{Animus}

[adstring_npc]

something sprung a leak
sorry about that

maybe that will drown them

but the place looked dirty anyway

might as well clean it

it's dark, too dark to see

it's very hard to get a plumber in here

Comments

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that's what everyone says

they might be right

[flip-the-coin.livejournal.com]

[He barely holds back the groan.]

Gods, they were right. You do speak in riddles.

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they aren't riddles
they're perfectly fine words
we arrange them in the ways that look nice

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...yes, I'm sure you do. [Not a point worth arguing; his "talks" with Kilgharrah had taught him that much.]

So...the flooding is your doing, I'm guessing? And the...other things. [He breaks off, clearly embarrassed by some of the physical changes his body had undergone through the night. Including the rather large...fin-ish things that have replaced his ears--so not amusing, by the way.]

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can't let the toys drown
we hate fishing them out of the water

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The "toys"? [That has him frowning.] You can't just treat people like that.

What has anyone here done to earn your anger?

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but we can

existed died

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What? [It takes a second for him to sort through the multiple voices and answers.] What do you mean by "caused it"? And if people here are dying, it's likely because of all the things you lot are causing in this place.

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we only kill the ones who come to us
the rest of you kill each other

and we have to put you back

the others caused it
and they're trying to escape it

[flip-the-coin.livejournal.com]

["The ones who come to us" would be the people who have tried breaking into the inner city, Merlin guesses after a moment. There's something else bothering him about the Animus' answer, though.]

You're saying someone else is behind everything? Or that you didn't bring us here like everyone here thinks?

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some others caused it

couldn't control the reaction

but they won't get away

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[Merlin blinks, realisation crashing over him.] You're angry. You mean, it really wasn't you, after all?

[And more importantly--] Who do you think is behind everything and why is everyone telling me you brought us here?

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but we're easier to blame
the ones below set it off
but we have to set it right

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[At that, Merlin's expression dims. After the Great Purge, Merlin can understand being the scapegoat all too well.] Yeah...it's always easier to blame others.

[He pulls himself out of his thoughts, realising this isn't the time to be dwelling on Camelot when he needs information here.] "The ones below"....? [That's something he hasn't heard of yet, not that it means much, considering he hasn't been here long.]

Tell me more about them. Please.

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it hurts sometimes
we don't always mean to

the humans who broke time

we took their city
but they ran away

[flip-the-coin.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. [And he means that.]

Why did you call them "the ones below" if they've already gone?

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they've gone there
what else to call them

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There. [He frowns. Did that mean that literally?] You're saying these humans are underground somewhere?

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yes
no where else for them to be
they can't fly

[flip-the-coin.livejournal.com]

Who else have you told about this? [After hearing so certainly from others that the Animus are the cause of everything, then finding that they were wrong--Merlin's curious.

And this reminds him of something else he's been meaning to ask.] And you're still here because you're looking for these humans?

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some insects, here and there
bits of fluff, bits of dust

it's hard to keep track

but we're here

[flip-the-coin.livejournal.com]

[...yeah, that's helpful. He rolls his eyes.] I bet you're saying that because you don't actually remember who you've told.

[He sobers quickly, though.] Nowhere to go...don't tell me you're stuck here like the rest of us.

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we won't tell you then
(but it's true)

[flip-the-coin.livejournal.com]

[Merlin snorts, amused despite himself.] At least you can admit it. That's more than I can say for Kilgharrah, most times.

All right, so you're stuck here. I understand that. [He gestures at his gills.] What's the point of all this?

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we're drowning them out
don't need the toys to drown at the same time