(no subject)

[lapwing]

[On the network is what appears to be a young boy, about 12 or 13 years old. For a moment, he stares quite soulfully at the video output impossibly deep, black eyes, and then pokes at the screen with one fingernail.]

Not even a proper imp in there, how's that for you...?

[He pulls back and mimes clearing his throat. A voice far, far more booming than is fit for the child's face resounds across the feed.]

Right, broadcast. AHEM. This is just a friendly, non-suspicious question, inquiring on when the next coup or violent overthrow of this government is going to be. Not that I'm actually advocating it, I just know you humans really can't resist.

I'm pretty handy with a popcorn machine if anyone can provide good seats.

Comments

[rathercommon]

Barti-

[ She starts that, her brows drawn down, her lips parted. She stops herself, pauses; takes a breath; and says, her voice quiet with suppressed emotion: ]

I don't regret a bit of it. I'd do it a thousand times.

1/ ???

[lapwing]

[ HA THAT'S WHAT HE- ]

[lapwing]

[ Oh. ]

[lapwing]

[ Oh.






The line snaps off.]

[lapwing]

[ That was a lie.




It probably wasn't a lie.


It COULD have been a lie.




or it might not have been a lie but one of those things that are easier to say in retrospect rather than have done at the time with the pressure on...







Or wasn't a lie.




















But there was an agenda involved. ]

[lapwing]

[ Ah.

Okay. Yes. Got it.


That's better. ]

[lapwing]

[ And it snaps back on... ]

I swear they make these unreliable on purpose. I can see why we just haven't adopted these at all.

DONE

[lapwing]

Anyways, that's all well and easy to say now. Not to say it wasn't quite the gesture for your cause.

[rathercommon]

[ She stares at him a long moment, her lips pressed together, her eyes steady and unhappy on his. She knows that pause meant something - but exactly what, she's not sure. And so after that moment, she says: ]

I can't prove to you that I'd do it again. The path is closed. I tried already. But I would.

[lapwing]

... You tried again. Why?

[rathercommon]

[ She hesitates...but in the end, she can't take credit for it, really. ]

It wasn't really trying again. More...trying for the first time. [ She chews on her lip, then says: ] When I first came here, I was pulled from right after when I summoned you for the first time. - You know all the rubbish about time travel and all that, right? - Anyway. I had a copy of Ptolemy's book, and I had it translated, and I tried to use it. Didn't work. [ Though, in her defense: ] Though I did know that there'd be effects then, and I still did it, didn't I.

[lapwing]

No. Wait.

You tried it without a spirit to call on here? What if it had WORKED?

[rathercommon]

Well...I tried calling on you. I was testing out whether there was any way across worlds.

[lapwing]

... That... could have worked. Maybe. If you'd had someone on the other side to open up a way out.

Nope. Thought about it. Still reckless and stupid.

[rathercommon]

Oh, right, cheers. First I'm an arsehole because I wouldn't do it again, now I'm an idiot because I would.

[lapwing]

[ ... Okay. Point. But. ]

I never said you could win. Nor did I say you should do it AGAIN. That would be stupid. And fatal.

[rathercommon]

Well - potentially fatal.

[lapwing]

Probably. Lets avoid that. You have a lot of good sense rattling around in there. Don't waste it here.

[rathercommon]

Well -

[ She waves her hand in frustration. ]

Except that you've laid me a trap, now, haven't you. If I don't do it again, then it was all just in service of my agenda - and I can't do it again. Therefore, what, you've proven that it was all about my agenda, was it?

[lapwing]

Rather neat, isn't it?

[rathercommon]

Stupid, more like. It's not a trap just for me, after all - you've fallen into it, too.

[lapwing]

I don't see how.

[rathercommon]

Well, you're like the gate guardian who always lies, now, aren't you. No matter what I do, you can't trust me. Which means you never trust. You've made it so even if I deserve that trust, you'll always bet against me.

[lapwing]

[ That would twist a bit. If he cared. But he didn't. So that's fine. ]

Let me reframe that - I've got a better idea of what you will and wont do. Nothing wrong with that. Everyone moves by an agenda, even Ptolemy did. It's not worth getting that riled up on.

[rathercommon]

[ She purses her lips, quiet a moment. Then, firmly: ]

You need to get out of a slave's mindset.