Lost Carnival IC contact

[stompadour]

✆CHANNEL FREQUENCY: 144.98750
DESCRIPTION: will probably answer Immediately

✉MAIL BOX LOCATION: ??
DESCRIPTION: JASPER DEFINITELY DOESN'T CHECK HER MAIL THOUGH

Comments

[chronosynthesis]

Do you recall what Ignatius said about looking for Lapis?

[stompadour]

... Huh. In the library? Yeah, he said he was looking to recruit her. What about it?

[chronosynthesis]

Do you know why he was looking for her specifically? We want to know what exactly drew him out.

[stompadour]

Hmmh... well, she is very powerful and strong-willed. But they're all much more powerful than any gem, so I don't know what they'd want her for besides jewellery. [She sounds PRETTY disgusted by that.]

[chronosynthesis]

But he didn't say. [They could guess a thousand times, but without proof that's all it is.

Unfortunate.] Thank you, that was all I was curious about.

[stompadour]

[She pauses, thinking.] ... He did say he knew she was a traitor. Maybe he knew about her history.

[chronosynthesis]

Her history? [Traitor and history are like, the worst words to hear together right now.] Has she attempted something against the carnival before?

[stompadour]

Not that I know about, but she betrayed her Homeworld before she came here. She's not trustworthy. If he knew about that he might have thought he could get her to betray the Carnival, too.

[chronosynthesis]

I see. [A brief pause.] Are you from her homeworld?

[stompadour]

[Well, technically no, but...] We're both gems.

[chronosynthesis]

[... Close enough?? He doesn't actually know.]

Well, I will keep that in mind. [And probably tell Lambert.] Do you know why she defected from her homeworld?

[stompadour]

It's complicated.

... But I don't think she'd do it again here as long as Steven is still with the Carnival. [She sounds Kinda Bitter.]

[chronosynthesis]

All right. [So she probably isn't actively against the carnival, but those books might have spilled what the Summer Court thought was an edge. It's an explanation.]

Thank you, Jasper. You've been very helpful.

[stompadour]

[She grunts in acknowledgement.]

... Wait. I need to talk to you about something else. Do you need to report back straight away?

[chronosynthesis]

[Just as he's about to disconnect:] Hm? Oh, no. It can wait a moment--what is it you need?

[stompadour]

I want to join the nightrunners. Lambert wants me to persuade the rest of you as well as him before he decides.

[chronosynthesis]

He mentioned that. Why is it you wish to join the nightrunners?

[stompadour]

I want to fight, and I want to be taking my orders from someone who knows what they're doing. It seems to me like Lambert knows what he's doing.

[chronosynthesis]

[That's a little funny to hear, since after what they did to Ignatius he feels like a large part of the carnival probably feels the opposite.]

All right, now why do want to fight?

[stompadour]

...It's what I'm good at. It'd be a waste for me not to do it.

[chronosynthesis]

Truthfully, there is little structure that can stop you from fighting even if you are not a nightrunner. [The carnival is seriously lacking for internal organization.

He pauses, considering those words. He said his stance to Rita not long ago, so he already has an opinion on that.] We may be the offensive role, but as a nightrunner your duty is ultimately protection and safety of the carnival and everyone in it. It is not simply fighting--sometimes, it will be the better choice not to fight in order to preserve the lives of those who are relying on you.

Our numbers are small, and Lambert will not always be present to make the call for you. [Sometimes, that might be a good thing.] You must have the judgement to put everyone else before yourself, and be able to smartly protect as many as you can.

[A pause.] Which means without simply throwing your life away before assuring the safety of everyone else. Can you do that?

[stompadour]

[Mm. That sure takes her back to Wismuth.] Yeah. I can.

Look, I know I can fight anyway. But you know how that went this time, right? I attacked a fae and got taken captive, because I didn't get briefed on the situation first and I didn't know how I was supposed to be handling it. I'm going to fight no matter what, but I want to know what I'm doing.

[chronosynthesis]

I see. Well, if you are dedicated and you have learned, I see no reason to refuse you a place amongv the nightrunners.

[Not that Syrlya has particularly high standards.]

[stompadour]

Good.

[... pause.]

... Thank you.