now please

[weedbgon]

Who: Merle and a Null Representative
What: Parley, aka Merle trying his best to do a negotiation of any kind.
Where: Nebulous magically-generated Parley Parlor
When: 4/20
Warnings: Character death, presumably some talk of death. Will update as needed.

It's been... a pretty long time since Merle's done this. As the instigator, anyway. He kind of missed the old setup.

As far as meeting places go, it isn't anything too fancy. Two comfortable office chairs, a long meeting table, a nice-looking boardroom. One wall is all windows, letting in the light of a warm orange sunset. Not too light, not too dark. Nice and calm. Just about how he remembered it before, even if things feel a little different this time around. Chalk it up to a whole other way of working in this world.

Merle, as shirtless as he is placid, is seated in one of the chairs when the summons goes through for the representative. He can't say he knows exactly what to expect out of this, if he's honest. Probably nothing peaceful or problem-solving. That's never been his forte. But if anything could be considered his forte, it's a penchant for trying no matter how hard he falls flat. And as far as he's aware, there'll be time for trying again.

Maybe this one won't kill his ass with fire. That would be an upper.

"How's it goin'? Glad you could make it!" He lifts his wooden arm in greeting. "I, I gotta be honest, I wasn't sure how this one would shake out."

Comments

[01101110]

As expected - or perhaps as required - a representative of the Null appears. It looks exactly like any of the creatures that attacked the city months ago, all metal and spindly, sharp legs and an armored center. It is, for a long moment, silent and unmoving.

Then mechanisms inside the Null begin to move, altering its central shape, adding a grate resembling a rudimentary speaker. When it does speak, the voice is artificial as well. It sounds like any piece of software made to read words aloud, unnatural and stilted.

ERROR: unknown location.

It moves only slightly to face Merle.

What action have you taken, and why?

[weedbgon]

It's better than nothing. That might be an expression of settling, for some. Of expecting more. Merle thinks it with a certain unabashed relief, always prone to look for something to be happy about. It didn't fail. It didn't work in some half-assed way.

He keeps his tone relatively jovial, irreverent.

"Oh, this is just a little somethin' called a parley. You know, my parley parlor. It's, uh. It's supposed to be for negotiation, that kinda thing. I brought you here so we could have a talk!"

Merle gestures again, arms spread a little to indicate the room in general.

"I'm Merle, by the way. Merle Highchurch. I dunno if you guys use chairs, but you got one if you do."

[01101110]

The Null is silent and motionless for a moment, processing Merle's words.

Return us.

There is no emotion in the words, merely a simple command.

We have no need to talk.

[weedbgon]

Yeah. Yeah, that sounds about right.

"What, you never wanna talk? Come on, trip back's a little trickier. Might as well, uh. Capitalize."

[01101110]

No.

The Null begins to move, looking for a door to break down or a wall to break through. It removes its attention from Merle almost entirely, apparently having decided he is no kind of threat.

We will leave.

[weedbgon]

"You're not gonna find much of a way out. This is supposed to be about negotiations. If anybody could just walk out, there wouldn't be any point havin' the spell!"

John was always a lot more interested in the conversation aspect of things. Maybe that came down to being human at some point. Maybe it came down to not getting to be himself all that often anymore.

"N-- look, uh. You got a name?"

[01101110]

Negotiations are unnecessary.

After all, there's only one thing the Null want. It is completely uninterested in discussing anything else.

Will you destroy the parasites?

[weedbgon]

"Now when you say parasites, you just mean like Hope and the gang, right?"

It's mostly rhetorical. He's pretty sure that's what they meant last time, and not afraid to roll with his own assumptions.

"'cause the thing is, most of us didn't have a problem taking care of business if it got us home. But then you guys went and put out a whole hit list of people who didn't have anything to do with goal number one. And a few of those guys are buddies of mine! So. You can see how we haven't wound up on any even ground with this parasites stuff, right?"

[01101110]

A positive or negative answer is necessary. Will you destroy the parasites?

The Null is not moving, instead utterly still and inhuman. It has no need to fidget or waste words.

[weedbgon]

"We would've. Enough of us to actually do it, anyway." He's not always the best with memory. Even Merle remembers distinctly being willing to take out a 'god' or two for a road home.

"But the hit list really crapped the bed on that one. I don't see how you'd get us on-board again."

[01101110]

Then conversation is pointless.

The Null raises one long, scythe-like limb.

Release us.

[weedbgon]

Merle gives it a long look.

Sighs in the most put-upon manner he can muster.

Gracelessly plops out of his office chair.

"Lemme guess. I won't get you guys to agree to any terms today." First one is always the toughest. "'cause that makes a big difference in how we do this."

[01101110]

The Null does not answer. It's gotten all the answers it needs, and believes there is nothing left to speak about. It advances on Merle with quick movements, raising its sharpened arm and bringing it down in a quick, efficient stabbing motion.