[Were he a cat, his ears would droop and his tail would curl underneath his legs in a mix of shame and also some indignation but mostly disappointment. As a man, his smile drops and his shoulders go down a little.
It isn't a command. He could ignore it. But he also knows in an instant that he can't ignore it, because it was a very tentatively delivered request. That's what makes it worse. She asked nicely.]
No, it's okay. [He's so quick to reassure her. She asks for nothing, and she didn't ask for him to not kill at all, just to kill less. That's... fine. That's fine. It's because the power is so low. They need more of it...
Turns out mother was right about that. He reluctantly opens the book back up and lays it flat on the desk.]
My mother had ideas for how to help make more power, if you want them. I was going to start offering non-lethal hunts so I'll just do those until we have full power again.
[There is perhaps just a slight hesitation here. But isn't not a secret. It would be weirder if it was. He isn't the only passenger here with someone in their head. It's fine. Friday will understand.]
There's a bit of my mother in my mind. She came with me, when I was brought here. Valdis met her when the memory cracks happened, and then I did too. Now my last gift from Sundries lets her write to me with the right pen and paper.
[He turns the book so Friday can read it. There, in a hand that is clearly not Siffleur's, teal-coloured letters work through various scenarios - how to maximize suffering without burning people out, how to maximize the suffering of a single person, how to generate suffering on a rotational basis, physical suffering vs emotional suffering, in-group/out-group dynamics for maximal social suffering, and so on and so on. This is something that has clearly been consuming the woman in Siffleur's head and so when he's set a pen to paper, it inevitably turns into her trying to solve a problem she's missing multiple variable for.]
She doesn't want out. Mother's finally happy and safe in my mind. But she worries a lot about the power, because it means we'll probably all die. I'm okay with that. I've had a really nice time here, and I like it a lot, but everything ends eventually.
[just nods the entire time he's speaking, though her brain isn't really absorbing it too much. it's too busy going "well, maybe this is fine, it was mostly fine last time, Norman was usually so polite, it was only an issue every once in a while--"
oh, he stopped talking.]
Well! I'll be sure to take any suggestions she has into consideration!
[His smile is one of pure relief. Finally, mom will get off his back about this. Friday's see the suggestions and if she doesn't take them (or can't) then they've done what they can! Now they can get back to normal conversations again.]
Thank you, I really appreciate it. [He takes the papers out of the book and gives them to Friday, happy to not have to think about them again. It's worth killing less than usual to get these off his mind.] Let me know if you need help anytime, or if you ever want to have your own killing spree. I'm always in your corner.
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[long pause]
You could, maybe... kill fewer people...?
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[Were he a cat, his ears would droop and his tail would curl underneath his legs in a mix of shame and also some indignation but mostly disappointment. As a man, his smile drops and his shoulders go down a little.
It isn't a command. He could ignore it. But he also knows in an instant that he can't ignore it, because it was a very tentatively delivered request. That's what makes it worse. She asked nicely.]
.....................
okay.
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Turns out mother was right about that. He reluctantly opens the book back up and lays it flat on the desk.]
My mother had ideas for how to help make more power, if you want them. I was going to start offering non-lethal hunts so I'll just do those until we have full power again.
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[...]
... Mother?
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There's a bit of my mother in my mind. She came with me, when I was brought here. Valdis met her when the memory cracks happened, and then I did too. Now my last gift from Sundries lets her write to me with the right pen and paper.
[He turns the book so Friday can read it. There, in a hand that is clearly not Siffleur's, teal-coloured letters work through various scenarios - how to maximize suffering without burning people out, how to maximize the suffering of a single person, how to generate suffering on a rotational basis, physical suffering vs emotional suffering, in-group/out-group dynamics for maximal social suffering, and so on and so on. This is something that has clearly been consuming the woman in Siffleur's head and so when he's set a pen to paper, it inevitably turns into her trying to solve a problem she's missing multiple variable for.]
She doesn't want out. Mother's finally happy and safe in my mind. But she worries a lot about the power, because it means we'll probably all die. I'm okay with that. I've had a really nice time here, and I like it a lot, but everything ends eventually.
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oh, he stopped talking.]
Well! I'll be sure to take any suggestions she has into consideration!
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Thank you, I really appreciate it. [He takes the papers out of the book and gives them to Friday, happy to not have to think about them again. It's worth killing less than usual to get these off his mind.] Let me know if you need help anytime, or if you ever want to have your own killing spree. I'm always in your corner.
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