Chapter 10 Text Transcript
Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
ABYSSINIA
MHE – PAGE 265
Eisse:
. . .
Not Philip J. Fry:
Miss!
Miss the-
Eisse:
It’s very rude to enter a young woman’s bedroom without knocking.
Let’s try this interaction again.
MHE – PAGE 266
Eisse:
Hang on! I’m changing!
. . .
Golly! Good thing you didn’t just walk in!
Not Philip J. Fry:
Er. . . Sorry.
There’s sort of a, uh. . .
A crisis, going on, and we thought you might want to
Eisse:
You thought incorrectly.
Don’t you think that would fall under my father’s jurisdiction?
Not Philip J. Fry:
W-well we. . .
We can’t find your father. . . right now, miss.
Eisse:
What do you mean you can’t find him?
Not Philip J. Fry:
Just what I said!
We know he was in the mine last night to take care of the commander, but no one’s seen him since!
W-we thought we should, um, defer to you instead.
Eisse:
. . .
Well what is it?
What’s your crisis?
Not Philip J. Fry:
The town is on fire, miss.
Eisse:
. . .
Excuse me?
MHE – PAGE 267
Eisse:
For FUCK’S SAKE
What is WRONG with you hicks? This is YOUR town! Why would you burn it?
And what the hell is THAT?
Not Philip J. Fry:
U-um, it would appear that Ell- uh, the waitress, the rabbit from the-
Eisse:
SPIT IT OUT YOU IDIOT!
Not Philip J. Fry:
Ellie Kuznetsov is a Blazing Guardian. No one had any idea until the fire started.
But it. . . it looks like she’s only trying to evacuate the people above ground, she hasn’t shown any signs of um. Retaliation.
Eisse:
. . . I see.
Not Philip J. Fry:
What. . . What should we do?
Eisse:
. . .
Nothing.
Not Philip J. Fry:
Nothing?
Eisse:
Let it burn. If he wants to act like a child he can deal with the mess. I’m tired of cleaning up after him.
I really thought he’d pull it together this time. What a goddamn waste.
I should have just done it myself.
Not Philip J. Fry:
W. . . Well what ARE you going to do? Now?
Eisse:
My hair.
MHE – PAGE 268
Narration:
Before
Somewhere in the seared planes
Raven:
. . .
Narration:
A sudden tumult of wings, the stinging scent of
Jocasta:
What’s goin’ on, witch boy?
Narration:
Cinders
MHE – PAGE 269
CARD:
Cold Hazard. . . ?
Archivist, sorcerer
“The Mindshatter”
Raven:
Can I help you, madam?
Jocasta:
Mmmaybe
CARD:
Jocasta Hubris
Walker, witch doctor
“The Screaming Dawn”
Jocasta:
If you think you can stand to tear yourself away from this exciting company you’re entertainin’ here.
Raven:
I have played a poor host, unfortunately.
I’ve built up nearly two weeks’ worth of field notes.
We haven’t had a moment to breathe in some time.
Jocasta:
I can think of at least a dozen other things we ain’t had a moment for, but.
If breathin’s all you wanna go with.
Raven:
I did want to speak with you about some of my findings.
Jocasta:
So speak.
Raven:
I haven’t had a chance to look over the logbooks recently, not since we. . . began running into the. . .
The ah. . . abnormalities
The Tain, the worn patches of reality. . .
They’re forming some kind of. . .
Jocasta:
This isn’t distracting is it? Want me to stop?
Raven:
They’re forming a pattern.
Jocasta:
What’s it mean, you think?
Raven:
I. . .
I think, if we stay on the route we’re following, if we keep. . .
. . .
Jocasta:
If we keep?
Raven:
-Keep encoutering these events, we should be able to use the data to determine the location of the sun. . . or. . .
MHE – PAGE 270
Raven:
Or at least find our way out of this miasma we’ve been caught in.
Jocasta:
You’re so goddamn smart
Raven:
Ahem
Ah! Wait
Jocasta my notes-
Would you behave?
Jocasta:
(Absolutely not)
Raven:
I’m being serious.
Jocasta:
Yeah me too.
Sounds like you got it pretty well figured out already.
What’cha need me for?
Raven:
I wanted to ask if the void has changed, if you’ve noticed anything different during your. . .
During your walks.
Jocasta:
Can’t recall.
I got some other stuff runnin’ through my head, see
Makes it hard to think about your dusty old formulas and shit.
Raven:
You might not think them so boring if you understood them, darling.
MHE – PAGE 271
Jocasta:
I’m gonna let you have that one.
You’ve been working way too fuckin’ hard, it’s obviously screwing with your better judgement.
We finally got the place to ourselves, alllll afternoon,
And I still ain’t over watching you fight yesterday.
Raven:
Oh you like that?
. . . The feeling is mutual.
You got ashes on my coat.
Jocasta:
Bitch, bitch, bitch.
MHE – PAGE 272
Raven:
You’re divine when you alight the way you do.
Even having met as many as we both have. . .
You’re the only goddess I will ever worship.
Jocasta:
Yeah I’m pretty great huh?
You’re not so bad yourself.
‘Cept I’m not as good with words as you, so,
I gotta tell you in other ways.
Raven:
-Mm, w-wait.
Wait.
Jocasta:
What?
Raven:
I’m- while we have the chance, I.
The way time and space bend, here, I’m. . .
Concerned.
Jocasta:
Time and space. . . ?
Ohh.
You’re scared I”ll go walking and won’t be able to get back.
Raven:
It’s already so dangerous how you wander between existences, and this place, it’s. . . alive, even the light here mires our sails.
I cannot imagine that the underside of this plane is a hospitable place.
I don’t mean to imply you are incapable. Or that you don’t understand how your own abilities work. . .
But you do act largely on instinct. I see what you do from a scientific perspective and it’s. . . difficult not to feel terrified on your behalf.
Our work is dangerous and I love you very much.
MHE – PAGE 273
Jocasta:
Man you MUST be worried if you’re gettin’ all sappy on me like this.
Jeez.
That big brain of yours is a menace.
Dunno if it’ll help you any, but maybe if I explained it. . .
When I’m walkin’ it’s. . . empty, but not like there’s. . . nothing?
LIke there WAS something and it ain’t there anymore. Wind and dark and this. . . it’s like the second between when something moves and the air comes in to replace it.
And it’s mean. I can FEEL it don’t want me there. It wears away at you.
If I switch back in the wrong place, I could end up anywhere. Anytime.
It IS dangerous. Gettin’ lost out there WOULD be a fucked up way to die. I’m sorry I can’t say somethin’ nicer, babe.
But there’s lights too, if you know what you’re lookin’ for.
Narration:
A taste of paper, a scattering of stars
Jocasta:
I always get where I need to go ‘cause I know which ones to follow.
MHE – PAGE 274
Jocasta:
Crow’s about the brightest thing I’ve ever seen, I probably should guide to him more.
But you’re the first one I look for, Raven.
Every time.
You’re what gets me home.
You’re right. It’s gotten worse since we hit that last gateway.
I can’t tell you shit’s not gonna get rough. But we’ll be together while it’s going down, long as I have anything to say about it.
Raven:
Could you. . . Could you teach me? How these beacons work?
Could I make it easier for you somehow?
It’s just. . . you’re always running to save us at the last minute, I feel like none of us can do the same for you.
I want to. . . I’d feel better if I could help should something. . . go wrong.
Jocasta:
Hah, sure. Can’t hurt to try. But you feelin’ this way does plenty on its own.
I know that ain’t the most reassuring answer but. . .
Is that any better? We can pick this up later if you rather.
Raven:
Mmm, and let all your sweet words go to waste?
It’s been a while for me too, you know.
Please continue.
Jocasta:
Oh thank god.
‘Cause I got a lot more to say, and I’m ‘bout outta those sweet words.
So if it’s cool with you. . .
MHE – PAGE 275
Jocasta:
I’m gonna work all that tension outta you repeal slow.
And you’re not gonna think of any of that other shit, anymore.
Alright?
Raven:
My wrists are a bit sore-
Don’t be too rough, today.
Jocasta:
We’ll see.
Narration:
Then
On one ugly day
The unshakable shook.
And in one accord
Every light
Flickered out
After
Gideon:
I’m heading home.
Jocasta:
I’ll alert the media.
Gideon:
. . . Hubris you’ve got to get some sleep.
Jocasta:
Get if you’re gettin’, Gideon.
MHE – PAGE 276
Narration:
Presently
Brat:
Mao
Jocasta:
Quit whining, Brat.
Brat:
Mah!
Jocasta:
You hear that? S’my breakfast, Phineas.
Do you have any idea what fuckin’ time it is here?
Narration:
Current time: 3:43 A.M.
Jocasta:
You rude little shit.
Hadn’t heard from you in a little bit!
Startin’ to wonder if you got yourself killed already.
MHE – PAGE 277
Jocasta:
. . . You there, kiddo?
What’re you so quiet for?
Are you hurt?
. . . This ain’t Crow is it?
Hazard:
-Ahaha
Almost, love.
Jocasta:
You. . . WHAT
Hazard:
Before-
Before you say anything, let me. . .
My GOD
You could not fathom how wonderful it is to hear you wrap your drawl round those curses again, Jocasta Hubris.
Jocasta:
Oh don’t-
Don’t you pull that verbose shit on me you pretentious fuck.
Hazard:
You loved my “verbose shit,” once.
Jocasta:
(Huff)
Brat:
Mao?
Jocasta:
Wow, okay no, I’m not doin’ this.
Go to hell.
Hazard:
?
MHE – PAGE 278
Jocasta:
. . .
Hazard:
. . . Sorry.
Jocasta:
Where have you BEEN? What have you, I. . .
Jocasta & Hazard:
I thought. . .
Jocasta:
-Gh!
DAMMIT!
SAY something COWARD! I KNOW you ain’t had a change of heart and just decided to catch up.
What the hell do you want?
Hazard:
This is not. . . the reaction I had prepared for.
Jocasta:
Oh for real?!
What, better part of a fuckin’ century ain’t enough PREP TIME for you??
MHE – PAGE 279
Jocasta:
I can’t believe you got the nerve to call.
I can’t believe I’m even-
You know I thought you were dead up ‘till like twenty years ago, yeah?
Hazard:
I was not aware you’d learned I was still alive, actually.
Jocasta:
Oh! OHH THAT makes it better! You were just gonna show up like a fuckin ghost?!
Hazard:
What have you heard of me?
How did you. . . How did you find out?
Jocasta:
You was in the papers!
Wasn’t even looking for you anymore then-
-You know, ‘cause I figured you been reduced to a bright blue plasma in some other dimension for GOD knows how long.
Had the city paper brought in from Tourmaline, wanted to see what they had in the way of sagestone that year.
And right there, front page, there was you!
Some fucking. . . some local story, nothing to do with you.
Standin’ in the background like some kinda moron, didn’t even know you were in the shot I don’t think.
You wanna think about what that was like, Raven?
MHE – PAGE 280
Hazard:
I’d prefer not to.
Jocasta:
How could you?
To me?
ME! YOU did this to ME!!
What the hell?!
I get it if you and Gideon fell out but you-
Why did you. . .
Hazard:
Jo, I
Jocasta:
And it wasn’t just you LEAVIN’. I could DEAL with that.
Runnin’ off on your wife is a dick move but, hey, you want out you want out. That’s fair.
Hazard:
Hubris please do we have to-
Jocasta:
We do! Yes!
YOU called me!
You KNEW I thought you’d died! You let me think it was my fault.
You hid from me, do you-
Did you even THINK ABOUT how thoroughly your bullshit would FUCK with me??
Hazard:
I would suppose the window for an apology has passed.
Jocasta:
It has.
. . . Anyway.
I did some digging.
‘Bout like you do when you figure out your best friend survived an apocalypse event through a goddamn FUCKING NEWSPAPER ARTICLE.
MHE – PAGE 281
Jocasta:
Wasn’t much to dig up, you’re using some stupid-ass fake name I guess.
But everything I DID find was disappointing.
You were goin’ around fuckin’ with these little. . .
Stealing starstone? Really?
You were the best sorcerer I ever met and you’re into petty thievery now?
You ditched me for a fuckin’ PAYDAY??
Hazard:
It has nothing to do with that.
Jocasta:
Oh!
And you had a kid with you! What’s that,
Find you someone else that ties you down the way you like?
Little long in the tooth for that ain’t you?
Hazard:
Eisse is my daughter, but not in the way you’re thinking. It’s. . . a long and difficult story.
I know your ego would appreciate the gesture so, no.
I haven’t found anyone else worth submitting to.
Though I can’t say I’ve cared to look.
Jocasta:
(Tch)
MHE – PAGE 282
Jocasta:
. . . Alright, look.
Much as I”m enjoying dumping some eight or nine decades of angst on you, I really got better shit to be doing.
I ain’t interested in patchin’ things up and I don’t think you are either, else you wouldn’t’ve waited this long.
What do you want from me?
Hazard:
I am. . .
Prolonging this segment because you won’t like me by the end of this conversation.
Jocasta:
You already disgust me in every way I can think of, can we speed this up maybe?
Hazard:
Hubris I missed you.
Jocasta:
Oh do not fuck with me man!
Hazard:
I am not even in the vicinity of fucking with you.
Jocasta:
Yeah well I missed YOU a couple times too the FIRST FIFTY FUCKING YEARS!!
BUT AFTER THAT I
Hazard:
I am dying.
Jocasta:
. . . Are you drunk?
Are you drunk calling your ex-wife? Is that where you’re at?
Hazard:
That would be a significant improvement.
MHE – PAGE 283
Jocasta:
Quit bein’ dramatic, you ain’t dyin’. You CAN’T die.
Hazard:
I most certainly can.
Jocasta:
I doubt it, ‘less Crow comes and rips out your heart his own self.
Hazard:
You’re not far off.
Jocasta:
What the fuck is THAT supposed to mean?
Hazard:
(Ha. . . . )
Jocasta:
Are. . . are you sick? What’s the deal?
Is that what this is? You need a housecall?
Hazard:
That would be far more than I deserve from you, darling.
Jocasta:
Then what the fuck?!
What is WRONG with you? Why would you show up after all this time to tell me you’re DYING?!
Hazard:
I’ve been thinking about this, my body, even after. . .
It wasn’t meant to last this long in the first place
Jocasta:
HORSESHIT!
You’re an idiot but you’re still a scientist, you know we don’t just fuckin’ fizzle out.
Not even. . .
MHE – PAGE 284
Jocasta:
NOt even if you do it yourself.
Someone. . . tried already. The star wouldn’t let the host die, it was a goddamn mess.
Hazard:
Wait, who
Jocasta:
It ain’t none of your fucking business who.
POint is, for YOU to die, someone else would have to kill you and stop your star from bringing you back.
So, no. You’re not dying,
All you’re doing is draggin’ me back through a bunch of fucked up shitI been workin’ real hard to forget.
If you WANTED to kill yourself you couldn’t do it.
Hazard:
. . . Not all at once, perhaps.
Jocasta:
What?
Hazard:
You haven’t seen me in some time, I’m not as pretty as I used to be.
Moonlight doesn’t sustain quite as well as sunshine, it seems.
It’s only a reflection, a memory of things bigger and brighter.
Much like myself.
Jocasta:
Oh fuckssake, Rave.
. . .
Y-
You know I never thought you were. . .
Hazard:
I know.
I know.
But what other fate could I have had, living in the shadow of a sun god?
Love of mine,
What was left for me but the dark?
MHE – PAGE 285
Jocasta:
You. . . you did something.
What did you DO?
Hazard:
I’ve been planning on killing Crow since we ended up here, but I think, mm. . .
The current plan was probably conceived shortly before you discovered me.
Jocasta:
Yeah well good luck with that. I don’t even know where he is, and he hasn’t aged a day all this time.
He’d be sorry to do it but he’d slaughter you if you made him.
Hazard:
I don’t doubt it.
Jocasta:
Then-! FUCK dude WHY are we even having this conversation?! What is your DAMAGE?!
Hazard:
The same as yours, in all likelihood.
You accepted my intent to kill our illustrious leader with an ease I find suspicious.
One might think you’d contemplated revenge yourself.
Jocasta:
Of course I did.
Of COURSE I did you idiot!
The only person I blamed more than myself for what happened to you was him.
You think I wouldn’t kill for you?
Hazard:
(Sigh)
Jocasta:
Hmph. Well.
Would’ve
I almost DID.
MHE – PAGE 286
Jocasta:
CROW came and found me as soon as the dust was settled, when the hurt was still fresh.
When I still thought you was worth bein’ mad over.
I beat the holy hell out of that man when he showed up at my door. He didn’t fight me much.
We talked some. I patched him up, a little bit.
We’re good now. We’re fine.
Hazard:
“FINE”?!
Don’t act like you weren’t as wounded as the rest of us
Jocasta:
What “us”!? Wasn’t no one else ALIVE to WOUND!
Hazard:
Wh- Surely Maggie-??
Jocasta:
Mags didn’t make it.
Hazard:
You’re. . .
You’re sure?
Jocasta:
Yes I am fuckin’ sure!
He never was a fighter. They finally caught him and they. . . they ate him alive.
I saw it. There wasn’t enough left of that poor boy to scrape up off the goddamn sidewalk.
Hazard:
I can’t believe it. . . I just assumed
Jocasta:
There’s no one, I would have felt them by now.
Only reason I never found YOU is ‘cause you’re HIDING from me.
. . . But that one wouldn’t’ve made me look to start with.
Maggie woulda come home running.
MHE – PAGE 287
Hazard:
. . . Yes, he would have.
I’m very sorry to hear this.
Jocasta:
Yeah I’m sure.
And where the hell do you get off – of fuckin’ course it hurt me!
You and me got the same raw deal, man. YOU just didn’t deal with it as good.
Hazard:
Ah! You’re right, I apologize!
The shouting and the banging around threw me off, but,
Clearly yours is the voice of a woman well-adjusted.
Jocasta:
WELL-ADJUSTED?!
I thought you were in HELL and it was MY FAULT!
What ADJUSTING makes that OKAY?!
But hey! Yeah! I’m doin’ a lot better than I SHOULD be! I kept going!
What have YOU been doing?!
See THIS is your-
You’re so goddamn BITTER and you expect everyone else to be too!
MHE – PAGE 288
Jocasta:
You’re too chickenshit to deal with your own problems and they FESTER!
Except NOW no on’es around to pull your all out of it and you’ve turned into whatever the FUCK this is
Hazard:
Your anger
Is explosive for one so critical of dwelling on the past.
I don’t think you’re in a position to reprimand anyone for letting anything fester.
Jocasta:
Say what you wanna say, asshole.
Hazard:
The absence of love is not hatred, my dear.
This is a very long time for you to stay angry at someone you claim you don’t care for.
I’ve been very patient with your venom because it is not unjustified.
But I’m sure you’ll understand if I have trouble accepting your criticism of my decisions when you’ve obviously got your OWN astringent petri dish of issues to dissect.
Narration:
A taste of paper
Scattering
Stars
Jocasta:
. . . .
Hazard:
I DO have more to say, if I may continue.
Jocasta:
Yeah.
Go.
MHE – PAGE 289
Hazard:
I’ve been. . . dabbling, in darker energy.
Voidmagic.
Ultimately, I know I couldn’t kill Crow on my own.
I have no misconception of the enormous difference between his power and mine.
But I thought, if I could plant a rot in his soul. . .
If I could cause his spirit to decay he would eventually erode himself away, like careless commanders tend to.
I could at least force him to live out his days the way I have.
I’ve been experimenting with the Tain-
Jocasta:
You been fuckin’ with THOSE GUYS??
W-wait-
The stone, you weren’t stealing it you were stirring up the Tain! You IDIOT!
Hazard:
But then
Just recently, an opportunity presented itself.
A stroke of providence entirely too brazen to be coincidence.
You seemed surprised I had a daughter
But, Jo,
I never thought the day would come when I would see a child wearing this old coat of yours.
MHE – PAGE 290
Jocasta:
H. . . hold on
Hazard:
Phineas.
Did she pick the name herself? Or was that your influence?
Hah, I can almost picture it.
The beautiful and terrible Jocasta Hubris,
Who stood at the sun’s right hand and still blazed bright enough to turn every eye to herself,
Whose furious fire destroyed entire warships and burned hot enough to drive away demons forged in hellfire furnaces. . .
Jocasta:
(Gh!)
Hazard:
Spending her evenings reading bedtime stories to a little girl.
I would not have believed it if I hadn’t seen her myself.
Jocasta:
You son of a BITCH.
Hazard:
While there are several intriguing details surrounding her existence, most immediately I was taken aback by her age.
She’s young for a commander, don’t you think, Hubris?
Even CROW didn’t make it official until he was seventeen, and you remember the mess he caused.
MHE – PAGE 291
Jocasta:
Wh-where is she? What did you do to her?!
Hazard:
Nothing yet she can’t handle, if my assumptions are correct.
I expect she’ll be along to meet with me shortly.
Jocasta:
MOTHERFUCKER
Hazard:
Before you get caught up in what I’m certain would be artisanally crafted threats on my life, I’m going to save you the trouble.
I know for a fact that you’ve been reaching out to look for me since this conversation began.
Of all people, you know I have had plenty of time to practice staying inaccessible to prying eyes EXACTLY like yours.
For matters of the heart you were an exceptional teacher.
Myself, my vessel, my location and especially our precocious little commander will remain unreachable until I decide otherwise.
And I do not decide otherwise, so, first.
Tell me.
How old was she, Jocasta?
Jocasta:
I –
It wasn’t-
MHE – PAGE 292
Jocasta:
I – I didn’t
Hazard:
How old,
Was she?
Phineas:
Help-!
HELP ME!
JOCASTA DO SOMETHING!!
Jocasta:
. . .
Eight.
She was eight.
Hazard:
And she lived?
Jocasta:
Yep.
Hazard:
So which one of you slit an eight year old’s throat?
Jocasta:
That’s NOT what happened!
There was- H – He had to-
Hazard:
Are you actually trying to defend his decision?!
MHE – PAGE 293
Jocasta:
She was DYING!
There was nothing else we could do!
Hazard:
What did he SAY to you?
What could he POSSIBLY have done to convince you to take part in this?
Your technique is nearly flawless, her scars may be hidden well enough from most people.
But I would recognize your magic anywhere.
I saw her closely, her neck
Her BACK.
That girl BURNED.
You’re a DOCTOR, you KNOW she had no business living after those wounds.
The recovery would have been agonizing even WITH you as a caretaker.
This was cruel.
Jocasta:
Are YOU seriously trying to lecture ME on morality?! What the FUCK do you even
Hazard:
All of that,
And you allowed him to convert her, on top of it?
THAT’S what I am not able to grasp really.
You’ve never exactly been discrete with your disdain for commanders.
Jocasta:
He. . . He asked her. . . first. .
Hazard:
Oh please! No eight year old is FIT to make that decision!
Jocasta:
It WASN’T FUCKING FAIR.
MHE – PAGE 294
Hazard:
FAIR?!
Jocasta:
This whole thing was fucked, Raven, it was a stupid coincidence and the kid didn’t deserve to die over it.
Hazard:
Are those YOUR words or HIS?
Jocasta:
Oh fuck off.
Hazard:
You AND Gideon have gotten SOFT, going through all this trouble to save a child that is not even YOURS.
I would sooner let my own daughter die than see her damned to suffer such a wretched existence.
What did the FAMILY have to say about this?
Jocasta:
We were in agreement.
Hazard:
No.
I don’t believe you would ever agree with the destruction of a child’s soul.
I think you ALLOWED it because YOU didn’t want her to DIE.
Jocasta:
Fuckin-!
NO!
I DIDN’T!!
For FUCKSSAKE MAN!
How many more am I supposed to-
I couldn’t-!
I couldn’t-
Her hands-
I couldn’t let go of her hands.
Hazard:
. . . I see. Well.
MHE – PAGE 295
Hazard:
We do know selfish better than anybody, don’t we?
Jocasta:
What the hell is WRONG with you?!
Why are you doing this to me? YOU LEFT.
Why do you CARE?!
Hazard:
I care because your actions have put you in the path of my revenge.
CROW’S actions have divided you and me, again.
. . . The details are not important.
For whatever reasons he has, little Phineas is clearly important to Gideon.
He even gave her his compass. As a pawn in some grand scheme or simply the latest addition to his collection of lost pets, he found SOME reason to risk himself for her.
Between your reaction to all of this and the girl’s when she heard me say his name, the nature of the relationship has become clear enough.
. . . You know how he hates when people touch his things.
I would say it’s a safe assumption that he would be quite upset if he found that something had happened to her.
I would say it’s a safe assumption that her painful death because of his misdeeds would rot him far more than any static darkness could.
Jocasta:
. . .
. . .
You wait. Just a sec. I need a smoke before I say this.
Hazard:
By all means.
MHE – PAGE 296
Narration:
Cinders
Hazard:
Made you mad enough for matches, huh?
Jocasta:
Woodfire’s better for a pipe.
But yeah, I’m some ways past made enough for matches.
That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?
I’m gonna tell you some stuff I don’t want to.
‘Cause you haven’t been takin’ me seriously and you really oughta be.
MHE – PAGE 297
Jocasta:
You and me had a lot between us that went bad real fuckin’ quick. Least on my side of things.
You know well as me that shit doesn’t just disappear. I don’t have any feelings for you left that ain’t sour.
To put it in perspective for you, me and Gideon are close again. I wasn’t lying about that earlier.
I made peace with the deaths, much as you can.
These gloves- My hands don’t itch me no more.
Ah-
You know, I kept my seeker lamp lit for you for, fuck. . .
First two, three years?
Crow said a bunch of times it wasn’t worth it.
Seems pretty stupid now, right? I was such an idiot.
But man, I was so sure, you know? I was so sure you were just lost out there someplace.
Just trying to find your way back to me. I thought if I kept lookin’-
A-hm!
If you’d been trying you couldn’t’ve cut me any deeper.
I still can’t forgive either of you for what happened to you and me.
Hazard:
EITHER of us??
You think I had anything-
Crow’s the one who caused this outcome. I was a victim
Jocasta:
Shut UP! You know why this pisses me off so goddamn bad??
MHE – PAGE 298
Hazard:
Tell me.
Jocasta:
‘Cause you KNOW better you STUPID FUCK.
I respected you so much, I married you, and THIS is what you turned out to be like? This whiny little bitch?
THIS is what I laid awake missing so many nights? You made a fool of us BOTH!
If you thought you were in the right, for real in the right? You woulda come to me first and asked for help.
That’s how a partnership works, That’s how we ALWAYS worked.
If you really thought you were doin’ the right thing you wouldn’t’ve run and hid from me.
You flaked out.
You ALWAYS got a choice. YOU decided to abandon me and turn into this disgusting weak caricature of yourself. Don’t try ‘n pin all this on Gideon.
Boo hoo, Gideon fucked up. But I was there too, and I didn’t run from YOU.
This outcome was COMPLETELY your decision.
Hazard:
You severely overestimate my opinion of you.
Jocasta:
You say that. . .
But facts are, you decided to kill yourself.
And then you called me.
MHE – PAGE 299
Jocasta:
And long as we’re psychoanalyzin’ here, I come to the conclusion you only contacted me now
‘Cause you want me to agree with you. Which I ain’t gonna do. You’re a disappointment, Raven Slight.
Hazard:
What about my behavior do you find so disappointing?
You know me, you know what I am capable of.
Out of everyone, I confess, I had expected YOU to understand me.
Jocasta:
I do. I did.
Watching you be. . . cold, cruel, even, is what made me fall in love with – ah, no.
Not your cruelty. The ambition that MADE you cruel, to anything in your way. You were beautiful.
I knew what you were. I knew what you could do.
I just didn’t think you would turn it back on me, is all.
No. Yeah. I’ll give it to you.
I did not think you would reduce me, and now someone I love, to collateral in your little feud.
I thought better of you than that. I thought I was more important to you than that.
My mistake.
Hazard:
Apparently so.
Jocasta:
(Hah)
Maaan but that’s petty as hell, ain’t it?
MHE – PAGE 300
Jocasta:
And unlike you, I got better shit to do than sitting around fixating on ancient history, comin’ up with. . .
Ugh, revenge fantasies, or whatever the fuck you’re tellin’ me about.
I’m gonna be pissed at you until we’re both dead, if that ever happens, and that’s just how it is.
But I decided years ago I’m not ever gonna come after you over it.
I don’t give a damn what you’re doin’ with yourself these days. You ain’t worth my time anymore.
Now you say you wanna go out and find Gideon and get your ass handed to you, that’s your deal. Go ahead.
None of my overemotional bullshit, none of your games. I don’t care.
But look.
You go after my girl and I’m gonna have to get involved.
There won’t be bones to bury by the time I’m through with you.
Hazard:
Darling you tease.
Jocasta:
STOP with the fuckin’ pet names and shit! I AIN’T your darling. I’m not your anything.
How’d you even FIND her? Me and Gideon BOTH took precautions to make sure assholes like YOU wouldn’t come after her.
You couldn’tve scouted her out even if you knew what you was lookin for.
Hazard:
Oh!
Oh, SHE found ME!
That’s the best part!
MHE – PAGE 301
Hazard:
She wants to take my ship! OUR ship!!
What are the odds? Don’t you see? This is fate!
Gideon has finally angered enough stars that they turn in my favor!
I cannot kill Gideon, I was going to give my life to only ATTEMPT to WOUND him.
But now I’ll be taking someone else with me, I’ll take something of his.
It will ruin him!
Jocasta:
She’s mine too.
If she’s anyone’s she’s mine, not his.
Hazard:
What were you expecting when she left, Hubris? Do you plan to sweep in and save her every time she mouths off to the wrong person?
This is exactly what she asked for
Jocasta:
No it’s not!
This is DIFFERENT and you KNOW IT, our mistakes have NOTHING to do with her.
I can’t believe you thought you could tell me all this and I WOULDN’T come rip you apart!
She did not ASK to be part of our bullshit, Raven.
Hazard:
Oh yes. How awful it would be to find oneself suffering because of someone else’s decisions.
. . . NO, this is not what any of us wanted, is it?
. . . That’s
MHE – PAGE 302
Hazard:
That’s why-
I –
This cannot be allowed to happen again.
Crow Gideon was never meant- NONE of us were ever meant to touch this world. His influence can only make it ILL.
He spreads poison wherever he goes, and now a child has eaten it. Neither of them can exist quietly. Whatever he intends for himself or for Phineas, HER intent to take the sun can only lead to destruction.
For the sake of this world, they both must die.
Jocasta:
Well shit, dude.
Stupid-ass kids go out chasin’ fairy tales every damn day. They get killed or they give up and go home ‘n get fat.
Me and Crow’s raisin’ her aside, Phin’s just a stupid-ass kid if I ever saw one. Like you said, she’ll probably get herself killed way before she gets anywhere.
What’s this little girl got you worked up for?
Hazard:
Because they are the same.
MHE – PAGE 303
Hazard:
Phineas Kidd is cut from the same cloth as Crow Gideon, it was obvious as soon as I saw her.
I wondered at first if perhaps she was this world’s equivalent to him, if there are in fact doppelgangers for us here.
She burns with the same intensity, the same infuriating arrogance rolls off of her in waves.
Phineas:
I SAID TAKE.
Hazard:
The same greed glints in her eye.
Crow must have seen it, and although you feign ignorance I know you see it too.
Don’t you?
Jocasta:
. . .
Hazard:
If Phineas Kidd wants to catch the sun, she will do so. Just like Gideon.
She will follow in his footsteps, she will make his mistakes, and she’ll take this whole universe with her when they finally catch up with her.
Even so. Think about it, Jocasta.
Would it not be kinder for her to die here, before she ends up like we did?
Jocasta:
(Hhhhffff)
. . . Know what?
I think you’re making Gideon out to be a monster the same way I made you into a monster.
MHE – PAGE 304
Hazard:
What do you mean?
Jocasta:
Means I think you’re full of shit, buddy. This ain’t justified, no matter what you wanna tell yourself.
But that’s not important. All I care about is you’re wanting to kill Phineas.
Hazard:
I am.
Jocasta:
See, I’m still missing something here. What do you get out of telling all this to me?
Do you WANT me to come kick your ass?
Are you trying to hurt me?
Hazard:
. . . She,
She is frighteningly similar to Gideon but, I see so much of you in her too.
The way she moves, the lilt in her cadence, the. . . the way she shines.
There is. . . always the chance that I could die. As I said before, my body is much more frail now than it once was.
Even at my best I never was a match for Crow.
My pride is not so important to me that I won’t admit I could die here. Not when it might cost me my only chance to. . .
Not when I’m so close.
I needed. . .
MHE – PAGE 305
Hazard:
I needed a messenger.
You’re the only one with any chance of reaching Crow, and it wouldn’t. . . it wouldn’t be worth anything if he didn’t know what had happened.
That I was the one who killed the girl, and why.
Jocasta:
. . .
You called me after all this time. . .
To tell me you’re gonna kill my kid, THEN kill the only friend I got left. . . and you want me to be your fallback plan?
Hazard:
I never wanted to be cruel to you.
But he took that option from me.
I accepted a long time ago that you were one of the things swept away in the wake of Crow Gideon.
I hate him more than I love you, anymore.
That’s why I couldn’t come back to you, it was. . . never anything you did.
But would you. . .
Would you believe me if I said I also wanted to hear your voice again?
MHE – PAGE 306
Hazard:
Even raised in anger. I don’t mind.
I’ve missed hearing you say my name, my real name. I’ve missed saying yours.
Jocasta:
SIGH
Well, you know.
She means more to me than this whole world does. She wants to tear it up I think that’s fine.
You go through with this?
I don’t know how long you’d need to burn before that thing in your head finally let you die.
But I imagine Phin bein’ gone would free up plenty of my time to figure it out.
Get fucked.
MHE – PAGE 307
Narration:
A scattering
Of