15strangers | F̀I҉̵N̶ÁL͘ ̵̧̀WE҉̧̀E͞K̷̨

It must've been troubling you pretty badly if the idea bothered you for so long.

[ This was the first answer Eric netted because yeah, he was kind of amused. ]

Couldn't say I mind when someone is able to actually land some serious hurt on me, since there's nothing like a real challenge to make you feel alive.

Either way, I want to find someone well worth my time. Being in Ouroboros is the best way to achieve that.

[Eric's hands fly to his cheeks as he's startled by the joke, then he drags them down his face, getting a sort of grouchy look and muttering.] T... The fuck are you implying...

[Don't flirt with him!! It's not like he wants the idea to bother him!! The finger tips are still touching his jaw while he listens to the rest with increasingly widening eyes.]

So in other words, I got the nail on the head. Yeesh...

[this aimless yet dangerous search for feeling in some other, unknown person he's talking about is so familiar, but without the ability to care about it, the thought doesn't quite connect.]

...Well, good luck with that.

[ Anyone managing to get that far would be a miracle in of itself. Though, maybe not so much where this place was concerned.

Eric's reaction was a little more than he expected. He always seemed to be around brunets (or brunettes) who were interesting to interact with. He'd hardly be ready to thank the situation for making him meet someone who he didn't mind talking to, though. ]

Can leave that up to you to figure that out.

[ As usual, McBurn cared little about what people thought of him for the most part, but flustering Eric was nice. ]

I'll take it. [ The well wishing. Because what was saying thank you like a normal person. ] Been awhile since the last person after all, but couldn't say the universe wasn't a big place. It's only a matter of time.

[There are many factors in play for this reaction. 1, McBurn is always nice to Eric, a fact he's been acutely aware of the whole time due to the contrast in duplicates. 2, he is not USED to people being nice to him, mostly because he's a wimp! 3, he hasn't forgotten being 'rescued' and the care taken left an impression. 4, having Mira forced out of his heart and mind leaves a pretty desperate void. 5, he reminds him of her, even if said force doesn't allow him to realize it. .........and while five ought to be enough reasons, let us not overlook the sheer power of receiving a hint of attention from someone that hot!! In summation, what McBurn just said right now has rendered him deceased. He is just going to stay silent and bury his face in his hands more thoroughly this time. Too bad the blush reached his ears.......................Right. They were talking about fighting.]

D-Does it have to be a person, though? If you just want to fight something tough, why not make it a big monster or something?

[is this actually a search for human connection, or are the superhumans just that big of a deal...?]

[ Maybe it's not something he thought too hard about, in regards to how he treated Eric. The brunet wasn't even the most capable fighter around here, but there's something to be respected about hard work (something about brunet/brunettes and hard workers, man.) Especially since when those trials, his own life was at risk. Three times.

Eric was like some weirdly resilient cowardly Lion. A different strength than fight; ultimately of will. And a strength was strength.

Either way, he's watching Eric kind of just bury his face in his hands, and the red that touched his ears with amusement. ]

Can't have a drink or banter with most big monsters.

[ ... Because that's important clearly. Honestly, McBurn didn't really care, as long as it gave him the fight of his life. But, generally, if it was a big monster, he'd probably end up killing it?? Whereas if it was a person, probably not. ]

[Did Vita make him watch The Wizard of Oz too... incredible. Well, if resilience is a strength, he's got it. Eric's carried on through a lot of things that hurt. Now that the light of his angel has been concealed, there's really nothing left in his mind that doesn't hurt, but he's still smiling. Not that McBurn can currently see it behind his hands, but he's lowering them now, crossing his arms. He liked that answer.]

If... we get out of here, I bet I could make something that wouldn't bore you. I have the power of a god to create anything I want in my universe... did I ever mention that?

[he has definitely yelled it at clouds when it came to motives people could have asked him for but it really is something he could have bragged about more. to look cool. to his friend]

[ ...R5 could be to blame for that.

McBurn's not sure how he made Eric smile, but after what him and the six of them were forced to face not too long ago, it felt like some kind of victory. ]

Feel like it could've been mentioned before at a meeting early on, but couldn't say if I remembered it or not. Definitely hadn't been in one of our own conversations.

[ Still, the offer made him think of something—

"A place of eternal perdurance, where it is said all those chosen to live there are cared for, never grows old, and are given anything they ask—"

Definitely not the same, though that's where his thoughts went. ]

Can't say I didn't appreciate the offer. But for now, it'd be better to find one naturally than one "made".

Wouldn't mind coming to visit to see the universe you made. I'm sure you could show me something I haven't seen before.

[ A whole new world. ]

[Honestly fair. Eric can't help but give off utopian weirdo vibes when he thinks about his universe, since the smile he had put on is still kinda forced. But Mira would never let him make one, that's why it's full of things that can kill you! Oh well, it was fleeting but he will give up on his fantasy where he has some kind of Pokemon battle against McBurn and then he praises him.]

I guess it would take the fun out of your search. Fair enough.

[It's not like he hasn't praised him for other shit anyway.]

I'll make it really easy to visit. Nirn is already a hub between worlds, even if no one really comes through most of the portals.

[Papyrus does, Linkara has a space ship, but the thought of going back while he can barely remember to think about Mira is kinda lonely and pathetic. These worlds are technically full of people... but they are all so new, save for the ones Alexis and friends recreated from memory.]

Something like that.

[ At the very least, he was interested in going to check it out. Sure he was actually technically in the middle of stuff but it wasn't too important as far as he was concerned, and the rest of the Ouroboros were used to him fucking off with little to no warning.

Yeah, best Enforcer. ]

Not sure what that's all about, but the easier the better.

After I visit your place, I could show you around Zemuria. Don't doubt it's possible you've already been since you know that girl, but it'll be surprising if you saw it all.

I actually didn't, not really. At the end of it all, I wanted to spend... time with Mira... [his voice is hesitant, which is probably odd if McBurn hasn't guessed what's wrong with him yet]

...Anyway, after that, I didn't really know how I'd get in touch with Fie again without walking into some kind of warzone, and her friends might say something if some weird guy showed up, right. Plus, your stupid double put the portal off a humongous cliff, and I was too stubborn to remake it. [That he was also too skittish to jump off a cliff is the obvious implication here.]

So I'd really like to see it. Zemuria sounds fascinating. [and also very dangerous but less so if he can stand behind the fightboy. Are you prepared for the dumbest escort mission of your life???]

[ He had a guess. Between yesterday's nonsense, the sudden burning of clothing, the slightly-off kilter Eric had in his personality, and this, really, it's not hard to figure the root cause.

He'll suppose it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on him. Not so much that it'd be a bothersome, but it couldn't be a pain to just...do what he normally does mostly and be there. ]

Sounds like something I'd do.

[ It did sound a little funny to him, though McBurn's sense of humor was...certainly a thing.

Anyway, he won't mind being Eric's "escort". Fun times ahead. ]

Would say that it is. You could probably learn a few new skills in batlle if you're game. But naturally whatever big challenge or threat there is, leave it to me.

[The company is appreciated. "Escort" or no.... he'll just groan a bit at that confirmation, although he guesses he can live with it. Maybe. It's occurring to him if he goes along with this there is a nonzero chance he might get roped into doing some kind of crimes?? He never did figure out exactly how sketchy Ouroboros is supposed to be... but on the other hand, gaining battle skills is definitely something he ought to quit procrastinating on. Within boundaries.]

Well... As long as I don't have to fight humans and get us in trouble, I think that'd be okay...?

[There's a beat as he considers that last thing. A front row seat to something like that would probably be pretty cool.]

Having to protect me might add to whatever the challenge is, honestly.

[Although he's saying this a bit dryly, it might not necessarily be a good thing. Is McBurn even used to protecting someone? Maybe he's just going to die if they try this out, but oh well.]

No need to worry about me suddenly roping you into anything Ourobros-related. If I have to, I'll let the others know you're my special 'guest' and I'm just going to show you a good time around Zemuria. Doubt it'll be much of a problem, anyway.

[ Unlike Mithos or Ris, he couldn't really see Eric easily as becoming a member of Ouroboros. If for some reason things ended up happening and the brunet got caught in the middle of work, he'd figure out a way to send him off or something. But, he doubted that'll happen.

Still, conflicts between others were probably possible, he supposed. Good thing he's sure he'll find a way to get his powers back by the end of this since teleportation could be a thing again. ]

It could. Won't actually be too hard for someone like me.

When you can see what I can really do...you'll get it.

F̀I҉̵N̶ÁL͘ ̵̧̀WE҉̧̀E͞K̷̨

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