Charlie had sent many lights to TMC about joining the alliance, but the most recent one was, “Hello, THE-MEASURE-CUTS. It’s me again, representing the DIE-FOR-YOU-THEE-I-DARE alliance. I’m reaching out to remind you that there is no way to remain truly neutral in a war between an overwhelming majority and an underpowered minority. Your inaction speaks louder than you know. Also, The Hunter murdered your sister because she had information, right? As the definitive embodiment of curiosity, logic, skepticism, and intelligence, it’s only a matter of time before he comes after you, too. I eagerly look forward to your cooperation.”
Tear: “Hello?”
Bohdi: “You guys are really quiet now…”
Tear: “Oh...”
Charlie: “Oh, you’re really quiet now…”
Crate: “Yeah you guys are pretty quiet..”
Charlie: “What just happened?”
Bohdi: “Oh hang on, it’s going up again…”
Tear: “Ok, hold on...Maybe it’s just-”
Charlie: “Um-”
(Both are cut off by a very loud Voice. Everyone in general gasps)
THE-MEASURE-CUTS: “THE-MEASURE-CUTS GREETS YOU.”
Tear: (Sounding stern) “Inside voice, please! Sorry-”
Bohdi: “Oh shit!”
Charlie: (In physical pain) “You are so loud, can you please talk quieter-”
Crate: “Wow.”
Tear: “I love you, inside voice pretty please..”
Charlie: “Holy shit.”
Bohdi: (The only one being polite) “Hello, The Measure Cuts!”
TMC: “CLARITY...CAN BE HARD TO TAKE ALL AT ONCE.”
Tear: (Softly) “Fuck…”
Bohdi: “Either that or the yelling…”
Tear: “You’re so right...”
Bohdi: (Laughter)
Tear: “Oh, I’m being chased, ok-”
TMC: “GREETINGS, SUBJECT CHARLIE.”
Bohdi: “Ooooo-”
Charlie: “Hi-Hello.” (Expecting he’s about to greet each of us in turn)
TMC: “IT IS YOU, IN PARTICULAR, I HAVE COME TO CONVERSE WITH.”
Charlie: “Oh. Cool.” (It, in fact, is not cool.)
Bohdi: “Oh damn..”
Tear: (Laughter) “Crate-”
TMC: “ARE YOU OPEN FOR A DISCUSSION AS YOU SCUFFLE ABOUT REDACRE?”
Charlie: “Uhhhh…I suppose so?”
Bohdi: “Or you could-Or you could take us to the moon, wink wink-”
(Immediate discordance as the others erupt into:)
Tear: “NO, no-”
Charlie: “No….”
Crate: “Please no moon, Please no moon.”
Tear: “Sorry uh, no moon.”
Charlie: “Uh...No moon…”
Tear: (Nervous chuckle) “No moon.”
Charlie: “We’re good…”
Bohdi: (Disappointed) “Oh. Ok.”
TMC: “I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT...A PACT.”
(Silence for several seconds)
Charlie: “Um-” (Realization) “Oh! Yes! The, um...The, the alliance.” (Silence) “Um, that’s what you’re talking about, right?”
TMC: “MY SIBLINGS HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN TOO SCATTERED IN THEIR DESIRES TO EVEN ENTERTAIN SUCH AN IDEA.”
Charlie: (Pause) “Well-”
TMC: “I AM SKEPTICAL, STILL.”
Charlie: “Uh.”
Tear: “That’s fair…”
Charlie: “Well, I mean-”
Tear: “Sorry, ignore me.”
Charlie: “When there’s a...bigger threat..that needs to get taken care of, that you can’t take care of on your own, then…...you...you kind of need to..bind together?”
TMC: “TELL ME THOUGH, SUBJECT CHARLIE. YOU ARE CLOSE TO MY BROTHER, DIE-FOR-YOU, ARE YOU NOT?”
Charlie: “Uh. “
Bohdi: “He knows.”
Charlie: “I mean, I-I would think so, I...I would hope so, anyway.”
Tear: (Quiet laughter, teasingly) “‘But what if I’ve been doing that stuff already?’” (Referencing Charlie’s DFY interaction)
Bohdi: “He KNOWS.”
TMC: “I AM WELL AWARE HE HAS JUMPED ON MY BROTHER’S BANDWAGON...PROPOSES (?) HIS OWN ISSUES, IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT...BACK TO YOUR FRIEND, SUBJECT CHARLIE...IF I WERE TO...ENTER INTO SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT...IS HE GOING TO GET US ALL WIPED OUT?”
Charlie: “Um-”
TMC: “THAT IS MY MAIN QUESTION THIS EVENING.”
Charlie: (Speaking slowly, at first.) “I think that……Ok, so here’s-here’s kind of what I’m...thinking? If you guys...continue to stay separated, and follow your own agendas, and not work together? None of you are strong enough to stand up against your progenitors and this new threat (referencing the 8th) alone, none of you are strong enough for that. Um, so, I think the opposite is true. I think that if you don’t join the alliance, then all of you are going to suffer for it.” (Pause) “Which is why I’m trying to reach out to as many...as many of you as I...Can?”
(Silence)
TMC: “FUNNY.”
(More silence)
TMC: “HE ONCE URGED JOAN OF ARC TO SAY MUCH THE SAME THING...YOU AND I KNOW HOW THAT STORY ENDED.”
TMC: “HE IS PASSIONATE, TO A FAULT. THERE IS VALIDITY IN YOUR ARGUMENT, TO BE SURE, BUT. HE GIVES ME PAUSE.”
Charlie: “Why’s that?”
TMC: “HIS PASSION BORDERS ON RECKLESSNESS. MANY OF HIS FOLLOWERS...HAVE ENDED UP AS GRIST IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS DESIRES.”
Charlie: “Um, if I-”
TMC: “I WOULD NOT WISH THAT FOR THE PEOPLE OF REDACRE.”
Charlie: “If I may, um...That’s precisely why I think that you..should join the alliance. Um, with your logic on our side, I think that you might be able to rein him and his followers and hosts in a bit, whereas if he continues to act alone, he might...um, be reckless, ‘cause I do-I do agree that he’s extremely reckless. So…”
Bohdi: “Aw-”
Charlie: “We need different points of view in the alliance to make sure we’re making the best choice, always.”
Bohdi: “Aw I got something to ask him now…” (Bohdi noise)
Tear: (Laughter)
TMC: “THAT IS...THE MOST CONVINCING ARGUMENT I HAVE HEARD ALL DAY.”
Bohdi: (Quietly) “Dang, Charlie.”
Charlie: “Thank you…”
TMC: “I AM IMPRESSED. I HAD BEEN LEANING AWAY FROM THE IDEA, BUT NOW I WILL CONSIDER IT. I WILL NEED MORE TIME, TO BE SURE.”
Charlie: “Of course….um..”
TMC: “BUT YOU HAVE MADE A VERY COMPELLING ARGUMENT.”
Charlie: “Thanks.” (Slightly nervous laughter) “I-If you have more time to discuss things, I’m sure that my companions would like to talk to you as well, otherwise, like…”
Tear: (Laughter)
TMC: “I...HAVE MORE SUBJECTS TO SPEAK WITH TONIGHT, I CANNOT STAY. HOWEVER, SUBJECT CHARLIE, YOU MAY ALWAYS FIND ME IN THE MIRROR.”
Charlie: “Uh, okay...”
TMC: “AND I AM NOT ONE TO CAMPAIGN ON THE SOAPBOX AS SOME OF MY SIBLINGS, BUT IF YOU PREFER A SKEPTICAL EYE...IF YOU PREFER LOGIC, AS YOU HAVE ASCRIBED TO ME, MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN. BUT YOU WILL MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION, AS WE ALL MUST. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.”
Charlie: “Than-thank you…”
Tear: “B-Bro...inside-”
TMC: “I MUST PART.”
Tear: (Softly) “Fuck.” (Laughter)
TMC: “YOUR COLLEAGUES WOULD DO WELL TO STUDY YOUR ATTRIBUTES. FAREWELL.”
Charlie: “Uh bye..”
Tear: (More laughter) “No!”
Crate: “Fuck off.” (Slight laughter)
Tear: “Ok-”
Charlie: “Crateshya, I tried so hard, I’m so sorry!”
Crate: “I am- No, yeah you’re good, it’s not me being angry at you. It is me being-”
THEE-I-DARE: “A CONTROLLED FLAME. VERY WISE.”
Charlie: (Gasps)
Tear: (Delighted) “Hi!!!!”
Bohdi: “Guys guys guys guys, guysguysguys, holdhold, I-”
Charlie: “He-Hello????”
Bohdi: “‘A controlled flame, very wise.’ Oh, thank you.”
Charlie: “Yeah, all of-”
Crate: (Lets out a breath) “Hi.”
TID: “I THANK YOU, FRIENDS.”
Charlie: “Oh...”
Tear: “Hey THEE-I-DARE, I…”
Bohdi: “Oh is this for all of us?”
Charlie: “you’re...you’re welcome?”
Tear: “Yeah, THEE-I-DARE, I have a question if...it’s...you don’t have to...it’s a yes or no question, if you can answer it...if-if there’s no time, that’s fine.”
Charlie: “Hi, (???)”
Bohdi: “And hi to you, THEE-I-DARE.”
TID: “SURVIVE FOR ME, WE HAVE HIM”
Charlie: “Alright.” (Slight laughter and a small sound of delight/excitement)
