video | un: username & un: finn (dated a few hours after the battle)

[skelepun]

[ Surprise, everyone! Shortly after the fighting has finished and some of the dust has settled, there’s suddenly a video being presented to you. Finn and Sans are sitting side by side in one of the provided palace quarters; while Sans wears the same expression he always does, Finn appears a little jumpy and a lot nervous. He’s eager to jump into his spiel so they can get to work, but there’s a lot of information to convey so--

He opens his mouth, closes it, then his eyes flick to Sans for guidance. Where the hell do we start? Taking the cue, Sans begins. ]

So, uh, hey. I know the guard's tucked everybody in safe and sound, but try to keep your heads on... Some of you can get a little, uh, screamy when there's big news. And spoiler alert: we've got pretty big news.

It pertains to the powers that be around here, so yeah. [ He mimes dragging a zipper across his teeth. ] Zip 'em if you got 'em.

[ Another shared glance between the two and, welp, time to dive in. ]

I'll cut to the chase: Finn and I both met with the Ghost Girl. Me, about a week ago. Him... about an hour ago, heh. So if the kid's a little rattled, don't be too hard on him. He's one of the screamy ones I was talkin' about.

[ Finn’s brow immediately furrows. ] I’m not screamy. This is important, and we’re constantly being watched, and the palace separated us, and we need to act fast or--

Anyway. The monsters, the ones we just fought and... killed. They weren't always monsters. They were human, like the rest of the citizens around town. The quarantine zone, the "outer ones," all of them were infected by some sort of plague that turned them into what they are now. And it's not like they're animals now or anything, they aren't feral, they're just... people. People who've been forced into exile by the Lord and Lady. Hell, according to So-Yeon, they're the ones that did this to them in the first place. Suffice to say, they're pissed.

Uh, that's the Ghost Girl, by the way. So-Yeon.

To hear her tell it, all of this is just for the Lord and Lady. She wants the monsters to reintegrate into the city, to live side by side with their families and friends here, but she knows the palace won't allow it. They seem like they'd do pretty much anything to keep whatever they did under wraps. So-Yeon told me she tried bringing it to them directly, appealing to their sense of decency, but uh... she showed me this mark on her neck, and uh...

[ Sans pauses, fully internalizing in that moment that the scar she'd shown him may be the cause of her death. It's not a pleasant realization. ]

I don't think it worked out for her too good. [ He squeezes his eye sockets shut, pinching at his nasal bone with one hand and jutting a thumb at Finn with the other. ] Finn, I think this is your cue to tell 'em the rest.

[ Finn jumps a little, preoccupied as he was with Sans’ story and the reaction he gave. But, uh, right. ]

She said that the Lord and Lady used a power called the Golden Eye out of greed that turned their own people into the monsters we’ve seen. She snuck into the palace, stole the Golden Eye, and now she’s trying to find a cure. But the best she can do so far is give them their minds back for a little while.

She shared that power with me, but I have limited uses for it. What I know for sure is that everyone in the palace knows exactly what’s happening to our friends, and I don’t know what they’ll do to them once the change is done. So-Yeon offered all of us sanctuary, and I know the way. We just have to get them out of the palace.

[ He shrugs. ]

Considering she has the orb, whether or not we fully trust her, we have to go.

[ Slouching a little deeper, Sans huffs a completely unnecessary breath before flashing a quick wink at their fellow Orbers across the feed.]

Any ideas?

(( ooc: please feel free to tag around, threadjack, what have you!! finn and sans will be replying at random, you could even get both of them (lucky you) -- if you have one of them in mind specifically, call it out in your header! ))

Comments

video; un: username

[skelepun]

Listen, I'm not saying I'm some sort of expert character study or anything. [ That's what we call a little false modesty; Sans had a bit of an ego about these things. ] But I don't think she asked for this kind of power, I think she was the only one interested in the job.

Without her, all those monsters would be driven into the woods by now. And that's the best case scenario.

[testgasm]

Well, look, have we written off some kind of peaceful coexistence resolution to all this? Living in the woods doesn't--doesn't seem too bad. I mean, they're monsters anyway, so.

audio; un: renfri

[retributioning]

[ look, she was going to stay out of this entire discussion happening between everyone — she'd figured out the truth after sneaking around, and she had her own mind set on who was really at fault here.

but not wanting to engage doesn't mean not following the discussion... and wheatley's comment pushes her to speak, her tone challenging, ]

They're monsters "anyway"? So monsters should be content to live in the woods, outside of all civilization, is that what you're saying? How mighty of you, to decide who gets to live and where just like that.

[testgasm]

Wow, uh. Usually, you know, it's polite. To introduce yourself, so I--so I know who I'm talking to. Here, I'll go first. Hello! I'm Wheatley. Nice to meet you, maybe. Not sure if it's--if it's actually nice to meet you, but we'll take this one step at a time.

[This is the voice of someone who really does not understand why anyone might find this suggestion problematic.]

Anyway, I'm just spitballing. Nobody's got to do anything, if they don't want to. Not like I can just wave my non-existent hands and everyone stops what they're doing and listens to me. Would be nice, though, if I'm honest.

[retributioning]

Oh, I can be polite. I just thought that since you're not, I shouldn't bother to be, either.

[ #savage ]

But if you insist. Hello, Wheatley. I'm Renfri, but they called me a monster, back home. [ said with the softest, most conversational tone she can manage. :) as is what follows: ]

You may not have hands, but I do. I also have a sharp sword. So I'd watch your words a little more carefully.

[testgasm]

Oh, so you’re just going to threaten me, is that it? Right off? Really, uh. Really bolstering your argument, here. Very mature.

[retributioning]

I've found it a method that works. What else matters?

[ mature, not mature? who cares, not her! ]

[testgasm]

I don't know if you got the memo, but we're supposed to be a team.

[retributioning]

[ yeah, and...? ]

Nothing about that says I have to get along with everyone on the team, or not speak out when someone's being an idiot. See, if I kill you, I'll still stay on the team, while you won't. Can't see the downside, here.

[testgasm]

Uh. I'm pretty sure they'll throw you out if you kill a teammate. Don't be ridiculous.

[RIGHT????]

[retributioning]

[ well... ]

Want to find out?

[testgasm]

I really think your reaction to this is...disproportionate. Do you run around threatening to murder anyone with an opinion you don't like? Because that doesn't seem entirely healthy.

[retributioning]

I usually don't bother with the threatening part.

[ there's a sound like her biting into an apple. it's a very satisfying crunch. ]

Did you know that before I learned to wield the sword, I used to just impale people on whatever I had at hand? Messy, but effective.

video; un: username (1/2)

[skelepun]

video; un: username (2/2)

[skelepun]

Y'know, you're probably right. [Sans taps the side of his jaw in thought.] Just one problem though, if they're loose what happens if they start trying to wander back into the city?

Probably gotta dig some sort of hole to contain 'em. You any good at digging deep, Wheaties?

[testgasm]

Isn't that what's already happening? A hole seems...sort of excessive, plus, uh. Not going to be able to dig. No arms.

[skelepun]

C'mon buddy, don't sell yourself short. You don't have feet or a mouth either, but look how good you are at shovin' one in the other.

[testgasm]

Wh--I don't see what that's got to do with anything--

Ah. You're speaking figuratively. I suppose you think you're very funny, huh?

[skelepun]

I think I'm hilarious. [He beams, enjoying this more than he probably should be considering the circumstances of their misunderstanding. ] Got a killer figure, too, thanks for noticing.

[ But Wheatley's absolutely shameless flirtations aside... ]

Funniest thing is, I don't even think you're all the way wrong. Being forced into a life of hiding and scavenging for a semblance of home isn't a life I'd recommend, but it's got the life thing going for it.

[testgasm]

Of course I'm not wrong! I'm being realistic! There isn't--there's not going to be a solution that everyone is happy with, so we might as well go with something where everyone gets to be alive at the end of all this.

[skelepun]

Welp, you've got me convinced. [ He's not even kidding. Seeking an outcome where nobody got what they wanted in a way that was, y'know, managable... it was a philosophy Sans could get behind, however unideal. ] But I'm not really the one you gotta persuade.

I dunno if you've noticed yet, but this crew loves their daring heroics.

[testgasm]

I've noticed, yes. Sounds like more of a them problem, if not for the fact that we're the ones who have to put up with it.

[skelepun]

[ Tell him about it. ]

Don't let it getcha down, robuddy. Plenty of perks to teaming up with the overachievers in class. Haven't you ever done a group project before? We're cruising for an easy A.

[testgasm]

Uh, I hate to break it to you mate, but I think there are still a few things that could go horribly wrong.

[skelepun]

Such as? [ He grins with a shrug. ] Aren't you a robot? What's the worst that could happen?

[ Every good insensitive statement deserves one in return, after all. ]