yeah. you wouldn't have to think about anything but whose butt to sniff and when your next treat is coming. you wouldn't even have to be a smart dog that knows tricks and stuff. people would love you anyway just for being born.
yeah and they get to go to the bathroom anywhere they want outside. i can do that too but dogs don't have consequences when they do it. those little shits have had the good end of the stick for too long.
[It's one of those rare afternoons where both Magnus and Taako are out, leaving apartment 201 free of vicious cave monsters and bitchy elves.
Lup takes the opportunity to invite Lucretia over so they can corner Merle together and dig out more information about the future from him. It's not that Lup doesn't trust her brother, she does completely, it's just that she also knows there are pieces of the puzzle he can't be bothered to fill in. Details that may seem minor to him, but really aren't. Besides, even if Lup is willing to take Taako's word as truth, that doesn't mean Lucretia is nearly as satisfied with the secondhand account she'd been given.
Either way, talking to the only other person who knows what's in store for them seems like the most logical next step in fixing things.
Lucretia gets a very brief house tour when she arrives--'there's the fist-sized hole in the wall from when Magnus was having a strong man moment and there's the shredded couch that we can't get our dog to stop eating'--before Lup stands directly in front of Merle's door, cupping a hand around her mouth as she screams for their friend.]
YO, MERLE! [Knocking is overrated between family, ok.]
(It's strange that she had felt left out in having not seen this place when it's almost exactly like their quarters back on the Starblaster. For a moment, Lucretia dimly thinks that she could probably consider herself there if only she couldn't see the craggy cave wall out a side window: the mess is the same, the clutter overly familiar. There's even a fist-sized hole and everything. Just like home.
She doesn't even flinch when Lup bellows for Merle, simply closes her eyes with grimace of acceptance until the shouting stops. Just like home.
At least this is really helping to completely dissolve her nerves.)
You know, I think he probably heard us come in, Lup.
[ Every once in a while Merle has to marvel at the things his crewmates do, in that they're sometimes eerily similar to the exact way his real kids would operate. This is one of those times. Not that it's necessarily bad.
In any case, the informality of the call suits him just fine-- if Lup knocked all respectfully and said 'please,' he would have to assume someone like. Died, or needed him to be emotionally present on short notice. And nah, son, that's not what he's about. Yelling is the best way to avoid spooking a Merle in his habitat.
He opens his door in good time, making no effort to hide the disarray of the room beyond. Welcome to the land of stockpiled weird furniture and shoddily-rehomed plants he's taken a liking to. ]
You rang? [ damn wheres my canned laughter ] If this is a wellness check or something, you gotta wait until I join a retirement community! Don't rush me.
[Lup knows who she's dealing with. She's got you, fam.
As the door opens, the elf leans in to peek around at the disarray behind him. She's too curious an elf not to snoop directly over Merle's head.]
Shit, gramps. You've got a fantasy IKEA in there with you? I was wondering where you were hoarding all of that weird furniture, but guess that question's answered now.
[After feeling satisfied with her peek into his private space, Lup straightens up, hands falling to rest on her hips.]
Come out and join us. We've got some questions for you.
oh i dont think i have yet i mean maybe want me to set up one of those traps where you prop a box up on a stick and it's got the string? ill leave a book of matches and a weird lamp under it
I need your opinion on something your associate Lup has shown me. You seem like somebody who would understand culture and... "Cool" things. Not cold but- it's- yes-...
Also I'd just meant to extend another hello as it has been a short while.
[ Lup told him that Merle had some sort of plant fetish and he would be lying if that wasn't on the forefront of his mind right now. That won't stop the man from getting up and backing into full view if he gets a response ]
[ Except maybe also having a god who answers back like he used to. Merle gives that aggressive dab a true scrutinizing look. The kid came to him for some honest criticism, after all, it's the least he can do. Like the actual least. ]
Hmm. Yeah, I guess I see what she means. But I mean, it's hard to get energy into a move where you're standin' still the whole time. Maybe if you spin in a circle or something?
[lup is laying in bed with her phone held over her head, pointing down at her. and she's looking a lot less bony these days.
don't ask why she's calling when she could just step outside and walk down the stairs to see merle face-to-face. shit's hard.]
It's been like three days so I figured I'd check in to see if you've noticed my sweet new skin or not. No judgement, my dude, just keepin' you in Lup's loop.
Take it up with Taako. He's been hoarding me all to himself.
[Gosh, what a cool dad. No wonder Merle was the favorite parent on the ship.]
Maybe give me a few more days to get this having a body thing down, but hell yeah. I'm fucking all in. We'll show those students of yours how to really kick it.
merle merle merle hey dude hey check out this fucking sweet jacket i got
[incl: one photo of WOW shockingly the exact same jacket merle received?? ellie isn't sure why she wants to show this off to merle in particular, but here we are.]
[ It takes her a good day and a half to scrape herself back together and build up the courage to reach out to anyone. When she finally does, though, there's not much question as to who it will be. Barry is gone. Angus is a child. And Taako is...Taako.
Thank Pan Merle is here. ]
Merle,
I hope you're not busy. I was wondering if you'd like to come over for a glass of wine.
[ Too polite. Too non-urgent. Even after all these years, it's still so hard for her to ask for help. ]
[ This sounds like... a serious emotional problem. Okay, the gif is mostly a goof. Merle being Merle, he probably has an inkling of that impulse just on a default, but it doesn't account for the full scope of his commitment to sparkle motion.
The thing about people reaching out for help or a buddy or anything, in his relatively fresh personal experience and life philosophy, is that if you can provide it, you should. Most of his approach to life is deciding that because he can do something, he should.
Besides which, it really does take a lot of doing for Lucretia to work up to this kinda stuff. After that judges thing, she went real independent and stayed that way. ]
nah im not busy you know me! i dont do a lotta complex social plans. just walk around the woods a bunch.
ill be over! ill knock on the door and everything.
[ And he's gonna bring a neat lil leafy jungle plant that he rehomed into a shitty coffee can. He had it with him. It was what he was doing. Now it can be a super late housewarming thing? He doesn't know. ]
[ True to form, Lucretia regrets reaching out almost the moment she does it. She shouldn't have bothered Merle. He doesn't want to get involved in this kind of shit, right? What's she thinking, dragging him into it?
But he responds, and agrees to come over, and the relief she feels is too great to let her write back and tell him to forget it, that she's okay.
She's not. She's not okay, and for once she knows it.
By the time Merle knocks on the door, Lucretia's back to the buttoned-up, put-together Director he knows, hair and wardrobe on point, the only sign that anything's wrong a hint of red around her eyes. She opens the door, hesitates for half a second as her gaze lands on the coffee can houseplant, and makes the wise decision to ignore it as long as she can. ]
Merle. [ She steps aside to let him in, still trying for cool and composed - but her shoulders sag just a bit, the look in her eyes unhappier and more vulnerable than Madam Director's ever had. ] Thank you for coming.
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text at 3am
this is everything
magnus hits a good existential target with the first half, and by the second half, merle's already committed to reading the damn thing. ]
well i am NOW
if i was born a dog i wouldn't even have to think about it the other way around. i'd just be a dog
i live to serve
you wouldn't have to think about anything but whose butt to sniff and when your next treat is coming.
you wouldn't even have to be a smart dog that knows tricks and stuff.
people would love you anyway just for being born.
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and they get to go to the bathroom anywhere they want outside.
i can do that too but dogs don't have consequences when they do it.
those little shits have had the good end of the stick for too long.
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[action; backdated to pre-mirror event]
Lup takes the opportunity to invite Lucretia over so they can corner Merle together and dig out more information about the future from him. It's not that Lup doesn't trust her brother, she does completely, it's just that she also knows there are pieces of the puzzle he can't be bothered to fill in. Details that may seem minor to him, but really aren't. Besides, even if Lup is willing to take Taako's word as truth, that doesn't mean Lucretia is nearly as satisfied with the secondhand account she'd been given.
Either way, talking to the only other person who knows what's in store for them seems like the most logical next step in fixing things.
Lucretia gets a very brief house tour when she arrives--'there's the fist-sized hole in the wall from when Magnus was having a strong man moment and there's the shredded couch that we can't get our dog to stop eating'--before Lup stands directly in front of Merle's door, cupping a hand around her mouth as she screams for their friend.]
YO, MERLE! [Knocking is overrated between family, ok.]
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She doesn't even flinch when Lup bellows for Merle, simply closes her eyes with grimace of acceptance until the shouting stops. Just like home.
At least this is really helping to completely dissolve her nerves.)
You know, I think he probably heard us come in, Lup.
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In any case, the informality of the call suits him just fine-- if Lup knocked all respectfully and said 'please,' he would have to assume someone like. Died, or needed him to be emotionally present on short notice. And nah, son, that's not what he's about. Yelling is the best way to avoid spooking a Merle in his habitat.
He opens his door in good time, making no effort to hide the disarray of the room beyond. Welcome to the land of stockpiled weird furniture and shoddily-rehomed plants he's taken a liking to. ]
You rang? [ damn wheres my canned laughter ] If this is a wellness check or something, you gotta wait until I join a retirement community! Don't rush me.
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As the door opens, the elf leans in to peek around at the disarray behind him. She's too curious an elf not to snoop directly over Merle's head.]
Shit, gramps. You've got a fantasy IKEA in there with you? I was wondering where you were hoarding all of that weird furniture, but guess that question's answered now.
[After feeling satisfied with her peek into his private space, Lup straightens up, hands falling to rest on her hips.]
Come out and join us. We've got some questions for you.
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[text]
not that i think you could answer this unless she was standing directly in the line of sight of your last working eye but
you seen lup today
[text]
i mean maybe
want me to set up one of those traps where you prop a box up on a stick and it's got the string? ill leave a book of matches and a weird lamp under it
[text]
also shed never fall for that shed find a way to get you under the box in five minutes
we both know this
seriously though yes or no
[text]
so no not today but probably yesterday
[ he doesn't defend himself. he knows she would have him in that box in no time flat. that's just the way it is. ]
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[ Video ]
Also I'd just meant to extend another hello as it has been a short while.
[ Lup told him that Merle had some sort of plant fetish and he would be lying if that wasn't on the forefront of his mind right now. That won't stop the man from getting up and backing into full view if he gets a response ]
[ Video ]
[ Does he remember this guy's name.. Lup texted him about it a while back, right? He can dig it up sometime. ]
I'm probably one of the best guys to go to if you're looking for cool. And I got the Extreme Teen Bible to prove it.
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[ Good Lord, the genuine way he said that could not be feigned. Malkus is a firm believer in leaving space for Jesus during any dance. ]
Well... I-It's a bit like-
[ He swung his head down and threw his arms up, pointing both hands at an angle in a very aggressive dab. ]
She said if I don't put "hella energy" into it I may as well go home.
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[ Except maybe also having a god who answers back like he used to. Merle gives that aggressive dab a true scrutinizing look. The kid came to him for some honest criticism, after all, it's the least he can do. Like the actual least. ]
Hmm. Yeah, I guess I see what she means. But I mean, it's hard to get energy into a move where you're standin' still the whole time. Maybe if you spin in a circle or something?
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video;
don't ask why she's calling when she could just step outside and walk down the stairs to see merle face-to-face. shit's hard.]
It's been like three days so I figured I'd check in to see if you've noticed my sweet new skin or not. No judgement, my dude, just keepin' you in Lup's loop.
video;
[ He's just foolin'. Hanging out upside-down on one of his weird-ass chairs. ]
This mean I'm finally gonna get that dance?
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[Gosh, what a cool dad. No wonder Merle was the favorite parent on the ship.]
Maybe give me a few more days to get this having a body thing down, but hell yeah. I'm fucking all in. We'll show those students of yours how to really kick it.
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text; backdated to a few days ago???
hey dude
hey
check out this fucking sweet jacket i got
[incl: one photo of WOW shockingly the exact same jacket merle received?? ellie isn't sure why she wants to show this off to merle in particular, but here we are.]
text; YEAH YEAH YEAH
HELL YEAH KID, i got one too! its just like that
probably about the same size too i guess. bet yours has longer arms. check us out we're like a club!
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WE HAVE TO PUT THEM ON AND WALK AROUND THE CITY TOGETHER
LIKE RIGHT NOW
june 7, evening
Thank Pan Merle is here. ]
Merle,
I hope you're not busy. I was wondering if you'd like to come over for a glass of wine.
[ Too polite. Too non-urgent. Even after all these years, it's still so hard for her to ask for help. ]
I'd really appreciate it if you could.
I think
I think I screwed things up with Lup.
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The thing about people reaching out for help or a buddy or anything, in his relatively fresh personal experience and life philosophy, is that if you can provide it, you should. Most of his approach to life is deciding that because he can do something, he should.
Besides which, it really does take a lot of doing for Lucretia to work up to this kinda stuff. After that judges thing, she went real independent and stayed that way. ]
nah im not busy
you know me! i dont do a lotta complex social plans. just walk around the woods a bunch.
ill be over! ill knock on the door and everything.
[ And he's gonna bring a neat lil leafy jungle plant that he rehomed into a shitty coffee can. He had it with him. It was what he was doing. Now it can be a super late housewarming thing? He doesn't know. ]
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But he responds, and agrees to come over, and the relief she feels is too great to let her write back and tell him to forget it, that she's okay.
She's not. She's not okay, and for once she knows it.
By the time Merle knocks on the door, Lucretia's back to the buttoned-up, put-together Director he knows, hair and wardrobe on point, the only sign that anything's wrong a hint of red around her eyes. She opens the door, hesitates for half a second as her gaze lands on the coffee can houseplant, and makes the wise decision to ignore it as long as she can. ]
Merle. [ She steps aside to let him in, still trying for cool and composed - but her shoulders sag just a bit, the look in her eyes unhappier and more vulnerable than Madam Director's ever had. ] Thank you for coming.
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