FEB 23rd ; DAY ; VIDEO

[ioudas]

(this is meant to be broadcast, because cross is actually unveiling a prototype for the sentries that he wants to build. but it's mostly Allen learning from years of experience with his master when he comes down to see him.)

Master..? ( he sounds weary, but you would too if you’ve known Cross as long as he has. ) Is this really as important as you said it was?

(there are a few of these steampunked babies sitting on cross' lab table, about four or so. they wake up and start talking in their autotuned sing-song voice.)

Hello, Allen Walker!

Never mind, I’ll come back later.

(too late, they're opening their sides and there are lasers pointed right towards him.)

Er—hello?

(it's almost too late -- before they start moving like pipe organs would (think of the first part of this on loop) of Mozart's Requiem and the sound of cross laughing his ass off.)

You should have seen your stupid face.

(he's tearing up, wiping tears from his one good eye with the corner of his white labcoat before standing in front of the recording.)

There wasn’t anything funny about that!!

Y'know if I could get more space and access to actual volunteers, I wouldn't make you go through this.

(then, it dawns on allen. he's being taped on purpose. he's being taped on purpose and this is broadcasting and cross just made an example out of him. he's been used for emotional blackmail.)

Master, you're terrible. Absolutely terrible.

Keep talking Allen, maybe next time there will be actual bullets and I'll train them to hunt you.

(cross cuts the feed off)

(ooc; bold is allen and italics is cross!)

Comments

[video]

[moralizes]

It seems strange, doesn't it?

[video]

[ioudas]

He's been making my life miserable ever since I picked him up.

[video]

[moralizes]

It's either the other way around, or mutual. But if that's truly the case, why did you do it in the first place?

[video]

[ioudas]

I made a promise to his uncle, stupidly.

[video]

[moralizes]

Would it not be against that promise to 'shake him off'? If I'm assuming the gist of the promise correctly.

[video]

[ioudas]

It's a really, really long story.

[video]

[moralizes]

But what point does it amount to? What reason do you have to keep him with you, as much as you claim you want to be rid of him?

[video]

[ioudas]

Like I said, it's a really, really long story.

[video]

[moralizes]

Which ends in, 'you have to keep him around but try to get rid of him'.

[video]

[ioudas]

Yes, that's exactly it.

[video]

[moralizes]

Of course that makes perfect sense.

[video]

[ioudas]

Of course it does.

[video]

[moralizes]

You wouldn't say it otherwise, naturally.

[He sees how it is :I]

[video]

[ioudas]

Don't worry about it.

[video]

[moralizes]

I hold a special concern for this particular treatment of subordinates.

[video]

[ioudas]

Then take it to someone who cares.

[video]

[moralizes]

Of course, the one on your end of things would never care, this is the problem. Don't kill the boy.

[video]

[ioudas]

If I kill the kid, who else would I experiment on?

[video]

[moralizes]

...That's horrible.

[video]

[ioudas]

Yeah, whatever.