HANSA

[chanteuser]

Comments

[chanteuser]

It’s one they might agree to help with at least.

[ ... ]

Have you looked at the rankings yet?

[robopriest]

I have. There's a huge change from last week.

[Though he's giving her a look like IS THERE SOMETHING YOU NOTICED??]

[chanteuser]

You mean Goat’s team? [ they were last beforehand and now... ]

The top two have stayed the same though.

[ ... she’s quiet for a moment, and then: ]

If I asked if your team was in the top or bottom three, would you tell me?

[robopriest]

Yes.

[He's not glancing away, just giving her a steady gaze.]

I'll say it if you tell me, too.

[chanteuser]

I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t willing to tell you as well.

[robopriest]

Sure.

[A nod.]

Mine is in the bottom three.

[chanteuser]

Top three.

[ well at least they have the board covered ]

[robopriest]

I see.

[How interesting.]

Do you think the murders change the rankings, somehow?

[chanteuser]

I think it’s just nova gathering. A lot of we do seems to change it, or... that’s what my Leader said.

Murder could, but so can other things.

[ ... ]

So, I’m no closer to knowing if murder’s the biggest factor in ranking change. Basically.

[robopriest]

That IS the question, isn't it.

[A sigh.]

Another mystery on top of all the other mysteries. We could make a book of them at this point.

[chanteuser]

[ mmmmnrrrrggg. ]

Most mystery books have some kind of answer, rather than, like, seven mysteries all together with no resolution.

[robopriest]

Hahaha. Maybe it's an anthology?

[chanteuser]

[ she just

raises a hand and whacks his shoulder. there's literally no force to it, its fine. ]

[robopriest]

[He's just going to put a hand against her cheek and shove her face very very lightly.]

What? Am I wrong?

[chanteuser]

[ ack ]

Who would read an anthology of mysteries with no big reveal at the end?

[robopriest]

[He's grinning wide as he pulls his hand back.]

Masochists.

[chanteuser]

Maybe don't consider a career in anthology publishing, Hansa.

[ this conversation is dumb and so are they. ]

[robopriest]

Aw. Are you nipping my publishing career that quickly in the bud...

[idiot to idiot conversation]

[chanteuser]

[ yeah ]

You can go and live out all your publishing dreams, but you have to deal with the angry emails about all your anthology mysteries having no conclusion on your own.

[robopriest]

Angry emails? You say that like I wouldn't welcome it. It would be entertaining getting them even more mad.

[HANSA: PROFESSIONAL TROLL]

[chanteuser]

[









sigh. she just takes the bottle off him. hers now. ]

Congratulations on your new job, then?

[robopriest]

Watch out, publishing world. Here I come. I'll take you by storm.

[Just. Deadpan.]

[chanteuser]

I hear really bad romance novels sell well. There's a starting point.

[ hit that demographic running. ]

[robopriest]

What's that genre even like? People getting into fights over things they misheard and then they make out passionately against a backdrop of a sunset or something?

[chanteuser]

I think there’s a lot of swooning involved? [ she takes another sip of the wine. ]

Or some kind of weird power fantasy where one of them’s super rich so you get to write about fancy penthouses and helicopters.