.

>>2445355
Suppose that depends, now doesn't it?

Whatever she runs she's likely to hand-make her own figures though

>>2445697
>40k

If I had wanted 40k I would've said it :V

>>2445942
Figures made of literal glass.

Gotta be Eldar or Tau then.

>>2446357
Glass chaos daemons would be badass.

>>2446357
>>2446469
I'll go take my WHFB elsehwere then HMPH

>>2446615
> Playing as the Fae

No.

> Playing as noble knights

Tell me when WHFB gets one of those factions.

Clearly Colors would play as the Lizards.

>>2446792
Bretonnia is /the/ knight faction dude....

Seriously that's their whole deal.

>>2446963
NOBLE knights.

Not dickass knights

>>2447018
>acting like peasants matter

Anon.... they're peasants

>>2447050
That sounds an awful like the thinking of the Gentry.

>>2447050
That sort of thinking is why Colors would never play them.

Called, tallying, writing.

> All this wargaming debate

What have I released.

>>2447824
We haven't even started arguing about the most efficient detachments for 8th edition 40k.

>>2446792
>Tell me when WHFB gets one of those factions.
Do the High Elf cavalry count, or are they also dickasses ?

>>2447824
And our winners by a hair are 'easy' and 'something familiar'.

All aboard the 80's gaming nostalgia train.

>>2448538
Well, in Warhammer everyone is a dick, but the High Elves are good allies to have. Arrogant pricks yes, but stalwart allies.

>>2448538
> Do the High Elf cavalry count, or are they also dickasses ?

> High Elf

So yes.

>>2448677
Literally the opposite of what Colors needs. But appealing to 30 something nostalgia.

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>>2444451
You think about it for a minute while Forum turns on a computer. He's partway through getting things around for his fishtank when you make your decision.

"They still make Mario games, right?"

"They do," Forum says carefully, "but we're just shy of the newest - you can play Thousand Year Door."

"Thousand - what are you -"

"No you don't understand!" Forum sets his stuff down and goes to his TV; he pulls open a drawer beneath it and takes out a small cube and a whole lot of carefully-rubber-banded cables which he uses to start hooking it up. "I haven't had the chance to see someone play this blind in ages! Oh. My god. It's gonna be amazing!"

"Don't you have things to do?"

"They can wait."

You laugh; he's so eager. You've seen Forum stoic, you've seen him sarcastic, you've even seen him scared out of his wits, but he's like a kid now, all excitement and quick practiced motions. He slots some kind of plastic thing into the front of the cube before he turns the TV on, changes its input (that you'd had to learn to be able to use your own), and turns on the device.

Forum Troll hands you the controller and steps aside so you have a view of the screen and...and...is...Mario made out of fucking origami?

* * * *

Holy shit he's totally origami.

It's going on eight o'clock at night - actually it's past that at this point - and quite aside from having burned through your buzz with the aid of water and bagels you've paused only to take this call from Fancy that's happening at this very moment.

"- and he winds up when you hold the stick back for the hammer attacks with this whole hnnng thing going on if you do it right and -"

"Colors," your girlfriend interrupts, laughing. "If I'd known you were gonna be like this about it I'd'a brought something over ages ago. You can rent those things. You're havin' fun then?"

"So much there's been dragons and skeletons and -"

You stop when Fancy breaks down laughing, cheeks warm with a pleasant flush and your game paused on the Badge menu. "Should I expect you home tonight?"

"It's a bit of a long walk," you admit, with an uncomfortable realization. Forum gets your attention with a gesture and makes a motion to the couch. It takes three repeats before you realize what he's saying. "Forum's got a futon though?"

"That's good, all those couches are bad for your posture. I'll be rehearsing tomorrow and I'll bring Fido with me, so if you drop by your place it'll be empty. You sleep well when you get there, alright?"

"You too." The words 'love you' emerge in your brain and get immediately throttled by much louder ones like 'you barely know her', 'you just went steady', and the memory of Erin's warm hand. You stop that train of thought before it can go back to the blind Fairest's offer about her apartment. "G'night."

"G'night, darlin'."

>>2449617
>"You too." The words 'love you' emerge in your brain and get immediately throttled by much louder ones like 'you barely know her', 'you just went steady', and the memory of Erin's warm hand.

>right in the feels
rusty dagger

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>>2449617
Forum's managed to get most of his work done, though you've been a horrible distraction for him. He keeps stopping to answer your questions or just watch you play. He looks at you a lot more than he does at the game.

"She mad?" Forum asks.

"She couldn't stop laughing," you admit, your cheeks blackening further. "You can rent those?" you ask, pointing at the cube that's playing this game for you.

The Troll shakes his head. "Not those. They're older tech now, gotta buy 'em and they can take some finding. But yeah, if you pick your chicken right you can rent consoles. Pretty sure Family Video still does that, now that I think about it..." he trails off, then looks at his computer. "I need to finish this up before I get all distracted again, you mind taking a break?"

Your legs could use some stretching, at that. "I could use something to drink. You thirsty?"

"Beer's in the fridge."

You slip into the kitchen, open the fridge, and stop cold. "Milwuakee's Best?"

"Fuck I forgot this Freehold is full of beer snobs," Forum groans. "You don't have to drink it."

"You shouldn't be drinking it! What sorrow drives you to...oh..."

"No, go on," Forum murmurs. "Finish the joke. Everyone else does. Y'know, Colors, people are allowed to just like things. That's something your lot is supposed to be good at."

There's nothing to say to that. You find the pint glasses and pour Forum a can. You pour yourself a can too, because if you're staying at a man's house you're supposed to share his ale and his bread, and you've already had his bread. The stuff might taste like piss with a GED but it's still Forum's ale, and this is still Forum's house. He takes the glass from you when you offer it and somehow takes a long pull from it without dying.

You just about manage a sip. It's worse than you remember. It's not just how aggressively astringent it is on your tongue, it's the soapy film it leaves in your mouth at the end that just keeps tasting like piss.

"I am glad you're having fun. If you're looking to borrow this I can leave you with some games, but...these are only getting harder to find. One day, none of them will be working any more, and all my good memories and fond times will just be that - memories. Can you respect that, if you go home with this thing?" Forum asks.

You nod. "I know about that," you agree, while you sit back down. Your hand automatically goes to Bifrost, sheathed on the couch next to you.

"You really have a thing with that sword, don't you. Can I ask what's up with that?"

You shake your head. "I don't rightly remember."

"Well, if I show you mine, will you show me yours? I kinda want to know what's up with you and cars, while we're all having a break." Forum takes another pull of his beer. He's on some kind of website; he's got a debit card out, and a document open. "Paying bills is boring as fuck."

"...What would you tell me?" you ask.

>>2449649
The big man shrugs. "Depends on what you want to know."

> Why Winter? Why not Spring, or, or Summer?
> You want to know about something that makes me afraid. I want to hear about your desires.
> Vickie said the two of you didn't work out and that you've been lying to me and the Rook and everyone else about that
> Before everything. Everything-everything. Who were you?
> Write-in?

>>2449652
> Before everything. Everything-everything. Who were you?

>>2449652
>> Before everything. Everything-everything. Who were you?

Paper Mario: TTYD
Patrician taste

>>2449652
> Vickie said the two of you didn't work out and that you've been lying to me and the Rook and everyone else about that

>>2449687
It's the definition of casual gaming, yes.

>>2449652
>> Vickie said the two of you didn't work out and that you've been lying to me and the Rook and everyone else about that

>>2449649
>these are only getting harder to find. One day, none of them will be working any more

...Does he know that the Wii can play Gamecube games? The Paper Mario games work just fine on it...

> Before everything. Everything-everything. Who were you?

The part of me trying to think Spring for Colors wants to vote for asking about his desires, but I /really/ want to know this now...

>>2449652
>> Before everything. Everything-everything. Who were you?

Gonna have to update after work today. I'll let y'all know when I call and write.

>>2449805
Ish. Later-run Wii consoles didn't have the capability to read Gamecube games & it became increasingly rare to find ones that did. With the Wii out of production now too it becomes a question of if it'll be available as a download on later consoles (currently, the Switch) or else as some kinda NES Classic deal down the line. That's a big 'if' for any given title.

>>2449652
> Vickie said the two of you didn't work out and that you've been lying to me and the Rook and everyone else about that

>>2449649
> Vickie said the two of you didn't work out and that you've been lying to me and the Rook and everyone else about that

>>2449652
>> Vickie said the two of you didn't work out and that you've been lying to me and the Rook and everyone else about that

>>2449652
>Before everything. Everything-everything. Who were you?

>>2449649
Mmmmm let's ask for drama

> Vickie said the two of you didn't work out and that you've been lying to me and the Rook and everyone else about that.

Why you lie to us. We is your motley.

Called, tallying, writing. Gotta finish dinner and get my drank on.

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>>2449649
Your naked curiosity wars with your need to know more about your friends and why they behave the way they do. In the end, the latter wins out. You're really hoping this is something you don't understand because of your whole...

Elemental schtick.

"I've been talking to Vickie," you begin.

"Here we go," Forum mutters. He turns his attention to the bills on his computer (on the internet? It's gotta be the internet, right?). "Go on."

You're blushing and you're not sure why. You haven't done anything wrong, gods fucking take it! "She said you and her have been lying to me and the Rook and everyone else. That you never really dated and barely even...you know. And I want to know about that."

"As if it's your business. But I guess I left the question open, so fuck me anyway." Forum sighs, entering information into forms as he goes. "...You asking why we lied, or why we stopped fuckin'? Actually, nevermind, you're just gonna say 'both'. Look. I'm not about to judge your bedroom habits. You wanna sleep around, okay. You wanna go steady with that gal, okay. You're a cute couple and I wish you the best. But me? I'm not okay with being someone's consolation prize. And I think Vickie wasn't okay with a consolation prize either."

"For what?" you ask.

Forum gives you a long hard look. "I know you're not stupid. Take a wild guess."

"I - oh..."

The Troll turns back to his work. "For all that she's so harsh on herself Vickie's got...she respects people in ways that might surprise you. It was her who first brought it up, y'know. The whole 'I'm just using you and I can't be that person' talk. And when she was done apologizing and I was done admitting to my part of being an idiot, we started getting to know each other. I gotta tell you...if I'm ever not the pick just because she can't have you? I'd date that Darkling. She's a helluva girl."

You clear your throat. "And...the lying? Why not just tell us?"

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>>2451809
Forum holds up a finger without turning. "First, we never directly lied. Which I realize is a bullshit copout but also fuck you, if y'all wanted to assume things that's on you. Two, I'm gonna ask Vickie to not just spread my business around and I'm gonna ask the same of you. But if you wanna know, or you gotta know...I used to work for the Rook, back in my Autumn days. He was my mentor in sorcery, actually. A lot of what I know today is because he taught me. I wouldn't be this deep in Winter Contracts without his education or his discipline. Teaching someone how to learn is the hardest thing to teach someone and he did that pretty well, and...I have complicated feelings about the guy. Once upon a time I'd'a died for him without a second thought, and then...everything went down. He lost his arm, his eye, his status. A lot of his students defected for Zoe's faction, the ones that weren't kept by Oath. He retreated in on himself. When it all went down, with me...with 'Literal Forum Troll'? He wasn't there. When I needed him most, he wasn't there."

You blink. "But - no...nevermind. I think I get it. But then why take the job?"

Forum shrugs, hands back on his keyboard. The rhythmic clacking of the keys is oddly comfortable. "I asked for the job. Misery knew my history when he volunteered me, and I could have backed out any time until I swore the Oath. Winter's...the Icelaw says, Hide Your Love And Hate. I don't think I hate the Rook, but once upon a time I did love the man. Whatever's left of that, it...it can make it hard to be around him. To see the ruin of the man I admired so much, the man who made me a lot of what I am today. For all those same reasons I can't exactly look him in the eye and go 'I need some me time from the pedestal I unfairly put you on, sorry'. So...Vickie lent a hand. Sometimes she has trouble being around people too. She says it's about you and maybe it even is, some, but honestly Vick...she tries so hard to not be a Darkling all the time that she forgets to spend a bit of time doing the Darkling thing and then she's all surprised when she's had too much of other people and needs some goddamn air." He sighs. "She's got problems. I'm sure you noticed."

"Yeah," you murmur. "Are we really so terrible as all that?"

"Look, Colors, if you asked people to describe the Rook as terrible? The Rook would be the first guy to do it. But nah, it's not like that. It's just...Vickie's spinning her wheels, and she knows it, and she's scared. Take it form a former Autumn boy. Me, I'm moving forward, but...Winter's not the place where you shoot up all at once. You gotta keep your head down, put in the work, play the game as it's played, and that means accepting that you're in for the long haul. You, the Rook, you've got this drive, this energy. It's hard to look at the two of you sometimes, like starin' at the sun. It's hard to feel okay with keeping your head down, or spinning your wheels."

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>>2451823
You mute the TV. Somehow the cheery music doesn't feel appropriate to the conversation any more. "I guess...I guess I owe you an explanation then."

"That was the deal." Forum closes his laptop and turns his chair to give you his full attention. "Move at your own pace. We've got all night."

How to begin. Where to begin? It's such an old thing. You remember learning the routes to and from school because you wouldn't take the bus, not for anything. They tried to make you, once. You broke a teacher's hand, and Dad had to bring a lawyer to get them to let you back into school.

A lawyer with a bow tie. Funny, how that comes to mind. It was crooked...

"Colors?" Forum asks softly. You startle back into the present and look away, towards the aquarium.

"You ever had your throat cut?" you ask.

Forum's hand goes to his own throat in a flash. "No! You have? That's not an event that happens fucking twice."

"You might be surprised," you murmur. "In some ways the human body is resilient. We fold like paper at the slightest touch in the wrong place, and then break concrete with our bare hands. I was six, when it happened. I still don't remember what, exactly. Just talking to Dad, riding along in the car. He let me sit in the front seat. I begged and pleaded for it. I wanna sit with you, Daddy."

A clownfish darts out of its home in the anemone, almost playfully.

"Something hit us. The car crumpled, like...like...like paper. Bladed paper. The windshield came ripping inside, all shatterglass shards and glass on concrete, and a piece hit me, right here." You touch the center of your throat. "I'm alive because it stuck in there. A little deeper and it could have severed nerves, or even cut my spine. A little more shallow and it might have fallen out, let me bleed to death. I remember feeling so hot, all down my neck, like I was in boiling water. Dad was crying and yelling. He had his hands over my throat, and he told me to stay still, to just stay still and don't move, whatever I did. We never left the car, not until the EMTs came, not until they got the doors open and me onto a stretcher. I was choking the whole time, gasping for air, awake, smelling smoke, smelling blood. I had a scar there, for the rest of my human life. Until He took me under false pretenses, and made me..." you trail off. The breath you take in shudders. "Beautiful."

"Jesus fuck," Forum whispers. He gets up from his chair and goes for the freezer. He pulls a bottle of Jaeger out of it, pours three shots into a glass, and sets it down next to you.

You down it in one gulp, and the Troll refills the glass for you.

"I don't like cars."

"I'm kinda sensing that," Forum agrees. "...You want me to just leave you be for the rest of the night? There's lots of Paper Mario if, y'know. You're feeling a kind of way about me being a nosy ass."

> Thank you. And yes.
> No, we...we can talk...(about what?)

>>2451874
> No, we...we can talk...(about what?)

We're going to get wasted and figure out why he like this "internet" so much.

Also gos past and whatever.

>>2451874
> No, we...we can talk...(about what?)
> So what do you do on the internet?
> It was on the "adjusting to modern society list" but I never got around to it.

>>2451874
>No, we...we can talk...(about what?)
>How did you become internet savy? Or maybe, why? It's....it's a weird thing.

It's gonna be a bit before I can update tonight, fair warning.

Called, writing.

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>>2451874
You unmute the TV. "I think I wanna keep playing. But talking's...nice. And if we're doing Jaeger anyway..."

"You sure you want to play smashed?" Forum pauses. "I say, a man who regularly plays smashed. Nevermind."

"Why?" you ask, your brows furrowing.

"I swear at my teammates less online if I'm toasted." Forum takes a drink from his cup of beer (why) and coughs. "I, ah...I can be a bit of a dick otherwise."

You look at your own glass of that vile beer and decide it's best to get it over with. You down it in one pull, chase it with some of your Jaeger, and shudder all down your spine. Then you unpause your game and keep playing. Forum takes a look at his closed laptop, then shrugs and goes over to the couch. He flops down on the other side from you and just passes you the bottle of Jaeger.

"...For me?"

"Yeah I'm never gonna have enough guests to finish that. Well, I would if Vickie didn't bring her own booze every time. Last time I invited her over she ended up paying for dinner, bringing her own booze to share, and doing the damn laundry."

"But -"

"She said it was just being a good guest. I don't get it either, she does the same shit if you show up at her place."

"I know, right?" you're starting to come down from sharing earlier. You take another sip of your drink and then hammer an enemy to start a fight. "Can I ask something that seems like it won't be sad?"

"Helluva sentence. Hit me."

"How'd you get into computers?" you miss your defense and wince as you eat damage.

"Relax, Colors," Forum advises. "Take a bit more Jaeger if you've got to, but you don't wanna be tense."

"Like in a fight?" you ask.

Forum rubs his chin. "You know," he says after a moment. "Yeah, actually. Same reason. So, computers. Stop me if you've heard this one: young man from New Avalon, grew up poor, wanted to be a doctor."

"Umm..." you give him a look. "Stop?"

"Not literally, Colors."

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>>2454796
You finish your Jaeger so you can focus on the game. "Okay, so...is...is this sad? You're not a doctor. Are you?"

Forum chuckles. "I'm not, but the thing about that is life changes. Tiny Forum wanted to be a doctor, but later on I learned about the secret and deadly art of logistics. Mom put me onto it, actually, she does inventory for her hospital, and you'd be amazed at the back-end stuff. A lot of work gets harder because you're stuck working with bad equipment, or bad programs, or..." he gestures. "That combined with taking a computer class over the summer because I didn't want to go to camp and I decided I might wanna handle the back end instead."

You know you're making some kind of face while you think about this, though blown if you know what. It's gotta be weird though, 'cause Forum keeps talking.

"I know, it sounds like I gave up on a dream or something, right? But like...I've got no regrets on that score. I found something I'm good at, that makes me feel proud to be doin'. I never did finish school, mind. The shit went down with...you know, before I could. Been thinking about going back sometime after everything calms the fuck down, see if I can't do something a bit more intensive."

You nod in answer, caught up in the game. "Hey, um...did you want to play? I feel bad hogging your TV."

"Nah," the Troll answers, leaning back on the couch. "Steady on there Colors, I have got to see you meet Vivian."

* * * *

> Just prepare & pass the time until the mission. You need to relax and focus.
> Erin made an offer and you want...to know why. That's definitely why you're going to her place. To know why.

>>2454840
>> Just prepare & pass the time until the mission. You need to relax and focus.

> Erin made an offer and you want...to know why. That's definitely why you're going to her place. To know why.

>>2454840
> Erin made an offer and you want...to know why. That's definitely why you're going to her place. To know why.

>>2454840
> Erin made an offer and you want...to know why. That's definitely why you're going to her place. To know why.

Finally people start to recognize best girl.

>>2454840
> Just prepare & pass the time until the mission. You need to relax and focus.

>>2454840
>> Erin made an offer and you want...to know why. That's definitely why you're going to her place. To know why.

> Erin made an offer and you want...to know why. That's definitely why you're going to her place. To know why.

Show us your moves, Erin Peters, and maybe we can understand why you want to reincarnate yourself so badly that little bit more.

>>2454975
I'd kind of like to convince her to NOT do this. It seems extreme. Are there other options?

>>2455083
Because it is extreme. You know what's also extreme? Being a privateer. I'd say extreme is appropriate in this case.

>>2455122
Or, has going to extremes like this been a bad habit that she's just continuing in a different direction instead of actually growing as a person and learning new coping strategies?

>>2455130
That's literally all changelings.

>>2455156
We're Spring though, we're trying to change. All changelings struggle with extremes, doesn't mean they have to or want to revel in them.

So.

Called, writing

> Just prepare & pass the time until the mission. You need to relax and focus.
> Relaxing and focusing at the same time sounds a little like an oxymoron thou.

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>>2454840
September 24th, 2017 (3 days later; Present Day)

The early morning mist hasn't burned away yet by the time you arrive at the Juniper Building, and it won't for some hours yet. It's unseasonably chill - hell, it's only September - and the mist hangs low to the ground, cloaking New Avalon in shadows.

It's also cold and wet, making you severely regret not getting up earlier to take the shower you took for more time than usual, since...you've been stressing and showers help you relax. That's definitely the reason.

And the perfume's to make a good impression. Erin invited you to her home.

You brush a scattering of cherry blossoms from your shoulder as you step inside the Freehold's headquarters and look firmly ahead instead of watching them fall.

It's quiet in here, on the final day of the Hunt. It'll stop being quiet tonight, when the sun comes down and the Freehold drags itself back home to rest, share stories, and to lick the wounds they gained in pursuit of their quarry, but today there's not even a receptionist on duty unless you count the 'For the holiday, our offices are closed' sign. You step into the elevator and ride it up to the third floor.

3F. You bite your lip, take a deep breath, and knock.

Erin's voice: "I got it." It's so different than you usually hear from her, with that same quiet musicality you briefly caught behind the stage at the Feast. There's no footsteps, which means the sound of her undoing the door chain and bolt catches you by surprise; you jolt, but hold steady.

When she opens the door in a rose-printed T-shirt and her blindfold and panties and a whole lot of absolutely nothing else, your breath catches in your throat.

"I smell flowers," Erin murmurs. "You actually came. I - where are my manners, come in!"

"Thanks," you manage, cheeks burning, petals scattering to the floor. There are scars on the back of her thighs, from Thorn and blade, that flex when she -

You snap your eyes back up.

Erin's apartment is a little sparse, but it has its own touches. The living room has a couch, a TV, a stereo (currently playing something orchestral at a low volume), and a shelf with a surprising amount of ships in a bottle on it. Next to the shelf is a small work desk, at which is an entire Shipmate Sally working on another such ship. You see her carefully place a piece of it before she looks to see who Erin's guest is; her face breaks into a smile.

Like most of the apartments you've seen in New Avalon, a small hall connects to the living room, goes past a not-quite-separate kitchen, and terminates in three doors. The open one that leads to the bathroom is pretty obvious.

"I'll be in my room," Sally says in soft tones. "Close the door, Colors?"

You jolt out of the magical reverie of her voice and nod. You close and lock the door, then do up the chain. By the time you're done Sally's managed to slip into what's presumably her room and close the door behind her with a soft click.

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>>2455545
There are roses and lilies all over the room, in tall glass vases. They fill the apartment with the scent of flowers and sway gently in the breeze from the open window, waving pink and white in your peripheral no matter where you're looking.

"You came," Erin repeats. She clutches the bottom of her shirt, twisting and un-twisting it.

"I - when you -" you clear your throat. "Can I take my coat off?"

"Yeah, rack's there next to the door. Um, boots too please." She pauses. "...Armor. You're safe here, with me and Sally. I promise. As a Fairest if you need me to."

You look at her (the rest of her legs are scarred too, all the way to her - up) and then shake your head. "I believe you," you murmur.

Erin gets on the couch while you get off your coat, your boots, the shirt over your armor and then the twilight mail itself. You unbuckle Bifrost but carry it with you to the couch; you leave your companion to lean against the furniture while you sit, close to Erin. "Erin, I - why? Why ask me here? Are you still having doubts?"

Warm fingertips touch your cheek, and your breath stops in your throat. "Don't come into my house smelling of rain and flowers and then ask me why," Erin whispers. "...Or are you lying to yourself and not me?"

"I..."

You melt when her lips touch yours, tasting of strawberries and wine. Her fingers are trembling, or is that you, shivering at the touch. "I asked you here because I want you, Colors," Erin murmurs. A second kiss, deeper than the first, takes your breath away. "I want to touch you, to feel close to you, to feel wanted, and trusted, not because I bought it but because you want me too. I know you want me back, you clueless, wonderful little Knight. Your Mantle doesn't lie. And..."

Her voice dips low. "I want to hear you say my name when you shiver and shake against me. I want to please you and leave you exhausted and then cuddle and do it again and again until you go home tonight."

Your chest feels tight, your face hot. You breaths are fast and hard, and every one fills your nose with the scent of flowers. Erin leans in close against you and she tastes of strawberries and wine, and you can feel her shivering, nervous and excited and...

> Stay
> Push her away gently

>>2455599
> Push her away gently

> Stay

A powerful opening move, Ms Peters. I dare say Colors has been floored..

>stay

Y'all been complaining that Colors' flaws, foibles and vices aren't apparent in her actions. Well. Here's a chance to get that sweet sexy Vice bonus. Nothing like having your face glazed like a donut before an adventure.

>>2455599
>> Stay

>>2455599
>> Push her away gently

>>2455599
> Push her away gently

>>2455599
>> Stay

Yeah. It's not the /right/ thing to do, but by Freya, it's the /Spring/ thing to do.

...Hope Fancy won't be too pissed.

>>2456984
We told her that we were going to go steady only to immediately fool around behind her back. Why wouldn't she be pissed?

>Why do so many people want to bang colors?

>>2455599
> Push her away gently, start crying. Isn't there any other way to prove we care about Erin?

I gotta say it's a pretty tough situation, but Colors has been up front with Peters that she has a girlfriend in a committed relationship and that she does care about Erin. It's like- we already told her no and are going out on a limb for her to help her with this super dangerous shit, gotten our motley involved and had to fight with one of them because of it, and now her payback is to get tormented.

What does Peters want from Color because this is feeling less like a roll in the hay and more like Growth of Ivy

>>2457181
Have you? The offer she made at the Willow was the first time, and your answer was to come to her home.

Vickie's been shot down twice, not Erin.

>>2457181
See, we and Colors knew we were getting into when accepted the invite to come over. We didn't have to, could've chilled or done something else with our time, but here we are. For myself, there was a moment of shared intimacy that, honestly, may no longer exist after we go on this mission.

Erin is at threat of dying, practically looking to reincarnate herself (or at leasts that's how I'm viewing it). There's no way to know how much of Erin will be, well, the Erin we know once we get to the other side of this. Might be a very good reason no one wrote about what it's like afterwards. Literally being reborn, maybe, perhaps with no memories of her previous life? If nothing else I'm sure Erin has those sorts of worries going through her head.

Now I'm not arguing this is a pityfuck, the moment of intimacy Colors and her had was definitely real. Colors was honestly captivated, really no way around that. Right now, sure she's absolutely playing into her vice, into a flaw, into her lust. To say we nees to rise above the lust, to resist it is... a bit absurd? Like even the awareness that the two of them could be running off to die is something I'm sure they both understand, especially as fellow Lost.

>>2457203
I mean we've been around with our girlfriend to court functions, it's not like we've been keeping it a secret, and it's been a couple months, but even without that we've been exactly dropping hints that we want to be more intimate. Colors has demurred every time

>>2457241
Again, has Colors? Yeah, Fancy's been around, no disputing that, but when the topic has come up it's been Erin drawing the discussion away from it.

>>2457256
Erin is an innate social manipulator. Are you telling me at this point that she isn't aware that Colors seems to be in a fairly committed relationship with someone else?

>>2457283
Not at all. Just that I don't seem to have a record of the expressed refusal or disinterest you're talking about.

>>2457283
Erin’s also been kind of busy planning a trip into the deep hedge. It’s entirely possible that she isn’t aware that Colors is supposed to be going steady.

>>2455642
>Nothing like having your face glazed like a donut before an adventure.
Just for that line I'm backing you
>>2455599
>stay

Called. We've got a narrow win to

> Stay

This'll take a bit to write. There's going to be some bonus material that has to be hosted off-site. In theory, it'll be optional. In practice it's likely to expand some on characterization. Read as thou wilt.

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>>2455599
And you pull her in; you twine your fingers into her halo of black hair and kiss Erin. She stiffens slightly, as if she can't quite believe it, before she melts against you with a soft sound in her throat. Her hands go to yours, in her hair, and gently yet firmly force them down, along her thin body until they rest on her hips.

Erin pulls away from the kiss, red in the cheeks, only to nip your lower lip with a hungry insistence. You go to move your hands, and she touches your wrists to stop you. "Say my name," she murmurs into your neck; you gasp when she kisses you there, sucking hard enough that you know there's going to be a dark mark.

"Wh-what about Sally?" you ask. Erin pushes gently, guiding you down on the couch, her lips on your neck leaving mark after mark with sucking kisses that are just this side of hurting, leaving you dizzy from the warmth rising in you.

"Straight as an arrow. She's not bothered by what I do," Erin murmurs.

"I mean -" you're stopped by her lips on yours, the taste of strawberries in your mouth when her tongue touches yours that almost makes you lose your train of thought. "I mean having to listen," you finish, sheepishly.

You run your hands down this time, to Erin's rear, and she doesn't stop you.

"Sally and I have to live together, Colors. I don't bother her about her guys. She'll understand about you." She's so warm against you, so small and light and so very warm. Her lips go to your ear, and you shiver when her hot breath washes over it. "Say my name," she repeats. "Say it so I know you want me."

Your eyes flick to Erin's hand, moving on the couch near your head. She squeezes a small fistful of your cherry blossoms in her hand, then lets them go, where the breeze through the room carries them across the carpet. There are scars up her wrist and arm, dozens upon dozens of soft red and pink marks.

"Take me, Erin Peters," you whisper, heart pounding so hard in your glass chest that you know she has to feel it.

Erin Peters, ex-pirate, moans in relief and in bliss, and buries her face in your neck.

You have indulged your VICE

* * * *

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1maTiXox3r0Err_RXZTStE3D37fqktbSdl2tz_zL9Kzw/edit?usp=sharing

* * * *

Erin's room is colder than the rest of her home; her ice mail is on an armor stand, with her saber and a collection of knives near it, and it keeps the room sharp and crisp. You'd brought Bifrost with you when the two of you moved in here, hours ago.

The clock says 8:43, and outside, the city is dark. You nestle back against Erin, who sits up against the headboard of her bed and runs her fingers through your hair. She brushes the hickies on your neck with her fingertips, trailing the overlapping marks and sending tingles down your spine.

"You have to go, don't you?" Erin murmurs into the quiet. "...You should shower, before you go."

"Erin, what - what was this? Did you know about Fancy?"

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>>2459114
"I knew. And I wanted you anyway." Erin's hand goes to your arm; she trails her fingers down until she can lace her fingers in yours and squeeze your hand gently. "...That's on me. If she's gonna be mad, she should be mad at me."

"I didn't have to say yes. But you only answered one question."

The ex-pirate is quiet for so long that you start to think she's not going to answer. She moves, behind you, just enough to kiss the side of your neck. "It was wonderful. Can that be enough? I'm changing. I've been changing for a long time. How can I offer you, or anyone, my self when I don't know who that is or will be yet? How can I ask you to think of me as a rival for your affections, or..." She trails off. When she speaks up again, her voice is a low whisper. "I haven't been with anyone since I was Liz Malloy, Colors. And when I was, I wasn't...with them like this. I bought and sold sex when I wanted to or needed to, and it meant...nothing. Less than nothing. It was cheaper than money and later, it was just good bait. So this was wonderful. And magical. And one of the best things that's happened to me since I came crawling back out of the Thorns."

"Okay," you say, and you squeeze her hand. "I should take that shower."

* * * *

Fancy's waiting up for you when you get home, in the living room. You spend more time than usual giving Fido his head rubs and telling him what a good boy he is.

There's no hiding the marks on your neck. You don't even try. Fancy's eyes go right to them, and then back to your face. You look away.

The dancer turns off the TV. "Who?" she asks.

"Erin Peters," you admit.

"Why?"

> I - it just happened...
> She understands. Without me having to explain. She understands and she offered something because she understands.
> Fancy, I'm sorry. I fucked up.
> Write-in (it better be fucking good)?

>write-in

>... I know that a lot of why you are interested in me, and a lot of why I'm interested in you, is about our differences. I'm strange and alien and magical. I look even more inhuman than most other Lost. My mind is even more inhuman than a lot of other Lost. And you... you're sane. You're a straightforward girl. You make me feel... grounded. Accepted, if not normal; you help me stay attached to humanity. But there is SO MUCH about my life you can't understand, that Erin just... does. She didn't have to ask. She didn't have to be eased in. I'm so, so, so sorry, but gods above... I spent so long fucking pixie chasers, and if we're honest, you aren't far removed from them. Erin gave me something I don't think I've ever had before. I don't know what to think about that right now, and you have every right to hate me, but... I needed this. I'm sorry, but I needed this.

>>2459151
>>2459151
>She trusted me. After everything that's happened to her, everything that she did, she offered me heart. If I turned her down- I don't know, it felt like it would have been like I crushed her and all the progress she's made.
>She's going to risk her life- more than that, her soul. Everything that makes her what she is as a person. Even if everything goes right, Erin Peters will die in one sense. It's like seeing a beautiful statue or a building right before it's about be destroyed. To have her last attempt at emotional connection with another person to be denied before all that just felt...wrong.
>I betrayed your trust Fancy. I'm sorry. None of this justifies what happened, especially after I gave you my word. I should have been more clear with Erin right off the bat. when I first met her, I didn't think it'd end like this. I should have told her I was in a committed relationship. It's- I don't know. It's shitty. Talk to me. I want to make it right.

>>2459151
>I'm sorry fancy, I'm controlled by multiple people on the internet with varying agendas and a few of them really didn't like you for some reason. They basically took the first opportunity they could after we went study to ruin it with very little justified reasoning, they just wanted too.

/end salt

>>2459151

> [Insert Stretch of Silence Here]

> "She is one of the most hated women in the Freehold, a pirate, a traitor to her people. I'm a thug, a murderer, a Warlock. A disgrace. Maybe that's why I can see the good in her everyone else is blind to, and... I understood. I reached out without expecting it'd come to this, but.. Fuck, Fancy, I fucked up, I know it isn't my fucking job to attend to everyone's emotional hang up and lend a caring ear, or let it all turn into this. But she's putting her faith in me, a fucking oath breaker, to escort her into the depths hell and carry her broken and bleeding body out. I'm sorry."

>>2459222
I'm not sure that Colors mind is al lthat different- if anything she's a lot more normal than say, Rook

>>2459256
The whole pirate/traitor/warlock/murderer thing probably isn't the best way to explain it with Fancy since she doesn't really hold being an oathbreaker against us either.

>>2459151
>> Write-in (it better be fucking good)?
I made a choice. I'm very wiilling to say sorry, but this doesn't make it right. You can throw me out if you want.

>>2459681
Fucking greentext
>I made a choice. I'm very willing to say sorry, but this doesn't make it right. You can throw me out if you want.

>>2459418
I mean, I like the logic behind the post, though maybe that's because it works with my own write in

...? You guys are not sorry though?

You literally just wanted to inject some drama into colors life.

Which is... really dumb.

>>2460060
I'm curious what you're reacting to.

Sure, we propelled Colors into this, and we're right away owning up to Fancy for it. Honestly it felt like something Colors would fall into, and the moment of connection and the desire to mutually understand one another was.. powerful. I personally found it resonant, being captivated by and wanting to fully experience someone else. With Colors it was expressed through her lust, a vice that we honestly haven't done much with, characterization wise.

This is a side of Colors we haven't really seen yet, and I felt I learned a LOT about both her and Erin because of this. We've already played Colors as helping people through their issues by giving advice and being emotionally open.

I kinda tapped into why Erin specifically works, especially since we honestly dont know how much this trek to tear her apart and put the wanted pieces back together os gonna go. We are supportin' Erin in her ability to choose for herself, and even like she said it's not like she's really... dateable right now with this radical change on the horizon. Not saying we should do so, just pointing out how vulnerable she feels.

So do I feel sorry for showing compassion and empathy? No. Sorry it spitaled directly into sex? Again, not particularly, these things happen, it doesn't mean we love Fancy less. Sorry it hurt Fancy? Yeah, that's why we're confronting her right now instead of trying to bury it. Embracing and facing the consequence for Colors' flaws is deeply intriguing for me, especially when I feel the pull of our recent decisions. Doing the Right Thing just.. wouldn't feel as satisfying.

>>2460060

Do you not get what her Vice is all about?

She is deeply and powerfully driven by Lust. It's part of who she is as a Spring courtier.

I can't speak for every Anon, but I didn't vote for this because I wanted drama, or because I dislike Fancy—I voted for it because I genuinely believe it's what Colors would choose. Or perhaps...not even choose, but what she would fall into, despite knowing it was a bad idea.

>>2460060
>You literally just wanted to inject some drama into colors life.
And yet it is a thing many woman do. Oh and dn't lump all anons together with some far fetched accusation.

Colors is not some perfect Mary Sue with 30 Wisdom, or she wouldnt be a Warlock in the fist place. Yes, her action clashes with the idea of a honorable knight, but her VIce IS Lust.

>>2460215
>>2460293
that's true, i just thought that if she was going to go for any one it would have been vickie.

Okay, so, question:

What's our actual vote for Colors to say? Probably should try to condense something...

>>2459151
> Write-in (it better be fucking good)?

> Because I fucked up. I wanted her, I wanted her so badly . . .

> It was just . . . easy. Nothing has been easy for so long that it took me by surprise. The way mortals look at me, only seeing one side or the other. A beautiful glass woman, or a monster whose beauty makes me all the more terrifying.

> The way the other Lost look at me. Oathbreaker. Warlock. It doesn't matter why I broke my troth, people who would never accept the person I was in Pittsburgh, who would say I deserved to die for all the death I caused there - to them I'm still an oathbreaker first and foremost.

> When I showed up after chasing John, and I was wounded. I honestly didn't realize it was something for anyone to be concerned about. Not because it happens in combat, not because other fae know that it will heal. But because I couldn't imagine someone being worried about *me*.

> I turned down Vicky because . . . she's a friend. She's in my Motley. She's the first Fae that's really been my friend. Not my Liege and Counselor. Not an ally in combat. Not a mortal dazzled by the shine and denying the shit parts of being me.

> But I didn't want to fuck that up. Not just with her, but with you. I want you to be a part of my life, all of it. I didn't want there to be a mess between me and Vicky and you because I don't know how I would even handle that. Our Motley binds us for a year, there could be times when I would HAVE to choose between you and my Motley - and I can't break my troth twice. I would HAVE to pick them, and mortals are . . . often unable to understand what that means.

> But Erin. Erin never looked at me like . . . no. Erin LOOKED at me. Then she asked me to cut out her eyes to pay for her help finding Rainbow John.

> I wasn't originally thrilled to have her help. But she was the best choice for the job and it could have gone very bad without her there. Actually I thought she was a total bitch at first.

>>2459151
>>2461301

Continued:

> But as much as a bitch as she was, it wasn't because of my title. She's just like that. So yeah.

> So she was a Satrap of Pearls. They sell . . . everything. I was shocked myself when she demanded that I cut her eyes out to buy her help. Because Satraps sell everything, but give away nothing.

> Cutting her eyes out meant she wasn't a Satrap any more. In fact the very first thing she did after was to give me her pearl eyes. But that's HER thing. I think, even from the start, what drew me to her was that she made me ask different questions about myself.

> Ever since I met her, she's put me on the back foot, often with words alone, sometimes with her actions. I don't know why I caught her eye, but despite her driving me mad with how she acts, she's someone I can completely relax around.

> I don't have to worry about obligations, or appearances. It's not that she doesn't judge me, she's a judgemental bitch. A pirate acting all grossed out at how I . . . well never mind. But she accepts me so easily that before I knew it I was accepting her back.

> Even this . . . tonight. She didn't ask me to stay, or to leave. She just took what was offered and gave in return.

> And for all her determination, for all her strength and skill and experience, at times she asks for help like she expects a kick in return. And what she's doing, it's big. It makes cutting her eyes out look like nothing.

> And for this, this drastic and dangerous change, neither one of us thought to make a pledge or oath. That - Doesn't - Happen with us. Even we, you and I have a pledge. I almost bound you to never reveal my secret cheesesteak suppliers out of habit alone.

> We bound a pledge to be honest, but I rather wish we didn't. I don't want to be honest with you because I have to be, I want to be honest with you because the thought of lying doesn't even occur to me.

> So here I am. All messed up in more way than one, scared, and ashamed, but I can't say I regret it with Erin. I can't regret having found something like this with someone, being who and what I am. I never thought it would happen, maybe not even that it could happen no matter how hard I hoped. I can say that I never stopped wanting to come home to you though. I want to have with you what I found in Erin, and I'm willing to try to work with you to build that.

>>2460745
Apparently gouging out someone's eyes and a Deep Hedge date creates a deeper bond.

>>2461301
Do you realize how long it will take to say all that? Real human conversation generally doesn’t involve monologues.

>>2461301
>>2461415
Okay, 3 things,

You made a lot of very good points and tapped into Colors emotional state in a way I hadn't articulated for myself, so thank you for that.

Secondly, a whole lot of this is the eXACT WRONG THING TO SAY IN THIS MOMENT. Spending a monoligue lost in praising Erin in between saying we wanna be with Fancy is.. kinda sending mixed messages.

Also we should try to make this, like, a sentance or two. Though your book did give me an idea... Give me your thoughts.

>>2459151

> "She wants me to help kill her past. Damsels in distress and all, but I... I didn't plan on /this/ happening."

>>2459151
Really, aside from the meta explanation of waifu-wars, I can only really see one good angle for explaining this: Colors is a sucker for the damsel in distress.
> She needed me. She needed me and she was hurting in a way that I know very well. She's where I was only a few years ago, only even worse, and I wanted to help her.

>>2461653
Honestly? When you tell someone you cheated on them, you don't just say a couple of sentences.

But if I had to TL;DR it, we found it to be suddenly so easy to be with her that we didn't even notice it happening.

>Because that IS what happened. I went through and read all our interactions. Interestingly I think we kicked it off by asking her to lead us into the Hedge.

But just because it was easy to be with Erin, it doesn't mean that's what we want. We now know that it's possible for it to be easy with someone, but we want Fancy so we're going to put in the effort to build that kind of rapport AND a relationship. Which is something we don't have with Erin.

but we should. Erin is best girl.

>>2459256
>>2461653
Retracting

>>2461722
>>2459151
> Backing This

>>2461750
Yeah I agree, Erin and Colors just sorta... click. Communication via combat, similar backgrounds as outcasts and traitors, and like anon said they're basically on the same path with Colors a bit further along.

My only thought is, how much of that very real connection is tied to the present status rather than something worthy of a future together? Hell, we're off to reforge Erin or whatever, she's literally working on reinventing everything about herself. Colors supporting this feels very natural and appropriate. Colors being around afterwards and trying to make a long term thing... I don't know. We don't know how much Erin will change, or if she'll even exist as she is now anymore.

So: I'll be home in a little over two hours. Y'all have until then to get something coherent rolling, or I'll call my own shot on the available options.

>>2461750
> but we should. Erin is best girl.
Erin a shit.
Vickie best girl.
But regardless of who is best girl, cheating is bad and you should feel bad.

I still like my post alot. Does someone want to go through all of the ideas posted and stitch something together using elements from all of them?

because I think they all have good points

>>2461722
See, I said that it was wrong but being honest that we can't regret it because it let us move past a bunch of stuff that was fucking us up.

But at the same time we realized and accept it was a fuckup.

Whereas you just directly put Erin's needs above Fancy. What are we going to do when Vickie needs us, bang her too? There's no shortage among the Lost of people in that position.

>>2461653
Bashing Erin is the wrong way to go. Do you think it would be better if we just fucked someone we didn't have a connection with?

We should outright tell Fancy why we did it so she can recognize what it is we saw in Erin. We can admit our weakness to it and ask her to, if she's still willing, help is build in our relationship that we were attracted to in Erin's.

Like what even do we do as a couple? Just hang out? We go out to events together and spend time at home but we should join an MMA gym or something together. See if Fancy can see why we like fighting so much. Spend time together that isn't just hanging out. We can do something she enjoys too. Learn more about each other and how we think by building shared experiences like what we have with Erin.

We did a terrible thing and it wasn't fair or right. But how can we regret learning that we didn't want just understanding or comfort, but that we want to be with Fancy. That's something we've had a huge issue with, first by banging every pixie chaser in sight and then by going cold Turkey and then meeting Fancy and being afraid that we were just repeating old habits, or trying to "fix" ourselves by dating a mortal and pretending we were one too.

Then we get sex, companionship, and acceptance and all that stuff we were worried we might have just been with Fancy for - and realized that without Fancy that wasn't enough.

Literally nothing makes us as happy as being with her. We're willing to suffer and work through all of the misunderstandings and difficulties that come up to be with her.

And we could offer a pledge to monogamy, to make it certain and binding. But it would be nicer to try to trust each other instead.

>>2461874
Bashing either isn't the best plan, I agree. Hammering out the connection with Erin and the reasons why, I also think that's what's needed now.

>>2459151
>> I - it just happened...
Admittedly, /let/ it happen, but Erin was quite persuasive.

>>2461874
>Whereas you just directly put Erin's needs above Fancy.
Yeah. That's the reason why people insisted on cheating on Fancy with Erin. Because they put Erin above Fancy.

>>2461951
I'd say people voted more for meta reasons to indulge in their vice and excuse it as roleplay.

Besides, think on why Colors would do it. Not Anons.

If anything, Colors placed her own needs above Fancy and used Erin to fill them.

>>2462003
Moreso, I think, Colors is letting Erin use her. Colors is the one who tore Erin's eyes out, who showed kindness when no one else did, who is willing to drop everything to go on Erin's wild adventure to remake herself.

Erin, also, I think, hates how she uses people. The sex scene was her trying to reach out and form a real connection, not the meaningless manipulative bullshit. Still manipulative, sure, but.. Erin's trying to trust, trying to feel like more than a worthless piece of shit.

Colors is indulging her, partly because of the Knight and Damsels thing, partly because the Lust is a real vice that she.. has kinda ignored all quest long, in a way. Also, like others have said, they're on the same path, Spring and all it means to renew oneself. Colors, in a practical sense, has promised to help Erin find her Spring.

>>2462031
We ain't got no Pledge to help Erin find her Spring. And it could have been done without sex. We could have just stayed the night and held her or something.

Fucking her was a bad choice. But hey it's our vice.

>>2462031
Just because you have a vice doesn't mean you have to indulge in it, some false equivalence right there anon.

I wish everyone would just admit they voted to do it because they wanted to, not for any real reason. But they won't.

>>2462065
>>2462066
I've been upfront with saying I wanted to. It being due to acutely understanding the almost exact situation (outside of the cheating aspect, specifically the spontaneous connection between Colors and Erin. Of course I'm just one reader, so justifying and moving forward right now in an in-character sense is our job to hammer out. That's basically how most votes go, balancing what we want Colors to do and figuring out what that means for Colors herself. So let's focus on what this means for her?

>>2462095
It means she is technically only an oath breaker once, but this comes pretty fucking close to being twice. Worse in a way because instead of hurting us it hurts Fancy instead.

>>2462003
If it was just vice roleplaying then people would have been willing to sleep with Vickie before Colors went steady with Fancy.

The difference here is that it's Erin, and some anons really want to bone her specifically.

Y'know, folks, there was no call to get rude. It's not like slinging shit at your fellow readers is gonna get the vote un-done.

As far as I can tell there's no meaningful consensus. I'm gonna carefully re-read all of the write-ins & then write a new thread, and we'll move from there.

Thank you in advance for your patience.

>>2462625
is there anything we can do to help?

>>2462524
>and some anons really want to bone her specifically.
I voted "Stay", but boning a woman with no eyes is waaaaaay over the line.

>>2462066
>Just because you have a vice doesn't mean you have to indulge in it
No , but it means you have less willpower to resist it than other vices.

Works the same in real life, my Vice is Wrath, and in ertain situations I slip up and let it out, moreso than other vices

>>2462669
The vote was supposed to be for that, anon. So...no. Not really. I am somewhat annoyed.

>>2462705
It was hard to pick through the different write in options, because everyone had their own. Maybe if you could pick like your top three and then we could vote on it?

>>2462671
Given how it was progressing, what did you think was going to happen if Colors stayed? It was pretty clear that voting stay meant voting to pursue Erin.

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>>2462705

NEW THREAD

>>2463094
>>2463094
>>2463094
>>2463094

Y'all are gonna have to live with the shot I called as far as this goes.