5th Metal / open video

[godsays]

[ The video turns on Zane, who is somewhat disheveled, but, to the discerning eye, different than usual. Something too intent and high-strung has been muted, and there is a dangerous hint in his eyes. ]

Cassel is... hurt.

Someone needs to collect him.

Level 4, Cabin 12.

[ And video off. ]



[ ACTION SPAM (edited to add) ]

[ And now Zane is in zero.

He sits alone, arms crossed over his chest, his face hard and blank.

Come and visit! ]

Comments

Spam.

[godsays]

Rorschach tried to torture the "truth" out of me. What's there to say?

Spam.

[an_abomination]

[Frowns.]

I know that Cassel gave you permission to attack him. What I want to know is, why did you "need" to hurt someone in order to deal with whatever it was that was going on with you?

Spam.

[godsays]

I'm insane.

What does it matter?

[ There's no hint of a lie about him, but there's no hint of insanity either. He is steady, and controlled. ]

Spam.

[an_abomination]

Because if I know what your intentions were and your logic behind it, I'll have a better understanding of the situation.

Spam.

[godsays]

There was no logic. [ It was uncontrolled. It was frightening. ]

But I wouldn't have killed him.

Spam.

[an_abomination]

[Studies him closely while they talk, trying to gauge the truthfulness in his answers.]

Cassel said you "needed" to hurt him. Were you angry about something? Confused?

Spam.

[godsays]

I didn't say anything like that.

He wouldn't go. I told him it was dangerous to stay, and he asked me if he was important enough to hurt.

[an_abomination]

[Trying to wrap his mind around that logic.]

He wanted you to hurt him in order for you to show that you cared?

[Casseeelll...]

[godsays]

Yes.

[ Cassel had been paying him a compliment: respect, somehow, in a way Zane can't really pin down. And Zane had too, in turn. ]

[an_abomination]

I know different people have different ways of showing they care, but usually hurting someone shows that you don't they are worth much.

[godsays]

[ He counters: ]

When I was successful, I knew it because my father tried to have me killed.

[ Then, it was a compliment. An indication, from his father, that his fear of Zane had progressed from the irrational to the rational. ]

[an_abomination]

What do you mean?

[godsays]

He sent assassins. When I was too good at carrying out my plans and his in the same schemes.

[an_abomination]

Okay, I guess logically that makes sense, since it sounds like he saw you as a threat. But there's more to caring than that and you wouldn't have too many people you cared about left if you sent assassins after all of them.

[godsays]

Wouldn't have too many people who could betray you, either.

[an_abomination]

There is that, but if you're afraid of someone betraying you, you might not want to invest so much in them. Kinda ease into it.

Anyway, here's the thing; I don't want to see Cassel get hurt again. I think the two of you could help each other out, so I don't want to be like "stay the hell away from him" or anything like that. What I'm asking is if he asks you to hurt him again in any shape or form, physically, mentally, emotionally, etc, then don't. Because if it happens again after we've had this talk, I'm going to have to take a hard and fast approach to dealing with the situation.

[godsays]

[ Meaning direct punishment.

Zane understands, at least, even if he doesn't completely like it. At least this man didn't dismiss what Zane said outright.

He nods, slowly. ]