04: Run it up the flagpole and see [video]
[The PCD turns on and appears to be propped up and rested on an empty table, set up against a poorly lit corner. The only light in the room s coming from an off screen lamp. After a moment, a pair of freaky blue eyes and matted blondish brown hair slowly pop up from under the table. In fact right now Topher closely resembles a cat, either about
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[Yeah have fun with that]
Oh I've noticed. Overly paranoid--means he's hiding something. A sleeper doll perhaps. Can't let him come over for applesauce anymore, don't let Sebastian touch Pinky!
Ha. Taxis. Don't exist in LA.
A paradox!
[He ignores her cries and scuttles over to the tape. She'll probably have to rush to catch up as its in the opposite direction.]
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Well, yes, I know that, I grew up there! But DC is different. Cabs everywhere.
[ She is totally running towards that tape and trying to snatch it as quickly as possible. ]
Topher, please! [ If she can't grab the tape, she's totally grabbing him instead. Be warned! She might hit him >.>" ]
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[Interception! He's still on his hands and knees so he flinches and looks up at her. He probably deserves to be hit.
He opens his mouth to say something. Then sees the MURDER in his eyes and decides against it. So he goes for pacifying.]
How'd you get in here so fast? You're like a ninja aren't you?
Look, do you want to see my equations?! I have proof! Wait--no you can't! I need to check them for errors again. When I'm finished with that...can I have the tape back?
[The constant back and forth paranoia is probably tiring to watch]
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[ That flinch makes her feel like a bad guy. It doesn't entirely wipe away the fact that he keeps saying she's dead and therefor invalidated and not real but it goes a bit further towards her not knocking him on his ass. ]
Yes, a one armed ninja in heels. [ She snorts and pushes the ring of duct tape up her arm. Good luck getting it now. ]
I want to see them. I want you to calm down, more specifically, and no, you can't have the damned tape back.
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Ninjas can fight while blind, the one arm thing is nothing.
You're not tranquilizing me! Listen to me, Rossum's never going to stop coming after me. I blew up their headquarters and killed their head honcho! I stay awake, I don't go outside--I don't sleep--and they won't be able to change the parameters of this scenario. Or if I do I just refuse to participate.
The scenario stays the same and you live. I want you and Claire to live.
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[ Those hypos are still in her sling and Claire is outside, Topher. You can't argue your way out of sleeping. ]
You'll end up microsleeping anyway, you know that. You know what else? You're too skinny to lose more weight and the sheer number of risks and psychological effects are too much.
[ Bennett sighs. ]
The scenario hasn't reset. Toph had a point; you've slept before and you were fine. The first day you were panicked and paranoid, but we slept and we were fine.
Please.
[ She holds out her hand to help him off the floor. ]
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Hey! I'm not skinny. I have a healthy body image thank you very much.
It's different now, something's changed. They're watching, I know it!
[He takes her hand...but then suddenly he pulls her down--he'll catch her if she falls forward.]
We stay here, low to the ground, we stay awake and then noooobody finds us. Ok? I want you to stay with me--I don't want to them to take you away--like I told Ivy, I think your brain is beautiful and it should stay in your head. Especially you. We can remove the GPS strips in our backs and hide, just you and me, ok?
[He's decided that even if she's a hallucination he wants to keep her. Dawww]
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[ What, it's the closest thing she has to a pocket and the place where it was least likely to get broken. Also if she ends up stabbing herself in the arm with it, well, it might not work.
Oh, hey, being yanked. Curse you balance and your inevitable betrayal! I don't know. The woman does have balance issues though so falling forward? Happens. Along with knocking her forehead into his shoulder on the way down. ]
Ow! Topher. [ Oh God. ] I like sleeping. Most of the time. And what about Claire, she's our friend, remember?
Besides right now I wouldn't trust you with a scalpel anywhere near me.
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[and..paranoia kicks in] ...I'm not too skinny am I? I know I'm not buff and manly like Ballard or Victor but I do work out! On Wii Fit!
[oops! He winces but manages to catch her full weight and kinda...awkwardly hold her.]
I like sleeping too. Used to. Never did get enough of it--NO! NO CLAIRE! SHE CAN'T COME IN!
[He clutches at her]
Promise me you won't let her get near you! No, just you and me--we'll have to fix the window you broke but it's ok I was wrong to leave you. I'm sorry.
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[ Oh and the conversation was going so well...ish. Bennett sighs and shakes her head. She really isn't up for dealing with this anti-Claire behavior any more than she wants to argue whether or not she's alive. ]
Topher. I promise that I am doing this for your best interest. [ And needle in his forearm! Success! ...of a sort.
Of course it won't be fall down collapse instant, this is from a first aid kit, not her lab back home. But it should, at least, get him to relax ASAP.
Thank God for quick-depression hypodermics. ]
I know you're sorry, I do. Can we go lay down now please?
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[He looks puzzled since he never used to care that much about his looks. He's not normally THIS paranoid either.]
Doing wha--OW!
[Oh it takes SHEER EFFORT for him not to throw her bodily off of her--only the last remaining common sense he has and the fact that, at heart Topher Brink is not a violent man, keep her from meeting the ground in a bad way. Still he pushes her hard and tries to escape.]
NO! How--I TRUSTED YOU! You're not supposed to--why! Why would you do that?!
[Even if it isn't fast acting, it'll run through him fairly quickly given how naturally tired he is.
Still somebody is SOOOO not getting any for the rest of this week]
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Damn it all. Didn't he just say he couldn't help it? ]
BECAUSE SOMETHING'S WRONG AND YOU'RE NOT LISTENING! I need you to sleep please. I promise I won't go anywhere, I won't let anyone do anything to you, but you have to sleep.
I love you and I need to figure this out. I can't do that while you're arguing with me.
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I'M SORRY! Ow, seriously, you have a mean right hook.
[Whuuuut the hell. He has to take a few deep breaths and this makes him feel dizzy.]
Well I don't exactly have a choice now do I! I'm not leaving--figure what out?
[Somebody looks drowsy]
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Good. That you're not leaving. Something's wrong, your behavior is erratic and...you can't hear me. You're asleep. Ok.
[ Beep beep, Claire's communicator. ]
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