[ Steven enters the purple room, looking around idly as he does so. Of all the rooms, this one still mystifies him the most for perhaps obvious reasons. It's the oddest one yet, without name, without perceivable origin. He wonders.
But he takes his attention off as he sees Despair, nodding once at them. ]
Yeah. Just a little bit of idle chatter for once, I think we all need something like that.
Mm. That's fine. An hour, thirty minutes, ten minutes, even five. Every interaction really can shape a person.
[ He's going to stand there with his hands in his pockets then, a short sigh. But he has no intention to rush things despite it. He said he was here to just talk, not question and pry and probe (haha badumtsh). ]
What do you find familiar about this place? The visual white noise? ...Just like the colour purple? Sad that you got blue, if that's the case.
Well, I don't know if it's obvious, but I think blue fits me pretty well. [ His blue dress shirt... ] I guess the indulgence too, after a fashion. I still wonder if I got sorted into it because it was just all a coincidence, or whether because you know me.
Either way, since you're all probably learning a lot about us, it figures I should do the same.
...It's quiet, here. And unique. Like I'm just getting away from living life for even a brief moment.
It is unnecessary to put effort into learning about you-- particularly as you are aligned with me, there is much I could know of you without you needing to tell me. For the most part, I care little for the finer details of your lives, but I do know who you are.
[they wave one clawed hand, in an idle gesture.]
But yes- it is something of the sort. A place between life and something else.
Given the bullshit everyone keeps pulling in this place? I think it's impossible to not learn a couple things about the people here, even if you didn't try at all.
[ Everyone is HEATHENS. But, he moves on from that. ]
Alright. Not an open book, not that I took you for one nor expected it.
[ ... ]
Those other guys, the Avatars. Granted, that does include you, but... interesting relationship, you lot have. Some of you are just all over each other, and then others will just stab another for petty reasons. [ Like Wrath just being in Despair's lap for a while, and then, you know. Knifegate feat. Envy. ] What do you even do all week? Just more of that?
[ HE SHRUGS!! And then just gives Despair a look with raised brows. Are you sure about that? ]
It's okay to flirt, or whatever. It makes you guys seem more approachable. Or, I guess, go the opposite way and make an example out of someone like Wrath or Pride have done so far that I know of. Some of you really are more sociable than others.
That being said, a conversation with your, let's call us "players", isn't a necessity is it. You still came out here just because I asked.
I hardly need you to inform me what you consider acceptable behavior, nor do I feel any particular urge to appear approachable.
[they prefer to be left alone, also, do not look at them like that.]
It is not a necessity, but I came because you are aligned with me, and there may yet have been some use to the conversation. I would suggest you do not convince me otherwise.
[true to their words, they certainly don't sound concerned about it, either-- they almost sound bored.]
As we have said countless times since all of you arrived, you are not organized into anything like a team. You only share a primary sin in common-- therefore, it is of no consequence to you if others with the same mark should die.
Sure, but you know... humans are inherently social animals. Constantly seeking for a place to be in and belong, labels to call for themselves. Teams or not, it's a label we share, so it's inevitable that I can't help but be a little more concerned for them than others. I texted you first, too, after all. [ "Concerned" is a strong word. And, well, he made an educated guess about the text and it was right, since they don't list the Avatars by name. Only emojis. ]
You can consider it as foolish as you want, but it's an application of meaning. Because without that, we'd be lost.
And precisely how much meaning does that label hold, then, in a place such as this-- in such a short amount of time as this? Would you go so far as to protect one another? To risk your life, and your own desire, to help save theirs?
[they're watching him a bit more intently, now.]
Your kind are ever searching for places they belong, yes. Ever fumbling, seeking to grasp something greater than themselves, never content with what they have... and ever turning on each other. If you consider the others with my mark to be a group you belong to, then what of the others? Do you then think of yourself as being in more direct competition with them, as a result of setting that group apart?
Who knows? We didn't pick the labels, we were given them -- it's up to us to make sense out of it. If this is meaningless, then are the indulgences also meaningless? The deaths? The executions? Even a "short amount of time" has already been two weeks.
[ He closes his eyes, and then tilts his head a little in Despair's direction. ]
I'm supposed to be some kind of good guy. My entire job was all about risking my life to protect others. Hell, even the damn reason why I'm here... is in the end, to help someone else that I probably don't even know. I've had to make tough decisions, pick whose lives are worth more than others. If it came down to it...
...I'm not here to delude myself into thinking I have friends and allies. Everyone wants their own damn thing. Just that maybe, people in the same indulgence would understand better.
Two weeks is a truly insignificant amount of time, by my estimation- though I suppose you would see it differently.
[not quite derisive, but they do sound somewhat detached.]
You may well find the understanding you wish for, in the others here... or you may find yourself at odds with the realities of the situation, should you find yourself taken with the idea of protecting anyone else. Particularly in a place like this, you may find they will not offer you the same.
Two weeks can blow by like its nothing, that's true. But I do try to make what I can of the time as its passing, in the moment, and that does make it feel longer.
[ As for being at odds, he actually just nods. ] It would be nice to find something like understanding in a place like this. But I don't expect it. I can't have too much fun, thinking I've been making friends and all that; the only one reliable is myself.
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But he takes his attention off as he sees Despair, nodding once at them. ]
Yeah. Just a little bit of idle chatter for once, I think we all need something like that.
This your favourite room?
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[a slight pause, before:]
I will make no promises, so you are aware, as to how long I will indulge you in your questioning.
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Every interaction really can shape a person.
[ He's going to stand there with his hands in his pockets then, a short sigh. But he has no intention to rush things despite it. He said he was here to just talk, not question and pry and probe (haha badumtsh). ]
What do you find familiar about this place? The visual white noise? ...Just like the colour purple? Sad that you got blue, if that's the case.
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[it's a very small thing to care about, in their estimation.]
But one could say it is simply the atmosphere, here.
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Either way, since you're all probably learning a lot about us, it figures I should do the same.
...It's quiet, here. And unique. Like I'm just getting away from living life for even a brief moment.
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[they wave one clawed hand, in an idle gesture.]
But yes- it is something of the sort. A place between life and something else.
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[ Everyone is HEATHENS. But, he moves on from that. ]
What, like limbo? Or do you mean like a dream?
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[they would love to know less about all of you assholes.]
As for this place, however-- neither.
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What is it to you, then?
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[ ... ]
Those other guys, the Avatars. Granted, that does include you, but... interesting relationship, you lot have. Some of you are just all over each other, and then others will just stab another for petty reasons. [ Like Wrath just being in Despair's lap for a while, and then, you know. Knifegate feat. Envy. ] What do you even do all week? Just more of that?
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[he may get the sense he is receiving a very flat look, despite despair's face being largely obscured.]
For the most part, we do what is necessary, and when there is naught else to take care of we do as we please.
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It's okay to flirt, or whatever. It makes you guys seem more approachable. Or, I guess, go the opposite way and make an example out of someone like Wrath or Pride have done so far that I know of. Some of you really are more sociable than others.
That being said, a conversation with your, let's call us "players", isn't a necessity is it. You still came out here just because I asked.
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[they prefer to be left alone, also, do not look at them like that.]
It is not a necessity, but I came because you are aligned with me, and there may yet have been some use to the conversation. I would suggest you do not convince me otherwise.
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[ Well, might as well, then. ]
Two of our number are dead. One Despair a week. It's not looking very good, is it?
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[true to their words, they certainly don't sound concerned about it, either-- they almost sound bored.]
As we have said countless times since all of you arrived, you are not organized into anything like a team. You only share a primary sin in common-- therefore, it is of no consequence to you if others with the same mark should die.
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You can consider it as foolish as you want, but it's an application of meaning. Because without that, we'd be lost.
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[they're watching him a bit more intently, now.]
Your kind are ever searching for places they belong, yes. Ever fumbling, seeking to grasp something greater than themselves, never content with what they have... and ever turning on each other. If you consider the others with my mark to be a group you belong to, then what of the others? Do you then think of yourself as being in more direct competition with them, as a result of setting that group apart?
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[ He closes his eyes, and then tilts his head a little in Despair's direction. ]
I'm supposed to be some kind of good guy. My entire job was all about risking my life to protect others. Hell, even the damn reason why I'm here... is in the end, to help someone else that I probably don't even know. I've had to make tough decisions, pick whose lives are worth more than others. If it came down to it...
...I'm not here to delude myself into thinking I have friends and allies. Everyone wants their own damn thing. Just that maybe, people in the same indulgence would understand better.
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[not quite derisive, but they do sound somewhat detached.]
You may well find the understanding you wish for, in the others here... or you may find yourself at odds with the realities of the situation, should you find yourself taken with the idea of protecting anyone else. Particularly in a place like this, you may find they will not offer you the same.
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[ As for being at odds, he actually just nods. ] It would be nice to find something like understanding in a place like this. But I don't expect it. I can't have too much fun, thinking I've been making friends and all that; the only one reliable is myself.