the moon is bright enough (LUNCH CLUB) DISCONTINUED

and the stars whisper while you dream

"Maybe you could mind-read him, to see if he's okay."

That's a good idea. He probably should've thought of that. "Hey, I have an idea," Connor says, just to be an asshole. "Why don't I mind-read him to see if he's okay?"

Ty rolls his eyes so hard Connor can practically hear it, and he gives a soft snort of laughter.

"I doubt it'll work, if I'm honest," he admits after a second, toying with the buttons on his suit. It's a really nice suit: purple jacket and tie, then a yellow shirt. Technoblade had kidnapped a tailor and forced them to make the outfits. Honestly, worth it. 

Perhaps having an ex-hitman on your side and in your business isn't so bad.

Ty hums, tilting his head. He's in a similar fit, except his is pink. All different shades of pink. So much fucking pink. "Why?"

"I don't know, if he's far off, I doubt I'll get a link. It might work for plot convenience, though," Connor says. "Give me a second."

He closes his eyes, blocking out Ty's thoughts. Huh, there seems to be people nearby; they're messing with the signals. Probably just a group passing by, no big deal. 

Schlatt, he thinks. Find Schlatt. Schlatt's thoughts.

It's hazy at first. Behind his eyelids, he sees a comforting shade of blue, which shifts to red, then black, then back to blue again. He probes further, past the colours, and finds himself seeing flashes of images.

A beam of light. Charlie's face. Techno frowning. Ty, but as a baby, and Connor has a beard. What the fuck?

He tries to find the words. The thoughts themselves.

Schlatt's voice is booming in his mind.

Schlattcoin, the faun murmurs, sounding almost drunk. Value only goes up. Deals and business...

Connor opens his eyes. "He's sleeping. Dreaming of his cryptocurrency again. How many times do I have to tell him it's not working! No one's bought a single Schlattcoin other than Wilbur and Arlus, and Arlus is gone! He's fucking gone! He left the company years ago!"

"Connor," Ty says, quiet and urgent, "Connor, be quiet."

"No! Schlatt has been going off the rails trying to get people to buy Schlattcoin, but no one will. No one! They all say it's a scam. It's a scam! It's a scam, Ty, it–"

"Connor, please," Ty says again, voice more forceful. "We're being watched, I know it, there's people here."

"They're just passing by," Connor snaps and is about to rant again when – wait.

Did he just hear a fucking howl?

He shuts his mouth so quickly his jaw clicks. Suppressing a soft noise of pain, Connor scans the land around them, searching for movement. He focuses his mind and reaches out, seeking out thoughts, invasive thoughts–

This should be an easy fight, he hears someone think. The voice is confident, almost smug, deep, familiar..

He moves on to another. Then another. And another.

There are five men.

Five magic men.

Most of them echo the first one's thoughts. One of them is nonsensical barking and growling. Another has functioning thoughts, but the background noise of their mind is the sloshing of water. 

He pauses at the last one. Their mind seems empty; he hears no thoughts, no sounds, nothing. He's about to move on when –

I know you're listening.