-- apatheticAbuser [AA] began pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 19:33 --
AA: aascam are y0u there???
LA: Ah, h€££o th€r€ Mi$$ $€rk€i. I wa$n't €xp€¢ting ¥ou.
LA: To what do I ow€ th€ p£€a$ur€?
AA: oh uhm well i hope i am not wasting your time or anything
AA: but my lusus recently brought back these tiny little primate things!!!
AA: and they are just
AA: adorable!!!
LA: ...I$ that $o?
AA: yes
AA: they are all tiny and covered in fur
AA: and have the cutest little tails
AA: uhm
AA: are you still there???
LA: ¥€$, ¥€$. Ju$t ¢h€¢king to $€€ iƒ ¥our £u$u$ manag€d to nab min€ a$ w€££.
AA: oh what!!!
AA: man you know my lusus is just the laziest sac of pus and filth
AA: doesnt go after anything unless its been dead for like
AA: a month
LA: W€££, a gu¥ ¢an hop€, ¢an't h€?
LA: ƒor a mom€nt I thought ¥ou w€r€ ta£king about $tuƒƒ€d primat€$.
LA: But th€n I r€m€mb€r€d that thi$ i$ *¥our* £u$u$ w€'r€ ta£king about.
AA: well yeah
AA: she is busy chillin downstairs
AA: i think she has moved enough for this month
LA: I didn't r€a£i$€ ¥our £u$u$ had a ¢orp$€ quota.
AA: well i think she just doesnt like moving much in general???
AA: she may be the size of a...
AA: a...
AA: man, having trouble coming up with a comparison
AA: but my point was...
AA: hold on lemme think
LA: Tak€ ¥our tim€.
AA: oh!!!
AA: i was going to say that even though shes so huge she doesnt eat much
AA: i think she is annoyed by having to bring back so much extra stuff for me
LA: That r€mind$ m€, I r€a££¥ think ¥ou $hou£d g€t ƒr€$h ƒood. I hav€ ju$t room$ ƒu££ oƒ th€m and I'd b€ g£ad to giv€ th€m awa¥.
LA: M€taphori¢a££¥, oƒ ¢our$€.
AA: hrrrm
AA: i only see one problem with that!!!
AA: uh
AA: two actually
LA: Oh?
AA: first off i am pretty fine with the food i get
AA: stomach of steel!!!
AA: second off
AA: youre uh
AA: kind of expensive
AA: especially for someone so low on the hemototem pole as i am
LA: M¥ pri¢€$ ar€ high b€¢au$€ m¥ good$ ar€ qua£it¥.
LA: ¥ou'r€ pur¢ha$ing produ¢t$ m€ant ƒor th€ nobi£it¥ h€r€.
LA: $ur€£¥ ¥ou ¢an aƒƒord to $p£urg€ on¢€ in a whi£€?
LA: I'm $ur€ what I hav€ ta$t€$ mu¢h b€tt€r than rotting ƒ£€$h.
AA: to be honest i sorta like the taste
LA: That'$ kind oƒ di$turbing.
LA: Ar€ ¥ou $ur€ ¥ou'r€ not a¢tua££¥ und€ad?
LA: B€¢au$€ that $ound$ £ik€ th€ kind oƒ thing a £iving ¢orp$€ wou£d $a¥.
AA: hahaha of course not silly
AA: these veins still flow red and alive
LA: Iƒ ¥ou $a¥ $o.
LA: But it $ti££ ha$ to b€ unh€a£th¥, right?
LA: I m€an, ¥ou don't know what kind oƒ horrib£€ di$€a$€$ tho$€ ¢orp$€$ ar€ ¢arr¥ing.
AA: well
AA: i feel pretty fit and STRONG
AA: so i dont think i would agree???
LA: I don't know, th€r€ ar€ $trang€ di$€a$€$ wh€r€ ¥ou ƒ€€£ ƒin€ on€ mom€nt but ar€ $pa$iming and b£€€ding on th€ ƒ£oor th€ n€xt.
AA: hrm
LA: In ƒa¢t, I hav€ m€di¢a£ kit$ that ¢h€¢k ƒor ju$t that.
AA: well i am not spasming and spewing my rust coloured filth all over the walls
AA: and i have never done so in the past
LA: ¥ou n€v€r know.
LA: Ar€ ¥ou $ur€ ¥ou don't want to bu¥ on€, ju$t to b€ $ur€?
LA: Th€¥ £a$t quit€ a whi£€.
AA: erm
AA: well
AA: what would you be charging???
LA: A m€a$£¥ 40 ¢a€gar$.
LA: Wait.
LA: No.
AA: what???
LA: B€¢au$€ I ¢ar€, I'm wi££ing to £ow€r it to on£¥ 30 ¢a€gar$.
LA: I'm pra¢ti¢a££¥ giving it awa¥ h€r€.
AA: well um
AA: i just so happen to have...29 caegers in my wallet...
AA: maybe i could do some work to make up that last coin?
LA: W€££.... What do ¥ou hav€ in mind?
AA: well i dunno
AA: is there anything you need doing that requires strenuous physical labor???
LA: Hmm, now that I think about it.
LA: Th€r€ ar€ man¥ un$ort€d good$ in th€ ba¢k oƒ m¥ war€hou$€, and w€'r€ waiting on a £iƒting ma¢hin€ that $hou£d hav€ ¢om€ night$ ago.
AA: ok!!!
AA: i think i can do that
AA: should i just like
AA: head down there now???
AA: or do you wanna talk some more
AA: because to be honest we dont really talk much about anything other than buying stuff
LA: What? W€ ta£k about thing$. £ik€ tho$€ primat€$.
LA: And...
AA: aaaaaand???
LA: £u$ii...
AA: man we dont even know anything about each other
LA: W€££ ¢om€ on ov€r, w€ ¢an ta£k a$ I dir€¢t ¥ou.
LA: I'm $ur€ it'££ wi££ b€ a ƒin€ bond-bui£ding €xp€ri€n¢€.
AA: um
AA: ok!!!
AA: do you want me to just like...come over now???
LA: Wh€n€v€r i$ b€$t ƒor ¥ou. It'$ not £ik€ I'm bu$¥ or an¥thing.
AA: well i do not have anything to do
AA: so if you dont mind we could get this out of the way now???
LA: I don't mind at a££.
LA: I'££ b€ $€€ing ¥ou $oon, th€n?
AA: of course!!!
AA: just lemme get some shoes off the last guy she dragged in
AA: he had some nice boots
LA: Ahaha... ¥€a. A£right th€n.
LA: $€€ ¥ou $oon, th€n.
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] ceased pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 20:06 --
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Monday, 20 June 2011
LA & AA - Enter
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] began pestering apatheticAbuser [AA] at 19:31 --
AA: Hell0
LA: H€¥ ¢¥mm¥, $o $om€ good n€w$ and $om€ bad n€w$.
AA: 0k
LA: Good n€w$ i$ that I manag€d to ¢onvin¢€ £amia
LA: Mi$$ Ikr€m
AA: -0-h
AA: T0 d0 what
LA: I manag€d to ¢onvin¢€ Mi$$ Ikr€m to part with a wakthrough to h€£p u$ through th€ gam€.
LA: Bad n€w$ i$ that w€ ¢ou£d po$$ib£¥ di€ iƒ w€ don't hurr¥.
AA: -0-h
AA: I read that already
AA: It didn't make much sense
LA: It didn't? I und€r$tood mo$t oƒ it.
AA: Well
AA: I was very tired when I read it
AA: But uh
AA: D0 y0u want t0 begin
LA: ¥€$, w€ $hou£d b€gin a$ $oon a$ po$$ib£€.
AA: Alright
LA: ¥ou ar€ m¥ $€rv€r iƒ I r€m€mb€r ¢orr€¢t£¥.
AA: I already t00k the liberty 0f installing the game
AA: I believe I was, yes
LA: I hav€ it in$ta££€d a£r€ad¥ a$ w€££.
LA: $o ƒ€€£ ƒr€€ to hurr¥ up and ¢onn€¢t.
LA: Tim€ i$ oƒ th€ €$$€n¢€.
AA: Alright
AA: S0 I just c0nnect t0 y0u like...
AA: This?
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] connects to Aascam --
LA: ¥€$, that $€€m$ to b€ working.
AA: Alright
AA: S0 I place this 0bject first
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] places the cruxtruder down --
LA: ¥€$, ¥€$. Th€n ¥ou put down th€ Tot€m £ath€, th€ A£¢h€mit€r, and th€ Pr€-Pun¢h€d ¢ard.
LA: Ju$t, ¢£€ar awa¥ th€ $h€£v€$ iƒ ¥ou n€€d to mak€ room.
AA: Alright
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] quickly and violently moves away some shelves before placing down the two machines and the card --
AA: Is that all y0u need 0r can I g0 back t0 sleep n0w
LA: Ah, ¥€$. ¥ou a£$o n€€d to di$£odg€ th€ ¢ap oƒ th€ ¢ruxtrud€r with a h€av¥ obj€¢t.
LA: And no, don't go to $£€€p. It'$ nowh€r€ n€ar $unri$€, wh¥ ar€ ¥ou $£€€p¥?
AA: I was 0ut walking yesterday
AA: I didn't get back until the sun was setting
LA: W€££, tr¥ to $ta¥ ƒo¢u$€d at £€a$t unti£ I €nt€r.
LA: ¥ou ¢an do that, ¢an't ¥ou ¢¥mm¥?
AA: Fine
AA: D0 y0u have anything heavy I can use
LA: Th€ $h€£v€$ a££ around m€ ar€ probab£¥ $uƒƒi¢i€nt.
AA: Alright
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] picks up a shelf and slams it into the Cruxtruder --
LA: A£right, that wa$ good. That'$ th€ K€rn€£$prit€, I pr€$um€.
AA: I w0uld believe s0
LA: Hrm, I don't know what to protot¥p€ it with. What€v€r, I w€ ¢an do it £at€r. ƒir$t thing'$ ƒir$t, £€t m€ g€t a Dow€£ $o w€ ¢an ¢arv€ m¥ €ntr¥ it€m.
AA: Alright
AA: D0 y0u even need me f0r the rest 0f this?
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] spins the crank on the Cruxtruder, ejecting a Dowel. --
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] tried lifting the Dowel, but find's his strength to be insufficient. --
LA: ¥€$, $ta¥ ¢¥mm¥.
LA: I... I ¢an't £iƒt th€ Dow€£.
LA: ¢ou£d ¥ou bring it ov€r to th€ Tot€m £ath€?
AA: ...
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] lifts the dowel and drops it into the Totem Lathe --
LA: And hurr¥, I think I ƒ€€£ th€ m€t€or$ approa¢hing.
LA: Thank ¥ou.
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] grabs the Pre-Punched Card and slides it into the machine, carving the dowel. --
LA: Now bring it ov€r to th€ A£¢h€mit€r. Qui¢k£¥.
LA: Gah, Thi$ i$ unn€rving. Th€¥ $ound £ik€ th€¥'r€ ¢£o$ing in quit€ qui¢k£hg$htb$
AA: Is it really that heavy`
AA: What's wr0ng
-- loanedAllegiance's [LA'S] hive is struck by a small meteor, not big enough to destroy it, but enough to knock it around quite a bit. --
LA: ƒu¢k. I think m¥ hiv€ ju$t got hit.
AA: Alright
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] quickly brings the carved dowel to the alchemiter --
LA: I h€ar noi$€$ ƒrom down$tar$, I think th€ $to¢k got kno¢k€d around a bit.
LA: Ma¥b€ I $hou£d go ¢h€¢k it...
LA: No.
AA: N0
AA: Hurry
LA: Right
AA: Y0u d0n't have the time t0 be w0rrying
LA: $orr¥.
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] goes over to the Alchemiter and activates it, producing a bar of green chocolate --
LA: $o, I gu€$$ I'm $uppo$€d to €at that?
AA: Erm
AA: I think y0u need t0 put s0mething int0 the sprite first
LA: Right, I n€ar£¥ ƒorgot.
LA: I know! Th€r€'$ £ot$ oƒ $tuƒƒ down$tair$.
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] picks up the bar of chocolate and runs down to his warehouse, the Kernelsprite following close behind --
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] stops for a second, the damage if worse than he thought, with most of the stock crushed by celing beams --
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] surveys the scene, and notices that his lusus has been crushed as well. This makes up for the loss of property, he guesses --
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] follows with her cursor, revising things into more structurally stable configurations as she goes --
LA: a$ /m€ pa$$€$ th€ ¢orp$€ oƒ hi$ £u$u$ how€v€r, a parti¢u£ar¥ $trong jo£t ƒrom a m€t€orit€ kno¢k$ Aa$¢am'$ £u$u$ into th€ $prit€
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] is shocked by this, but there's no going back now. The sprite is prototyped, and the meteors approach. He takes as bite of the chocolate and his hive dissapears in a flash of light --
AA: Aascam?
LA: ¥€$?
AA: Y0ur hive has
AA: Well
AA: M0ved
LA: ¥€$, I know. I'v€ r€ad th€ wa£kthrough, r€m€mb€r. What do€$ it £ook £ik€?
AA: Y0u kn0w I'm n0t g00d with w0rds
AA: Perhaps y0u sh0uld l00k f0r y0urself
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] ascends the stairs back to the main floor --
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] gazes out at the Land of Vines and Clockwork, stunned --
LA: I $€€. ¥ou ¢an £€av€ now, I $uppo$€.
AA: -0-f c0urse
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] ceased pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 20:13 --
AA: Hell0
LA: H€¥ ¢¥mm¥, $o $om€ good n€w$ and $om€ bad n€w$.
AA: 0k
LA: Good n€w$ i$ that I manag€d to ¢onvin¢€ £amia
LA: Mi$$ Ikr€m
AA: -0-h
AA: T0 d0 what
LA: I manag€d to ¢onvin¢€ Mi$$ Ikr€m to part with a wakthrough to h€£p u$ through th€ gam€.
LA: Bad n€w$ i$ that w€ ¢ou£d po$$ib£¥ di€ iƒ w€ don't hurr¥.
AA: -0-h
AA: I read that already
AA: It didn't make much sense
LA: It didn't? I und€r$tood mo$t oƒ it.
AA: Well
AA: I was very tired when I read it
AA: But uh
AA: D0 y0u want t0 begin
LA: ¥€$, w€ $hou£d b€gin a$ $oon a$ po$$ib£€.
AA: Alright
LA: ¥ou ar€ m¥ $€rv€r iƒ I r€m€mb€r ¢orr€¢t£¥.
AA: I already t00k the liberty 0f installing the game
AA: I believe I was, yes
LA: I hav€ it in$ta££€d a£r€ad¥ a$ w€££.
LA: $o ƒ€€£ ƒr€€ to hurr¥ up and ¢onn€¢t.
LA: Tim€ i$ oƒ th€ €$$€n¢€.
AA: Alright
AA: S0 I just c0nnect t0 y0u like...
AA: This?
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] connects to Aascam --
LA: ¥€$, that $€€m$ to b€ working.
AA: Alright
AA: S0 I place this 0bject first
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] places the cruxtruder down --
LA: ¥€$, ¥€$. Th€n ¥ou put down th€ Tot€m £ath€, th€ A£¢h€mit€r, and th€ Pr€-Pun¢h€d ¢ard.
LA: Ju$t, ¢£€ar awa¥ th€ $h€£v€$ iƒ ¥ou n€€d to mak€ room.
AA: Alright
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] quickly and violently moves away some shelves before placing down the two machines and the card --
AA: Is that all y0u need 0r can I g0 back t0 sleep n0w
LA: Ah, ¥€$. ¥ou a£$o n€€d to di$£odg€ th€ ¢ap oƒ th€ ¢ruxtrud€r with a h€av¥ obj€¢t.
LA: And no, don't go to $£€€p. It'$ nowh€r€ n€ar $unri$€, wh¥ ar€ ¥ou $£€€p¥?
AA: I was 0ut walking yesterday
AA: I didn't get back until the sun was setting
LA: W€££, tr¥ to $ta¥ ƒo¢u$€d at £€a$t unti£ I €nt€r.
LA: ¥ou ¢an do that, ¢an't ¥ou ¢¥mm¥?
AA: Fine
AA: D0 y0u have anything heavy I can use
LA: Th€ $h€£v€$ a££ around m€ ar€ probab£¥ $uƒƒi¢i€nt.
AA: Alright
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] picks up a shelf and slams it into the Cruxtruder --
LA: A£right, that wa$ good. That'$ th€ K€rn€£$prit€, I pr€$um€.
AA: I w0uld believe s0
LA: Hrm, I don't know what to protot¥p€ it with. What€v€r, I w€ ¢an do it £at€r. ƒir$t thing'$ ƒir$t, £€t m€ g€t a Dow€£ $o w€ ¢an ¢arv€ m¥ €ntr¥ it€m.
AA: Alright
AA: D0 y0u even need me f0r the rest 0f this?
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] spins the crank on the Cruxtruder, ejecting a Dowel. --
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] tried lifting the Dowel, but find's his strength to be insufficient. --
LA: ¥€$, $ta¥ ¢¥mm¥.
LA: I... I ¢an't £iƒt th€ Dow€£.
LA: ¢ou£d ¥ou bring it ov€r to th€ Tot€m £ath€?
AA: ...
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] lifts the dowel and drops it into the Totem Lathe --
LA: And hurr¥, I think I ƒ€€£ th€ m€t€or$ approa¢hing.
LA: Thank ¥ou.
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] grabs the Pre-Punched Card and slides it into the machine, carving the dowel. --
LA: Now bring it ov€r to th€ A£¢h€mit€r. Qui¢k£¥.
LA: Gah, Thi$ i$ unn€rving. Th€¥ $ound £ik€ th€¥'r€ ¢£o$ing in quit€ qui¢k£hg$htb$
AA: Is it really that heavy`
AA: What's wr0ng
-- loanedAllegiance's [LA'S] hive is struck by a small meteor, not big enough to destroy it, but enough to knock it around quite a bit. --
LA: ƒu¢k. I think m¥ hiv€ ju$t got hit.
AA: Alright
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] quickly brings the carved dowel to the alchemiter --
LA: I h€ar noi$€$ ƒrom down$tar$, I think th€ $to¢k got kno¢k€d around a bit.
LA: Ma¥b€ I $hou£d go ¢h€¢k it...
LA: No.
AA: N0
AA: Hurry
LA: Right
AA: Y0u d0n't have the time t0 be w0rrying
LA: $orr¥.
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] goes over to the Alchemiter and activates it, producing a bar of green chocolate --
LA: $o, I gu€$$ I'm $uppo$€d to €at that?
AA: Erm
AA: I think y0u need t0 put s0mething int0 the sprite first
LA: Right, I n€ar£¥ ƒorgot.
LA: I know! Th€r€'$ £ot$ oƒ $tuƒƒ down$tair$.
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] picks up the bar of chocolate and runs down to his warehouse, the Kernelsprite following close behind --
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] stops for a second, the damage if worse than he thought, with most of the stock crushed by celing beams --
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] surveys the scene, and notices that his lusus has been crushed as well. This makes up for the loss of property, he guesses --
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] follows with her cursor, revising things into more structurally stable configurations as she goes --
LA: a$ /m€ pa$$€$ th€ ¢orp$€ oƒ hi$ £u$u$ how€v€r, a parti¢u£ar¥ $trong jo£t ƒrom a m€t€orit€ kno¢k$ Aa$¢am'$ £u$u$ into th€ $prit€
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] is shocked by this, but there's no going back now. The sprite is prototyped, and the meteors approach. He takes as bite of the chocolate and his hive dissapears in a flash of light --
AA: Aascam?
LA: ¥€$?
AA: Y0ur hive has
AA: Well
AA: M0ved
LA: ¥€$, I know. I'v€ r€ad th€ wa£kthrough, r€m€mb€r. What do€$ it £ook £ik€?
AA: Y0u kn0w I'm n0t g00d with w0rds
AA: Perhaps y0u sh0uld l00k f0r y0urself
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] ascends the stairs back to the main floor --
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] gazes out at the Land of Vines and Clockwork, stunned --
LA: I $€€. ¥ou ¢an £€av€ now, I $uppo$€.
AA: -0-f c0urse
-- apatheticAbuser [AA] ceased pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 20:13 --
Monday, 13 June 2011
LA & TT - I'm ju$t not r€ad¥ ƒor thi$ kind oƒ ¢ommitm€nt.
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] began pestering troublesomeTrickster [TT] at 16:01 --
LA: Mi$$ To£vaj, I ¢ou£d not h€£p but noti¢€ ¥ou in £a$t night'$ m€mo.
LA: Wou£d ¥ou b€ $o kind a$ to €xp£ain wh¥ Mi$t€r £u¢€ri ¢ho$€ ¥ou to join our £itt£€ group?
TT: ωhψ, !sn'† !† ●βv!●υs?
LA: €n£ight€n m€.
TT: hε ω!shεd †● εnl!s† mψ εl!†ε †h!εf sk!lls !n h!s l!††lε ¶αr†ψ.
LA: Wh¥ wou£d w€ po$$ib£¥ n€€d a thi€ƒ? W€'r€ ju$t p£a¥ing a gam€?
LA: Ar€ ¥ou b£a¢kmai£ing him? Thr€at€ning him to £€t ¥ou in?
LA: What i$ ¥our motiv€, To£vaj?
TT: ! d●n'† †h!nk hε cαn βε s● εαs!lψ sωαψεd ω!†h h!s β!g εg●, s● n●. n● βlαckmα!l/†hrεα†εn!ng. sυr¶r!s!nglψ.
TT: ε!†hεr ωαψ, ! hαd n● !n†εn†!●n ●f αc†υαllψ j●!n!ng ψ●υr mεrrψ βαnd υn†!l hε rεvεαlεd †hε ¶●●r s†α†ε ●f ψ●υr gr●υ¶, αnd ! ωαs grαc!●υs εn●υgh †● sε† αs!dε mψ βυsψ schεdυlε †● j●!n.
TT: ψ●υ ω●υnd mε! mψ m●†!vεs αrε sqυεαkψ clεαn.
TT: sqυεαkψ clεαn αnd ω!†h †hε scεn† ●f r●sεs.
LA: I don't tru$t ¥ou a$ ƒar a$ I ¢ou£d throw ¥ou.
LA: Thi€v€$ ar€ nothing but troub£€.
LA: Bad ƒor bui$n€$$, ¥ou $€€.
LA: But, I am going to b€ th€ b€tt€r man h€r€.
LA: I'm going to giv€ ¥ou an oƒƒ€r.
TT: s†r!k!ng dεαls ω!†h d!r†ψ, †r●υβlεs●mε †h!εvεs?
TT: !'m sh●ckεd.
TT: mαψβε εvεn...
TT: h●n●rεd?!
LA: I'm r€a¢hing n€w £ow$ h€r€, that'$ ƒor $ur€.
TT: ... ωα!†, n●. !'m n●† h●n●rεd. jυs† k!nd ●f hυngrψ.
TT: ●υ† ω!†h !†, †hεn!
LA: ¥ou'v€ $€€n m¥ $to¢k, ¥ou know what I hav€. I'££ giv€ ¥ou an¥thing I hav€ ƒor ¥ou to £€av€ thi$ group.
LA: An¥thing within r€a$on, that i$.
LA: $€€ how r€a$onab£€ that i$?
LA: What do ¥ou $a¥?
TT: hmmm...
TT: ¶εrfεc†lψ rεαs●nαβlε, βυ†.
TT: ωhα† !f ! d●n’† ωαn† αnψ†h!ng?
LA: Oƒ ¢our$€ ¥ou want $om€thing, wh¥ €£$€ wou£d ¥ou ¢on$tant£¥ p€$t€r m€ with ¥our pitiƒu£ att€mpt$ at th€iv€r¥?
TT: ●υch, ¶!†!fυl?! !'ll hαvε ψ●υ kn●ω, !'vε †αkεn εn●υgh fr●m ψ●υr s†●ck f●r !† †● n●† βε c●ns!dεrεd c●m¶lε†εlψ ¶!†!fυl!
LA: ¥our £u$u$ ha$, ¥ou'r€ nothing but th€ di$tra¢tion.
LA: But ma¥b€ I'm wrong, ¥ou don't want an¥thing ƒrom m€ aƒt€r a££.
LA: I'v€ ju$t wound€d ¥our prid€.
TT: εh, d!ffεrεn† mε†h●ds. !'m s†!ll !nv●lvεd. †hα† αrgυmεn† !s †●†αllψ !nvαl!d.
TT: αnd rεαllψ !† ωαs ψ●υr dυmβ lυsυs ωh● ω●υndεd mψ fαcε.
LA: ¥ou'r€ ju$t ƒoo£ing ¥our$€£ƒ, To£vaj.
TT: n●, n●.
TT: !'m ¶r円ψ sυrε hε h!† mε !n †hε fαcε.
TT: ! dυnn● αβ●υ† ψ●υ, βυ† !'d !mαg!nε !† ω●υld βε ¶r円ψ hαrd †● n●† n●†!cε s●mε†h!ng ¶υnch!ng ψ●υ.
LA: Not that, I m€ant th€ part about ¥ou having an¥ $igniƒigant part in th€ th€iv€r¥$.
TT: εh, s●mε†!mεs ψ●υ jυs† hαvε †● lεαrn †● †αkε υ¶ α sυ¶¶●r†!ng r●lε !ns†εαd ●f †hε mα!n ●nε.
TT: !†'s α l!††lε †h!ng cαllεd †εαmω●rk.
LA: Oƒ ¢our$€.
LA: W€££ th€n, what mu$t I do to g€t rid oƒ ¥ou?
TT: g!vε mε...
TT: ψ●υr l!fε! mωαhαhαhα!
LA: Tr¥ to b€ $€riou$ ƒor a mom€nt, To£vaj.
LA: I know it'$ hard, but iƒ ¥ou put ¥our mind to it...
TT: sεr!●υs !s β●r!ng αnd ●vεrrα†εd.
TT: βυ† !n †εrms ●f βε!ng αc†υαllψ sεr!●υs, ! αm! !'m crεα†!ng sυs¶εnsε αnd †εns!●n f●r †hε †rυε βαrgα!n.
TT: α†m●s¶hεrε !s sεr!●υs βυs!nεss, hεrε.
LA: G€t to th€ point.
TT: gεε, ψ●υ'rε jυs† †hε ε¶!†●mε ●f ¶α†!εncε.
TT: αs f●r ωhα† ! ωαn†… kεk. ! d●n'† ωαn† αnψ†h!ng fr●m ψ●υ.
LA: I'm $ur€ I mu$t hav€ $om€thing ¥ou want.
TT: sεε!ng ψ●υ g円!ng αll h●† αnd β●†hεrεd ●vεr mε βε!ng !n ψ●υr gr●υ¶ !s m●rε fυn †hαn jυs† g円!ng s●mε†h!ng †hα† ! cαn ¶r●βαβlψ ●β†α!n εlsεωhεrε.
LA: $o ¥ou'r€ h€r€ ju$t to $pit€ m€? That'$ awƒu££¥ ƒorward oƒ ¥ou. I ¢an't $a¥ I'm ƒ£att€r€d though.
TT: αωωω, †hα†'s †●● βαd.
TT: ! ¶υ† s● mυch †h●υgh† αnd ¶lαnn!ng !n†● !†, ! ωαs sυrε ψ●υ'd l●vε !†.
LA: I'm ju$t not int€r€$t€d in roman¢€, It'$ not ¥our ƒau£t.
LA: It'$ m€.
LA: I hat€ ¥ou, I r€a££¥ do, I'm ju$t not r€ad¥ ƒor thi$ kind oƒ ¢ommitm€nt.
TT: !† m●s† dεf!nα†εlψ !s! n● ω●ndεr ψ●υ'rε αll αl●nε ω!†h ψ●υr crαzψ lυsυs αnd α dυs†-c●vεrεd ¶α!l fυll ●f c●βωεβs.
LA: ƒu¢k ¥ou $k¥£ar, I want to ki££ him not ƒi££ bu¢k€t$ with him.
TT: k!nd ●f hαrd †● †h!nk ●†hεrω!sε !f ψ●υ'rε ω●rk!ng s● hαrd †● dr!vε αωαψ cυs†●mεrs ω!†h †h●sε ●υ†rαgε●υs ¶r!cεs.
TT: αs !f ψ●υ ωαn† †● jυs† βε... αl●nε ω!†h h!m?
LA: Th€¥ ar€ p€rƒ€¢t£¥ ƒin€ pri¢€$ ƒor what I hav€ and I DO NOT HAT€ HIM £IK€ THAT.
LA: Thi$ ¢onv€r$ation i$ ov€r.
LA: I hop€ ¥ou trip and di€.
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] ceased pestering troublesomeTrickster [TT] at 16:45 --
LA: Mi$$ To£vaj, I ¢ou£d not h€£p but noti¢€ ¥ou in £a$t night'$ m€mo.
LA: Wou£d ¥ou b€ $o kind a$ to €xp£ain wh¥ Mi$t€r £u¢€ri ¢ho$€ ¥ou to join our £itt£€ group?
TT: ωhψ, !sn'† !† ●βv!●υs?
LA: €n£ight€n m€.
TT: hε ω!shεd †● εnl!s† mψ εl!†ε †h!εf sk!lls !n h!s l!††lε ¶αr†ψ.
LA: Wh¥ wou£d w€ po$$ib£¥ n€€d a thi€ƒ? W€'r€ ju$t p£a¥ing a gam€?
LA: Ar€ ¥ou b£a¢kmai£ing him? Thr€at€ning him to £€t ¥ou in?
LA: What i$ ¥our motiv€, To£vaj?
TT: ! d●n'† †h!nk hε cαn βε s● εαs!lψ sωαψεd ω!†h h!s β!g εg●, s● n●. n● βlαckmα!l/†hrεα†εn!ng. sυr¶r!s!nglψ.
TT: ε!†hεr ωαψ, ! hαd n● !n†εn†!●n ●f αc†υαllψ j●!n!ng ψ●υr mεrrψ βαnd υn†!l hε rεvεαlεd †hε ¶●●r s†α†ε ●f ψ●υr gr●υ¶, αnd ! ωαs grαc!●υs εn●υgh †● sε† αs!dε mψ βυsψ schεdυlε †● j●!n.
TT: ψ●υ ω●υnd mε! mψ m●†!vεs αrε sqυεαkψ clεαn.
TT: sqυεαkψ clεαn αnd ω!†h †hε scεn† ●f r●sεs.
LA: I don't tru$t ¥ou a$ ƒar a$ I ¢ou£d throw ¥ou.
LA: Thi€v€$ ar€ nothing but troub£€.
LA: Bad ƒor bui$n€$$, ¥ou $€€.
LA: But, I am going to b€ th€ b€tt€r man h€r€.
LA: I'm going to giv€ ¥ou an oƒƒ€r.
TT: s†r!k!ng dεαls ω!†h d!r†ψ, †r●υβlεs●mε †h!εvεs?
TT: !'m sh●ckεd.
TT: mαψβε εvεn...
TT: h●n●rεd?!
LA: I'm r€a¢hing n€w £ow$ h€r€, that'$ ƒor $ur€.
TT: ... ωα!†, n●. !'m n●† h●n●rεd. jυs† k!nd ●f hυngrψ.
TT: ●υ† ω!†h !†, †hεn!
LA: ¥ou'v€ $€€n m¥ $to¢k, ¥ou know what I hav€. I'££ giv€ ¥ou an¥thing I hav€ ƒor ¥ou to £€av€ thi$ group.
LA: An¥thing within r€a$on, that i$.
LA: $€€ how r€a$onab£€ that i$?
LA: What do ¥ou $a¥?
TT: hmmm...
TT: ¶εrfεc†lψ rεαs●nαβlε, βυ†.
TT: ωhα† !f ! d●n’† ωαn† αnψ†h!ng?
LA: Oƒ ¢our$€ ¥ou want $om€thing, wh¥ €£$€ wou£d ¥ou ¢on$tant£¥ p€$t€r m€ with ¥our pitiƒu£ att€mpt$ at th€iv€r¥?
TT: ●υch, ¶!†!fυl?! !'ll hαvε ψ●υ kn●ω, !'vε †αkεn εn●υgh fr●m ψ●υr s†●ck f●r !† †● n●† βε c●ns!dεrεd c●m¶lε†εlψ ¶!†!fυl!
LA: ¥our £u$u$ ha$, ¥ou'r€ nothing but th€ di$tra¢tion.
LA: But ma¥b€ I'm wrong, ¥ou don't want an¥thing ƒrom m€ aƒt€r a££.
LA: I'v€ ju$t wound€d ¥our prid€.
TT: εh, d!ffεrεn† mε†h●ds. !'m s†!ll !nv●lvεd. †hα† αrgυmεn† !s †●†αllψ !nvαl!d.
TT: αnd rεαllψ !† ωαs ψ●υr dυmβ lυsυs ωh● ω●υndεd mψ fαcε.
LA: ¥ou'r€ ju$t ƒoo£ing ¥our$€£ƒ, To£vaj.
TT: n●, n●.
TT: !'m ¶r円ψ sυrε hε h!† mε !n †hε fαcε.
TT: ! dυnn● αβ●υ† ψ●υ, βυ† !'d !mαg!nε !† ω●υld βε ¶r円ψ hαrd †● n●† n●†!cε s●mε†h!ng ¶υnch!ng ψ●υ.
LA: Not that, I m€ant th€ part about ¥ou having an¥ $igniƒigant part in th€ th€iv€r¥$.
TT: εh, s●mε†!mεs ψ●υ jυs† hαvε †● lεαrn †● †αkε υ¶ α sυ¶¶●r†!ng r●lε !ns†εαd ●f †hε mα!n ●nε.
TT: !†'s α l!††lε †h!ng cαllεd †εαmω●rk.
LA: Oƒ ¢our$€.
LA: W€££ th€n, what mu$t I do to g€t rid oƒ ¥ou?
TT: g!vε mε...
TT: ψ●υr l!fε! mωαhαhαhα!
LA: Tr¥ to b€ $€riou$ ƒor a mom€nt, To£vaj.
LA: I know it'$ hard, but iƒ ¥ou put ¥our mind to it...
TT: sεr!●υs !s β●r!ng αnd ●vεrrα†εd.
TT: βυ† !n †εrms ●f βε!ng αc†υαllψ sεr!●υs, ! αm! !'m crεα†!ng sυs¶εnsε αnd †εns!●n f●r †hε †rυε βαrgα!n.
TT: α†m●s¶hεrε !s sεr!●υs βυs!nεss, hεrε.
LA: G€t to th€ point.
TT: gεε, ψ●υ'rε jυs† †hε ε¶!†●mε ●f ¶α†!εncε.
TT: αs f●r ωhα† ! ωαn†… kεk. ! d●n'† ωαn† αnψ†h!ng fr●m ψ●υ.
LA: I'm $ur€ I mu$t hav€ $om€thing ¥ou want.
TT: sεε!ng ψ●υ g円!ng αll h●† αnd β●†hεrεd ●vεr mε βε!ng !n ψ●υr gr●υ¶ !s m●rε fυn †hαn jυs† g円!ng s●mε†h!ng †hα† ! cαn ¶r●βαβlψ ●β†α!n εlsεωhεrε.
LA: $o ¥ou'r€ h€r€ ju$t to $pit€ m€? That'$ awƒu££¥ ƒorward oƒ ¥ou. I ¢an't $a¥ I'm ƒ£att€r€d though.
TT: αωωω, †hα†'s †●● βαd.
TT: ! ¶υ† s● mυch †h●υgh† αnd ¶lαnn!ng !n†● !†, ! ωαs sυrε ψ●υ'd l●vε !†.
LA: I'm ju$t not int€r€$t€d in roman¢€, It'$ not ¥our ƒau£t.
LA: It'$ m€.
LA: I hat€ ¥ou, I r€a££¥ do, I'm ju$t not r€ad¥ ƒor thi$ kind oƒ ¢ommitm€nt.
TT: !† m●s† dεf!nα†εlψ !s! n● ω●ndεr ψ●υ'rε αll αl●nε ω!†h ψ●υr crαzψ lυsυs αnd α dυs†-c●vεrεd ¶α!l fυll ●f c●βωεβs.
LA: ƒu¢k ¥ou $k¥£ar, I want to ki££ him not ƒi££ bu¢k€t$ with him.
TT: k!nd ●f hαrd †● †h!nk ●†hεrω!sε !f ψ●υ'rε ω●rk!ng s● hαrd †● dr!vε αωαψ cυs†●mεrs ω!†h †h●sε ●υ†rαgε●υs ¶r!cεs.
TT: αs !f ψ●υ ωαn† †● jυs† βε... αl●nε ω!†h h!m?
LA: Th€¥ ar€ p€rƒ€¢t£¥ ƒin€ pri¢€$ ƒor what I hav€ and I DO NOT HAT€ HIM £IK€ THAT.
LA: Thi$ ¢onv€r$ation i$ ov€r.
LA: I hop€ ¥ou trip and di€.
-- loanedAllegiance [LA] ceased pestering troublesomeTrickster [TT] at 16:45 --
LA & SP - A tro££ ha$ to mak€ a £iving, ¥ou know?
-- seriousPirate [SP] began pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 19:16 --
SP: ahoy
LA: H€££o, $P.
SP: good ye s7ill remember me
LA: I mak€ it a po£i¢¥ to r€m€mb€r a££ oƒ m¥ ¢u$tom€r$.
SP: i would like 7o place an order
SP: 7he usual one
LA: Oƒ ¢our$€, I'££ g€t it r€ad¥ right awa¥.
LA: On€ thing how€v€r.
SP: wha7
LA: A ¢oup£€ oƒ th€ $upp£i€r$ I go to hav€ r€¢€nt£¥ rai$€d th€ pri¢€ oƒ th€ir $to¢k, $o I'm aƒraid I'££ hav€ to ¢harg€ ¥ou around 20 ¢a€gar$ €xtra thi$ tim€ around.
SP: oh
SP: well ive been 7hinking myself
SP: ye do realize 7ha7 7hese prizes of yers yarre ra7her high
-- seriousPirate [SP] changed their mood to RELAXED
--
SP: i could jus7
SP: i don7 know
SP: go 7o 7reebay and buy i7 off cheaper 7here
LA: Ahh, but ¥ou $€€ th€¥ don't $€££ in bu£k. ¥ou'££ ju$t €nd up pa¥ing mor€ than m¥ pri¢€$ in $hipping.
LA: I'm v€r¥ $orr¥ ƒor th€ pri¢€ rai$€, but a tro££ ha$ to mak€ a £iving, ¥ou know?
SP: yeahoy i don7 ge7 my money ou7 of nowhere ei7her
SP: so ins7ead of a prize raisa
SP: how abou7
SP: a discoun7
LA: W€££, $in¢€ ¥ou'r€ on€ oƒ th€ on£¥ ¢u$tom€r$ I g€t, v€r¥ w€££. I'££ giv€ ¥ou a di$¢ount on an¥ oƒ m¥ produ¢t$ oth€r than ¥our $upp£i€$.
SP: no i mean7 7he supplies
LA: Hmm.
LA: I had hop€d it wou£dn't ¢om€ to thi$.
LA: I'££ giv€ ¥ou ƒr€€ $hipping.
SP: no im s7ill going 7o ge7 7hem on foo7
SP: like always
SP: my hives loca7ion is no7 for 7he public eye see
LA: On€ £a$t oƒƒ€r, on£¥ 5 ¢a€gar$ €xtra, and I'££ throw in a ¢oup£€ book$ on $hip$ and $ai£ing.
LA: I know how mu¢h ¥ou £ik€ $ai£ing.
SP: im pre77y sure i made myself ra7her cleyarr eyarrlier
SP: i wan7
SP: a discoun7
LA: ¥ou driv€ a hard bargain, Mi$t€r Tor€nt.
SP: 7hanks
SP: how abou7
SP: 90 percen7
LA: 95%
SP: i mean7 90 percen7 off
SP: unless ye mean7 7ha7 7oo
SP: in 7ha7 case okay
LA: That'$ bord€r£in€ robb€r¥, K¥arib.
LA: I'd b€ £o$ing mon€¥ iƒ I gav€ ¥ou 90% oƒƒ.
LA: A £ot oƒ mon€¥.
SP: if we consider 7he 7wo sweeps ive been buying supplies from ye
SP: id say yed s7ill be winning
LA: ¥ou'r€ a tough man to d€a£ with, Tor€nt. How about 80% oƒƒ and I'££ throw in tho$€ book$ I m€ntion€d €ar£i€r.
SP: alrigh7
SP: 7ha7 sounds like a fair deal
SP: a7 leas7 7o one pyarr7y
SP: ill come pick 7hem up in abou7 [[al7ernian 7ime for couple of weeks here]]
LA: V€¥ w€££, I'££ b€ waiting at m¥ €x¢hang€.
SP: pleasure doing business wi7h ye
LA: Ind€€d.
LA: A¢tua££¥, b€ƒor€ ¥ou go,
LA: do ¥ou £ik€ tr€a$ur€ hunting?
SP: im a pira7e
SP: i7s wha7 i do
SP: yep
LA: ¥€$, ¥€$, how ¢ou£d I ƒorg€t.
SP: 7reasure hun7ing
LA: W€££, it ju$t $o happ€n$ that v€r¥ r€¢€nt£¥ I manag€d to aquir€ a rath€r an¢i€nt tr€a$ur€ map, don't a$k how I got it.
SP: and
LA: How about I £€t ¥ou £ook at it th€ n€xt tim€ ¥ou'r€ ov€r and iƒ ¥ou want, I'££ $€££ it to ¥ou ƒor, £€t$ $a¥, a m€a$£¥ 5 ¢a€gar$.
LA: A¢tua££¥, I'££ $¢an ¥ou an imag€, and ¥ou ¢an judg€ ƒor ¥our$€£ƒ right now.
SP: ill 7hink abou7 i7
SP: oh
LA: nnn.Grubimag€.a£t/tr€a$ur€.gi£
LA: Mind th€ $igi£$.
SP: uh
SP: i7 looks like i7s ou7 a7 7he sea
LA: ¥€$, ¥ou'r€ a $ai£or ar€n't ¥ou?
SP: uh
SP: yeahoy
SP: of course i am
SP: a sailor
SP: and 7ha7s why
SP: i 7hink ill buy i7
LA: €x¢€££€nt!
LA: I don't think ¥ou'££ r€gr€t thi$, K¥arib.
SP: surely no7
LA: I hav€ b€€n gr€at£¥ a$$ur€d oƒ it'$ auth€nti¢it¥/
SP: from who
LA: An aquantan¢€ b¥ th€ nam€ oƒ Ka£pa¢ $€€th€.
LA: H€ i$ $itting on an ab$o£ut€ tr€a$ur€ trov€ oƒ an¢i€nt tr€a$ur€, and €v€rthing I'v€ r€¢i€v€d ƒrom him ha$ $o ƒar b€€n £€gitimat.
SP: yarre 7hey all ou7 a7 7he sea
LA: W€££, not a££ oƒ th€m, but wh¥ wou£d it matt€r to a pirat€?
SP: well
SP: 7ha7s because
SP: uh
SP: because id prefer 7hem 7o be ou7 a7 7he sea
SP: yes
SP: so i don7 have 7o
SP: look for 7reasure in middle of a deser7
SP: or some7hing
LA: Oƒ ¢our$€, Mi$t€r Tor€nt.
LA: An¥how, it ha$ b€€n good doing bui$n€$$ with ¥ou.
LA: Ma¥ our ƒutur€ tran$a¢tion$ pro¢€€d $mooth€r than thi$ on€.
SP: wha7 do ye mean
SP: 7his one 7urned ou7 qui7e fine i 7hink
LA: 80% oƒƒ i$ hard£¥ ƒin€, Mi$t€r Tor€nt.
LA: Hard£¥ ƒin€ at a££.
SP: i7s a small price for guyarran7eeing me 7ha7 ye do cyarre abou7 yer cus7omers
SP: or 7he loyal ones a7 leas7
LA: Right, oƒ ¢our$€. I ¢ar€ gr€at£¥ about ¥ou and ¥our bui$n€$$.
SP: good
SP: ill be going now
LA: V€r¥ w€££, I'££ $€€ ¥ou in [two a£t€rnian w€€k$].
SP: yeahoy
-- seriousPirate [SP] ceased pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 19:59 --
SP: ahoy
LA: H€££o, $P.
SP: good ye s7ill remember me
LA: I mak€ it a po£i¢¥ to r€m€mb€r a££ oƒ m¥ ¢u$tom€r$.
SP: i would like 7o place an order
SP: 7he usual one
LA: Oƒ ¢our$€, I'££ g€t it r€ad¥ right awa¥.
LA: On€ thing how€v€r.
SP: wha7
LA: A ¢oup£€ oƒ th€ $upp£i€r$ I go to hav€ r€¢€nt£¥ rai$€d th€ pri¢€ oƒ th€ir $to¢k, $o I'm aƒraid I'££ hav€ to ¢harg€ ¥ou around 20 ¢a€gar$ €xtra thi$ tim€ around.
SP: oh
SP: well ive been 7hinking myself
SP: ye do realize 7ha7 7hese prizes of yers yarre ra7her high
-- seriousPirate [SP] changed their mood to RELAXED
--SP: i could jus7
SP: i don7 know
SP: go 7o 7reebay and buy i7 off cheaper 7here
LA: Ahh, but ¥ou $€€ th€¥ don't $€££ in bu£k. ¥ou'££ ju$t €nd up pa¥ing mor€ than m¥ pri¢€$ in $hipping.
LA: I'm v€r¥ $orr¥ ƒor th€ pri¢€ rai$€, but a tro££ ha$ to mak€ a £iving, ¥ou know?
SP: yeahoy i don7 ge7 my money ou7 of nowhere ei7her
SP: so ins7ead of a prize raisa
SP: how abou7
SP: a discoun7
LA: W€££, $in¢€ ¥ou'r€ on€ oƒ th€ on£¥ ¢u$tom€r$ I g€t, v€r¥ w€££. I'££ giv€ ¥ou a di$¢ount on an¥ oƒ m¥ produ¢t$ oth€r than ¥our $upp£i€$.
SP: no i mean7 7he supplies
LA: Hmm.
LA: I had hop€d it wou£dn't ¢om€ to thi$.
LA: I'££ giv€ ¥ou ƒr€€ $hipping.
SP: no im s7ill going 7o ge7 7hem on foo7
SP: like always
SP: my hives loca7ion is no7 for 7he public eye see
LA: On€ £a$t oƒƒ€r, on£¥ 5 ¢a€gar$ €xtra, and I'££ throw in a ¢oup£€ book$ on $hip$ and $ai£ing.
LA: I know how mu¢h ¥ou £ik€ $ai£ing.
SP: im pre77y sure i made myself ra7her cleyarr eyarrlier
SP: i wan7
SP: a discoun7
LA: ¥ou driv€ a hard bargain, Mi$t€r Tor€nt.
SP: 7hanks
SP: how abou7
SP: 90 percen7
LA: 95%
SP: i mean7 90 percen7 off
SP: unless ye mean7 7ha7 7oo
SP: in 7ha7 case okay
LA: That'$ bord€r£in€ robb€r¥, K¥arib.
LA: I'd b€ £o$ing mon€¥ iƒ I gav€ ¥ou 90% oƒƒ.
LA: A £ot oƒ mon€¥.
SP: if we consider 7he 7wo sweeps ive been buying supplies from ye
SP: id say yed s7ill be winning
LA: ¥ou'r€ a tough man to d€a£ with, Tor€nt. How about 80% oƒƒ and I'££ throw in tho$€ book$ I m€ntion€d €ar£i€r.
SP: alrigh7
SP: 7ha7 sounds like a fair deal
SP: a7 leas7 7o one pyarr7y
SP: ill come pick 7hem up in abou7 [[al7ernian 7ime for couple of weeks here]]
LA: V€¥ w€££, I'££ b€ waiting at m¥ €x¢hang€.
SP: pleasure doing business wi7h ye
LA: Ind€€d.
LA: A¢tua££¥, b€ƒor€ ¥ou go,
LA: do ¥ou £ik€ tr€a$ur€ hunting?
SP: im a pira7e
SP: i7s wha7 i do
SP: yep
LA: ¥€$, ¥€$, how ¢ou£d I ƒorg€t.
SP: 7reasure hun7ing
LA: W€££, it ju$t $o happ€n$ that v€r¥ r€¢€nt£¥ I manag€d to aquir€ a rath€r an¢i€nt tr€a$ur€ map, don't a$k how I got it.
SP: and
LA: How about I £€t ¥ou £ook at it th€ n€xt tim€ ¥ou'r€ ov€r and iƒ ¥ou want, I'££ $€££ it to ¥ou ƒor, £€t$ $a¥, a m€a$£¥ 5 ¢a€gar$.
LA: A¢tua££¥, I'££ $¢an ¥ou an imag€, and ¥ou ¢an judg€ ƒor ¥our$€£ƒ right now.
SP: ill 7hink abou7 i7
SP: oh
LA: nnn.Grubimag€.a£t/tr€a$ur€.gi£
LA: Mind th€ $igi£$.
SP: uh
SP: i7 looks like i7s ou7 a7 7he sea
LA: ¥€$, ¥ou'r€ a $ai£or ar€n't ¥ou?
SP: uh
SP: yeahoy
SP: of course i am
SP: a sailor
SP: and 7ha7s why
SP: i 7hink ill buy i7
LA: €x¢€££€nt!
LA: I don't think ¥ou'££ r€gr€t thi$, K¥arib.
SP: surely no7
LA: I hav€ b€€n gr€at£¥ a$$ur€d oƒ it'$ auth€nti¢it¥/
SP: from who
LA: An aquantan¢€ b¥ th€ nam€ oƒ Ka£pa¢ $€€th€.
LA: H€ i$ $itting on an ab$o£ut€ tr€a$ur€ trov€ oƒ an¢i€nt tr€a$ur€, and €v€rthing I'v€ r€¢i€v€d ƒrom him ha$ $o ƒar b€€n £€gitimat.
SP: yarre 7hey all ou7 a7 7he sea
LA: W€££, not a££ oƒ th€m, but wh¥ wou£d it matt€r to a pirat€?
SP: well
SP: 7ha7s because
SP: uh
SP: because id prefer 7hem 7o be ou7 a7 7he sea
SP: yes
SP: so i don7 have 7o
SP: look for 7reasure in middle of a deser7
SP: or some7hing
LA: Oƒ ¢our$€, Mi$t€r Tor€nt.
LA: An¥how, it ha$ b€€n good doing bui$n€$$ with ¥ou.
LA: Ma¥ our ƒutur€ tran$a¢tion$ pro¢€€d $mooth€r than thi$ on€.
SP: wha7 do ye mean
SP: 7his one 7urned ou7 qui7e fine i 7hink
LA: 80% oƒƒ i$ hard£¥ ƒin€, Mi$t€r Tor€nt.
LA: Hard£¥ ƒin€ at a££.
SP: i7s a small price for guyarran7eeing me 7ha7 ye do cyarre abou7 yer cus7omers
SP: or 7he loyal ones a7 leas7
LA: Right, oƒ ¢our$€. I ¢ar€ gr€at£¥ about ¥ou and ¥our bui$n€$$.
SP: good
SP: ill be going now
LA: V€r¥ w€££, I'££ $€€ ¥ou in [two a£t€rnian w€€k$].
SP: yeahoy
-- seriousPirate [SP] ceased pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 19:59 --
LA & PH - ...Highb£ood 20 qu€ri€$ wh€r€ th€¥ ju$t ¢ut up £owb£ood$ and ¢an a$k a$ man¥ qu€ri€$ a$ th€¥ want.
-- plotHooked [PH] began pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 19:49 --
PH: ?ssst. ?ssst. Aaaascam! C'mon! Huddle time! Are you there? Will you answer? Or will my held breath be the ultimate cause of my too-soon-she-was-so-young-there-was-such-?otential demise????
LA: No n€€d to worr¥, Mi$$ App€££öƒ. I'm right h€r€.
LA: To what do I ow€ th€ p£€a$ur€?
PH: Oh, good! I was beginning to run ?erilously short of oxygen and imagine all sorts of fanciful things.
PH: As for ?leasures owed, what do I usually want when I troll you, Aascam?
LA: Hon€$t£¥? ƒor th€ £iƒ€ oƒ m€, I ¢an n€v€r t€££.
LA: I $om€tim€$ think that ¥ou'r€ tr¥ing to dir€¢t m€ toward$ $om€ di$tant goa£, but what goa£ that i$ €xa¢t£¥ i$ a m¥$t€r¥.
PH: Hee, Hee! You know...
PH: ...Aascam. A clever, word-bound, vicious and contract-bound troll, a troll who knows about oaths, how to brand them and bind them, a troll who is ade?t at wielding Law as if 'twere a cage, a tra? with teeth that dig and slice but do not ever, ever let go, a troll who is both graceful and elegant, would look at your words and be forced to say...
PH: . . .'Your Honorable Tyranny!
PH: I SUBMIT (to you, of course, but also TO ALL OF ALTERNIA) ...
PH: ...that it is clear as the Mirror of Clarity, as obvious as your im?ressive rack of im?osing horns, that Aascam Capita has here stated his intent to sell the life of him IF HE WERE TO BE GIVEN THE ABILITY TO TELL what Lady Arethusa A??eloff wants when she trolls him.'
PH: Given that, I think you should get another stab at guessing, and I shan't tell you outright. >;)
LA: It'$ a ƒuti£€ €ƒƒort tr¥ing to g€t ¥ou to b€ $traight-ƒorward, i$n't it?
LA: Do I at £€a$t g€t a hint?
LA: Or $om€ $ort oƒ prodding wh€n I g€t ¢£o$€ to th€ an$w€r?
LA: Ma¥b€ w€ ¢ou£d €v€n p£a¥ a gam€ oƒ 20 qu€r¥$, minu$ th€ ¢utting, oƒ ¢our$€.
PH: ...Hmmm... What's more fun? A sudden ?lunge, straight as a knife's edge slide? Or a Hell-raising, think?an-freezing, hair-raking labyrinthine slide? I beli ... A game of twenty queries??????
PH: Aww, minus the cutting? >:(
PH: All right! I'll ?lay!
LA: A£right, ƒir$t qu€r¥.
PH: Wait!
PH: Are you suuuure you want to take out ALL of the cutting?
PH: >;)
LA: Ar€ ¥ou $ugg€$ting $om€ $ort oƒ $urrogat€ ¢ut€€?
LA: W€ ¢ou£d ¢ut up €a¢h oth€r$ po$$€$ion$, but w€'d hav€ to $€nd th€m to €a¢h oth€r and god know$ how £ong that tak€$.
PH: Your lusus, devoted watcher that he is, has a ?lethora of cameras, does he not? You have access to a grubcam, don't you?
LA: ¥€$ I do.
PH: That's how we could handle the cutting! Over grubcam!
LA: Hmm, it $€€m$ w€ ar€ thinking oƒ two ¢omp£€t€£¥ diƒƒ€r€nt v€r$ion$ oƒ 20 qu€ri€$. ¥ou $€€m to b€ thinking oƒ th€ on€ wh€r€ th€ p£a¥€r$ b£€€d th€m$€£v€$, $€€ing whi¢h on€ ¢an out£a$t th€ oth€r a$ th€ir £u¢idit¥ $£ow£¥ drain$ ƒrom th€ wound$. I wa$ thinking oƒ th€ oth€r kind, wh€r€ w€ wou£d ¢ut €a¢h oth€r and $€€ who ¢ou£d b€$t with$tand th€ pain unti£ a££ 20 qu€ri€$ had b€€n a$k€d.
PH: Oh! I wasn't thinking of either of those. Iiiiiiiii was thinking of the one where after each query the querant is given an o??ortunity to sue for a truthful answer in a full sentence by agreeing to allow the answer troll a CUT. The one where the answer troll MAY leave u? in the air the absolute truthfulness of her "yes" or "no" answer, by submitting to another cut --
PH: and of course, who knows when THAT turns into sudden death? And I thought we could just handle the whole not in the same room thing by for exam?le saying,
PH: 'Hey, Aascam, now I want you to give yourself a slice across the jaw, give yourself a smile!' and then you'd do it.
PH: ...However...
PH: Hee, Hee! I will ?lay whichever version you would like, however you would like it. >;)
PH: And if you wish to do away with the cutting entirely, well, I will just kee? that a secret. >:)
LA: I $€€. I ¢ou£d n€v€r k€€p tra¢k oƒ a££ th€ diƒƒ€r€nt v€r$ion$. Th€r€'$ Bui$n€$$ 20 qu€ri€$, and ƒarm€r'$ 20 qu€ri€$, and Highb£ood 20 qu€ri€$ wh€r€ th€¥ ju$t ¢ut up £owb£ood$ and ¢an a$k a$ man¥ qu€ri€$ a$ th€¥ want.
LA: A$ ƒor doing awa¥ with th€ ¢utting €ntir€£¥, I think that'$ th€ b€$t option h€r€. Too mu¢h troub£€ to g€t a prop€r gam€ going.
LA: Ar€ ¥ou r€ad¥?
PH: Yes. >:) One down, Aascam?
LA: That wa$ dirt¥ and und€rhand€d, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
LA: I'££ £€t it $£id€, though.
LA: Qu€r¥ 2:
LA: Ar€ ¥ou tr¥ing to manipu£at€ m€ ƒor ¥our own gain?
PH: It was a lesson, Aascam. >;) As for Query #2, hmmm...
PH: ...Let us say yes. That is the CLOSEST answer to truth!
LA: V€r¥ w€££. Qu€r¥ 3:
LA: I$ an¥on€ €£$€ in on ¥our manipu£ativ€ $¢h€m€?
PH: No?e! Not as far as they know.
LA: Qu€r¥ 4:
PH: My favourite number, Ca?ita. Make it a good one!
LA: Ar€ ¥ou $ur€ that ¥ou wi££ b€ ab£€ to manipu£at€ m€ in th€ d€$ir€d dir€¢tion?
PH: Nothing is certain, Scammy, exce?t culling and the Im?erial Drones.
LA: ƒair €nough.
LA: Qu€r¥ 5:
LA: Hav€ ¥ou manipu£at€d oth€r$ b€ƒor€?
PH: MmHmmmmmm.
LA: In a $imi£ar ƒa$hion a$ ¥our manipu£ation oƒ m¥$€£ƒ?
PH: A "similar fashion"? Maybe!
LA: 7: Hav€ ¥ou €v€r manipu£at€d an¥on€ I know?
PH: Tricky! As if I know all the trolls YOU know. I'm going to stick with "maybe," to be safe.
LA: Hrmm. Qu€r¥ 8 and 9:
LA: Hav€ ¥ou €v€r manipu£at€d ƒA, AA, $P, A€, ¢P, or TT? And, ar€ ¥ou $ti££ manipu£ating an¥ oƒ th€m a£ong $id€ m¥$€£ƒ?
PH: Deeeeeeeeeeeeevious! That's allllllmost like six questions in one! >:O
LA: Th€r€'$ on£¥ two qu€$tion mark$ in th€r€, ¥ou hav€n't ƒorbad€ ¢omma$.
PH: And I would never do so. I'm ?leased with you! >:D
PH: Query 8: Maybe. Query 9: No?e.
LA: ¥ou ¢an't ju$t $a¥ "Ma¥b€." ¥ou ¢an €a$i£¥ an$w€r that with a "¥€$" or "No."
PH: Aww, but I am honorbound to be as truthful as I can!
PH: Which is to say, 100% truthful.
PH: Yes and No have no sco?e to them, as ?ertains to THAT ?articular question.
LA: ¥ou'r€ not $ur€ iƒ ¥ou'v€ manipu£at€d an¥ oƒ th€m or not?
LA: Wait, don't an$w€r that.
LA: That do€$n't ¢ount.
PH: Could you say that you enjoyed book #1, #2 or #5 of a series if the series itself was unenjoyable and yet you were com?elled to read them and discuss them?
PH: Hee, Hee. I didn't see any question. My eyes were as blind as Justice's!
PH: Would you like to attem?t to re?hrase query #8 in such a way as to make it easier for me to give you a "yes" or "no"?
LA: Iƒ it do€$n't ¢ount a$ having tak€n up anoth€r qu€r¥, th€n ¥€$.
PH: ...Go ahead. Turn back the hands of time. I shall wait, here, in the future, until you have done so.
PH: The future being the ?reci?ice of query 10, naturally. Double digits, oh my!
LA: V€r¥ w€££. Qu€r¥ 8: Hav€ ¥ou €v€r manipu£at€d on€ or mor€ oƒ th€ tro££$ on thi$ £i$t: €zr€ki £u¢€ri, ¢¥moth $€rk€i, K¥arib Tor€nt, £amia Ikr€m, P€pi€r ¥u£umn, and $k¥£ar To£vaj.
LA: Qu€r¥ 9 r€main$ th€ $am€.
PH: IN THE ?AST...
PH: ...?lotHooked says...
PH: Query 8: Yes. Query 9: No?e.
LA: I $€€.
LA: W€££ th€n, now that w€ ar€ a££ ¢aught up in th€ ƒutur€, Qu€r¥ 10:
PH: Antici?ation!
LA: Hav€ an¥ oƒ ¥ou manipu£ation att€mpt$ €v€r b€€n $u¢¢€$$ƒu£?
PH: MmHmmm!
LA: Do an¥ oƒ th€m know that th€¥ hav€ b€€n €ngin€€r€d b¥ ¥ou?
LA: Mind th€ $¥non¥m, I'm g€tting tir€d oƒ t¥ping out manipu£at€.
PH: Do you ex?ect me to really know?
LA: Iƒ ¥ou w€r€ a good maipu£ator, th€n ¥€$.
PH: And, hee, hee. Between you and I, it is a word best sheathed in a boot or u? a sleeve -- not seen exce?t for rare occasions.
PH: Awwwwwww, does this mean you think I'm a good mani?ulator?
LA: W€££ I ƒound out.
LA: But th€n I might ju$t b€ r€a££¥ good.
LA: That'$ wh¥ I'm a$king.
PH: Gosh, yes. I certainly did try to hide it from you, didn't I?
PH: >;)
LA: ¢ou£d ¥ou b€ in$inuating that a£€rting m€ to ¥our inƒ£u€n¢€ iƒ ju$t anoth€r $t€p in ¥our ma$t€r p£an?
LA: That i$ qu€r¥ 11, I gu€$$. Damn.
PH: Let's see. I guess my answer to query #10 would be -- yes? As for query #11, yes. >:)
LA: ¥ou'r€ quit€ th€ ¢ompo$€r. Iƒ ¢ompo$€r$ wrot€ taunt$, $£ipp€r¥ an$w€r$ in$t€ad oƒ taunting, $£ipp€r¥ mu$i¢.
LA: Qu€r¥ 12, th€n.
LA: Hmm, I ¢an't $€€m to b€ ab£€ to phra$€ an¥ oƒ m¥ qu€$tion$ into $imp£€ ¥€$ or no inquiri€$.
LA: W€££, I gu€$$ I ¢ou£d tak€ $om€ oƒ thi$ tim€ to g€t to know ¥ou b€tt€r.
PH: Hee. You could ask me if I think you're on the right track with your questions, if the track were going to lead to illumination of the original subject under consideration -- namely, what I usually want from you when I troll you.
PH: But that could, of course, be merely a trick of mine, to get you to waste a question!
PH: Because you ARE on the right track. Or not.
PH: How do you usually get to know trolls, Aascam?
PH: Other than their sho??ing lists, that is.
LA: I'm a$king th€ qu€$tion$ h€r€, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
LA: Hrmm.
PH: Oh, no, Aascam. You are asking TWENTY questions, whereas I am asking questions whenever I wish. You are, of course, not bound by a game to actually answer them...
PH: ... but what've you got to lose?
LA: Iƒ I £€t ¥ou know mor€ about m€, I ¢ou£d po$$ib£¥ b€ €xp€diating ¥our ¢orruption oƒ m€.
PH: Ah, interesting!
PH: You assume "corru?tion" is my goal.
LA: I'££ £€t ¥ou dig ƒor ¥our know£€dg€, I'm $ur€ ¥ou ¢an, a$ £amia wou£d put it, r€ad b€tw€€n th€ £in€$.
LA: Ju$t £ik€ that.
PH: Awwww, I am flattered and insulted at once! You are very good at managing ?aradoxes, Aascam.
LA: I $ki££ I didn't know I had. But thank ¥ou ƒor bringing it to m¥ att€ntion, I a$$ur€ ¥ou I wi££ u$€ it to it'$ ƒu££€$t €xt€nt.
LA: But I digr€$$, on to qu€r¥ 12.
LA: ...
PH: I feel quite certain there are a number of skills in your ?ossession which you aren't aware of.
LA: Wa$ I on th€ right tra¢k with m¥ pr€viou$ 11 qu€ri€$?
PH: GAS?! What a question! A stunning ?lottwist! The answer troll is stunned, is wide eyed, is com?letely stricken! Can she stand to still be an oracle today? Ah! Wait! She recovers enough to say...
PH: No.
PH: Not with "your ?revious 11 questions."
PH: Drat, move the first quotation mark to just in front of the ?.
LA: I $€€.
PH: >:( Sorry, 'scam.
LA: Thi$ i$ wh¥ I'm not a gamb£ing man, th€ odd$ ar€ a£wa¥$ $k€w€d in th€ hou$€'$ ƒavor.
PH: You don't think you're a gambling man?
LA: Thi$ i$ wh¥ I t€nd not to gamb£€. A$ ¥ou $€€, $om€tim€$, again$t m¥ b€tt€r judg€m€nt, I d€¢id€ to ro££ th€ di¢€.
PH: Hee. Would you like some encouragement?
LA: ¥ou ¢an tr¥.
PH: While not on the right track, the track you were distracted by would certainly lend nuance and a more com?lete reading of the RIGHT track, if you manage to find it!
PH: Was that an encouraging encouragement?
LA: Not bad, not bad. But I'v€ a£r€ad¥ mad€ th€ mi$tak€ oƒ gamb£ing on¢€ tonight. Th€ hou$€ r€a££¥ want$ m¥ bui$n€$$, though, it ¢ou£d pa$$ m€ a ƒ€w ƒr€€ ¢hip$ and $€€ iƒ I d€¢id€ to $ta¥.
LA: Iƒ not, I'm p€rƒ€¢t£¥ ƒin€ with going with m¥ pr€viou$ p£an oƒ a$king ¥ou qu€$tion$ about ¥our$€£ƒ.
PH: Tragically... for gambling trolls feeling a little stingy, a little lacking in reckless daring...
PH: ...the house has already been more than generous tonight.
PH: Looking this way at sli? u? queries, allowing time shenanigans that certain queries be more useful to the gambling man; any more generousity, and the house fears it would lose its re?utation as a hardboiled den of iniquity.
PH: So to s?eak.
LA: I $€€ ¥our point. I und€r$tand how vita£ r€putation i$ to good bui$n€$$, and pamp€ring a ¢u$tom€r do€$ ab$o£ut€£¥ nothing ƒor imag€.
LA: But m¥ tim€ h€r€ i$ not ov€r, th€ hou$€ ha$ agr€€d to 20 inquiri€$.
PH: And the house is scru?ulous about ?aying her debts, in full. >:)
LA: Iƒ I didn't know an¥ b€tt€r, I wou£d a$$um€ that thi$ ƒin€ €$tab£i$hm€nt wa$ run b¥ a ƒ€££ow bui$n€$$a$$in.
LA: But I am h€r€ to p£a¥, €v€n iƒ it i$ at th€ £ow $tak€$ tab£€. On to qu€r¥ 13.
PH: Alas, for a lack of cutting and bloodshed.
LA: Qu€r¥ 13: A$ mu¢h a$ ¥ou writ€ about th€m, I hav€ to wond€r: Hav€ ¥ou €v€r b€€n in a quadrant with an¥on€?
PH: Yes!
LA: ¢on¢upi$¢€nt?
PH: Hee, Hee! Alas, no.
LA: I $€€.
LA: Qu€r¥ 15: Do ¥ou £ik€ it wh€r€ ¥ou ar€ in th€ h€mo$p€¢trum?
PH: Hmm. Intriguing question, sir. How can one "like" what one is... Really? I su??ose I like it well enough; I certainly think my blood color is one of the loveliest ?ossible. >:)
PH: So I guess, sure! Most of the time. >:)
LA: OK. Qu€r¥ 16: Do ¥ou think that b€¢oming ¢£o$€ to oth€r tro££$ i$ a good thing?
PH: Yes!
LA: €v€n b€¢oming ¢£o$€ through wa¥$ oth€r than th€ ƒour romanti¢ quadrant$?
PH: Well, of course. There is only su??osed to be one Troll destined to fill each of the quadrants -- exce?t, of course, for the ashen, in which case that's two trolls for you. Being close to only five trolls seems awfully limited, don't you think?
PH: Boring, even!
LA: Hmm.
LA: 18: Do th€$€ qu€$tion$ $€€m odd to ¥ou?
PH: Boring is very bad. >:( I hate it beyond any other thing. If Boring had a ?hysical form that was NOT SO BORING, it would be my KISMESIS. Exce?t, really, the hatred is entirely ?latonic, since I'd really just like to slay it, not execute -- hee hee! -- an elaborate caliginous tango which -- oh! 18: Not ?articularly, no.
LA: I thought ¥ou $aid ¥ou w€r€n't in a ¢on¢upi$¢€nt r€£ation$hip.
PH: Don't be cute, Aascam! The keyword there was "if." Also, one cannot be in a kismesis with an entire conce?t. That would certainly be very strange.
PH: >;)
LA: Qu€r¥ 19: ¢an I ¢h€at a bit with qu€r¥ 20?
PH: I don't know! CAN you?
LA: £€t m€ r€phra$€ that th€n. Wou£d ¥ou a££ow m€ to ¢h€at a bit with qu€r¥ 20?
PH: Maaaaaaayyybe. You could always give it a try, see what ha??ens. I, ?ersonally, am looking forward to it!
LA: Oh, it'$ nothing that $p€¢ia£. Ju$t...
LA: What do ¥ou think oƒ m€?
PH: Oh, I see. THAT kind of cheating. The kind of cheating which is really a ?lea for more answer handouts. As if the scra?s of detail ?roferred on earlier questions have whetted your a??etite, have made you bold. All right, Aascam. I will give you more than a "yes" or a "no" or a "maybe" to that question iiiiiiiiif...
PH: ...you answer, fully, in com?lete sentences that are more full of detail than "My answer is yes/no/maybe," four questions of my choosing. Are you still game, Aascam?
LA: Hmm. W€££...
LA: ƒin€.
PH: Ahahaha. Excellent choice. The timid never ?rofit!!!!
PH: My first question, then. What is your ha??iest memory?
LA: M¥ happi€$t m€mor¥? W€££...
LA: I gu€$$ it wou£d b€...
LA: Nothing £€av€$ thi$, OK?
LA: €v€r¥thing $aid h€r€ i$ $tri¢t£¥ b€tw€€n ¥ou and I.
PH: Tsk. What do you take me for?
LA: A£right, a£right.
PH: That is, by the way, CLEARLY a rhetorical question.
LA: ƒin€.
PH: And does not count toward the four questions, etc., etc. >:) I am listening!
LA: M¥...
LA: M¥ happi€$t m€mor¥ i$ m¥ £u$u$ b¥ing m€ m¥ ƒir$t p£u$h mon€¥ to¥.
LA: Primat€$ th€¥ w€r€ ¢a££€d.
LA: *monk€¥ to¥, not mon€¥
LA: A bit nar¢i$$i$ti¢ on hi$ part now that I think about it, but $ti££.
PH: Holy shit, Aascam!
PH: That...
PH: ...is...
PH: ... adorable.
LA: Do€$ not £€av€ thi$ ¢hat box.
PH: Oh, what? Sorry, I couldn't "hear" you over the forum ?osting I was making entitled 'AASCAM CA?ITA HAS A HEART, IT BEATS FOR MONKEY ?LUSH' >:)
LA: Not ƒunn¥, App€££öƒ.
PH: Awwwwwwwwww. I will be the judge of that, greenblood!
PH: All right, all right. My second question for you.
PH: What do you ho?e to gain by kee?ing yourself distant from your ?eers, hiding behind a ?rofessional ?ersona?
LA: A$ I $aid, I'm not a gamb£ing man, and r€£ation$hip$ ar€ on€ oƒ th€ bigg€$t gamb£€$ oƒ a££.
LA: ¥ou n€v€r know iƒ $om€on€ ¥ou ho£d d€ar to ¥ou i$ going to turn on ¥ou, or g€t ki££€d, or ju$t $imp£¥ driƒt awa¥.
LA: It'$ €a$i€r, and in bui$n€$$ ¥ou m€€t a £ot oƒ p€op£€, $€€ing th€m a$ $tati$ti¢$ ju$t mak€$ it €a$i€r to inƒ£u€n¢€ th€m ƒor ¥our own b€niƒit.
LA: And in th€ €nd that'$ r€a££¥ a££ that matt€r$.
LA: It'$ th€ wa¥ oƒ th€ Bui$n€$$a$$in.
PH: So ... You ho?e to gain nothing exce?t an unblemished heart. All right.
PH: My thiiiiiiiiiiird question!! Would you like to be able to trust me?
LA: Th€r€ i$ nothing I wou£d £ik€ mor€ than to hav€ a r€£iab£€ ¢u$tom€r.
PH: Very coy, and also very much not a true answer to the question, Scammy!
LA: What ¢on$titut€$ a tru€ an$w€r?
PH: One that does not rely u?on the ?arlance of businessassin's, and one which focusses more... ?articularly...
PH: ...on trust. Think outside the box! That is, after all, how the best businessassins make their bloodiest killings.
LA: V€r¥ w€££, ¥€$. I wou£d £ik€ to b€ ab£€ to tru$t ¥ou. ¥ou ar€ quit€ th€ manipu£ator, and ¥ou $€€m to b€ ƒu££ oƒ good id€a$.
LA: I$ that a "prop€r" an$w€r?
PH: Surely you can assess the quality of your own wares, and needn't have me tell you that yes, yes that is a VERY ?ro?er answer? >;)
PH: As for my fourth question ...
PH: ... heh heh ...
PH: This is, naturally, the MOST im?ortant question I will ever ask you.
PH: É Of the trolls we have established in your question #8 to be mutual aquaintances, but, of course, including the trolls ?laying the game of twenty questions, what ?otential romantical shi?s could YOU see brewing, ridiculous or a?t to be canonized?
LA: ...
LA: I don't $hip p€op£€.
PH: And yet, you COULD if ?ro?erly motivated by a question you already agreed to answer.
LA: ...
LA: ƒin€.
PH: >:) Go on, Aascam. I await!
LA: W€££, ¢P I ¢an $€€ €ith€r g€tting it a££ <3 with TT or ƒA, h€'$ a pr€tt¥ impr€$$ionab£€ kid.
LA: AA i$ d€ƒinat€£¥ £€aning hard <3< with ¥ou right now, th€r€ $€€m$ to b€ a £ot oƒ p€nt-up $€£ƒ-r€$€ntm€nt that'$ b€€n r€£€a$€d with h€r r€¢€nt d€mi$€.
LA: $P and ƒA might go <> with A€, but that'$ on£¥ iƒ th€ir p€r$ona£iti€$ b€¢om€ mor€ ho$ti£€. It might ju$t b€ m€, but A€ $€€m$ £ik€ ju$t th€ p€r$on to tr¥ to m€dd£€ with th€m and ¢a£m th€m down a bit.
LA: $p€aking oƒ ho$ti£iti€$, ¥ou might want to ƒind a m€d€ator to h€£p turn that <3< AA ha$ ƒor ¥ou into a ¢3<. A$$uming ¥ou don't want to pur$ur€ a b£a¢k roman¢€ with h€r.
LA: I wou£d r€¢¢om€nd A€, m¥$€£ƒ. V€r¥ m€dd£€$om€.
LA: I don't think I hav€ €nough oƒ a b€aring on ¥ou to prop€r£¥ judg€ wh€r€ ¥ou might b€ £€aning.
LA: Iƒ $om€on€ taunt$ $P €nough about hi$ big "$€¢r€t," ¥ou know what I'm ta£king about, h€ might $tart hating th€m quit€ a bit. It $€€m$ £ik€ $om€thing h€ d€$p€rat€£¥ want$ to hid€, €v€n iƒ h€'$ t€rrib£€ at it.
LA: I tr¥ to k€€p int€ra¢tion$ with TT to a minimun, $o don't tru$t m€ ¢omp£€t€£¥ on thi$, but hop€ƒu££¥ ¢P wi££ b€ ab£€ to k€€p h€r in £in€. That i$ iƒ h€ grow$ a bon€ bu£g€ and do€$n't tr¥ to pur$u€ a r€d roman¢€ with h€r.
LA: But th€n it'$ a gamb£€, I don't know what $h€'$ £ik€ €nough to ¢omm€nt on h€r romanti¢ £iƒ€.
LA: $am€ with ƒA.
LA: ...I wou£d rath€r not ta£k about m¥ own ƒ€€£ing$.
PH: Wow! That was almost very well done! Although I am finding it difficult to contain my sorrow over a lack of even a STAB in the DARK based on the SLIMMEST -- nay, the SLIGHTEST, most MINISCULE of observations -- as regards, TT, FA and myself. Also, what of AE? You mentioned her meddlesome qualities, but are those the only quadrants you see her in?
PH: Allllllllllso, eugh. Yawn, no. I have no desire to be in any quadrant with Cym -- not black, not ashen -- so I ho?e she gets over it. And the whole "I'm dead" thing. Lame.
PH: As for your own feelings, and what you'd RATHER ...
PH: ... while you did agree to answer all of my questions ...
PH: ...the house...
PH: ...will be generous, and allow that to slide. As a gesture of good faith. >:)
LA: Thank ¥ou.
LA: Now ¢an w€ g€t on with thi$? Or wa$ that qu€$tion in ¥our ƒir$t r€$pon$€ not rh€tori¢a£?
PH: My "Also, what of Ae?" question? No, that was not rhetorical -- that was a ?lea for clarification.
PH: Or a reminder of someone you seemingly ski??ed over, exce?t when discussing others. >:)
LA: What do ¥ou m€an?
PH: Hmm. You know what? Nevermind. I think your shi??ing chart, im?rom?tu as it is, and in woeful need of a little more crack!shi? work, is ?retty com?lete. And it is my turn to answer a question in full sentences!
LA: €x¢€££€nt.
PH: Ahem. What do I think of you? ...
PH: I think you've been afflicted with a severe case of slum?stuck.
PH: I think you are not as good as you think you are. I think you are not as bad as you a??ear to be acting. I think you've learned this habit of -- being stingy with your desires, of hoarding your skill, of ?laying it so close to the vest that you're not even ?laying, and that's a coward's act.
PH: I think you could be ?retty cool, Aascam, if you only a??lied yourself a bit more. . . or let yourself take ?art in things. I don't think you're nice! You've got ?otential. ?otential to be interesting.
PH: I think you're fun! >:) And kind of a jerk.
LA: I $€€.
PH: I will also ?oint out that...
PH: ... by defering that question ...
PH: ... well, that answer...
PH: ...to the ennnnd of MY four questions...
PH: ...You got more bang for your buck.
LA: Ar€ ¥ou imp£¥ing $om€thing, Mi$$ App€££öƒ?
PH: I am!
LA: And what i$ that €xa¢t£¥?
PH: I am im?lying this: That the house mani?ulated THAT series of events in your favor, although the house also gained something. Interesting, huh?
PH: I wonder if that situation could find an echo in some other mysterious situation?
PH: ?robably best not to s?eculate too dee?ly on im?lications, though.
PH: Unless they are quadrantical, of course!
PH: In which case, s?eculation is always welcome. >:)
LA: ...Oƒ ¢our$€.
LA: Thi$ ha$ b€€n an... €n£ight€ning ¢onv€r$ation, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
LA: And a$ mu¢h a$ I wou£d £ik€ to ¢ontinu€, I n€€d $om€ tim€ to mu££ ov€r thi$.
PH: Awww. I ho?e it was encouraging!
LA: That i$ on€ word oƒ man¥ I ¢ou£d u$€ to d€$¢rib€ it.
PH: Before you wander off to mull ...
PH: ... A final question. ?art of why I started trolling you, actually.
PH: Are you looking forward to ?laying the game???????? SGRUB, that is.
LA: It $ound$ int€r€$ting, and I'££ tak€ an¥thing I ¢an g€t iƒ it h€£p$ a££i€v€ m¥ bor€dom.
LA: I hav€ b€€n £ooking ƒorward to it mor€ than mo$t gam€$, though.
PH: Really? Why?
LA: W€££, w€ ar€ p£a¥ing in a r€£ativ€£¥ £arg€ group. I gu€$$ it'$ th€ pro$p€¢t oƒ int€ration.
LA: I gu€$$.
LA: I wou£d £ik€ to €mpha$iz€ that.
LA: It'$ not a $ur€ ƒ€€£ing.
LA: Ju$t a gu€$$.
PH: Ah HAH!!! You'll become a real troll yet, Scammy.
PH: Well...
LA: God damn it now I $ound £ik€ Mi$t€r Tor€nt
PH: ... Once we're in game, I'll kee? an eye out for you! >:) Still not entirely sure how it's actually going to ?lay out.
PH: Ezreki usually ?icks the best of games, though! Musclebeast Squirt Mountain was a glaring exce?tion to the rule. Still.
LA: Mu$¢£€b€a$t $quir- N€v€rmind.
LA: W€££, I gu€$$ I'££ hav€ to tru$t ¥ou on that.
PH: Hee, Hee. TRUST, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
PH: Anyway! I'll let you mull. Laaaaaaaater, Scammy!
LA: Goodb¥€, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
-- plotHooked [PH] ceased pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 00:58 --
PH: ?ssst. ?ssst. Aaaascam! C'mon! Huddle time! Are you there? Will you answer? Or will my held breath be the ultimate cause of my too-soon-she-was-so-young-there-was-such-?otential demise????
LA: No n€€d to worr¥, Mi$$ App€££öƒ. I'm right h€r€.
LA: To what do I ow€ th€ p£€a$ur€?
PH: Oh, good! I was beginning to run ?erilously short of oxygen and imagine all sorts of fanciful things.
PH: As for ?leasures owed, what do I usually want when I troll you, Aascam?
LA: Hon€$t£¥? ƒor th€ £iƒ€ oƒ m€, I ¢an n€v€r t€££.
LA: I $om€tim€$ think that ¥ou'r€ tr¥ing to dir€¢t m€ toward$ $om€ di$tant goa£, but what goa£ that i$ €xa¢t£¥ i$ a m¥$t€r¥.
PH: Hee, Hee! You know...
PH: ...Aascam. A clever, word-bound, vicious and contract-bound troll, a troll who knows about oaths, how to brand them and bind them, a troll who is ade?t at wielding Law as if 'twere a cage, a tra? with teeth that dig and slice but do not ever, ever let go, a troll who is both graceful and elegant, would look at your words and be forced to say...
PH: . . .'Your Honorable Tyranny!
PH: I SUBMIT (to you, of course, but also TO ALL OF ALTERNIA) ...
PH: ...that it is clear as the Mirror of Clarity, as obvious as your im?ressive rack of im?osing horns, that Aascam Capita has here stated his intent to sell the life of him IF HE WERE TO BE GIVEN THE ABILITY TO TELL what Lady Arethusa A??eloff wants when she trolls him.'
PH: Given that, I think you should get another stab at guessing, and I shan't tell you outright. >;)
LA: It'$ a ƒuti£€ €ƒƒort tr¥ing to g€t ¥ou to b€ $traight-ƒorward, i$n't it?
LA: Do I at £€a$t g€t a hint?
LA: Or $om€ $ort oƒ prodding wh€n I g€t ¢£o$€ to th€ an$w€r?
LA: Ma¥b€ w€ ¢ou£d €v€n p£a¥ a gam€ oƒ 20 qu€r¥$, minu$ th€ ¢utting, oƒ ¢our$€.
PH: ...Hmmm... What's more fun? A sudden ?lunge, straight as a knife's edge slide? Or a Hell-raising, think?an-freezing, hair-raking labyrinthine slide? I beli ... A game of twenty queries??????
PH: Aww, minus the cutting? >:(
PH: All right! I'll ?lay!
LA: A£right, ƒir$t qu€r¥.
PH: Wait!
PH: Are you suuuure you want to take out ALL of the cutting?
PH: >;)
LA: Ar€ ¥ou $ugg€$ting $om€ $ort oƒ $urrogat€ ¢ut€€?
LA: W€ ¢ou£d ¢ut up €a¢h oth€r$ po$$€$ion$, but w€'d hav€ to $€nd th€m to €a¢h oth€r and god know$ how £ong that tak€$.
PH: Your lusus, devoted watcher that he is, has a ?lethora of cameras, does he not? You have access to a grubcam, don't you?
LA: ¥€$ I do.
PH: That's how we could handle the cutting! Over grubcam!
LA: Hmm, it $€€m$ w€ ar€ thinking oƒ two ¢omp£€t€£¥ diƒƒ€r€nt v€r$ion$ oƒ 20 qu€ri€$. ¥ou $€€m to b€ thinking oƒ th€ on€ wh€r€ th€ p£a¥€r$ b£€€d th€m$€£v€$, $€€ing whi¢h on€ ¢an out£a$t th€ oth€r a$ th€ir £u¢idit¥ $£ow£¥ drain$ ƒrom th€ wound$. I wa$ thinking oƒ th€ oth€r kind, wh€r€ w€ wou£d ¢ut €a¢h oth€r and $€€ who ¢ou£d b€$t with$tand th€ pain unti£ a££ 20 qu€ri€$ had b€€n a$k€d.
PH: Oh! I wasn't thinking of either of those. Iiiiiiiii was thinking of the one where after each query the querant is given an o??ortunity to sue for a truthful answer in a full sentence by agreeing to allow the answer troll a CUT. The one where the answer troll MAY leave u? in the air the absolute truthfulness of her "yes" or "no" answer, by submitting to another cut --
PH: and of course, who knows when THAT turns into sudden death? And I thought we could just handle the whole not in the same room thing by for exam?le saying,
PH: 'Hey, Aascam, now I want you to give yourself a slice across the jaw, give yourself a smile!' and then you'd do it.
PH: ...However...
PH: Hee, Hee! I will ?lay whichever version you would like, however you would like it. >;)
PH: And if you wish to do away with the cutting entirely, well, I will just kee? that a secret. >:)
LA: I $€€. I ¢ou£d n€v€r k€€p tra¢k oƒ a££ th€ diƒƒ€r€nt v€r$ion$. Th€r€'$ Bui$n€$$ 20 qu€ri€$, and ƒarm€r'$ 20 qu€ri€$, and Highb£ood 20 qu€ri€$ wh€r€ th€¥ ju$t ¢ut up £owb£ood$ and ¢an a$k a$ man¥ qu€ri€$ a$ th€¥ want.
LA: A$ ƒor doing awa¥ with th€ ¢utting €ntir€£¥, I think that'$ th€ b€$t option h€r€. Too mu¢h troub£€ to g€t a prop€r gam€ going.
LA: Ar€ ¥ou r€ad¥?
PH: Yes. >:) One down, Aascam?
LA: That wa$ dirt¥ and und€rhand€d, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
LA: I'££ £€t it $£id€, though.
LA: Qu€r¥ 2:
LA: Ar€ ¥ou tr¥ing to manipu£at€ m€ ƒor ¥our own gain?
PH: It was a lesson, Aascam. >;) As for Query #2, hmmm...
PH: ...Let us say yes. That is the CLOSEST answer to truth!
LA: V€r¥ w€££. Qu€r¥ 3:
LA: I$ an¥on€ €£$€ in on ¥our manipu£ativ€ $¢h€m€?
PH: No?e! Not as far as they know.
LA: Qu€r¥ 4:
PH: My favourite number, Ca?ita. Make it a good one!
LA: Ar€ ¥ou $ur€ that ¥ou wi££ b€ ab£€ to manipu£at€ m€ in th€ d€$ir€d dir€¢tion?
PH: Nothing is certain, Scammy, exce?t culling and the Im?erial Drones.
LA: ƒair €nough.
LA: Qu€r¥ 5:
LA: Hav€ ¥ou manipu£at€d oth€r$ b€ƒor€?
PH: MmHmmmmmm.
LA: In a $imi£ar ƒa$hion a$ ¥our manipu£ation oƒ m¥$€£ƒ?
PH: A "similar fashion"? Maybe!
LA: 7: Hav€ ¥ou €v€r manipu£at€d an¥on€ I know?
PH: Tricky! As if I know all the trolls YOU know. I'm going to stick with "maybe," to be safe.
LA: Hrmm. Qu€r¥ 8 and 9:
LA: Hav€ ¥ou €v€r manipu£at€d ƒA, AA, $P, A€, ¢P, or TT? And, ar€ ¥ou $ti££ manipu£ating an¥ oƒ th€m a£ong $id€ m¥$€£ƒ?
PH: Deeeeeeeeeeeeevious! That's allllllmost like six questions in one! >:O
LA: Th€r€'$ on£¥ two qu€$tion mark$ in th€r€, ¥ou hav€n't ƒorbad€ ¢omma$.
PH: And I would never do so. I'm ?leased with you! >:D
PH: Query 8: Maybe. Query 9: No?e.
LA: ¥ou ¢an't ju$t $a¥ "Ma¥b€." ¥ou ¢an €a$i£¥ an$w€r that with a "¥€$" or "No."
PH: Aww, but I am honorbound to be as truthful as I can!
PH: Which is to say, 100% truthful.
PH: Yes and No have no sco?e to them, as ?ertains to THAT ?articular question.
LA: ¥ou'r€ not $ur€ iƒ ¥ou'v€ manipu£at€d an¥ oƒ th€m or not?
LA: Wait, don't an$w€r that.
LA: That do€$n't ¢ount.
PH: Could you say that you enjoyed book #1, #2 or #5 of a series if the series itself was unenjoyable and yet you were com?elled to read them and discuss them?
PH: Hee, Hee. I didn't see any question. My eyes were as blind as Justice's!
PH: Would you like to attem?t to re?hrase query #8 in such a way as to make it easier for me to give you a "yes" or "no"?
LA: Iƒ it do€$n't ¢ount a$ having tak€n up anoth€r qu€r¥, th€n ¥€$.
PH: ...Go ahead. Turn back the hands of time. I shall wait, here, in the future, until you have done so.
PH: The future being the ?reci?ice of query 10, naturally. Double digits, oh my!
LA: V€r¥ w€££. Qu€r¥ 8: Hav€ ¥ou €v€r manipu£at€d on€ or mor€ oƒ th€ tro££$ on thi$ £i$t: €zr€ki £u¢€ri, ¢¥moth $€rk€i, K¥arib Tor€nt, £amia Ikr€m, P€pi€r ¥u£umn, and $k¥£ar To£vaj.
LA: Qu€r¥ 9 r€main$ th€ $am€.
PH: IN THE ?AST...
PH: ...?lotHooked says...
PH: Query 8: Yes. Query 9: No?e.
LA: I $€€.
LA: W€££ th€n, now that w€ ar€ a££ ¢aught up in th€ ƒutur€, Qu€r¥ 10:
PH: Antici?ation!
LA: Hav€ an¥ oƒ ¥ou manipu£ation att€mpt$ €v€r b€€n $u¢¢€$$ƒu£?
PH: MmHmmm!
LA: Do an¥ oƒ th€m know that th€¥ hav€ b€€n €ngin€€r€d b¥ ¥ou?
LA: Mind th€ $¥non¥m, I'm g€tting tir€d oƒ t¥ping out manipu£at€.
PH: Do you ex?ect me to really know?
LA: Iƒ ¥ou w€r€ a good maipu£ator, th€n ¥€$.
PH: And, hee, hee. Between you and I, it is a word best sheathed in a boot or u? a sleeve -- not seen exce?t for rare occasions.
PH: Awwwwwww, does this mean you think I'm a good mani?ulator?
LA: W€££ I ƒound out.
LA: But th€n I might ju$t b€ r€a££¥ good.
LA: That'$ wh¥ I'm a$king.
PH: Gosh, yes. I certainly did try to hide it from you, didn't I?
PH: >;)
LA: ¢ou£d ¥ou b€ in$inuating that a£€rting m€ to ¥our inƒ£u€n¢€ iƒ ju$t anoth€r $t€p in ¥our ma$t€r p£an?
LA: That i$ qu€r¥ 11, I gu€$$. Damn.
PH: Let's see. I guess my answer to query #10 would be -- yes? As for query #11, yes. >:)
LA: ¥ou'r€ quit€ th€ ¢ompo$€r. Iƒ ¢ompo$€r$ wrot€ taunt$, $£ipp€r¥ an$w€r$ in$t€ad oƒ taunting, $£ipp€r¥ mu$i¢.
LA: Qu€r¥ 12, th€n.
LA: Hmm, I ¢an't $€€m to b€ ab£€ to phra$€ an¥ oƒ m¥ qu€$tion$ into $imp£€ ¥€$ or no inquiri€$.
LA: W€££, I gu€$$ I ¢ou£d tak€ $om€ oƒ thi$ tim€ to g€t to know ¥ou b€tt€r.
PH: Hee. You could ask me if I think you're on the right track with your questions, if the track were going to lead to illumination of the original subject under consideration -- namely, what I usually want from you when I troll you.
PH: But that could, of course, be merely a trick of mine, to get you to waste a question!
PH: Because you ARE on the right track. Or not.
PH: How do you usually get to know trolls, Aascam?
PH: Other than their sho??ing lists, that is.
LA: I'm a$king th€ qu€$tion$ h€r€, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
LA: Hrmm.
PH: Oh, no, Aascam. You are asking TWENTY questions, whereas I am asking questions whenever I wish. You are, of course, not bound by a game to actually answer them...
PH: ... but what've you got to lose?
LA: Iƒ I £€t ¥ou know mor€ about m€, I ¢ou£d po$$ib£¥ b€ €xp€diating ¥our ¢orruption oƒ m€.
PH: Ah, interesting!
PH: You assume "corru?tion" is my goal.
LA: I'££ £€t ¥ou dig ƒor ¥our know£€dg€, I'm $ur€ ¥ou ¢an, a$ £amia wou£d put it, r€ad b€tw€€n th€ £in€$.
LA: Ju$t £ik€ that.
PH: Awwww, I am flattered and insulted at once! You are very good at managing ?aradoxes, Aascam.
LA: I $ki££ I didn't know I had. But thank ¥ou ƒor bringing it to m¥ att€ntion, I a$$ur€ ¥ou I wi££ u$€ it to it'$ ƒu££€$t €xt€nt.
LA: But I digr€$$, on to qu€r¥ 12.
LA: ...
PH: I feel quite certain there are a number of skills in your ?ossession which you aren't aware of.
LA: Wa$ I on th€ right tra¢k with m¥ pr€viou$ 11 qu€ri€$?
PH: GAS?! What a question! A stunning ?lottwist! The answer troll is stunned, is wide eyed, is com?letely stricken! Can she stand to still be an oracle today? Ah! Wait! She recovers enough to say...
PH: No.
PH: Not with "your ?revious 11 questions."
PH: Drat, move the first quotation mark to just in front of the ?.
LA: I $€€.
PH: >:( Sorry, 'scam.
LA: Thi$ i$ wh¥ I'm not a gamb£ing man, th€ odd$ ar€ a£wa¥$ $k€w€d in th€ hou$€'$ ƒavor.
PH: You don't think you're a gambling man?
LA: Thi$ i$ wh¥ I t€nd not to gamb£€. A$ ¥ou $€€, $om€tim€$, again$t m¥ b€tt€r judg€m€nt, I d€¢id€ to ro££ th€ di¢€.
PH: Hee. Would you like some encouragement?
LA: ¥ou ¢an tr¥.
PH: While not on the right track, the track you were distracted by would certainly lend nuance and a more com?lete reading of the RIGHT track, if you manage to find it!
PH: Was that an encouraging encouragement?
LA: Not bad, not bad. But I'v€ a£r€ad¥ mad€ th€ mi$tak€ oƒ gamb£ing on¢€ tonight. Th€ hou$€ r€a££¥ want$ m¥ bui$n€$$, though, it ¢ou£d pa$$ m€ a ƒ€w ƒr€€ ¢hip$ and $€€ iƒ I d€¢id€ to $ta¥.
LA: Iƒ not, I'm p€rƒ€¢t£¥ ƒin€ with going with m¥ pr€viou$ p£an oƒ a$king ¥ou qu€$tion$ about ¥our$€£ƒ.
PH: Tragically... for gambling trolls feeling a little stingy, a little lacking in reckless daring...
PH: ...the house has already been more than generous tonight.
PH: Looking this way at sli? u? queries, allowing time shenanigans that certain queries be more useful to the gambling man; any more generousity, and the house fears it would lose its re?utation as a hardboiled den of iniquity.
PH: So to s?eak.
LA: I $€€ ¥our point. I und€r$tand how vita£ r€putation i$ to good bui$n€$$, and pamp€ring a ¢u$tom€r do€$ ab$o£ut€£¥ nothing ƒor imag€.
LA: But m¥ tim€ h€r€ i$ not ov€r, th€ hou$€ ha$ agr€€d to 20 inquiri€$.
PH: And the house is scru?ulous about ?aying her debts, in full. >:)
LA: Iƒ I didn't know an¥ b€tt€r, I wou£d a$$um€ that thi$ ƒin€ €$tab£i$hm€nt wa$ run b¥ a ƒ€££ow bui$n€$$a$$in.
LA: But I am h€r€ to p£a¥, €v€n iƒ it i$ at th€ £ow $tak€$ tab£€. On to qu€r¥ 13.
PH: Alas, for a lack of cutting and bloodshed.
LA: Qu€r¥ 13: A$ mu¢h a$ ¥ou writ€ about th€m, I hav€ to wond€r: Hav€ ¥ou €v€r b€€n in a quadrant with an¥on€?
PH: Yes!
LA: ¢on¢upi$¢€nt?
PH: Hee, Hee! Alas, no.
LA: I $€€.
LA: Qu€r¥ 15: Do ¥ou £ik€ it wh€r€ ¥ou ar€ in th€ h€mo$p€¢trum?
PH: Hmm. Intriguing question, sir. How can one "like" what one is... Really? I su??ose I like it well enough; I certainly think my blood color is one of the loveliest ?ossible. >:)
PH: So I guess, sure! Most of the time. >:)
LA: OK. Qu€r¥ 16: Do ¥ou think that b€¢oming ¢£o$€ to oth€r tro££$ i$ a good thing?
PH: Yes!
LA: €v€n b€¢oming ¢£o$€ through wa¥$ oth€r than th€ ƒour romanti¢ quadrant$?
PH: Well, of course. There is only su??osed to be one Troll destined to fill each of the quadrants -- exce?t, of course, for the ashen, in which case that's two trolls for you. Being close to only five trolls seems awfully limited, don't you think?
PH: Boring, even!
LA: Hmm.
LA: 18: Do th€$€ qu€$tion$ $€€m odd to ¥ou?
PH: Boring is very bad. >:( I hate it beyond any other thing. If Boring had a ?hysical form that was NOT SO BORING, it would be my KISMESIS. Exce?t, really, the hatred is entirely ?latonic, since I'd really just like to slay it, not execute -- hee hee! -- an elaborate caliginous tango which -- oh! 18: Not ?articularly, no.
LA: I thought ¥ou $aid ¥ou w€r€n't in a ¢on¢upi$¢€nt r€£ation$hip.
PH: Don't be cute, Aascam! The keyword there was "if." Also, one cannot be in a kismesis with an entire conce?t. That would certainly be very strange.
PH: >;)
LA: Qu€r¥ 19: ¢an I ¢h€at a bit with qu€r¥ 20?
PH: I don't know! CAN you?
LA: £€t m€ r€phra$€ that th€n. Wou£d ¥ou a££ow m€ to ¢h€at a bit with qu€r¥ 20?
PH: Maaaaaaayyybe. You could always give it a try, see what ha??ens. I, ?ersonally, am looking forward to it!
LA: Oh, it'$ nothing that $p€¢ia£. Ju$t...
LA: What do ¥ou think oƒ m€?
PH: Oh, I see. THAT kind of cheating. The kind of cheating which is really a ?lea for more answer handouts. As if the scra?s of detail ?roferred on earlier questions have whetted your a??etite, have made you bold. All right, Aascam. I will give you more than a "yes" or a "no" or a "maybe" to that question iiiiiiiiif...
PH: ...you answer, fully, in com?lete sentences that are more full of detail than "My answer is yes/no/maybe," four questions of my choosing. Are you still game, Aascam?
LA: Hmm. W€££...
LA: ƒin€.
PH: Ahahaha. Excellent choice. The timid never ?rofit!!!!
PH: My first question, then. What is your ha??iest memory?
LA: M¥ happi€$t m€mor¥? W€££...
LA: I gu€$$ it wou£d b€...
LA: Nothing £€av€$ thi$, OK?
LA: €v€r¥thing $aid h€r€ i$ $tri¢t£¥ b€tw€€n ¥ou and I.
PH: Tsk. What do you take me for?
LA: A£right, a£right.
PH: That is, by the way, CLEARLY a rhetorical question.
LA: ƒin€.
PH: And does not count toward the four questions, etc., etc. >:) I am listening!
LA: M¥...
LA: M¥ happi€$t m€mor¥ i$ m¥ £u$u$ b¥ing m€ m¥ ƒir$t p£u$h mon€¥ to¥.
LA: Primat€$ th€¥ w€r€ ¢a££€d.
LA: *monk€¥ to¥, not mon€¥
LA: A bit nar¢i$$i$ti¢ on hi$ part now that I think about it, but $ti££.
PH: Holy shit, Aascam!
PH: That...
PH: ...is...
PH: ... adorable.
LA: Do€$ not £€av€ thi$ ¢hat box.
PH: Oh, what? Sorry, I couldn't "hear" you over the forum ?osting I was making entitled 'AASCAM CA?ITA HAS A HEART, IT BEATS FOR MONKEY ?LUSH' >:)
LA: Not ƒunn¥, App€££öƒ.
PH: Awwwwwwwwww. I will be the judge of that, greenblood!
PH: All right, all right. My second question for you.
PH: What do you ho?e to gain by kee?ing yourself distant from your ?eers, hiding behind a ?rofessional ?ersona?
LA: A$ I $aid, I'm not a gamb£ing man, and r€£ation$hip$ ar€ on€ oƒ th€ bigg€$t gamb£€$ oƒ a££.
LA: ¥ou n€v€r know iƒ $om€on€ ¥ou ho£d d€ar to ¥ou i$ going to turn on ¥ou, or g€t ki££€d, or ju$t $imp£¥ driƒt awa¥.
LA: It'$ €a$i€r, and in bui$n€$$ ¥ou m€€t a £ot oƒ p€op£€, $€€ing th€m a$ $tati$ti¢$ ju$t mak€$ it €a$i€r to inƒ£u€n¢€ th€m ƒor ¥our own b€niƒit.
LA: And in th€ €nd that'$ r€a££¥ a££ that matt€r$.
LA: It'$ th€ wa¥ oƒ th€ Bui$n€$$a$$in.
PH: So ... You ho?e to gain nothing exce?t an unblemished heart. All right.
PH: My thiiiiiiiiiiird question!! Would you like to be able to trust me?
LA: Th€r€ i$ nothing I wou£d £ik€ mor€ than to hav€ a r€£iab£€ ¢u$tom€r.
PH: Very coy, and also very much not a true answer to the question, Scammy!
LA: What ¢on$titut€$ a tru€ an$w€r?
PH: One that does not rely u?on the ?arlance of businessassin's, and one which focusses more... ?articularly...
PH: ...on trust. Think outside the box! That is, after all, how the best businessassins make their bloodiest killings.
LA: V€r¥ w€££, ¥€$. I wou£d £ik€ to b€ ab£€ to tru$t ¥ou. ¥ou ar€ quit€ th€ manipu£ator, and ¥ou $€€m to b€ ƒu££ oƒ good id€a$.
LA: I$ that a "prop€r" an$w€r?
PH: Surely you can assess the quality of your own wares, and needn't have me tell you that yes, yes that is a VERY ?ro?er answer? >;)
PH: As for my fourth question ...
PH: ... heh heh ...
PH: This is, naturally, the MOST im?ortant question I will ever ask you.
PH: É Of the trolls we have established in your question #8 to be mutual aquaintances, but, of course, including the trolls ?laying the game of twenty questions, what ?otential romantical shi?s could YOU see brewing, ridiculous or a?t to be canonized?
LA: ...
LA: I don't $hip p€op£€.
PH: And yet, you COULD if ?ro?erly motivated by a question you already agreed to answer.
LA: ...
LA: ƒin€.
PH: >:) Go on, Aascam. I await!
LA: W€££, ¢P I ¢an $€€ €ith€r g€tting it a££ <3 with TT or ƒA, h€'$ a pr€tt¥ impr€$$ionab£€ kid.
LA: AA i$ d€ƒinat€£¥ £€aning hard <3< with ¥ou right now, th€r€ $€€m$ to b€ a £ot oƒ p€nt-up $€£ƒ-r€$€ntm€nt that'$ b€€n r€£€a$€d with h€r r€¢€nt d€mi$€.
LA: $P and ƒA might go <> with A€, but that'$ on£¥ iƒ th€ir p€r$ona£iti€$ b€¢om€ mor€ ho$ti£€. It might ju$t b€ m€, but A€ $€€m$ £ik€ ju$t th€ p€r$on to tr¥ to m€dd£€ with th€m and ¢a£m th€m down a bit.
LA: $p€aking oƒ ho$ti£iti€$, ¥ou might want to ƒind a m€d€ator to h€£p turn that <3< AA ha$ ƒor ¥ou into a ¢3<. A$$uming ¥ou don't want to pur$ur€ a b£a¢k roman¢€ with h€r.
LA: I wou£d r€¢¢om€nd A€, m¥$€£ƒ. V€r¥ m€dd£€$om€.
LA: I don't think I hav€ €nough oƒ a b€aring on ¥ou to prop€r£¥ judg€ wh€r€ ¥ou might b€ £€aning.
LA: Iƒ $om€on€ taunt$ $P €nough about hi$ big "$€¢r€t," ¥ou know what I'm ta£king about, h€ might $tart hating th€m quit€ a bit. It $€€m$ £ik€ $om€thing h€ d€$p€rat€£¥ want$ to hid€, €v€n iƒ h€'$ t€rrib£€ at it.
LA: I tr¥ to k€€p int€ra¢tion$ with TT to a minimun, $o don't tru$t m€ ¢omp£€t€£¥ on thi$, but hop€ƒu££¥ ¢P wi££ b€ ab£€ to k€€p h€r in £in€. That i$ iƒ h€ grow$ a bon€ bu£g€ and do€$n't tr¥ to pur$u€ a r€d roman¢€ with h€r.
LA: But th€n it'$ a gamb£€, I don't know what $h€'$ £ik€ €nough to ¢omm€nt on h€r romanti¢ £iƒ€.
LA: $am€ with ƒA.
LA: ...I wou£d rath€r not ta£k about m¥ own ƒ€€£ing$.
PH: Wow! That was almost very well done! Although I am finding it difficult to contain my sorrow over a lack of even a STAB in the DARK based on the SLIMMEST -- nay, the SLIGHTEST, most MINISCULE of observations -- as regards, TT, FA and myself. Also, what of AE? You mentioned her meddlesome qualities, but are those the only quadrants you see her in?
PH: Allllllllllso, eugh. Yawn, no. I have no desire to be in any quadrant with Cym -- not black, not ashen -- so I ho?e she gets over it. And the whole "I'm dead" thing. Lame.
PH: As for your own feelings, and what you'd RATHER ...
PH: ... while you did agree to answer all of my questions ...
PH: ...the house...
PH: ...will be generous, and allow that to slide. As a gesture of good faith. >:)
LA: Thank ¥ou.
LA: Now ¢an w€ g€t on with thi$? Or wa$ that qu€$tion in ¥our ƒir$t r€$pon$€ not rh€tori¢a£?
PH: My "Also, what of Ae?" question? No, that was not rhetorical -- that was a ?lea for clarification.
PH: Or a reminder of someone you seemingly ski??ed over, exce?t when discussing others. >:)
LA: What do ¥ou m€an?
PH: Hmm. You know what? Nevermind. I think your shi??ing chart, im?rom?tu as it is, and in woeful need of a little more crack!shi? work, is ?retty com?lete. And it is my turn to answer a question in full sentences!
LA: €x¢€££€nt.
PH: Ahem. What do I think of you? ...
PH: I think you've been afflicted with a severe case of slum?stuck.
PH: I think you are not as good as you think you are. I think you are not as bad as you a??ear to be acting. I think you've learned this habit of -- being stingy with your desires, of hoarding your skill, of ?laying it so close to the vest that you're not even ?laying, and that's a coward's act.
PH: I think you could be ?retty cool, Aascam, if you only a??lied yourself a bit more. . . or let yourself take ?art in things. I don't think you're nice! You've got ?otential. ?otential to be interesting.
PH: I think you're fun! >:) And kind of a jerk.
LA: I $€€.
PH: I will also ?oint out that...
PH: ... by defering that question ...
PH: ... well, that answer...
PH: ...to the ennnnd of MY four questions...
PH: ...You got more bang for your buck.
LA: Ar€ ¥ou imp£¥ing $om€thing, Mi$$ App€££öƒ?
PH: I am!
LA: And what i$ that €xa¢t£¥?
PH: I am im?lying this: That the house mani?ulated THAT series of events in your favor, although the house also gained something. Interesting, huh?
PH: I wonder if that situation could find an echo in some other mysterious situation?
PH: ?robably best not to s?eculate too dee?ly on im?lications, though.
PH: Unless they are quadrantical, of course!
PH: In which case, s?eculation is always welcome. >:)
LA: ...Oƒ ¢our$€.
LA: Thi$ ha$ b€€n an... €n£ight€ning ¢onv€r$ation, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
LA: And a$ mu¢h a$ I wou£d £ik€ to ¢ontinu€, I n€€d $om€ tim€ to mu££ ov€r thi$.
PH: Awww. I ho?e it was encouraging!
LA: That i$ on€ word oƒ man¥ I ¢ou£d u$€ to d€$¢rib€ it.
PH: Before you wander off to mull ...
PH: ... A final question. ?art of why I started trolling you, actually.
PH: Are you looking forward to ?laying the game???????? SGRUB, that is.
LA: It $ound$ int€r€$ting, and I'££ tak€ an¥thing I ¢an g€t iƒ it h€£p$ a££i€v€ m¥ bor€dom.
LA: I hav€ b€€n £ooking ƒorward to it mor€ than mo$t gam€$, though.
PH: Really? Why?
LA: W€££, w€ ar€ p£a¥ing in a r€£ativ€£¥ £arg€ group. I gu€$$ it'$ th€ pro$p€¢t oƒ int€ration.
LA: I gu€$$.
LA: I wou£d £ik€ to €mpha$iz€ that.
LA: It'$ not a $ur€ ƒ€€£ing.
LA: Ju$t a gu€$$.
PH: Ah HAH!!! You'll become a real troll yet, Scammy.
PH: Well...
LA: God damn it now I $ound £ik€ Mi$t€r Tor€nt
PH: ... Once we're in game, I'll kee? an eye out for you! >:) Still not entirely sure how it's actually going to ?lay out.
PH: Ezreki usually ?icks the best of games, though! Musclebeast Squirt Mountain was a glaring exce?tion to the rule. Still.
LA: Mu$¢£€b€a$t $quir- N€v€rmind.
LA: W€££, I gu€$$ I'££ hav€ to tru$t ¥ou on that.
PH: Hee, Hee. TRUST, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
PH: Anyway! I'll let you mull. Laaaaaaaater, Scammy!
LA: Goodb¥€, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
-- plotHooked [PH] ceased pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 00:58 --
LA & PH - The invisible currency.
-- plotHooked [PH] began pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 14:51 --
PH: ?ssssst. Aascam!
PH: Aaaascam? Are you there? At your desk? As ?er usual? I have a very quick question for you.
PH: The quickest of questions, in fact. Far, far quicker than the usual run of quick questions.
LA: Ahh, Mi$$ App€££öƒ. What do ¥ou n€€d?
PH: On the subject of scars, would you say -- being a troll who understands the advantages of a??earance, of the im?ortance of masks, as all ?otential star businessassins generally have a keen sense of --
PH: that a scar would be beneficial to ...
PH: ... ?utting out a certain ...
PH: ... aura of raffish devil-may-careness?
PH: In short, would you concur that a scar would in fact suit a certain blueblooded mountain troll who enjoys s?eaking about his ?rotaganisty ways?
PH: Also, I ho?e you're well! And that business has been good today. >:)
LA: I ju$t had an o£d aquantan¢€ ¢om€ in and giv€ m€ quit€ a bit oƒ mon€¥, $o ¥€$. It ha$ b€€n good.
LA: Iƒ I ma¥ a$k, i$ th€ b£u€b£ood ¥ou'r€ ta£king about happ€n to b€ Mi$t€r £u¢€ri?
PH: Huh. They just -- waltzed in and handed you bags of caegars? Were they ?erha?s investing in your business, or did you sell them some of your fine merchandize? >:P
PH: And yes, yes it would be.
LA: W€££ oƒ ¢our$€ I $o£d h€r $om€thing, I don't tak€ thing$ ƒor ƒr€€.
LA: But to th€ point, ¥ou want to $¢ar Mi$t€r £u¢€ri?
PH: Aascam, have you ever heard of the invisible currency????
LA: What does this have to do with what we were talking about?
PH: And ... Yes, Mr. Luceri and I are discussing scars, and whether or not he should have one. >:) Whether or not it would suit him.
PH: Ah, from your question, I cleverly deduce that you have NOT indeed heard of the invisible currency!
PH: I bet your lusus has ke?t you from the knowledge of it. >:(
LA: Get to the point, Miss Appellöf.
PH: I love ?oints, Aascam. I love them when they ?uncture the jugulars of im?atient greenblooded trolls. I love it when they catch the moonlight and their beauty com?letely overthrows me. I like ?oints. This conversation has two ?oints now, I believe. One, a discussion of the invisible currency, which you should never fear I will tell you all about. I like hearing your reactions, Aascam. I enjoy your insights. >:) The other ?oi
PH: I would be ...
PH: ... extremely grateful. >:)
LA: ...
PH: ((Er, WISH me to address the otehr. >.> Let's pretend that wasn't a typo, since Arethusa would not have made that one *grin*))
PH: I am doing my very best to look im?loring! >:)
LA: Very well, on the subject of the possible scarring of Mister Luceri, sure. Give him a scar. In fact, I think I will be able to help you with it.
LA: I have a variety of books on biology and such that I'm sure will give you advice on how to make the perfect scar.
PH: I admire your quick wit, Aascam. >:) Always looking for the angle!
LA: On the subject on this so-called "invisible currency" I'm not sure if you're jerking me around or not.
LA: It's always hard to tell with you.
PH: I'm not jerking you around. The "invisible currency" works in this fashion. First, there is ...
PH: ... the usual, mundane, tawdry sort of currency that ANY schlub could wield.
PH: ?ictured here:
-- plotHooked [PH] is sending a file "boringcurrency.jpg" to loanedAllegiance [LA] --
PH: Ah! But of COURSE that is the way it should go, you say!
PH: ?ossibly with a smirk u?on your face!
PH: What other way might there be?
PH: Hark, Aascam, to THIS:
-- plotHooked [PH] is sending a file "awesomeinvisiblecurrency.jpg" to loanedAllegiance [LA] --
LA: ...What am I looking at here?
PH: [What follows is a comic that matches the first, except in this one, the Aascam stick figure agreees with a wink, and the Delightful ?atron leaves the store with Mysteeeerious Threads, hel?fully labelled "favors" tying her to Aascam]
PH: In the boring currency ?icture, you lose a customer forever, Aascam. In the invisible currency ?icture, you ste? u? to the ?late!
PH: You begin to wield INFORMATION!
PH: And ?romises owed.
PH: You begin to form a network.
PH: A connection.
PH: The currency? Invisible, yes.
PH: But the return? ?robably very great.
LA: I see. So what you are implying is that I should be more manipulative in my deals. Instead of simple monetary exchange, I should make side deals with customers, collecting favours in the process.
LA: Perhapts even becoming an information broker.
PH: Wellllll, ?erha?s. A favor broker, at very least. The invisible currency is VERY malleable -- and the benefits are almost unlimited.
PH: Although the risks, naturally, are very great as well!
PH: Only ...
PH: ... greatly daring ...
PH: ... trolls might successfully utilize it.
PH: You know?
LA: And how do you recommend I start this daring buisness practice?
LA: I assume it has something to do with the first point?
LA: Or am I wrong in that assumption?
PH: Oh, no. It has nothing to do with the first ?oint. I am merely being friendly, Aascam. >:)
LA: You are only offering friendly advice, is that it?
LA: What's your motive, Appellöf? It can't just be money.
LA: If you want something from me, be straight-froward with it. I'm here to conduct buisness deals, not to unravel the backwards doublespeak of a manipulative highblood.
PH: Ahaha! Ask yourself this, Scammy. What motive might I ?ossibly have that could make this friendly advice ...
PH: ... anything other ...
PH: ... than a tool, for you to utilize, or not, as you desire?
PH: I really don't care about money.
PH: I'm sorry, I do realize that you feel very strongly otherwise.
PH: But it isn't ...
PH: ... im?ortant. I don't think. However, ?laying the game ?ro?erly? THAT is.
PH: So it's friendly advice. That's all.
LA: And what game is that?
PH: The same game one uses "invisible currency" in, of course!!!!!!
PH: On this note, I am going to go. I don't actually like this day. Good luck, Aascam! >;)
-- plotHooked [PH] ceased pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 16:07 --
PH: ?ssssst. Aascam!
PH: Aaaascam? Are you there? At your desk? As ?er usual? I have a very quick question for you.
PH: The quickest of questions, in fact. Far, far quicker than the usual run of quick questions.
LA: Ahh, Mi$$ App€££öƒ. What do ¥ou n€€d?
PH: On the subject of scars, would you say -- being a troll who understands the advantages of a??earance, of the im?ortance of masks, as all ?otential star businessassins generally have a keen sense of --
PH: that a scar would be beneficial to ...
PH: ... ?utting out a certain ...
PH: ... aura of raffish devil-may-careness?
PH: In short, would you concur that a scar would in fact suit a certain blueblooded mountain troll who enjoys s?eaking about his ?rotaganisty ways?
PH: Also, I ho?e you're well! And that business has been good today. >:)
LA: I ju$t had an o£d aquantan¢€ ¢om€ in and giv€ m€ quit€ a bit oƒ mon€¥, $o ¥€$. It ha$ b€€n good.
LA: Iƒ I ma¥ a$k, i$ th€ b£u€b£ood ¥ou'r€ ta£king about happ€n to b€ Mi$t€r £u¢€ri?
PH: Huh. They just -- waltzed in and handed you bags of caegars? Were they ?erha?s investing in your business, or did you sell them some of your fine merchandize? >:P
PH: And yes, yes it would be.
LA: W€££ oƒ ¢our$€ I $o£d h€r $om€thing, I don't tak€ thing$ ƒor ƒr€€.
LA: But to th€ point, ¥ou want to $¢ar Mi$t€r £u¢€ri?
PH: Aascam, have you ever heard of the invisible currency????
LA: What does this have to do with what we were talking about?
PH: And ... Yes, Mr. Luceri and I are discussing scars, and whether or not he should have one. >:) Whether or not it would suit him.
PH: Ah, from your question, I cleverly deduce that you have NOT indeed heard of the invisible currency!
PH: I bet your lusus has ke?t you from the knowledge of it. >:(
LA: Get to the point, Miss Appellöf.
PH: I love ?oints, Aascam. I love them when they ?uncture the jugulars of im?atient greenblooded trolls. I love it when they catch the moonlight and their beauty com?letely overthrows me. I like ?oints. This conversation has two ?oints now, I believe. One, a discussion of the invisible currency, which you should never fear I will tell you all about. I like hearing your reactions, Aascam. I enjoy your insights. >:) The other ?oi
PH: I would be ...
PH: ... extremely grateful. >:)
LA: ...
PH: ((Er, WISH me to address the otehr. >.> Let's pretend that wasn't a typo, since Arethusa would not have made that one *grin*))
PH: I am doing my very best to look im?loring! >:)
LA: Very well, on the subject of the possible scarring of Mister Luceri, sure. Give him a scar. In fact, I think I will be able to help you with it.
LA: I have a variety of books on biology and such that I'm sure will give you advice on how to make the perfect scar.
PH: I admire your quick wit, Aascam. >:) Always looking for the angle!
LA: On the subject on this so-called "invisible currency" I'm not sure if you're jerking me around or not.
LA: It's always hard to tell with you.
PH: I'm not jerking you around. The "invisible currency" works in this fashion. First, there is ...
PH: ... the usual, mundane, tawdry sort of currency that ANY schlub could wield.
PH: ?ictured here:
-- plotHooked [PH] is sending a file "boringcurrency.jpg" to loanedAllegiance [LA] --
PH: Ah! But of COURSE that is the way it should go, you say!
PH: ?ossibly with a smirk u?on your face!
PH: What other way might there be?
PH: Hark, Aascam, to THIS:
-- plotHooked [PH] is sending a file "awesomeinvisiblecurrency.jpg" to loanedAllegiance [LA] --
LA: ...What am I looking at here?
PH: [What follows is a comic that matches the first, except in this one, the Aascam stick figure agreees with a wink, and the Delightful ?atron leaves the store with Mysteeeerious Threads, hel?fully labelled "favors" tying her to Aascam]
PH: In the boring currency ?icture, you lose a customer forever, Aascam. In the invisible currency ?icture, you ste? u? to the ?late!
PH: You begin to wield INFORMATION!
PH: And ?romises owed.
PH: You begin to form a network.
PH: A connection.
PH: The currency? Invisible, yes.
PH: But the return? ?robably very great.
LA: I see. So what you are implying is that I should be more manipulative in my deals. Instead of simple monetary exchange, I should make side deals with customers, collecting favours in the process.
LA: Perhapts even becoming an information broker.
PH: Wellllll, ?erha?s. A favor broker, at very least. The invisible currency is VERY malleable -- and the benefits are almost unlimited.
PH: Although the risks, naturally, are very great as well!
PH: Only ...
PH: ... greatly daring ...
PH: ... trolls might successfully utilize it.
PH: You know?
LA: And how do you recommend I start this daring buisness practice?
LA: I assume it has something to do with the first point?
LA: Or am I wrong in that assumption?
PH: Oh, no. It has nothing to do with the first ?oint. I am merely being friendly, Aascam. >:)
LA: You are only offering friendly advice, is that it?
LA: What's your motive, Appellöf? It can't just be money.
LA: If you want something from me, be straight-froward with it. I'm here to conduct buisness deals, not to unravel the backwards doublespeak of a manipulative highblood.
PH: Ahaha! Ask yourself this, Scammy. What motive might I ?ossibly have that could make this friendly advice ...
PH: ... anything other ...
PH: ... than a tool, for you to utilize, or not, as you desire?
PH: I really don't care about money.
PH: I'm sorry, I do realize that you feel very strongly otherwise.
PH: But it isn't ...
PH: ... im?ortant. I don't think. However, ?laying the game ?ro?erly? THAT is.
PH: So it's friendly advice. That's all.
LA: And what game is that?
PH: The same game one uses "invisible currency" in, of course!!!!!!
PH: On this note, I am going to go. I don't actually like this day. Good luck, Aascam! >;)
-- plotHooked [PH] ceased pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 16:07 --
LA & PH - I am ¢omp£€t€£¥ hon€$t in a££ oƒ m¥ d€a£ing$.
-- plotHooked [PH] began pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 18:01 --
PH: ?ssssst. Hey. Hey, Aascam. Are you there? Are you manning your ?ost? You aren't slacking off, I ho?e!
LA: Ah, Mi$$ App€££öƒ. Ni¢€ to m€€t ¥ou again.
LA: ¥€$, I am at m¥ d€$k. It'$ diƒƒi¢u£t not to b€, ¢on$it€ring I'm und€r m¥ £u$u$' $¢rutin¥ at a££ tim€$.
PH: Have you ever ...
PH: ... thought ...
PH: ... and by thought, I mean ... ruminated, considered ...
PH: ... ?ossibly while you hold your head in both hands ...
PH: ... to look REALLY ?ensive, you understand ...
PH: ... that there miiiiight ...
PH: ... be ways ...
PH: ... AROUND the SINISTER scrutiny of your lusus?
PH: That ?erha?s he really WANTS you to find ways to cheat him?
PH: >:)
LA: B€£i€v€ m€, in th€ €ar£¥ da¥$ I tri€d to €$¢ap€ man¥ tim€$.
LA: I wa$ a£wa¥$ un$u¢€$$ƒu£.
LA: I'm not going to wa$t€ th€ €ƒƒort tr¥ing to p£€a$€ him, I do w€££ €nough in h€r€.
PH: >:\ That ...
PH: ... sounds sus?iciously like something a failure of a businessassin would say.
PH: I can't imagine a TRUE hardboiled
PH: dirtydealing
PH: knifeflinging, debtclaiming
PH: BADASS
PH: from whom esca?e ...
PH: ... well, isn't even a nightdream
PH: that wrigglers raised u? on nightdreams of freedom
PH: and cotton candy
PH: and lolli?o?s
PH: would have
PH: because even THEY need to acknowledge
PH: the businessassin's ...
PH: ... excellence.
PH: Don't you think it might affect your SALES
PH: This ... chained to desk by a lowly, ?athetic lusus thing?
PH: >:(
LA: ...
LA: Wh¥ mu$t ¥ou ¢on$tant£¥ taunt m€, Mi$$ App€££öƒ?
LA: A$ good a point a$ ¥ou mak€, and it -i$- a good point, I'v€ tri€d.
LA: Ov€r and ov€r again.
LA: And in th€ €nd I $aw it a$ mor€ proƒitab£€ to $imp£¥ a¢¢€pt m¥ £u$u$' t€rm$ in$t€ad oƒ wa$ting r€$our¢€$ tr¥ing to avoid hi$ gaz€.
LA: That'$ a££ it i$.
LA: B€$id€$, I £ik€ to think I'm gaining hi$ tru$t.
LA: A££ th€ b€tt€r to ba¢k$tab him £at€r.
PH: I? Taunt you? Surely, watching someone with such ?otential sink deep into an uncom?romising mire of ?athetic drudgery, better suited to the oblivion of a cull, would be far, far worse of me. >:)
PH: And ...
PH: ... I see.
PH: So ...
PH: ... You have a ?lan. You wouldn't be interested ...
PH: ... AT ALL ...
PH: ... in a ?ro?osition.
PH: As regards your ?resent situation. Correct? >:(
LA: It d€p€nd$ on what ¥ou'r€ propo$ing, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
PH: Freedom, Aascam! Freedom, the o?en road! Adventure, shenanigans, revenge -- served, naturally, ?i?ing HOT!
LA: And how do ¥ou propo$€ I do thi$?
PH: Wellllllll ...
PH: ... Do you really....
PH: .... WANT it?
PH: Are you sure you don't like being able to just ... do nothing, and blame everything on your guardian?
LA: Ar€ ¥ou imp£¥ing that I do thi$ b€¢au$€ I want it?
LA: I'm not going to giv€ ¥ou m¥ £iƒ€ $tor¥, but it'$ a £ot mor€ ¢omp£i¢at€d than that.
PH: Actually, Aascam! I am sitting here, ?raying that such an im?lication would be false and unfounded, com?letely baseless in actual fact, something even the BEST ficshi??ers would regard with com?lete and utter HORROR. You're ...
PH: ... trustworthy, right?
PH: When s?eaking about yourself? >:)
LA: Mi$$ App€££öƒ, I wou£d put ¥our mind at r€$t and t€££ ¥ou ¥€$, oƒ ¢our$€.
LA: I am ¢omp£€t€£¥ hon€$t in a££ oƒ m¥ d€a£ing$.
LA: ¢omp£€t€£¥ and tota££¥.
LA: Un£ik€ a ¢€rtain hair¥ ba$tard putting hi$ grubb¥ paw$ €v€r¥wh€r€, $t€a£ing €v€r¥thing that i$n't nai£€d down.
LA: I hat€ him $o mu¢h.
LA: But that'$ not th€ point oƒ thi$ ¢onv€r$ation.
LA: M¥ apo£ogi€$.
PH: Hee, Hee! My mind ...
PH: is com?letely at rest now, Aascam.
PH: You have convinced me.
PH: I'm ?retty sure my wits have been dulled, ?ut back in their velvet lined case for a long, long rest, because that is how convincing I find your rich green-as-old-Caegers-pulled-from-an-e?ic-shi?wreck text!
PH: If nothing else, I believe you ?robably at least think you hate your Lusus.
PH: ... Hey, if he ...
PH: ... Watches you at all times...
PH: ... Can he read?
PH: Is he not ?erha?s reading this right now?
PH: Over your shoulder? With his s?ycameras?
PH: I wouldn't want to get you in trouble with any ?ro?ositions. >:)
PH: ... if ...
PH: ... that is indeed the case, anyway!
LA: Tru$t m€, h€ ¢an r€ad €v€r¥thing w€ $a¥, that $mug wa$t€ ¢hut€.
LA: £€t him, I want him to know how mu¢h I ab$o£ut€£¥ abhor him.
LA: *ah€m* Not in that wa¥, I m€an.
LA: In a "want to pun¢h him to d€ath" kind oƒ wa¥.
PH: >':) Are you suuuuuuuuuure? Your text might still be lovely shi?wreck money green, but the sentiments seem ?retty disgustingly (because, a LUSUS? REALLY?) black to me.
LA: No oƒƒ€n¢€, Mi$$ App€££öƒ, but ¥our ob€$$ion with roman¢€ i$ g€tting in th€ wa¥ oƒ rationa£ thought.
PH: MmHmm. >:) I'll ... say no more, at least u?on THAT subject ...
PH: ... since it seems to be so ...
PH: ... scandalously touchy. >:P
LA: G€t a mov€ on, App€££öƒ.
LA: ¥ou w€r€ ta£king about a propo$ition?
PH: Oh, yes! Indeed.
PH: It's ... in fact ... such a delightfull vicious ?ro?osition, I ?robably shouldn't bother laying it on the table ...
PH: ... at least ...
PH: ... not without certain SURETIES.
PH: However!
PH: We're friends, aren't we, Aascam? Buddies? ?als?
PH: >;)
LA: $ur€.
PH: "Sure"? What does that mean? I'm afraid it sounds like a vague, noncommittal way of saying "indisputably" or "accurate"? Would someone trustworthy say "Sure"?
PH: I'm interested in your ?rofessional o?inion on this matter, you see.
PH: >:) Since you're the most honest, hardboiled-to-be businessassin I know!
LA: It i$ th€ kind oƒ thing on€ might $a¥ iƒ th€¥ wou£d rath€r b€ £i$t€ning to $om€on€ mu¢h mor€ $traightƒorward giv€ th€m a propo$ition.
LA: I don't hav€ a££ da¥.
LA: Tim€ i$ mon€¥, ¥ou know.
PH: ?sht. Time is only money, Aascam, if it is squandered. Time squatted u?on like a fowlbeast with its viscous eggs does not actually make the eggs hatch more quickly or multi?ly. It just makes them go ... wasted, and eventually ... become stifled, rot away!
PH: Erk! Damn, Croc?o? is on the ?rowl. Here's the ?ro?osition in brief, then:
PH: Tell your lusus -- he IS an A?e, isn't he? Hairy, annoying, agile? --
PH: That you have been contracted by a member of the aristocracy
PH: ... a high?laced member ...
PH: ... for the fresh heart of an A?elusus.
PH: Quote a sum.
PH: The kind of sum businessassin's don't dare dream of.
PH: Wonder how you could ever get ahold of one!
PH: VERY IM?ORTANTLY:
PH: Be sure to mention this wealthy beyond the sco?e of this galaxy member of the aristocracy
PH: is an ex?ert on A?ehearts
PH: and could tell an A?eheart from a Trollheart
PH: At a sniff
PH: And then! Bam. Freedom. Either your lusus will need to go off and quest for its relatives in order to betray them, as Greed will dictate.
PH: Or it will be stu?id enough to kill itself, or ?erha?s allow you to kill it.
PH: And you can be free, do all the things you'd do with freedom that you've never had a chance to do. Doesn't that sound intoxicating, Aascam?
PH: Fabulous, beyond sim?le wealth?
LA: And ¥ou think m¥ £u$u$ wou£d b€ moroni¢ €nough to b€£i€v€ m€?
PH: Yes! Because it would be ?erfectly true. >:)
LA: What ar€ ¥ou imp£¥ing, Mi$$ App€££öƒ?
PH: Im?lying? I im?ly nothing, and say all com?letely forthrightly! I would be ha??y to a??ear to buy your freedom in such a way, Aascam. >:) I could even have a contract drafted u?.
PH: I like contracts. They're great ?ieces of fiction!
LA: ...
LA: I...
LA: I wi££ think about it.
PH: ... Oh, good! >:)
PH: ?sst. Hey, hey. Aascam?
LA: ¥€$?
PH: You a??ear to have forgotten something.
LA: ¥ou m€an m¥ £u$u$? Don't worr¥ about that.
LA: Oƒ ¢our$€ h€ ha$ b£ind $pot$ in hi$ $urv€i££an¢€, I ju$t want€d to taunt him.
LA: H€ $aw nothing.
PH: NO?E! That's not what I meant, at all. Although your lusus seems rather worrying. >:P It ?leases me that you've taken SOME ?recautions in the FIGHT for YOUR OWN freedom. I mean, really. Lusii are su??osed to be servants, not ... masters. >:|
LA: H€ wou£d di$agr€€ with ¥ou th€r€, but go on.
PH: >:P He would not disagree with ME, Aascam, for he would never get the chance! Fate would sna? him u? in its smiling jaws, gnash and tear until even his bones were a nonentity.
PH: And no, there's nowhere to go. It would be cruel of me to ?oint out all YOUR blinds?ots, when you'll do so much better to figure them out yourself! >:)
PH: Arlejrle, damn. I need to run! Bye!!!! Lovely s?eaking with you, as always. >;)
LA: ...Ind€€d, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
LA: Goodb¥€.
-- plotHooked [PH] ceased pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 19:10 --
PH: ?ssssst. Hey. Hey, Aascam. Are you there? Are you manning your ?ost? You aren't slacking off, I ho?e!
LA: Ah, Mi$$ App€££öƒ. Ni¢€ to m€€t ¥ou again.
LA: ¥€$, I am at m¥ d€$k. It'$ diƒƒi¢u£t not to b€, ¢on$it€ring I'm und€r m¥ £u$u$' $¢rutin¥ at a££ tim€$.
PH: Have you ever ...
PH: ... thought ...
PH: ... and by thought, I mean ... ruminated, considered ...
PH: ... ?ossibly while you hold your head in both hands ...
PH: ... to look REALLY ?ensive, you understand ...
PH: ... that there miiiiight ...
PH: ... be ways ...
PH: ... AROUND the SINISTER scrutiny of your lusus?
PH: That ?erha?s he really WANTS you to find ways to cheat him?
PH: >:)
LA: B€£i€v€ m€, in th€ €ar£¥ da¥$ I tri€d to €$¢ap€ man¥ tim€$.
LA: I wa$ a£wa¥$ un$u¢€$$ƒu£.
LA: I'm not going to wa$t€ th€ €ƒƒort tr¥ing to p£€a$€ him, I do w€££ €nough in h€r€.
PH: >:\ That ...
PH: ... sounds sus?iciously like something a failure of a businessassin would say.
PH: I can't imagine a TRUE hardboiled
PH: dirtydealing
PH: knifeflinging, debtclaiming
PH: BADASS
PH: from whom esca?e ...
PH: ... well, isn't even a nightdream
PH: that wrigglers raised u? on nightdreams of freedom
PH: and cotton candy
PH: and lolli?o?s
PH: would have
PH: because even THEY need to acknowledge
PH: the businessassin's ...
PH: ... excellence.
PH: Don't you think it might affect your SALES
PH: This ... chained to desk by a lowly, ?athetic lusus thing?
PH: >:(
LA: ...
LA: Wh¥ mu$t ¥ou ¢on$tant£¥ taunt m€, Mi$$ App€££öƒ?
LA: A$ good a point a$ ¥ou mak€, and it -i$- a good point, I'v€ tri€d.
LA: Ov€r and ov€r again.
LA: And in th€ €nd I $aw it a$ mor€ proƒitab£€ to $imp£¥ a¢¢€pt m¥ £u$u$' t€rm$ in$t€ad oƒ wa$ting r€$our¢€$ tr¥ing to avoid hi$ gaz€.
LA: That'$ a££ it i$.
LA: B€$id€$, I £ik€ to think I'm gaining hi$ tru$t.
LA: A££ th€ b€tt€r to ba¢k$tab him £at€r.
PH: I? Taunt you? Surely, watching someone with such ?otential sink deep into an uncom?romising mire of ?athetic drudgery, better suited to the oblivion of a cull, would be far, far worse of me. >:)
PH: And ...
PH: ... I see.
PH: So ...
PH: ... You have a ?lan. You wouldn't be interested ...
PH: ... AT ALL ...
PH: ... in a ?ro?osition.
PH: As regards your ?resent situation. Correct? >:(
LA: It d€p€nd$ on what ¥ou'r€ propo$ing, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
PH: Freedom, Aascam! Freedom, the o?en road! Adventure, shenanigans, revenge -- served, naturally, ?i?ing HOT!
LA: And how do ¥ou propo$€ I do thi$?
PH: Wellllllll ...
PH: ... Do you really....
PH: .... WANT it?
PH: Are you sure you don't like being able to just ... do nothing, and blame everything on your guardian?
LA: Ar€ ¥ou imp£¥ing that I do thi$ b€¢au$€ I want it?
LA: I'm not going to giv€ ¥ou m¥ £iƒ€ $tor¥, but it'$ a £ot mor€ ¢omp£i¢at€d than that.
PH: Actually, Aascam! I am sitting here, ?raying that such an im?lication would be false and unfounded, com?letely baseless in actual fact, something even the BEST ficshi??ers would regard with com?lete and utter HORROR. You're ...
PH: ... trustworthy, right?
PH: When s?eaking about yourself? >:)
LA: Mi$$ App€££öƒ, I wou£d put ¥our mind at r€$t and t€££ ¥ou ¥€$, oƒ ¢our$€.
LA: I am ¢omp£€t€£¥ hon€$t in a££ oƒ m¥ d€a£ing$.
LA: ¢omp£€t€£¥ and tota££¥.
LA: Un£ik€ a ¢€rtain hair¥ ba$tard putting hi$ grubb¥ paw$ €v€r¥wh€r€, $t€a£ing €v€r¥thing that i$n't nai£€d down.
LA: I hat€ him $o mu¢h.
LA: But that'$ not th€ point oƒ thi$ ¢onv€r$ation.
LA: M¥ apo£ogi€$.
PH: Hee, Hee! My mind ...
PH: is com?letely at rest now, Aascam.
PH: You have convinced me.
PH: I'm ?retty sure my wits have been dulled, ?ut back in their velvet lined case for a long, long rest, because that is how convincing I find your rich green-as-old-Caegers-pulled-from-an-e?ic-shi?wreck text!
PH: If nothing else, I believe you ?robably at least think you hate your Lusus.
PH: ... Hey, if he ...
PH: ... Watches you at all times...
PH: ... Can he read?
PH: Is he not ?erha?s reading this right now?
PH: Over your shoulder? With his s?ycameras?
PH: I wouldn't want to get you in trouble with any ?ro?ositions. >:)
PH: ... if ...
PH: ... that is indeed the case, anyway!
LA: Tru$t m€, h€ ¢an r€ad €v€r¥thing w€ $a¥, that $mug wa$t€ ¢hut€.
LA: £€t him, I want him to know how mu¢h I ab$o£ut€£¥ abhor him.
LA: *ah€m* Not in that wa¥, I m€an.
LA: In a "want to pun¢h him to d€ath" kind oƒ wa¥.
PH: >':) Are you suuuuuuuuuure? Your text might still be lovely shi?wreck money green, but the sentiments seem ?retty disgustingly (because, a LUSUS? REALLY?) black to me.
LA: No oƒƒ€n¢€, Mi$$ App€££öƒ, but ¥our ob€$$ion with roman¢€ i$ g€tting in th€ wa¥ oƒ rationa£ thought.
PH: MmHmm. >:) I'll ... say no more, at least u?on THAT subject ...
PH: ... since it seems to be so ...
PH: ... scandalously touchy. >:P
LA: G€t a mov€ on, App€££öƒ.
LA: ¥ou w€r€ ta£king about a propo$ition?
PH: Oh, yes! Indeed.
PH: It's ... in fact ... such a delightfull vicious ?ro?osition, I ?robably shouldn't bother laying it on the table ...
PH: ... at least ...
PH: ... not without certain SURETIES.
PH: However!
PH: We're friends, aren't we, Aascam? Buddies? ?als?
PH: >;)
LA: $ur€.
PH: "Sure"? What does that mean? I'm afraid it sounds like a vague, noncommittal way of saying "indisputably" or "accurate"? Would someone trustworthy say "Sure"?
PH: I'm interested in your ?rofessional o?inion on this matter, you see.
PH: >:) Since you're the most honest, hardboiled-to-be businessassin I know!
LA: It i$ th€ kind oƒ thing on€ might $a¥ iƒ th€¥ wou£d rath€r b€ £i$t€ning to $om€on€ mu¢h mor€ $traightƒorward giv€ th€m a propo$ition.
LA: I don't hav€ a££ da¥.
LA: Tim€ i$ mon€¥, ¥ou know.
PH: ?sht. Time is only money, Aascam, if it is squandered. Time squatted u?on like a fowlbeast with its viscous eggs does not actually make the eggs hatch more quickly or multi?ly. It just makes them go ... wasted, and eventually ... become stifled, rot away!
PH: Erk! Damn, Croc?o? is on the ?rowl. Here's the ?ro?osition in brief, then:
PH: Tell your lusus -- he IS an A?e, isn't he? Hairy, annoying, agile? --
PH: That you have been contracted by a member of the aristocracy
PH: ... a high?laced member ...
PH: ... for the fresh heart of an A?elusus.
PH: Quote a sum.
PH: The kind of sum businessassin's don't dare dream of.
PH: Wonder how you could ever get ahold of one!
PH: VERY IM?ORTANTLY:
PH: Be sure to mention this wealthy beyond the sco?e of this galaxy member of the aristocracy
PH: is an ex?ert on A?ehearts
PH: and could tell an A?eheart from a Trollheart
PH: At a sniff
PH: And then! Bam. Freedom. Either your lusus will need to go off and quest for its relatives in order to betray them, as Greed will dictate.
PH: Or it will be stu?id enough to kill itself, or ?erha?s allow you to kill it.
PH: And you can be free, do all the things you'd do with freedom that you've never had a chance to do. Doesn't that sound intoxicating, Aascam?
PH: Fabulous, beyond sim?le wealth?
LA: And ¥ou think m¥ £u$u$ wou£d b€ moroni¢ €nough to b€£i€v€ m€?
PH: Yes! Because it would be ?erfectly true. >:)
LA: What ar€ ¥ou imp£¥ing, Mi$$ App€££öƒ?
PH: Im?lying? I im?ly nothing, and say all com?letely forthrightly! I would be ha??y to a??ear to buy your freedom in such a way, Aascam. >:) I could even have a contract drafted u?.
PH: I like contracts. They're great ?ieces of fiction!
LA: ...
LA: I...
LA: I wi££ think about it.
PH: ... Oh, good! >:)
PH: ?sst. Hey, hey. Aascam?
LA: ¥€$?
PH: You a??ear to have forgotten something.
LA: ¥ou m€an m¥ £u$u$? Don't worr¥ about that.
LA: Oƒ ¢our$€ h€ ha$ b£ind $pot$ in hi$ $urv€i££an¢€, I ju$t want€d to taunt him.
LA: H€ $aw nothing.
PH: NO?E! That's not what I meant, at all. Although your lusus seems rather worrying. >:P It ?leases me that you've taken SOME ?recautions in the FIGHT for YOUR OWN freedom. I mean, really. Lusii are su??osed to be servants, not ... masters. >:|
LA: H€ wou£d di$agr€€ with ¥ou th€r€, but go on.
PH: >:P He would not disagree with ME, Aascam, for he would never get the chance! Fate would sna? him u? in its smiling jaws, gnash and tear until even his bones were a nonentity.
PH: And no, there's nowhere to go. It would be cruel of me to ?oint out all YOUR blinds?ots, when you'll do so much better to figure them out yourself! >:)
PH: Arlejrle, damn. I need to run! Bye!!!! Lovely s?eaking with you, as always. >;)
LA: ...Ind€€d, Mi$$ App€££öƒ.
LA: Goodb¥€.
-- plotHooked [PH] ceased pestering loanedAllegiance [LA] at 19:10 --
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