meanwhile in a gym full of mud and volleyballs and... monster toys??

[puddinghair]

[Enkidu did indeed get clay everywhere whoops. They’re trying to clean it up now, converting it to chains that disappear into their hands.] I’m sorry for the trouble. This form must have been disrupted somehow.

[ Kenma has. no idea what that means!! and he wouldn't ask, if it weren't for the cLEARLY MAGIC that's happening. despite bewilderment, he picks up one of the plush toys from the ground and tries to casually wipe the mud off of it. ] Um... That's fine. How are you doing that?

Oh, it’s part of me. Don’t worry. I’ll clean it all up. [They smile and get more mud off the ground.] Are these dolls yours? They’re quite cute.

[ he's pretty worried!! actually!! but trying to hide it. ] No - these are from... Here. I think. I don't really know where I am.

What a coincidence. Neither do I. But I think that’s all right? We’re somewhere near an island if that helps. [Enkidu cleans off a plushie. Just being casual nbd.] Also we’re underwater it seems. But we’re safe.

[ screaming internally - mumbling externally... ] I don't think it helps.

In that case, why don’t we ask someone for help? I sense quite a few people here. [Possibly right here watching them??]

Comments

[fictile]

That's peculiar. Well, this may answer something for me then... Have you ever heard of the Holy Grail? Or heard talk of it from anyone here?

[despairing_hope]

I can't say that I have. Well, that's not quite right. I know what the Holy Grail is. It's a Christian artifact and some say have some kind of magical powers? But I believe it's considered a myth, and I've only read about it in books.

[fictile]

Oh, that's interesting. Well, it's not a bad thing. [Just baffling? Oh well.] If it's all right for me to ask, what do you do here?

[despairing_hope]

Me? I don't really do much, I mostly spend my time reading, or trying to help out where I can. I'm pretty useless though, so I tend to stay out of the way.

[fictile]

How are you useless? Those who are well-read are often a wealth of knowledge.

[despairing_hope]

Oh that's the only thing I would probably be good for, but that's not a practical skill at all! Anyone can read and remember what they read, that's hardly worth noting. It would just be presumptuous for trash to think that was some sort of worthy skill.

I just ruin everything I get near, but, that's to be expected.

[fictile]

That's a very low assessment of yourself...

[despairing_hope]

It's only the truth. I'm sure if you ask anyone they'll say I'm awful.

[fictile]

But why are you awful? What have you done?

[despairing_hope]

Ah... that....

Well, I bring a lot of bad luck to people around me?

[fictile]

But luck isn't something tangible or controllable.

[despairing_hope]

It's not controllable, but, I still have a lot of it. And because of that, bad things will happen to others.

[fictile]

But that isn't your fault. It's simply the luck.

[despairing_hope]

It's definitely my fault if it could be avoided, isn't it? It's the duty of the person with the affliction to make sure others don't suffer.

[fictile]

Hmm... that is difficult to say. A cursed individual can't help the curse... but what do they do about it? I'm not sure I have a satisfactory answer.

[despairing_hope]

That's because the only thing they can do is to avoid people unless that curse is countered or broken.

[fictile]

Well, I don't mind if I'm around you, cursed or not. I have a certain amount of divine protection.

[despairing_hope]

Is that so?

[He's not really sure how to take that, but then, this person seems to be absorbing mud and there's stranger things that have showed up here on the base!]

Well, as much as I'm wary to trust that, perhaps it's worth believing in.

[fictile]

It's all right if you don't. We can let time tell. In the meantime, I suppose you can call me Enkidu. 'Lancer' might be a little strange to people here.

[despairing_hope]

"Lancer" is an awkward name, Enkidu... san seems a bit better. Well, Enkidu san, if you don't mind the risk, perhaps time will give an answer.

[fictile]

I don't mind. I'm only here to serve, so it isn't a problem if something happens to me.

[despairing_hope]

Ah... I think I would be troubled if that happened. Even if you say you're only here to serve, there's no reason to serve trash.

[fictile]

I'm not even human. I'm a doll. So please think of me as a tool instead. If bad luck befell a tool, it wouldn't be a problem. A hammer can be fixed.

[despairing_hope]

Isn't it still troubling though? To the person who made the tool? And to the person who owned it?

[He pauses a moment to think. Wasn't this similar to something he did have experience with?]

Wouldn't it be more like an AI?

[fictile]

An AI... No, I don't think so. It's more like... a robot. I decided to make humanity my owner if you want to think of it that way.