9 - That's how our little game is played/Living out a masquerade

[playsdoctor]

[Since Muraki posted lat, he finished his prison sentence, tried to cope with losing his powers, and then ended up in a sleep coma for nearly a month. But he's awake now, reading through a thin book with its cover not visible as his Dreamberry comes on.]Nearly a month passed by in what felt like a short nap. I suppose there could be worse ways to

Comments

i hope a late tag is okay ;_;

[zerointegrity]

[Greetings, Muraki, do you remember this lovely young Britannian? Ah, he sure hopes so, because Lelouch definitely recognizes you from having looked at your file while doing work for the Chief Prosecutor and from a brief previous conversation many many months ago.]

From what I've been told, you missed quite an event in our lovely world - Somarium stepped back in time for a week or two, right into the middle of the Jazz Age. However, that's all the information about that I can give you for I, too, missed all the fun due to an extended nap.

[He pauses, a small smile on his face.]

You've quite a taste in your literature, by the way. It's a splendid novel that most, I assume, haven't taken the time to read despite having used the expression that came from its pages at some point.

always ♥

[playsdoctor]

[He remembers those eyes very well. Muraki always finds it hard to forget a pretty face with violet eyes -- one of his victims had them, after all, and it's a surprise that his dreams haven't spoiled his fascination with the color yet.]

From what I know, that's a very interesting period of time. It would have been nice to experience even a portion of it for myself.

I haven't read it in some time, but catching up is never a bad thing. People never use the term to refer to me; my enemies picked a different sort of fictional monster instead.

[zerointegrity]

Something worse?

[Lelouch raises an eyebrow, interested to hear more about this monster from his own mouth.]

I must admit, you've piqued my curiosity. I can think of two or three fictional monsters one might be called should their actions warrant such a name.

[playsdoctor]

Worse is a subjective term. It was what they felt I was -- a vampire who couldn't be easily killed and had control over my creations.

[They killed him in the end, or so he believes, but it took a few tries to finish the job.]

[zerointegrity]

My, despite such little information, I can see where your enemies might think a vampire of that nature to be some sort of monster. [A beat] But you say it was what they felt you were... Do you not see yourself in the same light?

[playsdoctor]

[And that is the million dollar question, Lelouch. How Muraki sees himself can greatly vary from one day to the next, or even from one moment to the next depending on what he's done and what he thinks of his actions, his reasons for those actions, and how the people around him are reacting.]

I'm simply a man doing what his nature dictates him to do. If that makes me monstrous in the world's eyes, so be it. I accepted that label long ago even if I don't wear it as proudly as others wear the labels tossed at them.

[zerointegrity]

[Ah, Muraki, Lelouch knows plenty about having labels tossed at oneself and wearing them proudly.]

Isn't it, at times, easier to embrace the labels you've been given and wear them proudly? If it is nothing but your true nature and you're doing what you believe to be right, then I should see no fault in you wearing that label proudly, especially given the fact that you accepted it long ago.

[playsdoctor]

I can accept it without identifying as it directly. Even if I know I'm evil, I don't have to consider myself a monster.

[zerointegrity]

Mm, I suppose you're right about that.

[He smiles, a bit amused by this conversation.]

And what about your life in Somarium? It seems you've done nothing to help your reputation, even when you were given a new lease on life. You could have done away with that label completely.

[playsdoctor]

Again, I'm only doing as my nature tells me to. I'll always be evil, even here in my second life.

/latechan, my apologies

[zerointegrity]

You've made that quite clear... [A smirk] Especially thanks to this wonderful little device we were given upon our arrival and our lovely Inspector and his police force.

no need to apologize

[playsdoctor]

They did almost none of the work.

[zerointegrity]

I suppose you could think of it that way, but without the Dreamberries and the police force, the population wouldn't be so aware of the fact that you are, in fact, a monster.

[You're a strange one, Muraki, and Lelouch can't quite figure you out... yet.]

[playsdoctor]

It was far more due to the Dreamberry being turned on than any real investigative work.

[zerointegrity]

[A laugh]

Don't tell them that lest their egos be hurt quite a bit!

[playsdoctor]

I don't care about their egos.