twenty-five. video. backdated to late last night.

[goryteller]

[The feed is filled with the sound of heavy breathing. Then choked laughter. Then the video snaps on.]

I'm so fucking bored today, City. What should I do?

[Something has snapped quite palpably in the man who was playing with shadow puppets only days before. The feed is focused on his face, on his manic eyes and disheveled hair. He's rocking on a chair that isn't meant to rock.]

I know. I know what I'll do. I'll kill someone!

[He stops rocking. Drums his fingers on the bottom of the seat.]

Maybe I'll blow up a hospital, show that off. Maybe I'll kidnap a bunch of other fucking imports, tie them to chairs, torture them, and broadcast their sorry, knife-ridden bodies to the network. Maybe I'll shoot a child in cold blood, you little bastard. [He affects, quite accurately, Ladd's accent.] Torture with spells. Slash throats. Decapitate. Trick people into solving madlibs and then beat them to death with sticks. Kidnap people weaker than me and cut into their heads ahah-ha--

[His breaths dissolve into something like the beginning of tears hitch hitch hitch and then spits into laughter instead. He drags his hands over his face. His voice is a frail whisper:]

Oh my God. You monsters.

Comments

[phobic]

That's better.

Didn't your mother ever teach you not to skulk?

[bringerofwar]

If anything, she encouraged it.

[YEP just talking out his ass now]

[phobic]

That would explain a great deal. But since I know you're not serious... I don't think I should be particularly helpful. Should I.

[bringerofwar]

Oh, is that what you were trying to be?

[phobic]

You hardly gave me a chance. All that hurtful sarcasm.

[bringerofwar]

And how did that make you feel?

[phobic]

Like sharing how it felt.

I know your type, Midnighter.

[bringerofwar]

Bibliophobic?

[phobic]

Sanguinary.

encrypted

[maskurbates]

I freaking hate this guy.

encrypted

[phobic]

Oh, yes. He's like a beartrap on your leg, very persistent.

encrypted

[maskurbates]

He's a beartrap in more than one way, alright.

He's already a problem.

encrypted

[phobic]

Roman--was that a gay joke?

[more somber] Then let's unmake him, too.

encrypted

[maskurbates]

[deadpan:]

No.

He's married. Shouldn't be too hard.

encrypted

[phobic]

We have designs on the husband?

encrypted

[maskurbates]

If Midnighter pokes his nose in our business?

Absolutely.

encrypted

[phobic]

Hm.

At the risk of criticism, we may be slightly overextending ourselves.

Encrypted;

[enigmaestro]

He's probably a Skrull.

Encrypted;

[phobic]

So if we killed him, we'd probably be heroes.

Encrypted;

[enigmaestro]

Sounds like a plan to me.

After you, Jonathan.

Encrypted;

[phobic]

Oh, no, you don't.

Illegal immigration is a political matter.

Encrypted;

[enigmaestro]

But paranoia and fear are your specialties.

Encrypted;

[phobic]

That's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me.

Encrypted;

[enigmaestro]

I can flatter, too.

Encrypted;

[phobic]

Especially when you want something.

Is he breathing down your neck despite all your good works, hmm?