#the progress report

(Previous) Mike wasn’t very far from the laundry room; he was right in the Glornch library, studying alone. [text] Damn. Unfortunately, despite my efforts to stall, the ritual is pretty much ready to go. [text] But in better news, I’ve moved on from researching the Peace Scepter to actually planning the heist. I’m feeling pretty confident about it already.

[text] Shit.

[text] Bishop Percival made it clear that he’ll kill me if I kill any more time.

[text] How much progress have you made?

(prev) [text] Mike, don’t you remember what I did to the Blade of Dragon’s Breath? Who said I won’t? [text] I’ll send you my findings later Bert. [text] Hide the metal from me lol [text] How has your research gone?

[Bert] Ah… I haven’t found much that would be useful to us yet.

[Bert] A lot of it is just… Failed experiments.

[Bert] I wish I could say I’ve done more to help our cause, but… I’ve been quite busy. And reading through this isn’t the most fun.

[Mike] I can help read through some stuff.

@albertbutyoucancallmebert

(Previous) [Mike] …Oh. He could? Are you sure? [Bert] Frowns. I am literally in this group chat. What is that supposed to mean. [Mike] Where would you put it? [Bert] A secret storage space in my lab. Not even my assistant knows about it. [Mike] You won’t mess with it? [Bert] What in the world would I mess with it for. [Mike] You seem to like messing with things. [Bert] That is true. But I will not for this. [Mike] …Alright. [Bert] Okay.

[text] Mike, don’t you remember what I did to the Blade of Dragon's Breath? Who said I won’t?

[text] I’ll send you my findings later Bert.

[text] Hide the metal from me lol

(prev) [text] Thank you. [text] It’ll be easier to return it afterwards too. Then Teddy switched back to the group chat. [text] I could. But Bert could do a better job.

[Mike] …Oh. He could? Are you sure?

[Bert] Frowns. I am literally in this group chat. What is that supposed to mean.

[Mike] Where would you put it?

[Bert] A secret storage space in my lab. Not even my assistant knows about it. 

[Mike] You won’t mess with it?

[Bert] What in the world would I mess with it for.

[Mike] You seem to like messing with things. 

[Bert] That is true. But I will not for this. 

[Mike] …Alright.

(Previous) Bert read through the messages and cringed. Ugh… Truth be told he did not want to do this. What if storing this stupid scepter attracted unwanted Mike attention? He was about to text back a refusal, but… He thought about how, if this thing really did work and was able to take away Percy’s magic, then it was worth doing whatever to make sure it didn’t get stolen or otherwise lost. [text] Fine. If it being with me is the safest option, then okay.

[text] Thank you.

[text] It’ll be easier to return it afterwards too.

Then Teddy switched back to the group chat.

[text] I could. But Bert could do a better job.

(prev) Well… Teddy had never actually said he’d do it. Just floated the idea while seeing if Bert would volunteer. (Or did he? If he did it was before Bert joined.) He gave it a few hours before deciding to explicitly ask Bert. In a separate chat. Where a refusal wouldn’t start a fight. [text] Would you be willing to store the scepter? [text] I have a few spots in mind but they wouldn’t be as secure.

Bert read through the messages and cringed. Ugh… Truth be told he did not want to do this. What if storing this stupid scepter attracted unwanted Mike attention? He was about to text back a refusal, but… He thought about how, if this thing really did work and was able to take away Percy’s magic, then it was worth doing whatever to make sure it didn’t get stolen or otherwise lost. 

(Previous) [text] In a couple weeks from now, I’ll be taking off to Aviar and staying there for two weeks. The best part is I’m able to frame this as any other Glornist service mission so it’s not suspicious to Bishop Percival. [text] You’ll still be able to safely store the scepter for me, right? It’s about 6 feet tall.

Well... Teddy had never actually said he’d do it. Just floated the idea while seeing if Bert would volunteer. (Or did he? If he did it was before Bert joined.)

He gave it a few hours before deciding to explicitly ask Bert. In a separate chat. Where a refusal wouldn’t start a fight.

[text] Would you be willing to store the scepter?

[text] I have a few spots in mind but they wouldn’t be as secure.