sixth pact ❖ {quality time}

[pactum.livejournal.com]

[Emil appears on the Plane, and he's not alone. With him is what appears to be a cross between a hyena and a wolf. It looks a bit wild, but well cared-for, evident from its glossy fur and the giant pot of stew it's devouring. He sighs and starts eating from his own (much smaller) bowl.]

This search is exhausting...

[The wolf nuzzles Emil as thanks, and he blinks at it, then gently pets its nose.] Um... Y-you're welcome.

Comments

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

So the real possibility of danger remains. Perhaps you are right to fear him.

[pactum.livejournal.com]

Heheh.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

But not presently. How do you form your pact with these monsters?

[pactum.livejournal.com]

Um... well, first, we have to prove our strength by fighting them. And then the monster has to decide. Having other monsters talk to it helps. If it says no, then sometimes it leaves a present.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

You have to engage in combat first? No wonder a fear response is triggered. What emotions would you say you experience during battle?

[pactum.livejournal.com]

Um...

[He scratches the back of his head.]

Mostly, I just want to run away. And there's desperation, because I want it to be over as fast as possible. Oh! And I'm worried for Marta, too, because I made an oath to protect her.

I can borrow the power of Ratatosk so that I have courage to fight them. I'd like to fight on my own, though. No— I have to learn to fight on my own. I-I can't become too dependent on other people... even the lord of all monsters.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[a slight nod as he considers this]

Ratatosk?

[pactum.livejournal.com]

Ratatosk... he controls all monsters, and he's the only one who can make the mana in the world balanced again. But he's asleep, so we have to make monster pacts in his name to wake him up.

It's gonna take forever at this rate...

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

You can use your own strength and still make pacts in his name, I would assume.

[pactum.livejournal.com]

When I get scared, Ratatosk's power helps me. So if I find a way to not be scared, I might be able to...

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

This may be important, depending on the answer: how does Ratatosk's power affect your fear?

[which is to say, he's wondering if it acts like some of the drugs/frequencies/placebo effect tests he's done on the unwilling population of Gotham]

[pactum.livejournal.com]

... It makes it go away.

[Hmm~]

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

And you have no idea how, only that it does?

[pactum.livejournal.com]

[He nods.]

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Hmm... I wish I could examine how it works. Even if the force itself was incomprehensible to my instruments, its effects should show up, whatever they are.

[pactum.livejournal.com]

... There might be a way...

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

What would that way be?

[pactum.livejournal.com]

If I have to fight something, I'll use Ratatosk's power automatically.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Could we do that under controlled conditions?

[pactum.livejournal.com]

... Um... probably. [Sorry, he's not a scientist yet.]

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[damn amnesias and personality disorders and other issues]

I have some tools for painlessly measuring brain activity. The blood sample would be somewhat less painless.

[pactum.livejournal.com]

Blood sample? What would you be able to tell from that?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Quite a lot, actually. A sample of cerebrospinal fluid would be preferable, of course, but it would also be impractical.

[pactum.livejournal.com]

... You can have my blood, then.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

There is no need for concern. Only a very small amount is required for testing.