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Mochi: Just drop me the location pin

[He leaves a pin near the edge of the clearing and waits there. He'll be holding a very small, potted plant when Mochi arrives. Kind of looks like a baby this.]

[ that is not what he expected to see there, so as he approaches he stops to look at it ]

—You got Irminsul?

I doubt even full grown it could hold more than a handful of memories. And even if it could, it would hardly be any I care about.

[Holds it out to him.]

Seems like seeds weren't the worst idea after all.

... What am I going to do with it, grow a whole new Lesser Lord Kusanali from scratch?

You're the one who still has a strong connection to it. Shouldn't you be the one to keep it? After all, you're the Lord of Dendro.

I didn't think you'd actually take it anyway. I'm just taking it for a walk.

[That's normal! And he starts walking into the forest.]

I don't think we need any more archons here. It would just get messy.

It's a tree, not a dog.

[ but. he thinks it might feel better for Haruki to finally have that connection back, so he does look pleased ]

I should ask you for some seeds too, actually. That boon suits you.

Maybe I'll plant it outside.

[He laughs.]

Already asking for favors? These supplies are supposed to be used as leverage against other teams. Or at least, that is how we viewed it. With so many leaving Cricket, I doubt we even have ties to Snail or Salamander anymore.

You'll have to bargain for them.

Don't I get special privileges as your Herald? How cruel.

[ but it's obvious he's not actually expecting things to be different - an exchange suits him much better, too. There is something else that grabs his attention, though ]

They were yours and now they're gone. If you're angry, I shouldn't be the one to tell you you should let it out.

Begging counts as bargaining.

I am angry. More than I would care to admit. But these emotions won't solve the problem at hand even though now more than ever I wish to be rid of them.

Anger is a powerful tool. But it's true we have no way to change the course of events as things stand right now. Remember your fury and unleash it at those who are responsible for it when the time comes.

[He pauses for a moment. Trying to figure out how to respond.]

Mad as I am, they are just gods. They don't have to be reasonable.

No. But they are not above punishment.

In the meantime, you may use me as you see fit.

What a way to phrase it. You'd better not be offering that to anyone else.

Of course not.

Others will just have to do what I want and dance to my strings instead.

We'll just have to wait and see then.

[They walk far enough until they reach a spot quite a fair distance from the clearing. He kneels down with the sapling]

I thought about keeping this in Cricket, but I didn't want to tether it to such a lonely place. It deserves a chance to be free, too, right?

... It does. It'll be better for it to grow outside rather than caged inside one of our gardens.

Maybe it will get a domain of its own. A new god to serve it. Clever as the ones here are, time will tell.

[He plants it among the vines and jungle stepping back when he is done.]

If I didn't know any better, you wanted a punishment of sorts. Or did you mean something else when you said 'use me as you see fit'?

Only if you felt like taking your rage out on me. I'm perfectly content just helping you tend to this sapling instead.

But I figured you might need a distraction. I always hate it when my teammates are taken away from me. It is not these gods' place to do so.

You really are too accommodating. I could take nearly everything from you, and I doubt you'd care.

But you are right. I do hate it. I was getting attached to two of them. I also pointless games. Even more losing them.

But Snail lost, too.

I wouldn't let you take everything. But if it's pieces of me then I don't see why not. Besides, one of these days our positions may be reversed. Maybe then I'll be the one who'd want to take everything from you, have you thought of it? Rather than being accommodating, I'm simply making sure you will always have use of me.

As for Snail ... we really need a victory soon.

Is my promise not enough? That I will always have use for you.

[He faces him, wrapping his arms around his shoulders.]

Then you better work for it.

[Nevermind that Cricket lost too!]

[ he's going to bring his arms around his waist, pulling him a little close ]

Is my promise enough for you? You do the same, just in different ways.

[Cute. How about if a couple of vines root him in place?]

I want to hear it.

[ oh. So stubborn. ]

...

Your promise alone will never make me feel safe. To the back of my head I'm always going to think "this is it. this is the moment he's going to discard me".

But if I make sure you can't do without me, then that's something I can count on.

Are you really surprised?

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