You feel a pang of regret over sharing your TCPs' types so freely but you push it aside again. Maybe you'll be more careful next time but for now, what's done is done. What worries you most right now is what Limestone is implying... will you really have to fight?

 

talking to: LIMESTONE Wrote:

SOMBROUS: The idea of making our cats fight is horrifying to us, we'd really like to avoid a violent game as much as possible. Are violent games very common?

LIMESTONE: It kind of depends on who you're playing with but generally it only takes one player to turn a game violent versus the five whole players cooperating that you need to get a fully peaceful one. Not to say they don't happen but the odds are kind of against it.
LIMESTONE: Also... they don't have to be trying to kill your cats to be hostile. One of the worst games I've lost, not a single cat on my team died. And it wasn't my fault either!

It shudders.

You don't know how to respond to this. Are-are they joking? They're joking, right? But it sounds serious...

talking to: LIMESTONE Wrote:SOMBROUS: I’m… not sure how we’re supposed to “not fuck it up” if I barely know what I’m doing in the first place. I don’t really like the idea of giving our TCPs weapons or combat training or whatever. I’m worried that they’ll have trouble with it. It’s a lot to take in and I’m not sure we’re strong enough to support them through this.

talking to: LIMESTONE Wrote:SOMBROUS: Like, this whole game, it’s kind of similar to being a mayor or a leader. You can’t protect your TCPs from everything. You can only really prepare them. I just… I don’t know what to do.

Limestone seems a bit uncomfortable. You don’t think it was expecting this outburst of emotion.

talking to: LIMESTONE Wrote:LIMESTONE: ...Yeah. Sorry, this whole thing kind of sucks-

You cut them off without meaning too, words and feelings still spilling from your mouth.

talking to: LIMESTONE Wrote:SOMBROUS: If the likelihood is that we’ll have a violent session we have to start preparing now, right? You’re going to have to tell me what to avoid and so on. I think I can try to follow your and Moll’s lead, but I don’t just want to be a liability.

LIMESTONE: I-Okay, yeah, I can work with that. You have to promise though- if I tell you to take your TCPs and hide, you’ll listen. Got it?

SOMBROUS: Got it.

LIMESTOME: So what are you thinking of for your set-up so far?

SOMBROUS: We’re hoping for a passive run but I think we should um, still prepare for the worst anyway. Maybe only use force if necessary or plan big defenses and pacifying methods?

Limestone nods.

talking to: LIMESTONE Wrote:LIMESTONE: Sounds good to me. Obviously you don’t want to go too big since then you’ll look like a threat but you don’t want to look helpless either. A healthy balance is best.
LIMESTONE: Do you have any other questions? I should probably go soon, can't sit around chatting all day, you know.

You think for a moment about what questions you might still have but only come up with one thing that feels like it can't wait.


 

talking to: LIMESTONE Wrote:

SOMBROUS: What types of TCPs do you have so far, Limestone? We already told you ours, so it's only fair if we learn about yours too.

LIMESTONE: Fuck, I forgot to tell you that, huh? I swear I was gonna but... Well, you know.

 

talking to: LIMESTONE Wrote:

LIMESTONE: Okay so for my first type you've gotta promise not to freak out cause it isn't what it sounds like. So, there's this planet called Earth where the majority of my collective consciousness is from and they also have the concept of "angels" but they're made up, debatably, and also not anything like Morbitian angels so, yes I did spawn an angel type but don't think of it as an angel it's-

 

talking to: LIMESTONE Wrote:

SOMBROUS: I- Limestone, I know what angels are.

LIMESTONE: Huh?

SOMBROUS: I'm from Earth too. Why are people on Morbit afraid of angels?

LIMESTONE: They're fucked up here.

SOMBROUS: Huh?

LIMESTONE: They're just- They're just real fucked up.

SOMBROUS: O-Okay.

LIMESTONE: Anyway, my other TCP is a sunflower type.

SOMBROUS: Cool!

LIMESTONE: Aaaand, I gotta go. Seeya later.

SOMBROUS: Well... bye!

LIMESTONE: Bye!

Limestone has left the call. Now what?

You decide to check in on the kitties to see what they've been up to while you were talking with Limestone.



You tell Alto and Tenor you're off call with Limestone now. They are curious, asking about Limestone was like. You think for moment, then say something along the lines of "a bit strange, but well-intentioned." The two are satisfied with that brief explanation, as it seems they have a proposal for you.



The twosome enthusiastically explain that Gumby has been telling them about adventures; journeying away from the base and into the unknown. This sounds like the coolest idea ever to them, and they'd really like to go with. They'll even be careful, Alto promises. So please, can they?