thirty. private to einstürzen.

[goryteller]

Angelica Einstürzen.

[His voice is rough. Raw. The edges of his words are clipped off, as though he's still learning to use the proper amount of air, learning to breathe the proper breaths.]

I'm here again.

Comments

[thegooddoctor]

[ there's something else in her voice now, underneath the sweetness. almost like pleasure. maybe more like cruelty. ]

That is what you do with hearts, isn't it? You give them away.

[goryteller]

Who?

[His passivity dissolves. Palpable violence and fear edge into his voice, his words trembling.]

Who had it? Who did you give it to?!

[thegooddoctor]

Ask nicely.

[goryteller]

Who did you give it to?!

[thegooddoctor]

You ought to mind your tone, boy.

[goryteller]

[It's a struggle to keep his breath controlled. To say the words without yelling them.]

Who had my heart?

[thegooddoctor]

There. Was that so hard?

[ she sounds pleased. like when a mother has successfully trained a disobedient child. ]

I gave your heart to my dearest friend. [ he's no such thing. ] Edward Nygma.

[goryteller]

[A small inhale of air, as though he's been punched. His words, tired and small, are spoken more to himself than the good doctor.]

Oh no.

[thegooddoctor]

[ there's something distinctly predatory about her voice now. ]

You're displeased?

[goryteller]

I'm--

[He catches on the word. Pause.

Then, darker:]

Yes. I am.

[thegooddoctor]

Consider it your pound of flesh, dear boy. We're very nearly even now.

[goryteller]

[A low snarl.]

"Nearly."

[thegooddoctor]

Yes, nearly.

[ lowly: ]

It's a shame, really. That you insist on fighting me this way. I recognize you, you know. I could understand you. Teach you. But instead, I'm going to have to destroy you.

[goryteller]

Mm.

[He lets that turn in his mind, that quiet, expected threat. And then he thinks about how now Edward knows that he died and thinks about how he wants to destroy Angelica, too. He thinks about how nice that would be. For many reasons.]

I had one more question. Why kill Terry slowly?

[thegooddoctor]

[ the doctor makes a quiet, thoughtful sound. ]

How should I put it? [ ah. ] His debt, shall we say, runs much deeper than yours, Katurian. He owes me. Ungrateful boy.

[goryteller]

[Pause.

Then evenly, almost sadly:]

That's a decision you're going to come to regret, Doctor.

[thegooddoctor]

I enjoy it when you threaten me, Katurian. I find it nearly endearing.

[goryteller]

[Click.]