0027 - [Video]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[Finally - after having his room stripped of supplies twice, after the Mirror Barge nonsense and allies lost and warden annoyances - Scorpius is holding in his hands the sum of the hours he's spent cooped up in his cabin.

He stands up from his work desk, holding what looks to be a ridiculously sharp and extravagant blade to be fitted over an arm. It has other uses - to pick up delicate things, to turn doorknobs and so on - but the chief inspiration seems to come from excessive weaponry.

Scorpius fits it over his own arm, and with a heave, turns his arm to cut into the wall next to him. The blade embeds itself into the wall some three inches deep before stopping. Satisfied, he pulls it free and sets it back on the table]

I believe your replacement is ready, Horatio.

Comments

[ichoosefight]

I'm not that ruthless.

For that matter, I'm not that clever either. And I don't want whatever Babs would have to do to make it happen. I just want a clean getaway.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

This would be a lot simpler for you, if you were to leave your mother behind.

[He's looking more alert now, and curious. Scorpius is usually this cold and ruthless, but mothers...well, they tend to be a different topic altogether, with him. He's goading Stephanie purposefully, to see what she'll say]

She's much older, and less likely to find work in a new field, if she works at all. She's a liability you may not be able to afford, and you are almost an adult - entitled to your own life away from your parents.

[ichoosefight]

[ At first she just stares at him, trying so hard not to take the bait. But, alas, she's always worn her heart mostly on her sleeve. ]

She's my mom. We take care of each other.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Have you ever wondered why that is? Or whether it could be different?

At what point does your own life take precedence over your mother's?

[ichoosefight]

Because--

She got it worse than I did, with Dad. When she finally sobered up it was just me and her. She took good care of me. The least I can do is return the favor.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Yet you are under no obligation to sacrifice your way of life so that she can make a poor adjustment somewhere else.

[ichoosefight]

Uh, yeah. It's called love.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[He gives a slight smile, lips pressed together to hide his fangs]

I'm glad to hear you admit it.

[ichoosefight]

[ She restrains a snort. ]

That I love my mother? At least you're easy to please.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

You would have no idea, of course, but you don't have an appreciation of how rare that connection is among certain species of both my galaxy and, I'm assured, other worlds.

[ichoosefight]

I'm from Gotham. I've seen just about every variety of fucked up family that there is.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Do you know that in some subspecies of alien, it's routine for the infants to consume their mothers as a rite of passage in order to emerge into the adult world?

And for nourishment, I imagine.

[ichoosefight]

Ever heard of black widow spiders? Praying mantis? Uh... anglerfish? I think I've heard of rodents eating their young, too. Apparently humans are the weird ones.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Does nothing ever impress you, Stephanie?

[ichoosefight]

Only nice things. [ What was that you were saying about getting jaded? ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

So I ought to be treating you more kindly if I wish to gain the upper hand.

[ichoosefight]

Pretty much. Rescue kittens from trees. There's enough cats around here.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

And yet a disappointing number of trees.

[ichoosefight]

What can you do? You'll just have to get creative with your good deeds.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Do you imagine that I'll graduate simply by completing a set number of 'good deeds', Stephanie?

[ichoosefight]

Hey, you only said you wanted to impress me.

Not that I'm saying it won't probably help.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I said you were not easily impressed - not that I was going to make it my mission to run after your approval.

[ichoosefight]

You really know how to make a girl feel special.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Perhaps if we were recreating, I'd feel more inclined to be generous.

[ichoosefight]

Forget I said anything.