Seventh Rising

[irishrotter]

[Video]

[Simon usually broadcasts from his living room, but today the pulpit has moved. He's standing, the camera far back enough to show him from the knees up -- and more importantly the fluffy, spotlessly white wings that have sprouted from his back. The only thing visible behind him is a full-length mirror just off-centered enough to show the other side off to the camera. He's still fully clothed, his shirt slit to accommodate for the wings.

The broadcast comes late in the day, and the reason for this will become clear soon enough: he practiced with the wings before appearing on screen. His words are punctuated with grand sweeps and righteous trembling of feathers. Kieren would be embarrassed, maybe even horrified, but. Well. Kieren's not here, is he?

Simon is. He flutters a wing and smirks sardonically.]

Well, I don't think I'm ready to ascend just yet...

[But that's not why he's here. Today, he is an angel of fury. His expression fades into iciness, growing increasingly dark and increasingly intent as he goes on.]

There is a sickness on this ship. I've been watching it spread for weeks, now, and I'm tired of standing idly by while the source becomes clearer and clearer.

Wardens eschewing inmates. Wardens rubbing inmates' noses in the profits gained off their sweat and blood. Wardens forcing death tolls on inmates! Even those of you who should know better! Those who know what it is to die, to be imprisoned, to strive for a better life.

That's why we're all here, isn't it? Some voluntarily, some not, but we're all here for a chance at something better. Only everywhere I look, I see the same thing: the living, new and old, doing everything they can to get in the way of the dead achieving anything. Crushing them beneath their feet like so much dust.

You that I'm speaking to -- you all know who you are. There is a sickness destroying this ship, and it starts with you. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

[He sneers and signs off with a final flare of his wings.]

((Note: Simon is going to be very selectively replying, partly to save my inbox and partly because he doesn't give a damn right now what most people are going to have to say to this. WHOOPS, HIS BAD, DOUCHEBAGS.))

Comments

[irishrotter]

[Simon hasn't seen much of Phillip since that day in the library, but he remembers him perfectly well -- remembers the hatred coming off him in waves, practically tangible. He's learned, since, that he's an inmate, but he's also learned that not all inmates are there to be his. Not yet, anyway.

Simon flashes Phillip a razor-thin smile and flares his wings slightly, thinking, now we'll see.]

Things that can only be achieved by a people freed from fear and shame.

[broughtwhiskey]

[Philip doesn't display any sort of grandiose emotional reaction to Simon's subtle display. He remains cool, but not indifferent. His hatred is no secret, but it's also carefully contained and controlled. To the untrained eye, it would almost go unnoticed entirely.]

The dead don't have fear or shame because they aren't people anymore, not because they've obtained some form of enlightenment.

[irishrotter]

[The words alone tell Simon all he needs to know. His nostrils flare with anger, all pretense of a smile vanishing into a righteous, disdainful sneer.]

As much a person as someone who clings desperately to their own mortality. If not moreso.

[broughtwhiskey]

I don't seem to recall the majority of the living eating one another.

[irishrotter]

I haven't seen anyone here eating anyone else -- have you?

[broughtwhiskey]

I'm supposed to believe that you've never attacked the living?

[He's not answering that question because he's aware of certain r00d vampires that used to be around, that was only just handled just before his time. Inadequately, but handled.]

[irishrotter]

Apologies. I didn't realize I was in the presence of a pacifist.

[broughtwhiskey]

[It's Philip's turn to sneer. The last word anybody could use to describe him is pacifist.]

I've never made a claim to be anything in particular. Certainly not like you have.

[irishrotter]

I never claimed that I've never harmed the living. But no more than the living harm themselves. Your kind have committed too many atrocities -- you can't lay them all at our feet.

[broughtwhiskey]

[There's a flash of a smile, biting and all teeth. If there's one thing Philip doesn't need to be reminded of, it's what people are capable of. But he still doesn't place them on the same scale. As far as he's concerned, it's apples and oranges.]

My kind has logic and reason. It may be flawed at times, but we don't do things without a reason behind it. And when the reason isn't there, we feel something. And yet, if you really get down to what it is you really are?

Well, you're nothing more than a mindless animal, now aren't you? Killing for the sake of it, no remorse, nothing. Just that base instinct to destroy because that's all you're capable of.

So you tell me what's worse. Who are the real monsters: humanity or biters?

[irishrotter]

Logic and reason? You've heard me speak how many times now? About faith. Duty. Responsibility. Love.

Are you so completely brainwashed that you can't even acknowledge that you're talking with someone just as human as you are? Having a conversation, no less, if I can call beating my head against the wall a bloody conversation. And you call me mindless? And you say I'm without reason?

[broughtwhiskey]

Strange to me that you want to be so different from humanity, but you want to be treated the same.

You can't have it both ways.

[irishrotter]

And the only way you know is to treat us like animals! You'd be blind even with both eyes. We're not responsible for your ignorance.

[broughtwhiskey]

Really? Then are you going to take responsibility for the lives you've taken? The families you've destroyed?

[irishrotter]

You have no idea what you're talking about, you stupid, pathetic little man.

[broughtwhiskey]

I have no idea. [He laughs.] Seems to me that's not the case or else you'd have an answer for that.

[private]

[tucky]

He's not. The fuck is wrong with you? You're talking to him right now; you can see he ain't mindless.

[private]

[broughtwhiskey]

For now, maybe. But how long do you think that will really last?

[private]

[tucky]

Forever. Why wouldn't it?

[private]

[broughtwhiskey]

My entire world is overrun with things like him. And each one of them is just a mindless killer. He's no different.

[private]

[tucky]

He's not; that's fucking stupid. He's just like us in almost every single way.

[private]

[broughtwhiskey]

Then you're a damned fool if you think that can't change.

[private]

[tucky]

And you're just a-- a prejudiced dick if you think it will.

[private]

[broughtwhiskey]

Things like him have destroyed my world. There's nothing prejudiced about it when it's fact.

[private]

[tucky]

If they were mindless they weren't anything like him.

He ain't a thing. You hurt Simon and I'll fuck you up.