( 01 ) video.

[oversleeps]

[ when the feed clicks on, marduk is in what appears to be a ruined building near the edge of town. there's snow on the floor and holes in the walls, but he's not wearing a single scrap of winter clothing. more importantly, he doesn't look especially pleased to be doing this. ]

Recently, one of the locals here went missing. Don't ask me what his name was, I'm not the one who gives a shit. I'm just here to solve the mystery.

He's missing because he's dead, and he's dead because I killed him.

[ he pauses here. it looks like it's for dramatic effect, but really he's just trying to figure out how to end the announcement. ]

Most of you would call that murder, wouldn't you? Can't remember if you all figured out what to do about that, but-- if you want retribution, you can come and get it.

[ good enough. the video ends there. ]

Comments

video.

[lucency]

Why would - why would you murder somebody? What point are you trying to prove?

[ belle is unimpressed. distraught, but unimpressed, and she glares. ]

text

[oversleeps]

I don't have anything to prove
Not to you
Or any other human here.
No need to get so up in arms about it, is there?

video;

[lucency]

[ she's expecting a face-to-face response, as close to one as one gets with the tablets. the text catches her off-guard and infuriates her anymore. ]

It's a human life! What do you expect the reaction's going to be amongst decent people!?

[oversleeps]

And what exactly
Would the definition of decent people happen to be

video.

[lucency]

People who don't commit heinous crimes simply because they can seems like a decent start.

You didn't answer my question.

[oversleeps]

I wouldn't know the reaction of a decent person
Seeing as I don't happen to be one, apparently
It's hard for me to estimate what will happen.
You didn't even know who he was
Do you really need to be so outraged?

[lucency]

Yes. I do. You said yourself that you didn't care who he was; what gives you the right to take the life of an ordinary man?!

[oversleeps]

It has nothing to do with rights
Those are granted by others
I sought no permission for my actions.

And really
If you can't protect the rights that you claim to have
Then you might as well not have them at all

[lucency]

[ her eyes move, reading the text over and over with a furrowed brow. ]

Then you're admitting that you had no right to harm him.

[oversleeps]

If you want to interpret it that way
But he still does remain quite harmed.

[lucency]

Clearly.

Why are you telling us this?

[oversleeps]

Well
I suppose it's true that I don't have much to gain
But why not, really?
I think it's been established that I have little shame in the matter

[lucency]

You - you talk about retribution. Do you want someone to come after you?

[oversleeps]

I can't say that I'd mind it
It gives one something better to do than killing the innocent, right?
Don't suppose you're the one offering it
No offense meant, but you hardly seem the type

[lucency]

No. I'm not. [ an eye for an eye leads to blindness and all that. ]

I don't understand how you can be so callous about it.

[oversleeps]

What would you rather me be
Repentant and hand wringing before the crowd?
Begging the forgiveness of people I would just as soon stab in the throat?
Please, enlighten me
How would a decent person would act.

[lucency]

A decent person wouldn't've murdered in cold blood, simply because they could.

[oversleeps]

So you've made clear
If I had been properly remorseful here
To whatever degree you'd deem acceptable
Would you at least not harp on so much about it?

[lucency]

It wouldn't change what you've done. [ god, she looks uncomfortable. ] But it would prove a willingness to do better in the future.

[oversleeps]

Doing better is simply
Not killing anyone else
Isn't it?
That's a hard idea to commit to
At least if you like solving problems.

[lucency]

People aren't a problem to be solved! And it means nothing if your regret isn't truthful.

[oversleeps]

Of course people aren't a problem
Not directly
But the things they do frequently are.

[lucency]

Should I hope that he did something worth your brand of punishment?

[oversleeps]

If it would make you feel better
I'd hate to crush any of your hopes, after all.

[lucency]

[ a set of her jaw and a roll of her eyes. ] I'll take that as a "no."