[OPEN] we were strangers on a crazy adventure

[whattaprick]

Who: Lambert and YOU
When: In the time the Ringmaster gives them to make up their minds.
Where: In the newly-reformed Carnival.
What: Bother him about recent events and about the choices ahead.
Warnings: Lambert's potty mouth, references to past violence, etc.

The Carnival has really seen better days.

That's Lambert's first thought, at least, surveying what's left of his material possessions. Now that it isn't stuffed away in drawers or hidden in boxes, it mostly amounts to a not-inconsiderable amount of jewelry and various novelty clothing, as well as some of the Solstice presents he received with less military applications. Pig and Butcher have been left free to wander around as they please in the stripped-down Carnival while Lambert lazily flicks through his belongings -- a book here, a necklace there -- and sorts through it all. Perhaps surprisingly, for the amount of time they've been with the Carnival, there isn't too much.

When he hears someone else come up to him, he speaks without looking over his shoulder, the flat joke varying:

"What do you think the chances are of her bringing back the springs right now?"

"Seems like a good time for a nap, doesn't it?"

"So, you made up your mind about becoming a god or not yet?"

Comments

[whattaprick]

“Is it going to be years when you get home?” Lambert raises his brows, cocking his head. “I kind of thought time passing wasn’t really a thing back home, once you signed up.”

That’s his limited understanding of it, anyway. It’s not easy, these time shenanigans.

[spaghettimonster]

"That's what makes it so tricky!" Papyrus agrees, throwing his hands in the air and pacing a little. "I told you about that time loop..."

Briefly, during an hours long game of truth and dare over the radio.

"When we go back... We'll go back before we left. But we might not go back for years? It's a big difference! And, we'll all be so different..." He slows his pacing, and stares into the distance of minimalistic, poorly-rendered trees spotting the flat plain. "It'll be a shock."

[whattaprick]

"You're overthinking it," Lambert tells Papyrus, after watching him pace for a little bit. He's not going to pretend he totally gets it, but he doesn't know that fretting over this is exactly the best use of Papyrus's time either.

"You're not going to have to figure it all out on your own. Between you and Sans, with the power of two Miracles, you'll make it work."

[spaghettimonster]

"It's just! So soon! I expected years more," he protests, but he pauses his pacing to squeeze at his nasal bones.

Maybe it's one thing to say yes to phenomenal cosmic powers, and another to acknowledge what accepting them entails. And with the distance of time, and reconnecting with himself, the feelings of responsibility to help the underground out... seem stronger than ever.

"...Two, maybe even three? But you're right. Sans will help, Alphys will surely help, whatever she chooses... And, and, other friends here might help with advice too."

[whattaprick]

"Can't sure how much help my advice would be," Lambert answers, far too good-natured for someone who's about to communicate emurderous intent. "You know I'd just say you should kill 'em."

Regardless of what Papyrus's actual problems are, surely violence is always a valid answer, right? The witcher's smirking amusement fades after a moment, though, cocking his head and staring at Papyrus like he's trying to figure something out.