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[downdraft]

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[downdraft]

[what asshole NPC gave my number out]

That's MR. Lyle to you, asshole.

[skypiercing]

[Owch.

Deserved, though.]

Mr. Lyle.

I would like to speak to you, if you are willing to hear me out.

[downdraft]

I can meet you at the café.
Bring my hair.
You have one chance not to fuck this up. If you eat a candy, I'm leaving.

[skypiercing]

Deal.

[Quietly mourning the loss of that particular sample but like, again: deserved.

Him and his big mouth.

He'll be at the cafe relatively quickly though, a small bag in hand.]

[downdraft]

[Lyle shows up late. he'll have to wait while Lyle changes his clothes because dressing up in a menacingly sharp all-black suit makes him feel better. and because he has to send a text.

and because fuck you. stew for an extra fifteen minutes.

but he will show up, Dressed to Kill, curved ram horns out, and armed with a carved wooden staff.]

I want a macchiato.

[skypiercing]

[Lyle??? What the hell??? Who comes to a cafe armed?

He doesn't mind waiting, but the current appearance makes quite the statement. Dan Heng shoves down the urge to cringe, but only just.]

...I'll buy.

[He'll raise a hand to get the server to come over so they can take their orders. Dan Heng's choice is just some iced tea.]

[downdraft]

[maybe it's a walking stick! maybe he needs it!! maybe he doesn't also have like four knives hidden on his person at all times.

he sits down opposite from Dan Heng]

Thank you.

[skypiercing]

[Well some people can't just summon their weapons like Dan Heng does, he's pretty much always armed.

But still. Openly carrying here is a pretty big statement. He sets the little paper bag with the jar of Hair/Water on the table.]

I know I do not have a right to ask, but I must know... are you in any pain? Is your arm functional?

[downdraft]

[he glances at the bag... reaches over to take the jar out and open it, letting the cloud out to evaporate into nothing]

I'm fine. I had Dan Feng look at it.

[skypiercing]

[torn between mourning the loss of his sample and relief that Dan Feng took care of Lyle.]

...That's good. There were no side effects to the healing? His powers can cause some issues after, some severe.

[downdraft]

He was a younger version or something, he wasn't poisonous. And I got my own healing too.

[skypiercing]

[....Oh.]

...The version more akin to who he was in my reality, then. I met him.

[Still not sure how to feel about that!!! He's glad he's in his human shape because his tail would be doing things right now if he wasn't.]

...I am sure you already know why I am here, but I wanted to offer you my apologies for what I put you through. Candy or not, I caused you great suffering. I wanted to make sure you didn't need further healing first and foremost, though.

[downdraft]

The one in the gazebo, yeah.

My arm is fine. My soul is goddamn fucking fine. And my husband is fine too, in case you were wondering that too.

[skypiercing]

[He freezes. Soul? Husband?]

...Did something happen to him?

[Oh that's.

Not good.]

[downdraft]

You mean besides setting himself on fire? Or witnessing his spouse bleeding from the eyes? No, just that.

[skypiercing]

So those flames... he was hurting himself?

[Well shit.

Dan Heng has more people to apologize to, clearly.]

[downdraft]

Maybe I should demand compensation on his behalf too. Actually. Double emotional damages.

[skypiercing]

Is that what you want? compensation? I will give you what you ask, but I will not apologize to you for the both of you. I will have to speak to him myself. You both deserve apologies directly, if he's willing to meet with me.

[He's got Manners.]

[downdraft]

You read the sign. "You and/or your Master will be held accountable for damages." I have to fix the chunk you took out of my tattoo, at least.

[he takes a sip of his coffee and sets it down with a sharp clink. YEAH he wants that compensation.]

But you should talk to Brant. He'll appreciate knowing you're not some fucking psychopath.

[skypiercing]

....At the time, the sign didn't particularly mean much to me after eating so much candy. But I want to make this right however I can. Is it silver you want?

[Honestly? He deserves that anger. He still winces slightly at the sharp sound however.]

I will speak to him. I would not feel right if I did not apologize to all I caused harm to.

[downdraft]

Silver doesn't fix trauma, but it helps. I'll take a promise you won't do it again too, but that's worth as much as tissue paper if you get drugged again.

[skypiercing]

I intend to be more careful about what I imbibe in in the future, but you're right. There may be times I do not get a choice. in which case...

[He stares into his cup of iced tea, reaching into his pocket for his silver pouch.]

...In the event I ever try to harm you again, you should call Dan Feng. He is stronger than I and my 'Master': His words will stop me in my tracks, as much as I hate it. [He Hates This a lot actually, but it's only fair to Lyle to give him contingencies for his sense of safety.] That or if my tail is out, you should attack that. I'll likely stop doing anything else to protect it.

[downdraft]

Thank you. ...Genuinely.

[It could be called fair that he knows Dan Heng's weak spot now, but that's still a significant offering. He can see that even if he's angry.]

[skypiercing]

[That thanks feels... wrong. Ill-fitting. He's not deserving of it at all.]

Don't thank me. This is only me trying to do what little I can to give you some peace of mind. I do not wish to cause others harm, and it's now quite clear my curiosity is a danger if I have no limits on it.

[He opens his silver pouch, sending Lyle a questioning look. How much does he want?]

[downdraft]

[looks at the pouch, looks back to him. how much does HE think what he did is worth? what's the cost of almost killing lyle above to you, sir?]

Mm. And so ya know, any questions you got from that? They're never being answered.