[video]

[madscientits]

[The video switches on and... All anyone can see is a hand trying desperately to hit keys on the keyboard. And then, an annoyed little grunt is heard and the hand disappears, seemingly giving up.

And then, the terminal starts rocking. Lightly at first, and then violently enough that the desk the keyboard was in and the monitor go toppling onto the floor. By some odd miracle, they still actually function.

Now that it's down on the floor, the video shows Stein looking rather pissed off, and kind of like she was playing Twister without a mat. The awkward positioning of her legs and left arm is held in place by some glowing white strings stitched between her hand and feet, and the floor. Weird.]

I'm in the library. I need something sharp.

...Please.

Comments

[madscientits]

Is there a reason to?

[benigncancer]

Of course. [He looks startled, not having expected the question from a human] It must get pretty lonely, killing everyone you encounter.

[madscientits]

Maybe he prefers to be alone. ...I'm not saying it's impossible to redeem him, but considering he's an adult, you'll have an easier time reaching him from his own perspective rather than just telling him something's against the rules or trying to appeal to an emotional response he most likely doesn't have.

Oh, and don't try to assign blame on someone else for how he is, unless he volunteers that first. [She might be wrong, but The Grand Highblood definitely sounded like her, or at least how she would have turned out if she was encouraged to kill as a child. The least she could do was offer some advice to this guy so he didn't end up getting himself killed if he tried again.]

[benigncancer]

[Signless' eyes widened at this advice, and then turned inward, thoughtful.]

You're right. I've been going about it all wrong, haven't I? But how the taint-chafing fuck do I reach him from his perspective? I can't cull someone and start painting with their blood. Besides, he'd probably find that blasphemous.

[He looks at her] You understand, don't you?

[madscientits]

[She understood, yes. More than she'd really like to.

And that understanding was rare enough - and even more rare for a person to be able to move past their natural inclinations - that Stein wondered if she was the only one in the Tower who did understand.]

If you can think of a way for me to talk to him where I wouldn't be putting myself at risk, I'd be willing to do that.

[benigncancer]

[Signless considers that for a bit] Well, I'm not entirely sure. I was able to talk to him on a couple of occasions without him culling me, but then the third time he just did it without warning. I don't know if he's just erratic, or if something changed.

I'd be willing to try again, if you want to come with me. At the very least, he'd probably be far more interested in culling me than in hurting you.

[madscientits]

The next time you wish to speak with him, come and find me. It might not work, but if I can get through to him, it might do some good.

At the very least, the two of us might have an easier time killing him than just one of us. [She shrugs one shoulder.]

[benigncancer]

[He winces, and nods] I suppose there's that, yeah.

[madscientits]

[She cracks a wry smile] You're too much of a pacifist compared to the rest of your species. It's going to get you into trouble at some point.

[benigncancer]

You think? [He looks wry] I've already become a revolutionary leader and been martyred for it. Though the latter bit I haven't actually experienced. But that's a lot of trouble, trust me.

[madscientits]

I don't think there's much more trouble you can get in than that. I'm guessing you were trying to overthrow the Hemospectrum and give your fellow trolls the chance to be something more than their blood color? You have a dream that one day your children will be judged by their character and not the color of their blood and all that?

[benigncancer]

Um...something like that. [He blushes a bit] I've always had dreams - visions, really - of a version of our world where that's true. That's how I know it's possible. Something's gone wrong in our version of the universe.

[madscientits]

I wonder if that's what happened in my universe too. Somewhere there's a version where things didn't turn out badly and everything is as fine as could be.

But it's possible that everything that's wrong with your world has happened for a reason, I hope you realize.

[benigncancer]

[He's quite serious] Oh, I'm sure there's a reason. It's just not a good reason. In fact, I think someone's been manipulating my universe.

[madscientits]

Now there's a conspiracy theory I can really sink my teeth into. [She snickers, totally not believing the Signless for half a second.]

[benigncancer]

[He smiles back, recognizing that she doesn't believe him, but that's okay.] Yeah, hard to believe.

[madscientits]

I'm sure I've heard stranger.

Who do you think is controlling your universe?

[benigncancer]

I'm not really sure. [Signless smiles wryly] But I think it's a demon with a cueball for a head.

[madscientits]

[She's trying really hard to not just break down laughing. Be happy she's making the effort.] I guess that's not any crazier than a woman with a screw through her head, all things considered.

[benigncancer]

[Oh he knows it sounds crazy, believe me] Thanks for saying so. Believe me, I've wondered if I'm shithive lots of times.

[madscientits]

You very well might be. [She shrugs.] But that doesn't mean that the fear you feel isn't any less relevant just because it's not real.

[benigncancer]

It also doesn't mean that the danger I see isn't real. [He shrugs] I have reasons for being pretty sure it IS real, but it doesn't really matter here.

[madscientits]

No, I suppose it doesn't.

...Do you believe what they say about our worlds being destroyed? Or do you think they're just telling us that so we don't try too hard to escape?

[benigncancer]

[He's silent for a moment, his expression solemn] I believe that my world is destroyed. But I don't believe what our captors are saying, either. My world was destroyed a thousand years after my death, so why bring me? I still have sweeps to live.

[madscientits]

[Nods] And why save duplicates, right? One version of someone would be enough, I'd think. They're up to something, and I don't think it's saving anyone.

And that's what you're all about, isn't it. You just want everyone to leave this situation in one piece.