Quoted By:
"Firstly, consider that none of the danger you were in met the criteria for 'life-threatening.' Frightening, yes. Risky, yes. But if you were at imminent risk of death, I would have intervened, Charlie. Secondly, I have no counterpoint for the WYRM. It takes unkindly to visitors. You're lucky to have escaped intact."
Richard doesn't continue. "And?" you prompt.
"And, you're lucky. I see no need for some grandiose metaphysical explanation. You're a lucky young woman, you have some natural talent, and, most importantly, you have somebody who dedicated his life to saving yours. That ought to account for everything."
It ought to, you guess. Maybe that's it. Stupid son-of-a-whore Ellery, leading you on a wild goose chase. You hate that he made you get shot. You hate that a little bit of you still wants to believe him. "But what if— what if there was something? Pretend there was something."
"Okay, Charlie, I'll pretend. There is an unknown force out there, not named Richard, that metaphysically intervenes to keep you well. What would we know about this force? I would say that it'd have to be extremely subtle."
"Why?"
"Because I would've detected it if it wasn't. It's that simple. <span class="mu-i">If</span> such a thing were to exist, it'd be the equivalent of— I don't know, blowing on dice as they settle. Stacking a deck with one card out of place. An effect, yes, but really more of a... I don't know, a tiebreaker. It would only make itself known on the razor's edge of probability. Not in general. You would never notice."
"Oh," you say.
"Furthermore, if this were the case, it would have no impact on shooting yourself in the head with a crossbow. That's not the razor's edge, Charlotte. That's just fatal. Please don't test your fate again like that."
You sigh. "Okay."
"Thank you."
"...Do you work for Management?"
"What?" Richard looks bemused, not surprised or offended. "Of course not, Charlotte. What would that even entail? Where are you getting this from?"
You work your mouth.
"Him again? Really? Charlotte, I thought you didn't trust this man."
"He sounded like he knew what he was..." You trail off. "Um, so, am I dead? Like, actually?"
(6/7 lol)
