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[immortalpoet]

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@

red gaze

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NAME

Vergilius

CIVILIAN_NAME

Red Gaze

TEAM

Brimstone

HOUSING_NUMBER

11

❤

Comments

[immortalpoet]

Oh, yes. Back in the day, I felt like I had to wipe the floor with them if they kept up their idiocy.

[But now, they're more or less in line.]

You still have a long way to go, but...you do hold the reins with a firmer hand these days, you know.

[followyourstar]

I do? ...I guess I do.

[They sound genuinely surprised.]

That's a relief to hear. I've been trying to improve as a Manager, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I wonder if it's... enough.

[immortalpoet]

It's always never enough.

[That's the fact of the matter. Not for Dante, but in general.]

But at the same time, it means there's always room to improve.

[followyourstar]

So basically don't get lazy about it.

[It makes sense.]

[immortalpoet]

Of course. Being lazy means that you will be someone else's lunch. Literally, sometimes.

It is...a dog eat dog world. After all. Even here. Complacency will be your end.

[followyourstar]

Even here...

[It's not what they want to hear, but it's something they need to. It lines up with the pieces they've been wishing they hadn't seen.]

Don't worry, I'm still looking for ways to improve. And even if I wasn't, there's always another kaiju to show up and make me.

[immortalpoet]

Well, you shouldn't let your obstacles make an example out of you. That just leads to you being kicked down the road.

[A low sigh.]

Don't be a can if you can help it.

[followyourstar]

[Right. Keep going and keep walking on their own two feet. Something to make sure they remember.]

Be a "can do" instead...

[Unfortunately for all present, this is said with 100% seriousness.]

[immortalpoet]

....





Boo.

[BOOOOO]

[followyourstar]

I thought it was clever...

[Not nearly as inspiring as they hoped, then.]

[immortalpoet]

Don't give up your day job for puns, Dante. My advice for the day.

[followyourstar]

Understood.

[And they'll stick to memorizing Vergilius's advice the old-fashioned way.]

I do appreciate it, though. The advice. I know it's probably frustrating, dealing with someone who knows as little about the world as I do

[immortalpoet]

...

[He will close his eyes at that.]

I have expectations, Dante. I wouldn't call it getting frustrated. You're a far cry from the trembling soul I found in the dark forest back then.

[followyourstar]

[They cringe at the memory. Despite being one of their first, many of the details still stick out in stark detail in their mind.]

In my defense, there was a lot going on at the time.

[immortalpoet]

There was. Even all the Sinners died. Do you remember that?

[They got wiped like yesterday's stain.]

[followyourstar]

Yeah. It definitely made an impression at the time, too. Everyone came in as if they knew exactly what to do, Faust taught me some of the basics of command, and then everyone died right in front of me.

And then, just as I thought I was gonna be next, you came in.

[immortalpoet]

That's the contract. Everyone is incapacitated...so the guide steps in to save all your sorry behinds.

[But he can't interfere before that. Unfortunately. And when he did...]

Those troublesome people, though...I think they were ready to ambush you.

[followyourstar]

You think so? I don't remember anything that led up to them cornering me in the forest, so I wouldn't know.

[They still wonder sometimes just what they were doing all the way out there in the middle of nowhere.]

[immortalpoet]

...

[He glances away, something hard in his face. The Serpent and her lackeys...]

[No. This wouldn't be the last he would see of her plans.]

Either way. They were sent home with their tails tucked behind them. So we don't have to worry about them for a while, one hopes.

[followyourstar]

And a little lighter than before.

[For the ones who lost their limbs anyway. Though they looked like the sort who could probably afford to get them replaced.]

I wonder how we'd do now. It feels like we've gotten a lot stronger since we first encountered those guys.

[But if even one of them is as strong as the Big Brother was...]

[immortalpoet]

It's their master your have to worry about.

[...]

But that's a question for another time. [He stops, turns - there's a dingy little bar, nestled in the side of the street shops.] We're here.

[followyourstar]

[A hole in the wall. Out of the way, probably not well known...]

I don't know why, but it does seem like the sort of place you'd pick.

[Maybe it's just too hard to picture him at some of the "trendier" places out there.]

[immortalpoet]

I don't like to go to the flashy places. Too much noise.

[He gestures - "come along" before going ahead. He'll beeline to the bar, order himself something strong. He'll make sure to save a spot at the bar for Dante, next to him.]

Do you think you ever were a bar kind of fellow?

[followyourstar]

[Too much noise... That's a feeling they understand. They'd gotten used the Sinners' presence ages ago, but even they sometimes needed a moment to themselves when things were getting too lively.]

Maybe.

[They take a seat beside him, assuring the bartender they'd be fine before leaning on the bar with their head in their hand.]

I think if I was, we'd have similar tastes. There's something about the quiet, simple places.

[immortalpoet]

The quiet, simple places.

[He repeats. Well, what Dante was before....]

[...]

[They seem to enjoy it now, at the very least.]

That's right, though. No one to hound your thoughts. I imagine it must be a nice break from your overall chaos, too.