Nightshift 36: M21-M30 Hallway

[grosse-sklaven.livejournal.com]

((Specifically M22))

Pain. Adelheid suddenly felt a stab of agony radiating from his right eye, where that ghostly woman had brushed up against him. He could feel the lines of the tattoo starting to spread across his skin, the pain extending until he nearly couldn't think straight.

And he had things to do, people to meet and weapons to make. Adelheid gritted his teeth and swore he would make it through. It was just pain, right? Just pain... he could endure that. He had to endure it.

Comments

[grosse-sklaven.livejournal.com]

He honestly hadn't expected for the mark to hurt so much when Miku touched it. It felt like the woman had put it on him again, an odd searing pain that was nevertheless confined, like each delicate swirl of tracery was its own trail of agony across his skin. Adelheid was only glad, once more, that he was so used to pain in his short life. He endured flames and the foul curse of his tainted blood, he could endure this. Adelheid sat on the bed, keeping his fingers clenched in the sheet to keep from digging his nails into his palms, gritting his teeth and enduring, just enduring the searing pain for what felt like an eternity.

Finally, unexpectedly, Miku suddenly slumped and the pain started fading away. Not immediately, the nerves were still so used to the constant sensations that its absence was like a new pain of itself, but he knew he could wait it out. That was why he was silent, his eyes squeezed shut, until he trusted himself to speak without a tremor in his voice. Only then did he finally open his left eye- the eye that was a fake prosthetic and therefore not as pained as the other- and inclined his head slightly. "Don't worry about me." No, his concern was about the girl, especially considering how pained she looked now.

[rope-victim.livejournal.com]

Miku was very thankful for Sousuke's assuring hands on her shoulders. She felt odd and dizzy, smelled blood, but didn't see any. If it was only in her nose, then that would be fine. Still the images were enough to make her stomach churn dangerously.

"I'll... I'll tell you what I know as soon as I can piece everything together." She breathed slowly, with the experience of someone that had met intimately with the kind of searing pain the tattoos had left behind, or something else as bad. The writing in her book looked to be snatches of conversation and description, but hopefully it was enough. Miku closed the book with the hand that wasn't clenched closed and sighed. "Thank you, very much. I know that I hurt you, and I had hoped it wouldn't be severe."

[uruz-vii.livejournal.com]

[Sorry for abject fail, guys. D:]

Sousuke was glad that Miku had come closer in her research concerning the priestess, but at the same time, it hurt to see her in pain. The notes were bizarre and unruly, but perhaps Miku could make some sense out of them.

"She'll be fine, I'll make sure of it," Sousuke reassured Adelheid.

[grosse-sklaven.livejournal.com]

That was about as much as Adelheid could hope for. The markings still burned in his skin, but he'd never admit that, not if he could help it. And the promise that Miku would be all right reassured him as well; it was obvious that the two trusted each other, and he wasn't about to step in when there was someone else to protect the girl.

However... there was still one thing that gnawed at the back of his mind. He didn't want to ask, because it would be rude, but the brief snatches of conversation he spied on her notebook didn't answer much as to what Miku saw... or what that strange woman was. Perhaps he could ask later. Perhaps. "...don't worry about it, either of you. If you need to rest in here, that will be all right; I was planning on heading out anyway." Which he'd need to do soon; he had the horrible sinking feeling that he'd lingered just a little too long.

[rope-victim.livejournal.com]

Miku shook her head, "We'll go back to my own room. But, thank you very much." They'd have to hurry, and she'd have to try to figure it out for them. Still smarting from the pain of the tattoo, Miku clutched to journal to her chest and looked up at Sousuke.

"Oh." Miku turned her attention back to Adel for a moment. "The tattoo lasts three nights. It will go away after. Ghosts like that woman... they transfer their curses through touch." Miku took a breath and steadied herself. If he didn't believe her, well and fine. Miku was used to it. "Shall we go, then?" she asked and offered him a small, hopeful smile.

[uruz-vii.livejournal.com]

Sousuke looked down at Miku, then back up at Adel. "It's true. I had the mark as well. It's unbearable, but after three nights it will fade--along with the pain."

The sergeant put his hand back on Miku's shoulder to steer her towards the door. "We should. I apologize again for my unexpected arrival," he nodded to Adel. "I will keep this information to myself."

[rope-victim.livejournal.com]

"Good night, Bernstein-san." Miku said politely and let Sousuke lead her away.

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/487011.html?thread=40517987#t40517987)]

[grosse-sklaven.livejournal.com]

And just like that, they were gone. Adelheid took a deep breath to steady himself, rubbing at his prosthetic eye now that they were gone. It hurt like anything, and he knew that it would be impossible to hide the mark from anyone who was walking around. So, what to do? Wait here, idle, or go out and risk humiliation?

In the end, he decided to check what Edward was doing. He walked over to the other boy's room... then frowned as he found the note addressed to him. Ed had gone on. Brilliant. It seemed like the only options were to do nothing, or to trudge a few halls over. He didn't like it, but in the end, Adelheid couldn't bare the thought of another night with absolutely nothing done. Besides, he needed to find some string for Yukari. So, taking his usual equipment with him, he started walking out, heading to the room in question.

((To here.)) (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/486769.html?view=40610929#t40610929)