three ☠ text

[lingeringfear]

Some of you just can't seem to stop being upset over my methods. While I'm sure Rage is more than happy to let this continue, I'm here to propose a compromise.

I've noticed that many of you feel fear while asleep. After a time, I've discerned that this is due to hallucinations occurring while you are immobile, and I've decided to allow you all to experience more of these frightful hallucinations.

I think that sounds workable. You aren't put into any real physical danger, and I still get power. And, if you can see one another's hallucinations then you'll have more people who frightened of the same thing, which makes my job easier in the long run.

A handsome compromise, yes? Good?

Done.

Comments

text.

[lingeringfear]

If you're trying to convince me to nix the nightmare idea and resume torturing you all in reality, then you're doing a fantastic job.

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[torrefied]

No, that's not my aim at all. I'm just trying to understand you.

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[lingeringfear]

I'm simply attempting a compromise in the fruitless hope that you will all stop complaining quite so much and leave us be.

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[torrefied]

Got a little more than you expected with us, didn't you?

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[lingeringfear]

I can't say the result has been entirely predicted.

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[torrefied]

That's the fun thing about humans. Sometimes, we're entirely predictable, and other times, we're not. There's also really no telling which of those you're going to get.

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[lingeringfear]

Yes, I've learned that.

Some of you are pleasant to have around, at least.

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[torrefied]

By what criteria do you categorize those who are pleasant and those who are not?

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[lingeringfear]

Well, the unpleasant ones are typically hellbent on killing me.

I like it when others are willing to talk, though. Learning about your worlds is fascinating.

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[torrefied]

Yeah, I can see why you'd find that irritating. It looks like nobody's been successful, though. Are you unable to be killed?

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[lingeringfear]

Clearly we can be, hence the resurrections.

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[torrefied]

All of you? I'm guessing at least one of you wasn't dead to begin with. Someone had to be around to perform the resurrections - unless you spontaneously regenerated?

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[lingeringfear]

Oh. No, Hope and I both never died, but we're the same species as the rest. None of us are truly immortal.

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[torrefied]

[GOOD TO KNOW. Mello's definitely filing that away for future reference.]

So did you kill the others?

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[lingeringfear]

What do you think?

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[torrefied]

If I knew, I wouldn't ask.

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[lingeringfear]

If I wanted to clarify, I wouldn't have asked your opinion.

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[torrefied]

Then why did you ask?

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[lingeringfear]

Because I'm not giving you a direct answer.

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[torrefied]

What do you have against direct answers?

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[lingeringfear]

Nothing, when they benefit me.

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[torrefied]

I guess I can't really argue with that.