Audience: Vlad Masters

[probe]

Comments

week 0, wednesday

[probe]

[there's no response from the phone, but the next room that vlad walks into, pride is there, sitting on top of something tall.

the hood with the crown etched into the side shifts and turns to look down at vlad.]

What do you want to know?

[niceguyferatu]

[ He stops and blinks a few times in surprise, not expecting this random ambush. was there even such a tall thing in this room before??? ]

Well, I suppose this works as well as anything.

[ clears throat ]

I merely wanted to meet the person...representing my sin? I'm not entirely clear on what, exactly, your relation to your given sins is, or us. How did you come to become Pride?

[probe]

[there is now!]

Representing. I'm not your leader and you are not a team. [they say this like it's a mantra, like they've said it a million times.] I woke up one morning and I was Pride.

[niceguyferatu]

Wha--just like that? Who decided you were Pride that morning? Was it not your own choice?

[probe]

Mm.

[....... don't just mm, pride, use your words.]

[niceguyferatu]

Did you agree to be here at all?

[probe]

Not like you, no.

[niceguyferatu]

[ ...iiiiiiinteresting... ]

So do you...get anything out of being Pride here, then?

[probe]

I do.

[are they going to say what it is? no]

[niceguyferatu]

[ yeah, vlad can guess that if he's gonna get an answer to that, it certainly won't be just yet. ]

Hmm, well, that's enough talk about work, I think. What about yourself? You said one day you just woke up as Pride--what about before then?

[probe]

[they shift on top of their tall thing, sinking into their robes.]

I was somewhere else. Someone else. [vlad is trying his best here, and i'm sorry]

[niceguyferatu]

[ this is like pulling TEETH but like hell is vlad gonna let it show ]

And did you...prefer it? Over being here, being Pride?

[probe]

Yes.

[they say this sharply. a little vehemently.]

[niceguyferatu]

[ ohoh, now THIS is SOMETHING!! ]

So...is this Pride role forever, then? Or do you get to go back to that life when we are all done here and brought back to our homes?

[probe]

[they make a disgruntled noise.]

I don't know. [that's... genuine, it feels like.]

[niceguyferatu]

Well, that hardly seems fair. Being made to take this role against your wishes with no idea if you can leave afterwards? It sounds like you Avatars are getting a worse deal than we are.

[probe]

Does that matter?

[niceguyferatu]

Shouldn't it? After all, all the rest of us are here in pursuit of our greatest wishes. It seems cruel for you Avatars to not be able to reap those same benefits.

[probe]

Let me rephrase.

Why do you care if it's fair for us or not?

[niceguyferatu]

Isn't it in our best interests to work together?

[probe]

Hm.

It usually isn't.

[niceguyferatu]

By 'usually,' do you mean to say you've run these indulgence-wish games before?

[probe]

Don't jump to conclusions.

I mean typically, cooperation and teamwork isn't viable in any situation.

[niceguyferatu]

Oh, isn't it, though? Perhaps not forever, but temporary alliances can be hugely beneficial, however fleeting they may be.

[probe]

Beneficial until they stab you in the back because you're no longer useful.

[:\]