Ned § Video 01 § Day 57

[nedofpies]

[ The video feed switches on upon Ned's determined face. It's his first video communication; he hasn't been using the network much, but this is an important community matter. ]

Does anyone know who is responsible for these? [ Ned waves a copy of that mysterious flyer which has popped up around town so suddenly. He turns the camera back to his own face, talking directly to his fellow captives. ]

Whoever it is, it seems to me like they are trying to sow the seeds of doubt and turn us on one another. Make us so suspicious of one another so we can't work together. Which makes me think it might have come from the people who are keeping us here. And it makes me think that we're starting to worry them. [ There is an edge of anger to his voice, beneath the surface, if you listen closely enough. ]

But I think they're underestimating us. Gossip? Really? [ He half-laughs and shakes his head in amused disbelief. ] We're all grown-ups here. We aren't going to be- to be manipulated by some anonymous bullies. [ The spite in the way he delivers that last word makes it sound as if he's had some experience with bullies. ] We just need to trust one another, and not let this nonsense come between us. Part of that is... coming clean.

So. Me first. [ Ned swallows, takes a moment to collect his courage. It's a big thing to confess, even if plenty of people already know about it. For all his big talk, honesty is against Ned's very nature. But this isn't exactly a normal place, and at this point, owning up is just a part of damage control. ]

...It's true. I brought someone back to life. [ He exhales, half in relief. It's done, now. No going back. ] It's not like that was a secret. It happened in broad daylight and there were like, a dozen witnesses, so this- [ He brandishes the paper again ] is not exactly an exposé, is it? As for being 'mint-in-the-box', well, I don't even know what that means, so I can't say if I am one way or another.

Comments

[enchangement]

Ned.

[ She flashes him an impish grin. ] It happens. [ It being startling others, and actually River prides herself on startling people, which Ned has probably noticed by now honestly. Here, Ned, River will scoot over and pat the mattress. Come, sit! ]

You did it, and at the end of the day there are no wolves at the door and you've gained a guardian. [ Which is good because River didn't like the idea of Ned keeping it secret forever. Now, though, her smile settles a bit to something with less of a teasing, manic edge. ] A good alignment, a better wall. Keep some in, keep some out. Balance amongst the mechanics of libra; that's the goal.

Well, no. Proper goal involves burning it all to the ground, but that's not a safe idea yet.

[nedofpies]

[ Ned perches on the edge of the bed beside River, sitting on his hands, understanding now why she's here. Of course; she'd seen his video message along with everyone else. Wolves at the door is easy enough to figure out, and it's only a small logical step to realize that she must mean Erik by 'a guardian'. ]

[ River seems so proud of him, smiling at him like that, he would feel like a coward if he didn't point out that it was hardly his own bravery motivating the whole thing. ]

I didn't have much of a choice. A... lot has happened since we last talked.

[enchangement]

The death and resurrection of one of the last known survivors of a plague that wiped out an entire world.

[ So. Clearly, River is aware. ]

Could've said nothing. Could've kept hiding. Didn't. Still proud.

[nedofpies]

[ Right, of course. Psychic. Ned has to keep reminding himself of that. Also, what was all that about an apocalyptic plague? He doesn't doubt that River is right - she always has been before - and it's not as if he knows Laura all that well, but... damn. ]

Thank you. [ Ned still isn't sure he deserves it, but he isn't going to argue. ]

[ There is something nice about the fact that he doesn't have to relive all of it again, for River's benefit. It feels like he's done nothing for the past day and a half but go over it and over it in his mind, and he's exhausted. But there is one thing that he wants to ask, wants to be sure of, before anything else: ]

You do know I killed someone, too, right?

[ River gets the benefit of the most direct, least evasive confession from him yet. As far as he's concerned, she's earned it. ]

[enchangement]

[ Ned gets a soft pat on the shoulder. It's nice to be a source of relief for someone, for once. Interesting that it was the reaction of both Laura and Ned, both surrounding the death of another and the act of surviving.

Though his confession has her turning to look at him, not in shock but...something else. ]

If we keep count of the carnival of corpses, I still win.