weekend mingle featuring 5 pm brunch because time is meaningless now

[pr159]

[ There probably isn't a single person among them who isn't exhausted after that trial, so it's no surprise that, like last week, there's no party when it's over. Maybe some stay out and mill about the city, while others finally take the chance to get some well-deserved sleep.

Personally, Rideaux is absolutely going to bed now, because it's fucking 10 am or something, and that was a lot.

But when he wakes up again in what is nominally the afternoon, once he's taken a shower and no longer looks like a haggard mess, he's actually going to hole up in the kitchen at the clergy housing and make some pancakes. Just pancakes and nothing else, because this mix is "just add water!" and that's the extent of his cooking skills the most effort he's going to put into anything. Some of them may be slightly burned and oddly shaped, but they're free, so shut it.

There's also some coffee and some (cheap, not his good stuff) whiskey, so if you want to make a half-assed Irish coffee, he's not stopping you.

Is this supposed to be a distraction? Is this actually all just to celebrate the fact that Cumore briefly thought he was going to die and that was delicious to watch? Maybe, but no one has to know that. ]

Comments

[psychophant]

[He's glancing away as well, though it's probably because of the remark about Cumore. Probably.]

I understand. He was useful while he was alive, and he was pleasant conversation sometimes. But whatever I thought about him before was entirely wrong; he planned to kill both Dist and me.

[He's not Dist and he can't do everything Dist could, but he's usually doing better than he was during this trial. Or the last one. Look, the point is that he's a tactical genius, leave him alone—]

I knew it wasn't Cumore. I couldn't find a way to properly articulate it at the time, but if he had chosen to kill, it wouldn't be like that, and that certainly wouldn't have been his reaction.

[If it had been Cumore, we'd have had a very different trial and Iago probably would've done something stupid and ended up dead but you know what, here we are. Cumore and Iago are both still alive, unfortunately.]

[moonfang]

... Actually, it was how Cumore reacted to being accused that made me change my mind.

[him and Mikami, and to an extent, how Iago himself reacted to the whole thing. Then Zangetsu chuckles a little, though there's no humor in it]

At least those two mafiosos taught me a valuable lesson -- you humans really can't be trusted at all, no matter how friendly or warm you seem. Every single one of you is a liar. Ah, I suppose it IS a useful tool for the weak. [it's amazing how much more well spoken he is when he's like This]

[psychophant]

[oh my god why are you like this zangetsu]

I would argue that it's true of most of us. Look who we have left. Most of us are either horrible people or are willing to scheme and lie to get what we want. Or both.

But there are people like Pizza and Rean as well - people who genuinely want nothing but the best and are willing to offer it, even under the worst circumstances.

I'm not going to argue that you shouldn't hate humans or that you're being too harsh on us. Bluntly put, you aren't. Even if you do judge us for that, will you at least work with us to see this through to the end?

[moonfang]

Don't misunderstand me. When I say "weak" I do not mean "weak for a human". Many of you are quite impressive specimens of your species. But humans -- compared to Hollows, to dragons, to Shinigami, to whatever -- are weak. So they lie to protect themselves. I don't understand it because I have never been that way. And my Master... I suppose he is more exceptional than I thought.

[he turns back to face Iago, his face a mask of indifference. It's different than at the aquarium, where he was looking for direction, for guidance. This is the face of a person who has no interest in direction, or even moving forward anymore]

... I have no hope left, Iago. This is the end. All that's left is for us to finally give up on this farce we've been calling a "life".

[psychophant]

[...Hmm.]

Very well. If you've given up, then I don't intend to argue with you. I'm not the sort of person who can help you find meaning or a reason to move forward from here.

All I ask is that you don't stand in our way. I intend to put a stop to the Lady's plans and to Rembrandt and save those in the Twilight I can. [Or that he cares about, same thing.] If I must do it alone, then I will.

I've lost someone very dear to me, and it would do both of us a disservice to give up now. The information we shared before he died is very valuable, and I intend to put it to good use.

[His smile is easy, but it's entirely too sharp to be genuine.]

[moonfang]

Well, good luck to you on your fool's errand. I won't stand in your way. I won't even be in the way. You've got plenty of muscle left if that's what you need. [implying that's all he can offer, which isn't untrue]

[even the curiosity from before that may have sparked Zangetsu to ask about this so called "valuable information" is gone. He just tilts his head]

Small request... If you do somehow succeed, do whatever you want with the rest of those murderers, but send Ulquiorra Cifer back. Not for his own sake, but for my master. Our struggle against him is... pivotal.

[psychophant]

Very well. I have no arguments against that.

[He may hate Ulquiorra's face, but he hates Ango a hell of a lot more right now so he's willing to yeet Ulquiorra back into Bleachworld.]

Again, I do appreciate what you did during the trial. Feel free to assume I'm lying if you want, but you did help me out quite a bit.

[Mostly for punching Ango in the face. That was so satisfying.]

[moonfang]

I mean, you have no reason to lie right now. Or hell, maybe you do? I have no idea. But I didn't do it for you.

[he did it because HE wanted to punch Ango, goddammit]

... ah. One more thing. Did you get a chance to look at that sludge I gave you?

[psychophant]

I know you didn't. In the end, we're all going to do what we want to do, regardless of who will benefit from it. It just so happened that I benefited from your actions.

Even if you have no plans on helping us, do try not to die just yet. Who knows, you may find yourself a bit more interested when we have a clear shot at finishing the Lady.

[At that, however...]

I'll be sure to thoroughly examine it tomorrow. Would you like to hear my findings once I'm done?

[moonfang]

Hn. If I don't help with the set up, I have no right to take a swipe at the Bitch. I'm sure there will be plenty of you lined up to take your shots. Just don't let her soul get away.

[a pause...]

.... Yeah, I guess. I'm 80% sure it's just garbage that Ulquiorra sent to mess with me from beyond the grave, but who the fuck knows.

[psychophant]

I can guarantee that isn't something we'll let happen.

[That sounds like a terrible idea!! He nods at the second part, though.]

Of course. Even if that is all it is, I'll let you know.

[moonfang]

Mm. Fine then.


[with that, the conversation seems to be over, and Zangetsu goes back to his nasty raw rat meal]

[psychophant]

[gross, zangetsu!!!

but yes, he'll take his leave here, look forward to hearing about The Sludge soon!!]