sirenspull | video.

[The video is moving, when it comes on; it's being set aside. It blurs past legs (and torn stockings, a sock slid down a calf, and raspberried bruises), the owner of which seems to be sitting on a curb. When it's settled, it's clear the NV's been nestled in grass, so there are a couple of blades poking into view. But across the way is what's important: a family of small ducks waddling round a fountain. People are walking all around - you can hear them, their chatters and leather toe taps - and children are pulled away from the birds' paths by the quick hands of their mothers. Not many people are leisurely.

Alois' voice is, though, when he speaks.]

Someone from home, come and fetch me, will you? Bring handkerchiefs, and I want to stop for an ice cream come before we go back.

[There's a great sniff, which sounds a little gruesome. In the camera's peripheral, his foot shifts.]

Here is what I learned today, for those who might be none the wiser. I don't think the concept of defending anyone or anything is really real. I think, when it comes down to it, we see something we don't like so we get pissed off.

It's the truth, but it sounds a lot less pure than saying you're defending justice or friends or your good causes, huh?

[He laughs, too, the sound a little biting. A spray of shredded lettuce leaves arches over the camera, and flutters down a little ways a way. Some ducks start to talk and come clamoring for it. Alois shuts off his NV.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...Do you really think there's no such thing as defending people?

Ah.

I think it's too good of an ideal to belong to humanity.

I don't think humanity is as bad as you're saying.

Oh, if we cracked you open, we'd find marshmallows. [He sniffs.]

I'm pretty sure that's impossible!

[But she giggles.]

So you don't believe me, huh?

I like what you tell me, Ahiru, but I believe what I see, about people.

Then I guess we just see different things.

The difference between roses and cobwebs.

No, more like - do you ever think how much work it takes to build a cobweb? And then in the morning, when the sun rises and starts glinting off the dew that got caught on it overnight...

Edited 2012-11-20 02:15 (UTC)

Of course I think about that. Anyway, spiders are loads better than people. [Sniff.]

That isn't really what I meant.

Then what?

Like, you said the way we saw stuff was as different as roses and cobwebs! So I was trying to say, like, that's not it, but even cobwebs have good things about them, too. Because cobwebs are - people. Or at least that's what I thought we were talking about.

[ugh your optimism] Roses and radishes, then!

Radishes have a really pretty color! And they're nutritious.

Dog shit.

C-Cotton candy!

[Retaliating with something completely good!!]

People smothered and mummified in bogs!

Kittens purring!

Lizards dropping their tails out of fear, and then they run away but the tail's still laying there on the pavement and it's twitching all gruesomely like it's still alive but you can see all the meaty lizard bits poking out and it's like a seizuring scaly wormy thing! And then the lizard looks ridiculous and all its friends bully it a little for being such a goof! And the tail gets eaten by a raccoon!

Their tails grow back and pain makes you stronger even if you're a lizard!

When you're standing at the top of a hill and you can see the valley below and you roll down through the grass into the flowers and there's a stream and you splash around in the water and the sun is shining because it's afternoon and there are little crickets and probably bunnies somewhere but they're too timid to come out!

They're only timid because there's a bear in the shrubberies and it leaps out and EATS YOU.

[That manages to give her pause for a moment.]

Basically nobody even stays dead here, so you come back a few days later and everything is horrible but you have a second chance and after a while you don't feel so awful anymore and you're still alive!

We leave in a huge mansion and have, like, a thousand pets!

[His pause is longer. Maybe she wins.]

Do you like being rich? [he asks.]

I'm not rich, you are.

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