damned_institute | Nightshift 34: West Wing, North Hallway 1-A

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Nightshift 34: West Wing, North Hallway 1-A

[From Here]

Passing through the open doorway, he flashed his light around to make certain that there was nothing potentially dangerous lurking in the hallway. It seemed clear as far as his eyes could tell, so he hurried on. Well, he hurried as much as an old man like himself with things to do would hurry. There was no point in running, as he would save such activities for if he was being chased.

He hoped that Yuuri would be alright making it to the Recreational Field by himself. The youth seemed good-hearted even if a little absentminded. The boy would be fine, he told himself.

[To Here]

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Manticore spun, reaching for a bow that wasn't there. Now the darkness was not a good thing, although the points of red in the night made it quite evident where Lord Recluse was. And just how close the archvillain had gotten. If this was another test, Justin didn't like it at all. He backed up a step, wary, wishing he'd taken a weapon out sooner, for what little good it would do against the hulking man before him... who hadn't killed him and could have.

That last thought helped him regain his composure well enough to respond shortly. "I'm only human." Surreal... standing in the dark having a chat with... this place couldn't be real... that or things were more screwed up than ever.

"Indeed." Recluse leaned in a little closer, face carefully blank as a malicious smile was killed before it even reached his features. "I couldn't help but notice you avoiding Marcus..." This brought up the very interesting question of what time period Manticore had been taken from. "What has he done to you?" It would be so wonderful to rewrite histroy here, in some small way.

Manticore took another step back. "That's none of your business." So, word of Justin's suspension hadn't gotten out yet. That or the indications on the message board were true: people could arrive here from different timelines. That was not a comfortable thought. Nor was Recluse asking questions like this. There was probably some way to turn this around, but Justin wasn't finding it at the moment.

Recluse made no outward reaction. "He decided you've fallen from grace, hasn't he?" If Manticore was from a time peroid just after his suspension, then he could start the work of recruiting the Hero all over again. If he was from a later time, then there was no way he could further damage his position. "You acted to do what was necessary, and he just couldn't stand it... Am I correct?"

The problem with relying more on fact than conjecture made situations like this incredibly difficult. Recluse was trying to get into his head. Manticore wanted no part of this game. He would figure things out on his own, thank you. "When, exactly, are you from?" Not that Justin expected a truthful answer, but that question surely wasn't the woe is me, my boss kicked me out on my ass response the villain was looking for.

"February 2007." He didn't need to lie when stating something that couldn't be used against him. And besides, he didn't need the complications that would come from telling others different dates. Manticore must have been taken from 2006, just after his suspension... This will be interesting. He waited to see what would happen next.

A whole year? If that were true... there was a future Manticore didn't know about. Which did him a fat lot of no good. He could now only wonder at what point in time Statesman had been taken... because he hadn't talked to him. Perhaps not the smartest decision in the world, but whatever. At any rate, Justin was now feeling like Statesman wasn't quite the last person he wanted to talk to right now. Recluse had taken that spot.

The archer collected his thoughts and didn't bother to hide the sarcasm in his voice. "The whole concerned bit is really touching, but maybe you think I've forgotten you're still the bad guy, whatever time you're from."

"Unfortunately, I am also the 'bad guy' who has been trapped here for three months." This was a lie. The same one he'd told Marcus. "My only goal now is escape. I've made a truce with Marcus, which is something I would... not have even given consideration before." The act was settling back into place, adding in slight pauses and a break in his normal tones in favor of a more tired one that could hint at other, underlying changes in his purely manufactured personality.

Oh hell no. No. This was not happening. Surely Statesman hadn't... Manticore could feel the mental facepalm as he realized... yes. His fearless leader could fall for something like that. Faith in the goodness of all men, that sort of nonsense. One only needed to point to the reason why the archer was currently mad at his leader for an easy example.

"I'm leaving now." Manticore had to find Statesman. Now. Justin would have to put his own hard feelings aside to smack States upside the head. How could you do this? The thought was aimed at Statesman. Manticore could guess perfectly well why Recluse had done it. He backed away, not wanting to turn his back on the archvillain.

"By all means, go a head. Oh, but if you want a weapon better than your flashlight, then..." He drew a dagger, holding it out hilt-first. "Take this. I gave one much the same to Marcus as well."

Not happening. Manticore remained silent, having nothing else to say to Lord Recluse. At least the Arachnos overlord was still pretending to be nice. There were other people around now as well, which helped. Apparently the guy was trying to play like he was, what, reforming? As if. Manticore kept backing towards the door he didn't necessarily need anymore, but was one he didn't have to pass Recluse to get to. There was another door back into the hallways out there as well.

Recluse smirked once Manticore had turned away, sliding the dagger back into its rightful place next to his blades and watching the man leave. That was one ever-amusing difference between true Villains and so-called 'anti-heroes': A Villain would never care who they recieved aid from, just so long as there were no strings attached... This will be so entertaining.

Manticore was finally at the door and left one potential disaster for... another, for all he knew.

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Nightshift 34: West Wing, North Hallway 1-A

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