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championoftime
championoftime
21 July 2011 @ 02:11 pm
[Audio]  
[Private to Mozenrath]

I have something I want to discuss with you.

Mr. Nygma approached me on wanting you to take a truth serum. I volunteered to gauge the truth myself psychically. [So much brain touching. He's been doing so much brain touching lately. He's going to have to wash his mind out again.] I've discussed it with your warden, and he's willing if you are. But only if you are and I'd much rather talk about it in person with him present.

[Private to Narvin]

We need to do that matter with Arthas. Tonight. I need the distraction and I'm not in a mood to have him trifle with me. You'll be safe enough. [Tiny pissy man is tiny and pissy.]

[Private to Arthas]

You've an appointment with the Doctor this evening. Let me know when you're in and I'll be about with my lovely nurse.

That sounded far more terrible than I intended. Ignore it. Just be in your cabin and inform me of when the proper hour would be to meet.
 
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Arthas Menethil: collar[personal profile] darknessb4me on July 22nd, 2011 08:24 am (UTC)
[Spam]
[Arthas just shakes his head faintly through all of this, though he's not really sure what he's disagreeing with. His stomach had immediately flopped at - "you came up with the idea yourself." Because no he didn't want that to happen again, not having any idea how much of himself was real and how much was seamlessly added in by something else that wanted to hurt people-

His voice comes out cold and clipped.]

That's not always going to be possible outside of a controlled situation like this one.
championoftime: 7.2 - sideglance[personal profile] championoftime on July 22nd, 2011 08:32 am (UTC)
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And that's why you learn in the controlled situation.

Do you recall learning to write as a child, Arthas? The way you had to train your hand to move, letter by letter? Over and over until you could make it legibly?

And then, from there, you had to learn how to spell with those letters? It did get easier. But it's not something we may instantly provide you with.
Arthas Menethil: silent[personal profile] darknessb4me on July 22nd, 2011 08:39 am (UTC)
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Don't actually remember a lot before age fifteen or so. I don't imagine I'd have had a lot of patience for it, though.

[That's about as neutral a tone as you can get.]
Narvinektralonum: hmm[personal profile] timesbureaucrat on July 22nd, 2011 08:47 am (UTC)
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Patience will be necessary for this. But humans are one of the more psychically adept races in the universe. And your mind is still human. With a bit of diligence, you should be able to learn to recognize the taste...[not quite the right sense]...the sensation of most types of psychic intrusion even during a crisis.
Arthas Menethil: beyond this place[personal profile] darknessb4me on July 22nd, 2011 08:51 am (UTC)
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[There's a short, ironic bark of laughter at the idea that his mind is still human and he stands.]

Fine. Which of you is going to push first?
championoftime: 7.2 - determination[personal profile] championoftime on July 22nd, 2011 09:05 am (UTC)
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He is. But first, he's going to say it without doing it. And then with doing it. Pay extremely close attention.

[And his eyes drift from watching Arthas's face back to his hands.]

You may find you also enjoy the sound of his voice more. For no other reason than suddenly you want to hear it, though it's not actually changed.
Narvinektralonum: i can kill u with my brain[personal profile] timesbureaucrat on July 22nd, 2011 09:21 am (UTC)
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[He has a sudden, fleeting temptation to make Arthas dance ballet, or cluck like a chicken or some other petty jibe. But that would be counter-productive. And he's just been talking to the Doctor about how the revenge should stop. He should heed his own words.]

Arthas, raise your right hand. [Said without any psychic push behind the words. Just ordinary sounds, vowels and consonants. Then he swallows once, nervously, takes a deep breath, and focuses his mind.]

Arthas, raise your right hand. [This time the words aren't just heard but also planted directly into Arthas' mind as he says them, making them Arthas' own thoughts as well as Narvin's.]
Arthas Menethil: stark[personal profile] darknessb4me on July 22nd, 2011 09:30 am (UTC)
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[And the hand goes up just like that. Arthas doesn't seem to have noticed it. There's absolutely no psychic resistance at all; it's like electrocuting someone that's already standing in a tub of water.

He puts it down, still apparently unaware anything's happened, but now there's a sort of animal panic in his eyes he's forcibly keeping down. His voice is very tense.]

I was just testing. I did that on my own, it's fine. When- just start the real test, stop fucking around.

[His eyes dart between the two of them.]
championoftime: 7.2 - peek![personal profile] championoftime on July 22nd, 2011 09:37 am (UTC)
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[He's afraid, and the Doctor starts listening very close to his intentions, see if the urge for safety moves drastically toward one of destruction.]

No. You knew it happened. A part of you did. Think of when you first started to feel that... irritation, that apprehension. Your mind knew what that was.

[He looks to Narvin, seeing if he's ready to brave another attempt.]
Narvinektralonum: intense[personal profile] timesbureaucrat on July 22nd, 2011 11:31 pm (UTC)
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[Narvin nods once, although it takes effort not to tremble. He's frighted of Arthas under the best of circumstances. Added to that is his anxiety about direct telepathic contact unmediated by any technology. Plus small scraps of Arthas' own terror leaking through into his mind. They all contribute to an urge to abandon the project and run. But he said he'd do this, so he'll do it.]

Arthas, step backward. [Just words.]

Arthas, step backward. [A psychic command.]
Arthas Menethil: YOU.[personal profile] darknessb4me on July 23rd, 2011 12:21 am (UTC)
[Spam]
[If anything, it's easier this time - Arthas steps back instantly and in fact seems to be standing at attention for a moment.]

I ... only heard it once, I can't-

[His neutral expression is cracking into something like desperation.]

I didn't have a choice.

[The way his shoulders curve and he shows his teeth when he says this seems to completely contradict the words.]

Stop looking at me like I'm some kind of rabid animal you can't keep a leash on.
championoftime: 7.2 - investigating[personal profile] championoftime on July 23rd, 2011 01:52 am (UTC)
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You're not going to notice if you're panicking. [The Doctor made a slight gesture, just indicating for him to settle down.]

We'll wait until you've settled to try again.
Narvinektralonum: troubled[personal profile] timesbureaucrat on July 23rd, 2011 03:26 am (UTC)
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I'm not staring at you. [He says to Arthas, although his eyes are wide with barely-suppressed fear and his voice is getting increasingly clipped and higher pitched.] And I'm not panicking! [He says to the Doctor. Then realizes that the Doctor wasn't talking to him (probably) and looks away in embarrassment. He takes a deep breath and weaves a few extra partitions in his mind.]
Arthas Menethil: tch[personal profile] darknessb4me on July 23rd, 2011 04:37 am (UTC)
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You're both just-

[He suddenly starts pacing rapidly back and forth along the back wall. Pent-up fight-or-flight with no outlet.]

I bet you think this is funny. I'm not panicking. I don't panic. I do things. If there's a problem, I take care of it.

[He's addressing either thin air or one of the walls at this point.]

Try it again.

Edited 2011-07-23 04:37 am (UTC)
championoftime: 7.2 - so do you want to have lunch[personal profile] championoftime on July 23rd, 2011 05:36 am (UTC)
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Arthas, if I were looking for a little petty, vindictive amusement it quite honestly wouldn't be at your expense. And you are panicking. That's why you do things. But while he is concerned for his welfare- [he thumbs over his shoulder at Narvin] -a sword or anything else absent a body to fret over won't be so responsive.

If he tries again, he'll put a bigger space between them. That way you can really wait for a change and consider what's happening. Can you do that?
Narvinektralonum: contrast[personal profile] timesbureaucrat on July 23rd, 2011 05:59 am (UTC)
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[Narvin has calmed himself now. Partitioned away the memories of bleeding out in a stairwell and put extra barriers between his mind and Arthas' so they don't create a feedback loop of fear.]

Whenever you're ready, Arthas.
Arthas Menethil: snarl[personal profile] darknessb4me on July 23rd, 2011 06:05 am (UTC)
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[Something about being the only nerve-wracked person in the room any more makes him grind his teeth.]

I wouldn't have come here if I wasn't ready. Just go.
championoftime: 7.2 - orly[personal profile] championoftime on July 23rd, 2011 06:10 am (UTC)
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Remember to pay very close attention this time. During the gap between the words, take careful note of your physical responses.
Narvinektralonum: impassive stare[personal profile] timesbureaucrat on July 23rd, 2011 06:28 am (UTC)
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[First, without telepathy, although he still speaks in a tone of command.] Arthas, turn around.

[He waits, lets Arthas feel the sensation of hearing an order with his ears and having no desire whatsoever to obey. Then, instead of slipping the psychic command in subtly, he pushes it hard, hoping that the extra force might help Arthas notice the specific moment when Narvin shoves his way into his mind. (And tries not to notice that he's starting to enjoy exercising this power over Arthas now that his terror is subsiding.)]

Arthas, turn around.
Arthas Menethil: regret[personal profile] darknessb4me on July 23rd, 2011 07:06 am (UTC)
[Spam]
[At the first command, he stops pacing and clenches his hands at his side. The first impulse, of course, is to just choke him before he can speak the second part, maybe smash his head again, but - no, he gave them permission for this, just...

His racing thoughts pop like a soap bubble. It's more than uncomfortable - he's suddenly thrown into horrible deja vu that sends a wave of nausea throughout his entire body. He doesn't even realize he's turned to face the wall until he's pressing his head against it just to make sure it's solid, breathing in panicked gasps like he's drowning. He flexes a hand again and takes rapid inventory to ensure he can still feel and control each finger - one two three four thumb oh thank the Light.

And they can see him. They both can, they're watching him be this weak and it's disgusting.

He doesn't turn to speak, but it's a rasp.]

This place is hell.
championoftime: 7.2 - alert[personal profile] championoftime on July 23rd, 2011 07:12 am (UTC)
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[Fortunately, the Doctor wasn't noticing Narvin's enjoyment. Just Arthas's reaction. He had felt it. He had recognized when it happened.]

Many places are, from what I've gathered.

[He hooks his umbrella over his arm and goes over to stand a little away from Arthas's side.]

Next time he does it, try to actually say the word "no" when he puts the pressure on. See if that starts to focus your thoughts against it. Even if you still act, do your very best to say the word and start building a resistance. Your body will do you no favors. You have to depend upon your mind for this.
Narvinektralonum: MI5 Gallifrey[personal profile] timesbureaucrat on July 23rd, 2011 07:38 am (UTC)
[Spam] (TENSES BAH!)
[Narvin's lips twitch in a slight smile. He hasn't exercised this degree of psychic power over a person in centuries. In uncontrolled situations, it's dangerous, unethical...

That thought sobers him up. Reminds him that he shouldn't be liking this. Hypnosis wasn't something good, law-abiding Time Lords developed a taste for. It's the sort of thing renegades got up to. But it would have been difficult not to feel satisfaction at controlling a complete stranger; the fact it's Arthas--the man who'd once left him terrified, brain damaged, and dying--makes it all but impossible not relish the situation.]

Are you ready? [He hopes he doesn't sound too eager. He shouldn't be eager. It's a horrible thing that he's eager.]

Edited 2011-07-23 07:39 am (UTC)
Arthas Menethil: speak[personal profile] darknessb4me on July 23rd, 2011 08:01 am (UTC)
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No [he snaps] This is already demeaning enough.

[He turns back to face Narvin and rolls his sleeves up to the elbows. He forces his breathing back to normal (which is to say: no breathing at all) and sets his jaw.]

I already told you. I wouldn't have come here.

[It's a little like how the new Death Knights had to be desensitized. Start them on choosing which will die, a friend or a stranger, then move to having them choke the stranger themselves, then more than one, etc. Eventually, they stop being afraid to commit the act. He's hoping this works across the board. One more weakness gone.]

Narvinektralonum: focused stare[personal profile] timesbureaucrat on July 23rd, 2011 08:22 am (UTC)
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[A trickle of fear reasserts itself at Arthas' aggressive stance. But through the fear is a rising desire to counter the threat instead of his usual preference (sometimes ignored) of running away. His breathing speeds up even as Arthas' stops.]

Arthas, step forward. [Words. And a pause before the piercing psychic thrush.]

Arthas, step forward.
Arthas Menethil: let your eyes be closed[personal profile] darknessb4me on July 23rd, 2011 08:47 am (UTC)
[Spam] this is totally karma for arthas
[He closes his eyes and tries to keep his mind blank but there's really no bracing against something like that. The entirety of what he is isn't enough against the intruding thought; it drowns everything else out. He can definitely identify it now, at least, the shape and motion of the command. (it is sort of a taste, even if that thought is bizarre) A small sound escapes him, nothing more than a grunt, really, and he sways and pitches forward only to need to plant a foot to catch himself. CHALLENGE FAILED.]

The good news is that I can tell when it's happening.

[That might have been sarcasm. He doesn't open his eyes.]
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