Colonel Frank Archer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sadisticwarfare) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
pokebox2015-03-22 05:45 am
sadisticwarfare) wrote in pokebox2015-03-22 05:45 am
LOCKED TO nullorvoid
[How many people can say that they've woken up with no memories of who they are or what they've been through? Probably not very many, and he's one of the unlucky few. A lack of memories is only one concern, however; this place is foreign in every sense of the word and even though he's been here for a few days, he's still learning how to handle the environment he's been placed in. He knows that it's a bar and he understands that these games are played to determine what happens to a person's soul, but there are plenty of questions to be asked. He just hasn't had enough time to ask them all yet.
He thinks his name is Archer, but even that's not clear. There's a strange militaristic-looking uniform in the back of his closet, but it looks bulky and uncomfortable, so he hasn't tried it on. It had a tag on it with the name Archer, so that's what he's been calling himself. Not that anyone's asked, of course, but he supposes that's just how things work around here. He has a boss he works with daily, but he doesn't know the guy's name. There are some others he's seen around, but he doesn't know any of their names either, or who they are or why any of this is happening. He's kept quiet and observed everything, but things still aren't any clearer than they were when he woke up several days ago with no memories whatsoever.
This morning is no different from the previous ones. Archer gets up, gets dressed (the uniform he wears is simple: a black dress shirt and slacks, accompanied by a white tie) and spends a moment fixing his hair. He isn't sure why he always slicks his hair back, but this is what he's done since he woke up so perhaps it's some sort of remnant of who he was before whatever happened that caused him to lose his memories. For a moment he considers how pale he looks before shrugging it off as usual.
Archer is prompt as always, entering the bar and immediately looking around for anything out of place or in need of cleaning. He's not entirely sure how this place is always so neat, since he doubts his boss is the one keeping everything perfectly clean. The desire to make himself useful is one that's helpful in this situation, but it's a bit odd if he thinks about it. He doesn't even know the situation or why he's here, why should he want to help any of these people out? He doesn't allow himself to think about it, instead heading toward the bar to see if his boss is already here.]
He thinks his name is Archer, but even that's not clear. There's a strange militaristic-looking uniform in the back of his closet, but it looks bulky and uncomfortable, so he hasn't tried it on. It had a tag on it with the name Archer, so that's what he's been calling himself. Not that anyone's asked, of course, but he supposes that's just how things work around here. He has a boss he works with daily, but he doesn't know the guy's name. There are some others he's seen around, but he doesn't know any of their names either, or who they are or why any of this is happening. He's kept quiet and observed everything, but things still aren't any clearer than they were when he woke up several days ago with no memories whatsoever.
This morning is no different from the previous ones. Archer gets up, gets dressed (the uniform he wears is simple: a black dress shirt and slacks, accompanied by a white tie) and spends a moment fixing his hair. He isn't sure why he always slicks his hair back, but this is what he's done since he woke up so perhaps it's some sort of remnant of who he was before whatever happened that caused him to lose his memories. For a moment he considers how pale he looks before shrugging it off as usual.
Archer is prompt as always, entering the bar and immediately looking around for anything out of place or in need of cleaning. He's not entirely sure how this place is always so neat, since he doubts his boss is the one keeping everything perfectly clean. The desire to make himself useful is one that's helpful in this situation, but it's a bit odd if he thinks about it. He doesn't even know the situation or why he's here, why should he want to help any of these people out? He doesn't allow himself to think about it, instead heading toward the bar to see if his boss is already here.]
no subject
[Ohhh, no, asshole. You wanted conversation, you're getting conversation.]
We've got time to kill - what about it fascinates you?
no subject
The reactions. There are similar responses, but for the most part no two people react in the exact same way. The more... extreme responses are interesting to watch, but I can't help but be curious why people react the way they do. Is it that people are inherently good or evil or is it their experiences and memories shaping them?
[That sounds okay, right? It definitely doesn't sound like he's a sadistic asshole who just really likes watching people suffer, nope.]
no subject
[That said, though, he's certainly paying attention now, the look in his eyes attentive as opposed to the usual vague, bored stare that he tends to offer Archer.]
Here's a question for you. Say you get someone's memories - you can see everything they've done, over the course of their entire life. And they've done some things that most human beings wouldn't appreciate - say they've murdered some people. Kind of a lot of people, actually.
Those memories are also telling you that they've always been like that. Maybe they were wired wrong before they were born, maybe they're inherently evil. Whatever phrasing helps you sleep at night, that's what's wrong with them.
In my position, if you got someone like that and you had to make an initial assessment - not necessarily one that's going to stick, just go with the first thing that comes to mind. Where do you send them? Do you give them the void, or do you think they deserve another go? Dealing with a killer, remember, who does things just because.
no subject
Should his first thought be to send them to the void? If they've always been like that or they're inherently evil or whatever, then what would be the point in allowing them to be reincarnated? Can there even be any good in a person like that? His initial thought is no, there can't. There would be no reason to allow them to be reincarnated.
For some reason that answer doesn't sit well with him though. The part about being "wired wrong" is what he's hung up on and he's really not sure why.
But dwelling on it isn't going to do him any good and the boss is waiting for an answer.]
My initial assessment would be to send them to the void. Of course I'm not entirely aware of how things work here, but it's possible that it was just that person who was wired wrong - maybe that wouldn't be the case if they were reincarnated. But if they've done awful things and they show no remorse or regret for their actions... I suppose I'd rather play it safe and send them to the void.
no subject
[He straightens up then, folding his arms across his chest; Memine looks a bit confused as to why he's moving all of a sudden, in that self-centered sort of way cats have when they're not sure where their headrest is going, but clearly she's just going to have to get over herself because this is interesting.]
That's cold, Archer.
no subject
[He frowns for a moment before he manages to get his thoughts into words.]
No, they had a choice. They chose to carry out their actions. There's a difference between someone being forced to do something wrong and knowing it's wrong and disliking it, but doing it anyway and someone who does what they want with no outside pressure. If we're assuming that they're capable of telling right from wrong - whether they feel anything about it isn't important - then they should be judged the same as anyone else. If they were fully aware that their actions were wrong, but continued to commit them, then I would consider that behavior unworthy of reincarnation. Yes, there are other factors at play here, but that would be my initial assessment.
[...]
Of course if they genuinely didn't know any better, that's a different situation entirely.
no subject
For that last bit, though...working out whether they knew any better would be the point of the game. Memories tell you what happened, and a whole lot of "not much else" - if I were to pass you my memories of what's going on right now, half a second after it happens, you'd see yourself standing there, and you'd hear me talking to you, but you couldn't tell what I'm thinking about you or what I think of the conversation we're having.
Probably for the better, most of the time. Just saying.
[Thanks, Ginti.]
So if our fictional terrible human being really didn't know any better, it'll come out if you put them in an extreme situation. If they know but don't care, same thing - the reaction tells us where we're supposed to put them.
So you're right in finding the reactions interesting. You're wrong as hell in trying to put any sort of deeper meaning to it.
[...]
The shorter answer that doesn't require you to actually use your head at all is "Of course no one's inherently good or evil, because then I wouldn't need to be here." Why judge people if they're all inherently shitty and deserve to be kicked into oblivion? And if you'd used your head in the first place, you'd have known that from the start.
no subject
Archer is silent while he thinks about that. This is complicated, but somehow Ginti's response relaxes him. He can't figure out why since the response was kind of irritating, but there's some relief in what Ginti has said. It doesn't make any sense to him.]
I see.
...I suppose if the process would be that simple there would be no need for you. I hadn't thought of it like that.
[He normally isn't left lost for words, but something about this has nearly rendered him speechless.]
no subject
And yet here I am, warming up the place with my sparkling presence and spectacular barside manner.
[Sarcasm aside, he doesn't seem too bothered; just let him scoop up the cat before he looks back at Archer.]
Any more of life's great mysteries I can clear up for you?
no subject
Ah no, not right now. I'm sure I'll have plenty of other questions later though.
[...]
I really do appreciate you taking the time to indulge my curiosity.
no subject
Like I said, we had time to kill.
[And apparently he's said that just enough for it to be considered 'tempting fate'; it isn't long before he quite suddenly goes tense and very still, and the sigils in his eyes dilate quite a bit, and the flood of memories hits him like the world's most mundane pair of freight trains.
It takes him a second to shake it off; one of those again, then...not particularly interesting, but something to do. A job, really.]
Looks like we'll have guests soon.
no subject
Archer watches the memory transfer process silently. When Ginti speaks again, he nods.]
I assume you want me to keep quiet and watch again?
[He's not expecting anything different, but it's better to know what he's supposed to be doing.]
no subject
[...Although.]
You feeling up to filling them in on the rules?
[He hates that part; he's never really been one for scripted bureaucratic bullshit.]
no subject
Yes, of course. I'll handle it.
[You're actually letting him do something, holy shit.]
no subject
[Oh god, you're going to be thorough, aren't you.]
no subject
[What else were you expecting??]
no subject
It's looking pretty straightforward today, so I'm going to be making my own fun to see if that's really the case. Like I said, once it starts your only job is to stay out of the way and watch.
[Technically that's two jobs, Ginti.]
no subject
Very well. I won't interfere at all.
[He's been good about that so far at least!]
no subject
[He's kind of noticed that you kind of have to verbally verify all over that you won't interfere, buddy, you're going to give him the wrong idea at this rate.]
no subject
It should never be an issue, but if for whatever reason I do feel like interfering then yes, I will be sure to tell you first.
[Despite the words he's actually not being sarcastic.]
no subject
[After five years of making people flip their shit at each other, words like "never" don't really mean too much to him when they're coming out of somebody else's mouth, just saying. You just watch, now that you've said that they're inevitably going to hit on the one topic in the world that makes you squeamish, or they're going have to judge one of your friends or something, and then everything's going to go merrily to shit because that's when you're going to remember something. Because Ginti is a lot of things, but "lucky" isn't really one of them.]
no subject
I will.
[He really doesn't think it'll be an issue. But hey, it's not like you're the only one with bad luck here! So yes, something will probably happen and he'll break his promise, but it's not like that'll happen now, right?]
no subject
...Another reason to hope you don't is that outside of rather helpfully telling those girls that the kokeshi dolls are off-limits and Memine is not a toy, a pet, or anybody's baby, Ginti is going to be providing next to no help whatsoever in corralling them anywhere. You wanted something to do, get to it.]
no subject
Archer has been paying attention though, and he's learned the rules pretty well. He knows better than to let them know why they're here or that they're dead, and he makes a point of phrasing things vaguely so it's impossible to tell if this really is a game for their lives or not. He's probably a little too vague, but he's trying really hard not to mess this up. The boss is finally letting him do something, so he's going to do his best with it.]
no subject
He doesn't say anything while Archer does his thing, however; he's not explicitly fucking up, and rules recitation style is generally left up to the arbiter. If he wants to leave it vague he can. Instead he just stands behind the bar, holding the car and watching, his eyes impassive and his expression never flickering from the usual bored glare; it'd probably look disapproving if that weren't just what he usually does with his face.
As it stands, the girls seem about as horrified as most people do once what they're being told sinks in; it takes a while due to Archer being roundabout, but eventually it happens, and it isn't long before they book it out of the bar and back down the hallway, presumably to do the usual panicked button-pressing at the elevator and stumbling into the bathroom like it's going to save them.]
...That could have gone worse.
[That's...not exactly praise, but it's close enough.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)