supervisor channel; backdated to s2:d1

[atouts]

[ So after this, promptly followed by a visit to the Ringmaster, Childermass will be turning his radio back on and, unshockingly, delivering a vague and potentially unsettling request. ]

This is Childermass. [ Like anyone doesn't recognize an English accent that's been gargling gravel by now. ] I would like all of us to keep an eye out for Summer Court activity in our upcoming stops. The letter I received from the Summerlands makes me think they might make a play for the Blue Rose.

Comments

[periphrasing]

Your cards?

[She has no idea what you're talking about, bruh.]

[atouts]

A magical artifact from my home world.

[periphrasing]

[She makes a dubious noise.]

That seems like a strangely low price for protection against a high fae, but seeing as I wasn't involved in the discussion, I will try to trust your judgement.

[But now Lambert has her wondering...]

So... why didn't you include yourself in that bargain?

[atouts]

Seeing how the letter does not involve who did or did not receive protections from the Starlight, Ms. Peridot, I do not see how it's any of your business.

[ Nope. Shut down on this end, too. ]

[periphrasing]

[Sheesh. She was just wondering! The terseness of that response stings a little. But hey, if he needs justification, she'll give it to him. Flimsy justification, maybe, but...]

We supervisors, we're supposed to be a team. That makes it our business!

[atouts]

[ Well, she's not wrong, but... Ugh. Childermass sighs, but relents, a little. ]

The Count has no interest in finding me again, a fact I think I can live happily with.

[whattaprick]

[ And here's Lambert, speaking dry as dust: ]

Did it ever occur to you that the Rose Queen might not be thrilled you let the Beast in through her back door?

[ Remember that fun adventure? All three of them were there for it. ]

[atouts]

[ Not really, actually, so he does take a moment to consider it. However-- ]

No. [ First he does admit that, even if he sure doesn't sound like he enjoys doing so. ] But I also never belonged to her, not in the sense that Steven did her or Strange did Nightshade. If anything, I should have considered the same spells for those others who were in their thrall.

[periphrasing]

[...Why does it seem like every time Peridot feels like she's making some headway with Childermass, Lambert shows up to piss him off?

She's actually going to shut up and just listen for once though, because she's kind of afraid of getting in the middle of this.]

[whattaprick]

And then what? Would you have paid for everyone too? Did you even ask them first?

[ He's doing a good job of keeping his frustration out of his voice. He's sure he can probably get the answer out of Strange if Childermass doesn't cough it up, and they can both agree on what a massive idiot he is. ]

[atouts]

Yes, I did. Now if you wish to continue throwing a fit about this, Lambert, take it off the radio. This is about the letter, not me.

[ aka stop being a damn baby, you massive baby ]

[whattaprick]

Yes sir, Acquisitioner.

[ Sarcasm galore. ]

We'll keep an eye out for your fae.

[periphrasing]

[Peridot lets the silence hang awkwardly in the air for a moment before cutting back in again.]

Ssssso do you two always get along this well? Or is this an aberration?

[whattaprick]

If you wanna get into it, let's do it somewhere else.

[periphrasing]

R-Right. Okay then.

[And then more meekly, quietly:]

Sorry.

[whattaprick]

[ And an equally quietly muttered, soft enough that it's probably almost accidental: ]

S'not your fault.

[ Just Lambert and his own big dumb mouth. ]