i am a cage in search of a bird

[crocodiline]

[ The figure inside the frosted glass snaps her fingers, and the glass falls away, sliding into grooves in the ground below. Inside, behind additional bulletproof glass, sits a woman, legs up on a transparent glass desk, absentmindedly petting a... whatever this thing is.

Say hello to your mastermind, everyone! ]

Hey there, everyone. Nice to talk to you in person - my name is Cipher, welcome to my city. Sorry I took so long to show up in person. No need to get up on my account - how about we talk business?

[ Let's drive. ]

Comments

[inaclearing]

...what, on purpose?

[crocodiline]

They thought I was getting distracted from the goal. That I'd do something stupid or, God forbid, heroic.

[specialyellthing]

Couldn’t have that.

[crocodiline]

Funny thing is, I can't say I hadn't contemplated it. This game changes you. But Gunnar and Jack taught me better than to keep letting it.

[specialyellthing]

… Yeah. It does, doesn’ it? I’ve been tryin not to let it change me. But… [Well. She’d seen Nandor, and the way he’d grown. Her hand drifts to ring hanging from her neck.]

And what about this game. Has it changed you? If we let ya live, how do we know you’re not just gonna try this shit again.

[crocodiline]

Without a reason? I'm not exactly the "beg for my life" type, but I can say I'm not going to do another one of these just for kicks.

[specialyellthing]

I’m not askin you to beg. If it were up to me alone? We’d be done with ya. I made a promise to someone that I’d be relentless.

But, thankfully, it’s not just up to me.

[inaclearing]

...well, I'm sorry that happened to you.

[sucks to relate to the mastermind!]

[crocodiline]

Wouldn't be who I am today if it hadn't.

[inaclearing]

...I'm...very sorry, then.

[like what did you want him to say to that]