Terre Haute

[paradisamods]

[Today, our intrepid explorers have finally made it to Terre Haute. It’s mostly grassland, and on the outskirts small spotted lions, about the size of leopards prowl around. They seem to be more interested in the strange antelope running around than in any people, however. Towards the edge, lies a cliff face, looking out to sea, on occasion giant whales can be seen breaching the water.

Of the weird thing they came to look for, in the distance is a cylindrical shape, lying on its side. But between them and it is a strange village. One made up of excessively tall wooden huts, all of which have electric lights, turned on, though how they’re creating such power is a mystery, they are still very much inside the dead zone.

The residents of this off little village are wandering around, going about their buisess. The residents being a group of bemused looking giraffes. Perhaps you will even see some familiar non-giraffe faces milling about.

Welcome to Terre Haute]

[[GRASSLANDS AND CLIFFS | TOWN SQUARE | JUICE BAR | DANCE HALL | THE ESCALATOR | MIRROR CONTROL ROOM ]]

Comments

[workaphilic]

[Sherlock is standing a few feet away, his hands in his pockets, calm as can be. This is a good time for him to drop in, right?]

Come on, now. It's just a zoo with a few cages missing.

[No?]

[ensorceler]

[ Oh, it's perfect. If only a bunch of other people weren't around as witnesses! Then again, what does she care who sees... This is her dream. They're her people. Even he's hers, the maggot. It would be unhealthy to let him rot up her brain.

She stops laughing to smile sweetly, but then...really not. ]

You should feel no hesitation in going to investigate them all, then.

[workaphilic]

[He feigns consideration.]

I don't think so. It's about as interesting as any other zoo -- which is to say, not at all.

[ensorceler]

Why do you find interesting? What must it take to marvel such a cynic?

[workaphilic]

People.

[A beat.]

Well. [He smiles, thinly.] Clever people. Clever people who choose to kill other people, specifically. Oh, I'll take burglaries, blackmail, and kidnappings every now and again, but nothing does quite top a good murder.

[ensorceler]

[ What

kind of answer is that. She didn't expect it, but she's quick to hide her surprise, replacing it with a smirk as she sidles closer. She is so angry Micheletto never responded... Sherlock would have found him very interesting, then, while he was being strangled. ]

You know that they say death out here is permanent? True?

[workaphilic]

[He's watching her carefully, but doesn't seem too bothered to move from where he's standing.]

I've heard them say it. Never had the privilege to see it proven, though. Our criminals tend towards the sloppy side, I've seen.

[ensorceler]

Is that so? I would say those in charge of the criminals have had even sloppier conduct, then, for being unable to keep a hold on any of them. It would be much cleaner to handle them out here.

[workaphilic]

Try to bring that up to the residents. At the very least, I'll have some entertainment for a day or two.

[ensorceler]

You all seem content to live amongst the freed criminals as if nothing was ever done. Is that forgiveness, or sloth?

[workaphilic]

It's inefficiency. Everyone wants to use their own rules to govern, and everyone is rubbish at it.

By all means, put in the effort if you like. But I can tell you precisely how it ends.

[ensorceler]

You think yourself a seer, now? You cannot predict what I will do, or how I will govern. I have only just begun.

[workaphilic]

I'm close enough. Here, I'll give you a sample, free of charge.

[He leans forward, his smile aggressive.]

You aren't governing. And you won't.

[ensorceler]

[ Her smile drops to a visible scowl. ]

The people will love me, and in turn love one another. I wish only the best for them all, and they need only to see for themselves my sincere heart. You think this an impossible feat? Why?

[workaphilic]

Weren't you listening?

Ah, but maybe I shouldn't spell it out for you so early on. I've been terribly bored lately.

[ensorceler]

[ Honestly, being so openly mocked... If there weren't witnesses, she would try to shove him off the cliffside right now. As it is, she just glares at him. She's a queen, she shouldn't be the one to stalk off. ]

Leave my presence. Now.

[workaphilic]

[Well, since she asked....

He squints across the cliff, at the water below.]

I'm quite enjoying the view, actually.

[ensorceler]

[ She reaches out to grab his shirt in a rough grip, unless he stops her.

Hissing. ]

Do not test me, sir. I will see you at the bottom of those these cliffs before allowing open mockery of the crown. Do you think I would not?

[ She would. Her gaze doesn't falter at all. ]

[workaphilic]

[He doesn't resist, mostly because he isn't afraid of her. She's smaller than him, and his hand-to-hand experience is not inconsiderable.

That's not to say anything about people she may have loyal to her, but he can't seem to help himself all the same. His grin turns scornful.]

Oh, I'm absolutely certain you would. And really, don't you see, that's the beauty of it. An execution in exchange for harming your precious, pointless ego, and yet you still have to ask how I'm so sure that the people here will never follow you.

[His hands come up to close around her wrists, not so firm as to keep her from pulling away, but a reminder that he's not to be trifled with, either.]

That's no way to command respect, is it, Your Highness?

[ensorceler]

[ Her cheeks puff out in indignation at his suggestion, fury flashing in her eyes because he's right. At the same time, she shouldn't have to care what they think. It's beyond frustrating, beyond insane. She feels frozen there, by her own pride no less; stuck.

When his hand closes over hers, though, it almost makes her response easier. Her grip loosens considerably, but she doesn't yank away. There's no fear there, but curiosity and yearning. Would he throw her over if he thought her a threat? If she really tried? It would make it easier for her. ]

And how do you deal with tyrants?

[workaphilic]

Here, Paradisa is the only tyrant worth mentioning, and you can see how well we deal with that.

In my time, well. [He tilts his head, expression unchanging, not releasing her.] We kill them. Usually through war, sometimes through government-sanctioned assassination, but it happens all the same. Funny how that works, isn't it?

[He's been terribly unpredictable lately.]

[ensorceler]

[ She yanks her arm to try to get away. ]

Then assassinations are carried out. This zone is put to use.

[workaphilic]

[He lets her go. His hands hover in front of him for a moment before he puts them back in his pockets.]

Not here. The bleeding hearts won't allow it. It's fine, though, tyrants hardly get any traction as it is. Paradisa enjoys being our great equalizer.

[ensorceler]

[ Yes good, hands to herself now. Still not budging, though. ]

And what if that is matched? Paradisa's great power?

[workaphilic]

Well, then, perhaps some people may reconsider their position.