Deborah Enjoys Herself With Words...

"What exactly do you want from me?" - Asked Heider - "And, for that matter, you *know* for a fact that I'm not *really* allowed to leave..." "Oh, but you *are*." - Said Deborah, smiling - "At any time, you can just walk past that door, tell them Hiro is no more and be as free as before!" - She *sang* that last part, the usual poison in her voice adding to the singsong impromptu rhyme - "BUT! But... Doctor Heider... You will not do that." "You couldn't legally..." "Yeah. I'm very much worried about *the law* and I'm *sure* your relatives would *miss you* after you erased the mouth of one of them. Yes, I *could* hurt you. A lot, to be precise. And suffering, really, minimal consequences, mainly because someone likely has my back on account of you being an *asshole*! Newsflash: people don't miss people like us, doctor. They won't miss you. They won't miss me." - Said Deborah - "And yet... AND YET... This isn't why you won't leave. You won't leave because you are the great and wonderful Doctor Heider, because you are so, *so* sure you're such a badass that you'd not be able to *take it* if you fail to save Hiro Hibiki." "What...?" - Asked the doctor, a sense of *dread* finally setting in. "Yes, Doctor Heider. *That's* what's outside that door. Defeat. *You*. Defeat *and* you. You not being a good doctor, you not being a good magic user, just *you*. Just the obnoxious little jerk that came into power by the luck of the draw, used it to torment people in little ways and can't do *anything* that he thought he could back when he thought he was just. So. Awesome. So, Doctor Heider, you are free to walk through that door at any time. But *tell me when you're about to do it*, because *I want to watch*." "...dammit." - Muttered Heider. "Yup." - Said Deborah, smiling - "You know, I didn't think my experience as a social worker would be of use in this new life of mine..." "You? *YOU* were a social worker?" - Asked Heider, disbelieving. "Yep. Don't give me that look. It's *rare*, not *impossible*. I got to help children that were abused *and* to make the abusers suffer. All the while being admired by society. Win-win-win." - Said Deborah, smiling - "I have a soft spot for children. Don't give me that look, I'm not a *complete* monster. You see, I really, *really* dislike seeing children cry. It's why I accepted this little assignment." "Uh... What are you talking about?" - Asked Heider. "You once made a kid cry by turning his mother's skin green for a bit." - Said Deborah, impatiently. "When? Oh, the bus thing..." - Said Heider, uncertainly - "...right?" "No, you were in your office..." - Said Deborah, an *edge* to her voice - "But, you see, that's superb. Because going *But For Me It Was Tuesday* is precisely the kind of thing that gives me an excuse to *keep* this little exercise of ours... Awesome Doctor Heider... So... *Awesome*... So, so *awesome*..." - She said, sarcastically. "Stop it." - Said Heider. "Or what? You'll use your awesome powers of awesomeness to... Fail to harm me? Will that be *before* or *after* you fail to save the person responsible for *keeping the entire civilization running*? Do your job, Heider." - Said Deborah. Heider just groaned and looked at the organic computer. - - - ***Autumn Town*** "Okay. This is getting boring." - Said Lucas, to herself - "Wings! Any other settlements or places with people aside from the cities?" Wings pinpointed a few. "Ooo, dark cave with living beings! I *love* Dungeon Crawling! I wonder how many hit dice they have!" - Said Lucas, smiling a rather crazed smile. Years on and she *still* was that kind of person. - - - ***Arachne's Den*** Arachne felt... *something*. It was intangible and curious. It was a new definition. In that world of fantasy, Arachne was sort of a constant... Except she now was no longer just Arachne. When the mind of a gamer begins affecting your own definitions - as Selene learned upon becoming and being Neruite - things change a bit. She was still Arachne, but no longer *just* Arachne. Lolth was "born". - - - ***Somewhere***