[ McGillis is basically waiting for it at this point and it takes very little time for him to open the door and invite Marcus inside. His room is left pretty standard with few personal belongings scattered about and the window covered up with cloth.
He gestures towards the chair for Marcus to sit in. ]
Make yourself at home. I admit, I am curious what your intent is this time.
[He laughs a little, though it's tight, strained. But he will take a seat in the offered chair, settling back and making himself comfortable.]
Would you believe me if I said it really was to talk? I've got questions, and I know you've got answers, but I don't know how many of those you're gonna be willing to give me. Figured I might as well take my chances, right?
[ McGillis himself takes a seat on his bed. For his part, he does not look tense at all. Being exposed as a traitor had been a momentary confusion, now he's settled comfortably into his new role. ]
I do have a lot less reason for secrecy now, so maybe you're in luck.
[Given that the last person Marcus had to try to reason with was Barbatos Goetia? This is a welcome change, so there are no complaints on his end. He'll take this any day.]
I'm gonna be up front here: I hate Hamelin, and no matter what I end up finding out about him and this whole thing, I'm never gonna be able to forgive him for what he's done. But I also know what it's like to be someone else's puppet, so I can't say I don't understand that part.
Ultimately, what I want is to make sure that everyone gets through this alive and can go home.
I really do not have any investment in playing advocate for him. If you hate him, that is fair enough and I won't try to change your mind. I've been relaying information about him for the sake of getting on the same page, not to establish a fanclub.
[ It's not as though McGillis himself agrees with every decision Hamelin makes or finds him perfectly moral and justified. ]
My first and foremost goal is obtaining my wish and returning to my world. But there are people I would like to live through this and I am willing to go out of my way for some of them.
I am more afraid of Yuri's wrath than his on this matter.
[ But yeah, he figured. To try and use Yuri like this, Marcus clearly must have understood something about their relationship already. ]
She really has nothing to do with what we did as caporegimes and for the longest time, she did not know our identities. We revealed ourselves to her when the ghosts saw it fit to accuse her, so she'd know where her allies are if push comes to shove.
That was why I told Hamelin that I'd help protect her from whatever it is that's pulling his strings. It wasn't because I was trying to use her as a bargaining chip.
Hamelin has more respect for her power than any of us. She's right when she says she doesn't need protection and nobody believes her more than he does.
[ He's also made the mistake of being too protective of Yuri in the past only to be subtly but firmly shut down about it. ]
If anything, I would say it's the other way around.
[Look he let her braid his hair, okay, that's how he knows she can get away with (literal and figurative) murder if she wants.]
But back up a second here. Are you gonna tell me that "ghosts" is your codename for the rest of us, or is something really creepy going on behind the scenes that we don't know about?
Ghosts, spirits, the lingering thoughts of the dead... I'm not certain what else I should call our departed former companions.
They were never meant to interfere with the game to such a degree as to actually point out the identities of those working for Hamelin. The fairy from the general store is in charge of 'entertaining' them as they wait to be eaten by B.
[ ... which is, still, pretty damn creepy yeah. McGillis still has to frown talking about B's essence-eating habits. ]
[That's... okay, that's objectively horrifying. Not that he thinks that McGillis is actually joking about something like that, but he just... needs to verify...]
... yeah, can't say I'm feeling bad about not going for my wish now.
Seems like a lot of trouble to go to if she just needs the essence of people who die, though. Wouldn't it make more sense to just bring a whole bunch of people here and start a war or something?
I was thinking of something like that as well. It seems like we're going to have to face B by the end of all this, so we might find out - for better or for worse.
I do wonder if I will be there when that time comes, given I am technically the only one who has earned a wish here.
... I gotta ask, has anyone ever seen any proof that B actually grants these wishes? Even Hamelin? Or is everyone just crossing their fingers that she's gonna do what she said she would?
This is the first time this game has been held - or at least the first time Hamelin is holding it. I'm taking a gamble here and I am well aware of that fact.
That depends on the specifics of that situation, doesn't it? My priority is and will always be returning home with more power. It's a matter of finding what makes me achieve that goal.
Though I will not betray Hamelin, if that's your hope.
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He gestures towards the chair for Marcus to sit in. ]
Make yourself at home. I admit, I am curious what your intent is this time.
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Would you believe me if I said it really was to talk? I've got questions, and I know you've got answers, but I don't know how many of those you're gonna be willing to give me. Figured I might as well take my chances, right?
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[ McGillis himself takes a seat on his bed. For his part, he does not look tense at all. Being exposed as a traitor had been a momentary confusion, now he's settled comfortably into his new role. ]
I do have a lot less reason for secrecy now, so maybe you're in luck.
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I'm gonna be up front here: I hate Hamelin, and no matter what I end up finding out about him and this whole thing, I'm never gonna be able to forgive him for what he's done. But I also know what it's like to be someone else's puppet, so I can't say I don't understand that part.
Ultimately, what I want is to make sure that everyone gets through this alive and can go home.
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[ It's not as though McGillis himself agrees with every decision Hamelin makes or finds him perfectly moral and justified. ]
My first and foremost goal is obtaining my wish and returning to my world. But there are people I would like to live through this and I am willing to go out of my way for some of them.
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[He really doesn't think he needs to say who his primary concern here is.]
So. I noticed you didn't mention Yuri's name when talking about House Grimm earlier today.
[And here he holds up a hand.]
And before you tell me that's not your information to share, I already know. Hamelin told me himself.
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[ But yeah, he figured. To try and use Yuri like this, Marcus clearly must have understood something about their relationship already. ]
She really has nothing to do with what we did as caporegimes and for the longest time, she did not know our identities. We revealed ourselves to her when the ghosts saw it fit to accuse her, so she'd know where her allies are if push comes to shove.
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[He sighs.]
That was why I told Hamelin that I'd help protect her from whatever it is that's pulling his strings. It wasn't because I was trying to use her as a bargaining chip.
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[ He's also made the mistake of being too protective of Yuri in the past only to be subtly but firmly shut down about it. ]
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... go on.
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[ Isn't that just an obvious fact of life when you look at Yuri!! ]
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[He's not interested in the slightest and even he can admit that!]
I was talking about her "power." Or is this what you were referring to?
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[ McGillis is very very gay and does not look at Yuri in that way at all, but he does think she is fucking awesome, okay. ]
I was concerned he might be using her because she is a mortal woman, but now I doubt it's the case.
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[Look he let her braid his hair, okay, that's how he knows she can get away with (literal and figurative) murder if she wants.]
But back up a second here. Are you gonna tell me that "ghosts" is your codename for the rest of us, or is something really creepy going on behind the scenes that we don't know about?
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They were never meant to interfere with the game to such a degree as to actually point out the identities of those working for Hamelin. The fairy from the general store is in charge of 'entertaining' them as they wait to be eaten by B.
[ ... which is, still, pretty damn creepy yeah. McGillis still has to frown talking about B's essence-eating habits. ]
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[That's... okay, that's objectively horrifying. Not that he thinks that McGillis is actually joking about something like that, but he just... needs to verify...]
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[ So that... fucking sucks. ]
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Seems like a lot of trouble to go to if she just needs the essence of people who die, though. Wouldn't it make more sense to just bring a whole bunch of people here and start a war or something?
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[ He only knows rituals and stuff from books, but you're a fantasy dude. Maybe you understand. ]
I assume it has something to do with the 'story'. Whether B is the one who requires it or this world itself though... I can't say.
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[...]
Like despair. Betrayal. Something like that.
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I do wonder if I will be there when that time comes, given I am technically the only one who has earned a wish here.
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What would you do if that turns out to be the case?
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Though I will not betray Hamelin, if that's your hope.
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[ And the rest of you too, he guesses. ]
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[Thanks McG, you're too kind.]