floor 5, room 5

[meanspirited]

lazuli

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[meanspirited]

How I'm doing?

[Why on earth would he ask a question like that? Is there any reason for him to assume this is anything out of the norm—is he doubting him?]

What do you mean "in general". Nothing has changed even with these fools showing up.

[1145pm]

[ Hehe. Of course. Tatara looks at the expression on Lazuli's face and seems to take a delight in it. ]

You're not tired, or anything? [ Like, emotionally. He knows Laz doesn't sleep. ] Frustrated, satisfied, despairing, anything? Nothing's changed with their arrival? Really?

[ He prods because he cares!!! ]

[meanspirited]

[Why would anyone care about him? Weird. This guy's got problems.]

Of course I'm frustrated. Half of them are obnoxious little brats.

[He rolls his eyes, downing the last of his tea and setting the cup aside.]

But I was expecting that, so nothing has changed.

[1145pm]

[ Tatara's delight turns into a little laugh. ]

They're probably just frustrated because of the suddenness of it all. I think you'll get along with them as they settle in.

[ He sips... ]

Then has anyone surprised you yet? Any prospective star pupils?

[meanspirited]

I have no interest in getting along with them.

[Not that he could, anyways. He's not like the rest of them.

But...]

I think some of them might have potential, if they can get around their prior conceptions of magic.

[1145pm]

[ Ohoho... There's give, so Tatara decides to prod. He leans forward a little bit, trying to get a better look at Laz's face. ]

Like who?

[ You know...so he can watch their progress from afar. ]

[meanspirited]

[Since this is probably before the Great Kitchen Disaster...]

Solomon, potentially. He seems knowledgeable.

[Thinking...]

Kazuma doesn't seem familiar, but he might have a decent work ethic to pull things off. That overgrown aranara, possibly, and the kid with the glasses.

[Ahito. He means Ahito.]

[1145pm]

[ Yes, all of them! Tatara quickly takes stock of everyone in his mind, and checks them off. Note to self to check in on them all later. ]

Mm... Yeah. I talked to them. I can see it.

[ Another sip... ]

Anyone you're worried about?

[meanspirited]

The rest of them.

[smh...]

Most of them don't inspire any confidence, and I'm not looking forward to seeing if they can pull this off.

[1145pm]

[ Sorry lil laz, something about that whole answer tickles Tatara. He giggles, and points lazily at him. ]

Really? All of them?

[ You can't be worried about ALL of them!

Unless... ]

You're such a nice person, Laz.

[meanspirited]

[Tatara gets an absolutely disgusted look for his troubles.]

You know that's not what I meant, you moron.

[He Is Not Nice.]

[1145pm]

[ That giggle evolves into full fledged laugh at that. He'll take "moron" as a title of affection, thanks. ]

It's not?

[ He reaches and pokes Lazuli's cheek (are they in reaching distance? now they are). ]

You've given up on them already, then?

[meanspirited]

[His CHEEK!!! You poke him in the CHEEK???

He swats at Tatara's hands, but he is definitely not pouting.]

I'm just saying I think they have an impossible task, and I'm not sure we should hedge our bets on it. We might be better off handling it ourselves.

:)?

[1145pm]

[ And he drops his hand, because he can behave.

That gets a wry chuckle, though. ]

You'd be on your own, then. I'm not going to be much help.

[ It's true. ]

A lot of people a fraction of your strength is better than no one at all, right?

[meanspirited]

I'm used to handling things on my own.

[Grumpy...]

And if they fail and die? What do we do then? Just summon even more people?

[1145pm]

That's what it sounds like.

[ He says this neutrally, like it's not that much of a big deal. They fail and die, they summon more and keep trying.

Tatara reaches to pour himself another cup of coffee. ]

Does that upset you?

[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?