IC Inbox III

[ukan]

This is Lark, leave a message.

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[ukan]

[So am I, he thinks. But it's better to focus on Trevor.]

Worse how?

[atowncalledtreffy]

Worse. Sadder, angrier. I don’t see a way out of here and anything I used to find purpose in is gone again.

[ukan]

Your purpose was protecting people. That's your only purpose?

[atowncalledtreffy]

Yeah. Even if they hated us or thought we were evil. Protecting and dying for them for five hundred years.

[ukan]

And what would you do to protect people from someone like Kirei?

[atowncalledtreffy]

Assuming he actually did what he did on purpose, and I read him right the first time?

He’s a warden. I could demote him.

[ukan]

You read him right. I looked into it.

He needs to go.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[There’s silence on the other line as Trevor sits with this information.

Then:]

Shit.

[ukan]

I will help. However you need.

[atowncalledtreffy]

Christ. All right.

First things - we know this wasn’t a one-off incident from the Fears? That he really could fuck with some vulnerable people? I don’t want to do this for vengeance’s sake, I have thicker skin than most.

[ukan]

He enjoyed what he did to you, Trevor. He used the Fears as a way to get plausible deniability.

Archer told me he murders orphans at some point in their world.

[atowncalledtreffy]

Well. Thanks for eliminating any lingering guilt I had over this.

All right. I want you to keep the curse on me. Pretend like nothing’s changed between us because If the Admiral finds out, I bet he won’t look too kindly on you. Nor will some of your more self-righteous peers.

[ukan]

All right. What about your weapons?

[atowncalledtreffy]

He’s a priest. And I want to tempt him to try killing or hurting me. Who’s going to believe he got the better of me when I’m armed?

[ukan]

He's good at hiding what he is. Expect him to have a lot of self control.

[atowncalledtreffy]

Right. Child-murderers tend to be.

And it might take a while. But if I’m so blackout drunk that I don’t remember anything, people get tempted to let their true selves out a bit more.

[ukan]

We should see who else was hurt by him. For my own information, if nothing else.

[atowncalledtreffy]

Sure, but it could be no one, if he’s as careful as you say he is.

Guess I’m going to start going to church again.

[ukan]

I think we should still increase the amount of time we're together. That way no one can claim you weren't trying, or I was negligent.

[atowncalledtreffy]

I’m for that. I can pull a double shift with you and Trixie for breakfast and lunch and the rest of the time I’m usually in the company of Sypha, Adrian, or one of the kids.

You want to watch practice fighting with me, Hunter, and Kyoko? That way they have a warden supervisor and you don’t get shit on if one of us goes too far with our fists.

And when you’re “asleep” I’ll start visiting the church.

[ukan]

Yes. [He nods. It's rare he doesn't have tweaks or additions to someone else's plans but this one he likes. It's flexible enough to grow when needed, but clear enough to follow.]

And I'll let you know when or if I learn more.

When do you practice with- wait, who's Kyoko?

[atowncalledtreffy]

All right. Priorities now are to stop you from getting demoted, find out what we can from him and others, maybe track his movements, and start getting him comfortable with the idea that I don’t remember anything after I drink.

Kyoko, the red-haired girl who has magic who isn’t Sypha. I kind of adopted her.

[ukan]

[He loves a good, slow-burning plan. He woke up feeling like shit and he feels a tiny bit less shitty now.]

She's feisty. She told me I have weak lawyer fists because I've never been in a real fight.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[Trevor barks a laugh: the first he’s had in ages]

Oh my god. I’m sorry. She didn’t learn that from me.

[ukan]

[Uh huh, sure.] I can't imagine what you two have in common.