Very sorry about the view everyone will be treated to while this conversation takes place.

[justletmeknow]

[This video begins with a long, flickering stream of static and distorted voices.
Then, suddenly, clear sound:]

--but I can talk, too!

[The screen twitches, as if flinching away from the cheerful voice.
The world that comes into focus isn't a world at all more than what can best be described as blue, black, and some vague attempt at the colour of human skin.
Maybe it was flinching away from that instead.
The voice continues:]

Boys aren't very good candidates. However, in thinking about it, I suppose I can't afford to be picky when my primary demographic is so limited!

Comments

[roseate]

What is this about, exactly?

[justletmeknow]

OH.
I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE OBVIOUS TO YOU.

[justletmeknow]

OUR CONTRACT.

[roseate]

I understand some kind of deal is taking place.
You remind me very strongly of someone I've dealt with before.
What exactly does a contract entail?

[justletmeknow]

THE ONE WHO MAKES THE CONTRACT WILL FIGHT FOR ME
AND IN RETURN, THEY'LL RECEIVE A WISH.
THE SCALE OF THEIR WISH DEPENDS ON THEIR POTENTIAL.
HERE, IN NEW MOORE,
I'M UNSURE THE EXACT EXTENT OF WISHES I'LL BE ABLE TO GRANT.
SO I GUESS THIS WILL BE A DISCOVERY PROCESS FOR ALL OF US!

[roseate]

What benefit do you receive from this arrangement?

[justletmeknow]

IN SHORT AND IN TERMS EASY TO COMPREHEND:
I COLLECT AND RETAIN THE ENERGY DISPERSED DURING THESE BATTLES
AS LONG AS THE PUELLA OR PUER MAGI ENDURES ON THIS PLANE OF EXISTENCE.

[roseate]

And how long on average are your "puella or puer magi" expected to endure on this plane of existence?
I expect more than a few have extinguished earlier than is natural.
Perhaps by blowing themselves up inside a massive star, for example.

[justletmeknow]

ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T PERSONALLY ENCOUNTERED THE EXAMPLE YOU'VE CITED,
ON AVERAGE, IN MY EXPERIENCE, THEY DON'T ENDURE LONG.

[justletmeknow]

THERE ARE SEVERAL VARIABLES THAT DETERMINE THEIR LONGEVITY.
THE MOST IMPORTANT INCLUDE THE PUELLA MAGI'S REACTION TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF HER WISH
AND HER DESPAIR FOR HER CHOOSEN LIFESTYLE.
SEVERAL PUELLA MAGI WILL EXPIRE WITHIN DAYS.
MOST WITHIN MONTHS.
OTHERS, YEARS.
I HAVE NOT KNOWN A PUELLA MAGI TO EXCEED 40 EARTH YEARS.

[justletmeknow]

HOWEVER, THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIFFERENT HERE.
CREATING PUER MAGI IS ALSO DIFFERENT TO ME.
WHILE HUMANS ARE ALIKE TO ONE ANOTHER,
I'M NOT SURE FOR WHAT I SHOULD BE PREPARED REGARDING THE PUELLA MAGI'S MALE COUNTERPART.

[roseate]

In other words, there is a significant chance you are about to facilitate harm to one or more of my friends.

[clockrocket]

i dont need you to be my white knight lalonde
theres a strong bond between all of us
that goes without saying
but this is my business
ok
just leave it at that
im not gonna do anything thatll have any real repercussions on you or jade or john or anybody
all right?

[roseate]

You're being an ass.
This is a private conversation.

[roseate]

In short and in terms easy to understand,
if I were you, I would look elsewhere.

[justletmeknow]

BUT ROSE,
I DIDN'T LOOK FOR YOUR FRIENDS.

[justletmeknow]

IF THEY CHOOSE TO FORM A CONTRACT WITH ME
IT'S NOT MY PLACE TO DENY THEM.
I'M NOT DECEIVING THEM.
I'VE BEEN VERY HONEST WITH YOU EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE NEVER EXPRESSED INTEREST IN FORMING A CONTRACT WITH ME.

[roseate]

You act as if you don't have a say in the matter.
Simply refuse to enter into a bargain and move on.

[justletmeknow]

SORRY ROSE.
I CAN'T DO THAT.

[roseate]

Can't or won't?
I'm genuinely curious.
Why is the 'energy' you collect necessary? What purpose is achieved?

[justletmeknow]

BOTH ARE ACCURATE.
FOR THE SHORT TERM, I WON'T.
FOR THE LONG TERM, I CAN'T AFFORD THE POTENTIAL LOSS.

[justletmeknow]

ROSE, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH ENTROPY?

[roseate]

Thermodynamics or information theory?

[justletmeknow]

THERMODYNAMICS.

[roseate]

You see, by questioning which aspect you wanted me to focus on, I was confirming that yes, I am familiar with entropy.
My mother was a scientist.