I never understood why; I thought he was an ass, a jerk... Maybe he was looking for power or to get a reputation, but-
[ Alan shakes his head; he remembers feeling rage directed at Hartman and even hating him and thinking he was an evil person. Part of him still feels that way, but he's seen what the Dark Presence does and seen how it digs its way into a person. Maybe it dug out the worst parts of Hartman and used those to its advantage. ]
Even then, I can't understand why anyone would jump into the Lake just because they could. I had my reasons for doing it; Alice didn't have a choice. Hartman had a choice, and I think he made the wrong one.
[ Alan's expression shifts to something thoughtful but still worried. The Dark Presence isn't gone, and neither is the Dark Place, and as far as he can tell, the Hiss are still out there too. Parasites. ]
How do you fight the Hiss? You can't kill them like you can kill a person with a gun. [ Maybe that was a bad choice of words, because suddenly Alan remembers staring down the barrel of a gun more than once. He doesn't remember being struck with a bullet, but it probably happened even though he forgot about it. ]
I know you're not going to lock me up, but you still can, if you decide you need to. [ He's still giving her free rein to do that, not that he expects her to ever accept his offer and play that card. ] I don't know if the Dark Presence can reach me here, or-
[ A thought occurs to him then and his expression seems to tighten as he realizes what could possibly happen. For now, though, he tries to put it from his mind and he tries to shift his expression back to something more neutral. ]
A manuscript page under the door... I think I remember it, or parts of it. Maybe I just remember writing the page but not what's on it. [ He hates how spotty his memory is. There's things he should know, and he remembers them in part, but whenever he tries to fill in the blanks, nothing happens. ]
Well, I can't wait to meet him, and anyone else around there that you want me to meet.
[ But do they want to meet me?
Alan wouldn't blame anyone there for being skeptical, even apprehensive around him. ]
no subject
[ Alan shakes his head; he remembers feeling rage directed at Hartman and even hating him and thinking he was an evil person. Part of him still feels that way, but he's seen what the Dark Presence does and seen how it digs its way into a person. Maybe it dug out the worst parts of Hartman and used those to its advantage. ]
Even then, I can't understand why anyone would jump into the Lake just because they could. I had my reasons for doing it; Alice didn't have a choice. Hartman had a choice, and I think he made the wrong one.
[ Alan's expression shifts to something thoughtful but still worried. The Dark Presence isn't gone, and neither is the Dark Place, and as far as he can tell, the Hiss are still out there too. Parasites. ]
How do you fight the Hiss? You can't kill them like you can kill a person with a gun. [ Maybe that was a bad choice of words, because suddenly Alan remembers staring down the barrel of a gun more than once. He doesn't remember being struck with a bullet, but it probably happened even though he forgot about it. ]
I know you're not going to lock me up, but you still can, if you decide you need to. [ He's still giving her free rein to do that, not that he expects her to ever accept his offer and play that card. ] I don't know if the Dark Presence can reach me here, or-
[ A thought occurs to him then and his expression seems to tighten as he realizes what could possibly happen. For now, though, he tries to put it from his mind and he tries to shift his expression back to something more neutral. ]
A manuscript page under the door... I think I remember it, or parts of it. Maybe I just remember writing the page but not what's on it. [ He hates how spotty his memory is. There's things he should know, and he remembers them in part, but whenever he tries to fill in the blanks, nothing happens. ]
Well, I can't wait to meet him, and anyone else around there that you want me to meet.
[ But do they want to meet me?
Alan wouldn't blame anyone there for being skeptical, even apprehensive around him. ]