013 - Mile-High Apple

[deadly_ned]

I'm, um.

I'm leaving.

Thomas - my inmate - he's...graduated, he's left the Barge, so I think that's...probably my cue to leave too.

I'm...terrible at goodbyes, and let's be completely honest, I'm quiet enough that most of the Barge doesn't know I'm actually here, so I doubt I need to stay very long.

That sounds terrible.

I'm sorry. Something's come up. I have to go.

[The Piemaker - nervous, clearly hiding something, and agitated - leans over to shut off his communicator. Unbeknownst to him, he'll be back in a matter of days for reasons not clearly stated in this post]

[Private to the Marquis de Carabas]

And now it doesn't matter what you know.

Good luck graduating, you....bad, bad person.

Comments

private

[mattersverymuch]

You know, you're very interesting, for such a highly moral person.

private

[deadly_ned]

I have semi decent morals that come from a lifetime of hypocrisy. I can say 'don't murder' even after I've killed several hundred people.

private

[mattersverymuch]

You feel regret. Generally, that leads a person to be boring and uninspirational.

Not in this case, however.

private

[deadly_ned]

I am boring and uninspired. You only like seeing me in pain. That is literally the only interesting thing about me.

private

[mattersverymuch]

Wrong. I like seeing you act as clever as you are. Occasionally, pain engenders cleverness.

private

[deadly_ned]

What's the point? You're still going to be cleverer at the end of the day. What's the point in watching me struggle?

private

[mattersverymuch]

. . . I'm not entirely sure.

private

[deadly_ned]

Do you like underdogs?

private

[mattersverymuch]

Not unless I know they're underdogs before everyone else does.

private

[deadly_ned]

Then that might be why you enjoy seeing me suffer so much.

private

[mattersverymuch]

I think other people know.

private

[deadly_ned]

Dean knows. Riddick knows.

And you know.

private

[mattersverymuch]

Yes. Too many. It's not my discovery.

I still find you interesting.

private

[deadly_ned]

You were the only person who actually discovered it.

What are you going to do with that interest?

private

[mattersverymuch]

It was my intention to know it first. By my own design. What happened was a . . . fortuitous accident.

I'm going to watch you and see what you become, of course.

private

[deadly_ned]

One man's fortune is anther man's ongoing lifelong trauma.

Hate to break it to you, Marquis, but I already know what I am and what I've become.

private

[mattersverymuch]

You don't ever stop becoming.

private

[deadly_ned]

I stopped becoming the minute I killed my mom and my best friend's dad when I was ten.

private

[mattersverymuch]

No. This place has twisted you. If you come back, it will twist you more.

private

[deadly_ned]

It hasn't twisted me. It's only brought out parts of my personality that were always there.

private

[mattersverymuch]

Twisted, or enhanced.

This ship is alive, in that way.

private

[deadly_ned]

I know. That terrifies me too.

private

[mattersverymuch]

Yes, well. Fear is a powerful force. It's easy to manipulate someone when they're afraid.

private

[deadly_ned]

But riskier. Someone who's afraid might think they have nothing left to lose by attacking.

private

[mattersverymuch]

As you did.