(Untitled)

[virtupets]

After the noisy, zoo-like quality of the Nexus, the silent, dark expanse of space makes for a soothing contrast. Dr. Sloth stands at the wide display window looking out at said final frontier that's situated at the back of his office

Comments

[neospacefairy]

Well, some people are above invitations, just like the sky is above the sea. Like a law of nature.

The faeries of Neopia are pretty firmly in that category. There's just so much power there. So it really isn't all that big of a deal to her when the Space Faerie invades the sanctum sanctorum. Yes, specifically to HER. She does it as easily as breathing. (Of which she doesn't really need to do, technically. Since she lives out in space, and all. It's more of an affectation than a biological necessity.)

Unfortunately, that whooosh-bing noise that's so specifically her cannot be turned off. Magic needs outlet. Her magic makes a lot of noise, in atmosphere. (In space, nobody can hear you teleport.)

So, yes, her presence is obvious before she even appears or speaks.

[virtupets]

Sloth, as a man of science, cannot stand either the presence or use of magic. It's a capricious, unpredictable element, unlike his beloved technology and numbers. With those, everything can be charted and put into particular categories; you will always know that 8 divided by 2 is 4, and water is made of one part hydrogen, two part oxygen. Science does not need to be tamed, and it can be broken down into logical steps and elements. With magic, the best you can hope for is uncovering the several mysteries that make it up. Too much of it has to be taken with blind faith and goes unexplained.

As such, his eyes narrow slightly when he hears that distinctive sound. But he doesn't turn around.

"Security really is pointless with a person like you, isn't it?" Not that it's going to keep him from figuring out a way to block such magical intrusions.

[neospacefairy]

"Naturally," she says quietly. "Just like it's pointless with a person like you."

She's appeared in his office, and isn't doing anything as saucy as taunting him, sitting on his desk, playing with his many toys. She's not pacing the room, she's not humming under her breath, none of that. Nothing humanizing or silly or superfluous. Instead, she just folds her wings demurely behind her, does the same with her hands, and stands slightly behind him.

"What are you doing in the Nexus?"

No banter, no coy leading up to the subject. Just a sweet, soprano voice, sounding sad and disappointed.

[virtupets]

"Part of the fun is finding out, isn't it? I'd feel bad if I spoiled the surprise." He finally turns around, since being able to have a visual reminder of how much taller he is than the Space Faerie makes him feel a little more superior.

"Don't concern your pretty blue head over it. Your duty is sworn strictly to Neopia, isn't it? Last I checked, the Nexus is not part of it. It's out of your proverbial jurisdiction." The grin he'd had on his face upon turning around fades suddenly into a much more grim expression. "Stay out of this."

[neospacefairy]

Lumindra sighs and, yes, turns back to him again. Now she strikes a pose, feet apart, hands on her hips, wings vibrating slightly behind her. Her tells should be just as known to him, by now. This is what she does when she's annoyed. Even though her face doesn't betray it.

"This is why it's so hard to talk to you! Don't you see how you've contradicted yourself in this conversation? How can you own anything if you don't care about it? How can it be yours if it means nothing to you? How can you possess if you don't care whether it submits? How can you want to save me, and have no compassion for me?"

This last slips out without her usual storied control keeping it back. She meant to say it all in a sort of a vague way, not making any direct reference to herself.

There's a chink in the armor there, suddenly. Why?

[virtupets]

You know those random, destructive temptations you get that you don't really want to do, but imagine doing it anyways? you always are suddenly compelled to at least imagine it? Like keying a nice car just because it's so shiny and your keys are in your hand, or loving a cute little animal so much, you want to squeeze it until it hurts. Or Her wings do that to him. Sometimes he just wants to know what it'd be like to rip the damn things off.

"I do care. I'm quite passionate about certain things. Such as my company. Such as power. Such as dominating that which deserves it, or that which I want.

"But it's nothing to do with compassion. And I'm not going to lie about having it, for you or anyone else, even if that would be all it'd take to win you over."

[neospacefairy]

"And you call that selfish!" she flashes back. Now her voice is raised, and passionate. He was screaming earlier, and she's nowhere near that volume. But she is in that same range of frustrated emotion. Yet her face remains impassive, even as her body language and tone of voice betrays her.

"I call it something else. You said it yourself. You won't lie to win. That's beyond pride and selfishness and some twisted sense of honor. That's genuine and decent and right! You're so close to doing the right thing, Frank! Just one more step! If you could just admit to yourself that you DO feel it...!"

Then she sags and shakes her head.

She's trembling.

"You say you want power. You say that's all you care about. I say that lying to yourself is worse than lying to me."

[virtupets]

Now it's his turn to look disgusted, and deeply so. Enough that he wishes he had something to throw at her. There are plenty of things on his desk, but he also doesn't feel like breaking any of the odds and ends there.

"Oh, stop trying to paint me as some misunderstood martyr, some self-punishing plebe who doesn't know what he really wants! That, deep down, I'm all about doing the right thing, doing what's good. Stop lying to yourself!

"I'm a scoundrel, Lumindra, and the sooner you stop thinking somewhere inside me, there's a soft, sensitive center, the easier this will all be!

"Power is what matters to me most!" He shakes a fist at her, emphasizing what he's saying. "Control is what I need! And thanks to your voyeuristic little peek into my head all those centuries ago, you know why that is, though it's not the only reason. I made me into what I am, not some unfortunate circumstances."