URGENT: HELP US FEED A LIZARD (NOT CLICKBAIT!!!)

[lipochrome]

[ The video opens on a close-up shot of a lizard’s face. Its eyes are unfocused and unblinking. Its jaw is slack. Sometimes, a tongue flops out, and a hand reaches out to shove it back in.

Without warning, the camera DRAMATICALLY zooms out to reveal Kaworu, holding up a large, floppy lizard. This lizard is literally the size of him. Bigger even, if you include the length of its tail]

Okay, Kaworu! [ A very loud, very enthusiastic woman’s voice. ] You’re up! Time to tell everyone about this extremely important mission! Don’t – Kaworu, come on, you have to hold him up, like we practiced.

[ This is interrupted by some unfortunately shaky camera work. ]

Shinji-kun. His name is Shinji-kun and he’s heavy. You should give me the camera instead.

We don’t know what to feed Shinji-kun. He has little interest in eating even though we’ve had him for months now. It’s odd, most creatures, especially basic ones like him, are driven by the need to eat to survive, yet we can’t find anything that he desires. So far we’ve tried… buttered noodles, rice, cereal, marshmallows, grass, leaves…

What else Gideon?

Dried fruit, protein shakes, nice words written on paper notes, my blood, Kaworu’s blood, a rat we found in the backyard one time, bones. You know, regular animal foods.

[ Gideon shrugs, and the camera moves up and down with it. Professionalism!! ]

We know there was this whole baking competition or whatever going down, so, you know, if any of you want to bake a lizard treat we’d buy you lunch or whatever in exchange. Or just tell us how to feed this lizard.

[ Please!! Help! ]

( ooc: Gideon is in red and Kaworu is in blue. Shinji the lizard is undead, but the two of them have no idea. They just love their re-animated lizard a lot and want the best for him.)

Comments

[unsheathedfromreality]

[He wonders how much different this conversation might be if they were having it in person, rather than this quasi-epistolary fashion.

Certainly his own responses would not be so poised, absent emotions or no. The reminder that he had been gone for all of this--had abandoned his post--wakes a residue of guilt.

(He wishes it were in person; he would put his arms around this fragile young man who had so much placed abruptly on his shoulders. He would put as much regret as he can in his voice.)]

I wasn't there, and you were all alone to bear all of this. I am sorry. I know what it is to make choices in desperation isolation and hope they're for the best. To feel there is no better choice to continue what you've begun.

I don't judge you for it. I didn't and still don't know the full circumstances.

But you do not have to be alone with them any longer. If you can still trust me enough to help.

[The rest of this--the Emperor's actual nature, and whether he should be so easily forgiven for his faults, and what had drawn Paul to defend the man--he can address in another message.]

[terriblepurpose]

[The words should be a balm. They should soothe the unquiet ache that never seems to leave him anymore. He was alone; he had to make desperate choices; he doesn't have to be any longer, and Merlinus won't stand in judgment of the things he did to keep the world together in his absence.]

If I still trust you.

Do you trust me? Did you ever?

[unsheathedfromreality]

I followed you to Leviathan. I gave Tabris to your care.

[terriblepurpose]

Past tenses.

You disapprove of my choices. You think I'm being naive.

[unsheathedfromreality]

I advise, but don't take the choice from your hands. I trust you to listen to my concerns without bias, even if you don't act on them.