>> @FEATHERBRAIN | @ALL

[bivariant]

This is Brevet General Kel Cheris. I have a request to make of those willing, and an announcement you must hear.

Foremost, I would like to form a strategic partnership with one of you who is considered among the elite of Aranean society. Due to my own peculiar position, I hope to use your status to make myself acceptably "handled" within hierarchy, thus as overlooked as possible by curious or superstitious eyes. Also, because command has suggested we work in pairs. I will repay you in the manner of your choosing, excluding sexual favors.

Less to do with our current mission, and more to do with your continued safety -- I have not had an opportunity to publicly address you on the topic of the shadow in the room. And I do not like withholding information.

Some of you may have noticed him, and some of you may have not had the time to meet with me. With me is General Shuos Jedao, who is both a brilliant tactician and a traitor to the Hexarchate that I am currently responsible for. Despite his reputation, he cannot harm any of you physically, however he is exceptionally good at... talking. And observing. He has asked that I let you know that he made himself absolutely willing to serve on this mission, as he has a background in espionage and game theory that I feel will be well-placed, if not essential. To note: I have made arrangements with Percival de Rolo ( @LORDTLDR ) for the two of us to be handled, should I be compromised and the General does become a danger to you.

I have made my location public should you wish to approach me privately for either matter, and I will answer all reasonable questions and address concerns.

[ ok thats a lot of text to dump here yikes wow ]

Comments

[bivariant]

Incredibly contagious. Just by spending time with me, you've been exposed and are likely to suffer.

[ /joke ]

I'm being perfectly understandable, is the BCE not translating my words accordingly?

[thingpuncher]

ok lets go by line item

jedao: very dangerous guy who cant hurt anybody
hexarchate: something u can betray apparently
brevet: sounds delicious
game theory: the deep meaning behind tic tac toe

y/n

[bivariant]

Line one, correction: cannot hurt anybody "physically" or "currently", but he's maddeningly clever.
Line two, correct as is.
Line three, correct as is.
Line four, correction: behavioral analysis and manipulation, but yes, it involves tic tac toe. See: line one.

Top marks. [ it's so easy to be a little shit to you, m ]

Do you want to play tic tac toe with him, to see?

[thingpuncher]

using my excellent analysis ability bc ur painfully vague
ur talking about a guy
i met u and ur shadow was fucked
he cant hurt anybody physically
my hypothesis:
1. only u can see him
2. if he 'hurts' someone its from manipulating u
or 3. ur a secret sociopath

and im more into blackjack

[bivariant]

I thought I was being clever. Just trying to lighten the load, so to speak.

Only I can hear him. You could see him if I were to look into a mirror. He is indeed a man, though.

If he harms anyone, it is indeed because he has convinced me to see his way. I can absolutely decide to harm somebody of my own volition. It's that there is a line I have always known and that it may blur the longer I am with him. There are tenants I am held to, by Doctrine and... he lacks that order, these days. He's agreeable and helpful, without a doubt, but we don't know what triggered his madness.

I am absolutely not a secret sociopath. [ ISN'T SHE THOUGH ]

And I don't like games.

But. He wants to know how blackjack is played, and whether it involves gambling. Because, of course he does.

[thingpuncher]

this is a really longwinded way of saying you pay your shrink a ton

and everyones a secret sociopath
its why its a secret

stop setting me up on dates with ur ghost
everything involves gambling if youre poor enough
blackjack poker and craps are the big ones where im from though

[bivariant]

I don't have to pay for anything. I have access to a free, public forum.

And I absolutely do not want anybody to date him, and really, I have no desire to know what it's like to have him flirting via proxy ( ie. me ). No, absolutely not. He's just "loathe to admit he doesn't know every game in the universe". His words and not mine, and blackjack seems the closest he can get to a hand of jhengzai at this time.

That, and ever since he read that the Araneans enjoy games -- digital? games, but games nonetheless -- he's been insufferable.

[thingpuncher]

that means u owe me $20 for this conversation at LEAST
actually $40 the ghost pays too

but u can win it back if you beat me at blackjack

[bivariant]

He says -- I'll have you both know that this is a terrible medium in which to conduct a conversation where I must convey both tone and expression of someone who is not myself into text which is otherwise neutered.

But, he says: "Double both portions of your fee, and I'll make sure you're appropriately fucking surprised with the results." Verbatim. And I know I offered to introduce you, for good measure and so you are aware of the line between myself and him, but are you certain? My conversations are not private, and I have mentioned his crimes.

[thingpuncher]

this isnt a conversation kid
this is a game of telephone

anyway tell your ghost hes lucky that we dont got money here
but im glad he remembered the part about me liking surprises
ill scare up some cards

you mentioned his crimes but that shits subjective
is he a rapist
does he make child soldiers
does he torture people
if the above is no then i got no problem with your ghost
if the above is yes then i got problems but i cant do shitall about it so the results the same
its more about you and if you trust yourself enough not to do some bad shit on the orders of the devil on your shoulder but
im not actually ur therapist
sort your own shit out

[bivariant]

[ IMMEDIATELY: ]

NO.

Out of the question. He would never desecrate someone in such a way, it is -- it's unfathomable.

[bivariant]

[ and a few moments after: ] The other two matters you've brought into question, regarding torture and "child soldiers"? I can't tell if you genuinely want an answer. It may not matter to you, but I am trying to be as up front as possible. Not because I need a therapist. Though you are now one of two I've met today who... I will take what you've said under advisement.

It's reassuring to me. Come visit when you're able.

[thingpuncher]

ur such a fucking weirdo
i mean that independent of the ghost flirting with me

yesh i do genuinely want an answer on the child soldiers
dont put quotes around it that shit aint a joke

i gotta visit you to play cards with the fucker, right?

[bivariant]

I've read my public file, I'm perfectly stable.

[ "weirdo", wow!! ]

You must be the age of majority before you're even able to apply to Kel Academy. That's seventeen -- and change, since you're still attending academy, before you are a soldier. I did not mean to make it appear a joke.

You do. At your leisure.