contractuallybinding | (no subject)

"Gave you a name?" Bastard purrs, knowing exactly what Wisp seems to be thinking, already. "And you gave me one. I don't think it's too bad, all in all."

Wisp chokes a little at that, glowering at their feet. "Yours is so much worse," he says, though again his tone is just ... despairing. Literally no one is going to look at Wisp and Bastard and assume that Bastard is the victim here. He's been outplayed by himself.

"See, nothing to complain about at all. I could have been as cruel as you were." Bastard smiles, tone upbeat and manager cheer. "Now, seen everything you wanted to, Wisp?"

Wisp flinches at his name, but he can only sag his shoulders in utter defeat. A silent you win.

"I - I haven't seen your tube there," he says, gesturing weakly at the spyglass on the bed. "Can I at least do that?"

"Go right ahead." He even steps aside, allowing Wisp more room.

When Wisp does pick it up, the same bastard is shown in clear relief. In a suit, tie, immaculately composed. There's no hesitation, no despair, not even an ounce of regret. "Oh, just do what feels ...... right. You'll Know what to do." He smiles, sharp and gleeful. "I do this willingly."

Edited 2020-04-02 17:34 (UTC)

"R-right. Okay, thank you," he says, glad to at least get that small concession? Of course it doesn't feel like that coming from this Bastard, smug as he is.

Doubly smug, good lord. That message is just ... Wisp is certain he's at least named the man accurately. He just sort of stares at the tube for a moment, mouth open.

"Seems like we both got off on a bit of a different foot." Bastard shakes his head, exuding sympathy. "I suppose you can't be blamed, leaving yourself such a dire outlook to begin. Why, I imagine I'd be a bit jumpy too."

Wisp doesn't want your sympathy, dammit. All the good natured charm in the world won't put a dent into the compulsion defining him right now. "And what, you really get that much confidence from yourself?"

"Hard to tell. We both seem to match that first glimpse into ourselves." He taps a finger to his lips, thoughtfully. "Well, we have one variable who hasn't seen his. I say, we take a look before he can. Compare."

Wisp blinks at that - but there's a telltale brightening of curiosity before he glares again. "That would be invading his privacy."

"It would."

He's already out the door.

Oh for the love of -

"You - you bastard, wait a moment!" If this terrible man is going to violate (Jon)'s privacy, Wisp is at least going to be there.

"Curiosity is seductive, isn't it, Wisp? So easy to package this in outrage and moral judgements, but you want to Know. Don't you?" It's casual chatter as he opens (Jon's) door for him.

Wisp reddens at that, the colour strange on his otherwise pale face. "I - I'm just trying to keep you from being a colossal snoop," he says unhappily.

"Ineffectually. Well, I suppose you'll have to just watch." He picks up the spyglass. "Unless you'd like first view?"

Wisp just glares solidly. "No, thanks," he says. "If you're going to do this, then you may as well go first."

He smiles an oily, smug smile at the 'go first.'

"Don't mind if I do."

He places it to his face, looking through and-

He smiles.

"You know what? I was going to hold you to your stated intent and deny you this. But I would rather get your opinion."

He hands over the spyglass.

That ... is not a good smile. It's enough to nearly put Wisp off looking into the damn thing in the first place, except - except he can't stand not looking either if this bastard is going to have that reaction. He feels a dim sense of protectiveness towards the teammate that didn't, you know, rewrite his soul.

"Fine," he says, and takes the tube. He peers inside of it - and then jolts back just a moment later. That rage had seemed physically hot for a moment, like it could have burned Wisp through the metal containing it. "Wh - what is he - what does he mean, this time?"

"I have no idea. It does seem we three come from vastly different situations, does it not?" It felt... right though. Each one of them, was just ... a sampler of what the other men were capable of being, a state where they were the most perfect. He'd have to see it again. In person. "I look forward to finding out."

This time. This time. Which implies some sort of previous tie, even if it isn't exactly like - whatever this is. Wisp takes in a deep, shuddering breath. "We certainly have three different opinions," he says. "On - on whatever is going on."

Maybe three points of view on the same thing, or three completely different sets of circumstances. Too early to tell yet.

"And yet, if we are to believe ourselves, we all decided to come of our own free will." He takes a deep breath in, soaking up the stale, wet air of the cave. "Whatever is going on. Shall we see if the fourth room is taken?"

Wisp has severe doubts about how free that free will is, given ... well. The name currently burning at the core of him. But he can't argue with trying to figure out what in the world is going on. "Right. May as well."

He moves to do just that, but ... seems it's just the three of them, doesn't it?

Gosh, Wisp hadn't given him any indication! Seems like free will to him.

No clothes, no spyglass, no extra rations... No window.

"It does seem, at least, you've the only room with a view. Interestingly enough, it seemed like something was.. trying to get you."

Rude, just rude all around.

Wisp blinks, though, at that observation. Opens his mouth to protest? But - well, he's seen all the other rooms now, and sure enough, there hadn't been windows there. Or. Ah. "D'you ... mean that spider thing?" he asks, uncertainly. He'd been frankly a bit charmed by it, despite the obvious potential for malice.