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[weaponwithoutpurpose]

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[pharadyne]

It's dark, but there's a trapdoor in the ceiling here. [He draws a square on the paper.] Nothing visible in the prisoner's cell, although she must have got in there somehow so it stands to reason either the cell opens or there's another door inside. Oopsie, wait, that's assumptions on my part. Forget I said that. The straight known facts are that there's no door or other way out visible in the prisoner's cell.

But also as you look around, something very large starts banging against this door here, and you've probably only a few seconds before it breaks through.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[Jacob thinks.]

What does the lever do? Did you pull it? Does it kill her?

[pharadyne]

If you pull the lever it opens the trap door and drops the boulder. One pull of the lever drops the boulder half-way and makes the trap door open but too high to reach. A second pull probably drops the ladder to the trap door and drops the boulder the rest of the way.

And by this point, the monster's busted in. [He moves the lighter into the main room.] It's very strong, but not very bright or agile or perceptive. So you can evade it easily enough if you're quiet and cautious but it's deadly if it catches you.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[He traces the path, then pauses.]

You want the real answer or the clever answer?

[pharadyne]

Both.

And also now curious why the clever answer isn't the real one.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Use the boxes to stack up high enough to reach.

Pull the lever again.

Both are smart, but you were obviously not supposed to kill the prisoner.

I'd kill her, though. You get out and then what? You have to figure out a way to get back in and save her. It doesn't make sense to go back.

[He shrugs.]

[pharadyne]

Is that your training or your instinct?

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Hard to tell the difference nowadays.

Why didn't you just kill her? She was going to die anyway. And you didn't know her.

[pharadyne]

I didn't think about it that closely. It was instinct to not want her to die simply because she was there and vulnerable. I had a notion the trap door passage might lead to her cell since the lever affected both, and that I might be able to get her out that way.

A few years ago, and with memories intact, I would have killed her to escape. These days, depending on the circumstances, I wouldn't let her die if there was another way, but if I had ten seconds to get into the next room or else the Earth explodes, then neither her life nor my feelings are the most important thing in that moment. Since there wasn't any sort of extreme situation like that, however, simply stacking the boxes and not killing her seems the most reasonable approach.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Nothing simple about it. There's a creature roaming around and I guess I'm not armed, so it's a pain in the ass to do. Higher risk, low reward.

[He shrugs.]

Maybe, without my memories, I would have tried to save her. Sounds like something I would have done.

[pharadyne]

I'd hate to be in a position where someone killed me just because it was too much a pain in the arse not to. I mean, I think I'm worth the effort, even the person is a stranger and doesn't know it yet.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Cull the weak, Norton. [Said lightly. He doesn't want to get him all riled up now when he's clearly still rattled by what happened.]

The weak have their place, but - it is up to the strong to thin the herd.

[pharadyne]

Do you really still believe that? Because the thing is, when it comes down to it, the people who really have the ability to do significant culling are balding middle-aged ministers with expanding waistlines and shrinking ethics. And they aren't strong, they're just powerful.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Yeah, Norton. I still believe that. Because it's what I did. It works, in our community.

And didn't you tell me about different kinds of strengths? That's a different strength - power.

[pharadyne]

I just take issue with a philosophy that would probably advocate for killing me.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Yeah, I know.

[And now Jacob has his own issues with it, but that doesn't stop him from clinging to it.]

Anyway, that's my answer.

[pharadyne]

Thank you for indulging me.

[He wonders if there's a way he can ask Jacob to stay and guard his door without admitting that he feels irrationally anxious. Miss Florbelle is locked up. No one's going to break into his cabin. But his pulse won't settle and he can't sleep.]

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[Fortunately for Norton, Jacob has no intention of going anywhere and wasn't even going to ask. He sits back in his chair, Mae beside him, and lounges there idly.]

You'll be alright.

Go make some tea. Take a nap. Do your nails, I don't know. Whatever you need to do to relax. I'll stay a while.

Audio

[inthebiblicalsense]

[He can't believe he's doing this. He can't believe he is, and yet...Jacob is in a healthy relationship. With who he has no idea, but he said as much, and he's told him to 'just fucking communicate' before, so...maybe this isn't a stupid idea.

And maybe this isn't him romanticizing Jacob following the discovery that he's a very good kisser. He's not allowed to think about that any more so he should just stop.]

Jacob, is this a good time? I was hoping I could ask you for a bit of advice.

Re: Audio

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Me?

Why me?

Re: Audio

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Why you indeed, Jacob.]

You won't mince words or try and spare my feelings. And you know everyone involved.

And I'd hope that if I asked you, seeing as I've proven that I can afford you the same courtesy, you won't immediately turn around and blab about it either.

Re: Audio

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

No, I wouldn't.

So what can I help you with, hm?

Re: Audio

[inthebiblicalsense]

[There's one last thought of 'you've started it, finish it' before he takes in a breath and pushes forward.]

I'm having trouble figuring out how to approach a conversation about...where we stand, what the rules are in two separate relationships, or rather if there even is a relationship other than just- [It feels juvenile to not want to say sex right out, but this is Jacob and he doesn't normally talk about his sex life with people, let alone ones who have broken his nose.] Physical.

And I feel like if I don't come in with a plan, it's going to blow up in my face, or someone is going to get upset, and I want to do it right. [The 'I've never done this before' is left out because that's too embarrassing to admit when Jacob already calls him kid.] How would you approach that?

Re: Audio

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[Jacob laughs, but it isn't malicious as much as it is simply amused at the topic.

Since when is he the go-to for this sort of thing? But, since he spilled his guts during mistletoe, this might be what it's like.]

Well. What do you want? From both of them?

Re: Audio

[inthebiblicalsense]

[That's what Sweeney had asked him, and he still isn't sure what he can ask for.]

Well for one, it would be nice to just have a conversation about it with- [He's so glad this is audio, he did this on purpose, just like the conversation he'd had with Fitz on the same topic. But he'd already said Jacob knew them, so he shouldn't hesitate to give him context.] Norton about any of it...Half the time we talk I don't say half of what I should because I don't know if he'd react well. And maybe that's changed, it's been months but...god, you said before you have no idea what that means for him and I have no clue either.

And then there's Alexei, and I... I'm worried that he's going to take it wrong if I tell him I want more than just him. I can't figure out what to say that will minimize that, because It isn't like I don't know there's a whole lot of rhetoric back home that says he shouldn't be good enough, and I don't believe that, but... he might think I do. I don't know. It's just...muddy.