Chapter 16 | The First Taste

[dog_lover]

[ She looks directly at the camera, smiling faintly even if it doesn't reach her eyes. Those eyes are... something else, bright gold, with red circles within that almost seem like they swirl as you look at them, drawing you in. ]

Hello. My name is Makima.

I'm here to help.

Anyone who has issues in controlling themselves. Or controlling their temper. Controlling their sadness. Anyone who's afraid of being overwhelmed or hurt, who doesn't know what to do. Anyone who just wants someone to make things simple and peaceful and easy...

We should talk.

[ Makima can be found in all sorts of places. After all, she doesn't need to be in the treehouse to look down at everyone, to watch over everyone. She sometimes is, because it's a nice view, but just as often, she's in the main common room, smiling sweetly and looking out for any trouble. She wanders into the sick ward just as often to see if there's anyone who might want to make a deal with her there, but she doesn't linger.

When she's not 'working', she'll be found in her room, staring (seemingly) at nothing at all. She's still smiling then, always smiling, but there's something missing in her eyes. That's why she makes sure she's behind a door before she does it.

So she doesn't bring down the mood. ]

[ ooc: Makima is the devil of control and can do all sorts of things with people's minds and memories. She'd be more than happy to erase all your sadness so you can be happy enough to leave. How's that for a way out? ]

Comments

Re: audio

[dog_lover]

Typical.

There is no catch.

audio

[citizendetective]

Nothing you're getting out of this, nothing you want in return...?

Re: audio

[dog_lover]

If I was making a contract, that would be one thing. This isn't a contract. This is an offer.

What I'm getting out of it is doing my job and helping those here. If I wanted something that you didn't want to give, I wouldn't ask for it. I'd take it. Or I wouldn't tell you no matter how much you asked.

Why make it public if I was going to do something underhanded?

audio

[citizendetective]

Um, so that you could say something like that as an excuse. Obviously.

Can you give good memories without removing the bad ones? It's fine if they're contradictory; I don't need to be convinced that they're real.

Re: audio

[dog_lover]

I don't need an excuse. We both know that.

But yes, I can.

audio

[citizendetective]

Good!

Come meet me.

Re: audio

[dog_lover]

Where?

[ So it'll be clear that this was consensual. Evidence of the two of them, after this discussion, where Misty said she'd be. No questions. ]

audio

[citizendetective]

My cabin. It's on level four.

[She gives the number, then heads there immediately herself, waiting impatiently just outside the door.]

Re: audio

[dog_lover]

[ There's no more messages. There's just a knock on her door. ]

audio

[citizendetective]

[To which Misty opens it immediately, ushering her in. The two little rats - not quite so little anymore - scrabble excitedly at the side of their cage, recognizing Makima's scent.

Misty's cabin is almost identical to her Barge cabin: She has a full-sized bathroom here on the Clipper, but that's the only layout change. Beyond that, she's spent time greatly expanding the Friend and Pet Bird Photo Collage; thanks to some easily fulfilled requests to the Nurse, it's ballooned to overtake almost the entire wall over the rats' cage.]

Tell me more about how this works, exactly?

[Misty says, nodding Makima over to the ornate plush chair near the foot of her bed: the only thing in the room that doesn't match with the rest of the decor.]

Re: audio

[dog_lover]

[ She takes a moment to greet the little rats, and there are a few in her own pockets, but for right now, her focus is on Misty. She'll sit as invited as she starts talking. ]

I can just use my power on you, or we could make a contract if that would feel more secure for you. But you'd need to have something to offer me.

audio

[citizendetective]

What are the benefits of having a contract?

Re: audio

[dog_lover]

A contract is binding. It means the terms are set and once we've made the contract, neither of us can break them. Even if we want to. We'd have to square up to undo it.

[citizendetective]

Magically binding?

No contract, then.

[She's not interested in being magically locked into something, and - at least right now - she doesn't think she needs magic to bind Makima to her word, either.]

[dog_lover]

[ If Makima didn't appreciate Misty's choice, and her practicality, and the fact that she was willing to do this without a contract... she absolutely would. Misty... is very lucky. ]

All right. Is there anything you'd like to specify anyway?

[citizendetective]

I don't want you removing anything.

[She reiterates - this part is very important.]

No overwriting any knowledge, or experiences or emotions - nothing like that. But I want those good memories, full of people who love me. My friends from home, my old warden Pagan, my patient Taylor, um... Iris...

Obviously, I'll know they're not real. That's fine. I just want to have them.

[dog_lover]

Of course. That's fine.

[ She pauses before she reaches a hand up. ]

And you are certain?

[ Another pause. ]

You won't tell people I forced you afterwards?

[citizendetective]

Are you going to force me?

[dog_lover]

[ Of course. ]

No. You can leave now if you want to.

[ She puts her hands down. ]

And if you're going to claim the 'devil' made you do it if someone criticizes your choices, you should.

[citizendetective]

Well, I don't plan to lie.

[She says, raising an eyebrow.]

So if you don't plan to do anything beyond what we've agreed, then we shouldn't have a problem.

[dog_lover]

Others have lied. Someone on the barge...

I gave them what they wanted. And they told their warden I made them kill someone.

[ She leaves her hands down. ]

If you break your word and lie, there will be consequences.

[citizendetective]

You can't do anything to me here without getting yourself demoted.

[dog_lover]

We both know that isn't true.

But I would rather not. Hurting you isn't what I want.

But I'm tired of humans betraying me.

[citizendetective]

That's never going to stop happening, Makima.

But it won't happen with me, unless you give me good reason to.

[dog_lover]

I know.

But I'm never going to let them get away with it. So that's mutual.

[ She holds up a hand. ]

Do you choose?