[network] Day 387 | @beyonce | Naive [open] [audio]

[thewarningafter]

[There was the usual panic, of course. The usual frantic escape from the bodybag into the cold air of the morgue. No new memories this time, no mistaking this waking life for a dream. No forgetting what had happened--what he had allowed to happen. Stephen isn't even out of the morgue before he gets on the network with a pressing question.]

This is Stephen Strange; I'm alive again. Has anyone seen David? Did he make it out?

Comments

@betterhalf; text

[darkincrement]

What's the price this time?

@beyonce | audio

[thewarningafter]

That's not an answer to my question.

@betterhalf; text

[darkincrement]

It's more interesting.

[ To Vanitas. ]

perma-audio

[thewarningafter]

I don't care. I'm not here to amuse you. Have you heard from David?

[darkincrement]

Haven't heard from him.

[thewarningafter]

[And Stephen immediately takes that claim at face value.]

Of course. Of course not.

I can't keep doing this.

[darkincrement]

Dying? I agree.

[ Hoping for others to return is also stupid, Stephen. ]

[thewarningafter]

[That stops him up short. What's that supposed to mean?]

What?

No, that's not...not what I meant....

[darkincrement]

It should be.

[ What the hell is up with these heroes and their lack of self preservation ]

[thewarningafter]

...You think so?

[He'd thought not getting other people killed was the more important thought, but....]

[darkincrement]

[ That's an odd response. ]

Obviously. You can only look after yourself.

[ Says the kid who is making sure Gabriel and Billy doesn't get themselves killed. ]

[thewarningafter]

[That's...kind of devastating to hear, actually. He's always been more than that. Used to be more than that. But Vanitas is right; he's fallen so far that he can't even keep one other person alive, let along do anything that's going to help the group.]

I thought...I thought I could....

[darkincrement]

Don't. It's stupid to blame yourself for what other people do.

[ This is weird. And he's not sure if he should keep engaging. ]

[thewarningafter]

...Right.

[Stupid. He's being stupid. Something doesn't feel right here.]

We'd planned it together, though.

[darkincrement]

[ Definitely something is up. Let's go further to see. ]

And? You both knew what could happen.
He still picked it.

[thewarningafter]

But so did I. If I hadn't, if I'd said no, maybe he wouldn't have gone alone.

[darkincrement]

[ That's stupid Stephen. Even if he can't see it, Vanitas is making a face at the tablet. ]

Wasn't he one of those stubborn types?
He probably would have gone in anyways.
Besides, if you two haven't, then someone else would have.
There's plenty of people who don't value their lives.

[ Staring past his tablet at Gabriel, Billy, and Al for a moment. Also this is a lot of words coming from Vanitas. He hates having Mania. ]

[action]

[termineur]

[ Gabriel's been talking quietly to his tablet and looks up to find Vanitas staring at him. He snorts lightly, but his expression is vaguely worried. ]

Hey, leave off of Stephen a bit, would you? His death price is pretty nasty.

[ It's a gamble, but he doesn't ask this sort of thing often. Maybe being straightforward will work. ]

[action]

[darkincrement]

[ Wow. His eyes narrow for a moment. Stephen picked his "hero" well, but it won't stop Vanitas from bitching though. ]

He's being an idiot.

[ He'll lay off. ]

[action]

[termineur]

[ Gabriel snorts lightly and mutters under his breath. ]

Yep, that's pretty much the death price...

[ He goes back to his tablet, speaking softly into it. But he's still watching and listening for any more problems. This is a lot to manage in a little space of time right now. ]

[action]

[darkincrement]

[ His tablet chimes again. His eyes narrow at the message and then he looks up at Gabriel. This is what he means. ]

Tell me, how close are you to him?

[ Typing a response back. ]

[thewarningafter]

I should be able to stop them. I should be able to stop them throwing their lives away. If I were better at this, if I tried harder....

[He's sounding pretty distressed now with his denials of what he's sure is true.]

[darkincrement]

[ Looking at Gabriel to give him This is what I mean kind of look. Then he'll respond ]

They made the choice. Stop blaming yourself.

[ This is going to get dangerous if it keeps going. ]

[thewarningafter]

I know. I know.

[His voice is hopeless and small. They all make their choices. It isn't his fault, because he isn't capable of fixing it. It's beyond him.

That makes sense. It makes a lot more sense than what he thought before.]

You're right.

[darkincrement]

[ That verifies it. And there's something about him sounding like that... his eyes narrow at the screen. He has a moment where he wants to tell him it'll be better off if he's dead if he's going to be like this. It's not any fun when they are broken. And maybe he'll come back better if he's put out of his misery...

But

Gabriel likes him. He's a friend.

It takes a bit longer before he finally responds. ]

Nevermind what I said.
Whatever Gabriel says is right.