whoever said loss builds character NEVER LOST ANYTHING. (Voicetest/Considering Paradisa)

[notpollux]

I hate you so much right now. I am not exaggerating--I never exaggerate, and yes, of course, I'm serious. I'm always serious!

Unless I'm lying. Which I'm not, right now. If I were, I would be smiling. Notice! Not a smile.

...Yes, well. Congratulations, you're horrible.

Also? Do something about the decor. The sheer volume of yellow--I feel like someone scraped me out of the ash tray at a Solid Gold Dancer reunion revue. There's a name for golden glitz of this magnitude, something just on the tip of my t--

Ah, yes. Tacky.

Really, at least make Our Luminary pick up after himself.

Comments

[clu2_perfection]

[....picking up after himself? Really. That's where Rinzler fits in.]

Tacky, huh? Why don't you ask Flynn to redecorate the place, hm? [Yes, he was being sarcastic.]

[the_gamesmaster]

Zuse? What's the matter, man? You seem on edge. Got any drinks I could try out?

[notpollux]

...Zu...Right.

User! [And there it goes, the most gracious of grins, almost too wide for his face] Long time, no see. Very long.

...Trust me, I could use one, too.

[the_gamesmaster]

Can't you just help yourself like you usually do? [He smirked.]

You want me to make some changes to your bar?

[lifes_short_pop]

"Didn't think most Programs knew how to lie. At least the ones from the systems I went through didn't."

Maybe he's malware? Those not only know how to lie, they do it chronically.

[messin_with_my_zen_thing]

You? Never exaggerate? [Flynn chuckles. Riiight, man.]

So you might be joining us in the castle, huh?

[notpollux]

[...Flynn, but this time as he recognizes, from--before.]

I, ah. Never, itself, implies exaggeration.

Figure I can work out my way around. It's just that--well. [Careful, devil-may-care lift of the shoulders, and a flicker of white, white teeth.] No free lunch, is it?

Still, if I may. [With an incline of the head, a nod, touch of a bow from the neck; this is the User, after all] It doesn't seem quite on the up and up to me. I mean, I am a believer in checking certain goods at the door, but. What sort of establishment keeps a man's cane?

[Le scoff.] Honestly. It's like they think they can bribe me in by sticking my name on my door.

[[He never stops talking, hi.]]

[messin_with_my_zen_thing]

[That chuckle turns into a laugh]

Man I'd almost forgotten how much you like to hear yourself talk. Not that you don't have a valid point, of course. My own loss is something less material and more mental.

[he smirks]

See I'd have thought you'd have been more enticed by the wishing.

[notpollux]

[Blink, blink, and he's laughing back, too bright, sharp with nerves. He's so very sure that little calamity at the lift cannot be traced to him. Not directly.]

You know? Just between us. [It's a glossy hiss of a stage whisper] Sometimes I'm so inspired, even I don't know what I'm saying.

They can--it can--do that? That's in the fine print, and all? [The alarm is way, way overdrawn--if he wore pearls, he'd be clutching them--but it's equally real.] You poor man. What exactly...

I mean, not that it's my business, but. Well.

By all means, here, sit down. D'you still take the blue ones? [On the house. He'll pour himself one, whether Flynn's having, or no.]

...Straight off, I'm wishing for more wishes.

[messin_with_my_zen_thing]

[He smiles patiently and strolls over. Oh don't think he doesn't remember what happened at End of Line, man. He knows all too well what happened and what you did. He also knows that that means nothing right now. He might not entirely forgive the Program, but he's not going to condemn him, either. Judgement isn't his game.

Though that doesn't mean he's going to take the drink, either. He WILL sit down, though]

They're not limited. You can wish as many times as you'd like as long as you're not wishing for things that'll harm anyone else. [HINT HINT. He leans back a bit, smoothing the folds in his robe as he continues.] Though I don't like the idea of wishing for everything, myself. It leads you to take things for granted - assuming they'll just be there when you ask. It devalues things.

And to answer your question - I'm not able to meditate.

[foughtfortheusers]

[Rumbling noise] You.

Castle?

[notpollux]

[He makes a good enough flourish out of jumping nearly a foot in fright.]

Rinzler! [It's just a touch pitchy, the tiniest hint of a squeak.] My friend. Where is your--drinking alone, tonight? Will you have the usual?

[The laugh is a little nervous, but loud, and genuine.]

Darling, give it a month and I'll be running the place. All the interesting bits, anyway.

[Say this for a program--he's got plans.]

[[hgdfsjd HELLO :D please to terrorize him~]]

[foughtfortheusers]

[Headtilt] Not friend. And Master is away.

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<i[rumbling>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

<i>[Headtilt]</i> Not friend. And Master is away.

<i[Rumbling noise, almost a laugh]</i> Master had plans. Changed. Castle is strange.

<i>[[You know I will. :P You know me. :D]]

[notpollux]

Right, of course, my mistake. So that's a no, then?

Strange like the User world is a dark and difficult place or strange like and somehow my knickers ended up on the ceiling fan?

[It's a rain of babble, bright and inconsequential, and he's moving, eyes on the exit.]

There's more than one way to--[No, no, bad idea, figures of speech dealing in carnage.] Well.

You know me. [Shrugging too hard, keeping the cane between them.] I'll think of something.

[foughtfortheusers]

...

One drink can not hurt.

And both.

I am so late, but AAAAAH YES COME TO US

[perfectisnteasy]

Tacky, huh?

Careful, or you might lose more than just the one thing.

I AM EVEN LATER and also drafting an app?

[notpollux]

Did I say--? [Can't get laughter without any air, suddenly; flicker of tongue over his teeth, reflexive] See, now, I was thinking grandiloquent, or even meretricious in certain, well, light, but never--

Sounds like you've done rather well for yourself, then. [There, there's the smile, full wattage, jackal sharp.] Congratulations in order, are they?

[He's got just enough sense not to try and play one side or the other, not yet.]

OOH MR CASTOR OOH.

[perfectisnteasy]

I'll take 'em if you're offering. [the smirk on the surface is pure CLU ego, but there's something in his eyes that flickers, just briefly, the tiniest sign that things aren't what they seem] I'm never out of things t' do, after all. Bein' a system administrator in a place like this, it's a big job. [he recovers quickly, though] Both the bars already have owners, though. You might have to find something else to do with your time.