[Sea Witch & Hook game]

[glorious]

[Well isn't this just grand?]

(from this lovely game)

Comments

[deathandtaxes]

Then tell me what it's really about?

[glorious]

I don't want to see you get hurt.

[deathandtaxes]

I feel the same way. But I can't argue with you about it, because even though the safety isn't what it's really about, for you, it's important and you're still right.

[glorious]

...It's an important factor that can't be dismissed.

Regardless, we should decide if we wish to offer anything.

[deathandtaxes]

I don't want to give them anything.

But that's selfish. Because I don't want to see you hurt, and I can't have it both ways.

[glorious]

[quiet for a long moment, thinking of an old teammate...]

...We can offer them their lives.

[deathandtaxes]

What?

[glorious]

If they want to kill me, they'd have to fight through us both first.

[deathandtaxes]

...That can be arranged.

[glorious]

[nods]

...If we do that, there's a high chance that we'll both die. But I think it'll be better for the both of us if we took that chance.

[deathandtaxes]

If it does, then it's a chance we take knowing it will probably backfire. But I'd feel better, at least.

[glorious]

[smiles and leans forward to kiss him]

I trust my knight to give it his all.

[deathandtaxes]

[kisses him readily, but quickly, pulling away to grin up at him.]

That's because he will.

[glorious]

[laughs]

Then we're decided.

For my life, we offer them their own.

[deathandtaxes]

Agreed.

[glorious]

[goes to make the offer]

[glorious]

[After that, picking up the knife and vial and looking them both over.]

...They were kind enough to give us weapons before placing us in this cell.

[deathandtaxes]

Probably to use on ourselves if we wanted.

[glorious]

[...chuckles darkly]

[sets the knife and vial back down]

The knife isn't much, but we could try to coat it with poison. If nothing else, we may be able to cause them some damage.

Though that assumes they'd be willing to fight us directly. There's a chance they'll simply close the walls in on us for refusing to play by their rules.

[deathandtaxes]

If they do, then that's how it'll be. If they don't, well... I can't say I know much about knives, but I'll give it my all.

[glorious]

Of course.

...We should also be aware of the possibility that they may choose not to accept our offer and find another way to force us to kill one another. We should be emotionally prepared for that outcome as well.

[deathandtaxes]

That won't happen.

[glorious]

[ . . . ]

Very well. It won't.

[deathandtaxes]

...Thanks for humoring me.

[glorious]

You're welcome. We'll find a way to make it work.