second glitch

[perfectisnteasy]

[anyone listening to the journal today might pick up a very steady, consistent sound, almost like a metronome:

flip.
flip.
flip.
flip.

at odd intervals, there'll be a soft thud, a scrape, and then the flipping continues. anyone who ventures onto the second floor of the library will find the source of the sound: CLU seated at a table, behind a MASSIVE pile of books. there's a tall glass of some sort of glowing, blue liquid off to one side, but other than that, it's just him and the books.

to the uninitiated, it'll look like he's not even reading. he just turns a page, blinks, and repeats the process ad nauseam. but he's definitely reading, scanning each page and its contents quickly before moving on. occasionally, if a spread is dense with text, or a concept it details is completely foreign to him, he'll pause a moment before turning the page. but for the most part, he just. keeps. going. after he finishes one book in particular, he stops, and scowls down at the journal]

[he's careful to keep his tone light, though, because That Is How You Make Friends And Influence People.] These are the most inefficient systems. I don't see how any of you can cope. Don't you get impatient?

Comments

[mal_addict]

That you have. Let's not go overboard with it, though.

[perfectisnteasy]

There is no overboard, Maladict. You do the job until it's done. It's that simple.

I just can't figure out where to start. Might need a little help on that front.

[mal_addict]

...When you're concerned there is kind of a massive overboard. So overboard you've hopped right into another boat.

Well, I can help, but let's not start any...you know...horrible murdering. Because I shouldn't be getting involved in that sort of thing. I have to follow certain rules.

[perfectisnteasy]

This isn't about boats, this is about systems. You could stay on topic a little more, if you're going to help.

Horrible murdering? I don't know what you're talking about. [there are no ISOs here. wait. wait. are you telling him there are ISOs here?]

[mal_addict]

It's a metaphor.

Don't play dumb. We're not playing the perfect race game again.

[perfectisnteasy]

But the perfect system is my directive. It can't change. [he sounds equally bemused and frustrated at the thought that she'd even suggest such a thing]

[mal_addict]

Oh boy, we really are back to square one with this aren't we.