impure_tale

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242

[The Marquis has never looked so reserved.]

That wasn't quite like the "comas" I have had before, though I will not lie and say I am not grateful it took me this time. I think...I rather think that my other self is dead. Moreso than usual, I mean.

Perhaps they finally tired of him. It would have to happen sooner or later, oui?

[He shakes his head and changes the subject. It's clear this has left him a little melancholy at the very least.]

...But best not to linger on such things. I'm sure many are in recovery, and others are new and likely very confused besides. What a poor first impression that place would have made!

It would also appear that the Admiral has wasted no time in sending me back to work. [He brings his new file to bear.]

Who, here, is Dark Heart, and can you do me the kindness of explaining to me what, exactly, a Care Bear is?

[ADDED LATER]

Admiral, as per usual, please deliver a copy of my file to Dark Heart's cabin.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If I wished to rely on what the Admiral had to say of other people I wouldn't speak to my Inmates at all save when I had to.

So are you saying you can't make a simple guess on your own? Come on. We can make a game of it. Take a guess, and I'll tell you if you're right.

I'll offer this one instead: I ask you a question, and if you answer it you are free to ask any you wish of me.

This way, I'll never know more about you than you do about me. Does that sound fair?

That's a stupid game. You could make up anything you wanted.

[And so could he, but not the point.]

Besides, you're already ahead. You have a file on me.

You're absolutely right. [And then, as though the thought had only just occurred to him.] So I will have the Admiral send a copy of my file to you, updated to include my years as a Warden but also everything up until my graduation. Then you can check to see if I'm lying or not.

Hmm, fine. But I'm not going to waste my question until after I've read up on you.

Very well. Then I am going to insist we continue this in person when you have finished. In the meantime I would like for you to give some thought to a few things:

Your present accommodations.
The limitations on your powers.
Any questions about this place, or the other, that you still have.

Answers regarding those things are all free, by the way.

[He chuckles.]

Insist, do you? All right, why not? This won't take long.

Level three, room four. When you are ready.

[It's maybe two hours later that he's satisfied enough with what he's read in the file. He goes to his new Warden's cabin, and calls through the door. Mostly because his form doesn't have hands to knock with. But he figured the larger than possibly natural cobra would strike the right note.]

Knock, knock.

[Renate barks at the door just in case his announcement isn't loud enough. The Marquis speaks a few soothing words to her in French and then opens the door -- and while surprised, seems more amused than alarmed.]

Aren't you full of surprises.

[He steps back and holds the door open.]

Do come in. Make yourself comfortable.

More than you realize, I bet.

[More dogs. This ship was more like a kennel. He flicks his forked tongue at the dog tauntingly. Slithering in, he looks around nosily.]

[The Wardens' chambers are quite expansive compared to most Inmates' spaces, but then that's because they get to choose what's there. The front room is spacious but not drafty, the sitting area is comfortably furnished, settled around a large, roaring stone fireplace. Renate lies on the rug in front of it. There are bookshelves about and then an archway leads off to a bedchamber and his bath. The shadow of his curtained four-poster can be seen just beyond the light in the room.]

[Dark Heart doesn't much, mostly he's trying to be intrusive. After a few moments, he works his way up into a chair, coils up, and looks as bored as a cobra can manage.]

Are we going to do this, or not?

[The Marquis settles in another chair. Normally he would be offering him wine, but that hardly matters since he's a snake right now.]

Ready when you are.

Sorry, I forgot the question you asked.

[No he's not, and no he didn't.]

For what reason do you think your other self was brought to that Barge?

He chose to be there.

I suppose that makes sense. If you were unrestricted that would augment you considerably, wouldn't it?

[He glances up.]

Merely musing, not a question, that.

[The red snake tilts it's head, consideringly.]

I suppose I can let it pass this once.

Your turn to ask a question.

What scares you?

[Smirk -- baby that's not a can of worms you want to open]

Government.

[Try him.]

Uh-huh. I see.

[He wants more than that, but it can wait until his next turn.]

All right -- nothing prying. I've just got several people who are equally as curious as I am and several others who seem to know but are being deliberately vague.

Again: What the Hell is a Care Bear?

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