( there is perhaps a telling silence as gregor asks how they are and brings up vergilius. it seems his guesses landed fairly close to the truth... )
He was... very displeased... Both with you sinners' behavior and with my inability to control you properly... I don't believe anything was broken that we can't fix, but I'm afraid we probably won't be allowed to spend our free time at a bar like that for quite a while. Though, really, we have mostly the usual suspects to blame for that...
( relatively speaking, gregor had been one of the good ones once drunk. don quixote, heathcliff, rodion, and ryoshu, however... they had made things much more challenging for dante to deal with. sometimes they think it's too bad they can only rewind them back from death and not rewind all of the damage they can cause as well... )
Damn. Sorry, Manager Bud. I'll keep myself in check next time, at least? But that's probably a smart choice, to not let any of us near a bar. In general.
[Is Donki even old enough to drink? Not that he had been when he'd enlisted, so Gregor knows damn well he can't judge, but man...Man. It's like herding cats at the best of times, let alone with everyone sloshed and tottering about.]
If it makes you feel any better, I don't recall what your ass feels like or anything?
...Is that even reassuring? I'm not sure. Look, the point is that you always do your best, and the only reason Vergilius has success in calming everyone down is the fact that he's such a threat. But I like you as you are, personally. It's nice having a manager who's also my pal.
( she and sinclair are old enough to have their Fixer licenses and work for the Company, so they should be old enough to drink. that's the assumption that dante has been working beneath, at least... )
I do think you all deserve a reward for doing so well lately. Though... Yes, in the future, it probably won't have anything to do with alcohol.
( there is a pause which might have been filled with a surprised-sounding tock sound were they speaking in person, but gregor will just have to imagine it before dante manages a response. )
Well that's probably for the best I think considering our working relationship and all!!
( the easily-flustered clock needs a moment to regain their composure.
as happy as they are to hear such encouraging words from gregor, dante feels their situation is more complicated than that. vergilius and faust seem to have some sort of expectation of them, and they can sense the importance and gravity of their mission. they don't want to fail — they feel like they can't fail... as much as they want to be a friend to the sinners, they are here to be their manager, and they worry those two things can't always coexist perfectly. but still... )
Thank you, Gregor. I do think I need to improve at what I do, or else I might end up further endangering you all. But I will try not to change too much.
( they hope they don't change too much. if they ever managed to regain their head and their memories, would they end up becoming a worse person? )
To tell you the truth, though, I enjoyed seeing you relax and enjoy yourself last night.
me, hours later, like 'holy shit i forgot to say I HOPE THE MOVE WENT WELL' sorry orz
[Probably the smart assumption, to be fair. Ah, to be at the stage of life where all teenagers look like they are babies, actually, and you can't figure out their ages anymore...Gregor's completely lost. Best to just treat them as his funny little niece and nephew.]
Agreed. Maybe nowhere actual civilians gather in general? Or we're going to rack up repair bills more likely than not. Which stinks, because I was about to suggest taking everyone out for ice cream until I thought about how that'd go! It's been forever since I had ice cream.
Sorry, sorry. It's okay, I respect you as the Manager and all. And I'm all for you trying to improve, too. We haven't exactly had a high success rate, and you keep copping the flak for it, even when at least one case was entirely my fault.
Guess what I'm trying to say is become a better you, not a different one. That's all. Or else I won't be able to relax around you ever again, and then where are we going to be?? Hahahaha
the movers were like 5 hours late so it Wasn't Great, but it's over with now at least
That might be hard to do, unless we want to go out into the wilderness like how we were in District 4...
( they don't think the sinners' memories of their first meeting out there were any more positive than dante's own recollections of it. )
Well... Maybe I can convince Vergilius and Charon to help me go get some ice cream for you all and bring it back to the bus. That way we can at least rule out the possibility of collateral damage.
But, yes. I will try to become a manager that you can relax around more often. Though... I hope I will also become a manager that some of the others can perhaps relax around less often.
( they pause for a moment or two before continuing. this... has been a subject that has come up many times in dante's thoughts, as they try to decide what is the best path for them to go down, if they want to improve. if they want to properly lead these sinners into the hearts of their own tragedies, so they can acquire the Golden Boughs and achieve their goal. )
Gregor... I'm not sure if it was correct for me to push you, at that time. I thought it was... But perhaps I shouldn't make assumptions of what is best for you, knowing as little as I do about you. There were more factors at play in the District 4 branch than just your own. I don't want you to feel as though the burden of blame is entirely yours. We all shared in it. Does that make sense?
what in tarnation......at least you can enjoy your new place at LAST tho X(
Oh, maybe that's not such a good idea at all. Not that I'm worried about us, of course, but it's you I worry about. Even if Vergilius wouldn't let anything actually bad happen to you, I guess, it's hard not to worry.
Aaaaaaand this is why. Because you're a good pal. Just have to figure out the management styles for everyone, which can't be easily done, but I think you can do it. We've only been all together for a little while, alright? But we're already pulling together decently. That's all up to you, I think.
[Time for Gregor to take in a good, deep breath of his own, and try to muster back all the gusto he'd had prior. Motivation's something he needs to provide more of, if he wants to make up for what he's done.]
So don't worry any about pushing me that time. I needed it. I knew you were right even before you said it, but I needed someone to make that decision for me when push came to shove. All that matters is we had some successes, I guess. None of them are going to feel great after what we're going to go through, but we're going to keep getting boughs. Like hell Hermann's getting any more. Got it?
( it's a strange feeling, to hear that someone is concerned for their well-being. well, yes, they do get the sense that vergilius and many of the other sinners want them to remain unharmed, but dante gets the sense that it's more perfunctory and less personal — as manager, they play an important role, and they simply can't allow them to fall or falter in that. but when gregor says that he worries for them as a friend (or, sorry, a pal), they trust that he is telling the truth. even without what they had all gone through in District 4, dante knew enough about the thirteenth sinner to know that he has a good heart.
good enough to concern them. in a world like this, those hearts usually only get hurt. )
Though we've continued to face hardships and setbacks, our success rate has only improved as we've moved forward. I know that you sinners are doing your best to apply yourselves and fight harder, when necessary... So, yes, I will continue to try to learn how best to support you. This road seems like it is going to be a long and difficult one. We should be prepared for a marathon, not a sprint.
( dante already regrets having broached this topic, perhaps thinking it might have been better to discuss in person. but they do believe it should be spoken about. gregor carries much on his shoulders... and since it seems inevitable that they will run into hermann and her lackeys again one day, they should try to be prepared. )
Have you heard of a "Pyrrhic victory"? Given what each of you must face to make it to the Boughs, I believe results like this — like what we saw in District 10, but especially what happened in District 11 — will be most common. What matters most is that, in the end, we succeed in collecting the Boughs. And in keeping them away from those like Hermann. But it also matters how we walk away from these victories, or these defeats. We will need to recover quickly and not allow them to dictate our futures. ...Which is why I think the chicken kabobs worked out well. Perhaps we should have a tradition of something like that every time we complete a mission?
[He reads all of that text, humming fondly to himself as a thought occurs.]
Hey, doesn't it get annoying when we do all this stuff related to food, and you can't actually get involved? We can make it a new tradition, but a tradition would take some of the Pyrrhic out of the victory, I think. I mean, it's been a long slog every time, but I felt a lot better with Rodya's haul of chips and Sinclair's chicken kabobs, than all of us just sitting there in silence after we fudged the bough retrieval the first time.
And even marathon runners get to relax after each marathon they take part in, before they train again. We should brainstorm on things that might appeal to even less food-motivated Sinners, you know? That way we all get the serotonin from a battle hard-fought. Though all my immediate ideas are probably ideas that Vergilius would immediately shoot down; who'd even give us prestige at this point, right??
But I think you should get to participate too, since you go through it every time we get roughed up too much. Maybe a night spent sleeping in actual beds or something.
( while dante can't really do so physically, they can't help but fight back the impulse to laugh. not in a mean-spirited, of course — gregor is such a considerate sinner, to concern himself with his clock-headed manager so much. )
It's not annoying at all. This is something I want to do for you guys, after all. You need to eat, even if I don't anymore. And a part of me enjoys it as well, when you are all content with a meal. And... I'm not sure. I am still trying to decide if it is better for me to set myself apart from you as your manager. That might be better in the long term.
( gregor might actually be one of the few sinners that actually respects them as manager without further convincing, so dante doesn't consider this for him, but rather for the others. )
Though... I think this is a good idea. Surely we can find other activities and amenities to reward your actions with. Ideally nothing too extravagant or expensive, considering how much grumbling Vergilius does about our funding... A decent night's sleep in a hotel does sound nice. Though... we will have to take certain... precautions.
( ie: putting people in rooms least likely to either cause property destruction or ... get along a little too well? that would just cause strange problems down the line, wouldn't it... )
If you want them to be something I might be able to participate in as well... I will keep that in mind.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊:
Yes, that's true...
( there is perhaps a telling silence as gregor asks how they are and brings up vergilius. it seems his guesses landed fairly close to the truth... )
He was... very displeased...
Both with you sinners' behavior and with my inability to control you properly...
I don't believe anything was broken that we can't fix, but I'm afraid we probably won't be allowed to spend our free time at a bar like that for quite a while.
Though, really, we have mostly the usual suspects to blame for that...
( relatively speaking, gregor had been one of the good ones once drunk. don quixote, heathcliff, rodion, and ryoshu, however... they had made things much more challenging for dante to deal with. sometimes they think it's too bad they can only rewind them back from death and not rewind all of the damage they can cause as well... )
no subject
[Is Donki even old enough to drink? Not that he had been when he'd enlisted, so Gregor knows damn well he can't judge, but man...Man. It's like herding cats at the best of times, let alone with everyone sloshed and tottering about.]
If it makes you feel any better, I don't recall what your ass feels like or anything?
...Is that even reassuring? I'm not sure. Look, the point is that you always do your best, and the only reason Vergilius has success in calming everyone down is the fact that he's such a threat. But I like you as you are, personally. It's nice having a manager who's also my pal.
no subject
I do think you all deserve a reward for doing so well lately. Though... Yes, in the future, it probably won't have anything to do with alcohol.
( there is a pause which might have been filled with a surprised-sounding tock sound were they speaking in person, but gregor will just have to imagine it before dante manages a response. )
Well that's probably for the best I think considering our working relationship and all!!
( the easily-flustered clock needs a moment to regain their composure.
as happy as they are to hear such encouraging words from gregor, dante feels their situation is more complicated than that. vergilius and faust seem to have some sort of expectation of them, and they can sense the importance and gravity of their mission. they don't want to fail — they feel like they can't fail... as much as they want to be a friend to the sinners, they are here to be their manager, and they worry those two things can't always coexist perfectly. but still... )
Thank you, Gregor.
I do think I need to improve at what I do, or else I might end up further endangering you all.
But I will try not to change too much.
( they hope they don't change too much. if they ever managed to regain their head and their memories, would they end up becoming a worse person? )
To tell you the truth, though, I enjoyed seeing you relax and enjoy yourself last night.
me, hours later, like 'holy shit i forgot to say I HOPE THE MOVE WENT WELL' sorry orz
Agreed. Maybe nowhere actual civilians gather in general? Or we're going to rack up repair bills more likely than not. Which stinks, because I was about to suggest taking everyone out for ice cream until I thought about how that'd go! It's been forever since I had ice cream.
Sorry, sorry. It's okay, I respect you as the Manager and all. And I'm all for you trying to improve, too. We haven't exactly had a high success rate, and you keep copping the flak for it, even when at least one case was entirely my fault.
Guess what I'm trying to say is become a better you, not a different one. That's all. Or else I won't be able to relax around you ever again, and then where are we going to be?? Hahahaha
the movers were like 5 hours late so it Wasn't Great, but it's over with now at least
( they don't think the sinners' memories of their first meeting out there were any more positive than dante's own recollections of it. )
Well... Maybe I can convince Vergilius and Charon to help me go get some ice cream for you all and bring it back to the bus. That way we can at least rule out the possibility of collateral damage.
But, yes. I will try to become a manager that you can relax around more often.
Though... I hope I will also become a manager that some of the others can perhaps relax around less often.
( they pause for a moment or two before continuing. this... has been a subject that has come up many times in dante's thoughts, as they try to decide what is the best path for them to go down, if they want to improve. if they want to properly lead these sinners into the hearts of their own tragedies, so they can acquire the Golden Boughs and achieve their goal. )
Gregor...
I'm not sure if it was correct for me to push you, at that time. I thought it was... But perhaps I shouldn't make assumptions of what is best for you, knowing as little as I do about you.
There were more factors at play in the District 4 branch than just your own. I don't want you to feel as though the burden of blame is entirely yours. We all shared in it. Does that make sense?
what in tarnation......at least you can enjoy your new place at LAST tho X(
Aaaaaaand this is why. Because you're a good pal. Just have to figure out the management styles for everyone, which can't be easily done, but I think you can do it. We've only been all together for a little while, alright? But we're already pulling together decently. That's all up to you, I think.
[Time for Gregor to take in a good, deep breath of his own, and try to muster back all the gusto he'd had prior. Motivation's something he needs to provide more of, if he wants to make up for what he's done.]
So don't worry any about pushing me that time. I needed it. I knew you were right even before you said it, but I needed someone to make that decision for me when push came to shove. All that matters is we had some successes, I guess. None of them are going to feel great after what we're going to go through, but we're going to keep getting boughs. Like hell Hermann's getting any more. Got it?
yes!! all's well that ends well
good enough to concern them. in a world like this, those hearts usually only get hurt. )
Though we've continued to face hardships and setbacks, our success rate has only improved as we've moved forward.
I know that you sinners are doing your best to apply yourselves and fight harder, when necessary... So, yes, I will continue to try to learn how best to support you.
This road seems like it is going to be a long and difficult one. We should be prepared for a marathon, not a sprint.
( dante already regrets having broached this topic, perhaps thinking it might have been better to discuss in person. but they do believe it should be spoken about. gregor carries much on his shoulders... and since it seems inevitable that they will run into hermann and her lackeys again one day, they should try to be prepared. )
Have you heard of a "Pyrrhic victory"?
Given what each of you must face to make it to the Boughs, I believe results like this — like what we saw in District 10, but especially what happened in District 11 — will be most common.
What matters most is that, in the end, we succeed in collecting the Boughs. And in keeping them away from those like Hermann.
But it also matters how we walk away from these victories, or these defeats. We will need to recover quickly and not allow them to dictate our futures.
...Which is why I think the chicken kabobs worked out well.
Perhaps we should have a tradition of something like that every time we complete a mission?
no subject
Hey, doesn't it get annoying when we do all this stuff related to food, and you can't actually get involved? We can make it a new tradition, but a tradition would take some of the Pyrrhic out of the victory, I think. I mean, it's been a long slog every time, but I felt a lot better with Rodya's haul of chips and Sinclair's chicken kabobs, than all of us just sitting there in silence after we fudged the bough retrieval the first time.
And even marathon runners get to relax after each marathon they take part in, before they train again. We should brainstorm on things that might appeal to even less food-motivated Sinners, you know? That way we all get the serotonin from a battle hard-fought. Though all my immediate ideas are probably ideas that Vergilius would immediately shoot down; who'd even give us prestige at this point, right??
But I think you should get to participate too, since you go through it every time we get roughed up too much. Maybe a night spent sleeping in actual beds or something.
no subject
It's not annoying at all. This is something I want to do for you guys, after all.
You need to eat, even if I don't anymore. And a part of me enjoys it as well, when you are all content with a meal.
And... I'm not sure. I am still trying to decide if it is better for me to set myself apart from you as your manager. That might be better in the long term.
( gregor might actually be one of the few sinners that actually respects them as manager without further convincing, so dante doesn't consider this for him, but rather for the others. )
Though... I think this is a good idea. Surely we can find other activities and amenities to reward your actions with. Ideally nothing too extravagant or expensive, considering how much grumbling Vergilius does about our funding...
A decent night's sleep in a hotel does sound nice.
Though... we will have to take certain... precautions.
( ie: putting people in rooms least likely to either cause property destruction or ... get along a little too well? that would just cause strange problems down the line, wouldn't it... )
If you want them to be something I might be able to participate in as well... I will keep that in mind.