ext_229451 ([identity profile] enigmaestro.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] capeandcowl2009-11-06 07:14 pm

[the twenty-first] / [video]

[His eyes are peeking betwixt ungloved fingers, wide and wild. Edward does not blink throughout the entire transmission, but his pupils are consistently darting to and fro, darting about at a hummingbird’s pace. He looks disheveled, wretched and yet glowing with some intangible, nigh-golden force.]

I can—I have tried—over these past few hours—youhavetounderstanditisalotto—

[A pause. He seems captivated by something; he takes a deep, sensual breath.]

Cameron—who? Their safety—John and—and—Kyle and GLaDOS and who--? That can’t stop the cold. The lonely—that feeling won’t—look, I’m sorry—

[Grabs at the communicator, shaking it.]

Don’t. Don’t ignore this. The Porter—Don’t attack. I can see it, feel it, God it’s almost like being it, Alastair, don’t yield to that—It can’t end well—bloody hell, someone stop him! Someone stop it.

[A crack in his voice; the strain is apparent.]

Desire. Please. Stop it.

ooc || Eddie’s been hooked to the Threshold! That means he’ll be spewing desires from this permissions post throughout the span of comments here. If your desire wasn’t mentioned in the opening (didn’t want to bullet the material) fret not! Eddie will be sure to play the sibyl to someone.

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She watches all this with an almost clinical curiosity, amused at the realization that the people she is attracted to an interested in all exhibit and manifest symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. For whatever reason, Cameron likes finding the similarities and differences in her own patterns nearly as much as she enjoys finding them in others.

His question gets a quirked eyebrow as she was in the middle of another sip from her cup but she sets it down.
]

Yes. Much better.
pike: (.expectant)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-07 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He takes a sip and stares at her over the lip of his cup. A little girl who wanders by on her way to the bathroom stares at Nigel and his black eye until he look at her and she skitters away nervously. ]

Are you still thinking about John?

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Cameron wonders what it is about children and staring and a lack of manners. She can understand and tolerate the ones who ask direct questions better than the ones who stare. ]

Yes, but that is to be expected. It is not as bad as it was.
pike: (.shrug)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-07 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Nigel looks down and contemplates his tea for a moment. ]

Do you want him to come back?

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Another drink as she considers how to best explain her answer. ]

It would be better for him to be here, with Kyle and without his mother or the impending threat to his safety from our would than it is to be there.
pike: (.disdain)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-07 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Nigel immediately frowns at her and shakes his head. ]

I'm not asking what's best for John, I'm asking what you think is best for you.

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 09:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She doesn't like being frowned at; from Nigel it smacks of disappointment. ]

Is it best for me? Possibly not. However I would rather he were here, where I can learn to temper myself and not react to the things he does and says, unthinking.
pike: (you're the first)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-07 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Nigel's frown tempers slightly and he nods, though perhaps a bit stubbornly. ]

Alright. [ He takes another sip of tea, rolling it around in his mouth deliberately before swallowing. ]

I don't like him.

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Some part of her is reserved to that expression when the topic of John comes up. ]

You don't have any reason to. It is, honestly, somewhat refreshing.
pike: (.affronted)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-07 10:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Nigel raises an eyebrow. ]

Is he very well-liked?

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Mm. That is a complex question.

[ She takes another drink. ]

Back home he is crucial to the future of that timeline. I met him first as an adult and was sent back to assist him as a teenager. He is respected, as an adult, and feared to a degree.

Liked, is harder to quantify. He is the single most selfish individual I have ever encountered.
pike: (.threaten)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-07 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Nigel's incredulous expression cools to something like barely-veiled disdain. ]

Then it's hardly fair for him to be so selfish and for you not to be, Cameron. [ He's quiet before he smiles at her slightly and leans forward across the table to peer at her intently. ]

You might even like it. In fact, I suspect you will immensely.

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She sees the disdain and it doesn't bother her. John's reputation has never bothered her, beyond what he worries he will be like in the future. If that were the case, there are a lot of things she would never have done in the first place. ]

No, I never claimed it was fair. [ She isn't stupid and can view it somewhat distantly. ] But it is a difficult adjustment.
pike: (.shrug)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-07 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He settles back in his chair again and idly stirs his spoon through his cup for a few long moments. ]

Just as long as you don't become complacent. Though I'm sure you won't.

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
No, I have no intention of becoming complacent. It's indicative of knowing everything there is to know, which is statistically impossible.

[ She smirks, slightly, over the rim of her cup. ]

I like learning new things, Nigel.
Edited 2009-11-07 22:37 (UTC)
pike: (.sociopath)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-07 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He lifts an eyebrow. ]

Anything in particular?

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She mimics his expression. ]

I am interested in the way people think. The ways I think, now that my brain is entirely different. I am interested in the things people keep from themselves and others in the name of being 'normal', out of fear, out of discomfort.

Those were my first lessons. They are the ones that will always be the most interesting to me.
pike: (.revelation)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-07 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He stares at her for a moment. ]

And what sorts of things do people keep from themselves, Cameron?

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
What they are and are not capable of is the most common. People do not like to believe that they can do the things that shock them the most, so they bury it deep within themselves until the walls they create to keep that part of themselves in breaks.

It is the very definition of inefficient. You cannot ignore a part of yourself. You can change the methods you use to express it, but that is all.

[ She drops her gaze and returns to her drink. Psychological torture taught her all sorts of things about the human mind. ]
pike: (.intense)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-07 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Nigel tilts his head to one side and then, very slowly, smiles at Cameron. There's a reason why Nigel is capable of being fond of her and it's when she says things like this he's reminded of why that is. He leans forward again to look at her closely, some of his teeth showing as the bruised muscles in his face ache very dully. ]

Jack would like you.

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Would he?

[ She smiles, glad to see that he is no longer disappointed with her for the moment. That, possibly, is selfish she realizes, nearly as selfish as accepting his offer earlier but there is something to be said for the feeling of accomplishment that comes with it. ]

I wonder if I would like him. What do you think, Nigel?
pike: (.jack - lean)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-07 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Nigel shrugs. ]

Jack can be quite charming when he wants to be. Though the question is always whether or not he wants to be at any given moment. He's got many strong opinions on things -- as you can imagine -- and is quite well-spoken on all sorts of things.

I imagine you'd enjoy speaking with him if his mood is right. [ He laughs lightly. ] Otherwise, he's just a bastard.
Edited 2009-11-07 23:52 (UTC)

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-07 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Charming does not always hide a person's true nature, however. [ She points this out with a small smile. ]

However I am curious. I would not mind meeting him, eventually.

[ She wants to see this person Nigel allows to beat him up, is what it boils down to. ]
pike: (.jack - chicken)

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[personal profile] pike 2009-11-08 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
[ Cameron's observation just makes Nigel smile wider. ]

Jack is the most selfish person I know, Cameron. He really is something. You'll see.

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[identity profile] mobius-bound.livejournal.com 2009-11-08 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
I suspect I will.

[ She's pleased with the idea. ]

Do you live far from here?

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