Conversation Space III.

[powersthatbe]

A poured concrete floor and cinder block walls are lit by a single bare light bulb hanging overhead. Shackles dangle from brackets on every side, and the chair in the center of the room is clearly an electric chair. A tall glass sits on top of a stool made of what looks like pure gold - but the liquid inside it is almost definitely blood.

Comments

[powersthatare]

I WISH THAT ON EVERY WORLD, STARGAZERS SEE ME REFLECTED IN THEIR SKIES. IN EVERY STORY, A SEMBLANCE OF MY MAJESTY WILL STALK FRIGHTENED CHILDREN. WITHIN EVERY HEART, I WILL BE THE NAME GIVEN TO THE DARKEST IMPULSES OF EACH SPECIES. I WISH TO MAGNIFY AND GLORIFY MYSELF, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I AM.

[stopinthenameofawe]

Not really what she meant. "And why the fuck should I care?"

[powersthatare]

BECAUSE MY GLORY WILL BE YOUR GLORY. AND MY DEBASEMENT WILL SURELY LEAD TO YOURS.

[stopinthenameofawe]

That's... almost a threat, without quite being one. "Is that what everyone is doing this for? Glory?" What a fucking stupid game.

[powersthatare]

WE ARE ALL IN IT FOR OURSELVES.

[stopinthenameofawe]

Melissa sighs. "Very helpful. Can I go now?"

[powersthatare]

YOU CANNOT. YOU ASK THE WRONG QUESTIONS, LITTLE TOY. THINK THE WRONG THOUGHTS.

[stopinthenameofawe]

"I'm not a fucking--" No, no, Melissa. Stay calm so you can get the hell out of here. "Then what, oh mighty Devil, are the 'right' thoughts?"

[powersthatare]

DO YOU NOT WISH TO KNOW HOW TO GAIN POWER? HOW TO OVERCOME YOUR ENEMIES AND ACHIEVE YOUR DESIRES?

[stopinthenameofawe]

Melissa actually has to stop and think about that. Does she want more power? Can she trust herself with more power? What enemies does she have here, that she doesn't rightfully deserve? Her desires... that's harder. But she's not sure she even deserves them. Would she hate herself, if she got what she wanted like this?

"...I don't know," she answers, which is a very odd thing to admit. Though, she does add dryly, "Are you going to tell me anyway?"

[powersthatare]

THAT IS WITHIN MY POWER. I COULD SPEAK TO THAT IN YOU WHICH BEST ALIGNS TO ME, AND RETURN YOU TO THE OTHERS IN THAT STATE.

[stopinthenameofawe]

Melissa doesn't know if zie is threatening to make her want to know, or just saying zie's going to tell her anyway. ...She doesn't much like option number one. "Tell me, then," she says, not sure what's going to happen next but damn sure she'll at least try to fight her way out if she sees an opening.

[powersthatare]

THERE ARE DANGEROUS BEINGS WHOSE NATURE YOU DESPISE. AFTER OUR VICTORY, WE COULD RETURN YOU TO YOUR WORLD WITH THE POWER TO DESTROY THEM ALL. IF YOU SERVE US WELL.

[stopinthenameofawe]

Destroy... all of them?

That's tempting. That's really, really tempting, even if Melissa knows there would be good people to die in that too. But it would eliminate it all, make it no longer a plague upon her planet, no chance of anyone else having to suffer how she and Thorne had. It's enough to make her listen, at least.

"...And what, exactly, would serving you well involve?"

[powersthatare]

REPRESENT OUR ARCHETYPE IN DEEDS.

[stopinthenameofawe]

"Which means...?"

[powersthatare]

GREED. LUST. WRATH. PRIDE. ENVY. SLOTH. GLUTTONY. BE SELFISH. PLEASE YOURSELF. ACT ON YOUR FEARS, YOUR HATREDS. BIND OTHERS TO YOUR WILL. SEE THE DARKNESS IN ALL THINGS. DEFY THOSE WHO WOULD LIMIT YOU.

[stopinthenameofawe]

So basically, be the shittiest possible person she can be. She's not liking her options here. "How exactly does that benefit you?" That's a better question than what happens to her if she refuses.

[powersthatare]

There's a tangible pause.

IT IS NOT YOURS TO QUESTION SUCH THINGS.

[stopinthenameofawe]

"I guess I'm just greedy for information," she says, sarcasm dripping from her voice, "Why the hell not?"

[powersthatare]

GREEDY...

I DO NOT INTEND TO DELIVER YOU WEAPONS WITH WHICH TO DEFY ME.

[stopinthenameofawe]

"Knowing what I'm helping you with is a weapon I could use against you?" This is said with intense disbelief, but if he's actually serious...

[powersthatare]

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. IT IS WHY WE BLANKED YOUR SLATES ONCE BEFORE.

[stopinthenameofawe]

That's right. She feels like she heard about that. "We've learned too much before, you mean." Good. That means they can find out again.

[powersthatare]

YES. AND CHILDREN SEEKING FIRE WILL BE BURNED BY IT.