bodilesswarrior | 16

16 - Video

[No one on the ship has seen Red Hood with her mask off. Few know her actual name. Barbara likes it that way; it's easier.

She doesn't broadcast to the network very often; she's not particularly interested in exposing herself to the ship at large. At worst it's dangerous, and at best it's just irritating.

She's willing to make an exception.

Her hands, gloved in coarse black leather, are clasped in front of her. Her expression is grim, her voice cool.]

Obviously, everyone is excited about the door, and Arthas is clearly enjoying stirring the pot.

Before anyone does something ridiculously stupid, they should keep in mind that we're in this, ultimately, together. [She manages to sound completely sincere, too.] If this ship dies, so do we.

So instead of petty rivalry and private schemes, why don't we come up with a plan, together, that saves our collective ass?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Do you have any suggestions?

[Completely sincere.]

I mean, we can kind of all agree, I think, that you've got a good head on your shoulders and are smarter than ninety percent of the population, so - I think the floor is pretty much yours.

Flatterer. [It's more of a smirk than a smile, but there's a rare warmth to it.]

From what we've seen, it seems like the Admiral's hold on the Barge is getting progressively weaker. We need to find out why that is.

The problem, of course, is the Admiral has told us fuck all about what he is and how he works.

I think we should pool together all our theories. See what makes the most sense and try to work with it.

[Yep. He sure is.]

I've heard demon and god. So, there's a whole goddamn spectrum for you.

[She likes people who know how to use it.]

Demons and gods aren't so different, probably.

[Unaffected, but he's been on the mirror barge before, and he's listened long enough to get the gist of what's going on.]

Regretfully, I concur. I can't begin to conceive of the idea of all of us working together -- [A scoff.] -- but, at the very least, we should be able to assemble some intelligent minds in this time of highly irritating individuals announcing their intention to get us all killed.

[He's got Riddler's 'I hate everyone and everything' down to par.]

Are we brainstorming, or do you already have an idea to kick off from?

[He's one of the few villains she hasn't considered murdering in his sleep. She would kill him, of course, if she had to, but he's not a target on his own. She's left him alone on the Barge, for the most part.

So her tone, when she responds, is almost civil.]

Not a plan, per se - I want to gather intel. Everything we know about the Admiral, about the Barge, all of our experiences. All of our theories.

An excellent idea.

Thank you. [Most of the Inmates exasperate her; David, on occasion, unnerves her. But that's not his fault, really.]

Any ideas of your own?

I always have ideas.

Care to share with the class?

Is the class willing to listen to reason?

[Her lips twitch.] Sometimes they're suckered into it by accident.

That hasn't been my experience.

You're pretty straightforward.

And people still choose not to listen.

Because you're so interested in the Good of All.

[ Harvey's sarcasm is superthick. ]

[So Sylvanas gets angry pretty easily these days. Especially at wardens. Call it pent up frustrations against her own. Right now her voice is distinctly warm with her anger and offense.]

In what way have we ever been "in this together"? Just because Inmates and Wardens share the same basic geography does not mean that we're together.

No, it doesn't. [She's not going to bullshit, not to Sylvanas.] But in this specific situation, we're all in danger.

Is that supposed to mean anything? The Inmates have been in danger since the moment each of us arrived in this Hell. It's about time you Wardens shared in our fear.

[A low, derisive snort.] You say that like we've never been in Hell before.

But you know, you're right. Most of us deserve to be afraid. Most of us deserve to die screaming.

Won't help the rest of the ship any.

Allow me to remind you of the circumstances that cause Inmates to arrive. We die, or are very close to the moment of death. And then we get here, where it's our blood that paints the walls, our screams in the night, as you Wardens take your sadistic pleasure in torturing us. All so we can become hollow, vicious, monsters like you. And of course, you get your rewards.

There is only one among us that wouldn't return to peaceful death, and he wouldn't ask for us to sacrifice all the innocent souls here, just for his sake. Which is what makes him an actual hero. He would be willing to sacrifice himself, so that this place never again traps another innocent, and corrupts their soul. The fact that the lot of you bastards would go down in flames is an added bonus.

So bark up some other tree, you smug, self-deluded bitch. I hope you burn.

[And she hangs up.]

[The answer is barely above a snarl; sorry, Hood, he likes you and all (in his way) but you are being ridiculous.]

Say that as if entire ship going down in flames would be a loss. Can think of a few wouldn't mourn.

[A wry, sharp smirk.] True enough.

But there's enough people on this boat worth saving. [And maybe a few that aren't, but she wants to anyway.]

Name one.

Well, there's you.

Can save myself.

[But it's almost sulking, as if he doesn't want to acknowledge weakness, as much in himself as in the few he's actually allowed himself to become invested in.]

Doesn't always work out that way.

Worked so far.

[You're in an interdimensional prison after dying because you wouldn't change, Rorschach. And things haven't gotten easier. IN WHAT WAY IS THIS WORKING.]

Do you trust them all to follow through? [ She's gauging opinion. While she's like to stay alive, be in a good position if anything did happen, she's not putting anything into it - yet. She's finding out what happened, and what might happen next. But it's still a valid question, real pushing or not ]

[A grim smile.] Let's just say I'm not planning on turning my back on anyone.

[Private]

I assume you're somewhere safe.

You might have to convince them to do the same. [ If she wanted to convince them, though if they were to work together they had to be on the same thought ]

I'm not waiting by the door. [ Safe was relative, and not quite as safe as she'd been in Nathan's cabin - she was out, and investigating now ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

16 - Video

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that smile is just creepy okay

david is always creepy

truth

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[Locked from Arthas]

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private.