Adam Parrish

[chiseler]

I'm not calling you a ghost, just stop haunting me
and I love you so much, I'm gonna let you kill me
There's a ghost in my lungs and it sighs in my sleep
Wraps itself around my tongue as it softly speaks
Then it walks, then it walks with my legs
To fall, to fall, to fall at your feet

Comments

[antietam]

[ It's enough to make Adam pause and forget to be stubborn for a second. He tilts his head, watching Luke curiously. ] Is is a good thing or a bad thing that you wanted me dead? [ He looks like he wants to smile and... no, the staff members don't really seem that important right now. Luke is important. Lara is important. They're dead and nothing really matters anymore. ]

Who's going to run the movie theater? [ He finally chuckles. ] I wouldn't mind a job but I think I'd prefer to work at the library.

[chiseler]

Depends. You're the one who stopped caring about living out there. You tell me. [It's an open answer, one he doesn't seem to care about explaining to Adam.] It was either be stuck out there with people that don't know what they're doing, or bring you in here with me and Lara. I think the choice is obvious.

[He can't help but grin.] Somehow I always knew you were kind of a nerd. I've never worked a real job so don't look at me. Maybe we can ask Judy for some robot kits and build AIs to run everything. It might be worth something.

[antietam]

[ He stops looking amused immediately. ] I didn't stop caring about living. I wanted to live. Who doesn't? But if it was going to be me or a kid who has real things to go back to... There was no point in saving myself anymore. [ And it's partially because of the people out there, the people who suspected him anyway for just defending Luke. Angel had told him people were already suspicious of him before he killed Franziska. What could he do?

He brings his knees up and curls in a bit, closed off and upset. The mention of robots, though, gets a glance. ] We can do stuff like that in here?

[chiseler]

[Oh. So this was nice while it lasted before Luke fucked it up. He looks a little surprised by the immediate shift, not entirely realizing why it's so offensive right away. He pauses, looking at Adam for a moment and not entirely moving closer.]

...after I killed Lara, I didn't. So that's an answer, I guess. I'd say "that's noble" but are you so sure...[He shakes his head. Never mind. It doesn't matter. He takes a deep breath and even if Adam isn't looking at him he scoots in closer and knocks his head lightly into Adam's. Come on. Don't sulk.] I haven't entirely figured out what we can and can't do here, but we're gonna be here for a while. If I'm in charge of my fate here, why not fill it with things I want?

[antietam]

[ It makes Adam pause. Luke stopped wanting to live after killing Lara? ... He hadn't expected that, honestly, though it makes sense as to why someone like Elizabeth could get the upper hand on Luke. And it makes him angrier that all people could talk about was how Luke killed Lara without remorse. Of course he felt bad. How could they miss that? ]

Am I so sure what? [ It does matter. He freezes when Luke's head knocks against his own, then turns his head to look at him. He had to be close to Luke when they were both still alive so it doesn't feel that weird. ] ... I guess otherwise we're going to get bored. Let's do everything we've ever wanted, then.

[chiseler]

[He shrugs.] Are you so sure that kid has stuff to go back to that he even wants to go back to? I didn't really know him that well. Maybe it doesn't matter. You still did something good, and if they can't recognize that...

[Fuck 'em. That's basically what it comes down to. Adam looks at him though and Luke gives a lopsided smile, uncertain but elated all the same.] I don't do well with being bored, you know? Not really wired for that...if you want a library and I want a movie theatre, we should see what Lara wants, too. Start thinking of everything possible. I've wanted a lot of things in my life...it'd be kind of cool to get at least half of them.

[antietam]

He talked about his fiancee. [ Alright, he didn't actually know Ciel either but he seems to be in a better place than Adam was when he was 13. Maybe the kid will die next, but at least it won't be Adam's fault. ] He seemed to like her. She'd miss him.

[ He shrugs. He thinks he did something good, both by killing Franziska and showing them how stupid they were about to be but he doesn't expect praise for it. When Luke smiles, Adam lets out a breath and seems to calm down. There's nothing more that he can do. He's dead. ] Think I could turn my house into a mansion? [ It's already bigger than he needs but why not? ] And a nice car and somewhere to drive it to.

[chiseler]

...he's thirteen. Anybody who has a fiancee at thirteen probably isn't entirely aware of what that really means and may not realize that's a trap. [He's not biased at all???] Guess we can speculate all we want. It's not like it matters now.

[Adam calming down helps, too, but he snorts in amusement.] You could if you wanted I guess, but where would you even want to go in a car? I don't think we can leave the town.

[antietam]

What? [ It's asked in amusement. ] How is it a trap? Being engaged at a young age or married in general?

[ He's not moving away from Luke even though he supposes there is no need for them to be close anymore. It's easier to see his expressions like this. ] It's not about going somewhere. It's about driving. [ There's a pause and he smiles. ] Have you ever driven anywhere or do you generally just fly?

[chiseler]

The first one. I don't know about you but I was definitely a different person when I was 13 than I am now.

[Maybe there's no need for them to be like this, but knowing the things he knows now...he can't say he minds too much either. It's also just nice having someone around while he's still confused about...well, everything. He seems to consider how to really answer that question though.] The flying's for special occasions. And I've never really had a huge need to drive anywhere. Something that special about it?

[antietam]

I'm pretty sure he's not like either of us. [ He honestly seems pretty annoying. Possibly mature, but annoying. ] Doesn't really matter. If you like someone at thirteen, are you really going to stop liking them when you're older?

[ He genuinely doesn't know. It's not an experience he's had. He raises his eyebrows at the question, a bit disbelieving. ] Driving is just as amazing as cars themselves. You've really never thought about how many parts have to go into a car to make it work? Everything that comes together so you can do whatever you want? So you can smoothly control a 3000 pound machine? I'm taking you driving. We should build a drive-in.

[chiseler]

It depends, I think. A lot can happen in just a couple of years. I'm not sure I like all of the same people I liked as a kid. But I'm never going to see any of them again so it's irrelevant isn't it?

[Adam's talking about cars and he's pretty enthusiastic and he's just...staring. That's all. He's just staring at him like he's grown an extra head because what even.] I. Okay? [A disbelieving laugh.] Sure. Maybe we shouldn't ask for a theatre then if that's what you want to do, but to answer your question I'm pretty sure you're the only one who thinks about how cars are made.

[antietam]

I guess it is. Now it's just us and... whoever's unlucky enough to get killed next. [ There's a pause and he makes a face. ] I really hope we don't have to see the annoying ones soon.

[ Please let them live. It takes him a bit to notice that Luke is staring and longer to notice that he's staring because he apparently thinks Adam is weird. It makes him frown. How is Luke not fascinated by that? ] If I was the only one who thought about that, cars wouldn't exist and continue to be improved. [ He shoves at Luke's shoulder but then leans over so they're not actually any farther apart. ] I guess we need a garage, too, then. That holds a ton of different cars and everything needed to work on them. Is there anything you find interesting?

[chiseler]

I hate to say it? But probably. The science team went after Franziska immediately didn't they? [Just a thought.

But no it's not that he's not fascinated, it's that he's not sure what's real and what isn't, not to mention he's never had a huge interest in cars in the first place.] You're getting ahead of yourself, man. I never said I didn't find anything interesting, I just don't see the big deal about how cars are put together. But that sounds more like a mechanic's shop than anything.

...you really wanna know what I think is interesting?

[antietam]

[ Adam just makes a noise of distaste. Oh well. He can avoid them in the giant library he's thinking about. He'll probably drag Luke along too just in case. ]

And I'm saying you'll understand once you get in a car and think about it. [ He sounds pretty sure of it. But then he seems to forget about that, eyes flashing in interest when Luke offers him a bone. Luke is still a mystery to him, one that he very much wants to solve. ] Yeah, I do. Then we can build something for that too.

[chiseler]

[They can hide among the books together. He doesn't seem entirely convinced about the car thing, but he lets Adam talk. In a weird way this is enjoyable, just sitting outside under a tree talking about ridiculous things.]

We'll see. [He takes a breath.] I miss sparring if you really wanna know. Swordfighting, stuff like that. I was an instructor at camp. Been a while since I've held a real blade.

[antietam]

[ That makes sense. In some way he can't imagine why Luke would miss fighting, but if it's an interest like cars are for Adam then it's more understandable. Either way, he's not going to question it. So he nods. ]

Okay. So you'd need swords and a wide space, right? Have you found any swords lying around? [ He notes it to himself for requests. ] Until we can figure out how to build a swordfighting robot AI, I guess you could practice on me.

[chiseler]

Just like an arena, yeah. [Even now he can picture it in his head which is funny since he knows it's not a real memory at all.] An arena with space and I don't really need anything to fight back. We used to train with straw dummies. But this place is way too…Pleasantville. I don't think there's anything even remotely resembling a weapon around here. [He looks briefly scandalized though.] How about I don't practice on you? You'd have to know how to fight back.

[antietam]

[ He raises his eyebrows. ] You think I don't know how to fight back? [ ... Which is mostly true. It's a skill he never actually needed to develop. In fact, it was better that he didn't know. ]

So we'll build our own weapons. We could always combine it with a park. To really enjoy these nice days you seem so fond of. [ Now he smiles teasingly. ] We're making this into a right town. Anything else you miss?

[chiseler]

Of course I think that. You had a gun, Parrish. You can fight back differently but not the way I'd trust you to in an arena.

[He rolls his eyes though and sits up a little then, stretching his back and shoulders.] A park…would be kind of cool I guess. I never thought I'd be constructing my own town. I think I miss a lot but…we can talk about it another time. This is still kind of a lot to process.

[A pause.] Considering. You know. We can see everything in here. [So he watched the trial, watched Adam die, has been sorting through memories for the last couple of days and now…well. It's still a lot.]

[antietam]

[ He opens his mouth to fight but truthfully he has no desire to prove that he can fight back. So instead he scoffs like it's not worth his time. ] Whatever. Stick with your straw dummies then. See if I take interest in your hobbies again. [ Not that Luke ever asked him to. Whatever! ]

Do you think I could run for mayor? [ He's just trying to joke even as his smile fades when Luke mentions being able to see everything. He assumed that was the case although he hadn't tried the TV out. ] Did you watch me? [ He means even before the trial when he hid away in the sauna get out his emotions, when he laid in bed uselessly for hours, when he reacted poorly to the email. ]

[chiseler]

[Adam…don't pull the tsundere act on him it's too early in their friendship for this!!!] Or I could teach you if you actually asked, jackass. But maybe I'll stick with the straw dummies since they're interested.

Running for mayor would mean having to listen to you. Think that'd work? [But he pauses.] …I checked in on you from time to time, yeah. [A lot. Oops.] On more than one occasion. I couldn't see you with Franziska and I couldn't see you at night, but otherwise yeah.

[antietam]

[ Good thing he doesn't like Luke or anything :\ ] Do you really want to teach something to a jackass? [ They will get absolutely nowhere like this. ]

I could bribe you into listening. That's how politics usually work anyway, right? [ He sighs and leans back against the grass in order to close his eyes. That's embarrassing. ]

So some things are secret. That's interesting. [ He pauses. ] What did you see?

[chiseler]

That depends, is the jackass going to be stubborn about it? [There's a small smile though that says he might actually consider it. Why not?]

You're not a politician, Parrish, you're too nice and angry for that. [He looks down at Adam's face now that his eyes are closed, taking his time to study his features for himself.] ...I saw that nobody else could see my email to you, so that's something new. [A pause. Annnnd casually:] Annnd I might've noticed you went back to our place without me.

[antietam]

Would that really stop you? [ Maybe he's a little too confident now. After all, Luke clearly likes him enough to keep him around. ]

I don't see what that has to do with anything, anyway. [ He's not nice but he is angry. Aren't politicians angry? Somewhere on the inside probably. His face twitches when Luke mentions what he's seen, the particularly embarrassing moments of his grief. ] It's not like you were there to go back with me. [ It's upsetting to think about. ]

... I didn't want anyone to see. That's why I went there. I thought you were really, actually gone and... it was only four days but I felt like I lost something important that I could never get back.