021 VOICE LIST NINE

[deadliestviper]

Fine.

You've all thought about it, even if you haven't said it: if you could kill anyone, or order anyone killed, from your world or here, who would it be?

If you feel like answering a bonus question, why? Unless you're extraordinarily brave, I expect your answer privately. No judgment.

Comments

[deadliestviper]

I can understand that.

[And she really does. Tenderness and pain and all.]

Over time I've known a lot of people that I've wished dead. There's nearly always one who dominates all others. Call it curiosity or nosiness.

[lost_humanity]

Who would that be? And are you in one of those irritating positions- besides being here, that is, where you can't do anything about it? You just have to tolerate them.

[deadliestviper]

A former associate. And not as such – I'm here. If I were at home there's a good chance I could do a thing or two about it.

[lost_humanity]

More strength to you, then. [He hesitates over a way to phrase it, and then decides to go to private.]

[Private]

To actively want someone to not exist... that's far different than just treating someone as expendable. It usually means that you've suffered a great deal at their hand and you've been driven to the point that you don't want to suffer any longer. To not have them just out of your life, to have them not to be.

[He's had to kill people that he's not particularly wanted dead. He does what he needs. But he knows the difference in necessity and wanting them dead. At least among people that still have an ounce of morality.]

So I do wish you luck.

[Private]

[deadliestviper]

Exactly. [And that's all she'll say about that. It's all she really has to say about it.]

For what little it's worth, I'm sorry for what you went through. Good luck to you, as well. You deserve no less.

[Private]

[lost_humanity]

Yes, well... hesitant as I am to admit it, my warden is correct. The woman that betrayed me isn't the woman I married. She's a far different person now. I don't know if the same can be said of your associate.

[Private]

[deadliestviper]

Here's hoping your warden's not the type to rub it in your face then.

As for my associate... [There's a quiet huff of breath before she speaks.] In an urgent situation, I did something I felt was necessary that may have hurt him. He proceeded to destroy a good part of my life. We both reacted poorly, but one far worse than the other.

[Private]

[lost_humanity]

Nobody's perfect.

[His mind goes back to the moment when Deedee said, "Even if it costs you your marriage." He just thought she was jealous of his schedule at the time. She was, really, he knows that. But he never knew what his promotion would lead to.]

But sometimes we get much more than we deserve for very small mistakes. [And then they escalate into disastrously huge mistakes that avalanche down and destroy everything in their path.]

[Private]

[deadliestviper]

Truer words.

[She'd echo those words but just nods instead.] Good luck dealing with your ex-wife.