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[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

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[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

I don't have the same need to feed on statements as you do; I should be fine in the short term.

[ Again-- as seems to be happening so often here-- Elias is confronted by Jon's insistence on being a complete fool.

He's not sure he feels quite as contemptuous towards it as he has before. ]

Though if my warden has his way, I may not need them in the long-term either.

[epistemological]

[ He knows his own intentions. But he hasn't heard anything from Eiffel. ]

What do you mean by that?

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

He has in his head the notion that I simply need to 'become completely human again' and then I'll be removed from the influence of the Eye and be able to clearly see all my sins and flaws and-- whatever else he thinks I need to be aware of.

[ though he doesn't outwardly show it, the thought of such a thing makes him deeply afraid ]

[epistemological]

Ah.

[ He has a few ideas, of course, about how Elias might feel about this. And he has a particular letter from Robert Smirke he wants to make sure the man sees. ]

That... isn't quite how it works. I can see how he'd think so.

[ He glances over at Elias. ]

You don't help that image.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ 'it isn't my job to help' is something he doesn't say, aware of how it sounds. ]

I don't believe he's capable of understanding it.



[ jon, my warden is a moron ]

[epistemological]

[ Elias will discover a thought popping into his head, gently placed there like someone trying to woo an alleycat out of a corner.

He might be. There's worse options. ]

I'm not sure of that. He's got a better handle than most, and with very little experience.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

The only thing he has a handle on is pop culture and how to wedge any reference to it into literally every breath he takes.

[epistemological]

And yet, every reference he makes is accurate and appropriate. All of it saved up in his head and utilized like a second language. It's impressive, to some degree. If a touch ridiculous.

Of all the wonders this place holds, I hardly expected 'what if Reddit sat up and started running college radio' to be one of them and yet, here we are.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ elias presses his mouth into a thin line, obviously not in agreement that it's either a wonder or impressive. ]

Excuse me preferring my warden be a touch less ridiculous.

[epistemological]

I realize you prefer it, but have you ever considered that what you 'prefer' might not be what will get you what you need?

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

What I need is to be closely affiliated with someone who repeatedly makes a nuisance of himself on the network?

[epistemological]

Everyone's a nuisance on the network. Half the posts on there are people showing their- their backsides off, thinking they're clever.

[ A soft huff. ]

He's not someone you can manipulate via sex, fear, or intimidation. And he seems dedicated to helping you despite your very rough attempt at dissuading him.

You're stuck with him, so you'd do better to look for the parts you can stand than focus on the ones you can't.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

I haven't had him thrown overboard since coming out of zero, have I?

[ and elias is quite certain that the man can be manipulated, but he also knows there's no need for it. he just-- finds him and this entire situation totally frustrating. ]

And despite reading my file together, I don't think he's quite processed what-- who he's working with. We rather got stuck on the fact that this isn't my original body.

[epistemological]

[ He stares at him for a moment before looking deeply deeply tired and rubbing at the bridge of his nose. ]

Elias, not killing someone is the bare minimum of interaction.

[ He looks up. ]

And I think I'd have found the whole thing more difficult if I hadn't seen it myself. Would it help to let him See the whole thing? Maybe... maybe give him some scope for it all? I can do that for you, if you'd like.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ yes but he could have. this is progress, jon and he is allowed to make other people recognise it ]

Oh, he quite understands the concept of body-snatching as I believe he put it. He's just rather stuck there.

[epistemological]

And what is he proposing, exactly? You can't exactly go walking around in a dusty old corpse.

And the original Bouchard isn't exactly home anymore. At least, I assume no?

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

Honestly? I have no idea.

[ it's never occurred to him to check. ]

Not that it matters. I suspect I shan't be allowed to graduate if my intention is simply to continue on as I have been.

[epistemological]

I mean...

[ He turns his hand. ]

It's not as if other people haven't had their bodies restored. Would you really object to being back in your original body, a-a-at approximately this age, perhaps?

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

Not at all. I've long since adjusted to putting up with whatever body is most suitable at the time.

[ which is to say it isn't the body which is the issue. he simply has no desire to face the consequences of being in the same body for long enough that it dies ]

[epistemological]

Then perhaps your quickest route to get through this, for now, anyway, is to make that request.

Face the rest of that question when you get to it.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ but that would mean accepting-- a lot of things which elias really isn't prepared to do yet. ]

I'll keep it in mind as an option.

[epistemological]

Of course. Sometime around the sixth of never, clearly.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ sharply ]

Forgive me for not enthusiastically throwing myself into the power of the Admiral at every opportunity I can.

[epistemological]

[ Jon, despite his usual reactive persona, simply raises an eyebrow. ]

That testy about it, are we?

[ He snorts. ]

The thought was to let you do it on your own terms, before he throws it at you as a surprise. You weren't here when we got turned into cats and popped into each other's bodies and all sorts of nonsense, but breaches aren't the be all and end all of interesting transformations.

It might be less jarring if you have time to prepare yourself to the idea and it happens on your schedule.

[extendedbrutalpipemurder]

[ the thing is that Elias is that testy about it and mortified by his own reaction-- but while he can pay lip service to being fine with the idea for a time-- there's a fear there that runs too deep to ignore.

he doesn't roll his eyes, but his tone implies that he might. ] Yes, I can see how that might be less jarring.