[network] @librarian; video; Night 344 [open]

[cahooted]

[So here goes. He can't say he's looking forward to this but then again people weren't looking forward to having parts of their soul ripped away from them either, were they.

Flynn's voice is quiet, maybe a bit rough around the edges and missing its usual, energetic touch, but firm.]

I, uh. Hi.

[Well, that's off to a great start already. He sighs.]

I once told one of my professors that all I wanted to do is learn. That it is what I'm good at, where I feel most like myself. I always thought learning is the greatest thing in the universe and I never would have thought that I could ever use it to...

[He stops for a moment, frowning.]

... I like to think that I would never have done any of this if things were... different and if this town wasn't, well. If it wasn't what it is. But I also realize that some part of me - or about me - probably prompted and spurred me on. I know I hurt a lot of people and regardless of how much of it I could have prevented or not, I'm very, very sorry. About what happened and-- about what might be yet to come of it.

I'm sorry. Stay warm, everybody.

Comments

@curiouschloride | video

[motherserpent]

Hey, dude, don't -- don't beat yourself up about that. Learning's good. I mean, torturing people to learn isn't...great....

[She drifts off like she's forgotten whatever point she was trying to make; like she's gotten lost in some deeply unpleasant memory. After a long moment she remembers she's still transmitting; sounds a little startled by the realization as she resumes speaking.]

You're not...like that. You've got a good, uh, level of curious. A healthy level. It's not you that tipped it over into something bad.

[cahooted]

[He exhales softly, his face a little less guarded than before and he glances away, rubbing the top of his head.]

Hey Tess. No, it's not, it's really not... 'great'.

[That's certainly one way of putting it.]

Thanks. People keep telling me that, which is nice. I'm trying not to beat myself up over it but, you know, it's kind of... it doesn't feel great, all this 'not great'. I hope you're doing okay.

[motherserpent]

I don't feel any different now, and the pain's gone. I know that doesn't really mean anything for the long term, but whatever happened, what's done is done.

[cahooted]

[What's done is done. That really is the reality of the situation isn't it.]

Yeah. I'm glad it didn't linger at least. [It's not much but it's something?]

Wish I could make it up to you guys somehow.

[motherserpent]

Mm.

[That he wants to make it up is, in her mind, enough already. It's those who don't regret the wrong they've done that she can't immediately forgive. He's not ready to have his apologies accepted yet, though, she's sure of that.]

Put that brain to another use, then. Bring us closer to the center. That's all we can ask of anyone.

[cahooted]

I will.

[That's all he ever wanted, isn't it? To find answers, put his brain to use, to get somewhere for once. He'll be a lot more careful about that. At least for a while.]

Hey, uh, take care of yourself after all... this, yeah?

[motherserpent]

Don't worry about me. I'm not going to stick my neck out, do anything dumb. It's just grocery runs and making breakfast for me right now.

[And also getting eaten by an anomaly like a day from now but it's not like she knows that yet.]

[cahooted]

Sounds good.

[That brings a small smile to his face.] Enjoy. Hope you found some good stuff.

[motherserpent]

Always. I'm great at finding.

You come down here and get breakfast sometime, alright?

[cahooted]

I'll--

[He hesitates, but eventually gives a shy nod.]

Sure. I will.

[motherserpent]

[She smiles. It'll be nice to see him face to face sometime when she's not busy jumping into a pit.]

You keep warm until then, alright?

[cahooted]

[He smiles; it's weak but it's there.]

You too. Take care, Tess.

[motherserpent]

Take care.

[And she's out.]