I just told him you were doing really badly and that I didn't think he could make it WORSE. And that he needed to get his ass out there and tell you he didn't hate you.
...That last one is only a little bit of an exaggeration.
It's not much of an exaggeration at all, based on our exchange.
It was personal, but blessedly brief and...we're alright. I'm actually headed home - I'm all vacationed out, and everyone else's trip will be much improved by my leaving.
Good. Good, I'm--ha, I almost thought he'd change his mind and not show up. And you know, I don't usually like being wrong, but...
[He's still grinning, and rambling a little, but he's just so relieved to see her looking properly alive again. No matter what his feelings on Scar are, that's something. When she mentions coming home, he perks up further. At least until he remembers the reason why they'd all been so eager to send Heather and Henry away from the house.]
Oh, there's something you should know before you get here.
He brought me a chocolate bar. We spent the night together - not like that. Just next to each other. We're alright again. Better, I think, than before.
[Envy's definitely surprised that it worked out THAT well. Iiinteresting. He'll think more on that in a bit, though, for now there's the matter of Wrath.]
We've got Wrath in the house.
Or...locked in the basement, anyway. There wasn't really another way to keep him inside.
I don't think a book's going to have anything on kids that grew up in the Gate. Or anything that happened to him after he got out.
[They may not be very good people for this, but they've got the closest thing there is to understanding. And Al had dealt with Wrath for a few years after everything.]
And with all those people out looking and putting up posters, I don't want to go asking around for someone who knows what to do with a brainwashed kid. It'd make us look even more suspicious than we already do.
I didn't realize that many people would notice he was gone!
That guy Ralph from the cirus put up a message asking if anyone'd seen him, and then all these other people showed up and started talking about citywide searches and psychic types.
[Envy had counted on like...JOKER probably noticing, but he's also told Joker a few things about Wrath and he'd figured he could explain afterwards.]
[HE'S NOT SURE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT ALL THE OTHERS.]
We've got our own Pokemon to ward off Psychics, nobody's found him yet, but we've got to be careful.
Because there's a good chance that they won't get it, decide that's the most horrible thing they've ever heard, and come bust him out and wreck EVERYTHING.
If the explanation comes before the news that we have him locked in our basement, I think it would be alright. And if I don't phrase it as 'locked in our basement'.
But we're planning on sabotaging a business together, I think he'd be understanding.
[Envy is still...incredibly unsure about this plan. But honestly, they're going to let Wrath out eventually, and then these people will probably all find out ANYWAY. He sighs.]
Fine. But wait until you're home to tell him at least. Then you can assure him that you've seen with your own two eyes that we're not beating or starving Wrath.
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It was...actually a lot easier than I expected.
I just told him you were doing really badly and that I didn't think he could make it WORSE. And that he needed to get his ass out there and tell you he didn't hate you.
...That last one is only a little bit of an exaggeration.
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It was personal, but blessedly brief and...we're alright. I'm actually headed home - I'm all vacationed out, and everyone else's trip will be much improved by my leaving.
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[He's still grinning, and rambling a little, but he's just so relieved to see her looking properly alive again. No matter what his feelings on Scar are, that's something. When she mentions coming home, he perks up further. At least until he remembers the reason why they'd all been so eager to send Heather and Henry away from the house.]
Oh, there's something you should know before you get here.
[How to put this?]
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[She lifts an eyebrow. Oh god, what now?]
Oh?
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We've got Wrath in the house.
Or...locked in the basement, anyway. There wasn't really another way to keep him inside.
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Wrath.
He's in the basement. Did you know he'd been naming his Pokemon after all of us? And he's still loyal to her, we had to do SOMETHING.
Greed and I were just going to try helping him ourselves, but then Al found out and he wouldn't let it go so he's here too.
[...]
I'm pretty sure it's working. He's not biting us anymore. Mostly.
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[Lust can only imagine the chaos that's ensued.]
Has anyone consulted some sort of...professional? Someone who works with children or a psychologist of some kind?
Or a book at least?
[Being pretty sure something is working isn't the best of benchmarks, in her opinion.]
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[They may not be very good people for this, but they've got the closest thing there is to understanding. And Al had dealt with Wrath for a few years after everything.]
And with all those people out looking and putting up posters, I don't want to go asking around for someone who knows what to do with a brainwashed kid. It'd make us look even more suspicious than we already do.
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....People are putting up posters and looking for him? Why? What people?
[ENVY WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?]
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I didn't realize that many people would notice he was gone!
That guy Ralph from the cirus put up a message asking if anyone'd seen him, and then all these other people showed up and started talking about citywide searches and psychic types.
[Envy had counted on like...JOKER probably noticing, but he's also told Joker a few things about Wrath and he'd figured he could explain afterwards.]
[HE'S NOT SURE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT ALL THE OTHERS.]
We've got our own Pokemon to ward off Psychics, nobody's found him yet, but we've got to be careful.
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Have you ever thought of just informing some of those concerned of the situation and why you've locked Wrath in the basement?
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[Lust sighs. She is not prepared to deal with this.]
I'm supposed to call Ralph when I'm home, we have plans! What am I supposed to say?
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[...whoops oh god Envy is actually the most worried about Ralph. Ralph could literally destroy them with no effort.]
I don't know! Just don't say anything about it. If you don't mention it, he might not bring it up.
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I don't like this. I won't say anything, but I don't like it.
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[It's homunculus business. And people outside their group don't tend to understand.]
Look, how do you think it would go if you did tell him?
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But I really don't know. It's hard to predict how anyone will react to child kidnapping. But if it were explained why...
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[The lingering worry about Lust is useful for convincing Envy to agree to all kinds of things!]
But you've got to be sure. That guy lifts Charizards for fun, and I saw the post he put up. He was pissed.
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But we're planning on sabotaging a business together, I think he'd be understanding.
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Fine. But wait until you're home to tell him at least. Then you can assure him that you've seen with your own two eyes that we're not beating or starving Wrath.
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If I can't convince Ralph that the actual best course of action is the best course of action, I need to surrender every qualification I have.