[OPEN] I fight the fever alone

[bemist]

WHO: Gebura and you!
WHAT: June catch-all! Maybe longer! It's a mystery!
WHERE: All around
WHEN: June 2024
WARNINGS: Graphic descriptions of violence, dismemberment, murder, gore and death. Also spoilers for Lobotomy Corporation and Library of Ruina!



[ If you'd like a starter, just let me know! ]

Comments

memory - betrayal (cw: break-ins, murder)

[bemist]

[ You'll find yourself in what looks to be a somewhat shabby apartment building. Nothing fancy, nothing colorful, hardly ornamental. Maybe a few framed pictures adorn the brown walls. Three people speak quietly; an older woman (Ms. Goose, you'll automatically know) with her graying brown hair pulled back taut into a sensible bun, a slightly younger man, muscular but who had said the life of being a Fixer wasn't for him (Mr. Sean), and a young woman who appears to be in her early twenties.

You'll recognize her as Gebura, though she's without her typical arrangement of scars on both her face and body, and both eyes are a bright gold instead of one being a faded gray.

Additionally, as she hands over a packet of money to the pair of them, they call her "Kali." She shrugs off their thanks, replying that it's only natural to want to repay them for having provided for her since she was a child. And a feeling surrounds this memory... warmth. Appreciation. Gratitude. Without a doubt, these people are her family.

But then the scene wavers, that warmth dissolving into something colder and unforgiving. Kali sits on the floor of a dark apartment, arms and legs tightly bound with rope, watching as a large group of people ransack her apartment with flashlights and crowbars at the ready. Two of them are the neighbors she'd spoken to previously, who had smiled at her with such affection. And you can hear their discussions with each other, with no other sounds. Kali herself doesn't appear to be struggling.

So you can hear: "Dammit, check behind this picture! There's no way what she gave us is all of it!"

You can hear: "Once we've got all the money, we can finally move to a Nest! Leave this hell of a life behind!"

You can hear: "If you can't find it, get her to talk. She always liked you."

Through it all, Kali doesn't move, but you can hear a quietly shaky exhalation from her and the feeling saturating this scene is like the feeling of a precious object shattering into irreplaceable pieces. ]

[yuwon]

[ a flutter of his eyelids and suddenly he's in this apartment. it's not exactly luxurious, but considering his own upbringing, he supposed he didn't have room to judge. especially, when this is clearly another one of those "memories" he's seen so many of, and yet it doesn't become any more or less emotionally exhaustive.

despite it starting off as a heartwarming scene, and he can feel the appreciation of the owner of this dream so clearly, he can't fight the biting feeling that it's about to all change, and it's in that moment he's right. he can feel her shaky breath, and despite knowing so little of the actual woman behind this, it somehow does resonate with his own expectations of the world. in that he had no expectations. he really hates this kind of thing.

was it relatable, or was it just frustrating to see?

before he knows it, he can finally move his arms and limbs, he looks down, before calling out: ] Hey. [ almost as if trying to rouse someone from sleep, because he knows that this simply can't be reality, he continues. ] Get up. [ is this even a dream he can act in... is he aware enough?

well, he'd find out. ]

[bemist]

[ In a sense, he can act. No one gets up, but one of the people ransacking the apartment turns to look at him, then jerks his thumb in the direction of the redhead sitting silently there.

"Hey. Go see if you can get her to spit out the location of the rest of the money. She's a Fixer, she can probably handle a broken bone or two if you've got to resort to persuasion."

He is, apparently, being viewed as one of their own, though from the way Kali looks at him, it's clear she's aware he's not a face that belongs there. ]

[yuwon]

[ at the sudden words, he looks towards his hands. oddly enough despite his attire matching the general mood of the memory, the one thing that does remain that's his is his glove. almost as if marks him as an outsider to this memory—

outside of the distinct way she looks at him. when their eyes lock, he seems to mouth something to her, while it's obscured it seems to be a form of "sorry"— whether it's for peering into her memories unintentionally, or the fact that he tries to behave naturally in this vision.

he kneels down beside her, before giving a gruff. ] All right, but I'm going to do it my own way. [ this was all the acting skills he could utilize today, or so he's thinking, before he turns back towards her. he speaks to her in a hushed tone: ] Is this where you tell me, or where I... [ he looks at her ropes.

if this is her memory, he figures they should do what she wants with it. even if it's to █████ them. ]

[transmit]

[ The moment Elysium recognises Gebura, young as she is, Elysium's heart sinks in his chest.

It doesn't matter that the memory is suffused with warmth, appreciation, and gratitude. He knows that they're genuine, and for it, perhaps that's what causes it to be all the more rending in stark contrast. Picking up the pieces of yourself is easy. Putting them back together is not. It's hard to imagine this being the first or last incident of what comprises 'Gebura.' Her tiredness, her cynicisms, and even her keenly focused fixation on a singular goal to protect was a kind of intensity that didn't arise from a singular incident. There's the lack of scarring to speak for, too.

So when the knife of betrayal strikes, Elysium can't say he's surprised. He feels a little sick, even, for expecting something of the sort.

They'd called her 'Kali,' hadn't they? … For once, Elysium errs on the side of caution when the dream deigns him to move. His chest is tight, his mouth pressed into a thin line. He doesn't intend to summon any of his usual and sometimes inappropriate optimism. ]

… Hey. Let's get you out of here.

[ Is he here as himself, with a sword to cut through the rope? And if not, will he be able to find a knife to achieve the same? ]

[bemist]

[ He's here as himself and he could indeed cut through the rope--but Kali shakes her head. A muted gesture. Her voice is just as quiet. ]

No need. I just wanted to see... what they did. Why they did it. And now I see...

[ Another breath. The ropes grow taut against her body. ]

... They've become exactly what I was trying to protect them from.

[ And she says "no need" and she's entirely sincerely; in the span of a few seconds, Kali breaks the ropes herself, standing up without affording a second glance to Elysium. She moves.

Gebura had told him already, a few times, that she wasn't kind. And Elysium can believe what he wants, but her reason for saying so likely stems from this--from the way she grabs a man by the neck and slams his head into the wall with enough force to crush his skull on impact. From the way she ducks a crowbar swung at her, brutally snaps the woman's wrist, and brings the crowbar down on her head. It finds its final resting place in another man's chest. Then it's a knife, grabbed off the counter, and hopefully Elysium is standing far enough back to avoid the blood splatter. Because there's at least ten people who broke in and only one young woman and yet they're falling one by one by her hand and she's--

Kali is crying, even as she continues without faltering. Because in her memory, it hadn't mattered who had seen her then. There was going to be no one left alive to be able to recount it later.

Elysium can move, but he won't be able to approach her until the last lifeless lump has hit the ground with a sickening THUD and she stands there silently, tears still streaming down her face, shoulders trembling with the force of her suppressed sobs.

A kind person wouldn't have done this. ]

[transmit]

[ … Ah.

Elysium doesn't watch directly, nor does he try to interfere. Is he better or worse for it, in simply accepting that what in front of him has a predetermined conclusion? But the brutality eventually stops. The final victim falls to her knees. He makes his presence known again with how his steps will deliberately echo against the floor, up until he's next to her.

A slow, outreaching hand——if she wants to bat it away, she could, and he wouldn't attempt it again. Except, instead of waiting for her to take it this time, it'll settle on her shoulder if she permits.

He knows there's no changing the past. At least, what he can offer words for "now." ]

Whether it was the right or wrong decision, it's possible that you wouldn't have been their last victim. [ … ] There's no predicting what exactly their future might've looked like, but you acted in accordance to your beliefs, didn't you? Despite how hard it was.

[ A small smile, even if she may not look up to see it. Byproducts of circumstances: Rhodes Island dealt with those daily. ]

You can't expect forgiveness from everyone, no matter how mundane or extreme your sins may be… but I hope you can forgive yourself. That's the most important thing.

[ he sees how she lives now. ]

[newphew]

[ oh boy. well, hunter is here, watching this all play out. it's familiar. somewhat. in the moment, he has to hold one his hands because the other is shaking. but even if this is a memory -- or a dream -- or whatever it is, he can't show weakness. he takes a steadying breath and straightens up, looking over at kali - gebura? and trying to steel his gaze. banish the thoughts of belos and focus on the moment. ]

[ he stares her in the eyes as if trying to convey he's here to help, slowly and deliberately walks over -- his intent is to just untie her without being noticed ]

[bemist]

[ Kali stares at him as though she absolutely understands he isn't supposed to be here, but says nothing at the moment. Before Hunter can do much of anyone else beyond Staring With Intent, one of the other people turns towards him.

"And what do you think you're doing?" ]

[newphew]

[ hunter freezes in place, turns around. he weighs his options. he could try to pretend. he could try to fight them -- he does feel a defensive anger welling up in his chest, along with all the panic from remembering his own circumstances. he tries to size them as up as subtly as he can, but decides, in the end, to play along ]

Don't you want to know what she's hiding? I was going to question her, obviously.

[ he sounds extremely confident in himself, even if he doesn't feel it at all. sit tight, kabura!! ]

memory - death (cw: violence, blood, dismemberment, impaling) (closed to established cr)

[bemist]

[ It's not a very pretty scene. Gebura, looking much the same she does now, except covered in wounds, is standing with great effort. Her right eye has been gouged out, blood trickling down that side of her face, which is also scored with several gashes. One arm is also... gone, severed at the shoulder as her free hand clutches the hilt of her massive flesh sword.

She faces a woman dressed in black and gold who looks to be faring at least a little better, though not without injuries of her own.

And surrounding them? Lots and lots of bodies. Some human, torn apart, some more monstrous-looking. And you're filled with a sense of understanding: the people in the facility are likely all dead, from this attack, from the monsters that were unleashed. There may not be a point to any of this now.

The woman watches her, face impassive.

"I don’t know if it will ease your pain, but this happens quite often, more often than you may think. This is no less common than, say, a little seedling getting trampled to death."

She shrugs, lightly, gazing directly at her opponent. "I must admit that you're quite the tough sprout, however. You even managed to thwart my plans a little. I never expected you would kill two Claws, stop all the monsters... And finally come to face me and give me a fair fight."

Gebura (or Kali, more accurately), takes a step forward while the woman speaks.

"By the way, about those monsters." And she's still going, apparently. "I cannot deny that they're astonishing things. Even after plowing through a hallway of your friends, they never softened nor tired. ... It seems you aren't much different from them, now that I ponder on it. Alright then."

The nod this time, if nothing else, is respectful. "If you can still manage to hold a weapon and stand up on your own two feet, then come. Come at me."

And Kali does, with a fury that speaks of desperation. Because maybe there's no one left alive. Maybe there truly is no point to this. She should have run when the employee had mentioned it.

But maybe, just maybe, if she stops this woman here, she can save at least one life. She can keep her promise, to protect--

She doesn't quite succeed in killing her, but.

As she crumples to the ground, blood soaking into the earth, her blade lodges itself in the woman's chest, pinning her to the wall. ]

[ignoreher]

[ it's a familiar place.

which is why the bodies strewn about make it so unfamiliar -- not only because she'd stopped paying attention to who came in, who was around, so she could keep up with her work... but this place was never meant to be a tomb.

it was for two people already; how had it come to this?

gebura-- kali, and...

...

binah...? malkuth doesn't know who she was before, or how exactly they'd come to recruit her; she'd never thought to ask, really, simply accepted it since the upper layer didn't speak to the lower, and though it wasn't so rare anymore. but the woman resembles binah, speaks in the same cadence and aggravates kali the same way she does gebura.

what had happened after her own painful passing? of course the research team had fallen somehow -- they'd all gone through the same thing of becoming "AI" but what had happened? suddenly it feels as if there's a secret malkuth hasn't been privy to, that everyone knows but her, and she remains frozen as one dies, one remains barely alive.

a shaky exhale. death is no stranger to her now. but that might be the blue of (chesed) daniel, blond hair stained with blood belonging to (tiphereth) lisa. plenty of other faces she doesn't recognize. it's different like this, of course it is. ]

... Gebura?

[ a soft call. she doesn't know if she can wake her, or if she's even aware, or if (binah) the woman might answer instead, but she can't not do something. even if that something is speaking up. ]

[bemist]

[ She's aware. Unfortunately, she's very much aware, so while Malkuth doesn't immediately get kicked out of the dream, Kali's bloodied body moves. She remains missing an eye; none of her deep wounds close up, but she sits up and runs her one remaining and bloodied hand through her hair.

And, wearily-- ]

After this. Gebura was after this.

Technically, I guess I'm the reason we wound up in those bodies.

[ignoreher]

[ ...

how... did this, lead to all that...? the question is on her face, and as ever malkuth isn't bothered by the bodies as she approaches gebu-- kali, she reminds herself. sits beside her, sleeve coming up to wipe at the blood on her former, current, future coworker's face. ]

I don't get it. [ ... ] What are Claws doing here? Is she... Was Binah from the Head? How did they find us out here? What do you mean, you're the reason?

[ so many questions, as ever. ]

[penaltypoints]

[ He knows this location, though many years have passed, but even the images that his mind produced back then didn't create a hellscape on such an overwhelming scale. Amidst the carnage, he sees Kali. Her opponent's attire shares Binah's colors. It reminds him of their clash with Angela, Binah siding with her, and everything in vain, nothing but destruction and death, much like this.

A lot of them died around the same time, in the end.

Kali was among them, he realizes, but before succumbing to her wounds, after witnessing death after death, she continued to fight to protect their dwindling team. If he searches the grounds, he's certain that he will find almost every familiar face, their mangled bodies.

There's no use lingering on it now. Gebura is right, but he supposes that his questions are no longer unanswered.

His steps take him to Kali's side first, where he kneels to check her pulse, pointlessly. To do something, not stand there and watch her die, even though he can't mend her injuries and she must have died here that day. Her blood stains his fingers and seeps into his clothing — there is no stemming its flow or easing the pain that comes with it, relived, physical or otherwise. ]

...Can you hear me?

[ And if she can, will it be as Kali or as Gebura? The former certainly wouldn't expect Gabriel to make an appearance now, alive, but Malkuth's nightmare of the past allowed him to interact with that memory at least for a while. ]

[bemist]

[ Even Kali would have had a hard time dealing with a Gabriel that had just suddenly appeared, after he'd already been lost to them. Following Elijah's path in a way no one would have expected from someone normally so taciturn and with his emotions tightly under wraps.

Or so they'd thought.

The body beneath Yesod's fingers remains that--a body. Lifeless, unresponsive.

But the voice comes from behind him, Gebura standing there with a gaze that's both present and distant. ]

You can let her go.

[ Rather, she's already gone. ]

[penaltypoints]

[ Yesod straightens up, turning his head to look back over his shoulder, at Gebura. Yes, Kali is gone. She was already gone. His fingers curl into his palms; the corpse felt solid beneath his hands, still warm. Uselessly sentimental gestures crossed his mind, the wish to wipe the blood from Kali's face, to commit the truth of all of these deaths to memory.

The desperation and the despair of the past permeates the scenes that he has witnessed. ]

...Gebura.

[ He says nothing else just yet. What is there to say? There's no use lingering on it now, he reminds himself. ]

Wriothesley. worm kaiju event

[bemist]

[ Gebura alternates--when she isn't helping out on the very front line, she's falling back to check on the second group. Malkuth's in that one, she knows, and while she trusts her to kill who she must, it doesn't mean she feels comfortable not checking in on things at all.

In a bunny suit, no less, clinging to her as she hacks her way through a frenzied group of people to clear herself a path. She'd seen the signs of burrowing; there's no hope for them, regardless. But there's a familiar face up ahead, and she pauses, lowering her bloody blade for just a second. ]

So, better or worse than the bachelor party?

[ Hi, Wriothesley. ]

[frostfist]

[ And there Wriothesley is, having swapped out his usual fistfighting for a rusted knife he'd picked up in the desert. Not that he still isn't punching people - old habits die hard - but easier to ram a pointed end into someone's chest to snuff out the light in their eyes than hope for the best in landing a punch on a critical spot.

Thankfully, he hasn't had to do much of that yet.

He's looking worse for the wear by the time Gebura finds him, though he can't help but flash a quick smile at the question. ]

Is it weird if I say better?

[ Not that he particularly enjoys killing people, but there's a lot more freedom when it comes to throwing himself into the heat of battle. He's always been more of a fighter than a laze-about-er anyway. ]

You seem to be doing worse though.

[ With a once-over towards her outfiit. Lookin' good there. ]

[bemist]

I'm managing. [ With all the flatness of someone who isn't thrilled about it, but isn't about to let it stop her from doing her job. Not like the Librarians didn't technically equip the bodies (and therefore outfits) of some of their fallen opponents in order to fight, especially those who didn't have previous fighting experience, after all. Some of those outfits weren't exactly... fitting. ]

But I do get what you mean. The party thing with a bunch of people I don't know isn't really my idea of a good time and at least this feels productive and gets the blood pumping.

[frostfist]

Glad we're on the same page about that.

[ Ah Gebura. With every word she climbs higher and higher to usurp Malkuth's spot as his favorite Library. (Just kidding.) One of the civilians swings a weak punch; he counters it easy and sends the guy falling back down to the sand.

Since the bunny suit doesn't seem to be her idea of a good time, then... ]

Lemme guess. Implant glitch?

[ That or she majorly lost a bet with someone. ]

Yuwon. worm kaiju event

[bemist]

[ She doesn't really pay attention to whoever else is fighting at the moment, unless she has to be ready to dodge an overeager swipe of a blade or duck a stray projectile. Friendly fire has almost always been a thing, growing up, if not Unfriendly Fire being a given. She'd learned to observe and it's the sound of fighting that she pays attention to, not so much the sight of anyone else.

Which is why when she turns her head after stabbing a worm-frenzied human in the chest-- ]

Oh. It's you.

[ And it's her! In a sexy bunny outfit, but let's not talk about it. ]

1/2

[yuwon]

[ the way she moves on the battlefield is a bit reminscient to the memory he saw, but naturally he draws no attention to that fact. instead, he focuses on the human-turned-monsters on the other end of his blade, and the holy fire he keeps burning from his gloved hand. it engulfs the body of the person she just took out. the flames lapping the corpse up as if feeding off of it, before he turns a gaze back to her.

... and he opens his mouth casually, ] Hey—

[yuwon]

[ and then it gradually comes to him that she sure is... in an outfit???

he stares for a second too long, his gaze clearly lingering over her before he looks back off to the worm person. ]

... [ his mind is blank, but who knows, maybe the outfit has really good stats?? ]

[bemist]

[ No. She wishes. ]

... Implant malfunction. Ignore it.

[ SURELY. SURELY HE CAN IGNORE IT. ]