temerate | 001.

001. - voice

[ --clicks on to the screech of something inhuman howling its lungs out, and the muffled sounds of someone whose communicator has turned on inside a pocket in the middle of a fight. More screeching, the ring of metal, and several crashing noises until the monster's yowling is cut abruptly short with a horrible wet sound. ]

[ Silence. ]

[ And then, much clearer and so completely calm, some actual speech. ]

Nuadoria. I had not thought to see thee again.

Thou art changed.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

My city was home to humanity and also that which they termed 'monsters.' Conflicts between them were not uncommon.

So... You know what to do?

In my city, those who disturbed the proper balance were punished.

This is not my city.

[slower to respond as he thinks all of this over -- but after what he's seen, he's able to take these things with a grain of salt]

You mean you had a police force for monsters-?

[ ohhh ganta. ]

[ You can almost hear the smile. ]

One. Only one was needed to maintain the balance.

[As impossible as that sounds, he has to ask.]

... And that wasn't you?

It was.

Formerly.

Formerly?

-- Does that mean can you fight them?

If I so chose.

At the moment, there is little incentive for me to do so.

[maybe starting to sound a little nervous]

Because they haven't killed everyone?

The complete eradication of the human population here would indeed inconvenience me. A few casualties, however, are not worth my concern.

Not worth-- You don't care if someone dies?

[ A long pause. ]

[ And maybe, maybe with the tiniest hint of bitterness: ]

Everything dies.

...

[silence -- why does everyone always...]

Y-yeah... But you shouldn't--

Shouldn't what?

-- give up on them. It's not their fault.

[ Silence again for a full minute. ]

[ Snarling. ]

Your name, child.

... [intimidated by the snarling, he lowers his voice]

It's Igarashi Ganta.

[ Angrily. ]

And how dost thee, Igarashi Ganta, know where the fault lies?

I... It's not like anyone asked for this.

They don't deserve to die.

And the creatures do? They are also alive.

They're monsters. They're the ones that are attacking us.

Perhaps they are dumb beasts. Perhaps they are incarnations of evil.

Perhaps they are as sentient as thee. I am also what is termed a monster.

Perhaps thou art as well, to someone or something here.

[he wavers between hanging up and finding out more -- but his curiosity always seems to get the better of him no matter how nervous this conversation is making him]

What do you mean... you're a monster?

[ Calmer now like this is no big deal. ]

I am Mikura. This body requires consumption of human blood to function correctly.

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