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"But you were in contact with him?"
Even after all of that. Even after he watched us.
Out of all of the things Yomi had missed out on while she'd been sleeping and healing and pulling herself back together (the sesshouseki's work more than hers), this was news that struck her the most. That Nigredo seemed to be in the cross hairs of Landel's little monster experiment was second in line to the revelation that Albedo had taken on an assignment from the circus ringleader himself.
She thought about this for a moment, and then of all things to escape her mouth there came a laugh. Her hand went to her forehead. Dragging her fingers through her bangs, she released a breath. "So that's what you've been up to. Protecting your brother yet again. All Landel has to do is pluck that string and situations like this happen, I suppose."
Yomi, of all people, knew what happened when you pushed people into a corner and made them choose between life and love. She'd been a victim of brotherly devotion once already. But was there any guarantee these victims would come back as she had?
They were rather cruel creatures, talking about these things without a flicker of reserve.
"Are you asking me just for the company or because you think I'll protect Nigredo again, too?" she inquired, sweeping hair aside in order to let her hand drop.
Even after all of that. Even after he watched us.
Out of all of the things Yomi had missed out on while she'd been sleeping and healing and pulling herself back together (the sesshouseki's work more than hers), this was news that struck her the most. That Nigredo seemed to be in the cross hairs of Landel's little monster experiment was second in line to the revelation that Albedo had taken on an assignment from the circus ringleader himself.
She thought about this for a moment, and then of all things to escape her mouth there came a laugh. Her hand went to her forehead. Dragging her fingers through her bangs, she released a breath. "So that's what you've been up to. Protecting your brother yet again. All Landel has to do is pluck that string and situations like this happen, I suppose."
Yomi, of all people, knew what happened when you pushed people into a corner and made them choose between life and love. She'd been a victim of brotherly devotion once already. But was there any guarantee these victims would come back as she had?
They were rather cruel creatures, talking about these things without a flicker of reserve.
"Are you asking me just for the company or because you think I'll protect Nigredo again, too?" she inquired, sweeping hair aside in order to let her hand drop.
In the end, they were all able to slip by without detection, and Kratos breathed a sigh of relief as he hurried to catch up with the other two. Even though he'd volunteered to stay behind, he had been really hoping that a fight, or really anything that would risk either of his arms, could be avoided. For once, they'd had a spot of luck.
Regrouping turned out to be an easy task, given Castiel's current state of health; for a second, he considered offering his assistance, but seeing as the angel had already rejected his friend's help, he decided initially that perhaps he ought to just mind his own business for the time being.
Kratos had only taken a few steps forward, though, when he changed his mind. Deny things though he might, in this case, playing dumb was not the appropriate course of action. They needed to get to Rapunzel's room quickly, and Castiel needed to save his strength for the actual operation--reason enough to help, even if that came at the cost of losing face.
He fell back behind the angel. "Will you be able to walk on your own? We can't afford to linger here either."
Regrouping turned out to be an easy task, given Castiel's current state of health; for a second, he considered offering his assistance, but seeing as the angel had already rejected his friend's help, he decided initially that perhaps he ought to just mind his own business for the time being.
Kratos had only taken a few steps forward, though, when he changed his mind. Deny things though he might, in this case, playing dumb was not the appropriate course of action. They needed to get to Rapunzel's room quickly, and Castiel needed to save his strength for the actual operation--reason enough to help, even if that came at the cost of losing face.
He fell back behind the angel. "Will you be able to walk on your own? We can't afford to linger here either."
He watched her for a moment, trying to figure out what she was asking with that. He had been in contact with the man, because Albedo understood. From the moment Nigredo had thought to read those older transcripts aloud, Albedo had understood the way the man played his game. Because a little subtler, a little more extreme, and Albedo would do some of the same. There was nothing personal in the acts, and if Albedo's life and love happened to be the cause or effect, it was just a movement to be made, a shift to slip past.
He had said it to her, after all. That night. It was all a dance in the end; a game to play for the pawns present. And Albedo, if nothing more, intended to win what he wanted.
So she was given a thin smile for the question, an indescribable look and a tilt of his head, and then he deigned to answer her second one instead. "I didn't think it was about Nigredo at all for you," he answered truthfully. "Now or that night. I'm asking you," he said lowly, eyes bright in the dark halls. "Because I enjoy you."
An answer good enough or not, but Albedo had already caught a glimpse of a man shuffling along, a hand to his stomach. Prey by any other name. He raised his eyebrows slightly at her, in casual invitation, then inclined his head to the man, moving as if to follow. He glanced back at her, watching.
He had said it to her, after all. That night. It was all a dance in the end; a game to play for the pawns present. And Albedo, if nothing more, intended to win what he wanted.
So she was given a thin smile for the question, an indescribable look and a tilt of his head, and then he deigned to answer her second one instead. "I didn't think it was about Nigredo at all for you," he answered truthfully. "Now or that night. I'm asking you," he said lowly, eyes bright in the dark halls. "Because I enjoy you."
An answer good enough or not, but Albedo had already caught a glimpse of a man shuffling along, a hand to his stomach. Prey by any other name. He raised his eyebrows slightly at her, in casual invitation, then inclined his head to the man, moving as if to follow. He glanced back at her, watching.
[From here.]
He didn't take his eyes away from the direction where the monster was until he noticed the group had stumbled into the first main hallway, meaning they were some distance away now in a place that potentially held new dangers. At least their original threat didn't seem to be following them yet. Zero could lower his gun and enjoy having strained ears for a few seconds of peace.
Only a few seconds. "We have to keep moving," he commented gruffly (as if it weren't obvious enough), turning to face his companions. As he looked at them, his eyes checked over their bodies for injuries. Harpuia looked to be the only one with an obvious wound. Otherwise, they were alive, and that was most important. (Meanwhile, scolding X for the obvious could wait until after they got moving again.) "Everyone okay?"
He didn't take his eyes away from the direction where the monster was until he noticed the group had stumbled into the first main hallway, meaning they were some distance away now in a place that potentially held new dangers. At least their original threat didn't seem to be following them yet. Zero could lower his gun and enjoy having strained ears for a few seconds of peace.
Only a few seconds. "We have to keep moving," he commented gruffly (as if it weren't obvious enough), turning to face his companions. As he looked at them, his eyes checked over their bodies for injuries. Harpuia looked to be the only one with an obvious wound. Otherwise, they were alive, and that was most important. (Meanwhile, scolding X for the obvious could wait until after they got moving again.) "Everyone okay?"
"I am, but Harpuia's..."
The adrenalin from the encounter had begun to fade, leaving X's head thumping and his body jumpy, as though there were hundreds of needles poking into every limb at once, and the only way to shake them off was to move.
Too bad there was a fat chance of that.
His heart was hammering, his stomach clenched, and his head was spinning...
But his mind was calm.
Calm, and already thinking over what happened as he leaned against Harpuia for support.
Even though he was wounded, Harpuia refused to leave him behind. X somehow knew it would be the case, but with what they were up against, not leaving him was risky. What if the...patient...(patient. What the hell did Landel do here?! Why did he do this?! Anger coiled in his stomach, burning hot and refusing to leave at the simple thought of the man) had brushed off Zero's shots and headed straight for them as Harpuia had dragged him off? What if...
Well, whatever could have happened, it didn't, and X couldn't have been happier for that.
But his eyes still flicked to his companion's arm.
It was for reasons like these that he had hoped to grab some medical supplies while he was out. Admittedly, X didn't know much about human medical procedure, but there had to be something they could do for his arm, if only to just wrap it.
Much like what Harpuia had done for him the night before, when he was...more than a little reckless.
And you weren't a few minutes ago? Did you really think they would have let you act as bait? And did you really think you would have gotten away unscathed?
Not unscathed, but he wasn't made of glass, even with his leg. He could have at least distracted him until they were far enough away.
...
Though looking at Harpuia's arm, probably not.
"When we get to a safe place, we need to get him taken care of."
The adrenalin from the encounter had begun to fade, leaving X's head thumping and his body jumpy, as though there were hundreds of needles poking into every limb at once, and the only way to shake them off was to move.
Too bad there was a fat chance of that.
His heart was hammering, his stomach clenched, and his head was spinning...
But his mind was calm.
Calm, and already thinking over what happened as he leaned against Harpuia for support.
Even though he was wounded, Harpuia refused to leave him behind. X somehow knew it would be the case, but with what they were up against, not leaving him was risky. What if the...patient...(patient. What the hell did Landel do here?! Why did he do this?! Anger coiled in his stomach, burning hot and refusing to leave at the simple thought of the man) had brushed off Zero's shots and headed straight for them as Harpuia had dragged him off? What if...
Well, whatever could have happened, it didn't, and X couldn't have been happier for that.
But his eyes still flicked to his companion's arm.
It was for reasons like these that he had hoped to grab some medical supplies while he was out. Admittedly, X didn't know much about human medical procedure, but there had to be something they could do for his arm, if only to just wrap it.
Much like what Harpuia had done for him the night before, when he was...more than a little reckless.
And you weren't a few minutes ago? Did you really think they would have let you act as bait? And did you really think you would have gotten away unscathed?
Not unscathed, but he wasn't made of glass, even with his leg. He could have at least distracted him until they were far enough away.
...
Though looking at Harpuia's arm, probably not.
"When we get to a safe place, we need to get him taken care of."
"What?" Harpuia hadn't quite caught Zero's question; his ears were still ringing from those gunshots. Another reason to be resentful of this new body, then; as a reploid, he'd called down lightning countless times and never so much as flinched at the thunderclaps that followed it. A few little bangs shouldn't have impacted him in any way.
Well, X's response filled in enough of the blanks, anyway. He followed X's stare down to the arm that the patient had clawed up. The cuts were bleeding freely -- that could be troublesome, if he ended up leaving a trail that could be followed -- but the wounds themselves... that was nothing Harpuia minded. A steady, sharp sting that seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat. Sensation in its purest, rawest form.
"It looks worse than it is. You don't need to be concerned about me," he said simply. "Let's head for the second floor. I was told where I could find a weapon there; if we get caught by surprise again, I'd at least like us to be a little more well-prepared."
...And a little more "not eager to throw our lives away at the first hint of danger," too. That particular lecture was on the tip of Harpuia's tongue, just waiting to be made once they were all safe, but he held himself back. He'd gotten plenty of scolding done the previous night, but Harpuia was in no position to talk about self-sacrificing being unwise without making a massive hypocrite of himself. He instead looked over to Zero, hoping eyes would be enough to convey the point: this one's all yours.
Well, X's response filled in enough of the blanks, anyway. He followed X's stare down to the arm that the patient had clawed up. The cuts were bleeding freely -- that could be troublesome, if he ended up leaving a trail that could be followed -- but the wounds themselves... that was nothing Harpuia minded. A steady, sharp sting that seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat. Sensation in its purest, rawest form.
"It looks worse than it is. You don't need to be concerned about me," he said simply. "Let's head for the second floor. I was told where I could find a weapon there; if we get caught by surprise again, I'd at least like us to be a little more well-prepared."
...And a little more "not eager to throw our lives away at the first hint of danger," too. That particular lecture was on the tip of Harpuia's tongue, just waiting to be made once they were all safe, but he held himself back. He'd gotten plenty of scolding done the previous night, but Harpuia was in no position to talk about self-sacrificing being unwise without making a massive hypocrite of himself. He instead looked over to Zero, hoping eyes would be enough to convey the point: this one's all yours.
Yomi looked the boy over, shielded from the worst of her doubts by the sesshouseki's veil of antipathy. She was beginning to think that Albedo didn't think at all. The worst kind of person was someone convinced they were being clever when they really weren't, but then she could hardly expect wisdom from children.
She wasn't in a position to judge, regardless. She'd proven herself quite unclever, too.
"That's a sweet sentiment," she said, and then without warning she moved forward, hand outstretched to ruffle silken hair. Invited on a hunting expedition by a little boy who liked her enough to kill her and include her in his hobbies. Normal siblings did at least one of those things, didn't they?
As for what to do.... well, was there any reason to say no? Running the infected prisoners to ground wasn't like the Coliseum--it was more like trash clean-up. Without a cure, they were only in the way in the long run.
Besides that, Albedo had posed an interesting quandary with news of Landel's meddling.
[to here]
She wasn't in a position to judge, regardless. She'd proven herself quite unclever, too.
"That's a sweet sentiment," she said, and then without warning she moved forward, hand outstretched to ruffle silken hair. Invited on a hunting expedition by a little boy who liked her enough to kill her and include her in his hobbies. Normal siblings did at least one of those things, didn't they?
As for what to do.... well, was there any reason to say no? Running the infected prisoners to ground wasn't like the Coliseum--it was more like trash clean-up. Without a cure, they were only in the way in the long run.
Besides that, Albedo had posed an interesting quandary with news of Landel's meddling.
[to here]
[from here]
She had quick eyes of her own, and before Albedo could say any more she fell into step with him, having noticed the tense body language of the figure passing by long before he moved close enough to see what was actually amiss. Rashes, right? The experiment victims were showing rashes? It was a little hard to spot such a thing in the dark, but Yomi hadn't gone through her training for nothing. She and Albedo were likely picking up on the same signals.
Yomi supposed her answer to Albedo's invitation was clear enough when she stared after the man in turn. There were worse ways to spend her time and one could hardly find a more willing partner in crime than a Category A. Looking back to Albedo, she waited for his opening move.
"How many symptoms are the sick ones showing now?" she asked. Confirmation was integral, as always. "I haven't been paying as close attention as some people."
She had quick eyes of her own, and before Albedo could say any more she fell into step with him, having noticed the tense body language of the figure passing by long before he moved close enough to see what was actually amiss. Rashes, right? The experiment victims were showing rashes? It was a little hard to spot such a thing in the dark, but Yomi hadn't gone through her training for nothing. She and Albedo were likely picking up on the same signals.
Yomi supposed her answer to Albedo's invitation was clear enough when she stared after the man in turn. There were worse ways to spend her time and one could hardly find a more willing partner in crime than a Category A. Looking back to Albedo, she waited for his opening move.
"How many symptoms are the sick ones showing now?" she asked. Confirmation was integral, as always. "I haven't been paying as close attention as some people."
[From here.]
With the darkened battle left behind him, Sechs slowed his pace down slightly as he stumbled to keep up his balance. Damnit...! That little sprint he made earlier had taken more energy than usual out of him. Even the dark presence inside his spine and mind was growing stronger. He could hear it jeering and hissing into his ear as he continued down the hall. "That could have been you back there y'know..." it said with vindictive pleasure.
"Sh-shut up..." was all Sechs could mutter to the parasite beneath his heavy breaths. He couldn't let the drug slow him down or mess up his direction. He had to keep going...
[To here.]
With the darkened battle left behind him, Sechs slowed his pace down slightly as he stumbled to keep up his balance. Damnit...! That little sprint he made earlier had taken more energy than usual out of him. Even the dark presence inside his spine and mind was growing stronger. He could hear it jeering and hissing into his ear as he continued down the hall. "That could have been you back there y'know..." it said with vindictive pleasure.
"Sh-shut up..." was all Sechs could mutter to the parasite beneath his heavy breaths. He couldn't let the drug slow him down or mess up his direction. He had to keep going...
[To here.]
Edited 2012-08-26 04:09 (UTC)
Zero got Harpuia's look, alright, but he wasn't ready to give any lectures, either. At least, not yet. Their present situation was too messy to be sitting around talking for too long. They just escaped from a monster which could follow them here at any moment, and one of their own was injured. So arming his allies was priority number one; continuing to protect them from further harm was priority number two. Scolding X for being reckless? A little further down the priority list.
But soon...
"I know what you're talking about. The upstairs closet... I found some decent supplies up there before." A metal pipe, for starters, and also a flashlight. There were other things in there, but Zero hadn't had enough time to examine them all before that particular night ended. In any case, it was a good start for these two.
"Then let's go there now. We need to keep moving," he repeated, eying the stairwell across the hall impatiently. "That thing is faster than we are, and we don't need anyone else throwing themselves at it recklessly." ...Okay, so he managed to sneak in an indirect scolding after all, complete with a look briefly shot at X. But no full scoldings yet. The quicker they got to that closet, the better. They didn't need any more injuries.
Though speaking of that... The first aid kit he had in his pocket...wonder if that would help Harpuia's arm any...? (However one would use half of the things that were in it.) But once again, it was something that could be discussed after they got moving. Not before.
But soon...
"I know what you're talking about. The upstairs closet... I found some decent supplies up there before." A metal pipe, for starters, and also a flashlight. There were other things in there, but Zero hadn't had enough time to examine them all before that particular night ended. In any case, it was a good start for these two.
"Then let's go there now. We need to keep moving," he repeated, eying the stairwell across the hall impatiently. "That thing is faster than we are, and we don't need anyone else throwing themselves at it recklessly." ...Okay, so he managed to sneak in an indirect scolding after all, complete with a look briefly shot at X. But no full scoldings yet. The quicker they got to that closet, the better. They didn't need any more injuries.
Though speaking of that... The first aid kit he had in his pocket...wonder if that would help Harpuia's arm any...? (However one would use half of the things that were in it.) But once again, it was something that could be discussed after they got moving. Not before.
"I told Sasuke-san to meet up with you, as requested..." Perhaps the blind young man was going to find Aidou here in the main hall, but Aigis would have thought he would be here by now, if that were the case. She couldn't help but wonder what was keeping him. Would it have been another patient, a monster, or something else entirely.
Aigis allowed Aidou to move close and block her from the rest of the hall's eyes. She appreciated his effort to keep her safe, but still she felt her safety ought not to have been a priority in the long run. Her eyes widened very slightly as he looked her over. A very slight rush sped the beating of her heart, primarily because of her infection but not entirely.
She frowned, moving a hand to cover her stomach. "Other than the usual, there have been sharp pains here." She paused for just a moment. "Perhaps I should seek out a surgeon..."
Aigis allowed Aidou to move close and block her from the rest of the hall's eyes. She appreciated his effort to keep her safe, but still she felt her safety ought not to have been a priority in the long run. Her eyes widened very slightly as he looked her over. A very slight rush sped the beating of her heart, primarily because of her infection but not entirely.
She frowned, moving a hand to cover her stomach. "Other than the usual, there have been sharp pains here." She paused for just a moment. "Perhaps I should seek out a surgeon..."
That got his attention. “You spoke to him?” Damn that boy. What was with him lately? If he was purposely trying to avoid Aidou, it was a little late to start now, not when he’d already been privy to so many of Sasuke’s secrets. They were, for lack of a better term, committed. And yet as of late Sasuke always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
No matter.
“Well, he’s sure taking his sweet time. At the very least, I told him to meet me after you. Assuming you were still you and didn’t require more of my attention, anyway.” But Aigis still her usual deadpan self, which was a positive sign. A spontaneous transformation would happen sooner rather than later, wouldn’t it? If the oncoming of night hadn’t set her off, Aidou didn’t see why Landel would wait and flip the switch on her later. For maximization of terror, he expected the transformations would happen right off the bat.
But stomach pains… Taking into account the previous night’s “clue,” that wasn’t a good sign. Yet it was just one more variable to file away--it didn’t change his position on all of this surgery talk.
He let his hand fall away in order to cross his arms. “You remember I said I was going to give you my opinion when we spoke in person? “ he said. “Well, here it is: I think mounting an expedition into the depths of your stomach would be a bad idea, not only because I doubt you‘ll find a legitimately trained surgeon that doesn‘t already work for the Institute. ‘Hasty’ doesn’t even begin to cover it. Shall I give you the bullet points? We don’t know if we can even trust that clue. You don’t know if there’s even anything to find. In your state, trusting an outsider could be a death sentence, let alone the rest. This has all the telltale signs of a trap. Perhaps you don’t want to hear this from someone like me, but I’m only being objective.”
No matter.
“Well, he’s sure taking his sweet time. At the very least, I told him to meet me after you. Assuming you were still you and didn’t require more of my attention, anyway.” But Aigis still her usual deadpan self, which was a positive sign. A spontaneous transformation would happen sooner rather than later, wouldn’t it? If the oncoming of night hadn’t set her off, Aidou didn’t see why Landel would wait and flip the switch on her later. For maximization of terror, he expected the transformations would happen right off the bat.
But stomach pains… Taking into account the previous night’s “clue,” that wasn’t a good sign. Yet it was just one more variable to file away--it didn’t change his position on all of this surgery talk.
He let his hand fall away in order to cross his arms. “You remember I said I was going to give you my opinion when we spoke in person? “ he said. “Well, here it is: I think mounting an expedition into the depths of your stomach would be a bad idea, not only because I doubt you‘ll find a legitimately trained surgeon that doesn‘t already work for the Institute. ‘Hasty’ doesn’t even begin to cover it. Shall I give you the bullet points? We don’t know if we can even trust that clue. You don’t know if there’s even anything to find. In your state, trusting an outsider could be a death sentence, let alone the rest. This has all the telltale signs of a trap. Perhaps you don’t want to hear this from someone like me, but I’m only being objective.”
[From here]
Scar took a quick glance down the main hallway as he passed through on slow feet. He wished, for once, that things could just be easy. That the so-called cure hadn't been just another damn tactic to get them to harm themselves.
It was never so straightforward, though. Especially not here. It didn't take a genius to figure that out.
[To here]
Scar took a quick glance down the main hallway as he passed through on slow feet. He wished, for once, that things could just be easy. That the so-called cure hadn't been just another damn tactic to get them to harm themselves.
It was never so straightforward, though. Especially not here. It didn't take a genius to figure that out.
[To here]
Edited 2012-08-27 21:09 (UTC)
[From here]
Practically every step he took behind his partner's wheelchair was punctuated by "Ow!" like a toddler who had forgotten to to switch his stream of consciousness back to internal mode. "I think you broke my toe," he sulked, grousing over the blond even though the man couldn't see his face.
"So which way again? Left? It's left, right?"
Practically every step he took behind his partner's wheelchair was punctuated by "Ow!" like a toddler who had forgotten to to switch his stream of consciousness back to internal mode. "I think you broke my toe," he sulked, grousing over the blond even though the man couldn't see his face.
"So which way again? Left? It's left, right?"
Their departure from his room was worse than Barnaby could have even imagined. Honestly, they would have been better off if he'd just wheeled himself. In typical Kotetsu fashion, though, his partner had insisted on mothering him the whole time, much to his own detriment.
"It's left," Barnaby responded with a hint of weariness his voice. "And could you please just let me steer myself? My arms are fine." He understood why pushing him around in something with wheels might have sounded fun to Kotetsu in the beginning, but surely now he realized that it would be in their best interests if he stepped back. Another squashed toe couldn't be worth it.
"Besides," he added as he pointedly brought his hands onto the wheels, "I already had to put up with my nurse all day. I don't need another one following me around at night."
With that, he pushed himself ahead and neatly turned the corner without any assistance.
((To here.))
"It's left," Barnaby responded with a hint of weariness his voice. "And could you please just let me steer myself? My arms are fine." He understood why pushing him around in something with wheels might have sounded fun to Kotetsu in the beginning, but surely now he realized that it would be in their best interests if he stepped back. Another squashed toe couldn't be worth it.
"Besides," he added as he pointedly brought his hands onto the wheels, "I already had to put up with my nurse all day. I don't need another one following me around at night."
With that, he pushed himself ahead and neatly turned the corner without any assistance.
((To here.))
When Castiel stopped, so did Gabriel, the Archangel mimicking his brother's worried glance back to make sure their companion was following. He really didn't mind at all that Castiel was leaning on him, so Gabriel's attention was diverted when the other angel pulled away, and Gabe's hands hovered near Castiel's arm just in case as the angel spoke. It didn't take the observant to see that Castiel was in pain.
"It's getting worse, isn't it?" the Archangel guessed softly, and glanced over his shoulder toward the changed patient again. He had to swallow hard against the dryness in his mouth, and failed to resist the urge to shiver at the way his back prickled.
He didn't want to see Castiel change. Right now, he was managing, just enough, to ward off the fact that this was so very similar to what he had done to himself. If Castiel turned too, Gabriel wasn't entirely certain how he would handle it--or if he'd be able to do for Castiel what Michael had done for him. Gabriel wasn't a healer even when he was at full strength.
Kratos's words made him turn back with a deep, bracing breath and a squeeze of the rosary. He summoned a rueful smile from somewhere, directing it at Kratos. "I'm not much of a warrior, I'm afraid. You'd be better to us with that sword unhindered. Come on, Castiel."
So saying, Gabriel took Castiel's elbow again, gently but firmly, and this time didn't allow his brother to try and pull away. Pride had no place here.
[to here.]
"It's getting worse, isn't it?" the Archangel guessed softly, and glanced over his shoulder toward the changed patient again. He had to swallow hard against the dryness in his mouth, and failed to resist the urge to shiver at the way his back prickled.
He didn't want to see Castiel change. Right now, he was managing, just enough, to ward off the fact that this was so very similar to what he had done to himself. If Castiel turned too, Gabriel wasn't entirely certain how he would handle it--or if he'd be able to do for Castiel what Michael had done for him. Gabriel wasn't a healer even when he was at full strength.
Kratos's words made him turn back with a deep, bracing breath and a squeeze of the rosary. He summoned a rueful smile from somewhere, directing it at Kratos. "I'm not much of a warrior, I'm afraid. You'd be better to us with that sword unhindered. Come on, Castiel."
So saying, Gabriel took Castiel's elbow again, gently but firmly, and this time didn't allow his brother to try and pull away. Pride had no place here.
[to here.]
She had moved to touch his hair, and his eyes closed, but he didn't flinch away. Her fingers moved through it, and after a moment, her hand dropped, along with her words. Whether it was sweet or not was not something he could say, but it was something genuine, at the least-- More than he would offer most. When he began moving, she slid into step next to him, and something loosened inside of him; a tension relaxing and fading that he wasn't even sure was there.
From the coliseum? Or something else? He had no answers, and so he brushed it off. There was things to speak of, perhaps, at something like a later date, but for now he would take in her companionship in this.
She spoke a question, and he quietly gave a reply. Because he knew the answer quite well from Nigredo's condition. "As many as could be in any major illness. Nausea, fevers, soreness, dizziness... The list goes on. It's quite extreme to a normal human body." Had even pressed his little brother into sleeping extensively to handle it. "But isn't contagious at all, it seems. So there's a cause other than a virus."
From the coliseum? Or something else? He had no answers, and so he brushed it off. There was things to speak of, perhaps, at something like a later date, but for now he would take in her companionship in this.
She spoke a question, and he quietly gave a reply. Because he knew the answer quite well from Nigredo's condition. "As many as could be in any major illness. Nausea, fevers, soreness, dizziness... The list goes on. It's quite extreme to a normal human body." Had even pressed his little brother into sleeping extensively to handle it. "But isn't contagious at all, it seems. So there's a cause other than a virus."
[From here.]
Slick and silent as oil, Facilier stepped into the first stretch of the Main Hall with little to announce his arrival. His Shadow slithered close behind, keeping close to the Bokor as they approached the bulk of the patient population. Skulking close to the wall, Facilier kept a distance from the wandering prisoners. He had a visit to the kitchen in mind as his first task on his to-do list and he was keen on getting that done quickly without any interruptions.
[To here.]
Slick and silent as oil, Facilier stepped into the first stretch of the Main Hall with little to announce his arrival. His Shadow slithered close behind, keeping close to the Bokor as they approached the bulk of the patient population. Skulking close to the wall, Facilier kept a distance from the wandering prisoners. He had a visit to the kitchen in mind as his first task on his to-do list and he was keen on getting that done quickly without any interruptions.
[To here.]
Edited 2012-08-29 04:44 (UTC)
[from herp derp derp]
Kyousuke cringed slightly as he started to make his way down the hall. When he was still and talking, he could (almost) the pain he was in, but now that he was walking, any pretense melted away. It was hard to say if was getting worse, or if he was just more acutely aware of it.
He did his best to move in ways that didn't aggravate it, and attempted to shift his focus to anything nasty that could be lurking in the corners. It was a bad choice of distraction—all that did was make him tense, and since he'd already been attacked, every strange little shadow had him totally on edge.
It was stupid. Like little kids who thought there ghosts in the dark. He could almost kick himself for it, if not for the fact those kinds of fears were actually perfectly legitimate here. He sighed. Surely there was something better to be thinking about.
"... I didn't quite catch your name before," he remembered. "I'm Tsurugi."
It was polite, he guessed, and if they were going to go together, they might as well introduce themselves.
Kyousuke cringed slightly as he started to make his way down the hall. When he was still and talking, he could (almost) the pain he was in, but now that he was walking, any pretense melted away. It was hard to say if was getting worse, or if he was just more acutely aware of it.
He did his best to move in ways that didn't aggravate it, and attempted to shift his focus to anything nasty that could be lurking in the corners. It was a bad choice of distraction—all that did was make him tense, and since he'd already been attacked, every strange little shadow had him totally on edge.
It was stupid. Like little kids who thought there ghosts in the dark. He could almost kick himself for it, if not for the fact those kinds of fears were actually perfectly legitimate here. He sighed. Surely there was something better to be thinking about.
"... I didn't quite catch your name before," he remembered. "I'm Tsurugi."
It was polite, he guessed, and if they were going to go together, they might as well introduce themselves.
More and more patients were starting to filter into the hallway now (just like every other night), but Byrne paid them little to no attention as he slowly continued onward, keeping one hand pressed against his stomach. He had to admit, though, the increase in traffic was welcoming. The people around him were kind of like living alarms; if there were no screams or loud, quick footsteps to be heard, then he was pretty confident that there were no monsters close by. Such was the case right now, fortunately.
Of course, he was trying to remain aware of his surroundings anyway, living alarms or not. He didn't need to be running around blindly like he had done just a minute ago. Dying was maybe sort of something he wanted to avoid. (A much nicer way to put it than any way Badd would have said it, for sure. Oh man, he could practically hear the detective's harsh words now...)
Yet despite feeling relatively safe and keeping his ears and eyes open for any trouble, the prosecutor was completely unaware of the fact that he was being followed.
[To here.]
Of course, he was trying to remain aware of his surroundings anyway, living alarms or not. He didn't need to be running around blindly like he had done just a minute ago. Dying was maybe sort of something he wanted to avoid. (A much nicer way to put it than any way Badd would have said it, for sure. Oh man, he could practically hear the detective's harsh words now...)
Yet despite feeling relatively safe and keeping his ears and eyes open for any trouble, the prosecutor was completely unaware of the fact that he was being followed.
[To here.]
"Indeed. Before lunch today." That had surely given Sasuke plenty of time to find a different distraction for his night, though the young man didn't strike Aigis as someone who would shirk an engagement. She didn't know him well enough to say for sure, however.
"And I am still me, it seems." She state the obvious. Then another set of stomach pains raked through her and she clutched at her stomach again, unable to hide her wince. Whatever was causing it, that butterfly or whatever mechanism, Aigis didn't like it. Not one bit.
Aigis straightened when it seemed Aidou was ready to explain his position. She hadn't expected it to feel quite so much like she was being scolded but she compartmentalized it as Aidou just being his usual abrasive self. It was still a little hard to take.
"... I do not mind hearing it from you." If anything, he was probably the only one who would give her this kind of honest, difficult reasoning. "I just do not wish to hurt anyone. And I would rather not experience death in this body." She took a shuddering breath. "It is hard enough having experienced a full shut down when I was fully mechanical."
"And I am still me, it seems." She state the obvious. Then another set of stomach pains raked through her and she clutched at her stomach again, unable to hide her wince. Whatever was causing it, that butterfly or whatever mechanism, Aigis didn't like it. Not one bit.
Aigis straightened when it seemed Aidou was ready to explain his position. She hadn't expected it to feel quite so much like she was being scolded but she compartmentalized it as Aidou just being his usual abrasive self. It was still a little hard to take.
"... I do not mind hearing it from you." If anything, he was probably the only one who would give her this kind of honest, difficult reasoning. "I just do not wish to hurt anyone. And I would rather not experience death in this body." She took a shuddering breath. "It is hard enough having experienced a full shut down when I was fully mechanical."
The Doctor fell into step beside the boy, keeping a careful eye on him at first to make sure he really was okay to walk. He didn't look like he was doing all that well, to be honest, but as long as he was determined to keep going, the Doctor would let him—and help him along, if he needed it.
His greatest fear was that something lurking in the dark would think they were easy prey because of their slow pace and come after them. If that happened, he resolved, he'd just have to grab the boy and run. Better to jostle his injuries and escape than to risk the boy's life by holding their ground...
The boy's voice cut through his thoughts, and the Doctor's turned his focus to the boy instantly. "Nice to have a name to go with the face," he said, committing 'Tsurugi' to memory. "Well, your real name, I mean—not the 'Mr Taylor' from the nurses."
He paused, gesturing to the left. "This way," he said, interrupting the re-introductions to turn the corner.
[To here]
His greatest fear was that something lurking in the dark would think they were easy prey because of their slow pace and come after them. If that happened, he resolved, he'd just have to grab the boy and run. Better to jostle his injuries and escape than to risk the boy's life by holding their ground...
The boy's voice cut through his thoughts, and the Doctor's turned his focus to the boy instantly. "Nice to have a name to go with the face," he said, committing 'Tsurugi' to memory. "Well, your real name, I mean—not the 'Mr Taylor' from the nurses."
He paused, gesturing to the left. "This way," he said, interrupting the re-introductions to turn the corner.
[To here]
Her flash of pain was unmistakable. Was that... guilt he felt? That struggling thread of feeling he'd tried so hard to bury away?
It was quite unlike him, he thought, to be so conflicted that one moment he could be promising himself no distractions with that knife-like intensity that often characterized his cruelty, and the next be reaching for her shoulders to hold her steady. Something like sympathy twisted in his gut, marring his expression with discomfort. The self-protective part of him wanted to crush that feeling, crush it until there was nothing left because that kind of feeling only got in the way.
The heartlessness of vampires was such a standard part of their image that it was almost easy to make it real. A heart that that didn't beat couldn't feel, couldn't care, couldn't mourn. Without loneliness, a vampire child couldn't miss home. Without affection, a vampire couldn't make someone else's pain his own and invest a part of his already withered reserves.
It hurt a little, to recognize how closed off he had become. But it also hurt to think he could like this girl. There was no good in it, these bonds between people who had no business being near one another.
His gaze wavered, dropping to the right of her. His voice, when it came, was far quieter than before. "Look, I know you're... you're tired. I know. But--" What was the 'but'? The girl didn't want to suffer and lose herself, and succumb to death. Was it any surprise that she wanted to seek out a solution? What cold-bloodedness lurked at the heart of his warnings to abandon her attempts?
Aidou didn't know. And he didn't know what words to use to fill the silence. He knew what he could say, that he could try and protect her and make things right. But--
But.
But.
Finally, he lowered his eyelids. There were times when his youthfulness seemed almost eerie, next to what lay underneath his skin. "I'm a mean person, you know. I only say these things because I don't fear your death the same way you do--you, who will probably never live as long as I. You should do what you see fit to save yourself."
It was quite unlike him, he thought, to be so conflicted that one moment he could be promising himself no distractions with that knife-like intensity that often characterized his cruelty, and the next be reaching for her shoulders to hold her steady. Something like sympathy twisted in his gut, marring his expression with discomfort. The self-protective part of him wanted to crush that feeling, crush it until there was nothing left because that kind of feeling only got in the way.
The heartlessness of vampires was such a standard part of their image that it was almost easy to make it real. A heart that that didn't beat couldn't feel, couldn't care, couldn't mourn. Without loneliness, a vampire child couldn't miss home. Without affection, a vampire couldn't make someone else's pain his own and invest a part of his already withered reserves.
It hurt a little, to recognize how closed off he had become. But it also hurt to think he could like this girl. There was no good in it, these bonds between people who had no business being near one another.
His gaze wavered, dropping to the right of her. His voice, when it came, was far quieter than before. "Look, I know you're... you're tired. I know. But--" What was the 'but'? The girl didn't want to suffer and lose herself, and succumb to death. Was it any surprise that she wanted to seek out a solution? What cold-bloodedness lurked at the heart of his warnings to abandon her attempts?
Aidou didn't know. And he didn't know what words to use to fill the silence. He knew what he could say, that he could try and protect her and make things right. But--
But.
But.
Finally, he lowered his eyelids. There were times when his youthfulness seemed almost eerie, next to what lay underneath his skin. "I'm a mean person, you know. I only say these things because I don't fear your death the same way you do--you, who will probably never live as long as I. You should do what you see fit to save yourself."
[From here]
Link flashed his light down the hall as they crossed into the larger corridors. It was mostly empty, now. People must have gotten on with their business for tonight.
He could only pray that Sora had not done too much damage, or gotten hurt himself. It still weighed heavily on his shoulders. Link never failed.
"Sorry... I forgot to ask. What's your name?"
Link flashed his light down the hall as they crossed into the larger corridors. It was mostly empty, now. People must have gotten on with their business for tonight.
He could only pray that Sora had not done too much damage, or gotten hurt himself. It still weighed heavily on his shoulders. Link never failed.
"Sorry... I forgot to ask. What's your name?"
Edited 2012-09-03 19:09 (UTC)
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