Mun is eyeing empatheias for this dork

[spiritofjustice]

[Much as his mun would love to stick him in Empatheias, he feels the need to object. In fact, the need is so very strong that he's not bothering with the façade. Bobby Fulbright is incapable of making a convincing case. It's the Phantom who will confront her about this notion.]

... No. This is most unwise. I tolerated that Destiny Strings place as it gave me some leeway and an additional weapon to defend myself with. This, however, is nothing more than invitation for trouble. I understand that you are glutton for punishment, as that is part of human nature. Still, I don't see the need to drag me of all people into this. You have a wide variety of other 'muses' to choose from, some with emotional difficulties that would pose just as great a challenge.

Cease and desist at once.

[Mun wonders if perhaps the Phantom is scared of being sent there and outed like the big phony he is. In turn, he gives her a look so deadpan that people will be discussing the proverbial funeral for years to come.]

Don't be ridiculous. I fear nothing. It is you who should fear the consequences of your own foolish actions.

Comments

[glaresses]

On the contrary, that game sounds like the perfect place for you.

[shacklebreaker]

Even if you do not fear that ridiculous place, then you would be wise to fear me. The moment I discover your true identity, your head will be mine.

[thedivineroar]

[Give him a second to stop himself from going into a ball of rage to realize just where exactly he might be going.]

Really? Cause I think this is a great idea your mun is considering that place for you.

[spiritofjustice]

Your definition of "perfect" must be a bit slanted. Might I suggest "ironic" instead? My mun and I agree on that much, at least, yet it hardly serves as a reason to follow through on this notion.

[spiritofjustice]

[Part of him expected that allowing the mask to fade in public would draw unwanted attention from certain individuals. He wouldn't truly care about losing face (hahaaah!) either way. It would've been preferable to avoid confrontations, though. They're always a hassle.]

I would fear you least of all, Simon Blackquill. Your weak little samurai delusions pale in comparison to my many years of training. I would take your life before you could even think to reach for a weapon, should there be a need.

[spiritofjustice]

I don't doubt that you would. Grudges and a thirst to see the subject suffer are also part of human nature. It is that vengeful spirit that proves we are not too far from being mere animals.

[shacklebreaker]

The ghoul has teeth, it seems, but no bite. Truly fearsome.

Even if you able to dispose of me, what then? We both know I hold the one thing that will compromise your identity. Kill me, and its whereabouts are lost to you forever.

[spiritofjustice]

You may wish to stop gloating over your own ignorance. Some would deem it unbecoming of a man who is supposed to apply sound logic on a daily basis.

Why do you believe I would still seek that evidence in such a place? In case it has escaped your notice, my identity would already be compromised. If not by your hand, then anyone else from our world. Differing timelines would guarantee that much.

I can afford to lose the whereabouts, just as I can afford to set your long-awaited execution in motion by my own hands.

[thedivineroar]

(Ugh, I almost miss Detective Sunshine and Rainbows)

I'm not saying it because I want to watch someone suffer, I'm saying it is the justice you deserve.

[shacklebreaker]

... Hmph. From the way you speak, it's almost as though you've already given up on returning to our world. Had you been so quick to roll over and surrender to your fate previously, my task would have been far easier.

Even so, you can struggle all you wish, you sad wretch. In that place, not even death will stall my retribution long.

[spiritofjustice]

Justice. [The way he parrots that word is about as far from Bobby Fulbright as anyone could get.]

That is nothing more than another illusion invented by man. A glorified synonym for punishment. Justice is justification for harming criminals without being seen as one yourself.

[skirtcladgunner]

...Bobby?

[This is different, but she pretends to brush it off.]

It's too bad, you know? Sounds like you'd be way happier at the place I'm at.

[thedivineroar]

It's not as simple as how you put it, but I don't expect criminals to know the difference. You only know how to remove the evidence or the problem to save yourself.

[spiritofjustice]

Those words are only further proof of your ignorance. You do not yet know what will happen to me in our world, do you? If you did, you would wish that I remain there and face judgment. [Because the 'arrival requirements' of Empatheias would mean changing his canon point to a rather particular moment in time. One of great emotional distress. To return home would mean going straight back to that meltdown.]

You are free to gloat if you wish, it's of little consequence to me. My point is that even in a place ruled by emotions, my identity would be safer.

There will be another battle of wits, no doubt. The word of a naïve, simpleminded detective against those who would accuse him of being a 'heartless spy'. Who's to say that limited emotional reactions are uncommon in other worlds? Who's to say Fool Bright is not simply an investigator who trained himself to keep his true emotions under control? Or perhaps we shall take a different route. It's difficult to predict just how soon I will be compromised, if at all, but I will improvise when the inevitable occurs.

[spiritofjustice]

It's exactly as simple as I put it. Emotions are what overcomplicate these sort of matters and as you very well know, I'm not burdened by them. I can see things quite clearly.

You talk as if self-preservation is a bad thing. It's only logical for me to do whatever it takes to defend myself.

[spiritofjustice]

[Ah. Should he let himself fall back into the façade in front of Tori? It isn't as if he cares about her feelings, but unlike most others here, it may be possible for her to retain memories of this place and take them elsewhere. Take them to a place where she's befriended Bobby Fulbright. To have her remember the Phantom would be troublesome.

Fine, he'll ease himself back into being a caring detective.]

Oh, is that so?

[skirtcladgunner]

[...and now it's like he was never acting off. Weird.]

Yeah! Genessia hasn't given me that much trouble. It's a lot less shitty than where I was before, in any case!

[Not that it takes much to be less shitty than a futuristic warzone.]

[spiritofjustice]

[At the word "shitty", Bobby just sort of recoils in surprise. Possibly a bit of shock.]

Ohhh! You should watch your words, Tori! There could be kids listening in.

[skirtcladgunner]

Ack--! [She covers her mouth for a moment before letting it drop. Clearly, she's a little embarrassed.]

Sorry, I hadn't even thought of that...! [She sighs.] Still, giving you the details of that last place would have been a lot less kid-friendly.

[Now she's worried that there are kids listening in. Thanks for that.]

[shacklebreaker]

... [It's true, Blackquill has no idea how things will ultimately pan out, as of his canon point, so he has no counter-argument to that.]

Count yourself fortunate that I, at least, will believe in your little ruse for as long as it lasts. [The notion is a frustrating one. He'd come to put so much faith in "Detective Fulbright", the man who in turn had believed so tirelessly in his redemption. For that to all be a lie...] It is more trust than you ever deserved.

[spiritofjustice]

[You're quite welcome. What kind of detective would just stand by and allow the innocence of children tarnished, right? ...Right.]

Hm... Well then, I won't ask for them! What's important is that the place you're in now is better. Which is good, because you deserve better!

[thedivineroar]

Oh, I don't know. It sure helped us get to you. I guess your lack of emotions betrayed you there that you didn't see yourself getting caught until it was too late.

Emotions aren't a burden, it's what drives us to find the truth, what makes us people in the first place.

And just you know, it is bad when a criminal kills innocent lives for their "self-preservation".

[spiritofjustice]

[Trust? Oh please. He won't buy that for one second. He doubts that Simon ever really believed in Bobby Fulbright. Even if he did, it was a belief that was easily shaken. That much was proven when Bobby was called to testify and dear prosecutor Blackquill only pretended to believe in the detective as part of a little ploy he had going on with the Cykes girl.

He never had Simon's full trust. He didn't need it, either. He got damn far without it.]

....... And to think that you believed me to be a fool.

[spiritofjustice]

Bad for you, perhaps. It isn't bad for me. [FLAWLESS LOGIC.]

If emotions are what make us people, I don't wish to be 'people'. Being what others would refer to as a demon made me... Well, not content. It was practical and thus the best option.

[skirtcladgunner]

...heh, you think so?

[Well, the her in Genessia probably does deserve better. She's not too sure she does in places like Twinklehaven.]

I mean, I'm glad you do! Yeah, Genessia's a nice enough place. ...but maybe I'm just biased, because Jeb's there with me.