jealousy injures us with the dagger of self-doubt

[bridgetroll]

[Death has shaken her will more than she thought, but Parsee never was one to run from pain she deserved. She picks up the phone and calls the whole town.]

A week or so ago, some of you might have suddenly found yourselves feeling very, very....jealous. Did these feelings make you hurt yourself? Or someone you care about? I don't know- in fact, I

Comments

[strike_you_out]

... ... ...

[Slugger hangs up the phone without speaking. He knew escape was what Parsee had wanted -- even if only for a single day at most -- just like every one of his previous victims, and he was more than pleased to oblige. But never before has he been thanked for the job. It's as though the very notion of it remains beyond his scope of comprehension, possibly in part because he's never encountered a "client" who could come back to life and tell him about it.

For the rest of the night, he's unable to form an opinion either way. The following afternoon, after an uneventful day at school, he's on his way back home. Still dazed with thought, he doesn't notice Parsee as he passes her house.]

[bridgetroll]

[But she notices him, from her place on the porch where she hasn't moved. And her brow furrows in thought as she tries to remember the last few moments of her life before her death. Wasn't there...a voice she knew?

She stands.]

Hey.

[strike_you_out]

[There's a delay in response time but her voice manages to penetrate his thoughts. Upon spotting her he pauses, eyes going wide for the briefest moment. He doesn't say anything and simply waits to see what she wants...]

[bridgetroll]

[She watches him, trying to remember the blurry shapes and brief whisper of a voice of that time in more clarity. It- this hunch-]

You....was it...

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger turns to fully face her, both hands on the straps of his backpack from which the handle of a baseball bat is sticking straight up. Despite Parsee's lack of words, he knows exactly what she's talking about. His head dips in a tight nod, just enough to obscure his eyes beneath the bill of his cap.]

It was what you wanted.

[bridgetroll]

[something in her face relaxes]

So it was-

[silence...then she smiles, and for once it isn't bitter or mocking. He's right; it was what she wanted.]

Thank you.

[strike_you_out]

[The shock and confusion returns to him once more. But this time Slugger can do what he couldn't over the phone -- he can look into her eyes and catch a glimpse of calm therein. It starts to make sense now.

His lips twist subtly, the start of a grin.]

...Any time.

[bridgetroll]

[Her face closes off again after a moment, becomes blank.]

You mean that?

[She's serious.]

[strike_you_out]

[He's in the middle of a nod before it occurs to him that he hasn't actually thought this through, and pauses abruptly.]

Almost anytime. I have to be in school sometimes...

[Irritated, Slugger looks away. He hates having all of these restrictions, but getting brainwashed again is something he intends to avoid.]

[Amendment:] When conditions permit.

[bridgetroll]

What conditions?

[Her green eyes flash.]

It's not like I'll tell anyone.

[strike_you_out]

Conditions that don't lead to droning.

[Of course, he'll be much more on the ball when the full capacity of his power has been returned. For now he must rely on intuition and good timing.]

I haven't been here long. There's still so much to gain...

[bridgetroll]

Fine with me.

[she tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, thinks again about the manner of her death.]

Mm, I've only regained one thing.

[strike_you_out]

[His curiosity kindled, Slugger's eyes have turned to her once more.]

Which is?

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[she traces her fingers under her green, green eyes, which seem to almost glow.]

I can manipulate jealousy again.

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger notes the unnatural change but quickly glances down. He isn't sure if looking into her eyes is such a good idea when they're that color.]

Is it fun? Does it make you feel powerful?

[bridgetroll]

Not all the power in the world could make a worm like me feel in control.

[still, she smiles]

But, fun? Yeah....in a nasty way.