Just voice testing

[that_can_happen]

-1-

[You've heard from the brother of a friend of a coworker or something that there's this guy who hangs out at the local diner, and that people who do things for him get wishes. Or something. Apparently, if you tell him that you heard the pastrami sandwich here is good, he'll know that you want to talk about wishes.

Everyone has something they want. Maybe you should talk to him.]

-2-

[He gave you a task. It could be anything. From "Make 5 people cry" to "Become pregnant" to "Find someone with no family and kill them". They're not all morally repugnant, but unless you asked for something stupid like a sandwich, they will not be easy. Part of the deal was that you had to periodically come back and report your progress. Which is what you're doing today.]

Ah. How's it going?

Comments

1

[neurosis_library]

Touko

[A teenage girl hovers uncertainly around the edge of the booth for several seconds in some kind of silent, internal argument.]

I hear... the pastrami sandwhich here... is good...

[that_can_happen]

That's what I hear.

[neurosis_library]

[She sits down.]

Is it true that you can make things happen?

[that_can_happen]

I give people opportunities to make things happen, yes.

[neurosis_library]

Okay.

[She pulls out a folder and passes it across the table. Inside it are a number of (conveniently in English!) newspaper clippings, all talking about a series of brutal murders committed by an unknown serial killer by the alias of "Genocider Syo".]

[that_can_happen]

[He glances over them quickly, but doesn't really read them beyond the headlines, then looks back at Touko, waiting for her to elaborate.]

[neurosis_library]

This serial killer, the one in those stories. I want her... I mean... I want Genocider Syo to never do anything like that again.

Can you do that?

[that_can_happen]

Her?

[neurosis_library]

Why does it matter if it's a her or a him? I'm allowed to want a killer to stop killing, right?

[that_can_happen]

Of course you are.

[He scribbles something in his notebook.]

Who is this killer, this "Genocider Syo", to you?

[neurosis_library]

Why are you asking all these questions? Just tell me what I have to do!

[that_can_happen]

The questions are part of the deal. Before I can tell what your task is, I need to know what you want.

[neurosis_library]

[Frustrated sigh. Deep breath. Long pause.]

Genocider Syo...

...is...

...me...

[that_can_happen]

[He stops writing.]

So you want...to make you stop killing people?

[neurosis_library]

It isn't that simple!

I'm not a killer. Even if I wanted to, I'd never be able to work up the guts to do it myself. But sometimes... if I see blood, or...

...she comes out, and then...

[that_can_happen]

Okay, so with that established, let's try again.

What, exactly, do you want?

[neurosis_library]

I want... for Genocider Syo... to not be inside me.

1

[that_catshark]

Viral

[Viral sights the man instantly upon entering the diner. He stalks over, but his confidence fades once he reaches the booth at the end, and he hovers near the table.]

[that_can_happen]

And be where? Gone?

[that_can_happen]

[He glances up at Viral for a moment, then folds up the newspaper he was reading and waits expectantly while taking a drink from his tea.]

[neurosis_library]

Where else would she be? Yes, gone, gone forever!

[that_can_happen]

Okay.

[He flips to another page in the book.]

In order for Genocider Syo to be gone forever, you need to confess to a terrible crime that you did not commit.

[that_catshark]

[He sneers and rolls his eyes at the situation.]

I hear the pastrami sandwich here is good.

[Viral doesn't wait for an invitation and sits down, arms folded.]

This is stupid, for the record.

[that_can_happen]

You're free to think that.

[Beat.]

So what is it that you want?

[neurosis_library]

What? Why?