First Target - Video

[nobodysweapon]

*The video opens on a girl with... does that teddy bear behind her have a bullet hole through its head? That's creepy. The girl isn't nearly as creepy in a rather ordinary sundress, a nice blue-gray number. Nothing fancy and it clearly allowed her to move freely as she stepped into center frame. To those that know her before she seems less... paranoid, angry, and ready to kill things at a moment's notice than she was five years ago. Even if she hasn't aged as much as everyone else.*

Hello. I am a returning student, I am a little old for high school, but I needed to withdraw from my last school for personal reasons. I am attempting to finish my education so I can properly enter the workforce without forged documentation.

*Yes, that was all said with a straight face.*

Some of the staff and students from before the incident might remember me. I-

*She hesitated, just slightly*

Will be using the name Laura now. And I would like people to respect this.

I wish everyone a school year with less kidnapping and property damage than previous years.

*Look she's trying really hard not to be scary, she has to get points for that! She walks over and shuts down the feed.*

Comments

[nobodysweapon]

Probably not.

[spes_phthisica]

You probably had better reasons, really.

[Depends on how you see it, but... probably not, Souji.]

Unless, I guess, you're a lot more dangerous than you seem like at first.

[You have no idea, boy. But that's partly because of the amnesia, since he's more or less grown up at the Institute until it was Phoenix'd; he just doesn't remember that part. But still.]

[nobodysweapon]

I am very dangerous.

[spes_phthisica]

Really? [He blinks, and then laughs, his demeanor suddenly tipping over into downright childish for a while.] I really deserved such an answer. Of course a lot of people here are dangerous.

[And then, perhaps, with a bit more solemnity:] But perhaps you meant more than what's ordinary.

[nobodysweapon]

Yes.

*Laura you can elaborate on that, she won't, but she probably should.*

[spes_phthisica]

It's hardly nice to admit as much and then leave me curious, is it?

[He really just wants to know more about other dangerous people. People who might be more dangerous especially. Being a dangerous person is pretty lonely, after all.]

[nobodysweapon]

I have killed many people.

I do not do this anymore. If that matters.

[spes_phthisica]

Oh. [Well, that is arguably worse. But there is no judgement in his voice or demeanor, and he even shrugs slightly in response.]

It doesn't matter either way to me, I think. People hurt and kill others all the time. If you chose not to do it, that is something important to you, and it should be respected; it doesn't change anything much apart from that. [Morality, what is that?]

[nobodysweapon]

Most people find it very important.

[spes_phthisica]

I guess most people do. [He just laughs quietly, pulling thoughtfully at his hair.] Unless you hurt someone I didn't want you to hurt, it's just hard for me to see why it's relevant. But they say I'm not a very good at empathy. [It's not strictly true; he just needs an emotional connection first, and he barely has any.]

[nobodysweapon]

I am getting better at empathy.

*She did have the empathy beaten out of her as a small child, after all.*

[spes_phthisica]

... How?

[No, seriously, he'd like to know. He's been a bit too isolated - at least inside his own head - to figure this one out already.]

[nobodysweapon]

*There is a loooooooooong silence as Laura tries to pick the best and simplest answer to the question.*

Time.

[spes_phthisica]

I see. [He really doesn't look disappointed with the answer, either. He's got time, and he really does want to learn.] Thank you.