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[impure_tale]

Since I haven't the pleasure of addressing the culprits responsible in person this will have to suffice: She won't forget you, but I may forget to keep hold of her leash when next you meet.

[Spam for Megamind]

[He's started to bring Renate out for walks again, starting on the main deck, and she has been less given to run, at first laying her ears back at many a person that walks by her and shying from other dogs. Today is a little better. Trusting her master's hand and herself, her sense of play has begun to slowly return. For this the Marquis is glad. She still, at times, will stop and whine when he reaches to pet her, something apologetic coming out of her, perhaps, from some memory of what the sickness had done to her -- impressions that were hazy and dream-like and perhaps not full memories, given what it had done to her mind.]

Comments

[megamind]

[ Angus had been spared the pain, and for that, Megamind was glad. He didn't want his dog hurt, and knowing that another had -- well, that made him sad. Coming up to the deck to get some exercise in getting Angus back into form; while he hadn't been sick, the last few days had been very stressful-- being locked up in the cabin meant less freedom, exercise, not to mention more mess... ]

[ But upon seeing Renate and the Marequis, Megamind waves. ]

Ollo, Marquis. How's Renate?

[impure_tale]

[Renate yipped but then cautiously approached Angus, sniffing the air not once, twice, but three times, like she doesn't quite trust her nose anymore. The Marquis speaks to her in French "it is all right, my darling" but in his usual tone. He knows better than to cajole her when she's distressed, and the results show. When he does not sound troubled, she is not troubled, and seems almost herself again.]

[He finally gently answers.] Better today.

[megamind]

Good. I'm glad things worked for her. [ Kozak was a good test run -- dog-man and all. ] Things seemed to stitch up neatly at the end, but it was a heck of a time getting there.

[ Angus goes into a down, as he's been taught, while Megamind talks to the Marquis. ]

Think she could do with some pup-time? We can go into the CES, let them roam off leash for a while.

[impure_tale]

Ah --

[He seems about to object, and he thinks about it. Making the excuse that she's not quite ready for open spaces, but it's not that. He's afraid to let her off her leash again. Obviously, she must have contracted it when he let her run out of his sight. The culprit is caught, however. Renate is safe. He swallows.]

-- Certainly.

[megamind]

[ Megamind waits through the brief hesitation, and nods. Okay, then! HE snaps his fingers for Angus, who got up and padded along. ]

After you then, Marquis.

[impure_tale]

[He led the way to the door to the CES, holding his ringed finger to the lock to open it. Inside it was much warmer for once, sunny -- a field in springtime.]

Lovely.

[Once inside he knelt to release Renate from her leash.]

[megamind]

[ Oh, nice day. Megamind stops when the Marquis does, and undoes Angus's leash. Angus wiggles, almost running free, but remembers he has to wait-- before Megamind gives the 'okay' signal and he go zipping off to run about, pee on things, and then circle back to play-bow to Renate to engage her. Come play! ]

[ Megamind just winds up his leash, and slings it over the back of his neck. ]

There. Some running will do them good, huh?

[impure_tale]

[The Marquis loops his leash around his hand. Having something to grasp onto makes him less anxious. He still looks very tired.]

Agreed, certainly. Perhaps with playmates she'll get back to herself a little quicker.

[megamind]

She's a smart girl. She'll bounce back.

[ The Marquis, on the other hand... ]

You, uh, okay?

[impure_tale]

Right as rain, dumpling. [He smiled.] Just healing. Much as she is.

[megamind]

Ahuh. Well, uh. Okay.

So, uh...

I suck at small talk.

[impure_tale]

Small talk is not for greater minds. What would you prefer to talk about?

[megamind]

Heh. I don't know. When I talk lately I seem to make everybody mad, or they tell me I'm wrong, or things are too hard, or... whatever.

Kind of a downer.

[impure_tale]

I would offer to agree with everything you say, but that's hardly challenging. [A glance] You do not make me angry. [But then he's not an easy one to anger.]

[megamind]

That would be dishonest and boring.

I consider boring the worst of those, by the way.

[impure_tale]

[A little chuckle. Renate can be heard barking in the distance but it's not an alarming sound.]

I'm impressed you want to talk at all. I thought I'd made you angry during one of our last discussions.

[megamind]

I don't really hold grudges. You really have to make me mad to really get me to hold a grudge. [ like Rorschach ] I just don't agree with you. And everything I see makes me want to graduate... and dread it, too.

[impure_tale]

At least you wish to graduate at all. Many don't even go that far.

[megamind]

I have something I want. A deal will get it. I don't want to I've up who I am to get it, but I can do the math, you know ?

[impure_tale]

Why do you think you have to stop being who you are?

[megamind]

Because that seems to be the point. If I don't give up what I do, I can't leave. I can't go home a villain. But it is what I am, what I have always been.

I mean, sure, I can save people and be allowed to do good things here... but only to a point. I go home? It will be back to prison for good, then.

[ At this point, he knows he would have to flee back to the barge, rather than rot in prison. ]

[impure_tale]

[A sigh, there.] A familiar notion, that.

[megamind]

So.. yeah. Not a lot of incentive to give up who I am.

Thankfully my deal would be pretty hefty, so it's worth it to try.

[impure_tale]

To be perfectly honest, knowing as little as I do about you, I don't think it's who you are.

I know what it means not to be able to go home without fear of imprisonment, however. [And his eyes slowly glance off to something away from them] ...Or being burnt at the stake, seeing as how I am dead. But having been an Inmate I believe I can say that I am still me. The features that define me are still there. I have simply... [a wince] It is not too silly, I hope, to refer to myself as "maturing" at such an old age, is it?

[megamind]

Well, it's not you who has to think that. It's me.

...did you say 'burnt at the stake'? [ Ew. ] I'm--not the guy to ask about maturity. I build robots and plan city take overs. Not exactly the height of maturity here, but it's real fun!

[impure_tale]

To clarify, I think you are more than simply a title that has been afforded you.

[megamind]

That's, uh, generous of you, I guess. [ To not think he's... just a supervillain. Or a freak. Or whatever people are calling him today. ]

[private, audio]

[routemistress]

They got your dog?

...Keep reminding me 'ow we're not allowed to torture 'em, would you?

[sharpsuitfluffytail]

If I knew who they were, I'd bite them too. Then we could keep them on leashes for a while.

[omaera]

If? Weren't multiple public announcements enough? Don't you follow the basic, most important news in the place you live in? Ah, people... it's no wonder society's collapsed.

[sharpsuitfluffytail]

You presume I have nothing better to do than stalk the network for every single update.

[omaera]

Then I suppose you don't really care enough to bite back, either.

[sharpsuitfluffytail]

You really don't want to test that with me.

[omaera]

All of the information is publicly available, including the current whereabouts of those responsible. Don't blame your lack of effectiveness on my not being provocative enough. If this disease itself wasn't enough provocation, you're only baring your teeth and your own injured ego.