Invasion of the Anzens

[tailsofwoe]

Who: Some Anzens & you
When: July 29
Where: Dorms
What: just friendly people being good neighbors
Warnings: N/A

[ Knock knock, open up, there is some number of Anzens at your door.

A pretty lady in sky blue smiles and waves. ]

Good evening. Hopefully this isn't a bad time? Enough time has passed that we figured it was a good idea to check in and make proper introductions.

You'll have to forgive the lack of housewarming gift. We're a bit shorthanded at the moment, which I'm sure you can relate to.

[ From behind her peers a perfectly average guy with tousled hair dressed in sky blue slacks. He gives a friendly wave! ]

We did think about it, though.

[ GIVE BROWNIE POINTS ]

Comments

[gamboler]

[ Maybe he didn't answer it directly, but Garnet is sharp enough to read between the lines and make a damn good guess about what his answer would be. ]

As will I. Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst isn't a bad way to go about it, if you ask me.

[ordimame]

[and he probably isn't wrong, either]

Haha. Optimism dashed with a bit of cynicism?

[. . .]

[what he asks next may feel like a non-sequitur, but he doesn't mean for it to be]

Have you heard about Anzen's "curse?"

[gamboler]

[ A nod. ]

Mister Styx told me about it. It's that the ghosts are "drawn" to you, correct?

[ordimame]

[a short pause as he considers his next words, carefully turning them around in his mind, picking all of the right ones like apples from a tree]

Yeah. That's right.

[. . .]

I'm not a fighter. Neither are Foxglove or Macchi. Mocha knows magic, but he is limited. Styx is our muscle.

Our only muscle.

[gamboler]

[ A corner of his mouth tugs up, wry. ]

And so, you're trying to suss out who might be able to help with your shortage of manpower.

[ Aventurine can fight — he wouldn't be alive right now if he couldn't — but against ghosts? Not so much, particularly without his Pathstrider blessings. Even so... ]

I might not be what you're looking for in terms of muscle, but both Dante and Magus might fit the bill of what you're looking for. And what I lack in raw power, I more than make up for in strategy.

[ordimame]

[not even denying it!!]

. . . it's important to have allies who can make up for your own shortcomings, right? So-- yes. You could say that's what we're doing.

[a pause]

I know Eowyn and Magus have magical capabilities, too. Though that means little if we can't count on them when we need them the most.

[gamboler]

Not to mention, nothing comes for free, either. If our team were to help yours, what can you offer Kai-un in return?

[ Ah, he feels right at home, negotiating a deal like this. He's leaning into it way too eagerly. ]

[ordimame]

[loathe as he may be to admit it. . . so does Edamura]

That hasn't been decided yet. But rest assured that we wouldn't expect you to give without receiving in return.

[in his experience. . . those kinds of relationships are a lot more stable than relationships formed on nothing but pure goodwill]

[gamboler]

[ The same goes for Aventurine as well. When relationships rely on transactions, they're easier to understand, interpret, and control. Everyone knows what to expect, and nothing is given away for free.

A small smile. ]

Then shall I look forward to an updated offer, once you've had a chance to deliberate further? I'll need to confer with my team as well. I don't speak for all of us, and I'd like to hear their thoughts.

[ordimame]

[and when someone stabs you in the back. . . then at least you're not surprised]

Foxglove and I don't speak for the rest of our class, either. We'll also need time to confer.

But if you keep us in mind until then. . . we'll do the same for you.