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A Desperate Move; Alexa convinces Evan not to kill himself.
Topic Started: Sep 13 2013, 05:18 PM (161 Views)
Ulrum
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Torture Specialist
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
There is some strong language

Evan: *knocks on Alexa's door with the palm of his hand to avoid aggravating the bandaged burns all over the back of his hand*

Alexa: *yanks open the door, uncharacteristically quickly - she has a coat on, like she's dressed to go out, and her expression is one of nervous excitement - and then pauses and blinks when she sees Evan* Oh . . . Evan . . . damnit, how does everyone know where I live? *she pauses again and eyes him with something like suspicion*

Evan: I really didn't. *laughs* I knocked on your neighbour's door and asked where the most antisocial nerd in the area lived. *slips his hands in his pockets.*

Alexa: *slowly*  . . . so you're not . . . you didn't know to come here?

Evan: You told me the neighborhood, not the house. *shrugs* I don't have the means to search you

Alexa: Of course. Of course. *smiles weakly* Would you like to come in?

Evan: *smiles back, but with significantly more confidence* Were you headed out? I don't wanna keep you if you're gonna get in real trouble for being late...

Alexa: Ah, no, not at all. *her eyes wander to glance behind him for a second* I'm going to be here all night.

Evan: *turns his head to see nothing there, then turns back to look at her* I swear I didn't bring anyone with me. *laughs* Relax. You act like you're being stalked...*hits him* Alexa, are you...?

Alexa: . . . am I . . . ? *she can think of at least four ways that sentence could end*

Evan: *cautiously lowers his voice, noting the daylight* Are you getting involved with something illegal? Some people that we shouldn't talk about in public like this? *nods his head inside*

Alexa: *her eyes narrow* No . . . I just . . . *sighs* Come inside and I'll make you a cup of tea.

Evan: Sounds great. *smiles, still a tiny bit nervous*

Alexa: *steps back to let him in; her house is spacious, clearly expensive, and neat. through an open door in the back, tanks with various arthropods in them are visible* Make yourself at home.

Evan: *Slightly unnerved by the cleanliness and luxuriousness, immediately comparing it to his normal bachelor pad of an apartment* Umm... yeah... I think it's a bit clean for me to ever 'be at home' here. Might touch something and throw off the balance

Alexa: Heh. *awkward shrug* It was a pigsty, the past couple of days . . . but I'm trying to get myself back in shape and clean up my stuff.

Evan: Yeah... Suuuuure...... If my apartment ever looked half this clean, it must have been when they first put it together.... *laughs* Oh well...

Alexa: You're not trying to fight a week-long spell of depression, so I'd say we're even. *sits down on the couch, a little primly but otherwise comfortable*

Evan: *smile fades* What's wrong, Alexa? *sits down carefully far enough away from her to avoid any improper implications, but close enough to show his concern*

Alexa:  *she hesitates - not so much uncertain as thinking it over* A lot, I think. But, perhaps, less so now than when we first met.

Evan: *Curious, sits back a bit to a thinking position* You know, that didn't answer the question. You actually told me how many things were wrong, not what those things were.

Alexa: *cocks her head* You're smarter than you look. Smart enough, I think, to already know what's wrong. You told me last time, after all.

Evan: *nods slightly* So what's your plan, Alexa, if the lowly desk jockey may ask?

Alexa: Last time we met, I told you that you were a fool to trust me, because I could have been an Elite agent?

Evan: *chuckles* Yeah, and I still don't particularly care, because the Elite can go fuck themselves

Alexa: Do you know what the Elite do to a captured traitor, Evan?


Evan: *shrugs* I'd imagine the traitor would be tortured and put to death at the very least.

Alexa: Tortured, certainly. Put to death . . . perhaps not. Sometimes a suspect's friends or family are taken in as well, and subjected to similar treatment. Even less lucky are those that Wiseman Latner takes a particular interest in. *with an air of mild interest* He drains the blood from them and makes them into puppets, helpless to do anything but obey his will. Or there's Wiseman Omicron. He can enter your body - not like that, although in fact, a prisoner in the Tartarus has absolutely no power to prevent sexual abuse - and drain the life out of you. And that's in addition to the ordinary tortures any human being can inflict on another.

Evan: *scowls a bit* I'm not afraid to take them with me. *pulls a hand out of his pocket, revealing the tight bandages* There's more than one way to end the torture.

Alexa: *frowns* What's that supposed to mean? *points to the bandages with one long, gloved finger*

Evan: *looks at a nearby light, and the bandages catch on fire for a brief moment, burning holes through so that Alexa can clearly see the extent of his singed flesh, and leaving large black marks on the surrounding bandages. He makes sure she sees, then puts it out* That is what I mean.

Alexa: *takes one look at the burns, gets up and exits the room without a word - and then comes back a few minutes, with a roll of bandages, a tube of antibiotics, and a bowl with a couple ice cubes in it* Ice first, antibiotics next, new bandages last. How long have you been doing this to yourself?

Evan: *rolls his eyes* I'm fine, Alexa. They're just burns.

Alexa: Burns can become infected. And you didn't answer my question.

Evan: *mumbles* I've been practicing for about three weeks now.

Alexa: You're angry. But hurting yourself isn't the answer.

Evan: *smiles* I'm not angry. It's been a long time actually since I've been as excited as I am. All of this pain won't last much longer.

Alexa: What exactly does that mean?

Evan: It means nothing. Don't worry about it. *tries to just shrug it off*

Alexa: *pause* Are you thinking about suicide?


Evan: No. I've been done thinking for a while. I'm preparing.

Alexa: Do you have the means to do it?

Evan: It turns out I was born with the means to do it. Thanks to your department. And more importantly, I have enough in the reserves to take someone with me.

Alexa: *pause* Me?

Evan: *appalled by the notion* Why in the hell would I do that?

Alexa: *shakes her head* Just a thought - I'm sorry, I don't really think that of you, I just . . . do you have a plan?

Evan: *nods* Believe it or not, I've long since figured this one out.

Alexa: When are you going to do it?

Evan: Alexa, I'm pretty sure you know I can't tell you that.

Alexa: Do you have a time in mind, then?

Evan: Of course I do. I also have in mind the fact that you've worked for the Wisemen for a long time. *he tilts his head down to look at the table, then laughs a bit, as if some sort of nervous pressure forced it out* If you rat me out now, any Elite that comes after me will either have to shoot me or die.


Alexa: Even innocents?

Evan: *Frowns and looks up now, anger clearly visible* When have the Elites ever been innocent? I seem to remember that each of them swore their allegiance to the Wisemen and their principles, which shove good people into shitholes like the Slums

Alexa: I'm an Elite.

Evan: *grows silent for a long moment* You're leaving...

Alexa: How do you know they aren't? These are people responding to a report of an attempted suicide - not people trying to oppress Normals.

Evan: Then don't report me. No innocents will get hurt. I promise.

Alexa: You're an innocent, Evan.

Evan: No, I'm a guy who's going to kill a Wiseman.

Alexa: You're a hypocrite. You won't kill me despite all the blood on my hands, but you'd kill yourself for doing the right thing.

Evan: This isn't about my death. This is about his death. If anything, my life is only relevant because I need it to kill him.
Alexa: What if you could do more with your life than that?

Evan: I don't have time to do anything else with my life. He needs to die. Now

Alexa: Why?

Evan: He wants to fucking wipe the Slums out.

Alexa: And you think his death will stop those plans?

Evan: No other Wiseman's that fucking crazy. *clenches his fist, slightly opening the burn wounds and bleeding through the cracked skin*

Alexa: You don't know that. Are you much of a science fiction fan, Evan?

Evan: I don't read novels anymore, Alexa.

Alexa: Novels, movies, radio, whatever. No?

Evan: No. I don't get to waste my money on those things while I have to feed a family.

Alexa: *eyes dart down and she fights the guilt* I'm . . . sorry about that. *pause* I could . . . help with that?

Evan: No, they watch you in ways that they don't watch me, Alexa. You actually matter to them, so if you start helping Normals, it'll be a big deal.

Alexa: *laughs* I'm a cog in the system too.

Evan: *laughs a moment* Yeah, but you're a pretty big fucking cog.

Alexa: *sighs* Maybe so. But - if I could . . . if I could make your sacrifice more worthwhile . . .  give you another outlet . . . would you wait?

Evan: What....what are you talking about?

Alexa: You asked for my help the first time we met.

Evan: You....*a bit shocked* Alexa, the reason I have to do this is that I can't find people who're interested in committing long term. They agreed to help me get close to Omicron, but only because it'll help them for a little while.

Alexa: There are other people. *noncomittal*

Evan: *pauses* Didn't I tell you what I think about the Messiah Complex?

Alexa: Do you like them less than you do suicide? Besides, what makes you think I'm talking about them?

Evan: I'd rather make a difference alone than ruin the city with them. *grits his teeth.* There's no one else left to talk about.

Alexa: Then why did you tell me what you're planning on doing?

Evan: *stops, tensed completely* Because... believe it or not... you're the last friend I have... and the only person I could say it to...

Alexa: A cry for help?

Evan: No, a last loose end.

Alexa: I'd hate to see you die because of a man like that. His life isn't worth yours.

Evan: Stopping what he's about to do is worth a thousand of me.


Alexa: There will be another way. A safer way.

Evan: I don't have time for safe. I can't just wait for some fucking nutcase rebels to get their shit together in hopes that they'll save my family.

Alexa: How do you know he's going to do it?

Evan: He paid the Slums a visit. More than one of my guys heard him talking to someone about it.

Alexa: How do you know he meant it? How do you know "your guys" were telling the truth?

Evan: Alexa, you know as well as I do that he's off his rocker. Crazy people don't kid around.

Alexa: *raises her eyebrows* Are you serious? "Crazy" people may not even knowwhat they're saying from moment to moment.

Evan: He's a fucking Wiseman, Alexa. His whims are fucking law in this city

Alexa: Do you think I don't know that?!

Evan: Then you should know that this is serious!

Alexa: I know it's serious! I don't know it's worth your life!

Evan: Why the fuck is my life so damn valuable all of a sudden? I'm an uneducated desk jockey, Alexa. I'm not a genius biologist, or a master tactician. I'm nobody, and this is a cause worth dying for.


Alexa: *shrugs* You've never tortured anyone to death. That puts your life above mine, as far as I'm concerned.

Evan: Your life has the potential to undo and surpass that shit. My life has the potential to stop this shit right now.

Alexa: If you succeed. If that stops his plan. If none of the other Wisemen have the same plan. That's a lot of ifs.

Evan: That's why it's only a potential. I also have the potential to be a coward and let my family suffer through this madman's plans.

Alexa: And you have the potential to calm down and come up with a better plan.

Evan: There isn't a better plan. Something has to be done. Now.

Alexa: When does he intend to do this?

Evan: Nobody knows. It could be tomorrow, or it could be ten years from now, but either way it's too much of a risk.

Alexa: Let me investigate. He can't do it without getting the approval of the other Wisemen.

Evan: If he doesn't get a chance to propose it, the idea dies with him.

Alexa: He may already have.

Evan: I know. If he has, then they may go through with it, but they'll be slowed down. If he hasn't, he won't/

Alexa: What makes you think they'll go through with it? You said yourself - only he's crazy enough. *thinks of Jester - but hides her doubts*

Evan: Because he's obsessive crazy. Otherwise the head of the sanitation department wouldn't even dream of something like this. He'll keep pushing until they agree

Alexa: Or until they kick him out or have him assasinated.

Evan: Alexa, they're more likely to destroy the Slums, and you know it

Alexa: What if I could find out whether he's proposed it yet?

Evan: It doesn't matter. If he has, he'll have to die so that they'll need to replace him before the plan takes effect. If he hasn't, then the plan needs to die.

Alexa: But if we have more time, we have more time for a better plan.

Evan: There isn't a better plan, Alexa. I'm a physics guy. Everything has a probability, and the probability of success for this plan is the best of any I could find.

Alexa: High chance of success . . . but low reward and high risk. There are better ways.

Evan: The reward is my family's safety. That's not a low reward.


Alexa: A chance of your family's safety. If the other Wisemen aren't planning it. If he was, in fact, planning it. If they agreed to it.

Evan: You're underestimating how much that chance is worth to me.

Alexa: And you're overestimating how large that chance is because you're too close to the issue to look at it logically.

Evan: *pauses, then whispers* Eighteen hundredths of one percent....

Alexa: Okay, numbers you just made up don't get more accurate if you make them really really small.

Evan: *pulls out a piece of paper with a bunch of frantic equations on it, leading to .18%* I sat in my room and thought about this for a long time, Alexa. I calculated in over seven hundred variables.

Alexa: . . . when are you planning on doing this?

Evan: I can't tell you that, Alexa

Alexa: I already have enough information to turn you in if I wanted to.

Evan: I know. It's not about the report.

Alexa: What's it about, then?

Evan: I care about you too much to tell you when I'm going to die, even if it won't matter.

Alexa:  . . . how are you going to get to see him?

Evan: You'll have to find that out with everyone else.

Alexa: . . . if you get out alive I'm going to kill you myself.

Evan: I can't get out alive from this one, Alexa

Alexa: Oh, I don't know, they still haven't managed to hunt down the last man who pulled this on me.

Evan: If I commit to my method of killing him, I have to die.

Alexa: Why not use a gun?

Evan: I'd put the person I bought it from in danger

Alexa: Hmm. Poison?

Evan: I don't have that kind of access, and the dude's a total freak about those things from what I understand

Alexa: You could use a syringe.
Evan: The guy's power could make him immune for all I know. Burning him alive is a more fitting end anyway.

Alexa: What is the guy's power?

Evan: I have no idea, Alexa.

Alexa: The guy's power could make him immune to burning, then, for all you know
Evan: Let's see him resist temperatures comparable to the surface of the sun...

Alexa: Some people can, you know.

Evan: I already factored in that risk... *he fumbles through his equations on the paper and points to a rather large one* there....

Alexa: The math should be effectively the same for poison.

Evan: No, because there are size increments and adjustments to make, and without exact height and weight I have more unknown variables.

Alexa: Enough poison and it doesn't amtter

Evan: Poison doesn't fall from the sky. Especially not poison that's fast acting enough to kill him before someone can save him

Alexa: Poison does too fall from the sky, that's what acid rain is. *catches herself* Come on, Evan. Suicide is a last ditch plan and you haven't properly considered other plans.

Evan: When you have people you need to protect, maybe you'll understand.

Alexa: Do you think your family would want you dead?

Evan: *pauses* They'll understand someday. It's better for them this way.

Alexa: I wouldn't understand if I were them.

Evan: *becomes red in the face* Not at first...... They may never understand I guess.... But that doesn't change that it's for their own good.

Alexa: And you know what's best for them better than they do, do you?

Evan: They have no idea what's about to happen if I don't do this. I.....I can't tell them.....

Alexa: Somehow I doubt they'd agree even if they did know

Evan: Of course they wouldn't. My mom's been sick for years, and my sisters are just kids. They can't understand... That doesn't change anything.

Alexa: That's the kind of logic that got Arcadia into this mess in the first place, Evan.

Evan: Don't you dare compare me to those people... This is my family. I'm willing to fight and die for them.

Alexa: Against their will.

Evan: You're leaving the Elites because it's the right thing to do. Don't you think that's against someone's will? Why am I not allowed to do what's right all of a sudden?

Alexa: Because I'm not doing it for the Elite.

Evan: So because the right thing to do is meant to help the people I care about, I can't do it?

Alexa: You can't tell them what will and won't help them. They should get to choose.

Evan: They won't understand what's best for them in the long run. They don't need me like they think they do...

Alexa: Why don't they understand? *eyes narrowed* Because they're Normals?

Evan: No! Because they won't take everything into consideration... They need a place to live more than they need me.

Alexa: What makes you think you're taking everything into consideration?

Evan: Because there's nothing left to consider. In order to live, they need food, water, and shelter. That's as basic as humanly possible. If I live, they'll be missing shelter. If I die, they'll have all three. That's an easy decision, Alexa

Alexa: If it's so easy, why can't they make it for themselves?

Evan: Because.... They won't look at what they need. They'll look at what they want.

Alexa: And you won't? *eyebrow raised*

Evan: I just explained my reasoning, Alexa. Where in any of that did it matter what I wanted over what they need?

Alexa: Humans don't make decisions because of the reasoning we explain. We make them before that. Often, our decisions are influenced by our emotions, without us even knowing it.

Evan: Even if this were a ball of emotions floating to the top, I have good reasons to do this, and it will help three of the most important people in my life.

Alexa: "Help" them by making them miserable, and leaving them with no provider, a host of funerary costs, and under Elite suspicion.

Evan: I'm selling everything in my apartment to leave them enough money to last as long as they need to, and I'll be quickly cremated by all of this anyway.

Alexa: There will almost certainly be some witness to your act.

Evan: I'm gonna wrap my arms enough times to cover the glow, and wear a mask.

Alexa: . . .Seriously? How the hell are you going to get anywhere near a Wiseman dressed like that?

Evan: I have a plan. I just can't tell you right now.

Alexa: Again, the last time someone tried this on my, his plan was “blow up my apartment” and then there wasn't a second step.

Evan: I don't do things that way *slumps down in the chair*

Alexa: It sure seems like the same plan from here.

Evan: Looks more like you want to guilt me into telling you.

Alexa: Oh, excuse me for not wanting to put my trust in a plan I don't even know about.
Evan: Why does it matter whether you trust it or not? It's my life.

Alexa: And if you survive and fail, it will be my life. And your family's lives. You don't understand the risk involved here. *is that true? She's not sure anymore, but she's been arguing this point for long enough that she can't let herself give up*

Evan: There won't be any survival, Alexa. Once my plan is in motion I will not live.

Alexa: I don't know that.

Evan: Alexa, if I do this, I'll be burning myself and him alive at temperatures hotter than the sun. Both of our deaths will be quick.

Alexa: If it works.

Evan: Why do you think I've been lighting my skin on fire eight times a day for the last three weeks? *flinches as he notices the pain once more*

Alexa: *pauses* *pulls off one of her gloves, to show red, raw skin* I rather assumed it was for personal reasons.

Evan: *his eyes widen* What the fuck did you do that for?

Alexa: *tightly* Personal reasons.

Evan: I just gave you my reasons. Let's hear yours. *Sits back in his chair*

Alexa: *her hands in fists, tense* Stress. Anxiety. Compulsion.
G - guilt.

Evan: *quieter* Alexa.... You're working to make up for all of that now.... Just....don't hurt yourself over it all. It's.....counterproductive....

Alexa: *reaches out to tap the bandages* Pot, meet kettle.

Evan: It's.....different.....

Alexa: How so?

Evan: I need the practice to reach my potential and succeed. Your hurting yourself holds you back and..... hurts people who care about you....

Alexa: And yours doesn't?

Evan: It does. I can't deny that at all...but that still doesn't take away the fact that I need the practice.

Alexa: For doing something that will further hold you back and hurt the people who care about you.

Evan: It's not holding me back. I'm not like you. My potential isn't some astronomical change. I've got my one role to fulfill, and I need the practice to fulfill it....

Alexa: *irritated* Your potential is no different than mine. *pause* And besides - I would've said things like that when I was - *vague gesture* - in the grips . . .

Evan: Alexa, you're a high level scientist with a massive brain and a ton of talent.... I'm a desk jockey with some out of date textbooks hidden under his bed.

Alexa: I organize other people's papers, Evan.

Evan: *Finally pulls off the bandages to ice the burns, though the ice is three quarters melted* Fine.

Alexa: *surprised* Fine, you won't do it?

Evan: Fine I'll wait. *looking down* Only until I make you realize the potential you have.

Alexa: . . . Fine. If I concede that you were right about my potential, I'll let you go. *pute her glove back on, extends her hand* Deal?

Evan: *thinks for a moment.* What if you lie? You could be stopping me indefinitely by just not admitting what you know

Alexa: You'll just have to trust me.

Evan: I.....*pauses for nearly a full minute, completely silent* Fine.....I'll trust you. *shakes her hand firmly in spite of the pain of his burns*

Alexa: *smiles* Finally. I always said stubbornness was a virtue.

Evan: *smiles back very slightly as he switches hands to ice the other one.* Yeah yeah.... you enjoy that.....
There. It's posted.
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