15th slide

[freeslider]

Who would've thought something so simple could become so terrifying?

[Ben]

Maybe you know this already, but that wasn't like me at all, and I'm really really sorry for scaring you like that.

[The Boogeyman]

[What did he say his real name was? Man, this is the weirdest filter ever...]

I'm not sure I should even bother, considering how much of a jerk you are, but...[sigh] I'm sorry.

Comments

Dictated;

[i_rule_me]

The most terrifyin' things are pretty much always that bleedin' simple. Don' matter how smart we get, so long as there's that deep, dark part o' our minds what hasn't changed since we were apes in caves, that gets scared o' shadows in the dark.

dictated;

[freeslider]

Shadows make more sense than spirals, though.

[i_rule_me]

Aye, that's true, but the meaning's more or less the same. Spirals, like shadows, can represent a lot o' different things, dependin' on yuir perspective.

[freeslider]

Like those ink blot tests.

So what do you think it means, that some of us were afraid and some of us were kind of crazy obsessed?

Wade

[indirectcause]

It's okay, I know. It made me more paranoid than usual, too.

Ben

[freeslider]

Yeah, maybe so. But I didn't want you to think I'd stopped caring about your feelings.

Wade

[indirectcause]

Don't worry about it. I figured that much. The castle makes us do crazy shit, it happens.

You didn't get hurt, did you?

Ben

[freeslider]

No. In a weird way it did seem to be protecting me. In a weird way I...liked feeling that powerful.

Wade

[indirectcause]

...Wade, that sounds really fucking creepy out loud.

Ben

[freeslider]

I know. And that's why I needed to apologize.

Wade

[indirectcause]

Well, it's okay. It's not like I hold it against you or anything.

Ben

[freeslider]

Well, you could. I'd be grateful if you didn't, though.

Wade

[indirectcause]

Nah. We'll just mark it down to regular castle bullshit.

Ben

[freeslider]

Thanks, Ben.

You take it easy, ok? I'll see you around.

Wade

[indirectcause]

I will. You too.

(Dictated)

[tylendel]

The castle has a knack for turning the innocent into the stuff of nightmares.

[dictated]

[freeslider]

As if the nightmares we might already have weren't enough.

This Woman

[fearbringer]

[He never learned her name, so he hopes this filter will work. But he's surprised by the apology, to say the least.]

... Why? Because of the drain?

The Boogeyman

[freeslider]

[Being a jerk doesn't preclude a person from apologies, in her lexicon]

Uh...yeah. Pretty much. And for pressing the issue even when I knew it bothered you.

This Woman

[fearbringer]

It wouldn't have bothered me normally, just as I assume you would have been less... evangelical normally. It was the Castle's doing, so I don't think apologies are really necessary.

... But. Apology accepted anyway.

The Boogeyman

[freeslider]

Thanks.

It must have weird for you to...feel like that.

This Woman

[fearbringer]

Do you mean controlled?

Or do you mean afraid?

The Boogeyman

[freeslider]

I meant afraid. Have you ever felt either. Can you?

This Woman

[fearbringer]

Don't you think that's a rather personal question?

The Boogeyman

[freeslider]

I suppose it is. You don't have to answer. I was just curious. Don't you know everything that I'm afraid of?

This Woman

[fearbringer]

[He's tempted to tell her "yes", and almost does-- a Boogeyman who can't automatically read your fears is less scary than one who can, after all. But if he lies about this and is caught (and it would be pretty easy for that to happen), people might think he's lying about other things... even about the fact that he is the Boogeyman. Ultimately, he decides it's better to tell the truth now, and not risk ruining his credibility all together.]

... No. Not here.

My ability to do so seems to be my loss.

The Boogeyman

[freeslider]

Oh. That...sucks...[She was hesitantly genuine. It was good to know from her perspective, but it obviously mattered to him. Which was the whole point of the castle's losses]

That was either a lucky guess or I really am as naive as the Professor used to say I was...[/verbal facepalm]

This Woman

[fearbringer]

You don't have to pretend to be sorry.

[He sounds a little amused.]

I promise not to be offended.

The Boogeyman

[freeslider]

But I am.

This Woman

[fearbringer]

... Really?

The Boogeyman

[freeslider]

[Now she sounds a little offended]

Yes really.

This Woman

[fearbringer]

You have no reason to get irritated. Sympathy isn't something I get a lot; you shouldn't be surprised that I'm skeptical.

The Boogeyman

[freeslider]

Okay, I can kind of understand that. It just...shouldn't matter who it is or what you think of them. Doing something terrible to someone should be something you feel sorry for.

This Woman

[fearbringer]

You're talking about the drain again, I assume?

I would hardly classify that as terrible.

The Boogeyman

[freeslider]

It wasn't nice. That's all I'm saying.

This Woman

[fearbringer]

And you don't want to be mean, even to the Boogeyman?

The Boogeyman

[freeslider]

Not if I can avoid it, no. That's not who I want to be. It shouldn't matter who it is.

This Woman

[fearbringer]

... Hm.

All right, then.

[toobravehearted]

'Something' doesn't have to be complicated to scare. Hello, Wade. Are you doing all right?

[freeslider]

Yeah...yeah I guess so. I just hate the idea that I hurt people. Even if it was the castle.

[toobravehearted]

You hurt someone? The latest castle trick I take it. [He thought she was quite gentle on the occasions he has met her, not really capable of hurting any body.] I know that feeling Wade. I'm sure a person would understand but I know it doesn't take away how you feel.

[freeslider]

Not physically, but I don't really think that matters.

[toobravehearted]

I see, and no, no it doesn't. Would you have acted in such a way without the castle's influence?

[freeslider]

Of course not. I'm not that kind of person.

[toobravehearted]

[He didn't think so.] There you go, and said with conviction. You know your own mind and it wasn't your fault. That you feel bad shows that you are a good person.

Can I do anything to take your mind away from it for a while?

[freeslider]

I could use a little distraction. Maybe a walk. A long one. I don't think I've ever seen anything beyond the town in all the time I've been here.

[toobravehearted]

You haven't? Then Wade, I think I would be honoured to escort you on a small tour. Or a long walk, as the case may be.

[freeslider]

Long is good. I'll get back to you about the when part. Thanks.

[toobravehearted]

Any time. just give me a shout.