Thinking about swapped beasts -- a lone vex Grian who isn't powerful. (or isn't powerful enough.) who is just -- supremely clever and tricky and has fail-safes and implanted self-given commands and everything he can give himself to kill anyone who summons him. who subtly siphons off power from people, and keeps an eye out for potential summoners he can dispose of when that's not enough.
(he's used to outplaying people who are powerful. he's used to people who underestimate him, people who let their power make them feel assured in their victory. he might not ever be the strongest guy in the room -- but he's always the cleverest. he comes out on top. he has to.)
and convex watcher, Cub-and-Scar, take notice of his magic-"borrowing", and are like, "well ur welcome to as much of our magic as you like, but we feel like we should be getting something out of this deal too, don't u think?" so they start this elaborate dance of deals, of give and take, this supremely complex psychological warfare. (it's a losing game, for Grian. his goal is indefinite survival. their goal is him. he only has to slip up once. (it's a game Grian has been playing every day of his life.))
picturing a moment where Grian is all cocky self-assurance, flirting with danger, "I'd let you summon me, fella, but it'd be such a shame to have to kill you afterwards." and then Cub-and-Scar give him a glimpse of the sheer depths of their power, like, "You think you could? Cute" and to Grian, that is. that's. he is so fucking turned on by the idea that they could keep him. and the power is so enticing -- he genuinely considers giving in right then and there. (he doesn't, ofc, mans is stubborn as hell and going to prolong the chase until he literally can't)
(he's also terrified. he's spent so long -- done so much to keep himself free. do you think he tries to run? pokes at the border between worlds, just to prove to himself he can. feels -- a tether. a whisper of "trying to leave? in the middle of a deal? while you still owe us?" Grian -- freezes, shivers, turns away. none of them acknowledge it, the next time they see each other.)
yeah! yeah!! this is the exact nebulous vibe i had in my head when thinking about how it would go with a low power grian, u put it into such tasty words, thank u for sharing!! you have put many tastygood words to it.
a grian who desperately wants a freedom he cannot have, and makes it happen anyway. a grian who longs to be pinned down and taken but only exactly on his own terms. by his own rules. that single mistake is a vital linchpin, they have to win to claim their prize.
grian in 3rd life looking scar in the eyes and loudly Not Saying 'this is what you could have, if you were clever enough to claim me'. a taunt. a motivation. a game scar loses by only the thinnest of margins, far better than grian expected an overpowered watcher to do in a world that denied him his endless depth of power to fall back on, his partner to fall back on, and left him only his wits, his charm, his own self.
the circling. the feints. the patience. that's the dead giveaway that cub is involved, too, interested as well even when he's quiet about it. the patience scar only shows with a tempering hand on his shoulder, at his back. the desire to do a thing right, down to every last exacting detail.
