i wasn't looking for this

[from_scratch]

This is a successor to call me maybe and trade my soul for a wish, which were getting crowded.

with Emily (Maggie)

with Alex (ErinFlight)

with Destin (Rockeye)

with Nick (Rockeye)

Comments

[iamnotpolaris]

"...Well, given that you don't want to be in the same room as my sister, we'll have to do the experiments after I hopefully manage to send you back where you came from, but if we've got it done when you're resummoned so other people don't permanently die then we can tell you, I guess."

[from_scratch]

Cam puts the stupid helmet on. "Assuming I get to wear this fetching hat, and assuming you aren't lying to me, I wouldn't mind being in a room with her to help furnish you with experimental headgear."

[iamnotpolaris]

"I'm not sure if Sivath will be interested in helping with this experiment, I sure as hell don't want to, and I think results we got from the demon and dragon might be inconclusive for more normal-brained folks."

[from_scratch]

"Well, since I'm still operating under the assumption that you aren't lying to me - or otherwise mistaken - then I and my as-far-as-I-know normal brain can be the test subject, provided under normal conditions the fetching hat does block even the 'can tell someone's mind is there' feature and nothing more invasive need be tried."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Oh, sure it does, nothing more invasive is necessary at all. But--no offense--I think I'd rather explain you to her before randomly introducing her to, 'another demon, he's almost certainly not evil, and also you cannot tell that he is there.'"

[from_scratch]

"This is reasonable. I'm just rather concerned about the fetching hat shortage you claim to be experiencing and wish to distribute hopefully-more-fetching circlets or whatever as soon as possible in case there is anyone like me where you're from."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Where we're from is not on the menu at the moment. The reason we're jaunting through as many universes as we are right now is that we are trying to find the universe we're from."

[from_scratch]

"Even so. I can give you a warehouseful of fetching hats in some sufficiently empty universe for you to retrieve and give away at your leisure."

[iamnotpolaris]

"I can make metal behave how I like. It doesn't need to be in hat form."

[from_scratch]

"So a warehouse literally full of a solid block of the stuff. ...Would you mind helping with a small experiment?"

[iamnotpolaris]

"Depends on the experiment."

[from_scratch]

"Well, do you detect any metal on my person right now?"

[iamnotpolaris]

"You have a tiny bit embedded in your brain. I assume that has something to do with what you said about your computer not being usable by people who are not you. Aside from that, no."

[from_scratch]

"Yeah, that's what that's for. I would like that to stay where it is, but would you be willing to see if you can forcibly remove a small bit of metal from, say, my fingertip? I'll heal in moments and will also numb it first."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Sure."

[from_scratch]

Now there is a small piece of metal in his left pinky fingertip.

[iamnotpolaris]

"Numbed?" she checks.

[from_scratch]

"Yup."

[iamnotpolaris]

She tries to yank it out.

[from_scratch]

It twitches but doesn't get very far.

"Try it again now?"

[iamnotpolaris]

She tries it again.

[from_scratch]

This time it comes out. His finger heals behind it.

"Okay, so you do not bypass my indestructibility, that's nice."

[iamnotpolaris]

"What was the difference the second time?"

[from_scratch]

"Second time I let you."

[iamnotpolaris]

"...I think you are more indestructible than Tialle's Demon or any of the rest of his kind. So that's something."