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[ukan]

This is Lark Tennant, leave a message.

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[ukan]

Shithead shouldn't be a compliment, and yet.

"Wouldn't he be a better judge than I am, then?"

[crab_rangoon]

It's absolutely a compliment.

"Exactly why it took me so long to start believing him," he points out.

[ukan]

"It's counterintuitive but now that I think about it, I'd be the same way. But then, Alec took two years to compliment me on anything but my looks," chuckling.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan gives him a shake of his head. "Honestly, I don't see what he sees in you," he grins, playfully.

"I don't believe him because he's good. Because good people aren't supposed to see me like that, Lark."

[ukan]

A soft hum of agreement. "They aren't. And most of them don't. But Kiryu has seen enough of people like us to know the difference."

[crab_rangoon]

"Which is why, when I graduate, I might actually miss him."

It's the first time he's allowed himself to think of what's going to happen next. Later. They have have a great love affair here if they want, but Pagan will leave one day.

[ukan]

"I'm going to miss him even without being as close as you are," Lark nods slightly. "You'll find a lot of people assuming that you'll go to his world or he'll go to yours. People are naive in some ways."

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan sits back. "We haven't talked about it. It's not something to talk about until there is something to talk about."

He doesn't think that there has been enough to change his own trajectory and he wouldn't ask that of Kiryu.

"At least I know I'm not going to get anything but shit advice from most of the people around here if I ask questions," he points out, referring to his last public post.

[ukan]

"I think most people aren't used to you being serious. They can't tell the difference." A pause. "But most people here are also self-involved assholes and hypocrites. Did you get anything useful from it?"

[crab_rangoon]

"I have done what I can to cultivate an image here. They can hardly help it if I suddenly change on them," he admits. "And yes, I did."

He knows what he needs to do.

Doesn't mean he wants to do it.

Doesn't mean he will do it.

But at least he knows what he needs to do.

[ukan]

"As someone who is always out for things to learn, even from assholes, I have to ask what you learned."

[crab_rangoon]

He took what Lark told him, combined with the others, combined with what he knows is right. Clearly this is something he's been thinking of.

"I need to get rid of both Sabal and Amita without killing them. I need to actually listen to the Kyrati people. Perhaps hold true elections. Do a slow transference of power to elected officials."

[ukan]

"And then?" It's always Lark's question. Plan, organize, orchestrate. Always keep an eye ahead of that horizon.

[crab_rangoon]

He knows. And he has an answer.

"I'd stay on as a figurehead. Make sure that everything falls into line. And then I can retire."

He takes a breath.

"Check on Lakshmana and Ajay, but not in person. Make sure they're living a good life, wherever they ended up."

[ukan]

"I can see you as a figurehead," Lark says after he's thought about it. "I can see you being more beloved as one. Someone they might rally behind or trust even though your influence would be backstage to their elected officials."

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan just hesitates a moment. It's all so daunting and, honestly, he needs a moment to simply process it all in his head.

"Well. That is a while off still. I have to graduate first, don't I?"

[ukan]

"And in the meantime, you're due some requests. Anything outlandish come to mind?"

[crab_rangoon]

"Requests?" he wonders, sitting back, arms on the back of the couch as he regards him.

[ukan]

"You've never asked me for anything but a weapon and your pen." He tilts his head. "I've wondered about that for a few weeks now."

[crab_rangoon]

He laughs, light and easy. "What would you expect me to ask for? We live in a goddamn hamster cage, Lark. Given everything we need and plenty of toys to keep us occupied."

[ukan]

"No, you're right. I never asked for anything, either, except my powers back--which is the same as you asking for a weapon." But Lark hadn't asked because he hadn't wanted to put himself in any sort of debt. "Are you occupied here? I don't expect anyone to be happy... I guess I'm just worried about you getting cage crazy like I was."

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan shakes his head. "No," he says thoughtfully, drawing out the vowel. "Like I said, I'm worried for the opposite. I'm worried about getting comfortable here. That's why I don't want anything to make this place easier."

[ukan]

"That makes sense. And the last thing I want is for that to be the case, or for the lack of natural consequences here to get in the way of how your real life will go. I suppose that's another thing I'm wanting to check in about, especially after how everyone dog piled on you."

[crab_rangoon]

"I am not that thin skinned," he assures him. "Fitz - he was the only one that really stung. But."

He sits back. "I should have expected it."

[ukan]

"I was surprised at him. But I probably shouldn't have been." Lark isn't going to sit here and tell Pagan that no, it's okay to anticipate kindness. "It's just another show of the cult of personality around here."