Reference - Stein and Medusa
Transcribed dialogue from Soul Eater episode 23 - specifically, the climax of Stein and Medusa's confrontation. (I skipped over the [very short] parts that weren't part of that.) Using Tadashi's fansubbed version of the episode!
Mostly for my reference, as usual, but anyone else who wants to is free to take a look - particularly Stein. ♥ (Crazy-spoilery if you haven't watched the episode, of course, and it reads better if you have at least vague memories of the visuals that go with it.)
Episode 23
Stein: [thinking] There's no time. I know we have to hurry and defeat Medusa so we can get to the Demon God, but… [attacks]
Medusa: Take that! [kick to face, lands back, and: snakes]
Spirit: Stein!
[exchange of blows]
Stein: [thinking] No matter what technique I use, I can't break her balance off of her snake tail. She doesn't have any openings. What do I do?
Spirit: Medusa hasn't been trying to fight us head-on from the start. She's simply trying to buy time.
Stein: [breathes] [thinks] I knew from the beginning… She's not an opponent I can beat without giving my full attention.
Spirit: Stein, are you freezing up? You used to be so intimidating, but I'm not feeling it.
Stein: Quiet. I'm trying to get it back. [thinking] I've been paying too much attention to my surroundings. I have to remove all distractions. What moves me now is curiosity. What's important is whatever's in front of me. Define it. [narrow vision on Medusa; cracks neck]
Spirit: His anxiety is disappearing. [Stein cracks his neck again] Shibusen's strongest meister. He's too transparent.
Stein: So what do I wanna do, hmm? [cranks screw] I'd think it'd be obvious. [Medusa looks up suddenly]
Spirit: He's nothing but a sadistic hedonist.
Stein: I wanna dissect you!
Medusa: [laughs] You're too cute. I want to torture you.
Stein: [grins]
Spirit: ...Right. I'm the one that had to keep a leash on this crazy idiot.
[flashback!]
Some guy: Please stop...
Bitty!Stein: You're in pretty bad shape. What should we do about this? Cut you open? Hollow you out? Drag out your guts? Let's begin the euthanasia!
guy: Aaaaah...
Bitty!Spirit: Stop it. You've done enough.
Stein: Be quiet, Spirit. I'll do what I want.
Spirit: Order. Are you trying to destroy the foundation of Shibusen?
Stein: [releases the guy, who runs away]
Spirit: What are you trying to do? You thought you could do whatever you wanted once you got into Shibusen?
Stein: We were born in a world without God.
Spirit: Hey... are you being serious?
Stein: Of course not. That kind of world suffers.
[end flashback]
Medusa: I'll say it once more. Come with me.
Stein: [grins]
Medusa: Sleeping or awake, nothing ever changes. This trite world doesn't suit you. The power of the Demon God is beyond mortal comprehension. It will be the wind of change for this world. Let's create a world for evolution!
Stein: A long time ago... A bunch of moronic doctors tried to analyze my narcissistic rage! [attacks] Like they were solving the mystery from a novel, smiling all the while… "Did something happen to you in the past? Something that left a negative impression on you?" Those simpletons tried to use logic for everything! It was so irritating! I just wanted to tear people apart!
Medusa: Are you saying I'm like those doctors?
Stein: When I was in kindergarten, I looked at the brats playing like the teacher told them, and I wanted to vomit. When I think about them clinging to their desks, staring straight ahead at the blackboard and taking notes… I felt like I was gonna wet myself!
Medusa: What are you talking about? How dull. Now I'm bored. You make me sick.
[they exchange blows]
Medusa: You underestimate me? Your attacks lack variety; they're dull and bore me. They're so slow, I could wet myself.
Stein: There's no need to go that far. It's my response to your invitation. … I got better and stronger. And the realm of madness within me grew. Do you know what it was that stopped me?
Medusa: Your fear.
Stein: Yeah. I was scared. I thought of what kind of person I would become… Or that as long as I had fun, anything was okay! So I needed something. Not some asinine order created by a selfish king… But an order created by a selfless god.
Medusa: So we should create that new world order together.
Stein: Isn't that selfish of you?
Medusa: No. These ideals would become the norm. And that, you would obey.
[exchange of blows, and Medusa drills into Stein's stomach]
Spirit: Stein!
Medusa: [laughs]
Spirit: Keeping up this heavy assault just gets us counter-attacked!
Stein: And until those ideals are adopted, what will I do about my unrighteous feelings towards that god? You just can't understand.
Medusa: I guess it's pointless to keep asking.
Stein: I have virtue! I want to tear you apart!
Medusa: So that's the path your insanity takes! [Stein attacks, getting torn up thoroughly by snakes but not stopping]
Medusa: What?!
Stein: Soulforce!
[Stein lands a strike that dents Medusa's stomach and kills all the active snakes]
Spirit: He did it! But… we took too much damage for the sake of that one attack.
Medusa: Maybe I overestimated you… You deny my advances, but this is the best you can do? [tail-snake rises] It's over. Say goodbye to that head of yours!
Stein: Senpai, don't slip up.
Medusa: What?! My tail snake stopped! No, my whole body!
Stein: Soulthread diffused stitches.
Medusa: What is this? Nothing is sewn on me!
Stein: Look closely. The threads are wound around your body. All of your nerves are frozen.
Medusa: So what? Why aren't you trying to cut me in half with that scythe? Because you don't have time, right?
Spirit: It's all we can do to control such a large wavelength so minutely. To keep it up we have it give it all our concentration. We can't move a single finger.
Medusa: Is this supposed to be your last resort? Is this the order you created for this fight? You want to turn it into a battle of reflexes once you remove the threads? It's no use. My snake is at the base of your neck. I'll decapitate you faster than you can swing that scythe. You can't control your wavelength like this for long, am I right? Once you remove it, it's over. You will die. And the Demon God will be revived.
[scene break]
Stein: [thinking] This is a risk. We're at a disadvantage.
Spirit: If we want to take Medusa out, we'll have to use some force to break through her defenses.
Stein: [still thinking] I have to find a way out of this. But the instant I remove the Soulthread Diffused Stitches and we attack… Just as Medusa says… in all probability, I'll be the loser… But right now, I can imagine Medusa's crumpled form moreso than my own corpse! We'll have to rely on that small possibility. [grins]
[the tunnel starts shaking]
Spirit: W-what's that? What's going on? …Madness is ruling the skies! Don't tell me… Did Kid and the others fail?!
Medusa: [laughs]
Spirit: The Demon God is reviving!
[scene break, to see that is so]
Spirit: They couldn't stop it.
Medusa: [laughs] What a pitiful shame. Looks like we win. [laaaaaughs]
Stein: Aaaahhhaaa~ [SLICE]
Spirit: He did it… I couldn't even see it…
Stein: [laughs, as Medusa's body turns to snake-blood-arrows and starts to rain down] Too easy. [gets out a cigarette] As soon as you realized the Demon God was resurrected, your elation gave me an opening. [lights cigarette] Ironic. We won thanks to the Demon God. [breathes smoke] But it was resurrected. I guess we lose, after all. And yet… I feel so damn good! [laaaughs in the rain of Medusa's blood]
Coda, Episode 24
Stein: It seems the Grim Reaper and Demon God fought, but… The madness is fading. So he got away. Aa-ah, I wanted to see him, too.
Spirit: In the end, it was because I wasn't by the Reaper's side that we couldn't stop him… Aw, man. Everyone's going to blame me for this.
Stein: It does no good saying what could have been. And it's not over yet. If we don't think of a way to resolve this, the world's in a lot of trouble.
[suddenly! Stein's torso is wrapped with snakes, which draw Medusa's remaining half up to sink teeth into his shoulder]
Stein: Aagh!
Spirit: Stein!
Stein: Damn! [grabs Medusa by the head, tosses her to the ground]
Medusa: I love you, Stein.
Stein: [sinks scythe into her head] Yeah, right. You're the same as me. You know nothing of love.
Medusa: [sighs very slightly, and disintegrates entirely]
Spirit: What a woman… she was destroyed, with her soul.
Stein: [clutches shoulder]
Mostly for my reference, as usual, but anyone else who wants to is free to take a look - particularly Stein. ♥ (Crazy-spoilery if you haven't watched the episode, of course, and it reads better if you have at least vague memories of the visuals that go with it.)
Episode 23
Stein: [thinking] There's no time. I know we have to hurry and defeat Medusa so we can get to the Demon God, but… [attacks]
Medusa: Take that! [kick to face, lands back, and: snakes]
Spirit: Stein!
[exchange of blows]
Stein: [thinking] No matter what technique I use, I can't break her balance off of her snake tail. She doesn't have any openings. What do I do?
Spirit: Medusa hasn't been trying to fight us head-on from the start. She's simply trying to buy time.
Stein: [breathes] [thinks] I knew from the beginning… She's not an opponent I can beat without giving my full attention.
Spirit: Stein, are you freezing up? You used to be so intimidating, but I'm not feeling it.
Stein: Quiet. I'm trying to get it back. [thinking] I've been paying too much attention to my surroundings. I have to remove all distractions. What moves me now is curiosity. What's important is whatever's in front of me. Define it. [narrow vision on Medusa; cracks neck]
Spirit: His anxiety is disappearing. [Stein cracks his neck again] Shibusen's strongest meister. He's too transparent.
Stein: So what do I wanna do, hmm? [cranks screw] I'd think it'd be obvious. [Medusa looks up suddenly]
Spirit: He's nothing but a sadistic hedonist.
Stein: I wanna dissect you!
Medusa: [laughs] You're too cute. I want to torture you.
Stein: [grins]
Spirit: ...Right. I'm the one that had to keep a leash on this crazy idiot.
[flashback!]
Some guy: Please stop...
Bitty!Stein: You're in pretty bad shape. What should we do about this? Cut you open? Hollow you out? Drag out your guts? Let's begin the euthanasia!
guy: Aaaaah...
Bitty!Spirit: Stop it. You've done enough.
Stein: Be quiet, Spirit. I'll do what I want.
Spirit: Order. Are you trying to destroy the foundation of Shibusen?
Stein: [releases the guy, who runs away]
Spirit: What are you trying to do? You thought you could do whatever you wanted once you got into Shibusen?
Stein: We were born in a world without God.
Spirit: Hey... are you being serious?
Stein: Of course not. That kind of world suffers.
[end flashback]
Medusa: I'll say it once more. Come with me.
Stein: [grins]
Medusa: Sleeping or awake, nothing ever changes. This trite world doesn't suit you. The power of the Demon God is beyond mortal comprehension. It will be the wind of change for this world. Let's create a world for evolution!
Stein: A long time ago... A bunch of moronic doctors tried to analyze my narcissistic rage! [attacks] Like they were solving the mystery from a novel, smiling all the while… "Did something happen to you in the past? Something that left a negative impression on you?" Those simpletons tried to use logic for everything! It was so irritating! I just wanted to tear people apart!
Medusa: Are you saying I'm like those doctors?
Stein: When I was in kindergarten, I looked at the brats playing like the teacher told them, and I wanted to vomit. When I think about them clinging to their desks, staring straight ahead at the blackboard and taking notes… I felt like I was gonna wet myself!
Medusa: What are you talking about? How dull. Now I'm bored. You make me sick.
[they exchange blows]
Medusa: You underestimate me? Your attacks lack variety; they're dull and bore me. They're so slow, I could wet myself.
Stein: There's no need to go that far. It's my response to your invitation. … I got better and stronger. And the realm of madness within me grew. Do you know what it was that stopped me?
Medusa: Your fear.
Stein: Yeah. I was scared. I thought of what kind of person I would become… Or that as long as I had fun, anything was okay! So I needed something. Not some asinine order created by a selfish king… But an order created by a selfless god.
Medusa: So we should create that new world order together.
Stein: Isn't that selfish of you?
Medusa: No. These ideals would become the norm. And that, you would obey.
[exchange of blows, and Medusa drills into Stein's stomach]
Spirit: Stein!
Medusa: [laughs]
Spirit: Keeping up this heavy assault just gets us counter-attacked!
Stein: And until those ideals are adopted, what will I do about my unrighteous feelings towards that god? You just can't understand.
Medusa: I guess it's pointless to keep asking.
Stein: I have virtue! I want to tear you apart!
Medusa: So that's the path your insanity takes! [Stein attacks, getting torn up thoroughly by snakes but not stopping]
Medusa: What?!
Stein: Soulforce!
[Stein lands a strike that dents Medusa's stomach and kills all the active snakes]
Spirit: He did it! But… we took too much damage for the sake of that one attack.
Medusa: Maybe I overestimated you… You deny my advances, but this is the best you can do? [tail-snake rises] It's over. Say goodbye to that head of yours!
Stein: Senpai, don't slip up.
Medusa: What?! My tail snake stopped! No, my whole body!
Stein: Soulthread diffused stitches.
Medusa: What is this? Nothing is sewn on me!
Stein: Look closely. The threads are wound around your body. All of your nerves are frozen.
Medusa: So what? Why aren't you trying to cut me in half with that scythe? Because you don't have time, right?
Spirit: It's all we can do to control such a large wavelength so minutely. To keep it up we have it give it all our concentration. We can't move a single finger.
Medusa: Is this supposed to be your last resort? Is this the order you created for this fight? You want to turn it into a battle of reflexes once you remove the threads? It's no use. My snake is at the base of your neck. I'll decapitate you faster than you can swing that scythe. You can't control your wavelength like this for long, am I right? Once you remove it, it's over. You will die. And the Demon God will be revived.
[scene break]
Stein: [thinking] This is a risk. We're at a disadvantage.
Spirit: If we want to take Medusa out, we'll have to use some force to break through her defenses.
Stein: [still thinking] I have to find a way out of this. But the instant I remove the Soulthread Diffused Stitches and we attack… Just as Medusa says… in all probability, I'll be the loser… But right now, I can imagine Medusa's crumpled form moreso than my own corpse! We'll have to rely on that small possibility. [grins]
[the tunnel starts shaking]
Spirit: W-what's that? What's going on? …Madness is ruling the skies! Don't tell me… Did Kid and the others fail?!
Medusa: [laughs]
Spirit: The Demon God is reviving!
[scene break, to see that is so]
Spirit: They couldn't stop it.
Medusa: [laughs] What a pitiful shame. Looks like we win. [laaaaaughs]
Stein: Aaaahhhaaa~ [SLICE]
Spirit: He did it… I couldn't even see it…
Stein: [laughs, as Medusa's body turns to snake-blood-arrows and starts to rain down] Too easy. [gets out a cigarette] As soon as you realized the Demon God was resurrected, your elation gave me an opening. [lights cigarette] Ironic. We won thanks to the Demon God. [breathes smoke] But it was resurrected. I guess we lose, after all. And yet… I feel so damn good! [laaaughs in the rain of Medusa's blood]
Coda, Episode 24
Stein: It seems the Grim Reaper and Demon God fought, but… The madness is fading. So he got away. Aa-ah, I wanted to see him, too.
Spirit: In the end, it was because I wasn't by the Reaper's side that we couldn't stop him… Aw, man. Everyone's going to blame me for this.
Stein: It does no good saying what could have been. And it's not over yet. If we don't think of a way to resolve this, the world's in a lot of trouble.
[suddenly! Stein's torso is wrapped with snakes, which draw Medusa's remaining half up to sink teeth into his shoulder]
Stein: Aagh!
Spirit: Stein!
Stein: Damn! [grabs Medusa by the head, tosses her to the ground]
Medusa: I love you, Stein.
Stein: [sinks scythe into her head] Yeah, right. You're the same as me. You know nothing of love.
Medusa: [sighs very slightly, and disintegrates entirely]
Spirit: What a woman… she was destroyed, with her soul.
Stein: [clutches shoulder]