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"Yeah? Since... well, I know you didn't act like a proper retainer, and I know you're sorry about it. I'm sorry about it too. But it's not worth all..." You wave a hand in his direction. "...this, okay? It's okay we got kicked out. The tour was probably going to be boring, anyhow, and they might've found out you weren't really Madrigal, and— oh! I didn't tell you! I took care of all the detective stuff already. Yes, <span class="mu-i">that</span> fast. It was awesome. Richard can— Richard should tell you—"
«What.»
«No. If your ego is artificially inflated any further, it will burst.»
"—Richard saw it," you finish. "So. Don't feel bad. I know you tried really hard doing, um, whatever you did... oh! You did a really good job impersonating Madrigal! You were totally a bitch, and <span class="mu-i">she's</span>— I know you've never properly met her, but she's a bitch. Trust me. Though once we were away from Casey, maybe you could've toned it down a few..."
Gil has leaned his head all the way back against the wall. He looks very, very not-fine. "...Gil?"
He digs his fingers into his closed eyes. "I-I-I couldn't... goddammit! I-I couldn't tone it down. I-I-I-I wasn't in control— I-I-I was, but I wasn't— <span class="mu-i">I</span> wasn't— I— I-I'm sorry, I'm crazy, I-I'm not— I wasn't disciplined. I wasn't disciplined, and I just— I-I wasn't— Lottie, I— god<span class="mu-i">dammit!</span> It wasn't me. I wasn't... me."
"Um," you say. "What do you—"
"You magiced me. You did your— goddamn magic on me, Lottie, and—"
You cross your arms. "Um, I didn't— I mean, I <span class="mu-i">did,</span> but I didn't do it in a bad way! I made it so you could turn it off and on! So don't go—"
"I-I-I didn't want to turn it off! The other person, who was me, didn't want to go back to being— she thought I'd screw it all up! So I-I just— I— I don't— don't fucking magic me again. Please. Please. Clearly I-I-I can't handle..."
«No.»
«He handled it too well. He took to it too naturally.»
«It is a compliment to achieve full assimilation on the first attempt.»
What? Okay, first off, Richard complimenting anybody is usually a bad thing, so you don't think— "You can handle it," you say firmly. "You just, um... didn't. This time. But you're back, right? So you can go right ahead and calm down, now, and..."
Gil continues to look not especially calm.
>[1] Attempt to reason with him. Isn't he beetles right now? And he wasn't always? And he didn't go insane from turning into beetles or anything, so clearly he's not too bad at handling this stuff.
>[2] Point out that he can clearly handle magic, since he has LITERAL GOD MAGIC, from the LITERAL GOD OF CHANGE AND SOME OTHER STUFF. Also did he maybe sense any magic stuff going on not from you? Maybe blue colored?
>[3] Begrudgingly relay Richard's compliment(?).
>[4] Inquire if for some bizarre and unprecedented reason he may desire a CHASTE and RETAINERLY hug right now.
>[5] Ask what he actually did while you were separated.
>[6] Just sit down next to him and give him some time.
>[7] Write-in.
