Daniel's only response to Lunge's apology -- Sincere, he thought, but perfunctory -- was a curt nod. You didn't mean to bring up any unpleasant memories, no, but you were not averse to them emerging as an unintended effect of your meddling.
He understood this because he had been the same way; L would not have cared whether his questions made someone feel uncomfortable. In many situations, that result would have been his objective, the core motivation for the inquiries. It was a habit which Daniel was determined to alter in his own behavior, and, as such, a frown flickered over his face. Resentment rose in his chest, and he pushed it down -- A useless emotion.The terrain seemed to be more level, now. His leg was irritated and aching, under its bandage, but more stable ground would be less stressful to the injury. He hoped that he would be able to rest for at least a few minutes when they reached their destination
( ... )
Laurier seemed rather less taken with the town than he was, if that tone was anything to go on. But then, perhaps 'taken' was a reaction that was destined to be exclusive to himself anyway- Laurier was an intelligent, sensible young man, who, doubtless, was not enchanted with the prospect of spending the night in a dilapidated old town. Hmm. Lunge's brow contracted into a slight frown. The scope of the man's imagination was disappointing, to say the le-
When we find it.
Lunge blinked at his partner. When they found it? There was nothing left to be found. They were here- the entire town was laid out before them, dark and enveloped in mist, yes, but most definitely there. Was the man being deliberately obtuse (highly unlikely, he values his reputation) or was there something else at work
( ... )
Daniel experienced a mercurial mix of reactions to Lunge's insistence that they had reached their destination.
Nothing, there is nothing there. Is he -- hallucinating? He seems lucid, apart from his statement that he sees these buildings, but I suppose if he were truly sane, he would have dropped the Lunge persona. Would Otto Jung see them? Then, a more disquieting question: Would L?It was difficult for him to know how to feel about the total absence of the ruined town. On one hand, if it had been here, it would have been an interesting sight; on the other, its absence was a strike against the rumors about the Institute itself. His mind was a swirl of frustration, relief, disappointment, and, under it all, a hint of longing. He would have liked to have seen it, but not to the exclusion of his sanity
( ... )
But... how was that even possible? Lunge may have been watching Laurier with the usual detached curiosity, but had he any less control he would have wanted to shake the man. This wasn't simply a case of brainwashing, this was an outright twisting of the senses. Trust none of what you hear and only half of what you see was a good code to live by, but how did it apply when even your own eyes tried to decieve you?
He became, suddenly, very aware of how cold it was. Uncomfortably so. L was a singular man, that much Lunge had gauged from their previous meetings, a suitable equal for his work. If they had managed to bend his mind so wholly, what chance did he himself stand against them? What was to say that he was not at their mercy even as they stood there, freezing, among the ruins?
No. The thought broke in sharply, clear against the binary-rush of activity in his mind. Your mind is your own. You have not been subjected to the same affliction as L has been. Until proven otherwise, you will not doubt that what you have seen is true. Be
( ... )
Comments 4
He understood this because he had been the same way; L would not have cared whether his questions made someone feel uncomfortable. In many situations, that result would have been his objective, the core motivation for the inquiries. It was a habit which Daniel was determined to alter in his own behavior, and, as such, a frown flickered over his face. Resentment rose in his chest, and he pushed it down -- A useless emotion.The terrain seemed to be more level, now. His leg was irritated and aching, under its bandage, but more stable ground would be less stressful to the injury. He hoped that he would be able to rest for at least a few minutes when they reached their destination ( ... )
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When we find it.
Lunge blinked at his partner. When they found it? There was nothing left to be found. They were here- the entire town was laid out before them, dark and enveloped in mist, yes, but most definitely there. Was the man being deliberately obtuse (highly unlikely, he values his reputation) or was there something else at work ( ... )
Reply
Nothing, there is nothing there. Is he -- hallucinating? He seems lucid, apart from his statement that he sees these buildings, but I suppose if he were truly sane, he would have dropped the Lunge persona. Would Otto Jung see them? Then, a more disquieting question: Would L?It was difficult for him to know how to feel about the total absence of the ruined town. On one hand, if it had been here, it would have been an interesting sight; on the other, its absence was a strike against the rumors about the Institute itself. His mind was a swirl of frustration, relief, disappointment, and, under it all, a hint of longing. He would have liked to have seen it, but not to the exclusion of his sanity ( ... )
Reply
He became, suddenly, very aware of how cold it was. Uncomfortably so. L was a singular man, that much Lunge had gauged from their previous meetings, a suitable equal for his work. If they had managed to bend his mind so wholly, what chance did he himself stand against them? What was to say that he was not at their mercy even as they stood there, freezing, among the ruins?
No. The thought broke in sharply, clear against the binary-rush of activity in his mind. Your mind is your own. You have not been subjected to the same affliction as L has been. Until proven otherwise, you will not doubt that what you have seen is true. Be ( ... )
Reply
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