Early Quicksand 29

[controlsthedie]

[ Thanatos likely delayed making this post for too long, but he couldn't do so any longer. It was Romeo's post which reminded him that he had one to make himself. ]

The Red Team's numbers seem to have shrunk once more, and Otoha's name has turned golden. I don't know if he'll return, but if someone who participates on Red goals for missions would like to become another point person for information during them... or someone to make sure the newcomers know what's going on in case I...

[ He thinks of the chaos left behind when Lightning disappeared and departed. What doesn't the Red Team know that they should? If he disappears or is otherwise incapacitated, would the Red Team lose information relevant to them?

Mort squeaks at Thanatos, breaking him from his thoughts. ]

We operate pretty individually, but I can't be the only point of contact if there's a need. Don't care how long you've been here. If you're willing to, that's good enough.

That... brings me to some requests. Would anyone like to help the Red Team? We're a small team but expected to do the same work as a larger team. We're understaffed for chores and... probably our missions. Can't speak for the rest, but knowing who we could regularly turn to would be helpful.

We also need a way so people working with another team can hear the relevant details during missions. If someone from Blue participates on the Red tasks, they only hear the Blue Team's filtered communications. If someone from Red participates in Purple, they miss Purple communications.

Something can be done, right?

Comments

[irrationally]

.. do you at least understand why he does?

[ After all, if Thanatos and Zagreus are from the same world and seemingly so close, then if anyone has got to know on this train, it's the god she's talking to right now, right?

It's not even that Alice doesn't get why people might care for others as a whole, but it's less understandable to her when that care seems to be extended to every single stranger that guy comes across. ]

I still cannot wrap my head around it in the slightest.

[controlsthedie]

Why he cares about you and people in general?

[ Thanatos could say that it's in Zagreus's nature. Zagreus is the most lively of them all in the Underworld. He embodies it much like Thanatos embodies death. And someone has to. They both know what it's like when gods turn away from mortals. ]

Well... that's just Zagreus. You'll have to ask him if you really want to know.

[irrationally]

[ There's a slight pause.

Then Alice sighs. She sighs so deeply that it almost sounds like her very soul is leaving her body in this instant. ]

Who would just ask another person something like that so directly?

[ Please, Thanatos. Imagine the embarrassment. This is a social step Alice absolutely cannot take. ]

[controlsthedie]

I think we established that Zagreus would.

[ So, it's only fair, right? ]

[irrationally]

I cannot believe that you are putting the same expectations upon me that you would have of an actually sociable person.

[ Rude, Thanatos. Have some mercy on an introvert. ]

Besides, I am perfectly sure already that he would just say something that would embarrass me to no ends. [ And every other reasonable person out there, she thinks. Surely most people can't endure sappy stuff like that without feeling weird, right?? R-Right? ]

[controlsthedie]

[ Alice hasn't found out that Thanatos and Zagreus are in love with each other yet, has she? They say the sappiest things to each other which would make others roll their eyes. It's practically their love language. Thanatos isn't immune to the fluttering that threatens to overtake him each time either, but he's also busy being drawn to Zagreus. ]

I'll try asking him, but it really is just Zagreus. His nature to care about the living and the mortals who once were. Even if they don't deserve it.

[ Like Sisyphus. ]

[irrationally]

[ .. even if they don't deserve it, huh.

Alice knows that Thanatos isn't talking about her, but.. on the other hand, he's mirroring her thoughts by voicing it out loud. Isn't that exactly why Zagreus' affection bothers her? Because she doesn't deserve it. Because she's just a twisted husk of a human being.

It makes the girl go quiet for a moment. ]

I suppose I will just have to live with that answer then.

[ She shakes her head to herself. ]

I should get going now.

[ Alice did speak over these things just now for longer than she has in a long while, anyway. Maybe she ought to just rest, rather than overthinking these things. ]

[controlsthedie]

[ Thanatos suddenly has the feeling that he said something wrong, but to mention so on the network would only make Alice feel worse. He frowns and doesn't draw attention to it. (Just mentally berate himself a little.) ]

All right. I will see you around.