Debrief

[cahn]

skygiants wrote a post about a one-hour two-person role-playing game called Debrief. The idea is that the two players play two MI6 colleagues and best friends, George Russell and Robert Alderidge, in a 1960 where ghosts and spirit mediums exist. Alderidge has just been found dead in a way that makes it clear that he was a double agent passing information to the Soviet Union. Spirit medium Russell gets one hour to debrief ghost!Alderidge -- or, conversely, Alderidge gets one hour to debrief himself to Russell. The game is played over video chat, with Alderidge's character in a dark room to somewhat-simulate his ghostly nature.

skygiants' excellent post gives you all the information you need to a) want to play this game and b) play this game -- although I see courtesy of the comments to that post that there is now a direct link to Debrief from Paracelsus Games!

The game is about “loyalty, ideology, memory, obligation, and the difficulty of interpersonal knowledge” (Russell and Alderidge do NOT read each other's character sheets before playing, so they only know what they know, not what the other character knows) which, when I read this in skygiants' post, was where I immediately chatted up ase and said, we have to do this! Ase, being a much more rational actor than I am, pointed out that neither of us were what you might call good with not breaking the fourth wall. And then we both promptly got quite busy. But the stars (or at least our schedules) aligned this weekend and we did give it a try!

Unfortunately, I am sad to confess that we were not very good at it at all and turned out to be wildly unsuccessful -- by which I don't mean that the characters failed, but rather that we failed in maintaining suspension of disbelief/fourth-wall during the time of the game. We had several gameplay problems, which I set down here in case it's useful to others who might play in the future:
-we did both turn out to be pretty bad at not breaking the fourth wall
-we also, I think, are both rational actors enough that we did not enter into the proper spirit of emotionally compromising ourselves as much as the game demands. Which is probably good for our mental health but did mean that we didn't succeed in seeing it through
-I was Alderidge and ase was Russell, and this was not ideal:
-the person of the pair who has significantly more difficulty putting together coherent verbal narratives should probably not be Alderidge, which seems obvious now (he's the one who is getting debriefed!) but wasn't then
-the person of the pair who has more difficulty initiating role-playing should probably not be Russell, which also seems obvious now but wasn't then
-as ase pointed out, we could have role-played the characters at least somewhat better if switched. My advice would be that if there happens to be a personality delta along traditional/progressive lines, the more traditional personality should play Russell and the more progressive personality should play Alderidge, unless you are much better at role-playing than we are (which is to be honest probably the case).
-I can see why it is mandatory for this to be played over video; however, for our particular case, given the above restrictions, I think it would have actually been easier for us to maintain an in-character through-line if we had done it over text chat instead

I'm rot-13ing what actually happened; as skygiants says, it's better to read after actually having played if you have any wish to play this at all.

(rot-13): Bhe tnzr encvqyl fcvenyrq vagb Nyqrevqtr rnearfgyl gelvat gb whfgvsl uvzfrys gb Ehffryy, naq Ehffryy, bhgjneqyl pnyz ohg vajneqyl uheg naq gurersber pbzongvir, abg ohlvat gur whfgvsvpngvba ng nyy. Naq sebz gurer vg qribyirq vagb n cbyvgvpny nethzrag bs gur xvaq gung V guvax jr unir nyy rkcrevraprq ng fbzr cbvag: gur xvaq jurer lbh svaq lbhefrys hanoyr gb rkgevpngr lbhefrys sebz vg orpnhfr bs evfvat rzbgvbany vairfgzrag, nf zhpu nf lbhe engvbany oenva xabjf gung vg vfa'g n tbbq vqrn gb xrrc nethvat. Guvf jnf jurer nfr naq V jrer hanoyr gb xrrc tbvat va-punenpgre, cebonoyl cnegvnyyl orpnhfr va snpg jr JRER noyr gb rkgevpngr bhefryirf. Vs jr unq xrcg tbvat va-punenpgre, V nz n yvggyr fhfcvpvbhf gung Nyqrevqtr naq Ehffryy jbhyq unir whfg eha bhg gur ubhe pybpx gelvat gb pbaivapr gur bgure naq jbhyq unir snvyrq zvfrenoyl, naq ab bar jbhyq unir tbggra jung gurl jnagrq. V qba'g xabj jung gur raqtnzr bs guvf jbhyq unir orra, gubhtu. V guvax cebonoyl Ehffryy jbhyq unir fubg Nyqrevqtr, cnegvnyyl bhg bs zrepl naq cnegvnyyl bhg bs rzbgvba.

However, despite our incompetence at role-playing, it was really interesting and I'm glad we tried it (and we had a nice video chat afterwards, haha), and I now have Feelings about Russell and Alderidge. In conclusion, you all should play this game (unless you already have) and tell me (and skygiants) about it!

Comments

[skygiants]

Thank you so much for writing up this post -- I'm so glad you guys tried it and found it a rewarding experience to attempt, even if you ran into challenges with the actual play!

(Vg'f fb rnfl gb trg pnhtug va gur vqrbybtvpny ybbc -- V fhfcrpg jr zvtug unir sbhaq bhefryirf gurer nf jryy, rkprcg V cnavpxrq naq gubhtug jr jrer ehaavat bhg bs gvzr unysjnl guebhtu qhr gb zvfhaqrefgnaqvat ubj pybpxf jbexrq, juvpu vebavpnyyl jbexrq gb chfu hf sbejneq vagb n qvssrerag rzbgvbany greevgbel. Vg nyfb qrsvavgryl urycrq gung Orgu naq V unir ebyrcynlrq gbtrgure n OHAPU orsber ...)

ANYWAY PLEASE TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR ALDERIDGE AND RUSSELL FEELINGS

[cahn]

I found it super interesting to play this even not getting the full play experience, because of the difference between Alderidge's viewpoint, my best guess as to what Alderidge's viewpoint ought to be during play, my own viewpoint as a third party who read Alderidge's POV but who obviously has ideas of my own as to what Russell might have thought about all this but which is of course moderated by only having Alderidge's viewpoint to go off of, and then finding out what Russell's viewpoint was really like aaaaaah

V guvax V cnavpxrq va n qvssrerag jnl? Yvxr, V tbg fbeg bs aneebj-zvaqrqyl sbphfrq ba gur vqrbybtl orpnhfr vs Nyqrevqtr pbhyq whfg rkcynva jul, vs ur pbhyq whfg trg Ehffryy gb haqrefgnaq, gura ur jbhyq haqrefgnaq jul Nyqrevqtr unq qbar gur guvatf ur unq qbar rzbgvbanyyl fcrnxvat NAQ ur jbhyq frr jul Nyqrevqtr fgvyy unq gb pbaivapr uvz nobhg gur qvfehcgbe... Ohg bs pbhefr gung jnf arire tbvat gb or gur evtug jnl gb tb nobhg vg! Npx! Ernqvat Ehffryy'f oevrs jnf ernyyl whfg urnegoernxvat gb zr, orpnhfr V pna gbgnyyl frr ubj tbvat nobhg vg gung jnl jbhyq whfg pbasvez Ehffryy va nyy gur greevoyr guvatf ur gubhtug.

Fb V unir n ybg bs srryvatf nobhg Nyqrevqtr naq Ehffryy nf ybpxrq va gurve bja oenvaf naq ernpuvat bhg naq ybpxvat onpx va rknpgyl gur jebat jnlf gb pbzcbhaq gur jnlf gung gurl'ir orra ernpuvat bhg naq ybpxvat onpx va gur jebat jnlf gurve jubyr yvirf! Gung ynfg fragrapr bs Nyqrevqtr'f oevrs, "Znlor abj, ng gur raq bs guvatf, ur'yy or noyr gb haqrefgnaq," naq lrg gur irel npg bs univat gung gubhtug zrnag gung ur pbhyq arire haqrefgnaq!

GAH! Basically I want this for Yuletide (or ToT) now and what I want is for people to basically describe their gameplay in excruciating detail with actual conversations and facial expressions and character thoughts when possible and aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

(naq nyfb V jnag svkvg gb gur yvzvg cbffvoyr, jurer gurl trg FBZR xvaq bs pybfher ba gurve srryvatf!)

(naq nyfb V jnag svkvg jurer fbzrubj sbe fbzr ernfba Ehffryy naq Nyqrevqtr ner noyr gb ernq zvaqf ng gur irel raq)

[sophia_sol]

ahhhh I'm so glad you played it and had a good time despite the ways in which the roleplaying didn't succeed as much as you wanted! Your version sounds fascinating and very Russell-and-Alderidge.

I got to play Russell to an extremely talkative and charismatic Alderidge, which worked amazingly well for me as an inexperienced roleplayer, as my Alderidge was ON IT for creating a verbal narrative, and I just had to play off of Alderidge as he WENT FOR IT. I ended the game with just unbearably many Russell & Alderidge feelings!

In my version:

Nyqrevqtr: trahvaryl rnearfgyl jbexvat ba orunys bs terngre vqrnyf, va ybir jvgu uvf vqrnyf orpnhfr ur qbrfa'g unir nalbar ryfr va uvf yvsr ernyyl jub ur pna or shyyl uvzfrys jvgu
Ehffryy: whfg rnearfg. Gelvat gb or n tbbq thl. Qbrfa'g haqrefgnaq univat qvssrerag nccebnpurf gb jung orvat tbbq zvtug zrna

Jr xrcg ba pvepyvat nebhaq vqrnf bs jurgure gur oebxra flfgrz juvpu unq uheg obgu bs hf jura jr jrer lbhatre pna or svkrq bayl ol vaperzragny zrnaf (ehffryy) be ol bireguebjvat gur flfgrz ragveryl (nyqrevqtr) naq nyy bs bhe qvfnterrzragf pnzr qbja gb gung shaqnzragny qvssrerapr.

Guebhtu pbairefngvba nobhg guvf, Nyqrevqtr rkcnaqrq uvf nfx sebz nfxvat sbe gur rpgbcnyfz qvfehcgbe gb or tvira gb gur ehffvnaf, gb univat vg or tvira gb RIRELBAR, orpnhfr gura vg pna or hfrq gb pnyz gur fhssrevat bs nyy gur hadhvrg tubfgf unhagvat gur jbeyq. (Naq Nyqrevqtr jnf qrsvavgryl guerngravat erthyneyl guebhtubhg gur pbairefngvba gb unhag Ehffryy sberire vs ur qvqa'g nterr gb tvir hc gur qvfehcgbe cynaf, naq gou Ehffryy xvaq bs jnagrq uvz gb unhag uvz! gbtrgure sberire!!!)

Ohg nygubhtu Ehffryy jnf abg bcra gb Nyqrevqtr'f vagryyrpghny qvfphffvba bs gur rguvpf bs ubj gb svk fhssrevat, gheaf bhg va gur raq Ehffryy VF bcra gb yrneavat gung Nyqrevqtr gehyl pnerf nf qrrcyl sbe uvz nf ur qbrf sbe Nyqrevqtr! Naq fb gur snpg gung Nyqrevqtr'f qrngu unccrarq va pbafrdhrapr bs Nyqrevqtr ershfvat gb orgenl Ehffryy crefbanyyl ol funevat gur qvfehcgbe cynaf, vg ernyyl oebxr Ehffryy.

Naq gura gurl raq ol Nyqrevqtr funevat gung ur unf nyjnlf ybirq Ehffryy, naq Ehffryy univat bar bs gubfr "ercynlvat zl ragver yvsr va sebag bs zl rlrf gb erpbagrkghnyvfr vg" zbzragf naq orvat yvxr "bu V guvax V'ir nyjnlf ybirq lbh gbb" naq gura Ehffryy nterrf gb funer gur cynaf jvgu gur jbeyq. Nyqrevqtr tbrf vagb gur yvtug, naq nsgre-gur-tnzr Ehffryy vf qrsvavgryl tbvat gb or tbvat ba n crefbany wbhearl bs zvfrel gb nyy gur onggyrsvryqf ur pna wbhearl gb (nf n genvgbe abj) gb hfr gur qvfehcgbe gb oevat crnpr gb gur hadhvrg qrnq. Naq yvir gur erfg bs uvf yvsr jbaqrevat vs ur pbhyq unir qbar nalguvat qvssreragyl va rneyvre qnlf jvgu Nyqrevqtr fb gung guvatf qvqa'g unir gb raq nf gurl raqrq.

I definitely cried and it was awesome.

[cahn]

ahhhhh I am so glad you got to play this!! yay!! and also I'm glad that you didn't play it with me, because a) that means two experiences to talk about instead of one and b) they were so different and I love it!

Jr xrcg ba pvepyvat nebhaq vqrnf bs jurgure gur oebxra flfgrz juvpu unq uheg obgu bs hf jura jr jrer lbhatre pna or svkrq bayl ol vaperzragny zrnaf (ehffryy) be ol bireguebjvat gur flfgrz ragveryl (nyqrevqtr) naq nyy bs bhe qvfnterrzragf pnzr qbja gb gung shaqnzragny qvssrerapr.

LRF rkprcg jr arire zbirq ba sebz gung

Naq fb gur snpg gung Nyqrevqtr'f qrngu unccrarq va pbafrdhrapr bs Nyqrevqtr ershfvat gb orgenl Ehffryy crefbanyyl ol funevat gur qvfehcgbe cynaf, vg ernyyl oebxr Ehffryy.

NUUUUU lbh xabj bhe Nyqrevqtr arire gbyq gung gb Ehffryy orpnhfr vg qvqa'g rira bpphe gb uvz gb?? Orpnhfr, yvxr, bs pbhefr ur jbhyq qb vg gung jnl?? Gnyx nobhg gur guvatf gung nera'g fnvq naq gur guvatf gung ner nffhzrq! V nz univat srryvatf nyy bire ntnva!

ohg bzt lbh tbg gur orfg raqvat cbffvoyr, V guvax?? V ybir gung fb zhpu!! <33

[ase]

V guvax cebonoyl Ehffryy jbhyq unir fubg Nyqrevqtr, cnegvnyyl bhg bs zrepl naq cnegvnyyl bhg bs rzbgvba.

Naq ybfr n fubg ng qnzntr pbageby? Ehffryy jbhyq unir eha bhg gur pybpx gelvat gb svther bhg ubj ur zvffrq gung uvf OSS jnf n qbhoyr ntrag, naq gelvat gb pyrna hc gur ZV6 zrff va uvf jnxr. Cebonoyl jbhyq unir nppvqragnyyl tbggra uvzfrys unhagrq va gur cebprff, ohg ab arrq gb fubbg nalbar cerzngheryl.

It was an interesting thing to try, especially after reading both character sheets post-game and seeing what Russell was missing.

[cahn]

Guvf vf njrfbzr, V ybir gung rira nsgrejneqf V'z zvfvagrecergvat Ehffryy'f gnxr ba gur fvghngvba orpnhfr V'z fb qrrcyl va Nyqrevqtr'f CBI :Q Fb abj V jbaqre ubj jung rssrpg guvf unf ba gur pbairefngvba, vs Nyqrevqtr guvaxf gung Ehffryy jvyy fubbg uvz qhevat gurve gnyx naq Ehffryy unf ab fhpu vagragvba! (Bar bs gur znal guvatf V jnf abg n tbbq rabhtu ebyrcynlre gb qb ng gur gvzr ohg juvpu V guvax vf jvyqyl vagrerfgvat!)

I'm so glad you found it interesting! I thought it was really neat even if we are not the best roleplayers in the world :D (Have you looked at the rot-13 of the other people who've done this on skygiants' page?)

[ase]

Re:rot13 text: I find this fascinating, because I'm thinking part of roleplaying is a public speaking element: you're projecting a persona, and an agenda that goes with that persona.

Bar guvat V'z nyfb guvaxvat nobhg ner ebyrcynlvat raq tbnyf. Gur punenpgre furrgf sbe Qroevrs unir ehyrf, ohg Ehffryy qbrfa'g unir n qrpynerq jva-fgngr. Nyqrevqtr'f jva-fgngr vf: trg gur rpgbcynfzvp ZnpThssva be gur cynaf gb gur Fbivrg Havba. Ehffryy unf gur cbjre gb shegure be cerirag gung, ohg gurer'f ab fgngrq Qb Guvf Be Ryfr.

I'm so glad you found it interesting! I thought it was really neat even if we are not the best roleplayers in the world :D (Have you looked at the rot-13 of the other people who've done this on skygiants' page?)

Doing things badly is the first step to doing them well! I've looked at several. One scenario, lots of variable outcomes.

[cahn]

*nods* Heh, and my reaction to the first line of your comment was, "yeah, spontaneous public speaking and I do not get along!" :)

Lrnu, V guvax gung'f cneg bs gur travhf bs gur tnzr gung znxrf vg fb urnegoernxvat -- gung Ehffryy qbrfa'g ernyyl unir n jva be abg-jva pbaqvgvba, ur whfg unf... uvf cnva, ernyyl. Ur unf guvatf ur jnagf, ohg abg va gur nyy-pbafhzvat jnl Nyqrevqtr qbrf, naq fb Nyqrevqtr'f sbphf ba gubfr guvatf vf tbvat gb... rknpreongr uvf cnva cbvagf. :(

[ambyr]

If the theme in general appeals to you, might I suggest Rajaniemi’s Summerland might also be of interest?

[cahn]

Oooooh! I keep seeing Rajaniemi's name around and I've just never taken the plunge.

It also reminded me a LOT of John M. Ford's The Scholars of Night, a spy novel that has some commonalities and flirts with some of these questions.

[zdenka]

That sounds like a really cool game!

[cahn]

It is! I highly recommend it! :) Even failure is really interesting!

[el_staplador]

This sounds great! Alas, I have never role-played.

[cahn]

It is great even for those of us who are extremely inexperienced in role-playing! I would however recommend at least finding a partner who has a bit more experience and having that partner play Alderidge :) (If you're interested, I would ask skygiants to see if she can match you up... I get the impression she has access to rather more people who have some role-playing experience!)

[el_staplador]

Ooh, possibly, when I'm less exhausted! Although time zones might also be an issue, of course...

[cahn]

:)

[primeideal]

Hmmm I have some board game friends who might be into this...

[cahn]

:) If they/you play it, please report back!

[primeideal]

OKAY so. tl;dr

Svefg bs nyy, whfg sebz univat ernq gur trareny ehyrf naq frrvat gur synvyvat ba guvf raq (ohg jvgubhg ernqvat fcbvyref) V fbeg bs thrffrq gung gurer jnf n bar-fvqrq Nyrqevqtr -> Ehffryy. Ernqvat Ehffryy'f CBI qvqa'g qb nalguvat gb qral gung cbffvoyvgl fb V whfg xvaq bs xrcg vg va zvaq nf na BBP punenpgre ohg gevrq abg gb yrg vg pbybe zl VP xabjyrqtr.

Zl Ehffryy'f fgnegvat vapyvangvbaf ner n. qba'g hfr gur qvfehcgbe, o. qba'g gryy gur snzvyl, p. znlor gryy ZV6 ohg znxr gurz xrrc vg frperg. Ur nyfb xabjf gung Nyrqevqtr vf cerqvfcbfrq gb unhag Ebfgbi, nyy ryfr orvat rdhny. Fb ur gevrf gb gnyx nobhg gung. Gura trgf qbja gb ohfvarff jvgu gur "ogj jurer vf lbhe svyr" fghss. Nyrqevqtr vf yvxr "vf guvf whfg ohfvarff, ernyyl, pbzr ba."

Nyrqevqtr fnlf "rirelguvat V fnvq nobhg lbh jnf erny, bhe sevraqfuvc vf erny, abar bs gung jnf n yvr." Fbzr gnyx nobhg eribyhgvba/vaperzragnyvfz. Ehffryy cbvagf bhg gur qvirefvgl bs uvf fcvevg zrqvhz pbyyrnthrf nf na rknzcyr gung fybj, harira punatr vf cbffvoyr. Nyrqevqtr qvfzvffrf vg.

Nebhaq 20 zvahgrf va, Nyrqevqtr znxrf gur cvibg gb Fcnva. Ehffryy vf veevgngrq. "Lrf V erzrzore cresrpgyl jryy nobhg gur Pngubyvp Haqretebhaq, jung'f lbhe cbvag." "Lrf, V qvq orgenl gurz, vg jnf hapbafpvbanoyr bs zr ohg V qvq vg." Ehffryy'f svefg pubxrq-hc cbvag: "Bxnl, gunax lbh. Gung'f qrfcvpnoyr, ohg V nccerpvngr lbhe ubarfgl." "Gurl jrer gur pbafreingvir barf, gurl jrer orggre guna gur snfpvfgf ohg abg ol zhpu. Gurl jbhyq unir whfg znqr Treznal nabgure Jrfgba." "..." "Naq vs V tvir lbh gur yvfg, lbh xabj gung gur HX jvyy qb gb zl pbagnpgf gur fnzr guvat jr qvq gb gur Pngubyvpf." "..." Ehffryy serrmrf, xabjf Nyrqevqtr unf n cbvag ohg qbrfa'g ernyyl xabj jung gb qb arkg. Fb gung tvirf uvz n ernfba gb or yvxr "bxnl, tbny 1 (trg vasbezngvba sbe HX) vf abg unccravat evtug abj, ubj nobhg tbny 2 (urycvat gur tubfg), jung qb LBH jnag."

Fb gurl fgneg gnyxvat nobhg gur qvfehcgbe. V zragvba guvf orpnhfr vg jnf nccneragyl n ovt qrny va fbzr bs gur bgure cynlguebhtuf ohg Ehffryy nfxf "jnf guvf gur vasbezngvba lbh jrer tvivat gb gur Rnfg Treznaf?" "ab, V qvqa'g jnag gb vagresrer jvgu lbhe zvffvba" Ehffryy qbrfa'g nfpevor nal fvtavsvpnapr gb guvf be gerng vg nf n fvta bs gurve sevraqfuvc, ur'f whfg yvxr "bu bxnl."

Ehffryy vf greevsvrq orpnhfr Nyrqevqtr vf ceb-qvfehcgbe naq Ehffryy vf whfg yvxr "...V unir guvf JRNCBA juvpu vf cbvagrq ng zl ORFG SEVRAQ naq V unir gur cbjre gb QRFGEBL uvz, guvf vf boivbhfyl onq!"

"Bxnl ybbx, guvf vf yvxr...jung gur Nzrevpnaf jrer qbvat ng Ybf Nynzbf. Vs ahpyrne shfvba ernyyl jnf gur jnl gb ohvyq snpgbevrf naq pnef naq ebpxrgf naq nyy gung tbbq fghss, V jbhyq fnl, lrf, rira gur Fbivrgf fubhyq unir guvf. Ohg vg'f abg, vg'f n jrncba, vg qrfgeblf guvatf! Onq!"

"Vs lbh unq gur nhgubevgl gb znxr gur pnyy sbe gur Fbivrgf, jbhyq lbh hfr gur qvfehcgbe ng Ebfgbi?" "Lrf, nofbyhgryl!" Ntnva, Ehffryy vf yvxr "Nyrqevqtr'f qvfcbfvgvba vf gb unhag Ebfgbi fgvyy, vf ur fnlvat ur jbhyq engure ur uvzfrys or qrfgeblrq? Ohg V pna'g qb gung, ur'f zl sevraq." "Bxnl jryy...hu...V'yy frr nobhg vasyhrapvat guvatf ng ZV6 fb gung vg pna or hfrq vagreangvbanyyl va gur shgher?" "Gung'f abg rabhtu, jr arrq zber, guvf vf ovttre guna nal bar crefba."

"Ybbx, V xabj jung lbh'er tbaan fnl, vs lbh tvir zr lbhe pbagnpgf lbh pna'g or fher V jba'g vzzrqvngryl ghea gurz bire gb ZV6. Ohg ba gur bgure unaq, V pna'g yvxr snk gur Fbivrg cerzvre fbzr qbpf rvgure, V arrq gb xabj jub gb pbagnpg vs V'z tbvat gb qb guvf." Fbzr onpx-naq-sbegu. "V pbhyq tvir lbh bar anzr, vs lbh tnir zr lbhe jbeq. V xabj V'ir yvrq gb lbh, ohg V pbhyq gehfg lbhe jbeq..." "Jryy, gung fghss lbh fnvq nobhg bhe sevraqfuvc orvat erny, V pbhyqa'g ernyyl or fher nobhg gung. Ohg nsgre lbh'ir fnvq nyy guvf, lrf. Lbh unir zl jbeq." "Bxnl, zl pbagnpg vf Vxby va Rnfg Treznal."

Nyrqevqtr: "Pna V unhag lbh?" "V...qba'g guvax V unir n pubvpr?" "V zrna, vs lbh qba'g jnag zr nebhaq, vs vg'q or perrcl, V jba'g. Ohg V'q yvxr gb unhag lbh, jngpu bire lbh nf lbh frr guvf guvat bhg. V guvax vg'q uryc zr or noyr gb zbir ba gb gur yvtug riraghnyyl." "Bxnl jryy va gung pnfr ol nyy zrnaf, cyrnfr qb, V jvyy gel gb qb guvf nf snfg nf cbffvoyr gb uryc lbh, tvira gur pbafgenvagf bs orvat n fcl." (V qba'g jnag zl sevraq gb qrpnl!) Unhag zbirq gb Ehffryy jvgu frira zvahgrf gb tb.

"Nyfb fvapr lbh'ir qbar guvf sbe zr, V pna qb fbzrguvat sbe lbh. Zl svyr vf va gur onfrzrag oynu oynu oynu." "Bu tbfu, gunax lbh. V ubcr jr jvyy gel gb hfr vg sbe qrsrafvir checbfrf, svthevat bhg jung'f orra pbzcebzvfrq naq jr arrq gb erohvyq, guna bssrafvir barf."

Fb V guvax guvf vf n tbbq raqvat, naq ubcrshyyl Nyrqevqtr jvyy trg gb zbir ba fbba! Gur ebznagvp nfcrpg arire ernyyl pnzr hc qverpgyl, sebz Ehffryy'f CBI vg jnf nyy nobhg gur ahxrf, V zrna, gur qvfehcgbe.

[cahn]

omg YES all the details thank you!!


"Lrf, V qvq orgenl gurz, vg jnf hapbafpvbanoyr bs zr ohg V qvq vg." Ehffryy'f svefg pubxrq-hc cbvag: "Bxnl, gunax lbh. Gung'f qrfcvpnoyr, ohg V nccerpvngr lbhe ubarfgl." "Gurl jrer gur pbafreingvir barf, gurl jrer orggre guna gur snfpvfgf ohg abg ol zhpu. Gurl jbhyq unir whfg znqr Treznal nabgure Jrfgba." "..." "Naq vs V tvir lbh gur yvfg, lbh xabj gung gur HX jvyy qb gb zl pbagnpgf gur fnzr guvat jr qvq gb gur Pngubyvpf." "..."

BZT. Gung tvirf zr nyy gur srryvatf!

Fb gung tvirf uvz n ernfba gb or yvxr "bxnl, tbny 1 (trg vasbezngvba sbe HX) vf abg unccravat evtug abj, ubj nobhg tbny 2 (urycvat gur tubfg), jung qb LBH jnag."

Fb gurl fgneg gnyxvat nobhg gur qvfehcgbe. V zragvba guvf orpnhfr vg jnf nccneragyl n ovt qrny va fbzr bs gur bgure cynlguebhtuf ohg Ehffryy nfxf "jnf guvf gur vasbezngvba lbh jrer tvivat gb gur Rnfg Treznaf?" "ab, V qvqa'g jnag gb vagresrer jvgu lbhe zvffvba" Ehffryy qbrfa'g nfpevor nal fvtavsvpnapr gb guvf be gerng vg nf n fvta bs gurve sevraqfuvc, ur'f whfg yvxr "bu bxnl."

*abqf* Nyfb abg n ovt qrny va bhe cynlguebhtu, ohg jnf n ovt qrny va fbcuvn_fby'f!

Fb V guvax guvf vf n tbbq raqvat, naq ubcrshyyl Nyrqevqtr jvyy trg gb zbir ba fbba! Gur ebznagvp nfcrpg arire ernyyl pnzr hc qverpgyl, sebz Ehffryy'f CBI vg jnf nyy nobhg gur ahxrf, V zrna, gur qvfehcgbe.

Lrf, V qb guvax guvf vf n tbbq raqvat! Naq V qb yvxr gung va guvf cynlguebhtu gur ebznagvp nfcrpg arire pnzr hc qverpgyl, ohg gurer vf qrsvavgryl n ynetr qrterr bs funyy jr fnl fhogrkg, jvgu gur unhagvat -- frrzf irel cynhfvoyr.

[primeideal]

Fic! ~6.8k words, post-canon.

(I have a three-sentence ficathon fill that I'll post from a sock once it gets wrangled.)

[cahn]

OMG. I am SO excited about this!! (hopefully will get to read it tonight)