damned_institute | Night 43: M-A Block Hallway

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Night 43: M-A Block Hallway

[from here]

Suzaku made his way out of his own cell block at a brisk pace, even though he wasn't quite sure he could take Yuffie's presence right now. He didn't want to talk to anyone, least of all have to pretend everything was fine again -- because he didn't want to bother her with the details of his life, and even if he did there was only a limited amount he could tell her. He was sick of pretending.

On the other hand, talking to her reminded him a bit of being with the Student Council. No matter how miserable he felt, he couldn't help relaxing a little around such cheerful people. Even if he hadn't spoken to Yuffie in person, maybe it would help to be with someone so. . . perky. And it would definitely help to beat the shit out of any monsters they ran into outside. He needed to feel like he was doing something proactive, actually accomplishing something useful, and since fighting was the only thing he was good for, he was looking forward to it for once.

[to here]

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"No," Brainiac 5 answered, scanning the hallway for others. It seemed to be clear for the most part, so he relaxed a little. As much as he could with the constant noise coming over the intercom and the occasional flickers glimpsed out of the corner of his eye. At one point he was certain he'd seen a glimpse of something vividly red, but it was gone as soon as he turned his head.

If at all possible he'd have to try and finish this up quickly, so that he could keep moving and try and find out what had happened to Peter.

"I... imagine you have some questions," he said carefully, eyeing Celes wearily.

"Yes. First, I would like to know why you felt the need to contact me in the first place. I know Luxord is may not be a... good person, but, he's never done anything in the past. In fact he appeared mostly harmless." And, Celes added to herself with a little sigh, also quite charming. But that was neither here nor there. "So, please, tell me what has changed."

She had her own theories, of course, couldn't help but to think of them when she found herself alone and her thoughts unoccupied. They swirled around her mind like a great, dark mass of doubt, billowing up from the seed of doubt that Brainiac had planted there.

Brainiac 5 remained silent for a moment, limping closer to the wall so he could lean against it and take some of the weight off of his injured foot. It also gave him the chance to try and think of how best to approach the topic with Celes. Internally he seethed at the idea that Luxord could be seen as 'mostly harmless', but then it had only been with Grell's input things had changed...

He blinked, considering his options for a moment longer, before speaking. "What changed? He... met someone else. By the name of Grell. Unfortunately Grell had taken a dislike to me and Luxord decided to..." Unconsciously his hand came up to brush at his injured shoulder. "...help with that."

Celes felt her insides freeze, as though her heart had stopped and then it crowed in delightful triumph. She should have listened to her instincts about that odious little butler, should have warned Luxord.

Not that he would've listened, but to directly withhold his activities... "And his help? What did they do to you? Is this," she motioned to his relative state of injury, "their handiwork?" Augh, she felt foolish for having faith in him. Men were faithless creatures even with hearts, without, who knew what they were capable of?

Brainiac 5's hand slid down from his shoulder and griped his upper arm tightly; a subconscious protective gesture. He didn't want to discuss this with someone who was still a perfect stranger really, but he had little choice if he was to gain an ally here.

"Yes," he said quietly. He couldn't look at her directly, concentrating instead on the pool of light his flashlight cast on the floor. "Three nights ago. Fortunately I was able to escape and someone helped look after my injuries, otherwise..." He paused and shook his head slightly. "It doesn't matter. The next night they returned again."

The constant noise that had been in the background since the intercom announcement seemed to grow louder for a moment, and to his horror Brainiac 5 recognised it as the sound of many voices screaming in agony. His stomach twisted oddly and he had to swallow hard before he could continue speaking. "They returned and..." He could do this. He was stronger than this. He had to be. "...I had a friend named Clark. They caught him outside of my room that night and..."

He swallowed again, fighting down the bitter taste in his mouth. "I couldn't save him."

Sympathy is not Celes' strong suit, and never had been. You could not be sympathetic to your enemies (they would kill you, just as certainly as the rain would fall in Zozo), and it had translated as a weakness while she grew into an adult.

So, Brainiac's story, while tragic, did nothing to stir Celes's heart to him. Besides that, it was also incredibly short and so much could be left out in the details. In front of her mind, a voice growled, Kindly spit it out, sir. I haven't all night. Not while the Marandan woman continued to half-flash before her eyes. "I see. So you lost this... companion of yours to them. I assume they killed them, as you say you could not save him? Thank you, then. That's more than I need, Brainiac."

At least now she had a logical reasoning to ~~find and destroy~~ bring Luxord and Grell both to justice. This kind of thing... it was one thing to have a person disappear, it was wholly another to kill them for sheer amusement at the pain it would cause another. It made that dope Grell sound like Kefka, and Celes felt ice grow in her stomach. "If there is anything more you wish to tell me, please do. If not, I'm sure we've both something to attend to, do we not?"

Brainiac 5 flinched at the bluntness of Celes' statement, but couldn't argue against the truth of it. Nor against the name she used and what it reminded him of. Brainiac. His ancestor. When they'd spoken earlier that day, his ancestor had suggested he keep others at a distance, only caring as much as was necessary and no more. Before he'd arrived here, Brainiac 5 would have argued vehemently against the notion, but now? He was beginning to wonder if it might make things easier...

He straightened, drawing himself away from the wall, determined to stand as straight and confident as he could manage right now. Celes had no reason to care about his problems, so it was fortunate that she'd at least believed him rather than accusing him of lying or worse. And while she may chose to act on the information herself, he couldn't rely on that alone. He'd need some alternative plans.

But that was a concern for later.

"I hope the information is of some use to you," he said, his voice curiously calm and detached and entirely unlike it had been a moment ago. "However, if you chose to confront Luxord or Grell over the matter, I ask that you not mention my part in informing you if at all possible. Luxord in particular has made some... threats to try and prevent me speaking with you."

"Other than that, there is nothing else worth mentioning." He turned away, doing his best to hide the slight limp in the action and added, "thank you for your willingness to hear me out."

And then he left.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/703548.html?thread=58723388#t58723388)]

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Night 43: M-A Block Hallway

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SOB. I APOLOGIZE FOR CELES BEING A HEARTLESS BITCH.

IT'S OKAY, BB. Sorry about him bailing. DX