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[ecks]

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@notasidekick; audio; afternoon 181

[nursetemple]

[Claire continues her checking up on people with Ecks, keeping it to audio when she finds the corner of a room to sit in and contact a few people. She's concerned for Ecks, for several reasons.]

Hello Ecks, it's Claire. I just wanted to check in on you, hear if you're doing okay. Last night was...well, it was something, for sure. How are you? Do you need anything?

audio; afternoon 181

[ecks]

[The voice on the other end is a near monotone, Ecks's inner turmoil masked by lack of expression.]

I am alive. I am alive and I think that I am still a person.

[nursetemple]

I'm glad. What makes you think you wouldn't be a person anymore?

[ecks]

People make choices.

[She knows better than that, though.]

Doctor Watson says that that is not the only thing that makes me a person and no one can make me stop being a person but I did not act like a person last night.

[nursetemple]

Because you were...violent? People do that, too. They're still persons. You think, and you act upon your decisions. Just that makes you a person. Doctor Watson is right.

[ecks]

I acted on someone else's decisions. I did not act on my decisions. I have a rule book.

[nursetemple]

Last night, we all acted on someone else's decisions. It doesn't count.

Do you need a rule book?

[ecks]

That is what people said when we moved at night, but I did not remember moving. I remember last night.

I need a rule book because otherwise I will not know what is right and what is wrong and I might follow someone else's decisions.

[nursetemple]

So you think it was you? Last night?

Who decides what is wrong and what is right, though? Are you the one making that decision? How do you come to it?

[ecks]

I do not want to be a murderer
but I did not try not to be a murderer last night
Doctor Watson tried

I decide the rules when I think about what would be right if another person did or did not do the thing the rule is about to me

[nursetemple]

Ecks, listen to me. I'm not a murderer, either. My whole life is about saving people. And yet last night, I wanted to hurt people. It's not your fault, you weren't yourself. None of us were. Watson is much older than you, and spent a lot of his life learning how to control himself. Last night was not you.

[Claire's voice is firm, but still gentle.]

Do you mind telling me a few of your rules? Are there any rules about your own well-being?

[ecks]

Davesprite says that last night I was a tool

[He said it in a nice, reassuring way, actually.]

Murder
-Murder is the act of killing another thinking being.
-It is wrong to murder other people without good reason. ^or permission*
-Acceptable reasons for murder:
Defense of self (?)
Defense of others
If someone tries to kill you, kill them first or run.
-Unacceptable reasons for murder:

*murder is typically an unacceptable act because most thinking creatures do not want to die. If a thinking creature chooses to die, murder is acceptable in that instance.


I have rules about murder, theft, friends, and secrets.

[nursetemple]

[Claire takes a long time to consider the rules laid out here, logical and rational, but still allowing so many loopholes. When she replies, it's with a measured tone.]

What about revenge? Say, you are attacked, but not murdered, and you did not kill your attacker, either. A few weeks pass, and you meet with your attacker again. Does the self defense rule still apply? Or will you move on?

[It's part fascination that has Claire ask these questions, but also interest, in knowing that Ecks has considered different options, knows what's laid out in front of her. She wants to be a person, and Claire wants to help her.]

oops, let's pretend I only switched to text for the rules

[ecks]

No.

[The word doesn't sound any more anguished than the rest of Ecks's inexpressive speech, but it sure is louder.]

Defense is when not killing the other person means they will kill you or another person. It is not when they killed another person before.

[That wasn't quite the question, Ecks.]

[nursetemple]

Even if that person is you?

[Claire pauses, pursing her lips.]

I'm sorry, Ecks. I'm not needling you, I'm just trying to understand. It's a good rule to have, not to murder indiscriminately. But it might have some loopholes.

[ecks]

I can write more specific sub-rules.

I do not intend to murder anyone else.

[nursetemple]

You killed someone before?

[ecks]

[Uh oh.]

...Define before.

[nursetemple]

Hm.

[That's answer enough, Ecks.]

In Norfinbury?

[ecks]

[The clarification doesn't even help her. Or maybe it does? There was only one in Norfinbury.]

Yes. One time. I do not want to again.

[nursetemple]

But it was self-defense?

[Claire bites her lip for a moment.]

I'm not judging you, by the way. I understand - the urge.

[ecks]

[There is a long, painful pause.]

It was not self defense.

[nursetemple]

Oh. It was before your rules, then, wasn't it?

[She's not going to ask why.]

[ecks]

[She might want to ask why in a moment. Ecks goes silent again, and when she replies her voice is fainter, like she's put the tablet down.]

It was not before my rules.

[Not the one that happened in Norfinbury.]

[nursetemple]

Huh.

[A pause. She does want to ask why.]

Well...may I ask why you did it?