Text || May 14

[3rdbest]

Last few days were so much fun.

Black Mesa is back in business. For those who don’t know what Black Mesa is, it's a House Call Technician business, and we fix computers, broadcasting and wireless systems, business equipment and security systems. If anyone is interested or just wants a job, call me maybe.


[ PRIVATE TO: BLACK MESA EMPLOYEES ]
We are going put up cameras all over the city. More, at least. Ones that will actually capture when few people are being kidnapped on the streets after being chloroformed.

The Detective Agency will supervise this since it’s for them.


[ PRIVATE TO: DUO ]
I have a proposal. Not marriage, but close.


[ PRIVATE TO: NEAR and MELLO ]
Thanks for breaking into my place, setting off the alarm and starting the program to erase everything I had in my three computers. That was really awesome and completely necessary.

Near, we are also ready to start setting up the cameras. Whenever you are ready.


[ PRIVATE TO: SOLLUX ]
Hey, let’s go on a mission tomorrow or the day after?

Comments

[consider8]

So I see. [She turns his head a little to get a closer look. A few punches, certainly. Some of the welts were far larger, though. A blunt object or more likely a foot. Hmm...]

[Despite his injuries, her face never loses it's smile. She's grateful. Not for the injuries, of course, but for the fact that he is now safe and can be looked over. Her eyes turn from looking at his injuries to looking at him.] You don't need to be so brave, you know.

[3rdbest]

I'm not being brave. After that mission, there were people with broken arms - comparatively, this is nothing.

Just new make-up.

[consider8]

[At that, the smile droops.]

...what makes me so infuriated about this, aside from the fact that it happened to people attempting to protect the city, is that we still do not know their reasoning.

[3rdbest]

Well, we humans aren't exactly smart when we panic. Most animals aren't. [ matt shrugs and moves to grab a chair; Aranea can sit on the sofa - she just has to move the gaming consoles aside ] We also fail at logic, specially when we form groups.

But honestly, it didn't surprise me at all. It's human nature. [ "cynical young man", that's what Signless called him once. And he is right. Matt is exactly that ]

[consider8]

I wouldn't be so disparaging. Humanity is, in truth, more on the side of good than quite a few other races.

Mine is more on the grey side of the morality of good and evil. No pun intended.

[She's not going to sit just yet, instead sort of... examining where she is and how she can move without... damaging anything... or herself...]

[3rdbest]

It really depends on the point of view. We are intelligent animals and we are very cocky about it - but we aren't as righteous as we lead everyone to believe.

You have lived long, so I think you know about that.

[ matt shrugs ] yeah, but I do know trolls are much more prone to it than us. But at least you don't pretend you don't.

And you don't seem to try to turn evil into good, to justify yourselves and convince others. At least you don't seem to. [ maybe he is talking about Kira. ]

[consider8]

[She decided to nudge the stuff on the sofa just far enough to sit precariously. If you're going to bring her over you're going to have to at least make a place for her.]

There are always exceptions. Always. There was one troll in the alternate iteration that was quite the force of good. And many others that brutalize and destroy others. Some justify it. Others don't. I believe it is a common quality of all sentient beings. To justify one's actions... and to lie to ourselves and others.

[3rdbest]

[ what is proper socialization procedure. ]

I suppose stupidity comes with intelligence, like it or not. [ he manages to grin, even if his face hurts ]

[consider8]

That would be profound were it not completely useless to just about everyone ever.

[She smirks.]

[3rdbest]

Aha, there is a reason why I don't like people. I don't appreciate stupidity.

[consider8]

Well, I've always tried to not look at it in just terms of intelligence. There is a lot of reasons why a person may not aspire to become "intelligent." Indeed that construct itself is something that is debatable.

The most common, of course, is ignorance. That is easy to change, simply provide the right information. The more difficult ones occur when the lack of intelligence lies in behavior. Either resistance, laziness, disinterest, or the information or skill being not considered very important.

[3rdbest]

I think you have too much patience, to be honest. But, well, you do like to share information, so it's natural I suppose.

Myself, I like my corner of the world without having to deal with others. I'm a hermit, just look at my place.

[consider8]

It is easier, but don't you ever get lonely?

[3rdbest]

The alternative isn't as amazing as everyone makes it out to be, you know? It's a matter of weighting what bothers you most. And loneliness doesn't bother me all that much comparatively with being social.

[consider8]

What does "being social" mean to you?

[3rdbest]

Uh-

being with people. Contact. Intimacy.

[consider8]

Being touched?

[3rdbest]

[ he looks at her for a second. ]

Hm.

Well. I get used to it with some people, eventually.

[consider8]

[She wants to ask why, but her consideration holds her back. Instead she holds her knees together and looks at him curiously. If there was anything that she wanted to convey it was concern and compassion. That, at least, she felt, he would be able to be comfortable with.]

Do your injuries hurt?

[3rdbest]

[ Matt reaches for his own jaw, caressing it ]

Well, yeah. They went pretty crazy on my face, I guess. [ he shouldn't have called them names. ] But it's nothing too serious.

I'm already planning on going to a mission in two days or something. [ if he can find Sollux ]

[consider8]

So soon? That's rather ambitious.

I don't know whether to commend your bravery or call you an idiot.

[3rdbest]

Both - call me both. [ he laughs ]

[consider8]

Alright, brave idiot! [smirk]

[3rdbest]

Aha, it's a good nickname.

[ and NOW he remembers ] Do you want something to drink?

I'm a really bad host, I know.

[consider8]

Sure, that sounds good. I'll take anything.