At the Pharaoh

[Colonel Worm]

I love this idea—pledge away!

[Saber Sloth]

This is a cool idea! Pledge math looks good, remember to put it on the calendar, and remember to keep on top of this, this is a cold pledge idea but could be finnicky if we get some awesome RP happening but stay back to watch instead of intervening, but also doing that could lead into awesome RP too....so, hmm. Stay on top of your Pledge and @me if you need to

[Colonel Worm]

"Or you don't and you spend all your time looking rather than living, which makes you kind of a flake, right?" He shrugs with a crooked grin. He's not arguing, just stating the facts. "I try to dependable when it counts. Otherwise, it's catch as catch can."

If Gerrit is thinking it might take Worm a while to answer his question, he might be surprised at how quickly the Goblin answers: "Yes." Definitive. "These are my people." Whether it's some sort of kismet or he's simply decided it--doesn't matter. Worm's speaking the truth as far as he's concerned. "From the first time I met Sera and Rhodes in the park, I knew it." That's Worm all over: always ready to dive in head first, even if he doesn't know the depth.

Gerrit formalizes Worm's offer with the pledge and the Colonel's nodding along the whole time, like someone's playing his favorite song. When the Ogre offers his hand, Worm seizes it. His grip is warm and strong. "Deal," he says and, if Gerrit lets him, the Goblin will pull him in for a hug. Even a smooch on the cheek.

[Gerrit]

Gerrit furrowed his brows, but this probably was the closest thing to a crooked smile in the Ogre's repertoire of facial expressions. "Seems like a case of 'agree to disagree', but I will think about what you said." Although he couldn't imagine following this advice. Just going out and 'enjoying life'? He'd seen too many people destroy themselves and everything around them doing that.

The speed in which CW answered did surprise Gerrit. Was this a sign that the Goblin was dishonest or a sign that he was 100% sure of this? Hopefully it was the latter, although the Onyx had a hard time connecting the royal couple with the Colonel's way of life. You're thinking too much. Just count this weird blessing for what it is. So Gerrit's reaction came as delayed as CW's was fast. He nodded once and added a slight smile afterwards. "That's good. I think we are better off having you."

Once CW accepted the Pledge and Gerrit actually felt the Wyrd reacting to it, a mix of emotions went through him: a hesitant sense of relief, a bit of pride for coming up with the idea and executing it without fussing up, and somewhere in the back of his mind a self-depricating worry of kind of binding the Wizened to him for a Season. But hey, impulsive or not: the Summer wouldn't have accepted if he didn't-
He was so lost in thought that he couldn't stop the hug as it happened. His bruised nerves screamed and CW might get a coppery taste of blood from smooching Gerrit but this was, once again, a pain he bore gladly.
When he was free again he cleared his throat and looked at the screen of the karaoke machine. This was more closeness than he was used to. "Uh, should we go back to this?"

Added the Pledge to the calendar and to my Minisheet. Excited!

And seems like we need to wrap this scene soon, so maybe one last post each before we fade the evening out?

[Colonel Worm]

"See that? That's why I know we're gonna be down to clown for the duration, G. We can agree to disagree on just about everything, but I still like the shit out of you. Maybe it's that mug of yours?" Worm seems to eye Gerrit's unpleasant visage with a bleary fondness.

"Anyway, I like you." He repeats, as if to confirm his initial suspicion. "I'm glad we're doing this."

Cracks another beer, sucks down half. "You're damn right you are," he replies with a roguish wink. Drunk, obviously.

The taste of blood on his lips (not the first, not the last). The zing of the Wyrd tying the threads of their fate together, if only for a season. All of it makes the Goblin's head swim, deliciously. His mantle flares and the world around him fractalizes thanks to the suddenly intense heat mirage. For a moment, he looks like he might swoon.

"Woah, yeah. Let's do it," Worm answers with a chuckle. Finds his next song, punches in the number, and takes up the mic to belt it out. It's a real doozy.

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-12-27 21:02:59	Colonel Worm rolls 5 to Pres + Express (10 Again)	2, 7, 10, 6, 9, 9	3 successes

But somehow the Colonel pulls it off?

[Gerrit]

Careful now - remember what happened the last time someone saw beyond your bloodied appearance. And despite this cynical part trying to get the last word on the matter, Gerrit smiled at Colonel Worm. He didn't feel exactly great - feeling great didn't seem to be in the cards for a long time - but it had been some time since he felt not smothered by the cold within, but rather embraced. "Me too. Uhm, I like you and I'm glad we're doing this." He didn't want to open up too much emotionally, partly also because the Goblin's intoxication became more apparent now.

Winter reacted to the sudden flare of heat by making Gerrit's Mantle act up too, almost simultaneously. Maybe that was another kink of the Wyrd, an independent expression of their sealed fate. It wasn't exactly cold that met Worm's Mantle, but an icy audible 'snap' and the momentary turning up of contrasts around the Ogre. His skin burned and buzzed from the heat and although he was on edge, a part of him was content with what was happening: this was the Wizened he just tasked with being his moral parole officer, this drunk, drug loving pugilist. Following his lead might just be the most self destructive idea of them all, and maybe that's why this idea could as well work.

And true to his form the Goblin stayed in his musical niche of late 90s.. party music. Either through the lack of electronic voice alteration, Worm's talent, or the fact that the Stonebones accepted all of this as part of the adventure he sent himself on - Gerrit enjoyed what he heard, he even moved ever so slightly back and forth as he reached for the book in search for his next song.
When Eiffel 65 was done Gerrit applauded and punched in his own numbers. He didn't know how much singing he had left in him, but this particular song caught his attention.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-12-28 15:01:13	Gerrit rolls 3 to sing Karaoke (Pre 1 - untrained 1 + WP) (10 Again, WillPower)	4, 4, 2	failure

Although it was mostly a speak-singing and Gerrit put his heart into it, the result wasn't much better than what he had delivered the whole night.
And that was probably okay.

Oops, I forgot that you had opened this.
Thank you for the amazing scene!

[Colonel Worm]

I think Gerrit’s last song is a good note to go out on! Thanks for the amazing RP—end scene!