[video] rebel without a cause

[maddest]

What an exciting week!

In light of all the discussion, Adstringendum, let's chat- who would you trust to nominate as ombudsman?

Comments

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[al_truism]

[Al settles his chin in his hand and closes his eyes.]

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Listen to this.

[Playing back part of the thread between himself and Jean Louis.]

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[al_truism]

[Al nods, listening carefully, eyes still closed.]

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

When people get anxious, nervous, angry or tense- it physically tightens their body, including their throats and voices. As much as we fight to control it, you can hear the change in pitch.

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[al_truism]

[Nodding again, breathing slowly to listen.]

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Here.

[Replaying two of his own comments.]

It's actually easier, sometimes, to choose longer words when you're about to explode. Spread the emotion out over them, slow and easy, rather than one sharp burst of a 'no.'

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[al_truism]

I don't think I've heard you this upset in a while.

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

It bothers me.

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[al_truism]

Why?

[Not because he doesn't know, but because he wants to know what it means to Break.]

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Because I have seen how very wrong it can go.

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[al_truism]

... I have too. So has the Colonel, even more than me.

[Al leans onto the table.]

Tell me more about the voices?

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Here.

[Going back to one of their own threads- a fight about Lucifer.]

You give yourself away when your voice rises.

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[al_truism]

And word choice. I'm more aggressive and direct.

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd noticed that too.

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[al_truism]

You're actually more elaborate in your word choice. It fits with what you said earlier.

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

I do get rather- precise, don't I?

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[al_truism]

You're always are, when you speak.

So we also pay attention to how people normally speak as well?

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Of course. You can't see anything without a baseline.

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[al_truism]

It sounds like you'd spent time studying this.

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

I used to seek out fugitives, remember?

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[al_truism]

I still have trouble looking at you as a police-type.

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Rogue spy turncoat?

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[al_truism]

Not a turncoat. You're too honest for that.

[Yes. He means that.]

But a rogue spy, absolutely.

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[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

But I am, technically. I'm an illegal contractor, remember? Wanted by the same organization I work for.

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[al_truism]

One thing happened before the other. And those were specific circumstances.

[It's hard not to reach for him. Al hesitates, staring at the tabletop.]

Hungry? I'm getting there.