Challenge #01646-D185: Two Big Tells
I've only ignored a wise and powerful being saying "are you sure you want to do that?" once in all my lives, and I regretted it for the rest of that existence. On the other hand, ignoring it from beings who may be powerful, but only think they're wise? Done that dozens of times. The trick is telling the difference. -- RecklessPrudence
Since they were at the mercy of a seemingly wise and powerful being, Holly leaned over to whisper in the Doctor's ear. "And you're sure you've got the trick of being able to tell... right?"
"I said I only did it once," murmured the Doctor.
"There's always a second time, isn't there?"
"Oh ye who doubt," he grumbled. "The thing with beings who think they're wise and powerful," lectured the Doctor, "is that they can't bear to hear anyone telling them that they're wrong. So they surround themselves with sycophants, toadies, and yes-men."
The apparent godling's cohort began to look a little nervous. Some of them had the sense to start slowly sidling towards a convenient exit.
"Second big clue - wise people know they can't know everything and are eager to learn. How often has this one told me to shut up when I was sharing some knowledge about?"
"Everyone tells you to shut up," countered Holly. "Otherwise you'd be infodumping until everything rotted away."
The Doctor spared a moment to glare at her. "That's a base and accurate truth. But the nice ones attempt to steer me back on track and the nasty ones..."
"Silence, worm," sneered the apparently wise and powerful being.
"...say that." He made a little flourish with one hand that encapsulated Quod Erat Demonstrandum and gave Holly a smug smirk. "See? It's really very easy. In fact, there was this one time when--"
"Doctor..." reminded Holly. "We're kind of being threatened here?"
He startled. "Oh. Yes. Well. Not really. Half of his cohort have absconded and the other half are pretty much useless. Plus we already sabotaged the death ray, remember?"
The apparently wise and powerful being pressed a button on his throne. Twice. Thrice. Hammered at it with his fists and finally, finally roared, "GUARDS! SIEZE THEM!"
The remaining sycophants and toadies began sneaking out of the room. And, as it turned out, the guards were smarter. They'd already left.
"I'm not quite sorry," said the Doctor, "but it seems like your ivory tower is falling apart. There's still time to fix things, and I want to help you. There's so much good you can still--"
The seemingly wise and powerful being left his throne and ran away. Shedding his raiments as he went.
"Hmph," said the Doctor. "No stomach for the inevitable revolution, it seems."
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / andegro4ka]
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