what is lust (baby don't hurt me) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fingerbang) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
maskormenace2014-03-13 11:54 am
fingerbang) wrote in maskormenace2014-03-13 11:54 am
Entry tags:
- † aoba seragaki | sly blue,
- † billy kaplan | wiccan,
- † cecil palmer | the voice,
- † curt connors | the lizard,
- † diego armando | godot,
- † edward nygma | the riddler,
- † gabriel | trickster,
- † greed | n/a,
- † harvey dent | two-face,
- † hyperion crius | genesis,
- † john mitchell | n/a,
- † kanaya maryam-lalonde | psychopomp,
- † kate bishop | hawkeye,
- † kotetsu t. kaburagi | wild tiger,
- † light yagami | n/a,
- † loki laufeyson | n/a,
- † lust | n/a,
- † madison montgomery | n/a,
- † miles edgeworth | n/a,
- † pitch black | the nightmare king,
- † roy mustang | the flame alchemist,
- † tony stark | iron man,
- † violet harmon | n/a
one ( voice )
So we've weathered our first publicly broadcast display of violence. In this world, that is.
[ A woman is speaking. She sounds pleasant enough at first blush, soft and modulated and distinctly feminine, but beneath that there's the unmistakable tone of someone who very much enjoys listening to the sound of her own voice. ]
Honestly -- I knew our communal memory was short, but this kind of nostalgia has never been worth repeating. I'm sure you all think you're terribly special, subjected to this indignity and being called "hero" on top of it. That must be such an insult. It had better be, for you to react like such children.
You're not the first, you know, and what happened this week won't be the last incident of its kind. That's the tragedy of random selection, right? There's no telling what kind of people will come out. In the last place, let's see... there was the old military commander who unleashed vampires on the City and almost detonated a bomb in this country's capital. There was the scientist who experimented on children and made her own army of feral monsters. The psychiatrist who caused mass hallucinations at a parade. The one who summoned an immense baby to wreak havoc on New Year's Eve.
[ There's no trace of humor in her voice, even at that last one. ImPorts, man. They've seen some shit. ]
I could go on, if you'd like, but I think you understand by now. Do you know what those people all had in common? Not one is still here today. Some of them were killed [ one by her personally, whoops ] and some were imprisoned -- others lingered on to vanish into thin air, like so many before them. But none of them managed to see their work borne out in a lasting way. That was all under Lachesis, who had much less interest vested in making sure we cooperated than our current monitors. Her greatest concerns were always for herself. After all, with the power she had to command, we could all of us be replaced, and our lives renewed at her discretion. Her entertainment was a much more fragile matter. Whether that still holds true, I couldn't say -- as far as I know, none of us can, as none of us have died. But the heroes made up for her apathy, just as they'll do now. That's just how it goes, and this time around the deck is stacked in heroism's favor.
Don't misunderstand what I'm trying to say -- if you're going to make a spectacle of yourselves, I don't particularly care what happens to you. But every action has a consequence, no matter how untouchable you'd like to believe yourself. If you have any questions, of course, I'd be happy to answer. The only trait less attractive than ignorance is hubris. Let's not mix the two any further.
[ A woman is speaking. She sounds pleasant enough at first blush, soft and modulated and distinctly feminine, but beneath that there's the unmistakable tone of someone who very much enjoys listening to the sound of her own voice. ]
Honestly -- I knew our communal memory was short, but this kind of nostalgia has never been worth repeating. I'm sure you all think you're terribly special, subjected to this indignity and being called "hero" on top of it. That must be such an insult. It had better be, for you to react like such children.
You're not the first, you know, and what happened this week won't be the last incident of its kind. That's the tragedy of random selection, right? There's no telling what kind of people will come out. In the last place, let's see... there was the old military commander who unleashed vampires on the City and almost detonated a bomb in this country's capital. There was the scientist who experimented on children and made her own army of feral monsters. The psychiatrist who caused mass hallucinations at a parade. The one who summoned an immense baby to wreak havoc on New Year's Eve.
[ There's no trace of humor in her voice, even at that last one. ImPorts, man. They've seen some shit. ]
I could go on, if you'd like, but I think you understand by now. Do you know what those people all had in common? Not one is still here today. Some of them were killed [ one by her personally, whoops ] and some were imprisoned -- others lingered on to vanish into thin air, like so many before them. But none of them managed to see their work borne out in a lasting way. That was all under Lachesis, who had much less interest vested in making sure we cooperated than our current monitors. Her greatest concerns were always for herself. After all, with the power she had to command, we could all of us be replaced, and our lives renewed at her discretion. Her entertainment was a much more fragile matter. Whether that still holds true, I couldn't say -- as far as I know, none of us can, as none of us have died. But the heroes made up for her apathy, just as they'll do now. That's just how it goes, and this time around the deck is stacked in heroism's favor.
Don't misunderstand what I'm trying to say -- if you're going to make a spectacle of yourselves, I don't particularly care what happens to you. But every action has a consequence, no matter how untouchable you'd like to believe yourself. If you have any questions, of course, I'd be happy to answer. The only trait less attractive than ignorance is hubris. Let's not mix the two any further.
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
[ She sighs. He probably remembers her well enough to know that she's adjusting the fuck out of her hair right now, even without the benefit of a video feed. ]
What do you want, Greed? Beside the usual.
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
[Greed clicks his tongue. Yeah, she's probably doing that thing again, isn't she.] You and I both know that's a stupid question. But I figured since we're being honest with one another -
[He trails off a moment and drums his nails on the side of his glass.] - why don't you tell me just how long you've been here? It's not like it'll hurt, right?
[Pleasant family bonding.]
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
If we're going to do this, you could start with when exactly you got back that body of yours.
[ That body -- not his body. The phrasing is as deliberate as she can make it without going over the line from suggestion to actually giving him easily-surmised information. ]
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
[Though, she really shouldn't know about that, should she.] So you heard about that? Guess news travels. Or is there something else I'm missing?
[But hey, throw her a bone why not.] Couldn't tell you. It's not our friends have been too giving.
[His heels rock and bounce. A bit slowly as they pick up a rhythm.] Now that I've told you mine, think it's only fair. Information for information, after all.
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
[ The Porter has always been generous; the mechanics continue to fascinate her, even after all this time. ]
It's been five years. Trust me -- you have no idea how much you're missing.
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
[A lighter clicks shut on the other side of the feed. It's dangerous territory, but not one he's unused to. So he hums, that smile of his making its presence known with the wet-pull of his lips.]
I'm going to guess you're not going to share, either. That's a shame.
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
[ Or, in this particular case, makes the oil boil higher. Not that she cares now; not that she cared ever. He knew what he was risking when he left. ]
I'm not opposed to it. But it won't be free.
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
Ha - ! [Greed barks as he kicks a heel to the ground with a solid clack.] Did you forget who you're talking to?
I don't doubt it. But for you? I think it should be the other way around, don't you think? [Because seriously. A hot-dip in the lava-pit's enough of a payment already.]
[But he stills. Plucking a cigarette from his jaw to flick the ash clean.] What do you want.
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
[ How unfortunate it is, really, that he understands her too well to trust a word she says. It renders any indication of seriousness she might use meaningless. ]
Stay out of my business, and I'll do you the same courtesy. [ She could elaborate on this, pointing out that the opposite also holds true. They could make each other's lives very difficult, but, unless spite edges out everything else Greed values, doing so is decidedly not in his interest. Even so, there's no need for her to be heavy-handed about it. ] That's all.
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
[Greed slides his heel up against his ankle and shoves the phone against his shoulder. It's true - they know one another too well that it could be disaster on the horizon. A wrench in the gears for both, but it seems civility can be found somewhere in the middle. Sort of.] It shouldn't be a problem. Unless you plan on a repeat of last time.
[He's on the move though. Clicking and clacking with his heels; he's never been a creature to stay still for very long and he's certainly not about to start now.] Which I don't plan on. So - do we have ourselves a deal?
[Not that he trusts it. Not entirely. But at this point, it seems the better option.]
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
[ She doesn't respond to anything else he's said, least of all the mention of "last time." ]
And you've figured out how to privatize. [ WELL, YEAH, LUST, IT WAS LIKE THAT FROM THE BEGINNING but hey at least she didn't imply that someone else had to teach him how to use it. ANYWAY, her point is-- ] Is that how we're conducting this little chat, or will you be sending me a letter? I know how you feel about family reunions.
➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE
[He's on the move though. Heavy with his slow-walk and Greed makes a noise in his throat. A quick-inhale of laugh.] Don't misunderstand. I don't plan on visiting anytime soon.
[His tongue clicks on the back side of his teeth. As he drums on the hollow wood of a frame.] Send what you have to number 22 and we'll see if it's worth it.
[With that, he pulls the receiver end from his ear and cuts the call.]