[the mental image is too much for him right now, his head already feeling light and stuffed with cotton, but it settles in his mind like a warm stone.]
I'm sure Catduggery appreciated the interpreter. He's a bit shy. [oh, shit, right,] Fio will be back with a gift for you at some point. She's anxious about it, but I think you'll like it.
[...that's assuming that she's willing to even speak with Skulduggery, after everything that's happened. he doesn't know what she's been told or how she's feeling. he's almost afraid to find out. and then Darcy and Ava...
it's hard to tell when a skeleton is falling into an anxiety spiral, but you know. it happens.]
They can be tricky, I will give you that. They're constantly taking in information, and their opinions and worldview can change in the span of a day. It's hard to tell what will resonate with them.
[but there's only one child they're talking about now.]
Fio isn't so hard to talk to as other children, and you might like to hear a child's perspective. But I won't make you face her, alone or otherwise.
Consider it a bit of playful goading, if that makes it easier to take. [audibly grinning] Considering the artillery Fio's got now, I'd probably be intimidated if I were in your shoes, too.
It is a rather disconcerting amount of firepower for children's toys, isn't it. [a pause] I suppose it speaks to the... difficulties. Of her home reality.
Mm. I can never tell when she's talking about something that happened while she was awake or asleep, but it's all tragic. She deserved better than that.
So the memories become physical objects, but you don't necessarily know which object belongs to each memory. It would be too easy for you to have stored a piece in the jewelry shop, I suppose...
[pause]
...I should probably deal with the fallout from the trial before I start on this. [reluctantly, because mysteries are so much more fun than facing all the people you've let down.]
[as much as he'd like to pull the Captain onto the couch, turn the whole room into a cozy hodgepodge of comfortable hotel rooms and go back to sleep for, say, three more days... he knows he can't. it would be supremely unfair to everyone, especially Ava, Darcy and Fio.
but maybe he can at least get the Captain comfortable on this weirdly lumpy little couch. or turn the couch into a bed and force him to keep it that way!]
What else can they turn into? [as he unsubtly rearranges himself to make room.]
[he can't stay, but that doesn't mean he isn't going to take his time getting out of here. once the Captain is on the couch, he pulls a comfortable pillow from nowhere at all and sets it on his lap.]
Let me guess, there's no discernable pattern as to what causes which memories to become... whatever they become.
You're in luck. Recurring patterns are sort of my thing.
[he hums thoughtfully, his hand threading through the Captain's hair. for a moment, it's the most enthralling sensation he's ever experienced. after everything that happened three days ago, he had thought moments of peace would be out of the question. maybe they will be, once he leaves the bridge.
he can't stay forever, but he can stay long enough to remember this.]
We'll talk more about it once you've gotten some rest. And once I've figured out how many bridges have been burned.
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I'm sure Catduggery appreciated the interpreter. He's a bit shy. [oh, shit, right,] Fio will be back with a gift for you at some point. She's anxious about it, but I think you'll like it.
[...that's assuming that she's willing to even speak with Skulduggery, after everything that's happened. he doesn't know what she's been told or how she's feeling. he's almost afraid to find out. and then Darcy and Ava...
it's hard to tell when a skeleton is falling into an anxiety spiral, but you know. it happens.]
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his hands twitch anxiously in his lap, his entire attention focused on them.] ... I'm afraid of her.
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[no surprise, no incredulity, just gentle, pressing curiosity.]
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[but there's only one child they're talking about now.]
Fio isn't so hard to talk to as other children, and you might like to hear a child's perspective. But I won't make you face her, alone or otherwise.
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Do all the pieces you gave away manifest as physical objects, like the cuff?
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[with just a hint of "like, duh, everyone knows that" on top.]
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[EYEROLL.]
So the memories become physical objects, but you don't necessarily know which object belongs to each memory. It would be too easy for you to have stored a piece in the jewelry shop, I suppose...
[pause]
...I should probably deal with the fallout from the trial before I start on this. [reluctantly, because mysteries are so much more fun than facing all the people you've let down.]
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[kinda. visibly starting to doze off. like someone who has been awake for three days.]
Probably a good idea... Hm. It's not always objects.
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but maybe he can at least get the Captain comfortable on this weirdly lumpy little couch.
or turn the couch into a bed and force him to keep it that way!]What else can they turn into? [as he unsubtly rearranges himself to make room.]
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Let me guess, there's no discernable pattern as to what causes which memories to become... whatever they become.
[pats the pillow. c'mon, you know you want to.]
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[a snort of a laugh, and he leans his head back onto the pillow, looking up at him.]
At least, not one I've ever noticed. Not that I paid it very close attention.
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[he hums thoughtfully, his hand threading through the Captain's hair. for a moment, it's the most enthralling sensation he's ever experienced. after everything that happened three days ago, he had thought moments of peace would be out of the question. maybe they will be, once he leaves the bridge.
he can't stay forever, but he can stay long enough to remember this.]
We'll talk more about it once you've gotten some rest. And once I've figured out how many bridges have been burned.
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