![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
[ 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. ]
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. ]
[ 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. ]
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. ]
[ 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. ]
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. ]
[ 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. ]
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. ]
[ 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? ]
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? ]
[ 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. ]
"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. ]
[ 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. ]
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. ]
[ 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.
And, wearily-- ]
After this. Gebura was after this.
Technically, I guess I'm the reason we wound up in those bodies.
[ ...
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. ]
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. ]
The Head found out about us--probably got tipped off. [ Somehow. Michelle's body is not among those present, of course. ]
Dispatched an Arbiter [ a nod towards Binah ] and two Claws... somehow the Abnormalities all got out and went through the facility killing everyone while the Claws took advantage of that.
By the time I heard about it, it was pretty much assumed there were no survivors, but...
[ Well, she'd never been the type to just sit back. Except now, allowing Malkuth to wipe blood off her face. More keeps coming, anyway. ]
I fought my way through the Abnormalities, killed the Claws, fought her. I guess because of that, Benjamin and Ayin both survived.
... The only two survivors.
Dispatched an Arbiter [ a nod towards Binah ] and two Claws... somehow the Abnormalities all got out and went through the facility killing everyone while the Claws took advantage of that.
By the time I heard about it, it was pretty much assumed there were no survivors, but...
[ Well, she'd never been the type to just sit back. Except now, allowing Malkuth to wipe blood off her face. More keeps coming, anyway. ]
I fought my way through the Abnormalities, killed the Claws, fought her. I guess because of that, Benjamin and Ayin both survived.
... The only two survivors.
[ michelle's body isn't here. but neither is gabriel's, nor giovanni's. what happened to them? questions she
wants? doesn't want? will get the answers to, sometime. their words or not. she doesn't ask. ]
You're amazing as ever, in every life you've ever lived. [ simple and plain fact. ] Even if... there's so many dead, I think you've done more than enough for all of us. You always have.
[ kali hadn't been scary, just hard to get to know. steadfast. a pair of watchful eyes from the wall, a hand pushing her around the corner so she doesn't trip against it. red hair unmistakable. ]
... Do you regret saving them? With how everything unfolded afterwards.
wants? doesn't want? will get the answers to, sometime. their words or not. she doesn't ask. ]
You're amazing as ever, in every life you've ever lived. [ simple and plain fact. ] Even if... there's so many dead, I think you've done more than enough for all of us. You always have.
[ kali hadn't been scary, just hard to get to know. steadfast. a pair of watchful eyes from the wall, a hand pushing her around the corner so she doesn't trip against it. red hair unmistakable. ]
... Do you regret saving them? With how everything unfolded afterwards.
[ 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. ]
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. ]
[ Yeah. It's about what he imagines.
Kali meets his eyes, the gold of her irises a little muted, as though she's trying to detach herself from the situation at hand. It's neither.
Maybe it would have changed, had it been either of those options.
But that's not how this memory goes and even though Yuwon is here now, the most essential part of this cannot be changed. ]
You should step back. Close to the door.
[ it's spoken rather calmly. ]
Kali meets his eyes, the gold of her irises a little muted, as though she's trying to detach herself from the situation at hand. It's neither.
Maybe it would have changed, had it been either of those options.
But that's not how this memory goes and even though Yuwon is here now, the most essential part of this cannot be changed. ]
You should step back. Close to the door.
[ it's spoken rather calmly. ]
No.
[ That's simple, squeezed out as it is through a throat that should no longer be able to draw a decent breath. She's lost far too much blood to be able to hold a conversation at all, but such is the nature of dreams. And such is the nature of Gebura who was once Kali, who had never once considered herself amazing and doesn't really think so now. It's not self-deprecating, either. Just a fleeting thought.
An amazing person would have been able to protect so much more. ]
I won't say I don't have regrets about how things played out. But in the end, because I was able to save the two of them, I could keep my promise to Carmen. And even with what happened, everything everyone went through...
... Where we're at now was worth it.
[ That's simple, squeezed out as it is through a throat that should no longer be able to draw a decent breath. She's lost far too much blood to be able to hold a conversation at all, but such is the nature of dreams. And such is the nature of Gebura who was once Kali, who had never once considered herself amazing and doesn't really think so now. It's not self-deprecating, either. Just a fleeting thought.
An amazing person would have been able to protect so much more. ]
I won't say I don't have regrets about how things played out. But in the end, because I was able to save the two of them, I could keep my promise to Carmen. And even with what happened, everything everyone went through...
... Where we're at now was worth it.
[ … 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. ]
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. ]
[ Kali's eyes flick to the hand on her shoulder--which she does allow, as worn as she looks, as though there's truly no point to batting it off now. She at least appears aware enough to know this is not a moment in time in which he ever featured and thus attacking him doesn't appear to be necessary.
She doesn't look up, though.
Even if one were to have power, that power would only strike down, not up...
The words are audible, echoing in the room, in Gebura's voice--older, quiet.
The "victims" in the Backstreets were potential perpetrators who just weren't strong enough...
And that's the reality of the life she'd grown up into. How things may be, even now. Trusting anyone in the slums was not a good idea. Give them what they sought and they would seize it and make decisions not unlike this one.
Kali lifts a hand now, to wipe at her eyes, tone a little fragmented when she speaks again. ]
I don't want forgiveness. From anyone, or from myself. I made this choice.
[ Whether she saved future victims or not, there's no sugarcoating the fact that acting on her beliefs had left a multitude of bodies on the floor, people she had genuinely cared about. ]
... I told you, not to bother with me. [ And there's the recognition, those golden eyes lifting to his face. ] I will kill you, if I have to.
She doesn't look up, though.
Even if one were to have power, that power would only strike down, not up...
The words are audible, echoing in the room, in Gebura's voice--older, quiet.
The "victims" in the Backstreets were potential perpetrators who just weren't strong enough...
And that's the reality of the life she'd grown up into. How things may be, even now. Trusting anyone in the slums was not a good idea. Give them what they sought and they would seize it and make decisions not unlike this one.
Kali lifts a hand now, to wipe at her eyes, tone a little fragmented when she speaks again. ]
I don't want forgiveness. From anyone, or from myself. I made this choice.
[ Whether she saved future victims or not, there's no sugarcoating the fact that acting on her beliefs had left a multitude of bodies on the floor, people she had genuinely cared about. ]
... I told you, not to bother with me. [ And there's the recognition, those golden eyes lifting to his face. ] I will kill you, if I have to.
[ If a person didn't want forgiveness, then there was no point in pushing it. The only person who could decide that was themselves. ]
… If I ever do something like this, I sure hope you would. You have my express permission to.
[ His clear gaze flits to meet hers, and the hand on her shoulder gives a firm yet gentle squeeze. ]
But for your sake. I'll endeavor to ensure that doesn't turn out to be the case.
[ 'Am I still not allowed to bother with you, then?' ]
… If I ever do something like this, I sure hope you would. You have my express permission to.
[ His clear gaze flits to meet hers, and the hand on her shoulder gives a firm yet gentle squeeze. ]
But for your sake. I'll endeavor to ensure that doesn't turn out to be the case.
[ 'Am I still not allowed to bother with you, then?' ]
[ From the way she's uncertainly tense beneath his hand, she isn't used to touch. Not a touch that's only meant to convey support, and maybe that remains the case in her future. Touches were intentional and kindness, care, affection... weren't really present.
There are people she can trust now, the ones she'd spent a technical decade with, locked inside a corporation to the point of a meltdown, but the ones she'd met here? It's harder to grasp their intentions. Why they bother.
Maybe this is just how this individual in particular is, though, and her shoulders slump slightly beneath his palm. The exhaustion and the strain etch themselves into her face.
"For your sake" also sounds like words she's never heard before. She doesn't think she has. ]
You could just go about your business, but it's not like I can tell you what choices to make. That's your own right.
[ 'Do what you want.' ]
There are people she can trust now, the ones she'd spent a technical decade with, locked inside a corporation to the point of a meltdown, but the ones she'd met here? It's harder to grasp their intentions. Why they bother.
Maybe this is just how this individual in particular is, though, and her shoulders slump slightly beneath his palm. The exhaustion and the strain etch themselves into her face.
"For your sake" also sounds like words she's never heard before. She doesn't think she has. ]
You could just go about your business, but it's not like I can tell you what choices to make. That's your own right.
[ 'Do what you want.' ]
[ her voice is oddly calm despite what's happening around them. he doesn't know if that's the testament to how strong her will is, or if this was simply truly just another memory to her. regardless of which it is, he doesn't ponder on it for long.
this is her dream and if she's being this direct, it must be for a reason. despite the lingering curiosity in his eyes, just as she states, he moves back. his body casually moves towards the door, no longer really putting on an act as he waits to see what happens.
maybe even a part of him is expectant of what's to come. ]
this is her dream and if she's being this direct, it must be for a reason. despite the lingering curiosity in his eyes, just as she states, he moves back. his body casually moves towards the door, no longer really putting on an act as he waits to see what happens.
maybe even a part of him is expectant of what's to come. ]
[ always so hard on herself, if she knew. a small thing they have in common. not self-deprecating, but critical all the same. ]
... I think so too. I don't... know everything that happened to everyone, and... I didn't pay enough attention to others when I was still live, either, but...
[ she wasn't good at being a person, or so she'd told izou. a quiet explanation he couldn't have made sense of -- but maybe he does a little more now, their awkward similarities a little too close to home.
malkuth exhales, then reaches up and rests her hand on the other's head. what can be said in three will be said in thirty, but... that's how it is. long winded, but every word is chosen with care. ]
But I can't imagine my current life without you or anyone else in it. [ softer, voice cracking a little. ] I don't want to, either. And I definitely don't regret forsaking a comfy, safe job back in my home Nest with how happy doing just that made me in the end. You're so vivid, it makes my chest hurt.
... I think so too. I don't... know everything that happened to everyone, and... I didn't pay enough attention to others when I was still live, either, but...
[ she wasn't good at being a person, or so she'd told izou. a quiet explanation he couldn't have made sense of -- but maybe he does a little more now, their awkward similarities a little too close to home.
malkuth exhales, then reaches up and rests her hand on the other's head. what can be said in three will be said in thirty, but... that's how it is. long winded, but every word is chosen with care. ]
But I can't imagine my current life without you or anyone else in it. [ softer, voice cracking a little. ] I don't want to, either. And I definitely don't regret forsaking a comfy, safe job back in my home Nest with how happy doing just that made me in the end. You're so vivid, it makes my chest hurt.
[ 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 ]
[ 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 ]
[ She wishes it was "just" another memory. It's one of her more defining ones and a subconscious part of her isn't exactly thrilled that other people are seeing it; it's different than explaining it to Roland.
Still, there's no helping it now. Gebura knows that and Kali had known what the outcome was going to be as soon as she realized there was no good reason for what her neighbors were doing.
So it's really too simple to snap the ropes holding her in place, rising to her feet and--
Put simply, it's a bloodbath. As soon as the group realizes she's free, they move to subdue her, but Kali moves like a demon, snapping a man's neck in a single move, flinging an older woman into the wall, grabbing a knife to slice someone's throat.
There are tears in her eyes, pooling over, as she does this--but no hesitation whatsoever, and she will not actually stop until there's no one else standing in the room beyond herself and Yuwon. ]
Still, there's no helping it now. Gebura knows that and Kali had known what the outcome was going to be as soon as she realized there was no good reason for what her neighbors were doing.
So it's really too simple to snap the ropes holding her in place, rising to her feet and--
Put simply, it's a bloodbath. As soon as the group realizes she's free, they move to subdue her, but Kali moves like a demon, snapping a man's neck in a single move, flinging an older woman into the wall, grabbing a knife to slice someone's throat.
There are tears in her eyes, pooling over, as she does this--but no hesitation whatsoever, and she will not actually stop until there's no one else standing in the room beyond herself and Yuwon. ]
[ 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?" ]
"And what do you think you're doing?" ]
[ 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!! ]
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!! ]
[ Wow, look at the lil guy bluff! The apartment resident staring at him apparently isn't too thrown off by there being a teenager there (maybe because Kali herself isn't that far out of teenhood at this point in time), so after a short pause he shrugs and tells Hunter to just be quick about it.
Kali remains quiet, up until Hunter is close enough, before she shakes her head. ]
Don't bother. I'm fine.
... Though, you should back up.
Kali remains quiet, up until Hunter is close enough, before she shakes her head. ]
Don't bother. I'm fine.
... Though, you should back up.
Page 1 of 4