RQG 153
And we're 30 seconds in and I just got hit by the realization Azu isn't going to see the sky for a week. I know its not under water in enemy territory but that also means she doesn't have a mission to distract her.
I love Cel! Zolf tries to do a leadership and prep them for what to expect (since they don't need the element of surprise this time) so Cel changes form because rats are more easily entertained. Alex has to come in with the restrictions but still a nice way to remind Zolf this is not the nice neat chain of command he remembers. Yeah reverting is better than "ha ha you're now a rat all week". OctoCel!
Nice! Zolf is declaring Family Game Night.
Speaking of leadership, Hamid remembers this isn't season 1 and thanks Zolf instead of asking the reasonable but not productive questions of where this was last time.
Alex points out the space issue again. Still not sure if he did this on purpose as a way to poke at the party and see how they react or if he just didn't design the space big enough last time and refuses to retcon an extra cell into the basement. TBF if there had been 2 cells last time, Hamid & Azu sharing wouldn't have made sense and if they couldn't hug the fandom might have never forgiven Zolf & Wilde.
Oh Cel can change 4 times a day
Zone of Truth or Dare
Not sure if he is joking or not but Zolf getting out of conversation by melting into a wall is an image
Thanks Lyd!
Hamid "is fine and he can snuggle up with Azu". Thanks Bryn!
Barnes makes Carter switch so he can get some sleep
Hamid is such a good person. He isn't trying to charm or justify, it isn't about abstract team cohesion. He just gives a sincere apology for not following the rules because even if he doesn't understand, he does trust that Zolf wouldn't hold him to them without reason.
Zolf is great too, and tells Hamid it isn't needed
Zolf has grown so GD much! He just cited his leaving and prompted Hamid to ask any questions. Oh I want everything on those 18 months but maybe Hamid shouldn't press when its so hard for him, especially when he can't leave the room if things get rough? I am so conflicted.
Thats my little leader, immediately switches the focus to working together again.
Ow "honestly we were never that good at working together anyway" so no rosy glasses on Zolf. Helen's gasp is, as ever, a mood
Zolf still has that negative charisma. I can't explain how much I like that his mental health kick didn't turn him into a different person. Him tripping over his tongue on things like this is part of why he isn't a Zolf in name only, like I feared when I found out we were getting him back after his breakdown.
Aw Azu & Cel offer them the illusion of privacy as Hamid pretends he isn't hurt.
I love Cel's hammock and their shipping. Pausing before it can be jossed, don't think he can duck this time. Called it. Okay but he did admit he cares about Wilde just not romantically and canon doesn't have to see eye to eye with fic.
Carter tried to date Wilde? Or at least pursued him?
God bless Hamid is cutting straight to the rank issue. Look I know I have a proper thing about rank and that respecting Hamid's growth means not treating him like season 1, but people need to know who is calling the shots in time sensitive, dangerous situations.
The proper response to the suggestion they fight it out is not to point out logistical barriers
Zolf points out that if Hamid actually fought they would all die which is a heck of a double edged statement. It respects his power while pointing out the collateral damage. Then he points out he would win in a no magic fight which is true but if Hamid doesn't already have a complex about his self worth & magic I'd be amazed.
Azu tries to declare they aren't doing this while Hamid comes in with the lore. Because Bryn loves the listeners and wants us to be happy. Ooh if the claws aren't magic magic what about the rest? not that I want him to get pissed enough to breathe fire or whatever it was that got him scaley but at least he can't isn't relying on his wits if they encounter one of these fields in the field.
Is Carter being Carter or is he stealing Wilde's bit of uniting the party in hating him?
The irony that explaining why Zolf should lead is the single best proof of Hamid's leadership skills is not lost on me. A real leader puts the good of the party above any desire for rank or power.
Not sure if this counts as yelling should probably mark as starting around 10 minutes in for CWs
Ok I don't know why I am so pleased and surprised at these two having a direct conversation with past incidents as examples using clear language like "I was frustrated". I mean lord knows RQ told toxic masculinity to take a hike from the beginning so maybe its less surprised than grateful? They don't agree but are clearly more concerned with understanding than with getting in a pissing match.
"...And I guess I'm not that old because I haven't lived through the 18 months" Look at him learning to stand up for himself while still being fair to the other side. How can you not love him?
Bless, Hamid is worse than me, if I talk quick enough the right words will come out before I run out of courage right?
I love the peanut gallery.
Oh dear that's a tone on Zolf I'm just going to take a moment before the "but" comes in.
Zolf is being fair, I don't necessarily agree but he is being fair and sounds willing to listen.
Hamid spells it out in small words that the flippant tone is a coping mechanism.
Zolf wants to move on to the rest of the party now that they've said what needed to be said to each other. Yeah sorry Carter, Hamid isn't going to let Zolf get lost in his own head any more than Zolf is going to let Hamid run into danger because if he thought about it he would freeze.
And Carter & Barnes are sharing all the tricks. Guess Hamid isn't the only one who does better if he can merc a guy after a hard week
They are having a direct conversation about Zolf leaving!
Backstory! So it was a debt more than a calling
Brynterval, useful I needed a laugh break too and this way I don't miss anything.
They are keeping up the relationship metaphor for all its worth. It really does work though.
Azu quit alluding and tell us your story.
Aw he's retelling Dover! I ever tell you guys that's when I quit waiting for him and or RQ to show their bad side? The damn romance novels were like a promise they weren't going to betray the story over "what's expected". I was so braced for that stupid "pick a fight with the toughest guy in the yard to buy respect" trope. Instead they just said nope: no prison fights, no guard abuse, his biggest danger is developing an addiction to cheap books.
Thank you Cel!
Hamid mentioning Mr Ceiling reminds Zolf that still have Shoin's brorb.
Oh the diary
Zolf has more Campbells
Cel is awesome and asks if Hamid want to talk about Aziza
Liliana finally got mentioned, realizing Hamid was the last to know about that part of the story hurt
So they might be a hivemind
Carter has a nice little cache in the cell of daggers & a wide variety of booze.
Carter suggests they should get so drunk their minds aren't worth hiving.
Oh Cel & the Elvish mead
Carter is drinking the Orcish whiskey to make a point
Yeah, yeah, how the heck Hamid came through not only his life preseries but this adventure with a healthy relationship with alcohol is beyond me. Not a patch on his experience and I'm teetotal. That's arguably why it's important to have though (plus if they went anywhere with an alcoholism plot I probably won't be able to listen)
Barnes has the rum and is Jeff Goldblum posing.
I love one(1) low charisma man. Zolf is trying to draw Azu & Cel into conversation.
Azu backstory time! A vision of Aphrodite in her dream led her to follow a wandering paladin.
Little leader tucks Carter in
Azu asks for Cel backstory
Cel is around 97, and they were raised in America. Their Dad was a merchant sailor. The trade cut off and defenses failed destroying the town.
Its time to give Hamid crap about capitalism. Zolf tells Barnes to leave off.
Zolf joined the Navy because he "killed his brother"!?! Wanna try that again with details? Oh Zolf honey it was an accident.
Hamid hugs Zolf while he talks. Zolf says all that then knocks stone out of ceiling in a demonstration of his powers.
Hamid remembers Zolf wasn't in Cairo and starts describing the prank gone wrong and I'm just gonna take another sec because if Zolf doesn't take this the right way its gonna hurt.
Did Hamid just quote Grizzop at Zolf?
Cel just declared they are staying with the party
Just barely through the first quarantine episode. We might hit the same ratio as the dungeon after all.
Gosh I love that theme tune
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