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

Re: [private]

[routemistress]

I'd like us to be free. They think they are because no one's powerful enough to take 'em down - which isn't even true, it's just written into them bonedeep to think so. Even me, and I've freed meself further than most. I thought I'd cut all them ties - a whole new past in a whole new universe - but the rabies jerked me leash and showed me different. I want it gone. No one gets to make me decisions for me. No bugger.

...I don't understand it as much as I could meself, Bea love. Cutting it out of meself came with a price. It's older than gods, uglier and bigger. Setting it free might make it over into something worse yet. I'd still take that chance, mind.

[private]

[deadliestviper]

During the Bargewell breach I worked for Narvin [it's difficult for her not to add a "mister" in front of that]. While I liked him well enough, he's definitely got a massive stick up his ass, and if that's typical to your people I understand what you mean about needing freedom. You shouldn't surrender to that.

What might happen?

Re: [private]

[routemistress]

[Iris laughs, soft and fond.]

The funny thing about our Narvin? Under that stuffed-shirt of 'is 'e's got the soul of a renegade. Maybe in a few lives or so 'e'll finally let it out. I 'ope so. I love that lad an' I never would've expected that before I come 'ere. Most of the rest of 'em are worse.

...aye well, there's me problem. I can't root out Rassilon and leave millennia of history just flapping loose. I mean, even if the rooting part were easy, and I'm not sure it's even possible. 'E's powerful and 'e's shaped and bent things so much. The timelines can 'andle a lot more paradox than people think, but that might be a bit much even for me.

Oh well. Maybe all I can do is cut meself out of it. That'd do me for starters.

[private]

[deadliestviper]

[A moment of silence, then a brief chuckle from her end.] Is that so? And here I was thinking he could've made any overbearing control freak in my universe look like a zoned-out deadbeat. It's rare I see that type of discipline.

If you can't eradicate him, is there any possibility you can neutralize him? And I don't necessarily mean kill.

What do you mean cut yourself out of it?

[private]

[routemistress]

Oh, I rewrote me own past without 'em in it. I'm from an alternate universe now. Too many friends on this side for it to take all the way, mind; quantum resonance strings don't cut as easy as pure 'istory. Then again, it means me friends still remember me, even if they don't all remember where from; I'd've 'ated to lose 'em.

I'm thinkin' on it. Graduating 'im might do the trick. I'll swallow me grudge if that 'appens.

[private]

[deadliestviper]

Blindness by science aside, I think that makes sense. Better to be a memory and a surprise visitor than only a memory, or not even that.

Here's hoping? Although between you and I, that wouldn't be as viscerally satisfying.

Re: [private]

[routemistress]

No, but I've swallowed worse things than grudges before now an' come up laughing. I'll cope.

[private]

[deadliestviper]

If he doesn't shape up, though, good luck.