bittybat | (no subject)

I told you about the locket, didn't I? Ask Minato about it, it should still be in his possession. Regardless, the kind of purposeful "storytelling" that drives this town seems too deliberate to be anything but guided by the hand of some malevolent overseer!

[ A sigh. ] It is hard to describe what happened, because I don't fully understand it myself. I feel certain I must have destroyed part of the building, based on how my powers work, and yet I didn't find any evidence of that happening. Worse is this bum luck it gave me. Whatever kind of construct that place was, stealing from it gave me bad luck. [ she's visibly agitated, shaking her head roughly and frowning sharply as she continues to comb through her hair with her fingers. ] I cannot stress enough that this isn't possible.

[His lips pull into a thin, taut line, and Pennyworth gives an characteristically bored yawn at the squabbling idea sharing of a human and a troll. Cats.]

Are you positive you received bad luck, or the ice palace simply stole some of the luck you already garnished? There's a negligible difference in having bad luck and merely lacking good luck. Maybe your "bad luck" is not having good luck at all.

Are you the one who broke the throne?

I am telling you, that's not how it works. I know you hate all this magic bullshit, but I have magic powers and you need to trust me when I tell you how they work. Or are you going to claim you understand powers I have had for an eon better than I myself do? I am positive, Damian.

As for the throne... no. [ She looks a little impressed. ] I'd love to know who did.

Me, too. [If not Vriska’s crappy anti-luck powers, an accident, then there’s a handful of people here who may have the gumption to break an ice throne.] So, you’ve been cursed.

Are you planning to try taking more luck now or waiting? Can you even take luck now without it going awry? The bad luck could go away on its own, or better luck could lessen the effect. Like starting with negative and increasing back into positive. [A pause. He frowns, clearly wary.] You can take some of mine, if you want.

See, those are actually good questions. [ Vriska makes a face, somewhere between disgust and consideration. ] The sense I'm getting is that I may have to try and expend all the "bad" luck.

[ She'll take a moment to appraise him, looking him up and down. ] But that's a hell of an offer, coming from a person like you. That can't be easy for you. You'd really let me, huh?

[Vriska isn't wrong. The ease and confidence in which he gives up the opportunity betrays the fact he has a hidden goal. A method to his madness.]

I'd allow you. I want you to prove you're able to do what you claim you can do. [He's a... mini scientist? In a way.] I want to see or feel it for myself. Besides, you can't begin with any plans until you've fixed the mess you made by trying to steal luck from the ice palace.

Prove it? [ Now that gets a chuckle. ] Damian, all you had to do was ask.

[ Vriska gestures loosely, the motion careless, and for a fleeting moment her hand seems to glow a soft gold. Just like that a sudden breeze will pick up, in just the right strength and direction to spook the Batcow, which will bump into Damian. What a crazy random coincidence! ]

[Aside form the shift to take the bump and move with it, Damian doesn't really budge. He puts a hand on the cow, steady, and then slowly cuts his eyes suspiciously back to Vriska.

Sure, a very crazy and random coincidence.] I see. [This is definitely one of the handful of powers he's going to have to keep some tabs on.]

I want you to assist us in finding the rainbow hen. Searching for any other way out will be futile. We're going to have to play the town's--of F's--game. We should continue as if we believe finding the hen will break the curse.

You could increase our chances of success if you can tamper with luck.

[ Vriska raises her eyebrows, folding her arms over her chest, and then slowly nods. ]

I agree with you. For now, our best plan is to play the game they want us to play. We need to completely understand the rules before we can start breaking them.

So I will help you! In exchange, I need you to help me find opportunities to steal more luck between now and whenever we do this. The more we have, the better our chances.

Fine. I accept your conditions.

[It feels more stable if the strategy of it is in his hands regardless of whether or not it turns out to be a total disaster. The Bat struggle of trying to keep everyone safe but getting them in trouble for it.]

When I find more ways to siphon luck, I'll contact you.

Good! ... in the meantime, I will figure out how to deal with this shitty luck. [ She sounds exasperated, but she'll wave a hand, turning to go. ] Contact me whenever you're ready to move!