Camp: private conversations

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Respond here for a private conversation with Red! All comment threads are screened.

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[fallbymyhands]

[after decompressing at the campfire, Mitsuru will be seeking Red out, wherever she is!]

Excuse me! Red! May I have a minute?

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[Red is in the lodge, not far from her room. But she will stop what she is doing to talk to Mitsuru.]

What do you need?

[fallbymyhands]

[she strides forward, arms crossed, expression tight. but for once, she's trying her best not to be accusing]

. . . why did you choose to punish Zaberisk by having her killed? Or did you not have a choice in the matter?

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Generally I have some choice in punishments, but that one I have no choice in: a life for a life, that's the price that has to be paid.

[fallbymyhands]

And. . . who comes up with these rules? Why is that the price that has to be paid, no exceptions?

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Well if you want to get technical, I suppose you could call them my boss.

And the reason that price has to be paid, with no exceptions, is that it is part of the procedure at camp.

[fallbymyhands]

[Mitsuru leans her shoulder against the wall, gaze flickering down. there are two questions to ask, here. she goes with the one she is the most curious about first]

Who is your boss?

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I can't give you their name. I have rules to follow as well, and one of them limits how much I can tell you.

[fallbymyhands]

[the answer she expected, honestly. still, she presses]

What can you tell me about them?

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They have been at this for a long time, and they know what they're doing. I don't particularly like them, but things would be worse for all of you if I didn't, so that's why I am here.

[fallbymyhands]

[a beat]

You're here to ensure that things don't get worse for us. Despite the things this job requires you to do. Is that correct?

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Yes.

Some of you won't make it out of this camp alive. I cannot protect you from everything that is going to happen, but I would at least like to help make it a little easier to deal with. And for those who aren't going to make it...well. I would like their last few weeks of life to not be entirely terrible.

[fallbymyhands]

[. . . . .]

[she closes her eyes tightly]

Why does a camp like this exist in the first place?

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Because it has to.

[fallbymyhands]

Why doe sit have to?

[with a growing note of frustration in her voice]

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Because it has to. There is no other option.

[fallbymyhands]

If it has to because there is no other option, then there must be a purpose! Pastor Dan referred to us a sacrifices; who are we to be sacrificed to?

[she doesn't mean to let her frustration get the best of her. she just can't help it]

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[Red does not answer that question. But she does look uncomfortable, because she knows the answer but doesn't want to say it.]

[fallbymyhands]

. . . are you holding back because you're forbidden from telling me, or because you're afraid to tell me?

[she asks that much more quietly, at least]

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A mixture of the two, but mostly the first.

[fallbymyhands]

[a breath]

You said. . . you wished to see as many of us return home healthy and whole as possible.

If that is true-- and I believe it is now-- then. . . will you tell me what you can?

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...

[She takes the time to consider this.]

...When your time here at camp is at an end, I will tell you.

[fallbymyhands]

. . . and if by then, it's too late?

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You think you won't survive to the end?

[fallbymyhands]

[. . . she likes to think she will. no, she knows she will. she'll fight to do just that]

Even if I did, by then it would still be too late for those who don't make it that far.