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Don't
( a text that transfers violently quick through the fuzzy interference.
a visceral reaction to "new meat" flashing through his mind.
then, a few minutes later. )
... i'm gonna stand watch
at night, i mean
'till we figure out what the hell's goin' on
( a text that transfers violently quick through the fuzzy interference.
a visceral reaction to "new meat" flashing through his mind.
then, a few minutes later. )
... i'm gonna stand watch
at night, i mean
'till we figure out what the hell's goin' on
Something even more exciting?
[ His interest is piqued. Is this what catches a man like Silco's interest? Quite possibly. You can't blame a guy for finding shows of violence interesting, can you? (Yes)]
A whole crew? [ And yet he did the jobs himself? That's more involved in the wetworks than Silco had ever been, a knife in Vander's back notwithstanding — a marvel, even when he thinks on the thought, a memory that had once been missing — but to be so involved was...
Foolish, he supposed. Also admirable, in its own way. There was a merit to being willing to get ones hands dirty. He did in his own way, of course, but there was only so much he could do compared to Sevika or Jinx. ]
But you kept your hands in it. I suppose I understand. My work necessitated violence, but it was... only one part of it. There was a network, an entire operation, you see.
[ Vergilius already knew he owned a club (because i just wrote it) but there had been so much more to that. Not that he thought Verg didn't realize that, after the murder of a man in the bakery. Silco had all the markings of something more than just a club owner. ] But what is it they say...? Delegation is the sign of a strong leader? Something like that.
[ His interest is piqued. Is this what catches a man like Silco's interest? Quite possibly. You can't blame a guy for finding shows of violence interesting, can you? (Yes)]
A whole crew? [ And yet he did the jobs himself? That's more involved in the wetworks than Silco had ever been, a knife in Vander's back notwithstanding — a marvel, even when he thinks on the thought, a memory that had once been missing — but to be so involved was...
Foolish, he supposed. Also admirable, in its own way. There was a merit to being willing to get ones hands dirty. He did in his own way, of course, but there was only so much he could do compared to Sevika or Jinx. ]
But you kept your hands in it. I suppose I understand. My work necessitated violence, but it was... only one part of it. There was a network, an entire operation, you see.
[ Vergilius already knew he owned a club (
Yes.
[As simple as anything, but he follows up with:]
Are you?
[As simple as anything, but he follows up with:]
Are you?
Drugs in the food? Magic? I don't know. Maybe even the kaiju. However they did it, doesn't change anything.
...People are gone. We need to fix that.
...People are gone. We need to fix that.
I think as guarded as we are, they would be foolish to try it again. But perhaps we need to have people to figure it out....agh, how troublesome...
Are you part of any search parties, Hunter?
Are you part of any search parties, Hunter?
We don't know enough about what we're up against, is the problem. It's obvious enough the "Lord of the Forest" is the kaiju, but I've never heard of a kaiju granting... food, and protection, and whatever. Creating a fog that's this thick, cutting us off from each other.... Being worshiped like a god... if that's even it. If it's not just controlling all the townspeople. The most important thing is finding the missing people, [ absolutely his #1 priority ] but we're going to need more information to fight it.
It's just me and Flap. But I'm in contact with Elysium, so we're keeping each other updated on our findings.
It's just me and Flap. But I'm in contact with Elysium, so we're keeping each other updated on our findings.
[Its the kind of fuzz that makes his mind bristle, and he lets out a grimace of a noise.]
tch.
will you. do you need a second?
tch.
will you. do you need a second?
( 🥺 ? )
i won't... stop you,
if you wanna
otherwise, i can handle it
i won't... stop you,
if you wanna
otherwise, i can handle it
i need a distraction. congrats your night watch is it
where are you
where are you
( damn, okay. )
just a little ways from that big inn
the one everyone's been stayin' at
facing the well
just a little ways from that big inn
the one everyone's been stayin' at
facing the well
just you's enough
... can't trust the food anymore
... can't trust the food anymore
[ he'd been worried too, after all. so he gets a message same as her others. ]
I'm alive! Tired, but alive!
Don't go too crazy. And... if you actually want to visit me this time, [ unlike their half-hearted last, ] just say so. I'm well enough to take visitors, unlike some of the others.
[ she
thinks he might be okay this time, and she does want to see him as she has her others, but it's his choice still. whether now or on the return trip home or at base, malkuth will always wait for him. ]
I'm alive! Tired, but alive!
Don't go too crazy. And... if you actually want to visit me this time, [ unlike their half-hearted last, ] just say so. I'm well enough to take visitors, unlike some of the others.
[ she
thinks he might be okay this time, and she does want to see him as she has her others, but it's his choice still. whether now or on the return trip home or at base, malkuth will always wait for him. ]
[Ah.]
[The very reason he felt like he was going out of his mind for a little there. Malkuth, safe and sound. But with everything that happened, well...]
[His heart moves to jump to see her. His brain tell him to hold on for a minute. There' something he has to let her know.]
i want to come
but i'm one of the unlucky ones turned into a vampire
i can control myself but
its up to you.
[The very reason he felt like he was going out of his mind for a little there. Malkuth, safe and sound. But with everything that happened, well...]
[His heart moves to jump to see her. His brain tell him to hold on for a minute. There' something he has to let her know.]
i want to come
but i'm one of the unlucky ones turned into a vampire
i can control myself but
its up to you.
[ vampire, huh.
but he can control himself. he always has been able to, with her. always gentle. always caring. her heart squeezes and she wishes she could tell him the same thing she did what felt like forever, now. that he didn't need to be professional with her, that he didn't need to control himself.
but she's
trying, and she keeps her metaphorical tongue in check as she rolls around a more appropriate reply. ]
Please.
[ ...
was that better? ]
but he can control himself. he always has been able to, with her. always gentle. always caring. her heart squeezes and she wishes she could tell him the same thing she did what felt like forever, now. that he didn't need to be professional with her, that he didn't need to control himself.
but she's
trying, and she keeps her metaphorical tongue in check as she rolls around a more appropriate reply. ]
Please.
[ ...
was that better? ]
[Well now.]
[He can almost see it. Her eyes, the twist of her lips. Please. As if he could offer her much of anything.]
[But maybe that's just his kneejerk reflex to reject it all. Alright. He'll come see her. Might as well. Just for a moment.]
[Just for a little moment, before letting her rest.]
[So no answer. But a little later, there's a knock at the door. He's coming in - somehow a little more haggard, more pale, but still the same old Fixer she knows. And...loves? Likes? It's complicated.]
....Malkuth. You're alright.
[As if to confirm it for himself.]
[He can almost see it. Her eyes, the twist of her lips. Please. As if he could offer her much of anything.]
[But maybe that's just his kneejerk reflex to reject it all. Alright. He'll come see her. Might as well. Just for a moment.]
[Just for a little moment, before letting her rest.]
[So no answer. But a little later, there's a knock at the door. He's coming in - somehow a little more haggard, more pale, but still the same old Fixer she knows. And...loves? Likes? It's complicated.]
....Malkuth. You're alright.
[As if to confirm it for himself.]
[ loves, loves, heart swelling with it as her head lifts with hope; she'd been a bit dejected at the lack of reply, but seeing him now brings some relief. even if he's more haggard than she is, though there's a notable light scar above her collarbones.
and
of course, she looks tired in the eyes, even as her hand reaches out automatically-- and then falls, gripping the sheets uncertainly. ]
Yes. Yes, mostly. Better and worse than when I broke my arm, but I look ready to leave compared to you.
and
of course, she looks tired in the eyes, even as her hand reaches out automatically-- and then falls, gripping the sheets uncertainly. ]
Yes. Yes, mostly. Better and worse than when I broke my arm, but I look ready to leave compared to you.
[She reaches for him - and he wants to reach back, his hand twitching, but there's that ache, that bite of hunger in his stomach, and he has to freeze, unsure how to proceed. It's alright. He just....needs to stay here. Safe for her.]
[She looks delectable.]
....It's been a time and a half. [Grumpily, though...enough about him.] What...did they do to you, Malkuth?
[She looks delectable.]
....It's been a time and a half. [Grumpily, though...enough about him.] What...did they do to you, Malkuth?
If I tell you, you'll turn tail right back to that village and raze the rest.
[ probably. it's just a little tease, and after a moment she exhales. with vergilius, like few others, malkuth doesn't hide the fatigue that comes with speaking on it, only directs her gaze somewhere... farther away, even if she's looking right at him. ]
They kept us paranoid until they took us down to the dungeons, and... the others were probably "prepared" then, but I didn't get taken out until it was time to summon the Lord of the Forest. I resisted, was beaten until I couldn't, and... chained to the wall, just to wait. The whole time I was there they'd bring pieces of the others' bodies, jars of blood, just-- whatever they needed. From us.
[ ... okay. inhale, then exhale. like roland taught you. ]
The... thing I was waiting for, was Wrio. They decided he was a good candidate to sacrifice -- one of two -- and no matter how much I-- I begged them to stop, they kept lashing him, and they took his eyes, and-- [ she bites her lip, closing hers and then snapping them back open. ] They poured something over him, and they killed him, and they stabbed me for some of my blood at some point during all that too.
[ but it's
understandably hazy, maybe, when that was exactly. only to realize she was staining the linen clothes she'd been given so much longer after the fact. ]
They kept bringing things and people in, and they brought everyone else still alive to bear witness to the summoning. It was after that that we felt-- or at least, I felt able to reach for my Abnormalities, and we escaped.
[ vaguely, that. a lot of it is a blur until she'd found ishmael felt her world sharpen again just a bit. ]
But... please don't blame them, Vergilius. I know it's easy to.
[ probably. it's just a little tease, and after a moment she exhales. with vergilius, like few others, malkuth doesn't hide the fatigue that comes with speaking on it, only directs her gaze somewhere... farther away, even if she's looking right at him. ]
They kept us paranoid until they took us down to the dungeons, and... the others were probably "prepared" then, but I didn't get taken out until it was time to summon the Lord of the Forest. I resisted, was beaten until I couldn't, and... chained to the wall, just to wait. The whole time I was there they'd bring pieces of the others' bodies, jars of blood, just-- whatever they needed. From us.
[ ... okay. inhale, then exhale. like roland taught you. ]
The... thing I was waiting for, was Wrio. They decided he was a good candidate to sacrifice -- one of two -- and no matter how much I-- I begged them to stop, they kept lashing him, and they took his eyes, and-- [ she bites her lip, closing hers and then snapping them back open. ] They poured something over him, and they killed him, and they stabbed me for some of my blood at some point during all that too.
[ but it's
understandably hazy, maybe, when that was exactly. only to realize she was staining the linen clothes she'd been given so much longer after the fact. ]
They kept bringing things and people in, and they brought everyone else still alive to bear witness to the summoning. It was after that that we felt-- or at least, I felt able to reach for my Abnormalities, and we escaped.
[ vaguely, that. a lot of it is a blur until she'd found ishmael felt her world sharpen again just a bit. ]
But... please don't blame them, Vergilius. I know it's easy to.
[It seems like a tease. The more she talks, the more its not. His eyes brighten, but in that way that certainly thirsts for something more vicious than spilling blood.]
[Why SHOULDN'T he raze the village after something like this? His eyes flit to the exit, almost halfway considering. It would be so easy. It really would.]
And why shouldn't they be blamed, again?
[Why SHOULDN'T he raze the village after something like this? His eyes flit to the exit, almost halfway considering. It would be so easy. It really would.]
And why shouldn't they be blamed, again?
Because they must've felt like they had no other choice. The sacrifices they made, of their own people and of those who were drawn in, were for protection. For the sake of their families, the ones who came before and after.
[ she knows it'd be easy. she only asks; she doesn't impede. but her gaze focuses back into him and she loosens her grip on the blanket. ]
It's not right. But it's like the City: it's a symptom of a greater problem, and the way they solved it was through stuff like this. We weren't the first, but we'll have been the last. That's good enough.
[ for her, it is. for others... not so. ]
[ she knows it'd be easy. she only asks; she doesn't impede. but her gaze focuses back into him and she loosens her grip on the blanket. ]
It's not right. But it's like the City: it's a symptom of a greater problem, and the way they solved it was through stuff like this. We weren't the first, but we'll have been the last. That's good enough.
[ for her, it is. for others... not so. ]
...Tch.
[How dare you make UNDERSTANDABLE points. He seems to shrink back slightly, still gloomy.]
Gives them no excuse, still. They did this.
[How dare you make UNDERSTANDABLE points. He seems to shrink back slightly, still gloomy.]
Gives them no excuse, still. They did this.
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