floor 5, room 5

[meanspirited]

lazuli

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[meanspirited]

[...]

Why would it? The lives of a few mortals don't mean anything to me.

[1145pm]

Then that's what we're gonna do.

[ He sounds like he's deciding how they're going to take care of the laundry, or deciding how they're going to divvy up cleaning the manor.

Maybe the more concerning thing is how blasé Tatara sounds about the prospect. ]

Phew, I was worried you'd already gotten attached!

[meanspirited]

Please, don't be such an idiot.

[Getting attached?? Him?? Like that would ever happen.]

Are you sure you could handle that?

[Emotionally or otherwise, he doesn't specify.]

[1145pm]

[ He nods, the levity of the gesture carrying an odd weight to it. ]

I remember how the ritual goes. I remember where we keep the goblet. I know what to do. So long as I survive, I think we'll make it through, somehow.

[ He pauses, because he knows that's not the only thing Lazuli's asking about.

And because they've already been friends for a little while, Tatara shows a little side to himself that perhaps not many others are privy to.

His eyes dull softly, unfocusing. ]

Besides...

[1145pm]

...I've already lost the most important person to me. I don't think losing anyone else will really matter much after that.

[ And this is why people call him cold-hearted. ]

[meanspirited]

[A man with a cold-heart and a puppet with no heart at all... What a duo they make.]

If you insist.

[He closes his eyes, leaning back.]

Oh. One of the kids is like you. Have you talked to him yet?

[1145pm]

[ And yet they'll see to it that these wizards do what they're meant to do. If they have no heart, then where does that come from?

Tone shift, and Tatara looks back up at Lazuli. He tilts his head. ]

Like me? [ ... ] Japanese?

[ lol ]

[meanspirited]

No.

[Well, probably, given some of their names, but for all Tatara likes to beat around the bush he's blunt.]

Dead.

[1145pm]

[ There's a noticeable pause at that. In the quiet, Tatara just stares at the floor.

Weird how he almost forgot.

He looks up at Lazuli and tilts his head. ]

Who is it?

[meanspirited]

[...Ah. He didn't bother asking the kid for his name.]

One of the Eastern wizards. The kid with the nasty slouch and grimy hat.

[sorry shinji..........]

[1145pm]

Huh.

[ He takes a longer sip of his coffee, this time trying to pick out who that might be.

He met a few, but not all of them, it seems. ]

I don't think I remember seeing anyone like that... I'll keep an eye out.

[ He looks at Laz. ]

Did you get his name?

[meanspirited]

Didn't bother to ask.

[It's not like it matters to him.]

And he didn't offer it. Probably was too busy trying to figure out what to do with himself now.

[Or the kid is just rude. Both are very real options.]

But it's not like there's that many people here. I'm sure he'll be obvious in time.

[1145pm]

Yeah. I'll find him.

[ He peers into his coffee cup... Aww, it's empty.

He settles it on his lap. ]

You don't need the rest of the pot, do you?

[ Of coffee. ]