chiseler | Adam Parrish

[ Adam looks back at him, pausing, and then shaking his head. ] It's exactly what I came in here for, actually.

If all of our memories were altered anyway... why did they make us forget things? To make you think you had some leverage over us? Why did some of them come back after I—we—killed?

No, that was part of the mission. The whole point was to research new technology to modify memories of people extensively which meant giving everybody a new life of memories and also seeing how you guys reacted upon receiving new false memories. ...in my case, when I killed Lara I got a memory of my old life back. When I got here, I remembered everything. That's the funny thing about memories.

We were all lab rats, Parrish. That's all there is to it.

I guess we were. [ He doesn't care enough to try to blame Luke for this. He seems just as bothered by everything as Adam, if not more so. Maybe Adam just doesn't know enough to be truly upset. ] Weird how some of the memories they gave us were similar. You having dreams, me... seeing ghosts everywhere.

But at least you knew what was going on. Who else was in on it? Can you tell me now that you've seen Rhys spill a bunch of secrets?

...that's not weird. I know exactly what the dreams were about. [And judging by the shift in tone it's not something pleasant at all.] Can you think of what the ghosts were?

[He chews the inside of his cheek.] I knew enough, but there were still secrets among us as a group, too. I originally signed an NDA but...I'm pretty dead. It doesn't matter now, but you'd still have to keep it to yourself. Not even Lara knows.

[ Adam blinks at him because it's clearly not something he considered. Now that he's thinking about it... yes. His eyebrows furrow and he crosses his arms defensively. ] I guess so. Are yours...?

[ He's curious if they were similar in their fake memories because they're similar in real life but he doesn't want to talk about his so he doubts Luke does either. ] I don't have anyone to tell, Luke. [ Blandly. ] If you haven't noticed, I sort of lost a lot of friends over the past few days.

Yes. [His nightmares were induced by other people in this world, too. But Adam's right, he's not really ready to talk about this yet. Instead he focuses on the other subject at hand.]

I'm sorry about that. I really am. But somehow I'm not sure that's also entirely true. [Still…there's a short huff.] Rhys, Ava, Bigby, Ciel, and me. That's your five.

They weren't really friends. [ It's quiet. People were nice to him but they all started to turn on him anyway. The list catches him by surprise and he frowns... people he didn't suspect. People he liked like Ava. He also saved Ciel from getting executed but, like he said in the trial, he didn't care if he was staff or not. ]

I thought Bigby's attack was weird. But I... had no idea about the others. You guys are good at your job. [ He almost looks like he's pouting since he wasn't right. ] Most of them are pretty quiet except for you and Rhys. I think I might have helped turn the suspicion on Alvin, actually. You mentioned liking him once so I thought it'd make sense if you were having secret meetings.

It's too bad the people I wanted to be staff aren't. [ AKA the people he doesn't like. ]

Can anyone really be friends in a place like this after a few days? That was just another thing I was curious about myself. [He knows the list is weird but he does nothing to console him about that.]

Not sure what the deal was with Bigby's attack. Half the time I'm not sure what the deal is with Bigby, but...thanks, I guess. They're good at being subtle. Rhys and I...well. Rhys and I are a little different. [It's why he likes Rhys.] As much as it would make sense for Alvin to be staff, no. I liked him because I wanted to take some cues from him and see how he operated. That's an entirely different story.

Would that make a difference if they were the people you wanted?

I don't know. They thought we were in love. [ So maybe it's not impossible. It doesn't matter now, though.

It makes a difference because he would have been right but he's not going to say that. ] It would have been easier to see them die. I think they're going to figure Ciel out. After all, there was suspicion on him so the staff would have had no reason to take him out if he weren't part of them... [ He pauses. ]

Do you think they're all going to come here eventually? Not even just the staff, but everyone. I mean, how are they going to leave?

That's a good point. That worked out for us for a while, didn't it? [It doesn't matter now. He rolls his eyes then.] As much as I agree with that, I'm sure someone somewhere would have missed them. Ciel's craftier than you think though. I think he'll stay alive just long enough unless something drastic comes up.

...there's a door. When only five of us are left, people can leave. Almost everyone will come here though, yeah. Why?

[ Adam manages a light smile over at him. It's nicer to think about the more positive moments during their time in the complex. ] It did work out. It was nice to have someone who had my back... someone who cared, even just because of a deal.

[ He sighs and his hands fidget. ] But what are they going to go out to? They're going to die out there anyway. I guess it all just seems pointless, like we were always all going to end up here.

...that didn't exactly go away just because I died, Parrish. You're still in my house aren't you? [He sounds genuinely curious about Adam's opinion on the whole thing.]

I don't know. Judy told me that nobody knew what was really out there until recently. The Overseer knows but I don't think the rest of the staff does. When you have a goal but you don't have all of the information...of course it ends up this way.

I suppose I am. [ He even manages to sound somewhat happy about it. This is why he wanted to be at Luke's house. Being alone is just too much right now.

He looks at him for a moment before starting to scoot closer, carefully as if he doesn't want to startle Luke. ] I don't blame you. I'm sorry I... got mad before. All I can think about tonight when I close my eyes is the way it felt when I was hitting her. And the way it felt when I got shot. So... thanks for letting me be here because I don't think I could... [ He shrugs. ]

[He doesn't move at all, allowing Adam to get closer. He keeps his eyes on him though and he pauses in his thoughts.]

...it's fine. It's hard to understand when you don't know what's happening, I know. It's not going to be something we forget anytime soon, either. [A hand comes up to his neck, gently rubbing the space where Elizabeth stabbed him.] Nightmare fuel, right? I don't know how anybody sleeps in this place when we're here because we got killed or we killed someone or both.

[ He eyes where Luke's hand moves to, knowing exactly what that means. He was intently focused on Luke's death even when he shouldn't have been. ]

It helps being with someone, I think. So we're not alone with our thoughts. [ He bites his lip like he's not sure he should say something, but... ] Even before this, I used to get flashbacks to things that weren't pleasant. You try to keep them at bay but they go on for as long as you resist them. So you have to let them play out.

The only way I've found to keep them away for longer is to preoccupy your mind with something entirely different. If you're not going to sleep anyway...

Wait, you mean flashbacks to your old life? Or false memories of your false one? Man, never mind, it doesn't matter...I get what you're saying. [He pauses again, turning his head to look at Adam curiously.]

...did you have something in mind to preoccupy us since we're not sleeping? At this point I'm pretty much open to ideas.

Before the complex, is what I meant. In my old life. [ But it doesn't matter so he won't explain the rest. He hums in consideration and lets himself lay back on the bed. ]

Let's talk about our plans. For this place and ourselves. It's better to talk about the future than the past, so... What sort of movies are going to be at the movie theater? Let's go sometime.

[There's a break in the conversation before he, too, lays on his back but turns his head to look at Adam instead.]

I imagine it's probably whatever we can get our hands on. I've been spying on the compound and it's pretty early-era stuff. It'll probably be stuff like that. When was the last time you were ever on a movie date anyway?

[ There's a sudden laugh, surprised. ] Never, I guess. But I think I've only gone to a movie theater once or twice in general. [ He gives Luke a searching look, amusement still on his face. ]

Who said it was a date?

Who said it wasn't? [It's just as smooth as anything, but it's an honest question.] Anyway you're missing out. Thalia and I used to go all the time whenever we could sneak off-campus.

[ Adam keeps on smiling but looks up at the ceiling. ] I'll say it is if you do. [ If he's reading this right. It's still strange to imagine Luke as a college student even if he looks the part. ] ... Thalia?

Why do I have to say it when I suggested it? I think it's obvious to me. [He knows he's being contradictory though. Still, his smile fades briefly.] My best friend I mentioned. Her name's Thalia. We used to do everything together.

I suggested it, actually. Try again. [ And Adam is just being difficult but he seems fine with the idea.

Of course, he can tell that this is going into bad memory territory. He clears his throat and takes a moment to think. ] Does it help to talk about her, or...?

I'm the one who turned it into a date, so no. I still win.

[It's easier to think about Thalia when he's joking around about other things. Still, he's silent again.] Well...I'm dead and more than likely never going to see her again. But my false memories made me believe she was dead and I'd never see her again anyway. So I guess it's fine either way. [A little smile follows.] You either would have really liked her, or you would have wanted to destroy her. Thalia has one of those personalities.

You can't win a date. [ He says because he's lost. Still, he's quiet as he listens to Luke talk about Thalia. He doesn't believe him when he says it's fine. He'll never see his best friend again either and that... He hasn't really processed that yet. ]

Yeah? I think I know what you mean. So a strong personality... but in what direction? Really cheerful or...?

Adam Parrish

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