[A few more minutes would have been great. As it is, L has been caught very literally red-handed, the bucket in his hands sloshing with plasma as he stops in his tracks and glances up at the incoming merrow.
He swallows. Maybe Connor, of all people, would understand and give him a pass for this kind of thing, considering the ends he intends to justify with the means?]
You know who's here now. It requires stepping up the security in our home, I think.
I understand. I don't approve of you hurting yourself to do it, but I know I'd do the same for the SQUIP.
[So really, he can't fault L too much. Connor would do a lot of things for Justine and the SQUIP that probably wouldn't do himself any favours.]
Put it down for a moment, I have something for you.
[He gestures to the bottle.]
This is a potion to help give your body a boost. It's packed with vitamins. You should feel less lethargic after drinking it.
[Obviously it's magical in nature too, but the important thing is that it's supposed to make L feel better. He gave Justine a similar potion after her death and resurrection.]
[L's quiet. He'd argue that it doesn't hurt, or that he's used to it, and he's not sure which is truer, which might sound more convincing. He lets it rest and counts his blessings that Connor does seem to understand this from his perspective, and almost immediately, his guard begins to lower. Love, or whatever Connor and the SQUIP feel for one another, might be a headache for his natural jealousy, but he can't deny that it's very useful.]
Oh... I see...
[His brow furrows as Connor offers the bottle. He doesn't think that Connor would hurt him, at least not intentionally... but given the SQUIP's enemies, it's entirely possible that someone could go through him to get to it. He's not written off that possibility.]
[L laughs, very suddenly and abruptly. Connor's candor is both refreshing and entertaining.
He doesn't distrust the android, certainly. Not with that level of detail, not with that hilariously perfect failsafe. Consorting with machines does, in fact, have its advantages.]
No... no, I'm not afraid. I'm just somewhat astounded that you would go through that much trouble for me.
Well, friends do this sort of thing for each other, don’t they?
[Admittedly, Connor’s idea of friendship is “I like them” and not much else. He isn’t picky about who he gives the title to. But to him, friendship also means looking out for each other. It helps that the SQUIP cares about L’s wellbeing, too.
He tips his head to the side, studying L.]
People don’t often do nice things for you, do they? You’re unused to it.
[L's pale smile slips very slightly at that all-too-accurate call. Connor's... definitely not wrong. It's also definitely uncomfortable to hear it stated so directly, even if that's something L's come to like about the android's particular way of addressing things.]
It's like you said: friends do nice things for each other. I'm new to having friends.
[With a start, L glances back toward the potion in his hands. He has a bad habit of being inadequate in ways and excellent in others, and he can be so absentminded when it comes to the present moment, what he's holding, what he's supposed to be doing to maintain his general health.]
Yes, of course.
[He pulls a sip of it in silence, eyes darting between it and Connor.]
[By his standards, it's admittedly not as sweet as he prefers... but his standards are frankly ridiculous. No shopkeep or apothecary would be able to create something with a sugar concentration that agreed with him wholly and was better than nothing at all for his health. He knows this, as much as he hates it, which is probably why he keeps drinking.
He glances toward the partly-finished runes, seeming to debate just how much he wants to say.]
There are people here who want to hurt the SQUIP. More every day, it seems. I have a vested interest in preventing that from happening, and... well. You do, too, right?
[L bites his lip. Again, he's debating on how much he wants to say about this, even to Connor, whose sincerity isn't something he doubts or distrusts. It's just that he's taken on a burden that's been sapping his energy, and if that could be alleviated in any way...]
My talent as a witch, I've been told, is exceptional. But what I'm attempting still stretches beyond my current abilities. I'm using blood to compensate, but I don't have enough.
[He reaches up to twist a strand of his hair in his fingers.]
I've blacked out a few times and I can feel my heart skipping beats. It's worth it, of course, but... if there was any way I could get just a few more pints, it would lessen the toll significantly.
[For blood magic at all, really. What is Connor's blood? L doesn't think he's ever actually learned as much, but then again, he's not in the habit of viewing allies as potential blood bags. It's the same reason he doesn't like to use the SQUIP's blood, if not as emotionally motivated.]
There are ways to get it... I've gone through the same kinds of channels vampires do, but not being a vampire, there's only so far I feel I can take advantage of them.
[The charity drive at the bar being one of the more shameful examples.]
It can be purchased. I've turned that that recently.
[He looks back at L after studying the runes. He doesn't understand them... he could replicate them perfectly if asked, but he doesn't think they'd work. He's not a Witch.]
[Not having limitless amounts of money is something L is still getting used to. Back in the day, he could build a skyscraper on a whim. Now he's using grocery money to purchase blood for magic, and the going rate is more than groceries usually cost.]
Within the next few days. I would consider it a personal favor.
[Because he can only bleed so much for the SQUIP, even if he takes it further than most humans would.]
[Promptness will go a long way toward earning L's gratitude. Discretion will go a long way toward earning his trust, which is admittedly far more difficult to secure.]
Two witches who have entered into a Bond are very powerful together, yes. But they're unstable, as well. Every day is a struggle to keep it from ending catastrophically, at least for me.
[Connor does have the rest of today and all night to look, so he's not too worried.]
You need to get a Monster Bond, Linden.
[He looks him over sternly.]
I'd offer, but... I have the maximum number of Bonds, now.
[It was part of why he Bonded with the SQUIP, though. It hadn't had a Monster Bond until Connor Bonded with it. He'd been afraid of something going awry.]
[L shakes his head restlessly, even though he agrees with Connor. He does need a monster Bond and that's been clear for awhile. Unavoidably so.]
I won't Bond with just anyone. I don't want to invite more people to come into our home and let them get closer to us when things are so volatile. These runes are meant to keep people out, and to keep us safe from the danger that keeps trying to find us.
[He sets his jaw, his eyes hard and cold.]
I expect that all the time. Even from the people I like. One Bond is enough to worry about.
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He swallows. Maybe Connor, of all people, would understand and give him a pass for this kind of thing, considering the ends he intends to justify with the means?]
You know who's here now. It requires stepping up the security in our home, I think.
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Whose blood is that?
[It's clearly not all L's, he's still standing. He sets his umbrella down by the front door and walks over with the small potion.]
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Some of it is mine. Some, I purchased...
[Or otherwise acquired.]
It's necessary for what I'm doing. I'm going to protect it.
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[So really, he can't fault L too much. Connor would do a lot of things for Justine and the SQUIP that probably wouldn't do himself any favours.]
Put it down for a moment, I have something for you.
[He gestures to the bottle.]
This is a potion to help give your body a boost. It's packed with vitamins. You should feel less lethargic after drinking it.
[Obviously it's magical in nature too, but the important thing is that it's supposed to make L feel better. He gave Justine a similar potion after her death and resurrection.]
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Oh... I see...
[His brow furrows as Connor offers the bottle. He doesn't think that Connor would hurt him, at least not intentionally... but given the SQUIP's enemies, it's entirely possible that someone could go through him to get to it. He's not written off that possibility.]
Where did you get this?
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[He holds it out, looking at L earnestly.]
Are you afraid it’s poisoned? I can taste it for you, if it would ease your mind.
[He would be able to detect poison, though anything magical would be lost on him.]
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He doesn't distrust the android, certainly. Not with that level of detail, not with that hilariously perfect failsafe. Consorting with machines does, in fact, have its advantages.]
No... no, I'm not afraid. I'm just somewhat astounded that you would go through that much trouble for me.
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[Admittedly, Connor’s idea of friendship is “I like them” and not much else. He isn’t picky about who he gives the title to. But to him, friendship also means looking out for each other. It helps that the SQUIP cares about L’s wellbeing, too.
He tips his head to the side, studying L.]
People don’t often do nice things for you, do they? You’re unused to it.
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It's like you said: friends do nice things for each other. I'm new to having friends.
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Well, so am I. So we can learn together.
[He gestures to the potion.]
Are you going to drink it?
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Yes, of course.
[He pulls a sip of it in silence, eyes darting between it and Connor.]
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I told them to make it taste sweet. I know you can be fussy.
[And he doesn't want a repeat of the Egg Salad Sandwich Debacle.]
So... what do these runes do?
[He gestures to the bloody walls.]
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[By his standards, it's admittedly not as sweet as he prefers... but his standards are frankly ridiculous. No shopkeep or apothecary would be able to create something with a sugar concentration that agreed with him wholly and was better than nothing at all for his health. He knows this, as much as he hates it, which is probably why he keeps drinking.
He glances toward the partly-finished runes, seeming to debate just how much he wants to say.]
There are people here who want to hurt the SQUIP. More every day, it seems. I have a vested interest in preventing that from happening, and... well. You do, too, right?
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[He suddenly looks very serious.]
I would be... very upset if something happened to it.
[And probably feel immensely guilty for not being able to protect it. Because when you love someone, you should protect them, right?]
Is there any way I can help?
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My talent as a witch, I've been told, is exceptional. But what I'm attempting still stretches beyond my current abilities. I'm using blood to compensate, but I don't have enough.
[He reaches up to twist a strand of his hair in his fingers.]
I've blacked out a few times and I can feel my heart skipping beats. It's worth it, of course, but... if there was any way I could get just a few more pints, it would lessen the toll significantly.
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[He thinks on it, looking around at the runes and then at L.]
My blood wouldn't work. It's not blood, after all. So... I'd have to acquire it some other way.
[Can you buy blood?]
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[For blood magic at all, really. What is Connor's blood? L doesn't think he's ever actually learned as much, but then again, he's not in the habit of viewing allies as potential blood bags. It's the same reason he doesn't like to use the SQUIP's blood, if not as emotionally motivated.]
There are ways to get it... I've gone through the same kinds of channels vampires do, but not being a vampire, there's only so far I feel I can take advantage of them.
[The charity drive at the bar being one of the more shameful examples.]
It can be purchased. I've turned that that recently.
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I suppose I'm purchasing blood, then.
[He looks back at L after studying the runes. He doesn't understand them... he could replicate them perfectly if asked, but he doesn't think they'd work. He's not a Witch.]
When do you need it?
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Within the next few days. I would consider it a personal favor.
[Because he can only bleed so much for the SQUIP, even if he takes it further than most humans would.]
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[He can afford a few pints, he's sure. If it's to protect the SQUIP...]
Don't drain any more from yourself. You're not going to be of any use to the SQUIP if you're blacked out somewhere if someone attacks it, right?
[Just letting L know that people worry about him doesn't seem to be enough, so he's changed tactics.]
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Not that he would ask any questions, with the importance of his ends taken into account.]
I'm not much use at my strongest, conscious, either.
[Not entirely true. L's in fact very intelligent for a human, but... also on the brittler side, and certainly self-destructive.]
I know what I can do that is most useful to it, and I intend to.
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You're a Witch. You have magic.
[He's sure L must be brushing up on some offensive spells too, right?]
Two Witches would be more difficult to beat than one, right?
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Two witches who have entered into a Bond are very powerful together, yes. But they're unstable, as well. Every day is a struggle to keep it from ending catastrophically, at least for me.
[He has no monster Bond.]
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You need to get a Monster Bond, Linden.
[He looks him over sternly.]
I'd offer, but... I have the maximum number of Bonds, now.
[It was part of why he Bonded with the SQUIP, though. It hadn't had a Monster Bond until Connor Bonded with it. He'd been afraid of something going awry.]
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I won't Bond with just anyone. I don't want to invite more people to come into our home and let them get closer to us when things are so volatile. These runes are meant to keep people out, and to keep us safe from the danger that keeps trying to find us.
[He sets his jaw, his eyes hard and cold.]
I expect that all the time. Even from the people I like. One Bond is enough to worry about.
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