colonelcannibal | (no subject)

*The stream where Ives prefers to swim is cold, even in the heat of summer. Unnaturally so, perhaps. At its bank lays a cave, and there his secrets hide.

*The cave is mostly filled with bones. Skulls, jaws, fingers, the occasional arm or leg bone sucked clean of marrow. More complete skeletons deeper in, showing how his food preferences have evolved over time--or perhaps he simply learned more recipes.

*In the back of the cave, where the old bodies are deepest, a tree has grown. It exits through a hole in the roof that was undeniably carved by human hands--or what most people would call human, at least, no matter what their owner had to say on the matter.

*A farmer could tell you that the tree is an apple tree. The superstitious would have reason to think it the very tree of good and evil knowledge that doomed mankind to die. If so, however, it came from a most sinister Eden.

*Ives, being what he is, sees nothing wrong with sitting against the tree and eating the apples. They are by far the best he's ever eaten.*

Current Mood: wistful

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

colonelcannibal

Not always easily. Plus, a farm is more reliable other ways.

We seem to have wandered off topic, however. Namely, do you like to swim?

Edited Date: 2017-05-09 11:09 pm (UTC)

From:

dr_jd_watson

I prefer not to, thank you.

[In fact, James has done rather a lot of swimming since his resurrection. It was a vital part of his physical therapy for years and he's kept up the habit. But it's a form of relaxation for him, and one had better not relax around an unreformed cannibal. Refraining is simply wiser...]

From:

colonelcannibal

*He nods, then stands and walks out of the cave. He slides out of his top layer of clothing and into the river with a soft smile.* That feels good.

If it helps, I have reasons for what I do. It's nor just mindless sadism.

From:

dr_jd_watson

It may not have been mindless at first, but sadism is an easy habit to lapse into and a hard one to shake. I've seen it all before...

From:

colonelcannibal

It was more about having someone to talk to, honestly. There have been decades where my only good chance to talk to other people has been . . . well. Dinner conversation.

I suppose I could have tried to make friends sooner, but I don't exactly connect well with normal people.

From:

dr_jd_watson

All it takes is effort. You're not my first flesh-eating monster. Most manage to keep their dietary habits well-separated from their social lives. You just stopped trying at some point...

From:

colonelcannibal

More like I didn't know where to start. It was quite a while before my immediate response to any kind of positive or interesting social contact didn't involve trying to change the other person. Nearly got myself killed once or twice with that little issue . . .

I suppose you have a pistol close at hand, hmm? If not a rifle. You should, since you definitely smell better than the pig. Not that I won't do my best to stick to it, but nobody's perfect.

From:

dr_jd_watson

We all have our instincts. What makes us human is our ability to overcome what our bodies tell us we should be doing. Instinct is no excuse.

[He moves his jacket aside to reveal a pistol of slightly unconventional make. He's been told by his godson that one bullet from this particular model would be enough to bring an elephant down, if aimed at the chest. Personally, if it comes down to it, he plans on shooting twice: once to the heart, once to the head.]

From:

colonelcannibal

I never claimed to still be human. Quite the opposite. But I am trying.

Lovely. *He looks at it with distaste. He's never been that fond of guns, even when it was him using them.* Do try not to get me killed if it comes down to it, hmm? I have no desire to see what happens if I'm shot in the face, but I honestly expect it would be bad for both of us.

*He gives James a stare that belies his cheerful attitude for a moment before returning to his swim.*

From:

dr_jd_watson

Human is a state of mind. It's a thing we accomplish through force of will, not a physical state of being.

And, don't worry, if I have to shoot you, it'll be the last thing you ever have to worry about...

From:

colonelcannibal

You are in a mood today. *He shakes his head.* You ought to come swimming with me! It'll take your, ah, mind off things.

From:

dr_jd_watson

I rather think not, no. You enjoy yourself, though. I'm fine up here with a recently dead pig for company. Her name was Lucy, if you're interested...

From:

colonelcannibal

Oh, I plan to enjoy myself quite a bit. *He raises an eyebrow.* Who names pigs?

From:

dr_jd_watson

A lot of people. They're lovely animals, really, once you get to know them.

From:

colonelcannibal

And yet you're fine with eating them? Your moral high ground is slipping again.

From:

dr_jd_watson

The difference between you and I, sir, is that I treat my prey with both respect and compassion. Get back to me when you can say the same.

From:

colonelcannibal

Unfortunately, there are times when that is rather hard to do.

If you're concerned about what I think you are, remember what it was like before refrigeration. When it's the middle of summer and you have nothing cold at hand, how do you keep meat fresh?

From:

dr_jd_watson

I vividly remember the days before refrigeration, thank you. Smoking and salting were then and remain now viable preservation options. Which has nothing to do with the blatant disregard you show for your food...

From:

colonelcannibal

It's so much easier, however, to simply keep food alive . . .

Disregard is how I keep myself from breaking down. It's why my kind is rare, I think--most of them either go feral or commit suicide. There's a reason why I don't try to change people anymore. But by luck I managed to shut off my conscience, at least when it comes to humans, so I'm still here and still capable of communicating.

You might say that suicide would be better, but living things are hard-wired to survive. I became this to stay alive, after all . . .

From:

dr_jd_watson

There are always alternatives to suicide, and you made a conscious decision not to afford your victims a quick, clean death, then you justified it away. That's quite a bit beyond merely doing what you had to in order to survive...

From:

colonelcannibal

I usually do. There are just times when I want, ah, something special.

Lobsters are boiled alive, you know. There's also a few kinds of rather nasty sushi that involves vivisecting fish and eating it before it dies. I at least have reasons beyond it being amusing.