MESSAGES

[kingmakereffect]

If you have something to ask the Kingmaker about over the phone, this is where it goes! The Kingmaker will answer the phone as soon as he's available. There isn't an option to leave a message on his voicemail, but the Kingmaker will take your calls at almost any hour of the day.

Your smartphones will only connect to the Kingmaker. There is no option to dial a number, instead it will connect automatically to his phone.

Comments are screened for privacy; no listening in on each other's private conversations without permission, after all.

Comments

[kingmakereffect]

That's not something I'm going to tell you. Do you have another question?

[kingmakereffect]

Go ahead. As usual, I might not answer. But I'm here, so you might as well.

[captainobnoxious]

Why did you choose to stay?

[Yup, it's the question from before.]

[kingmakereffect]

Why do you think I'm the person Glory was talking about? I already told you I didn't fit that description.

[captainobnoxious]

You didn't tell me anything of the sort, Kingmaker. In fact, I've never asked you anything about Glory before.

[... That she remembers, honestly. But she's 95% sure she hasn't.]

However, every person that's run one of these has ended up chosen to stay here, and you've said yourself that you're like us -- this isn't your world either, and you don't know how long you've been here. Supposedly.

[kingmakereffect]

...Fair enough. Even with all of that, I can't tell you why I chose to stay here.

[captainobnoxious]

Because it doesn't matter?

[kingmakereffect]

Believe what you want to.

[captainobnoxious]

That's just your usual excuse, along with that it's not important. I think you can't tell me because... well, I haven't stopped hounding you about the topic you don't like to talk about.

Or because it's a really stupid reason. Even if I can't think of one of those right now.

[penduli]

It's fine, I already know the answer. [ He just wanted confirmation. ] I talked to someone you kept around last time because they had the capability of being useful to you.

Provided they weren't lying, [ which is a possibility he's... not discarding, because he's not really sure how much he can trust their word ] or there wasn't someone else using "Kingmaker" as a title before you.

[ Is this the hill he's going to die on? ...maybe not. ]

But yes, I do. Did you ever know someone with the title Ambitious?

[kingmakereffect]

I don't think it's a stupid reason. Maybe you guys would, but I don't.

That's the most I'll say about it.

[kingmakereffect]

[Well apparently he's just going to ignore the first part entirely...]

I'm familiar with that person, yes. There isn't anything I can tell you about them though.

[penduli]

Of course there's not. [ Why would there ever be. ] All I know is that he's a guy, a killjoy, and crazy. If not for the last part, I'd hope he was getting along with Caren.

[ ... ]

Speaking of her though—and the others—I attended an... attempt to contact them a couple hours ago. [ He's less certain about spilling this—anything he has to, but... ] Mr. Colress has made contact with them before with one of his partners, but he couldn't find them and get in touch with them tonight. Do you know anything about why he couldn't?

[captainobnoxious]

There's rarely a stupid reason to want to stay in a place after everyone else is gone, Kingmaker. Even I wouldn't really mind staying here myself... Well, I mind a little now, since bombshell's gone.

[There's still a bit of sadness there. It can't be helped.]

And apparently everyone that sticks around goes insane. But that's the only question I wanted an answer to, yeah. Try and get some sleep.

[... She also can't help that part of her. Also: If he's sleeping, then he's not watching them.]

[kingmakereffect]

Maybe, maybe not. I'm not answering that one.

[what a helpful guy]

[kingmakereffect]

Don't worry, I'll know if you all are up to something.

Goodnight, Boundless.

[But he's not giving her a chance to ask about it, because he's hanging up!!!]

[penduli]

[ so #helpful ]

You really do like the concept of even trades more than you like applying it, don't you. [ ...he shouldn't be so snippy, but he's tired, dammit. ] Fine. What was one of the reactions you were expecting from us? You mentioned once that we did things that surprised you and reacted in ways you didn't think we would. How did you think we'd react to—anything you've given us so far, honestly?

[kingmakereffect]

I wasn't expecting bloodletting to solve the first trial. I thought you guys would go for a strip search and check for wounds. Points for creativity, but that certainly was bizarre.

I was also expecting you guys to ask me to help you all with solving the trials, since I keep an eye on everything all the time. I wouldn't have given you answers, obviously, but I expected at least a few of you to ask questions designed to get an answer that would assist you. I'm actually pleased you all haven't done that.

[Look, two answers!!]

[penduli]

[ Wow, two answers!!! To a question that isn't actually important!!!!!!

This is fine. He's never gotten two answers at once before. Maybe being a mole is what he's meant to be. ]

No one here— [ ...no, not no one. There's Sigrun, to an extent. And Black, to an extent. ] Not a lot of us trust you, Kingmaker. I don't think it's so surprising that none of them would ask for your help during trials.

...one more question, Kingmaker. Why is this game even a thing? I doubt it's really to crown a king, if this is your second go at it.

[kingmakereffect]

Hmm.

[For a long moment it seems like that's all he's going to say.]

That's not something I can answer.

[He sounds thoughtful, but he's not budging on that one.]

[penduli]

[ ... ]

That's all from me, I guess. [ ...he's not sure if he's ever asked the opposite, actually-- ] Do you have any questions for me?

[kingmakereffect]

[He's quiet for a moment, though it's not as long as the last pause.]

What would you do if your close friends here died?

[or yosuke, who is your... yosuke]

I'm not going to kill them unless they're guilty of murdering someone. I'm just curious.

[That last part is tacked on quickly. He kind of. Should clarify that immediately. Probably.]

[penduli]

[ YES THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KILL OFF HIS CLOSE FRIENDS OR HIS YOSUKE WITHOUT REASON

he's quiet for a while, and when he speaks his tone is heavy. ]

I'd be upset for a long time, I think, but... I'd have to keep on. My sister, when I lost her, told me not to reject the life I'd be living. [ another pause, though it's not as long as before. ] I'd cry a lot, and I'd want to just give up, but... I'd keep on. I don't know what I'd do after though--I'm not in a position to swear revenge, and I'm not a vengeful person anyway.

Nothing would make it better though. Not bringing their killer to justice, not causing other people pain, not adopting a bunch of cats. [ a wry joke ] It'd just suck forever and I'd just live with it.

[kingmakereffect]

[He's quiet for a long time again before responding. When he does he sounds thoughtful, maybe.]

Thank you for the answer. It sounds like you put a lot of thought into it. I appreciate it.

[...]

Is there anything else, Enforcing?

[penduli]

No, that's all. Sleep well, Kingmaker. I'll... talk to you tomorrow?

[ it really is a question; not that he wouldn't, but... if the km is busy, or if he's through with their correspondence entirely... ]