014 - Video

[alternia_strength]

[There are twelve dead scarab carcasses in view all around Equius. He's not completely visible, and in fact most of him is shrouded in low light in the basement. He's clearly been cleaning the basement, and a few blue welts are visible on his skin. He has a contemplative look in hsi face, shrouded in the darkness of the room's gloom.

In front of him is a robot of Aradia, cold, lifeless and statuesque. It doesn't move. It's not clear until he speaks that he intentionally turned the feed on.]

It is my duty to inform you collectively that my moirail Nepeta Lejion has left the city. [He sounds howllow.] Some of you have images that she drew. I will send them on as she would have wished.

[A scarab came into view on the robot's shoulder and he grunted, knocking the thing off. His fist raised and slammed into the ground. with a sickening crunch.]

I could use a sparring partner. Preferably a durable one.

Comments

video

[fintastic]

What? Why Nepeta?

[ That just seems too cruel, taking her and not him. She already has a very low opinion of this place... ]

Video

[alternia_strength]

[He growled. It was a feral, uncomfortable, difficult sound that rumbled through his throat. He wiped his hand off on a towel and tossed it to the side, glancing at the screen from behind broken specs.]

I do not know. Glob, I have attempted in the past to determine their pattern. Fixated on it early on. There is no reason or purpose behind it. This place was good to her. She actually liked it quite a bit.

Video

[fintastic]

Well I don't see why since there is not much to like... but still! If I know Nepeta, and I think I do, she wouldn't want to just abandon us!

Video

[alternia_strength]

From what Aradia has attempted to reassure us in the past, I believe it is because neither of us understood the dream bubbles personally. Our last memories were of Gamzee killing us. [He grunted sourly.]

You are right, though. She had no wish to leave us behind. Neigh, she had been hoping to remain as long as possible.

[Video]

[5thchild]

Where re you, Equius?

[Video]

[alternia_strength]

I am in the basement of our hive. The door is unlocked if you wish to visit. The infestation should be cleansed by the time you have arrived. [Somehow, he expected Kaworu to stop by when he'd made the message. Perhaps even hoped for it.]

[Video]

[5thchild]

I will be there in a moment.

[ he doesn't ask, and even if Equius had rejected his offer, kaworu would still come to see him. He has to.

And so the angel turns off the video feed and heads towards Equiu's place ]

Action

[alternia_strength]

[The door was unlocked when Kaworu arrived. The sounds of Equius could be heard below. Pounce curled up and looked at him curiously for a moment and went back to lingering upstairs. She was a little depressed, listless, though Arthour helped, and still having Equius around helped a great deal.

Equius, however, was found downstairs, puttering with a few parts and looking over at the Aradiabot.]

[Video]

[comeonthensexy]

[ He'd seen. It's ... very sad. ]

I'm sorry, Equius.

[Video]

[alternia_strength]

Sorrow is better spent upon her departure than myself. I am resilient. [Liar] She, however, enjoyed this place...

[Video]

[comeonthensexy]

But you're the one left.

video

[felttheburn]

[ No condolences are forthcoming from this one; Kieran doesn't even lift his head to look at the feed so it's hard to see any expression. His hair obscures it and his voice is flat and dull. ]

Arena?

Video

[alternia_strength]

...Two hours. I have company attending that I had expected would call first. It would be ... rude to deny them this. [He sighed.] But yes, the arena would be best.

No weapons.

Re: Video

[felttheburn]

Don't need 'em. Two hours.

[ He terminates the call with just that... brusque, even for Kieran. Something's not quite right. In two hours he'll be leaning with his back against a tree near the main entrance to the arena, waiting restlessly. ]

LATER ON (closed to John)

[felttheburn]

[ That evening, just as dusk is fading into night, those wandering near the arena might see blood trails on the street. If they were to follow the one heading into Hel district, that person will easily catch up with a tall figure, hunched over his ribs and limping to the right side. The blood is coming from his... head? Somewhere on it. It's hard to tell, with how much there is, and the way his hair is matted to his face and skull from it. He's scraped up, and even in the dim light it's clear that his bruises are already beginning to swell.

Someone had quiiiiiiite a brawl. Better drag him to a healer, hm? ]

[hadbadays]

[ Blood trails would catch anyone's attention, probably, but it definitely catches John's very efficiently. He's also one of the last people that would ignore it for any reason. It is, after all, part of his job. Making people who are bleeding stop bleeding.

Of course, he follows.

And when he sees who it is that's making the trail ... Well. He's not so sure he's surprised. ]

Kieran?

Text

[yamagishi]

[So a friend of his left huh?]

Was she your friend? I don't know her but ...I'm sorry.

Text

[alternia_strength]

D --> The term is moirail
D --> But you humans would understand it as friend
D --> She was e%tremely important to me
D --> I am unsure how to deal with compassion from those I barely know

D --> Why would you care

Text

[yamagishi]

I don't see why not. Even though we don't know each other that well, compassion for others is always the right thing to do.

video;

[longwinded]

How durable are we talking here?

[Though if he remembers, Equius is pretty tough.] Sorry about Nepeta.

Re: video;

[alternia_strength]

I'd likely break you, John, though I appreciate the effort on your part. I am reasonably certain she would be upset if she returned to find out that I broke a limb on your person.

video;

[longwinded]

It was worth a shot, if anything. I am pretty sure you'd probably give me more than a run for my money too.

[Nepeta probably wouldn't have like it...no.] Are you going to be okay? Losing someone here, especially at a time like this.

[audio] SO LATE I'm sorry; I've been catching up in backtags

[fuckingwolverine]

Where?

[Then, after a moment, she adds:]

Home?

[alternia_strength]

[It took a minute to decipher the short statements. He grunted sourly and nodded to himself before speaking.]

Home enough, I expect. It's complex.

[fuckingwolverine]

[Complex? Uh-oh. Lilly frowns.]

What?