067 x 760 // video // mirror mirror

[dignity_misery]

[ It is a rare sighting of a calm Carla. She's sitting, perched on top of a wooden stool, paintbrush poised. The odd thing about the scene is that she's in front of a sink, which leads one to believe... she is probably painting on the mirror. ]

You know what you are.

[She has occasionally been notorious for her unsolicited advice, and here is another dollop.]

You don't forget. You see it, every single day.

[Hyper focused on her work, she doesn't take her eyes away from where she is blotting out whatever it is she sees in that mirror. She makes a few more strokes before she picks up the camera and turns it on the piece:]

Comments

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[trenchknives]

Yeah, maybe we're all ugly, but those paintings're pretty damn beautiful.

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[dignity_misery]

Ugly too, I hope.

[That was Carla's style, always a little harsh, always a little warped.]

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[trenchknives]

Things can be both, right? Ugly 'n beautiful at the same time.

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[dignity_misery]

They can.

[She agrees, a bit distracted.]

Apparently... it's better that way. He always told me I was too perfect to be beautiful.

[He. That guy she ate.]

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[trenchknives]

I dunno about that. I think you're beautiful.

[It's not really an attempt at flattering, just a statement of opinion.]

Besides, nobody's perfect, right?

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[dignity_misery]

Nobody's perfect.

[She wouldn't have agreed with that, once upon a time, but she's made her way to the conclusion, slowly.]

Do you know what your greatest flaw is?

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[trenchknives]

My greatest flaw? I got a ton of 'em. I'd say my two biggest ones're runnin' away from my problems 'n worryin' too much about livin' up to other people's standards. What're yours?

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[dignity_misery]

[It really doesn't take her any thought to answer,]

Arrogance.

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[trenchknives]

Yeah, I got that one too. But arrogance ain't always such a bad thing, in my opinion.

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[dignity_misery]

Only when it gets you killed.

[Or maybe it was being a treacherous bitch that had gotten her killed, who knows.]

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[trenchknives]

It does get me killed. When -- if -- I go back home, I mean. I'm gonna die there.

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[dignity_misery]

When did you find out that?

[...she carries on painting, although she might add some extra blood just for him.]

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[trenchknives]

Awhile back. Disappeared from here for a couple days, which was eight months in my time, 'n everythin' at home went to shit. Right before I showed up here I was supposed to be meetin' up with a guy who... He was gonna kill me. I knew it. I was prepared for it. But instead I'm back here, y'know? 'n if I go back home, it'll be goin' right back to that time, right before he fuckin' kills me.

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[dignity_misery]

And why was he going to kill you?

[She's bad with sympathy, tact, she wants the juicy goods.]

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[trenchknives]

Because I got too goddamned cocky. I started workin' with his enemies, guys who wanted to kill him, 'n I went along with their ideas, mostly, 'n I ended up gettin' screwed both ways, 'cause no one ended up trustin' me.

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[dignity_misery]

[The corner of her mouth lifts, a smile.]

Sounds about right.

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[trenchknives]

So that's you 'n me, I guess. Too arrogant for our own goods sometimes.

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[dignity_misery]

You shouldn't worry about living up to anyone.

[Going back to a previous thread.]

It's pointless.

[And another dollop of unsolicited advice.]

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[trenchknives]

I know. But that doesn't mean it's an easy habit to break.

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[dignity_misery]

No, it isn't.

[Maybe he should try eating someone.]

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[trenchknives]

How'd you do it? You never seem to care what people're thinkin'.

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[dignity_misery]

I'm a very good liar.

[She says this methodically while adding layers and shadow to her painting.]

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[trenchknives]

Yeah, you are.

[That's not a bad thing. It's just true.]

I ain't so great at it.

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[dignity_misery]

It helps to not care about being honest, and ruthlessly selfish.

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[trenchknives]

Well, I'd like to be more dishonest, 'n more selfish, sometimes.

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[dignity_misery]

You can lie to me, it's fine.

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[trenchknives]

What if I don't wanna lie to you?

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[dignity_misery]

That might be a little boring, Jimmy.

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[trenchknives]

Yeah, you're right, it probably would be. 'n y'know the last thing I wanna do is be borin'.

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[dignity_misery]

[A whispered reminder, half-smiling.]

You don't care what I think.

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[trenchknives]

Sure, that's right, I don't give a fuck what you think.

[That's bullshit. But hey, she said he could lie to her.]

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[dignity_misery]

Sure you don't.

[Just a grin, no complaints.]

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[trenchknives]

Not so believable, huh? I'll work on it.