huge chuuni loser

Pern type dragon just completed for a customer. Yes another comissoned piece. Still going to use the design to make more of these in different colors.

[TO: BruvBot9000]: I guess so

It would make him lose at being a fort, though, for him to die in such a preventable way. He wasn't a fort anymore, obviously, so it didn't matter if he didn't protect him! Right? It still felt like it did, somewhere deep down that ate away at him, nagging.

[TO: BruvBot9000]: I'm almost at the ogre's layr (Arthur's shite house)

[TO: BruvBot9000]: (okay it's not shite its actually a lovely home but BOOOO! it's not a micronation so who cares right? lol)

[TO: BruvBot9000]: But we're pulling onto the street so I might be off while I say hi and bring my bags and all that. Give me time! I'll text when I can

And with that, he's gone. He's until only two minutes remain on the time limit, and regardless of what Vik does or doesn't say, all he gets is one word:

As one might imagine given his own closest relation, Viktor is no stranger to heaping on an excess of words, much more than his fair share, to fill in the silence left by a taciturn conversationalist. Though this brevity on Peter's part does seem a little out of character. Vik isn't sure what he'd expected, but maybe, at least something to the general effect of 'okay, so get this...'

[TO: Sreiosu++]: i am referring to a cliffhanger. in a(n unnecessarily) lexically decorative way which is intended to demonstrate through tone that i am operating at normal capacity and that nothing is out of the ordinary at this moment.

[TO: Sreiosu++]: unless your message's brevity as well as its arrival a down-to-the-wire two minutes before the expiration of my ultimatum is evidence that it was automated in advance, in which case, well done! i was momentarily deceived. but i have seen through the illusion.

[TO: BruvBot9000]: though I do VERY much like to imagine that before I met you, an d before the internet got better, u had to make dial-up noises evry time u teleported. loud screechy modems like trumpets herelding ur arrival

It takes a few times reading the message before he can fully parse out the meaning, as is often the case with Viktor's particular manner of speaking, but after a moment, he replies.

[TO: BruvBot9000]: I'm alright!

It is partially out of pride. If Viktor's intuition is incorrect, it would be hard to recover face if he were to insist and end up wrong.

It is partially because he's doing, like, three other things simultaneously.

(For those curious, what he's doing is: playing a strategy game [turn-based], getting some drawing in those fifteen-second lulls while the game processes his enemies' turns, and listening to a video essay, all at the same time, while also puzzling out what's up with his adopted brother and the source entity he's gone to visit.)

[TO: Sreiosu++]: if he fell down a sewer grate and broke his neck there is nothing to be worked out is there? You would triumph by default

And much to your behest, you haven't found much, other than overpriced snacks and tourist traps. Very dull, boo boo tomato, etc. Simply not fitting for a young Lad!

Then the crucial moment comes. Here you have stumbled across TWO (2) constructions (technically, konst-ructions if you're Swedish-ish, or kunst-ructions if you're Österreichisch-ish)—whichever way we're pronouncing it, they're both alike in (art) diggity. Anyway, the lighthearted music playing around you that was set the tone of shenanigans and tomfoolery has immediately changed to something... only slightly more perilous, honestly.

Max's shocked-Alice-in-Wonderland expression begins to turn Chesire-Cat-pleased. It’s the kind of face you make at your friend from across the classroom after the teacher has unsuspectedly said an inside joke that the both of you share, and the two of you are fighting to keep it together.

"Viktooor…"

He begins to smear the oodles of red paint into his hair, as though he’s deep-shampooing it. Then he solemnly streaks one finger across his cheek.

"A challenge to my concept of self, before my very eyes!"

"Here, allow me to present you with several prompts..."

His voice is raw, with a sore-throat rasp. Which means he is, in fact, actually physically here.

"I made it." "How have been the renovations?" "This is a lovely shade of blood orange!" "We are all very excited for you and relieved to hear more of the recent uptick in activity and interest in you, and the existential security it implies."

"Each is a viable route, each reasonable and relatively grounded, and therefore I expect you to pursue none of them. Instead, I am certain you are about to surprise me with some unknown aspect of my self, by means of your impersonation. Though, in that certainty, the greatest surprise may come if you do not surprise me. Do you intend to walk like me until I must instead walk like you?"

[TO: BruvBot9000]: As for me I hate to brake it to u but having a phisical form means i cannot shapeshift. I'm rather stuck like like this, actually. would like to be a pigeon tho. love birds. pretty sure the material one is the one thatd let me fly and tbh that's the only reason I want to be one

[TO: Sreiosu++]: Behold!

[TO: Sreiosu++]: [link]

[TO: Sreiosu++]: and again: perhaps not on the material plane, but in every other way that matters.

There’s a long period of silence, a sore wince, like pressing against a bruise.

[TO: Sreiosu++]: it's you.

[TO: Sreiosu++]: furthermore on the topic of teleportation: git gud + skill issue + did not factor in proc probability for blood vessel dmg + should have just dispelled the migraine

[TO: Sreiosu++]: pigeons are hard workers and have never wronged any person.

[TO: Sreiosu++]: if i have the ability to transform into a string instrument (i can do this easily) then i am sure you could become a pigeon or other bird, perhaps not on the material plane but in every other way that matters i think you could achieve this.

[TO: Sreiosu++] You have already told me your charges, a contrived ploy though they may be, include: still having weapons

[TO: BruvBot9000]: Mate the toll road is payed almost entirely by the shite Arthur's put me through lmao I can handle anything [TO: BruvBot9000]: [PIC OF A LICENSE PLATE] got an uber I'll keep texting you on the drive over

[TO: Sreiosu++]: it's you.

[TO: Sreiosu++]: furthermore on the topic of teleportation: git gud + skill issue + did not factor in proc probability for blood vessel dmg + should have just dispelled the migraine

[TO: Sreiosu++] if(num≤10)

[TO: Sreiosu++] {printf("Sea is doing fine");}

[TO: Sreiosu++] else

[TO: Sreiosu++] {printf("Sea is unable or unwilling to respond and his location is unknown which may warrant concern.");}

[TO: Sreiosu++] end

[TO: BruvBot9000]: I could probably go full Terminator on someone if I so wanted. yank their heads off their necks.

[TO: BruvBot9000]: i wont stop responding to you but please at least give me 15 minutes instead of 10. Can we bargain on thhat?

[TO: BruvBot9000]: the most danger i'm in right now is dying of boredome. There must not be many flights becase the airport is weirdl empty

[TO: Sreiosu++] You have already told me your charges, a contrived ploy though they may be, include: still having weapons

"P... Paint. Paint, paint. ... Pain... t. Pain. T. Pain. Paint! PainT! PAINT!"

[ ITS FINE ITS NOT REAL AND EVEN IF IT IS. I AM AWARE PEOPLE HAVE BLOOD IN THEM. I KNOW A LOT ABOUT BLOOD AND I CAN EVEN LOOK DIRECTLY AT BLOOD WHILE RETAINING MY FACULTIES. IM SO GOOD AT THIS. ]

[TO: BruvBot9000]: I AM SREIOSU!

[TO: BruvBot9000]: *SERIOUS

[TO: BruvBot9000]: I can handle myself like I always have. Making Sve worry for no good reason is just plain cruel. If Arthur doesn't come, I'll get a ride over in a non-hitchiking way. Promise I'll be safe. u cannot worry pappa. he'll be so mad.

[TO: Sreiosu++] if(num≤10)

[TO: Sreiosu++] {printf("Sea is doing fine");}

[TO: Sreiosu++] else

[TO: Sreiosu++] {printf("Sea is unable or unwilling to respond and his location is unknown which may warrant concern.");}

[TO: Sreiosu++] end

[TO: BruvBot9000]: physical condition is fine. We've officially hit te 3 hour mark. u think that's long enough to shame him online or no? [TO: BruvBot9000]: he probably forgot i exist again lol

Wait, that's too much. Reel it back in. [TO: BruvBot9000]: Remember when our League of MMicronations meeting ended and he froze when i walked out and looked like he saw a ghost?? i thought that HE thought i got invited to the actual world conference and was scared but tbh he probably was reminded i exist. [TO: BruvBot9000]: I think every time he has to see me it takes a decade off his life. like a vampire but without te gross blood stff.

[TO: Sea++] but i will respect your wish to conduct this battle on your own terms.

[TO: Sea++] i feel obligated to point out that spending too much of his money could likewise unhigh your horse. but i would enjoy the magnet.

[TO: Sea++] every time you finally notice it had been stuck to your back for hours like an even stupider than average kick me sign, you will recall this moment, and forever associate this minor recurring prank with the triumph i believe you will experience today

Ugh, he is not tearing up. He likes being in England just fine, thank you very much! And knowing that after this, he'll have to spend the next few months on Sealand. . . Well, he can't deny he's excited to be with his human family and take stock of which repairs are needed, but the hard part about being part of Berwald's family now is that it hurts to be away. He agreed long ago to split his time between both homes equally, but even if he knew it couldn't happen, he wished above all else that his father and brother could come live on Sealand with him. [TO: BruvBot9000]: it's nbd. it's probably nothing. he's probably not even actually mad about anythign and is jsut trying to mess with my head. I provoked them by -being happy with your family, probably. He doesn't type that. Ew. Like he can admit that without Vik tearing him to pieces or looking like a crybaby.

[TO: BruvBot9000]: by messing with his chair in the meeting hall. can't figure out how to prank me back, so the coward has to remind me how high adn mighty he is.

[TO: BruvBot9000]: there's nothing worth telling about realy. i'm whinging for whinging's sake and you've been chosen as the lucky Complaint Recepticle. congrats. i'll make you a trophy later.

This is... honestly the best he can do right now. The whole "worthy opponent" shtick. Now all Vik has to do is actually sound sincere for once.

[TO: Sea++] let me guess: instead of reminding him to come and retrieve you, you have not said a word, in the knowledge that every hour of tardiness on his part is another, deeper fissure in the foundation of his gentleman-and-good-host-sona.

[TO: Sea++] that's smart. choosing not to interrupt your enemy while he is making a mistake. Hit him in the pride and the outwardly projected self-image

This feels... off. This feels weird. How much does Sve know about this? Had Vik been kept out of the loop on purpose?

[TO: Sea++] do you want me to retrieve his passwords for you as ransom? this is the closest i can offer to the classic "do you want me to beat him up for you", though my methods are more effective