Cassandra "scoffs with compassion" Igarashi (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
queenofseers) wrote2018-02-02 10:02 am
queenofseers) wrote2018-02-02 10:02 am
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ic inbox (mask or menace)
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This is Cassandra Igarashi. Leave a message.
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This is Cassandra Igarashi. Leave a message.
If I'm understanding this right, then she was basically farming you. Gave you powers, encouraged them to grow, then harvested you for her own purposes.
Is that basically right?
[There are parallels to the horrors of Jacob's own universe.]
Is that basically right?
[There are parallels to the horrors of Jacob's own universe.]
[He's been monitoring the names on the network. People don't always come back, but they can. And then, one day, there it is - Cassandra Igarashi.
He doesn't call until the next day. There's a lot she'll need time to deal with, and he probably shouldn't add to that right away. But he does call.]
Hi. This is Norman. [He keeps his tone neutral. He doesn't know how she feels about coming back, or even if she remembers being here before, after all.]
He doesn't call until the next day. There's a lot she'll need time to deal with, and he probably shouldn't add to that right away. But he does call.]
Hi. This is Norman. [He keeps his tone neutral. He doesn't know how she feels about coming back, or even if she remembers being here before, after all.]
Oh, god, don’t make me think of us as fucking farm animals. But yes?
The thing is, she’d be doing this for thousands of years. She didn’t have to make us think we were gods because once she made us ascend, that just seemed like a fucking given. We didn’t question it because it wasn’t even a possibility until Laura realized something we hadn’t. Who fucking knows how many people Ananke killed that could have spread the word. She would have.
The thing is, she’d be doing this for thousands of years. She didn’t have to make us think we were gods because once she made us ascend, that just seemed like a fucking given. We didn’t question it because it wasn’t even a possibility until Laura realized something we hadn’t. Who fucking knows how many people Ananke killed that could have spread the word. She would have.
[ Oh. This certainly makes her feel like shit.
There are plenty of people in her life here that she cares for, but Cassandra doesn’t always remember to contact them, to keep in touch. To some extent, it’s simulated distance. Do they really care about her that much? They’re not that close. But often they reach out, and she finds she was wrong.
This is one of those cases. And for a child to reach out...
She ought to play it cool. ]
Hey. It’s- is everything okay? [ Maybe he has another reason for calling. ]
There are plenty of people in her life here that she cares for, but Cassandra doesn’t always remember to contact them, to keep in touch. To some extent, it’s simulated distance. Do they really care about her that much? They’re not that close. But often they reach out, and she finds she was wrong.
This is one of those cases. And for a child to reach out...
She ought to play it cool. ]
Hey. It’s- is everything okay? [ Maybe he has another reason for calling. ]
Sorry.
[He doesn't say 'it's true though.' Because tact.]
That's horrible. What the hell was her problem? Did she just want to live forever, or was there something else behind it?
[He doesn't say 'it's true though.' Because tact.]
That's horrible. What the hell was her problem? Did she just want to live forever, or was there something else behind it?
I think that was pretty much all of it, yeah. Why not take the opportunity while she had it? Maybe at some point she started justifying her bullshit to herself, saying it was better for society or something, but we'd never had society without it. She was like six thousand plus years old, by the way, that's yet another fucking thing.
I guess she got scared? As if that's a real explanation for all of it.
I guess she got scared? As if that's a real explanation for all of it.
I'm fine. [He's less neutral now, going instead for a sort of comforting optimism, the kind of tone he uses with friends in tense situations. Whether or not it'll work, well, he'll see.] I just wanted to check if you need any help.
[He was going to say "if you're alright," but she'd just tell him she is no matter what, wouldn't she? She'll probably say no to this too, but at least the question is more definite.]
[He was going to say "if you're alright," but she'd just tell him she is no matter what, wouldn't she? She'll probably say no to this too, but at least the question is more definite.]
Norman, I- no. No, Norman, that’s not the sort of thing you have to worry about.
[ A little responsibility is good in a young man, she’s sure. But Norman is too young. To act like he’s someone her age, pretending this isn’t some sort of way of saying he worried for her...
Because, at this point, Cassandra knows that’s what this is. She thinks she’s learned enough about social cues by now. ]
I...look, if this is you trying to see if I’m alright- yeah. I am. [ She’s not, quite. ] I’m sorry I didn’t call.
[ A little responsibility is good in a young man, she’s sure. But Norman is too young. To act like he’s someone her age, pretending this isn’t some sort of way of saying he worried for her...
Because, at this point, Cassandra knows that’s what this is. She thinks she’s learned enough about social cues by now. ]
I...look, if this is you trying to see if I’m alright- yeah. I am. [ She’s not, quite. ] I’m sorry I didn’t call.
I can't imagine being as old as civilization. Maybe that's a good thing.
Please tell me you stopped her.
Please tell me you stopped her.
I mean, I’m sure it warped her brain somehow. That’s the only way she would have been able to justify her bullshit.
I think we did. As long as Lucifer isn’t about to fuck us over, because the moment I ported out, Lucifer was pitching a fit over having to give up her powers to end it all. She’s always been the fucking worst, but Christ.
[ Luci was a little bit better, when she was in this world. But she didn’t get that in her own. ]
I think we did. As long as Lucifer isn’t about to fuck us over, because the moment I ported out, Lucifer was pitching a fit over having to give up her powers to end it all. She’s always been the fucking worst, but Christ.
[ Luci was a little bit better, when she was in this world. But she didn’t get that in her own. ]
[Well, she saw right through that one. He doesn't really believe she's alright (not yet), but she sounds...normal. Like her.
Though the apology surprises him. He hadn't really expected a call - at least not right away. There's so much else to check on first.] It's alright.
[There's a pause, and his voice turns serious.] I'm sorry. About what happened. [She'd been sick and he hadn't noticed.]
Though the apology surprises him. He hadn't really expected a call - at least not right away. There's so much else to check on first.] It's alright.
[There's a pause, and his voice turns serious.] I'm sorry. About what happened. [She'd been sick and he hadn't noticed.]
Hey. You don’t need to say you’re sorry.
[ Her voice doesn’t shake, but she’s clearly upset to hear him say that. It was bad enough with Martin, likely worse considering how close they are, but Norman is even younger. He’s too responsible at his age. ]
You had nothing to do with it- literally nothing. Don’t feel guilty about it.
[ Her voice doesn’t shake, but she’s clearly upset to hear him say that. It was bad enough with Martin, likely worse considering how close they are, but Norman is even younger. He’s too responsible at his age. ]
You had nothing to do with it- literally nothing. Don’t feel guilty about it.
Something's always wrong, Archie. But yes. What's going on?
Archie. Can you even picture what grounding Martin would be like? He'd wither up and die on the spot. That and he'd never do anything to get himself grounded in the first place.
So what is this about?
[ After a minute: ]
Shit, is it Niko?
So what is this about?
[ After a minute: ]
Shit, is it Niko?
don't make me think about it it hurts my heart
like kicking a poocheyna or something
[there's a long pause.]
yes
he wanted me to be his guardian to make some legal stuff easier
so i agreed because it helps me keep a better eye on him
and also some fucking guy from his dad's team has been ported in that wants to draw him back into it
made niko have multiple huge breakdowns, if you want any idea how bad it is
and he's slipped back into old habits with his team so i grounded him for treating them badly to do team work stuff again
[there's another pause.]
i didn't even get
2 fucking weeks
of pretending like everything is okay
and that i might actually be able to look after him properly
not even two weeks
[it goes unsaid he's extremely bitter about that. another message comes finally, quiet and defeated even through text:] i just want one thing
i had to deal with fucking
aegis falling apart and half the command getting dumped into my lap again as well
i can't keep doing this
i'm too tired
like kicking a poocheyna or something
[there's a long pause.]
yes
he wanted me to be his guardian to make some legal stuff easier
so i agreed because it helps me keep a better eye on him
and also some fucking guy from his dad's team has been ported in that wants to draw him back into it
made niko have multiple huge breakdowns, if you want any idea how bad it is
and he's slipped back into old habits with his team so i grounded him for treating them badly to do team work stuff again
[there's another pause.]
i didn't even get
2 fucking weeks
of pretending like everything is okay
and that i might actually be able to look after him properly
not even two weeks
[it goes unsaid he's extremely bitter about that. another message comes finally, quiet and defeated even through text:] i just want one thing
i had to deal with fucking
aegis falling apart and half the command getting dumped into my lap again as well
i can't keep doing this
i'm too tired
[ OKAY OKAY OKAY REEL IT BACK she can be cool ]
That's a fucking shitshow. Can you do something about Aegis? I mean, you can't do anything about people porting out, but take yourself off leadership or something? At least you'd have that off your plate.
That's a fucking shitshow. Can you do something about Aegis? I mean, you can't do anything about people porting out, but take yourself off leadership or something? At least you'd have that off your plate.
[it takes him a little while to respond. he might be horrifically embarrassed that he actually let most of that slip.]
would if i could
we can't shuffle leadership around again
this isn't any less of a shitshow than my life usually is
i guess this one just hurts more
would if i could
we can't shuffle leadership around again
this isn't any less of a shitshow than my life usually is
i guess this one just hurts more
It sounds like it fucking would. I'm sorry, Archie.
But seriously, Aegis doesn't have a plan for leadership? What happens if you port out tomorrow? There's no hierarchy or something?
But seriously, Aegis doesn't have a plan for leadership? What happens if you port out tomorrow? There's no hierarchy or something?
You just vented to me enough that I suspect you feel more than "slightly" bad.
Seriously, do you need help with anything? How's Niko dealing with you grounding him?
Seriously, do you need help with anything? How's Niko dealing with you grounding him?
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