Audience: Vlad Masters

[probe]

Comments

[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.

[:\]

[niceguyferatu]

Are you speaking from personal experience?

[probe]

Frequent experience, yes.

I imagine you've experienced your fair share of backstabs, Masters.