[text/action]

[bashfulshifter]

[It's roughly mid-afternoon when Rick is revived--the first floor dorms will be alerted to his presence as he bursts out of 1-16 and runs to the bathrooms, then dry-heaves for an alarming amount of time.]

[He's not taken his death well. To be fair, it's not just dying that's troubling him. The administrators have removed the monster from his mind, but they didn't remove the memories of when it possessed him; he might not recall the exact words he used, or the motivations he had, but the pained expressions of those he targeted remain, and they are agonizing. If only Enoch had killed him for good! If only he never had to look at them again!]

[Of course the Tower won't go easy on him there. Dragging his feet, disheveled and shuddering with occasional sobs, Rick staggers to a terminal while the words are still fresh in his head and bashes out a quick notice: ]

This is Patrick Dawn. Some of you might have met me over the past few days...I need to let you know that the person you met wasn't me.

I'm a shapeshifter--I can take the forms of other creatures if I find them...in a certain condition. I had an idea to try and bond with a monster this way, and...well, it worked...but I couldn't control it. The monsters aren't what they appear to be. I'm not quite sure what they are, exactly...Please, if you have abilities similar to mine, don't follow my lead. For the amount of pain and suffering I've put everyone through, it's not worth it.

For the people that I encountered...I can't even begin to express how sorry I am. I would ask for your forgiveness, but this whole thing was my fault--I don't deserve your sympathies. If there's any possible way for me to make up for the horrible things I've said and done, I will be more than willing to follow through...but I also understand if that's an impossible request. I would take everything back if I could, but...I can't, so...I need to learn to live with my mistakes.

I know it's not enough...I'm so sorry.

[Rick immediately abandons the terminal after he posts to go hide in his room. He'll reply to people, but only after a few hours of collecting his thoughts again.]

Comments

[blackwitch]

[ Don't worry, she isn't going to kill him. Not now, at least. She just likes prodding people. ]

There's a difference between thinking you deserve it and letting it happen! Most people are too much of a coward to willingly let themselves die, especially if it's just to repeant.

[bashfulshifter]

...You're right. I don't think I could--at least, not on my world. But death isn't as...permanent in the Tower as it is back home. If it's necessary...I wouldn't have much of a choice.

[As it had been necessary for Enoch to kill him yesterday, to keep him from hurting more people. If he hadn't...who knew how long he would have kept up with the hunt?]

[blackwitch]

This is exactly why humans are so funny! They always say they're okay with that stuff or that they could do it.. but when it comes down to it they just run away half of the time and turn out to be a coward and beg for their lives. I can't help but want to see you in a situation like that!

[ .. ah, yes, Evatrice, that's a really nice and normal thing to say.. ]

[bashfulshifter]

[YES PERFECTLY NORMAL NOT ALARMING OR WEIRD IN THE SLIGHTEST]

[Rick pointedly does not reply to this.]

[blackwitch]

[ SHE'S TERRIBLE even when she isn't directly planning on hurting anyone she's absolutely the worst. It's why she doesn't just give up. ]

What, scared already? Even though nothing has happened yet..