ACE

[ballies]

(pirate noises)

Comments

[selfimmolation]

I only got one of those, give me a break.

[ IS THIS THE TIME??????? ]

... I knew. Part of me knew. But...

[ he just. trails off. ]

[ballies]

[ FLICKS THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD. but like. lightly. ]

You adapted pretty well, you could've spotted it.

[ this is man is going to die tomorrow AND YET they are bickering. ]

I can say it bluntly, if that's what it takes. Like telling you I'm glad I know you. I'm glad you're my teammate. [ she's done this once before and she'll do it again!! ]

[selfimmolation]

[ don't say stuff like that because when he ducks his head this time it's to hide tears. again. ]

... I'm glad, too.

[ballies]

[ tough. she's not done. but she does pat his hair when he hides his face. ]

And. I care about you, idiot.

...

We'll try and find a way out of this. And... I'll keep an eye on Nimona.

[selfimmolation]

... Thanks. She'll need people.

[ he looks guilty, there. ]

[ballies]

Yeah. But I think she’s like you — I don’t think she fully gets how much she’d loved either.

[selfimmolation]

[ ... ouch on that callout, but, ]

Yeah, well... she never has been before. It's new to her.

[ballies]

[ yeah well apparently they got it through to him in time for you to weaponise it ]

I'll make sure she knows. I'm not going to take any risks with her.

[selfimmolation]

[ :3? ]

... Thanks. I... I didn't mean to leave her behind like this.

[ballies]

[ >:(

... ]

I know you didn't.

[ she sighs. ] She'll be okay. It won't be easy, but... she will be. [ they'll be keeping an eye on her. ]

[selfimmolation]

I know. She might not think it, but... she's got a lot of good people looking out for her.

[ballies]

Yup. She does.

She'll be sick of us by the time we're done not-leaving-her-alone, ever. Don't worry about that.

[selfimmolation]

I don't think she could ever be sick of you guys.

[ it is technically doxxing nimona but also is it doxxing if its obvious ]

[ballies]

I don’t know, we can be very annoying.

[ doxx her doxx her. ]

[selfimmolation]

Yeah. [ don't AGREE ] But she's put up with me this long, so.

[ballies]

[ w o w. she pokes him in the side. rude. ]

Right. She’s had plenty of practice. [ NYEH ]

[selfimmolation]

[ laughs, a little ]

... Yeah. I think she likes annoying, so you're in luck.

[ballies]

That explains so much.

[ everyone nimona likes as that “we’re so annoying” meme. ] Well, she’s prone to chaos herself. Someone’s got to help her. Or stop her getting too far in trouble.

[selfimmolation]

No way. In this place, she should be all the trouble she wants.

[ballies]

Not if she’s going to hurt herself, she’s not. I’m not letting that happen again.

[ … ]

Otherwise if we do find that stupid moon-guy, she can do whatever she wants the second I’ve rattled all my answers out of him.

[selfimmolation]

You think there's any answer he can give that'll be satisfying?

[ballies]

No. But I think he owes us them, even if we aren't happy with them.

[selfimmolation]

Well, if it's what you want, you should go for it. Shake him down for both of us.

[ballies]

…


Yeah, I will. I might have to get in line though.

[selfimmolation]

More like you'll have to work fast against the people who want to punch him in the mouth and swallow his own teeth.