damned_institute | Nighshift 41: F21-30 Hallway

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Nighshift 41: F21-30 Hallway

Franziska did not trust her roommate, which was just fine with her, since it seemed that Maki Shouko did not trust Franziska either. There was something about her protective nature that brought out the worst in Franziska's investigative nature. Pulling the truth from Maki Shouko would have to wait, however, until Franzika was better armed with evidence and proof that she was, in fact, something more than a mere unemployed, ex-psychologist homemaker. Taking her journal, her flashlight and her radio, Franziska made a note of the night's announcement and then headed outside.

Only to find it entirely blacked out.

So this was the night that people spoke of with such terror? A little bit of dark wasn't going to kill anyone. Pathetic. Flicking on her flashlight, she noted that the beam was unusually weak against the dark and scoffed. Giving the inmates sub-par equipment would need to be added onto the list of complaints when she lodged her class action suit against Martin Landel.

Heading down the hall, Franziska recalled the map she'd seen in her head. She needed to go and find the second floor, get to the patient possessions room, retrieve her whip and then she'd take this place by storm.

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God, Skuld was being a brat.

"And you're so sure of that? Does your goddess-like abilities here grant you the capacity to delve into his programming and no for certain it's not hardwired into him?"

She sighed in frustration.

"HK-47, you've already referred to the Norn as a meatbag, which satisfies your programming requirement, yes? Will you then start referring to her by her title and not as a meatbag for the duration of our time here?"

If this kept going on, she was just going to open the door, yank the droid inside and force the two of them to deal with each other alone while Beatrix waited outside. After giving HK-47 a sufficient threat against any violence toward Skuld.

"It's obvious," Skuld snapped. As far as she was concerned, she knew she was right because she knew humans and robots, and that was enough. She'd let go of the doorknob, but she was still standing too close to the door for it to be opened easily.

Part of her asked, If he's human or a robot, either way, shouldn't you help him?

Not if he's treating me like that, she muttered silently.

But the rules only say not to help demons, don't they?

Dammit...

"Affirmative: Yes, I will! Now let me in!" Honestly! Why should a meatbag take such offense when he hadn't even meant it that way?

Beatrix placed her hand gently on top of Skuld's head. "The obvious isn't as obvious as you think it is," she said in a softer tone.

"Now, may I let him in? He will stand there all night long whining if he must and I'd rather not have to hear it."

"Fine..." Skuld sighed. She opened the door, but from there just went and sat down by her diagram. She'd help him, but only because it was her duty.

At least if he said anything else, she could graffiti him.

"Gratitude: Thank you," HK said, not quite meaning it as he walked in through the door. Now, he was standing inside rather than out in the hallway, but that was only a minor change of scenery. It was a change of weaponry that he was really waiting for.

Beatrix gave both Skuld and HK-47 an exasperated look before shaking her head.

"There," she said to the droid, pointing at the array drawn on the floor. "Give her the metal."

Skuld waited--not very patiently, but she did her best. Tonight she had somewhere to be... if she was in any shape to go anywhere after this. She was making a dagger, too, and if she was really lucky she wouldn't pass out doing it.

HK put down the metal as directed, not actually dropping it as he was tempted to do so. However vengefully irritated he might feel towards the meatbag, the other one would still do something hideous to him if he didn't comply.

"Thank you," Beatrix said to HK-47. "Now, let's step back, give her room and let her concentrate."

Damnit. She cursed that snake-bitch again. It was because of her that the Bride had to bring HK-47 along in the first place.

Skuld rearranged the metal around the diagrams; if she was lucky, she would run into... uh... what was Dean's brother's name? Well, if she didn't see him by morning, she'd put up a note.

Over the last ten days, she'd gotten more familiar with her power limitations; every time she did it, she was hopeful that this time, she wouldn't collapse.

...no such luck. She didn't black out, but when the last of the energy faded away she fell down on all fours, barely able to avoid smacking her nose into the floor, and she did feel the side of her face hit. Ow...

HK, frankly, wasn't focused on the meatbag, the whole, impossible process that had just taken place was far more interesting. But he was going to stay put until he was told otherwise. The other meatbag might do something terrible to him if he just grabbed what he came for and ran.

Seeing the process a second time was just as awe-inspiring as the first time.

Beatrix blinked, but moved to Skuld's side when the girl collapsed. "Take it easy," she murmured softly as she put a hand to her back. She looked up at HK-47 and motioned for him to pick up the sword.

"Is it to your liking?"

Skuld tried not to groan; damn it all, she hated when that happened, and that was the closest she'd gotten to passing out in a while. She forced herself to sit up, though, and retrieved the dagger she'd made for her other commissioner. "It's not hot."

She glanced over the Bowie knife and grinned; yeah, even when her work exhausted her this much, she could still live up to her usual standards.

HK took the blade eagerly, testing the balance with a few experimental flips, just barely managing to stifle a happy squeak before it really got going. The noise still escaped, but he didn't care. "Statement: Impressive." The edges were wonderfully sharp, too! His eyes were filled with fairly child-like glee, which almost extended to his face.

Beatrix had to shake her head and laugh at HK-47 as he acted exactly the same way a child did when presented the latest toy on the market.

"That is quite the compliment, coming from him," the Bride said quietly to Skuld, a hand still on the girl's back as she idly rubbed her thumb against it. "I'm sorry you had to deal with him, but he is very skilled and a good ally."

If you say so. On top of the "programming" problems, and how his face didn't reflect his emotions, Skuld still thought HK was... odd, and not in a good way. He kind of gave her the creeps.

But a job was a job, and he was happy with what he'd gotten. And, now he owed her. "It'll serve him very well."

Oh, fine. Laugh at the droid. ...I don't actually care, because I have the new, shiney weapon! HK carefully inspected every square centimeter of the thing before flipping it back so the blade lay along his arm, hiding the whole thing neatly behind his hand and sleeve.

Now, he wanted to test it! But no, he had to wait. Find something... Hmm. He had an idea, that might work for this purpose, but would produce interesting results, even if no targets could be found...

"Yes, it will," Beatrix replied. "Thank you," she said before standing slowly up, stifling a groan given her injuries.

"Take care," she said to Skuld before turning to HK-47. "Shall we go test it?"

"I will." Skuld wasn't moving from that spot until after they left... partly because she was pretty sure she couldn't stand at the moment.

She did remember to add, "Have a good night."

HK nodded. "Affirmative: Yes! I have an idea of where there is a near-100% chance of a subject to test this upon." The remaining percent were devoted to an even more potentially interesting something.

He opened the door, holding it open politely (yes, he was capable of it!) for the injured meatbag. "Valediction: Good night, er, Norn!"

"Excellent, but keep in mind my reduced capacity, HK-47," the Bride replied, putting her hand on the top of Skuld's head for just a moment before she followed the droid. It was good to hear him not call the goddess a meatbag.

And he even held the door open.

"So sweet of you," she said teasingly. "See, your protocol functions are good for something aside from fooling your target."

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[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/631395.html?thread=53790307#t53790307).]

The door to Ururu's room came within a few steps. Despite the urgency of his visit, Ken found himself hesitating slight at the threshold, his breath wavering in and out due to strain. If she wasn't there... If he'd found an empty room...

Something clicked, the knob at his hand being the source. He apparently pushed the door open without meaning to. "Ururu...san?" the boy called out, before peering in.

Skuld had been planning on resting for a few more minutes, but she quickly stood up; she didn't feel like she was about to pass out anymore, which was a relief. "Uh... hi." She wasn't sure what to say, since she didn't know the boy. "She's here, she's just... sleeping."

Or unconscious. She really couldn't tell, but Ururu hadn't stirred at all, and that worried her.

The voice that answered was not Ururu's; nevertheless, Ken felt immense relief at the response. As stated, there lay the form of his friend, fast asleep (or so he assumed). At least she hadn't disappeared on him.

He glanced over to the older girl and offered a quick apologetic bow. "Sorry to disturb you." A pause. "Oh, um, could I ask for a favor? If she wakes up, could you let her know Ken dropped by? And that I'll be waiting for her in my room?" It might be easier (and safer) to come back after tonight's task, but he wasn't sure if the girl would listen if he requested she stay in her own room. Having a destination ironically meant easier time tracking.

Re: F30

innovator-skuld.livejournal.com - 2009-06-15 04:32 (UTC) - Expand

Re: F30

rectifies.livejournal.com - 2009-06-19 03:29 (UTC) - Expand

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