rho psl

[neonleon]

[The changing of the Golden Guard happened every few years or so. One would be doing fine, then gradually disappear and fade only for a new Golden Guard to be sworn in. Leo had seen it happen a few times as castle staff and security, working on becoming part of the guard team himself under the emperor's coven. It was slow going though, something about him "not being ready" despite having been ready for four years now.

But the newest Golden Guard being sworn in is the youngest yet. Not that Leo can tell behind that mask, but he was shorter, lankier. His voice sounded a lot younger than the previous Golden Guards.

So maybe he'd do some snooping. If he found out a kid younger than him became a Golden Guard, he'll start fighting his superiors. Leo makes his way through the castle like he's on a mission, carrying a box of food to where he knows the previous Golden Guards always ate. He knocks on the door once.]

Delivery.

Comments

[pyrighteous]

...

What kind of door?

[neonleon]

Just - A door. Sounded like a normal door when she described it.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter hesitates. He knows something that he shouldn't. ]

There's ... something like that in Belos's laboratory. The one at the Head.

[neonleon]

...Really?

[Wait so what does that mean? He'll file it away to think about later.]

I'll ask her if she remembers any details about it.

[pyrighteous]

I-I don't know if it's the same one. Or if he has a copy.

He - does sometimes talk about visiting the Human Realm. I guess he went a long time ago.

[neonleon]

Who knows, but I'll ask her about it sometime. See if some dots can be connected.

[pyrighteous]

... Yeah. And - maybe the Emperor can help her.

[neonleon]

Maybe... We'll see.

[But he's not holding out for that option.]

[pyrighteous]

I mean, if anyone can, it'd be him! He's incredibly brilliant. That's probably why we're supposed to turn in humans if we see them - so he can help them!

[neonleon]

..Help them get back?

[He doesn't sound super hopeful about that.]

[pyrighteous]

To the human realm! Exactly.

[neonleon]

Uh...huh....

Let's put a pin in that and come back to it once we know for sure everything else. And keep all of this to ourselves for now, all right?

[pyrighteous]

-- Right! The emperor will be much more impressed if we do everything ahead of time instead of giving him partial results.

[neonleon]

Exactly, you get it.

We'll do as much as we can on our own and present everything aaaaafter that.

[If at all. Leo doesn't have the strongest feelings about it.]

[pyrighteous]

[ Oh yeah. Hunter will also change his tune later ... but for now he beams. ]

So what do we do next?

[neonleon]

Go back and have a snack?

[That's normal, right? Totally fine.]

[pyrighteous]

I -

[ THAT’S WEIRD, he would say, except. ]

I am kind of hungry.

[neonleon]

Then snack it is, lesgo.

[Absolutely NO hesitation walking them back.]

[pyrighteous]

[ He trots after, still a bit lost but … ]

Have you done this kind of thing before? You’re so relaxed.

[neonleon]

[He leads Hunter along, keeping track of where they're coming from.]

Oh yeah, lots of times. I've got a whole system mapped out.