[Lesson 23]

[lady_bounty]

I find it somewhat disturbing how quickly things have returned to business-as-usual. It just shows how we've become used to random acts of violence from our Keepers.

...God I hate this place.

Comments

[yeah-i-can-fly.livejournal.com]

...Not completely back to normal. We have a few non-idlers.

[pause]

Besides, not everyone has always been such to begin with. Some of us find reasonable ways to occupy our time...

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

...That wasn't exactly what I meant. I know some people here have been trying to make themselves useful. I just wondered if I was the only one who thinks this isn't over. I'm scared to go outside. ...I do it anyway, but still!

But... how do you spend your time, Mr. Stark? I don't actually know.

[yeah-i-can-fly.livejournal.com]

Scared? Nah. Worried? Not really. Anticipating more? Always. Prepared... usually. [sigh]

Projects. Mostly. Usually.

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

...Projects. Because that's not vague or anything.

[yeah-i-can-fly.livejournal.com]

[pause] Armor repairs, upgrades, enhanced programming, making various smaller appliances.

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

Busywork? Or do you expect to accomplish something?

[yeah-i-can-fly.livejournal.com]

...A bit of both.

[pause]

There are some useful gadgets... that I have completed, or upgraded.

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

Hmm.

...Well, "useful" could mean a lot of things, but I suppose you're too bright to go into detail on your PDA.

[yeah-i-can-fly.livejournal.com]

Of course.

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

Well, that's reassuring, if not very satisfying to my curiosity. I hope our definitions of "useful" are the same.

[bowyourheadslow.livejournal.com]

Only those idiots who care nothing for their survival have returned to their usual affairs.

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

Well I'm in agreement with you there. ...Excepting those for whom survival is the usual affair.

[heirtotheforce.livejournal.com]

What is "business as usual" in a poodoo pit, exactly?

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

Heh. Depends on whose business it is. For some people it's birthdays and weddings and stupid pranks and a billion other worthless ways of frittering away time. For me, it's trying to get out of this "poodoo pit", as you called it.

[heirtotheforce.livejournal.com]

[ beat of silence ]

People get married here?

Stupid.

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

You'd be surprised how many people seem perfectly content to stay here. I mean, okay, I've gathered life was crap for some people back where they came from, but you'd think they wouldn't want to live their lives in a prison.

[heirtotheforce.livejournal.com]

Naturally. I've had my fill of kidnappings and prisons.

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

...This is the first time anyone's been able to catch me and hold me.

[heirtotheforce.livejournal.com]

You can't really count the other times. I was a kid. This is starting to steam me. I'll start looking for spare parts tomorrow.

Not just me.. there's people here I promised I'd take home.

[green-eyed-dice.livejournal.com]

Okay. I'll cancel your invitation to the birthday party I just decided I'm going to have next month for myself.

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

...Well, I should've figured someone would get insulted.

Don't get me wrong, Otogi. I understand people need down time. I've indulged in the odd board game, round of drinks with good company, setting off fireworks, and holiday-recognition meal. And of course, I think your "getting people drunk" party after the Keepers showed up was a stellar idea.

I just get frustrated because... it seems like for so many of the people here, that's all they do. And I can't be like that.

So I won't be throwing myself a birthday party. ...Of course, I don't intend to be here that long.

[green-eyed-dice.livejournal.com]

Not everyone here is the sort of person suited for a war. What is wrong about them living their lives the best that they can, when there is nothing else they can do to escape from here? It's what humans do, no matter where they are: they live.

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

Hell, I'm not suited for war. That's why I want to leave.

...Look... Otogi... you're a very nice guy, and you've been helpful to me on more than one occasion. But I... I am not nice, and I'm not here to have a social life. I'm going to get out of this place if it kills me. ...And it probably will.

[necessitated.livejournal.com]

I don't get it either. Why are people acting like they just accept this madness?

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

There's something about this place that turns people into mindless sheep. It creeps me out. ...Or maybe that's why they were brought here. Because they're sheep.

...No matter what theory I consider, I can never figure out why they abducted me.

[necessitated.livejournal.com]

What's a sheep?

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

...Uh. ...Herd animal. Known for being stupid, and following each other around. Like... doing whatever all the other sheep are doing.

[necessitated.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see! Like a shaak!

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

...Sure, why not.

VOICE; Amused.

[heirtotheforce.livejournal.com]

That's not being very nice to the poor shaaks, Ahsoka.

[heirtotheforce.livejournal.com]

I don't know.

Hey, Ahsoka. Did you want to spar?

We need to keep our skills sharp.

[necessitated.livejournal.com]

Couldn't hurt, Mini Sky Guy. What form do you use, anyway?

[heirtotheforce.livejournal.com]

There's nothing mini about me. All my Order has. Three forms.

[necessitated.livejournal.com]

Three? There's much more than just three. I use Shien, myself.

[heirtotheforce.livejournal.com]

Most of them were lost in the purges, Ahsoka. I'm knowledgeable in Fast, Medium and Strong.

[necessitated.livejournal.com]

That's not how we label the forms. Tell you what, though, I'll teach you Shien and what I know of Djem So and Ataru.

[heirtotheforce.livejournal.com]

Can do. I'm a fast learner.

[berranyrmizzrym.livejournal.com]

You're certainly not alone there. But people have a certain inertia, I'm afraid.

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

In object in denial tends to stay in denial?

[berranyrmizzrym.livejournal.com]

Something like that.

[longtobehold.livejournal.com]

You are not the only one who is disturbed by this m'lady. But not everyone is sitting idle ...

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

Glad I'm not the only one. ...Well, who are you, then? I don't think we've spoken before.

[longtobehold.livejournal.com]

Jonathan Strange, magician-in-ordinary to the Duke of Wellington, at your service m'lady.

[lady-bounty.livejournal.com]

At my service, really~? ...Nice to, uh, make your acquaintance, Mr. Strange. What kind of magic do you do?