allen walker

[grigori]

Comments

[lefthandpath]

Isn't that usually the case...?

[his experience says so anyway.]

... but as for the stories--Flat and I bet to share ridiculous stories of ours. I won, from cheating, of course. Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi and I played a game of 20 Questions--took turns asking questions, but one of them he was trying to ask me but he lost the hand... because I cheated. It was actually pretty close! And then I won a knife from Mr. Kaburagi.

[he pulls out a cheese knife!]

[grigori]

It certainly is, but we're no more the villain to this story than the Celestials are the heroes.

[ they'll listen patiently with a bit of a clap for his accomplishments. ]

A cheese knife? [ they'll take a closer look at it. ] Of all things to steal from the places around here. I guess they could work in a pinch. Alright then, you want some of your Innocence restored, correct? It'd be in its most base form and can only have the transformation for a brief period of time while also limited to how many times you can activate it per week.

[ they'll hold out their hand which, unfortunately, turns an inky black and dark maroon. you know, to match their color scheme. ]

Sounds like a good deal still?

[lefthandpath]

It's more than what I've got right now.

[and four weeks without is even longer than when he lost his arm, so he takes the hand.]

[grigori]

[ and they'll have a nice handshake with rameel's awful inky black hand. ]

Bing! There you go.

[lefthandpath]

[bing...]

This means I can get the task for my eye, right? I'll definitely try to be quicker about completing whatever task it is.

[grigori]

[ bing! like the sound of a level up!! ]

Correct, the same stipulations apply to your special eye as it did to your arm, but I'm sure that's fine by you as well. Right?

[lefthandpath]

That's fine. I don't know how it'll work if there's no akuma, but... well, we'll have to see.

[grigori]

Right, only one way to find out. Never know what might pop-up on the radar.

[ thinks. ]

How about you play the game two truths and one lie with two separate people who you don't know too well and see what kind of interesting information you learn about them.

No cheating either! I wanna know if you can pick up on some nice goss.

[lefthandpath]

How would someone even cheat at a game like that?

[amused because he probably could find a way]

But that should be simple enough. I'll be much quicker with this one, I think.

[grigori]

Should I raise the difficulty and see if you could find a way for you to cheat?

I don't mean to make things too easy but there's no harm in having fun with these rewards.

[lefthandpath]

No, no! This is a good level.

Breaking the ice with people I've known but haven't really gotten to know is already difficult enough, actually.

[grigori]

Then I'm looking forward to hearing what kind of fascinating things you've learned for our fellow folk that have been traveling with us against their will.

[lefthandpath]

My, that's a cheerlessly accurate way of putting it.

I'll be sure to get whatever interesting thing I can.

[but he doesn't get up from the table.]

Now that business is out of the way... didn't I say I'd bully you a little?

[grigori]

The point is, however, that it was accurate.

[ hmm. a concern but not one where they're going to move for. ]

I do recall something like that... Now, what kind of bullying should I be expecting?

[lefthandpath]

The kind every clown gets whenever they get a little too attached to their facepaint or mask.

I could point out where you've missed spots, but that seems to be counter-productive.

[grigori]

[ they'll have a laugh. ]

That's a very round about way to say that you're worried about me.

[lefthandpath]

I try to avoid being direct lest I be called a liar or something.

Anyway, I know you can manage yourself, but all you Watchers have one thing in common and that's that you like to pass things like concern off to the others.

[grigori]

We are your Watchers, Allen. Our duty here is to be a benefit for your case, so of course we're going to pass things off.

It'd be even worse form if your "babysitters" needing caring after, hmm?

[lefthandpath]

But you worry after Yomiel. And Yomiel also says they dislike being fussed over.

To me, you lot just seem like more of the same kinda adults and guardians I've always known--people who need to be looked after just as much.

[grigori]

Are you saying that I'm not allowed to fuss over Yomiel? They're one of my fellow Watcher-men.

[ a laugh. ]

My, is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult? Did you like those adults and guardians?

[lefthandpath]

I'm saying that people frequently have those sorts of objections but they shouldn't always been listened to.

And I loved my adopted father very dearly. That's why I'll take his last gift to me back.

[gift. curse. same thing, really.]

And while he was a frustrating man who made my life hellish at times, my Master is still someone I have some affection for.

[grigori]

Given all the trouble that you will make yourself go through to get it back—I think I can understand.

[ they'll both smile with a sense of fondness for a moment before laughing to themselves. ]

So what would you have me do then, Allen? Are you going to send me to bed and make sure I don't go walking around giving things away to needy hands? A bit irresponsible of me if I do something like that.

[lefthandpath]

You could use a nap. But instead, would you like to play some cards for a little while? At least until someone else calls on you.

I'll even forego cheating if you ask nicely.

[grigori]

[ they'll laugh at that, a bit more sincerely. ]

What kind of card game were you thinking of then?

[lefthandpath]

How about just quick games of Black Jack?

Up to you if you want to put stakes on it.