( 001 ) ♑ ( voice )

[defending]

First things first - Initiative? Really? Come on, couldn'tcha be at least a little original? I mean I'm having a serious case of been there, done that. And for the record? Not really looking forward to doing it again. I've had the tour, I've seen the shinies - and I'll say again. Not interested. Opposite of interested. Me and freaky government strongholds go way back. We had a very hot and heavy relationship, but we're seeing other people now, and both of us are better for it. So, second thing? If you could just, you know - help a girl out and point me toward the nearest exit? That'd be real peachy. Failing that? I'm not your strong-arm. You can't control me. Don't even try.

Comments

[theguideless]

I guess...the idea is... [another pause. more thinking out loud than anything:] The idea's they're trapped, too. Doing all this...because they have no home to go to except this one.

That's probably what they think. [sillies.

...oh wait.] Oh, but. I don't know that for sure. [almost a laugh:] I actually hadn't put a lot of real thought into it before...outside of myself, anyway.

[defending]

And you actually buy that crap?

[theguideless]

[a beat.

sounding a little nervous:] I can't really...I don't know the lengths their...[uh, word...] the machines can go. And for me, one way or the other...it's not my place to say.

[slight pause.] I don't think it's wrong to be angry with them.

[defending]

Of course it's not wrong to be angry with them. But you're in the same situation I'm in, right? Why would anyone sympathize with their kidnappers? Are you all severely Stockholm Syndromed or what? [ She's feeling extremely bitchy right now. ]

[theguideless]

I don't know what you mean with that, but. [a slight pause.] It's not the same for me. Not anymore. [and that's all he seems to wish to say about that.

a beat.]

But I remember...Well, I don't know how much has changed out there since then, but. It's very empty out there, past the city. Up to the water. And on the other side, the people there are controlled by some other kind of machine. Others here know better than I do.

[defending]

Not the same meaning... [ She leaves that open, her tonality indicating her question. She draws out the last word intentionally, to doubly get that across. ]

Wait, controlled? Like the entire general population is under some sort of freaky -- [ She stops, and huffs, and makes some sort of feral growling ooh sound. ] I already hate it here.

[theguideless]

[a slight pause, ducking the question. instead, gingerly:] It's not easy, being here... And things seem to always be changing one way or the other. The very people, too.

But you're not alone. In how you feel about this...or how you want to leave. People still look.

[defending]

So, let's see, current list of reasons not to be here... [ Were this video, her finger-counting would be visible. As it is, she just sort of 'hmmms' for a second before continuing. ] Kidnapping, secret military base, world on the brink of destruction, constant dimension warping, and a whole big lack of decent explanation. And people as a whole haven't risen up against the Initiative because...?

[theguideless]

[a beat.

oh...he has to fill in the blank?]

Because...not everyone wants to. Or can. I think...some find this place better than where they were, problems and all.

[defending]

Uh-huh. So, what, are they all from varying degrees of Hell dimension? There's nothing okay about random interdimensional kidnapping. I find it really hard to believe that more than a handful of people would be more comfortable here than in their own homes.

[theguideless]

I...suppose I wouldn't know that for certain. I can only tell you what I know for myself.

[defending]

Guess it's time for me to take a survey, then.