hadriel | Two ☠ Text

Entry tags:

Two ☠ Text

I've been told that if you keep a body cold enough, it will retain its features for years, frozen in time. Can you imagine yourself like that? Your blood and your bone frozen solid, with skin and hair and everything, eyes open and wide and staring sightless into the world. I'd like you to really think about it- dying in the cold, that is. Preserved perfectly forever.

It would be an interesting way to keep you all from complaining, don't you think? A quick snap freeze and you're all immobile. If we're being honest, I think that would probably be the best solution to our interpersonal problems- but I'd want to keep you just barely alive somehow, conscious enough to still feel fear. Frozen and screaming. Take a minute and think about it. I rather like the idea.

...oh, also, Rage apparently won Hope's stupid poll. He's making the preparations to revive her and you should expect her to awaken at the end of the month.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I didn't.

It sounded like the perfect breeding ground for fear- and therefore, power. That was all I needed to know.

I have to admit, I find this kind of honesty and directness a refreshing change. What is your plan for us now? Assuming you have a plan, of course.

Thank you.

My plan is to continue using your fear to gather more power for as long as I'm able.

I assume that also means that you plan to scare everyone here for maximum effect, yes?

[That's a fairly obvious next step, and given the threatening undertones of Fear's original message, it's not much of a leap to make.]

What would prevent you from gathering that power? You said "as long as I'm able."

I assume our arrangement won't go on forever. Hope will tire of resurrecting you, or the Door will take you all back, or the Door will stop bringing humans to us and the rest of you will die of old age.

Is this the first time you've encountered humans?

Yes.

Is this your first time with a higher power?

No, though I wouldn't necessarily classify you or the Admiral as a "higher" power. Holding arbitrary control over someone you deem less than yourself doesn't make you anything but a tyrant.

You are less than me. Look at you, in your plodding four-limbed bodies- barely sentient at all. I'm not sure why humans have such difficulty accepting this.

Well, I suppose these "plodding, four-limbed bodies" do well enough for an average of seventy years. We are at least sentient enough for that much.

You're welcome.

You mentioned an Admiral?

I did, yes.

[He knows that's not the real question being asked, but he answers with a deliberate misinterpretation anyway. Old belligerent habits die hard.]

...care to elaborate?

I suppose I could. What would you like to know?

Anything. I'm curious how the others in my position present themselves.

Like a petty tyrant, watching ants scurry under glass.

[No love lost between Beyond and the Admiral, clearly.]

That seems cruel. Was there any reason for this?

Of course. Chiefly, some rather egotistical notions about forcing redemption on those he deemed in need of it.

Redemption?

That seems rather vague.

Are you unfamiliar with the concept?

I'm familiar with it. It just seems like something that's very subjective and impossible to measure.

Then you see the flaw in the entire system.

[One of many, in Beyond's opinion.]

Well, you're in better hands now. I won't ask for anything so subjective.

But you will ask for something?

I'll ask for fear. That's all I need.

Two ☠ Text

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.

text.