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

[crocodiline]

No game, just call it an instinctual love of overthrowing governments. His name is Emet-Selch. Has been for a while. Hell of a guy.

[honeyedtea]

[ Mielle very visibly thinking emoji.jpg ]

... How do you feel about overthrowing a monarchy?

[specialyellthing]

Goldie—

[honeyedtea]

Well, we may as well put her to good use, don't you think?

[specialyellthing]

… Hmph.


I just don’t want you or Sparkles worryin about somethin like that. Don’t you wanna just… spend some nice downtime together? Live life without worryin about revenge or bein perfect?

[sastruga]

[......]

I... don't think downtime is really an option for me...

[specialyellthing]

Why not? You’ve earned it!

[sastruga]

I've missed so much school already...

[crocodiline]

Oh, don't worry about that. You can be put back right where you were if you want.

[sastruga]

...So no one even has to know?

[more specifically her mom doesn't have to know which

oh thank god--]

[specialyellthing]

Hawkah, I’m gettin that fancy dinner after all—-

[specialyellthing]

… Is this a fancy music school?

[honeyedtea]

Oh, certainly.

I can do that once I've dealt with Aria, though. I thought it might be useful to have a bargaining chip to ensure she doesn't get any silly ideas about ruining my life again into her head.

[specialyellthing]

…

Well. Cant exactly tell you not to. Wouldn’t be very relentless of me.

[honeyedtea]

I'm certain you'll understand should you end up meeting her yourself.

[specialyellthing]

If I end up meetin her, understandin’s gonna be the last thing on my mind—-

[crocodiline]

I mean... let me live and I'll overthrow whatever governments you want me to, sure.

[ she's down to be everyone's amoral cyberterrorist aunt, fuck it ]

[specialyellthing]

Don’t encourage her!

Go back to whatever you were sayin about not bein the way to solve bein empty—-

[crocodiline]

Because history is full of monarchies that shouldn't have been overthrown...?

[ cipher says akab (all kings are bastards)!!! ]

[honeyedtea]

Wonderful! I'm sure once things settle down we can come to some sort of formal arrangement.

[ HAHAHA WHO'S THE VILLAINESS NOW, ARIA!!! Yes, she has learned absolutely nothing in all these weeks!! ]

[howveryglib]

So it… so it has all been…

[what the FUCK.]

What… what evidence. I cannot just believe something like this because you, of all people, say it.

[crocodiline]

I mean I don't exactly have it on me, Gaius, but have I been wrong about anyone else?

[howveryglib]

…I have known the man for years, you cannot just… expect me to…

[he is thinking about a bunch of weird little things that suddenly make a whole lot of sense and oh god oh no oh man]

[crocodiline]

Correct, you've known Emet-Selch for a very long time. Whether you believe it or not is your call, but I don't exactly get anything out of lying.

[howveryglib]

…

I… need to look into it. I suppose. To see if it is at all possible.