paradisa | 23 - dictated

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23 - dictated

[It's late at night when Phoenix spots the cat, as he's traversing the halls of the castle, headed back to his room.]

Oh--uh, hey there?

[Although the creature is a little too deep in his uncanny valley, he still puts on a friendly smile. It's not that much stranger than meeting a lion here, after all, right? Probably just a new resident from some weird world with bizarre cat things.]

...are you new around here?

[But the cat doesn't say anything. Phoenix shrugs and is about to wander on toward his destination, when suddenly there's a heavy weight flung into the left side of his body; he's knocked over, the journal skidding some distance away and falling open, to record the full attack.]

What--aaaaggghh!!! Get off me! Get... get away! No!

[The sounds of a struggle are plainly evident for a few moments more, before a rustling as the journal is quickly retrieved, and desperate panting, running--]

GLaDOS!!

[He reaches her door, on the same floor as his own room but further down the hall, and bangs frantically, begging to be let in.]

GLaDOS, please please open the door, please...!

[But no answer comes quickly enough, and the cat is there again, and Phoenix takes off once more, already knowing the sprint to his own room is fruitless--]

H...help! Somebody, please--it's following me! It's--

[And then a scream filled with fear and agony... and then silence, for a long while before Phoenix speaks again.

This time, his voice is hollow.]

Oh my god...

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You...

[He trailed off, looking at Dhaos from the farthest edges of his vision. Sorry Dhaos...]

I uh... I've got a completely different plan for you mate!

[Enthusiasm! Though don't think he didn't pick up on that jab, though. He gave a nervous laugh, scratching his head while looking around. Come on! Not in front of everyone else. All he needed was other people thinking he was a moron.]

She's kidding... of-of course... ehehehe!

[He's not a moron.]

[ Her lips gave a forced lift upward for a simple second and she turned back to the table- it was difficult to keep a good mood when one had lost their leg.

Although she glanced at Dhaos when he 'spoke', admittedly feeling a bit jumpy around him. It must've been the lack of a face.

GLaDOS focused on her hands on the table. ]

Then, I can help you. [ she said noncomitally to Wheatley, before pushing her hair back. She wasn't sure why she was so easily upset- her fingers moved to the stump again, feeling absolutely sick as she touched it...

She was clearly not in a very stable mood. ]

Edited 2012-10-22 10:49 (UTC)

[Phoenix has been musing on the idea of having a prosthetic arm while the others converse amongst themselves. Actually, there's something oddly enticing about being a bionic lawyer. When there's a lull in the low voices of the others at the table, he interjects:]

How cool are we talking about here? I mean, regular medical prosthetics or will I have some increased pointing powers from this?

[No, he's still not really okay with the situation... but he is an optimist. Or is trying to be.]

'...Increased pointing powers...?' [No, he's not judging you Phoenix, he's just mildly confused about why extra pointing capacity would be desirable.]

Mate...

[One of his hands let go of GLaDOS, holding onto her with one hand as he turned to Nick dramatically. Even in explaining it, he was pointing in his direction with such an intensity, it was a wonder why Wheatley wasn't an attorney.]

Your old arm will be sub-par compared to what you'll have!... Do you hear me? Sub. Par.

[And he slowly looks to Dhaos... eugh. It gives him the shivers....]

And you!

Erm...s-same with your face, mate.
You had a wonderful face before, but this face... it'll... it'll beyond just a face.
A superface if you will. Mega face... extremely attractive. Obviously not one comparable to mine, but we can get you there...

[Oh come on GLaDOS. Look at him making all these promises you know he can't keep... help him out...]

[ GLaDOS looked up to Wheatley as he spoke, her face a mix between that sullen look that was repressing all of her anxiety, and slight exasperation.

She knew these were promises he couldn't keep, and it angered her. If only because it felt almost as though he were rubbing it in. That they were nothing anymore.

Invalid. ]

... stop being ridiculous. [ she spoke up, although her tone was frighteningly apathetic, and even a bit shaky to boot. ] Just... stop.

[ She shrugged out of his hand, shoulders shaking slightly. ]

...it's okay, GLaDOS.

[It's perhaps not his place to be trying to cheer her up, but he's worried about her anyway, and forcing himself to be cheerful for someone else is helping. A bit.]

Maybe a little fantasizing about some great glorious future where we're all cyborgs is just... what we need to get through this.

[He smiles, and though it doesn't quite reach his eyes, it's the effort that counts... right?]

[Dhaos remains silent. The thought of fusing man and machine holds no appeal to him. He was strange enough with a normal face, so to add a mechanical one? If a machine looks like a human yet is even the slightest bit off, people pick up on that quickly. And with the tendency for people to instinctively shy away from that which is not-quite right, he would be left alone again. Though he feels terribly selfish for it, he wants to remain near his friends for as long as he can.

Thus he says nothing, allowing them to latch onto anything that might help them get through this.]

[His smile falters terribly when he realizes the rather unenthusiastic crowd. It was sobering, harsh and just the slightest bit embarrassing. None of them actually believed that he was capable of it. They thought he was a moron. They actually believed that he was joking...

Wheatley had full confidence in himself, so when she shrugged out of his hand, he didn't bother to console her. Instead, he narrowed his eyes a bit and frowned... pacing over to Nick and Dhaos.

Fine GlaDOS. Do what you want. Think he's a moron. Nick and Dhaos were his friends... they weren't going to believe you. At least, he thought they wouldn't..]

I'm... not joking! I'm serious! I-in fact, I can start it and have it for you guys in... in a day! I... I can get to work now even...

[ GLaDOS wasn't sure what she wanted. She wanted to simply feel better- to be held, maybe, or simply comforted as he was earlier- but at the same time, she wanted to be left alone.

So she simply turned to Phoenix when Wheatley let go of her, not bothering to return. ]

Maybe you. I'd prefer my chassis...

[ Oh, how she missed it. Being the one in charge. The one torturing.

She sounded so bitter. She probably needed a lot of affection, despite her sour state- staying alone would simply depress her. ]

[He sighs.]

If Wheatley can make a cool prosthetic arm for me, I'm not turning down the offer.

[And that's all he has to say on the matter--at least for the time being. He leans back in his chair and crosses his single arm over his chest, frowning. A sort of stoic determination to be pseudo-happy is the best he can muster right now.]

'...I will wait for my own face. I... People are very good at telling the difference between a prosthetic and the real thing, and I do not -' [deserve] '- want to be pitied...'

Thankyou Nick. At least I know someone here believes in me.

[Words indirectly aimed towards GLaDOS. He was pacing back and forth now, a little uneasy. Whatever took their features was roaming outside now, probably looking for more. At Dhaos's words though, he was a little glad that he couldn't see the nervous look Wheatley gave him. Dhaos was a good guy, he was sure... but there wasn't really much that could be done for him. Enthusiasm was key.]

Don't think you'll be pitied.
Especially if this thing is going out snatching... snatching out all it can get. Terrifying, really... r-really terrifying if you think about it.

Now I just... hmmmm... have to figure... figure out a way out there...

[Could anyone catch it? The moron was trying to be the hero here...]

How about um, you guys... stay here. And I'll be right back. Yes. Alright.

[ Upon hearing those passive aggressive words, she snorted, turning away from both Phoenix and Wheatley, looking at the nearest wall. None of them had really taken her side.

This upset her, and the terrible frustration stewed inside of her... But she wondered, about Dhaos' point of view. Were humans in the game of pitying people with much better-functioning limbs? Honestly now. This made her even more irritated, unsure why- was it the slightest protective streak she had developed over her fake memories? Who knew.

But when Wheatley mentions going outside... she can't help it. There's a terrible flash of fear, and she turns to him, awkwardly, still shivering terribly as the nub trailed with her on the chair. ]

Do you seriously think you're going to go out in a situation like this? You're going to get something stolen, you idiot!

[ There was an obvious tinge of worry, but her voice was laced with frustration. Wheatley, stop being the hero. We all know you're not a hero. ]

[Phoenix, on the other hand, has already decided he's just not going to let anyone pity him. When Wheatley speaks up, he's already hurrying toward the door to stop him.]

You can't go back out there! It... it already had one arm, and now it's got mine and GLaDOS's leg, but it'll need another leg, I bet--Wheatley, stay in here where it's safe, please.

Not an idiot!!

[Oh... Sorry Nick. They're making their relationship look bad, aren't they?]

Nononono... I know what I'm doing!
Besides, how am I supposed to get the supplies to get either of you things if you're so worried?

[He is making his way slowly towards Nick.]

Besides, I know what I'm doing, trust me.
Cat gets on the element of surprise, dozznee? Well. I'll have you know... I am a fantastic runner. Among other things.

You are.

[ Yep, they certainly are. She huffs and crosses her arms stubbornly. ]

And if you even touch that doorknob besides locking the door, I am going to kill you.

[ Really, she's thinking in Wheatley's best interest. And... she's kind of relieved Phoenix is thinking the same- to keep him inside. Please, please, stay inside.

She really doesn't want him to find himself in the same situation- it made her heart pound, her mouth dry. ]

Honestly, Wheatley, you can help us out a lot more by staying here and keeping yourself whole. What do you think would happen to us if you underestimated the cat's running ability, huh? What if it took your leg too?

[He makes a wide, sweeping gesture between the motley group.]

We need you right now--and we need you to stay right here. Don't let us down, okay?

Am not!!! Stop saying I am, b-because I'm not!

[A little louder than before. He approaches Nick through his convincing, only to move behind him and turn his back on GLaDOS. Calling him a moron. He clearly is making Nick the barrier in this awkward situation.]

...I... right. Won't let you down.
Who knows about her. 'Pparently everything I do lets her down.

[Speaking loud enough for her to hear, despite talking to Nick...]

Okay. Right. I... I'll just... plan the things... here then. No problem. Can do that.

[ She quiets, a flash of hurt in golden eyes when he mentions that everything he does lets her down.

And she hesitates to speak, but she does. ]

That's not true, you moron.

[ she sulked, turning her back on him as well, unsure why she felt such a sudden wave of emotion. Was it because of what had happened prior? It was difficult to hold herself together... ]

[Phoenix quirks an eyebrow, well aware that he's in the middle of a lover's quarrel; acknowledging it, he assumes, would just exacerbate the problem, so he just silently crosses to the door and slides down to the floor, sitting with his back pressed against the exit just in case Wheatley might get any more bright ideas.]

I'm not a moron! Not a moro- Mate, tell her I'm not a moron.

[Dragging you into this, yep yep.
Pick sides carefully nick.]

[ She narrows her eyes, glaring at the wall. ]

You are a moron if you think that. That I'm always let down by you.

[ She sounds pretty upset. ]

What I think is that this really isn't the time to be fighting over stuff like this.

[Crossing his... arm... over his chest.]

We have way bigger matters to be worrying about. Save your spat for later.

Ah right- alright alright... good idea.
Late then, later... but um...

What should we do then? If-if we're stuck here?
We're trapped...

[He sits down on the ground, between both of them.]

Not a very good feeling...

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