Quoted By:
"That will be enough. Thanks muchly, Gil. Sounds like we're en route to the Thinking Machine— it's a real spectacle, Everard. Real beaut. You'll like it. Shouldn't be a long jaunt with Gil here to wayfind, too, so— Gil? Would you do the honors, son?"
You're still recovering from your last paragraph. Shit. Maybe you have more programmed in you than you thought. "Ye-es. Yes."
"Then go ahead!"
CFK is gesturing at the door. You go up and open it. What did you expect? A bland hallway, you guess. Or (being Headspace) a bland hallway splooged in neon. There still is neon, but it's all knotted, painted, person-size pipes, plus moving staircases— <span class="mu-i">escalators</span>— and walkways— <span class="mu-i">travelators</span>— and a few elevators— <span class="mu-i">we also called them elevators</span>— threaded within, going any which way, some upside down, all against rich void. Like the in-between never ended, only engorged. No godsdamn wonder they need dedicated navigators. Why did they make it so impenetrable in the first place? Oh. To keep the victims inside? That's depressing.
You weren't terrible at locus-speaking before the accident, and now it's built into you. It's no question you'll be able to navigate this. But you and the crown thief's retainer and Casey Fucking "CEO of Headass" Kemper alone in this mess? Them dependent on you? This could be the worst thing that ever happened to you, or the best. Not counting the other obvious recent worst and best things. Um. The point is, you haven't decided yet.
>[1] Do not pass Go, do not collect $200: go straight to the Thinking Machine. Trying to mess around before you've gained any trust sounds like a recipe for being grabbed by the collar/set on fire.
>[2] It'd be insane to pass up this opportunity. You'd have to be an idiot or a coward or both. And you are, but you're sure Teddy would be quick to disagree, and you don't want to get in a humiliating fight about it, so here you are.
>>[A] Forget the Thinking Machine. Get Everard and CFK stupidly, hopelessly lost, then flip them the bird and fly off. Maybe you'll get on a watchlist, but it'll get them out of the picture for a good while, and you can go find Lottie. [Roll.]
>> There are a lot of narrow walkways here, and there is a long drop underneath them, and while trying to push CFK would break your arms, Everard is weedy. You're not in the murder business, but... the goo dampens your worst anxiety, and... the guy's going to have to die sooner or later, and... when push comes to shove... ha-ha... oh, gods. [Difficult roll.]
>[C] Pump them for info as innocuously as you can manage. How's the crown thievery going, Everard? How's the intruder situation going, Mr. Kemper? Tell me more! (Any specific questions/topics?) [Roll.]
>[D] Write-in?
