One does not simply kill a god. Even if said god is a depressed alien taking the advice of a homeless Brit. Nor did I expect both Vicky and Lisa to agree with me in this endeavour.
"If we don't deal with him the world ends? Isn't helping you literally the only thing we can do here?"
"Not everyone's as heroic as you, Barbie, I'm helping because if I don't he'll likely do something stupid in trying to prevent said end."
"That's a fair point. I'm in."
It was not a fair point. In fact, I would say that was a rather uncalled-for point. Objectively I should be happy they agreed with my madness-enhanced exclamation. Subjectively I'm annoyed they believed me so easily. When questioned on why they did they just looked at me blankly, then at the Simurgh. Okay, fair point. Can't really blame them for that. Speaking of the Simurgh…
"Agreement."
That is all she said, nothing else, and no emotion shown despite her earlier display. Can't remember anything happening after that—only the past. I'd hit the limit of avoiding sleep again and my earlier enforced nap didn't alleviate the exhaustion much.
Sleep only leads to vaguely remembered emotional pain, so doing that as little as possible is my go-to. It's fine, I just like laying in bed groping Lisa anyways. Unfortunately for me, I don't wake up groping Lisa, or anyone for that matter. Looking at the three girls around me through half-blurry eyes, I give them a wave. "Morning." Lisa lets out an audible sigh and covers her eyes.
"It's 8 PM, Rory." Victoria informs me. Well then, if that's the case this was a truly productive day. A quick look at the oven clock across the room reveals that to be true.
"So it would seem." I nod in agreement. "Anyways, thank's for coming to my TED talk today. That'll be everything for the evening."
"Yeah, I don't think so." Victoria floats over and pushes me back down to sit on the loveseat. "Think us joining you in preventing the end of the world warrants knowing more of what we signed up for?"
"No?"
"It was a rhetorical question, Rory." Lisa snarks with her eyes still covered. Ah, the Lisa was a dumb and overused her power again.
"Alright." I nod, standing up again without being pushed back down by Vicky this time. Vicky and Simmy watch as I walk over to the sink and wet a cloth. "Here, works better than your hands." Lisa mumbles a thanks as I give the dog on her lap a few pats.
"Query. What is Roar Ree's plan for achieving the objective?"
"I'm glad you asked my currently featherless friend. I don't have one." I shrug at the Simurgh's inquiry, this time it's Vicky's turn to let out a large sigh.
"Elaborate." That… sounded a bit angry. I turn to face the intelligent shard bot and she has an ever-so-subtle frown on her face.
"I mean we're winging it. Wait for an opportunity to come when it does. Anything we could think up as a plot could very well set him off unprepared. I only want us to act when we know we can deal with him fully."
"You must have some idea of what to do?" Vicky asks after a moment of silence.
"I have two, well three at the moment. The least likely to work is telling Scion to kill himself."
"I know you make a lot of suicide jokes, but this doesn't seem like the time Rory." Vicky shakes her head.
"It's not a joke, the alien whale god is depressed, it's an above zero percent chance that plan would work." I shrug, ignoring the troubled look of Victoria and the blank stare of the Simurgh. "That actually leads into one of the viable plans, have Jack Slash tell Scion to kill himself."
"Rory, I know we asked for this, but I'm gonna have to call a raincheck to prevent my brain from melting." Lisa whines. Yeah, she's in no condition for this right now.
"I'm tucking you into bed, we can continue the chat later. Vicky, I'm sure your parents are worried about you too."
"You might be right, but I'm not leaving with just that. Go bring Lisa upstairs, I'm going to make a quick phone call." I give her a nod.
"Morri, stay."
"Irritation."
"Here, pet the dog. Don't kill him." I move said dog to the loveseat I had just been on. Making sure to give him lots of head pats as I do.
"Seriously, don't kill our dog." Lisa states as I pick her up next.
"Irritation."
Ignoring the irritated flesh puppet, I take Lisa upstairs and gently lay her down on the bed. "Get some rest, quit overthinking things." I adjust the cloth on her eyes, she grabs my wrist as I'm about to leave.
"I need to know…"
"What do you need to know?"
"Eidolon, it was him, wasn't it?" Ah, she could have just waited for me to tell her that. But this is Lisa, she would rather skip ahead than wait patiently.
"Not intentionally. He doesn't know what he's doing." I brush Lisa's hair back, then I cup her face, running my thumb along the line of freckles.
"Intentionally or not…"
"He's a problem, will be for a while. Not one we can change without doing something drastic."
"Alright." She gives a very small nod.
"Now you just lay here and look pretty." I give her a peck on the forehead after having brushed some of her hair back.
"I'm always pretty." She states confidently. I just give a short chuckle in reply, then adjust the cloth on her eyes again.
"Sleep." I tell her gently. Giving her a pat on the head while she grumbles at me. That's one blonde taken care of. One to go.
Making my way downstairs I hear Vicky's voice coming from the washroom and see Simmy just staring at the wall, my arrival has her eyes snap over to me again. Sometimes I question my choices in life, and bringing this thing home is one of the things I question. Then again, I wasn't given many options. "You can sleep on the loveseat or the floor. Up to you."
"Unnecessary."
"Figured. You just do whatever then. Just uh, don't fuck with anyone's heads please."
"Roar Ree does not manage Designation Morrigan's actions."
"Please? Seriously, I'm not saying don't do it entirely, I'm just asking you to go after acceptable targets."
"Query, acceptable targets?" I could almost imagine a cute head tilt, but no, I get a stone-cold angel face.
"People getting in the way of our plans. Cauldron, any Villain or Hero that tries to cause a problem. Also, someone on our side fucks up, don't head blast them." I walk closer to her and kneel down, giving the sleeping dog some pats when I'm at the loveseat.
It feels like forever before she responds. "Acceptance." Okay, good, that's very good. The washroom door opens behind me with a click, and I turn away from Simurgh to face a rather weary-looking Victoria. Her shoulders are slumped, and her arms are hanging loosely.
"You good? I mean, good would be a blessing right now. You managing?"
Victoria sighs but a small smile comes to her face. "Yeah, just… need to run. It's a school night."
"Want me to call you a lift? Not if you want to fly in this much rain." I ask her, getting up so as to walk over to her.
"I'll be fine flying. Need to get home before mom gets even more angry." She shakes her head. I give her a nod at that. An angry Carol isn't a burden I would wish on anyone. Actually, I wouldn't wish a normal Carol on anyone. And I only startle slightly when Vicky steps close and wraps her arms around me. With a chuckle, I just pat her on the back as she rests her head on my shoulder.
"You make sure to stay safe on the way back." I tell her. Still not sure how I feel about this flying brick going fast through the rain and darkness.
"I will. Now shush, I want my hug. I earned it."
"Putting up with me really is an achievement, yes."
"Shush." I just shake my head, sigh, and hold her close for a while longer. Vicky doesn't let go for a few solid minutes still but eventually relents in her arm squeezing.
"So, what brought this on? Not that I'm complaining." I ask when she takes a step back. At my question, she bites her bottom lip for a second before answering.
"Lisa said you're grabby. I figured you like hugs. And I get the feeling you don't get them often anymore."
"Not anymore." I nod. "Not for a long time. Not one I didn't initiate. Don't worry about it, it's a guy thing."
"I very much doubt that." She raises a brow at me. "So I figured I can do it. I can force Lisa to do it too. There, now you get hugs."
"I mean, I won't refuse." I say with a shrug. "And you should be getting home."
"Yeah. I better see you at the college tomorrow."
"I'll think about it." She glares. "I'll be there." I change my answer and she nods. Wahman are scary. I still remember when Vicky kidnapped me to take me to that party. No repeat is necessary.
"Good. I'll see you tomorrow then, Rory." Vicky leans in and gives me a peck on the cheek. "Gotta fly." And with that, she leaves. And I only stare at her ass slightly as she does. Look, it's instinct at this point. Obviously, I don't comment on that due to the moment being more emotion-charged rather than horny-charged. But she does have a nice ass.
The sound of the door closing has me shaking my head from that particular internal tangent. And I look back over to see Simmy staring at me. "And what are you looking at?"
"I am looking at Roar Ree-"
"It was a rhetorical question. Just…" I shake my head and pinch the bridge of my nose. I avoid stressful stuff as best I can. Can't do anything about the derailed train of it crashing right into me. Actually, I'd have preferred a literal train. Least I know the pain is temporary for that. "I need a drink. Can you just stay where you are?"
"Acceptance."
"Thanks." The blank look I'm given in return should have been fully expected.
Yeah, I really need a drink.
...
"Hey, McGrath! Over here!" I have to take a moment to realize someone actually called out to me when I walked into the bar. Oh shid that's Kurt, Danny, and Donny I think? Feels weird knowing after the fact that I had unknowingly befriended Taylor's dad. Yet, I am still very much going to avoid his daughter the best I possibly can.
"Evening gents, you guys are out a bit late yeah?" It's like past 10 PM on a Sunday. Danny and Kurt grimace and Donny downs his drink.
"Office building took a tumble, so we're gonna be off until we can set a place up for Mr. Boss Man here." Donny says after putting his glass down. Well fuck.
"The fuck happened?" I take a seat at the table.
"Lung. He busted out Oni Lee late morning. Our building was just one of the worst off from the run back to his part of town." Danny scowls. Ah fuck. I knew about Lee getting caught when he broke Kenta out, but seriously why the hell was he still here? They should have moved him ages ago.
"Ain't there like a fund or something for Cape fight stuff? Collateral damage fund?"
"Hell yeah there is." Kurt grins at that. "And Danny boy here got us a great deal for fixing the building up."
"Barely above what they normally give out." Danny shakes his head.
"Boss Man, relax, take a drink. Treat this like a mini vacation." Donny waves the barkeep down. "Shot of tequila for all of us."
"You got it Don, nice seeing you back again McGrath. Didn't think we would with how pissy your girl looked."
"Lisa's default state is either smug or annoyed. I wouldn't worry about that." I shrug and the barkeep chuckles as he gets us our drinks. A rather slow night at the bar tonight, I was surprised it was even open being a Sunday night and all.
"Going back to the relaxing thing. I don't expect this little break to last long. After all, I can just work from home, much as it'll annoy Taylor." Danny says, tapping a finger on the table absent-mindedly. Kurt claps him on the shoulder and he startles a bit.
"Then we'll enjoy it while we can."
"I'll drink to that." Donny nods.
"I'll drink in general." I nod and they chuckle.
"Long as it isn't another contest with ya. Don't think my liver can keep up with you." Donny shakes his head.
"That's fine with me. I just need a drink."
And drinking it shall be as the barkeep comes back with four shots of tequila.
...
"Feels like I'm walking on eggshells around the house now I swear." Danny shakes his head. Honestly, that's a mood. I can already feel the upcoming headaches of Lisa and Morri in the same building, for my case anyways.
"This abrout Taylor again?" Kurt slurs out slightly. The man isn't that great at handling his liquor. But he tries, and that's all that matters in the end.
"Yeah, she's on edge. No idea why save for one thing I managed to get out of her. Someone apparently called her a bad influence." More like an actively harmful influence amirite?. Wait, I'm the one that called her a bad influence. I snort at that. Holy shit, thatwasher. Bullet dodged successfully I'd say. Everyone turns to look my way and I wave it off.
"Allergy season, don't mind me. Why do you think that seems to be bugging her so much Danny? I know I personally couldn't care what people call me." I ask and Danny shakes his head.
"No clue, but she's always worried about little things like that."
"Well for tonight, you can worry about her later. I'm gonna enjoy my enforced leave with more drinks! Cheers!" Donny slaps the table and some of the said drinks splash out. I just chuckle and shake my head as I pick up my own. Kurt almost looks thankful most of his exfil'd from his glass. I just snicker and hold out my own.
"Cheers, mate."
"Cheers." Danny says with a short chuckle.
"Cherz." Kurt ain't gonna be waking up happily tomorro- today. Huh, would you look at that. It's 1:34 in the morning.
I'll start heading home soon. After one last round.
...
"Honeyyy I home!" What, I see no domestic Lisa. My eyes meet inexpressive red ones and I feel a lot more sober. "If you made your body from scratch, why did you make the tits so small?"
Spoiler:ai art angel
Evidently, not sober enough.
"Unnecessary." Is her quick rebuttal. Foolish, she doesn't understand. I shake my head and close the door behind me with a bit more effort than it would usually take. Then I stumble over to the diminutive angel woman and collapse into the big chair.
"See, that's wrong."
"Query."
"Like, tits are necessary. I'm more of an ass guy myself but I still like a good pair ya know?"
"Roar Ree's intoxication is affecting his central nervous system."
"Calling me drunk in a convoluted way doesn't devalue my point here." I shake my head at the blank-faced girl. "Like, trust me, tits are important."
"Roar Ree is ineb-"
"Trust." I stumble up and give her a pat on the head. Weird, my hand goes right through the glowy red thing. I think I hear something crack but that's fine, stuff is always cracking. With that done I half crawl my way up the stairs and collapse into bed. Ayyyy, there's the Lisa. Yes, I'll just lay here and hold the Lisa close until I need to be up for the day.
Truly I am wise.