[ He pauses and sneers at the idea of Wake doing something like that. If something like that became true, would it affect his appearance? He doesn't like the idea of giving him ideas.
If he was something else, he would pop off with a, "Try it and see." But he knows Wake. There is a lot of him that he knows. Impulsive and sometimes prone to bad, snap decisions - it might not be out of the realm of possibility for him to do.
Because yes - he's an evil double. He has to remain true to the original form. ]
See, this is what I'm talking about with insanity. Self-harm isn't going to get you anywhere. Just saying, pal.
[ I almost wanted him to dare me to do it. Just to spite him. But he knows that I know that this could be bad for both of us.
I'd only be harming myself in the process in a way that would make things more difficult than I'm willing to deal with at the moment so the intrusive thought that very well may have been acted upon gets dismissed. Not worth it.
But I can tell I got under his skin. I refuse to smile about the small victory even slightly. ]
It's not insane to want to ruin your day. Maybe a bad haircut. One eyebrow. It'll grow back.
Scratch's narcissistic vanity hisses at the idea of the threat. He thinks of issuing his own in return. One that threatens innocent lives. But somehow, he doesn't picture it working.
Not that Wake's that petty, but he also knows him. Scratch wouldn't want to let people see him like that, either. Rather be an amorphous black cloud of death than be seen as anything less than what he considers his best. But he also needs people to see his face.
It's a convoluted enough situation that leaves him on the losing end. ]
Look. Let's go back to something I said earlier. Way earlier. Even before this conversation.
Remember when I said that we're both victims of circumstance? It's still true. I'm made of stories about you. By other people. And I'm trying to get back at them for us. You should hate them - not me.
So, I won't make an eHarmony profile. There. A peace offering.
There are doubts this sort of threat will ever hold as much weight as he wants it to when it comes to bigger issues. Mr Scratch would likely tie him to a chair to prevent such a thing. Get drastic. That’s what Alan would do, anyway.
But at least they both know a threat to anyone else won’t stop Alan from grabbing a pair of scissors currently. Nice. ]
I’m not sure the punishment equals the crime. Shouldn’t you be a reckless drunk too? Where did those stories go?
Good. If I see anything like that, I’ll seriously do it. I’ll get a piercing and we’ll have to become recluses.
Personally? I blame it on your sudden disappearance. Your little selfless act got twisted all around.
People got it in their heads the gruesome murders you wrote were fantasies that you wished you could do to people and that you vanished in order to slink into the darkness to fulfill your dark desires. THAT overshadowed any of the wild stories about the after parties you attended.
They made you out to be a psychopath. I'm just giving the people what they want. So, in this case, I think the punishment does fit the crime.
Darkness overshadowing any lighthearted story. It's almost ironic. I wouldn't have actually been blamed in the long run once I got out. It would just be rumors and speculation. A mystery that Barry probably could've ran with to sell books or something. I'd get to deflect it eventually. There wouldn't be evidence of anything until you came around to prove them right.
We're having a fun chat so I'll give you something. There's no evidence it is me, or rather you.
Just more rumors and speculation. Oh sure, there are dead bodies, but no one can say what happened. People say they saw YOU talking to the victims last, but without any proof, did they? But WAIT - "Wake's a writer. He must know how to cover his tracks perfectly! He's researched this before." It builds the mystery, builds the darkness.
Anyway, you know that isn't how it works. The face and skin - unfortunately, for both of us - stays.
Okay. So you're having us get away with it. That's... [ Good? It's fucked up to be relieved by that in any capacity. It's not good. ] Not as comforting as you think it might be.
Are they recoverable bodies? For the families? If there wasn't mystery to build, would that stop you any?
Unfortunately. You know, if you wanted our face intact then you shouldn't let people chase me around with hatchets.
There's no winning with you, buddy. Would you rather it be well-known? Think of how that'd eat on our wife and Barry.
Sometimes. Sometimes, no. It depends on what will enhance the story of me.
[ And he doesn't answer the question; he already kind of did. ]
If you die, things reset. So, I don't have to worry about any lasting scars. I was kind of hoping if things reset enough times that you'd give up. But you're just too tenacious for that, huh? Good on you.
You can't hear it but I gave you some applause just now.
I’d rather murder not be a factor at all but that might be asking too much of the universe. No. I’ve made life hard enough as it is for them.
[ The agonizing dread that follows this information. That sinking drowning feeling. Drowning. Drowning. Einstein once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Death isn’t even an escape. How many times has it happened?
And, on a lesser note, the last of his ridiculous threat working. Not that it worked at all. Scratch already knows he could just kill him to fix any cosmetic mishap he’d have there.
God damn it. ]
Thanks. Since you like it so much, I’ll just keep at it. I’m going to beat my records for living.
You did. Which means, you should let me take care of them from now on.
[ He doubts that is going to fly, but he can't help needling Wake. It's part of his nature, in the end. Can't fight it. Doesn't want to, either. But he does think the two of them should work together - create a utopia both would enjoy. ]
Yeah, yeah. Or you could just speedrun to a reset.
Anyway, I have a proposal. You could write us a story. One where we both win. You get to be an acclaimed writer, beloved and adored by everyone. Your wife and best friend get to be safe. And in the shadows, I can kill and bring a few more bastards up from the lake. But you and yours can remain unharmed.
[ It's a no fly zone. Absolutely not. The further Scratch is from them the better. ]
I'd rather take my time.
[ I know there's no way I win in any scenario where the Dark Presence remains in the picture. Braver men would give Scratch an outright no. Innocent people will get hurt. I just think about my people. ]
I can't trust you'd ever follow through on a deal like that.
Right now, there are negotiations on the table. The no wasn't firm enough for him not to pursue things. ]
I understand. I misspoke. You never wanted that fame. But I do. I'd go to ALL those "shitty little" interviews and parties. You could just write and be a good husband and good friend. People wonder how you could do so much and it'd be us.
Sure, people would die, but no one you know. It'd be no different than how life already was - or is, as the case is right now.
[ "There's no negotiating with that murderer," Alex Casey says under his breath to his partner. His sharp eyes focused on the criminal in cuffs behind the two-way mirror. A plea deal issued by the judge on the table that he was firmly against from the start. If they give that to him, they'll both end up dead. ]
So you travel and kill. I stay your constant built in alibi.
You're missing the part where Alice would definitely catch on to me being in two places at once. She'd never go for the scenario. Never approve of allowing murder. So she either stays quiet but leaves us because she can't stand it and then I have nothing left to live for. Or she stays but what? You kill her to keep her quiet? No. Fuck you.
Look, buddy. I already promised no harm would come to Alice in this scenario. She doesn't have to know. You don't have to tell her. What's a marriage without a few secrets, anyway?
I think she'll be overjoyed you're back at all. Not even worry about the details. You'll be happy to be home, too. All the dark things will just stay with me.
And don't you think she owes you something for having to dive in the lake after her in the first place?
[ It's always that one step too far with him, but it's just his nature. He can't not say these things. Maybe these parts are something Alan thinks of, too? Maybe not. ]
And Barry? What about Barry? He travels with me. What if he catches you in the act?
[ Barry might hide a body for him, if he thinks about it hard enough. Hard to say. But he'd be afraid of him and he can't live with that.
All the dark things say with him. That could work, theoretically, in a scenario where he just suppresses any morals and just exists out of this hellhole... Too far. Self-sabotage is one of their shared traits, he supposes. ]
She doesn't owe me anything! You don't know the first thing about love, do you?
He won't. He won't see anything unless I want him to, and any "weirdness" he gets from me, I'm sure he'll rationalize it as recovering from what happened in that shit little town.
They'll end up on some missing person's list. They'll keep being added to that missing list until either they keep their nose out of our business or they're all gone.
Wasn't not knowing which is which the point? Why would they know the difference? I can picture those kinds of people locking me in a room doing experiments to see if it does anything to you even if they did know.
You're curious about love. That sounds like bullshit.
Not knowing is for average people and your loved ones. I'm going to give them some credit here. We'll decide later if it's deserved or not. And, if they tried that, they'd be stupidly suicidal.
No, I'm not curious about love. I'm curious about your lecture on love. An important difference.
I think they're pretty clever, all things considered. So you have to keep appearances the same, right. But they're thing would work then, wouldn't? Is it I get hurt, you get hurt? Or is this more of a possessive thing? The only one that can kill me is me.
Figures. Fine. Lesson one: There's no rewards system.
The latter. I feel like as your evil double I should get first dibs. They can't go cutting in line just because of whatever morality system they're operating on. "The greater good," or whatever.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@because
Date: 2024-02-07 09:27 pm (UTC)Same difference. :)
[ He pauses and sneers at the idea of Wake doing something like that. If something like that became true, would it affect his appearance? He doesn't like the idea of giving him ideas.
If he was something else, he would pop off with a, "Try it and see." But he knows Wake. There is a lot of him that he knows. Impulsive and sometimes prone to bad, snap decisions - it might not be out of the realm of possibility for him to do.
Because yes - he's an evil double. He has to remain true to the original form. ]
See, this is what I'm talking about with insanity.
Self-harm isn't going to get you anywhere.
Just saying, pal.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 04:28 am (UTC)I'd only be harming myself in the process in a way that would make things more difficult than I'm willing to deal with at the moment so the intrusive thought that very well may have been acted upon gets dismissed. Not worth it.
But I can tell I got under his skin. I refuse to smile about the small victory even slightly. ]
It's not insane to want to ruin your day.
Maybe a bad haircut. One eyebrow. It'll grow back.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 04:50 am (UTC)Scratch's narcissistic vanity hisses at the idea of the threat. He thinks of issuing his own in return. One that threatens innocent lives. But somehow, he doesn't picture it working.
Not that Wake's that petty, but he also knows him. Scratch wouldn't want to let people see him like that, either. Rather be an amorphous black cloud of death than be seen as anything less than what he considers his best. But he also needs people to see his face.
It's a convoluted enough situation that leaves him on the losing end. ]
Look.
Let's go back to something I said earlier.
Way earlier.
Even before this conversation.
Remember when I said that we're both victims of circumstance?
It's still true. I'm made of stories about you.
By other people.
And I'm trying to get back at them for us.
You should hate them - not me.
So, I won't make an eHarmony profile.
There. A peace offering.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 02:44 pm (UTC)There are doubts this sort of threat will ever hold as much weight as he wants it to when it comes to bigger issues. Mr Scratch would likely tie him to a chair to prevent such a thing. Get drastic. That’s what Alan would do, anyway.
But at least they both know a threat to anyone else won’t stop Alan from grabbing a pair of scissors currently. Nice. ]
I’m not sure the punishment equals the crime.
Shouldn’t you be a reckless drunk too?
Where did those stories go?
Good.
If I see anything like that, I’ll seriously do it.
I’ll get a piercing and we’ll have to become recluses.
1/2
Date: 2024-02-08 06:08 pm (UTC)I blame it on your sudden disappearance.
Your little selfless act got twisted all around.
People got it in their heads the gruesome murders you wrote were fantasies that you wished you could do to people and that you vanished in order to slink into the darkness to fulfill your dark desires.
THAT overshadowed any of the wild stories about the after parties you attended.
They made you out to be a psychopath.
I'm just giving the people what they want.
So, in this case, I think the punishment does fit the crime.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 06:08 pm (UTC)Ugh, a piercing.
You really know how to get under a guy's skin.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-09 12:18 am (UTC)It's almost ironic.
I wouldn't have actually been blamed in the long run once I got out. It would just be rumors and speculation. A mystery that Barry probably could've ran with to sell books or something.
I'd get to deflect it eventually.
There wouldn't be evidence of anything until you came around to prove them right.
Get your own skin and I wouldn't know it so well.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-09 12:31 am (UTC)We're having a fun chat so I'll give you something.
There's no evidence it is me, or rather you.
Just more rumors and speculation.
Oh sure, there are dead bodies, but no one can say what happened.
People say they saw YOU talking to the victims last, but without any proof, did they?
But WAIT - "Wake's a writer. He must know how to cover his tracks perfectly! He's researched this before."
It builds the mystery, builds the darkness.
Anyway, you know that isn't how it works.
The face and skin - unfortunately, for both of us - stays.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-09 03:53 am (UTC)Okay.
So you're having us get away with it. That's...
[ Good? It's fucked up to be relieved by that in any capacity. It's not good. ]
Not as comforting as you think it might be.
Are they recoverable bodies? For the families?
If there wasn't mystery to build, would that stop you any?
Unfortunately.
You know, if you wanted our face intact then you shouldn't let people chase me around with hatchets.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-09 04:10 am (UTC)There's no winning with you, buddy.
Would you rather it be well-known?
Think of how that'd eat on our wife and Barry.
Sometimes. Sometimes, no.
It depends on what will enhance the story of me.
[ And he doesn't answer the question; he already kind of did. ]
If you die, things reset.
So, I don't have to worry about any lasting scars.
I was kind of hoping if things reset enough times that you'd give up.
But you're just too tenacious for that, huh?
Good on you.
You can't hear it but I gave you some applause just now.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-09 06:41 pm (UTC)No.
I’ve made life hard enough as it is for them.
[ The agonizing dread that follows this information. That sinking drowning feeling. Drowning. Drowning.
Einstein once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Death isn’t even an escape. How many times has it happened?
And, on a lesser note, the last of his ridiculous threat working. Not that it worked at all.
Scratch already knows he could just kill him to fix any cosmetic mishap he’d have there.
God damn it. ]
Thanks.
Since you like it so much, I’ll just keep at it.
I’m going to beat my records for living.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-09 08:07 pm (UTC)Real bummer for you.
You did.
Which means, you should let me take care of them from now on.
[ He doubts that is going to fly, but he can't help needling Wake. It's part of his nature, in the end. Can't fight it. Doesn't want to, either. But he does think the two of them should work together - create a utopia both would enjoy. ]
Yeah, yeah.
Or you could just speedrun to a reset.
Anyway, I have a proposal.
You could write us a story.
One where we both win.
You get to be an acclaimed writer, beloved and adored by everyone.
Your wife and best friend get to be safe.
And in the shadows, I can kill and bring a few more bastards up from the lake.
But you and yours can remain unharmed.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-10 02:36 am (UTC)[ It's a no fly zone. Absolutely not. The further Scratch is from them the better. ]
I'd rather take my time.
[ I know there's no way I win in any scenario where the Dark Presence remains in the picture. Braver men would give Scratch an outright no. Innocent people will get hurt. I just think about my people. ]
I can't trust you'd ever follow through on a deal like that.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-10 03:10 am (UTC)[ He puts a pin in this.
Right now, there are negotiations on the table. The no wasn't firm enough for him not to pursue things. ]
I understand.
I misspoke.
You never wanted that fame. But I do.
I'd go to ALL those "shitty little" interviews and parties.
You could just write and be a good husband and good friend.
People wonder how you could do so much and it'd be us.
Sure, people would die, but no one you know.
It'd be no different than how life already was - or is, as the case is right now.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-10 07:32 pm (UTC)So you travel and kill.
I stay your constant built in alibi.
You're missing the part where Alice would definitely catch on to me being in two places at once. She'd never go for the scenario. Never approve of allowing murder.
So she either stays quiet but leaves us because she can't stand it and then I have nothing left to live for.
Or she stays but what?
You kill her to keep her quiet?
No.
Fuck you.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-10 07:42 pm (UTC)Look, buddy.
I already promised no harm would come to Alice in this scenario.
She doesn't have to know.
You don't have to tell her.
What's a marriage without a few secrets, anyway?
I think she'll be overjoyed you're back at all.
Not even worry about the details.
You'll be happy to be home, too.
All the dark things will just stay with me.
And don't you think she owes you something for having to dive in the lake after her in the first place?
[ It's always that one step too far with him, but it's just his nature. He can't not say these things. Maybe these parts are something Alan thinks of, too? Maybe not. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-02-11 12:11 am (UTC)He travels with me. What if he catches you in the act?
[ Barry might hide a body for him, if he thinks about it hard enough.
Hard to say. But he'd be afraid of him and he can't live with that.
All the dark things say with him. That could work, theoretically, in a scenario where he just suppresses any morals and just exists out of this hellhole...
Too far. Self-sabotage is one of their shared traits, he supposes. ]
She doesn't owe me anything!
You don't know the first thing about love, do you?
no subject
Date: 2024-02-11 12:44 am (UTC)He won't see anything unless I want him to, and any "weirdness" he gets from me, I'm sure he'll rationalize it as recovering from what happened in that shit little town.
[ He runs his tongue along his teeth. ]
Guess not.
Want to lecture me on it?
no subject
Date: 2024-02-11 05:33 am (UTC)What about those government types? The ones that'll watch too closely?
We both know that would be a waste of time.
1/2
Date: 2024-02-11 05:58 am (UTC)They'll end up on some missing person's list.
They'll keep being added to that missing list until either they keep their nose out of our business or they're all gone.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-11 05:58 am (UTC)I said it and didn't mean it, but now I'm curious.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-11 04:10 pm (UTC)Why would they know the difference?
I can picture those kinds of people locking me in a room doing experiments to see if it does anything to you even if they did know.
You're curious about love.
That sounds like bullshit.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-11 08:30 pm (UTC)I'm going to give them some credit here.
We'll decide later if it's deserved or not.
And, if they tried that, they'd be stupidly suicidal.
No, I'm not curious about love.
I'm curious about your lecture on love.
An important difference.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-12 12:14 am (UTC)So you have to keep appearances the same, right. But they're thing would work then, wouldn't? Is it I get hurt, you get hurt?
Or is this more of a possessive thing?
The only one that can kill me is me.
Figures.
Fine.
Lesson one: There's no rewards system.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-12 12:58 am (UTC)I feel like as your evil double I should get first dibs.
They can't go cutting in line just because of whatever morality system they're operating on.
"The greater good," or whatever.
Then how do you know if you're winning?
Kidding.
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From:Phone: But they are delicious.
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