Chapter Text
“Mm.” Grian says, mind alighting, trying to decide how to respond. “Can I get yours first?”
“Xisuma.” The captor says, brisk; it cuts any tension for a split second, waves of it crashing back down in its place a moment later.
“Grian.” Grian says, and to be honest, it's nice to get that off his chest. He has a name, after all— not that anyone's called him it for a long time, not that he's wanted anyone to.
“With that out of the way, Grian,” Xisuma starts, “Why do you have watcher magic residue in your code?”
There it is. Theres the kicker in this situation, the one he was waiting for. Because, how does he respond? He can't say he's a watcher, obviously, so he decides another possible reason for it; “I barely escaped..”
“How did you get in?” Xisuma counters (maybe it wasn't that harsh, but it was to Grian, putting him on the spot as such.)
“Hacking.” Grian adds before Xisuma has room to speak, “Can I have some more water?”
Xisuma hesitates, and all Grian can make out of it was slight surprise. “Sure.” To Grian’s surprise, he gers up and leaves, for the same amount of time as he did the first time. Grian counts the seconds; he needs to know how much time he gets out of supervision so he can escape.
Xisuma unlocks the door and sits beside him just as before. G drinks half the cup of water, and Xisuma lets him hold it without any reaction. He takes note of this leniency.
“I know you're lying.” Xisuma speaks into existence; Grian notices the power that he flashes, no doubt, to threaten Grian. Voidwalker, he identifies the origin of said power
It makes sense why G can't hear his breathing; he's wearing a mask.
“You won't like the truth.” It isn't hesitant, and his captor notices, with the unseeable shift in his position and a chuckle.
“Why's that?”
Grian pauses, thinks it over. He's not getting out of this. He doesn't fancy being tortured for information, and it's not like the admin of the server can't scan his code to see the truth as it be.
He hates that idea, it irks him so dearly, so he leans to the side of the players of this server being able to trust him, and genuinely, lets himself be vulnerable to attack; “I’m a watcher.”
Xisuma pauses, then ends it with a thoughtful ‘mm,’ “That’s not it though. I had a better look at the damage you did,”
“They turned me into one.” Grian means it to be casual, but he can't help but sound on-edge, because he is. He's waiting for the smack for the face, for Xisuma to leave him alone and observe him from afar, for anything to happen. (Words aren't bad enough, he knows it gets worse, it always does. He'll be damned if he's not ready.)
Better sooner than later, Grian always says. Knowing his situation gives him an invaluable resource; peace of mind. He knows he's doomed anyways, so that's all he can hope for.
“Do you mind if I scan your code?” Xisuma adds, “To verify?”
“Yeah, but go ahead.” Grian waves him off, “I won't stop you. I won't resist.”
Xisuma shifts, probably turning towards G, “I don't wanna break your boundaries. I didn't replace your clothes or anything. Doc removed your blindfold because he thought it was hurting you.”
“I know you're gonna do it anyways.” Grian tells him. Getting him to let his guard down isn't necessary, really. “Just get it out of the way.”
“I’d only do it without consent if you hurt someone, you don't gotta worry.”
Grian grumbles and sips his water. Maybe he would, he doesn't know. He doesn't want to, but he tends to overreact if a creature gets too close. With the two on opposite sides of the bed, it's okay, if not a little unsettling just because Grian can't see him.
If something touches him without him touching it, he takes it as an attack. Subconsciously so, though nothing excuses the fact that he's still maimed passive livestock as mere reaction.
Xisuma sighs lightly, “Doc’s on his way. He's the one who found you, brought you to me.” The idea of someone having carried him makes Grian’s skin crawl. He hides his disgust.
“I'll uh, leave you to it in here then, Grian.” Xisuma walks to the door, leaving Grian with the cup. “Ring this bell if you need anything.” He taps on the bell, possibly to signal its location. “You just pull the string. Do you want me to show you?”
“I get it.” Grian sighs. Degrading, all this is so degrading, which is more annoying than hurtful at this point.
“We won't hurt you, if you won't hurt us. I'm just protecting my server.” His server? Is he the admin? He did talk about him scanning Grian's code.
Huh, a voidwalker as an admin. (Makes sense why it was so hard to get in, it's probably good at keeping watchers out. If he can stay here for even a few months longer before the watchers pick up on his trail, that's a win in his book.)
Xisuma locks the cell door behind him, and Grian pulls the blanket over himself once more.
(Even so, he's going to mess up, and one way or another, a player is going to get hurt, and Grian will not be blameless.
He wants to get out of here as quickly as he can, but it usually takes weeks to recharge completely, and escaping while hiding the power he gives off isn't very easy. Take it from Grian, he's been through it before with the watchers.)
Though, he will escape just as before, and he will get out, and he will find Taurtis, again. With all power Grian could ever muster they will be reunited once again, and Grian would bet his soul on it.