PC WITH HARROWHAWK

[commedia]

Comments

[bonetiddies]

Certainly.

[She will approach, and sit at the table herself.]

I will have whatever you've brewed, without any sugar or milk.

[commedia]

But of course.

[And they reach for a cup to fill before sliding it over to her.]

It's green tea. Its very soothing.

[bonetiddies]

You're an obedient priest, aren't you? I do nothing but berate you, but you'll still obey when I bark orders.

[Just taking the cup.]

[commedia]

[They visibly wince at that.]

Harrow...I do follow the orders of my Master, but that does not mean I'm some kind of mindless lapdog. I'm simply acting in due politeness.

[bonetiddies]

You take such care to ensure we all notice your politeness. I wonder why?

[commedia]

That is simply my nature, Harrow. I'm not the type who wants to impose...

[bonetiddies]

Hmm.

[She leans on the table, cheek in her hand.]

I think this is a rather transparent little act of yours, and it doesn't fool me in the slightest. That creature you showed me last week - am I meant to believe there's not a trace of it in you? You're just a docile little servant now?

[commedia]

A creature? That's hardly nice.

[But for the pressing, Douman only smiles pleasantly.]

Mmmm, yes. I can't say that person and I are the same. I was under the reins of an alien god, then. Now, I have no such connections. And its hardly as if Medb wants to destroy the world.

[bonetiddies]

Yes, yes. Your only wish is to serve your master well. I remember. [And because she can't see any reason not to be rude - ] What a hollow existence that must be.

Is it for the sake of your master that you turned on Fukuda?

[commedia]

[There's a twitch to their smile at "hollow existence".]

Yes. I could not hear such rudeness against her.

[bonetiddies]

[She doesn't fail to notice.]

What a wretched man! He thought he had a friend in you, but you are nothing more than a puppet.

[commedia]

[Hmm.]

I am a Servant, Harrowhawk. And please...we are not friends. I could not agree with his deeds.

[bonetiddies]

You find it objectionable, that he killed a handful of people? You must have a soft heart.

[commedia]

[A laugh.]

I find it objectionable that he deluded himself into thinking he was doing the right thing. At least own your own wicked deeds, I think!

[bonetiddies]

[She raises her eyebrow.]

What a curious thing to say from the one who blames their past deeds on an alien god! Though I suspect that, nonetheless, for once I am hearing your true opinion.

[commedia]

Blaming? I did those deeds, I did. But I only do them under orders, you know! It's hardly as if its my idea, hm!

And do you really think me that false, hmmmm? What have I done to make you think that way?

[bonetiddies]

[She doesn't answer that question quite yet.]

It must be comforting, to lay everything at the feet of your master. Here is a philosophical question for you. If you commit a murder, are you the killer, or are you the murder weapon?

[commedia]

[A nod.]

I am....both! Yes! I am the blade and the one who wields it. Is that not the truth?

[bonetiddies]

Ah. That clarifies it a bit for me - how a mindless thing like HK-47 could be branded a murderer, too.

[But besides being rude, it's kind of an interesting answer.]

So you don't see yourself as a mere weapon your master wields. You can make decisions for yourself, if you believe those decisions will be to her benefit. Such as revealing Fukuda's secrets to all of us to ensure he would be removed.

[commedia]

[There's another twitch at being compared to HK-47. It's fine.]

Oh, I only said those things near the end, when everyone had turned on him, and he all but admitted his deeds himself. If I wanted him removed, I would've just shouted it as soon as he insulted my Master. Come now, I'm not so cruel.

[bonetiddies]

No. But you seemed to be enjoying it.

[She leans a little, swirls her spoon around in her tea at that.]

You don't like it when I compare you to a mindless automaton. So why refuse to admit to any feelings of your own?

[commedia]

...

[There's a bit of a sharp edge to their tone.]

Would you like me to call your dear Ortus a mindless automaton, Harrowhawk? If not, then understand why I prefer not to be called one.

[bonetiddies]

[There's a sharp laugh at that, because - oh.]

At last. Unfortunately, dear Ortus, as you know, was in fact rather too stubborn-minded to suit his position.

[So no, it would not hurt her feelings.]

[commedia]

Hm, I see.

[And then back to sipping at their tea, ever pleasantly.]

[bonetiddies]

But you tried!

[It was a nice effort.]

. . . Douman. I'd like us to understand one another. So understand this. Simply because I cannot prove something occurred does not mean I live in a state of ignorance.