Homeless... for the first time in three years.

[emptynight]

Oh stop moping, sweetheart.

I couldn't be happier that you decided to pull me out of that string place. Oh don't give me that look. You didn't think I'd get all weepy over getting away from throat-slicey angel of doom, did you? I like being in one piece, darling, despite your attempts to get me killed. And Satan. Don't forget that part, which by the way you never did let me find out that I'd been mouthing off to the Prince of Lies. Good job with that.

Molly's going to be just fine. You saw her at Chichen Itza, she can hold her own. She doesn't need me around.

I like this decision, darling. Don't try to pretend your guilty conscience is mine. I'm too pretty for a guilty conscience, remember?

Comments

[imperioartist]

You do seem rather plagued with her.

Then again, it might --very occasionally, you understand-- stop one from making the same mistakes twice. If it really was a mistake to begin with.

[emptynight]

[He laughs at that, cynical and brittle]

That's what pain teaches. Guilty consciences, that's just human dribbling about feelings.

[imperioartist]

[Something tells him they are not going to reach any epiphanies of understanding here; he suspects it might rather be a case of the blind leading the blind.]

Guilt is supposed to be pain, though, isn't it? Purely psychological pain, of course, but the underlying the idea is the same.

[emptynight]

[Or the willfully obtuse leading the blind...]

Or it's just one of those lies humans tell themselves so they stay curled up in their little herds so the big bad predators don't come pick them all off one by one. Could go either way, really.

[imperioartist]

[Good luck figuring out which is which.]

Human psychology does have its roots in evolution, of course. But it doesn't mean that psychological pain is any less real, or any less useful.

...In either sense of the word.

[emptynight]

Key word there, princess, is human.

Monsters don't need that sort of thing.

[imperioartist]

I categorically forbid you from calling me Princess, or I really will think you're a monster.

Anything living needs the capacity to learn; any emotion can be harnessed as tool in the pursuit of that objective. So unless your kind can't feel anything at all, which I doubt, it's still possible to learn from one's emotions.

[emptynight]

[Flecks of metallic silver coalesce in his eyes, and he smiles coldly, power like liquid honey and warm velvet on his tongue.] Emotions are things to be manipulated. Twisted and stoked until the kine beg on their knees with desire to be taken.

[The inhuman silver begins to fade, slowly.] That's what I learned about emotions, Tinkerbell.

[imperioartist]

Tinkerbell isn't any better-- and it was originally Tinker Bell, did you know that? My stupid mun ought to be working on her 'Children's Literature' assignment about that very thing instead of playing here, but she's never been very good about arranging her time.

[This is Marcus being not scared by the inhuman/sexy eyes, because a) he's a wizard, and b) he actually agrees with that statement whole-heartedly.]

...Yes. True. But it's very easy to learn to manipulate other people's emotions for your benefit; learning to manipulate your own for the same end is another matter entirely. More rewarding, but infinitely more difficult.

[emptynight]

Just be careful what you ask for, Tink. [Smirk.]

And if you lived your entire life around things who could manipulate emotion, who feed off of it, you'd know it's a lot safer not to have any at all. It's a liability.

[imperioartist]

That one's going to stick, isn't it. [AKML.]





...I should really introduce you to some of the people I know; you might be surprised by the sort of manipulation I'm accustomed to. And I do agree that it's safer not to have any emotion-- but it's almost impossible to achieve on a practical level. I find it's easier to just. Limit it. Them.

[emptynight]

It suits you.

[He laughs again. He knows just how well 'limiting' works, how it ended up with the woman he loves held hostage as insurance against his continued good behavior. How her very touch burns him because true, honest, selfless love is anathema to everything he is.

It's easier, to pretend there's nothing there at all. On his worse days he might even believe it himself. And he ignores the rest of what Marcus says, about how it's almost impossible. Because living in denial is what he does.]

[imperioartist]

It does not...! You realise that would mean it suits you equally, don't you?

[Marcus is, for reasons which are not entirely dissimilar, fond of his pretence and denials as well. It's only as he's gotten a little older that he's prepared to admit to any sort of feeling at all.]

[emptynight]

Maybe I meant it fit your personality, darling. In which case it doesn't have to suit me at all.

[imperioartist]

'Maybe' indeed.

[He will be just kind enough to refrain from pointing out that there are similarities beyond the skin-deep level. Well, kind-- or self-preserving.]

[emptynight]

[He never said he wasn't a hypocrite either.]

Be careful, might cut yourself on all that razor wit.

[imperioartist]

Well, there's only so much one can do when communicating with bells.

[emptynight]

[That makes Thomas laugh, warm and amused full of life.]

Glad you've warmed up to the idea, Tink.

[imperioartist]

[PEOPLE WITH NO FEELINGS DON'T LAUGH, DAMN IT. ...Wait, what, what, how did Marcus become Ambassador for the Land Of Feelings? ...Something is very wrong here; he's quite disconcerted despite his amusement.]

I find in life that swimming against the current only leads to exhaustion. Better to save your energies for more pleasant things, and if they might be needed later.

[emptynight]

[Causing disorientation is one of Thomas' many talents. Along with causing severe annoyance and questioning one's sexuality in his presence.]

Bottom now until you have a chance to top? Interesting way of going about things.

[imperioartist]

[Marcus tries to be rather difficult to annoy, and as for his sexuality... He gave up bothering to question years ago. He's an equal opportunity manwhore who's sort-of-maybe-never-admitting-to-being in love with his male best friend.]

I'm sure I should be offended by that, but suffice to say I always get my way in the end-- although on that particular front, it's usually sooner rather than later.

[emptynight]

[Aaaaaaaaaaaand he's just going to laugh at that for a while, Marcus. Sorry. He's annoying that way.]

[imperioartist]

That better not be disbelief.

[emptynight]

And what are you going to do if it is?

[imperioartist]

I'm sure I could chase up some references if you're really so curious.