The End of An Era (...end?)

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Artemis and Elias Event Roleplay

The End of An Era (...end?)

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chatterghosts

chatterghosts

@chatterghosts 3 years ago

(( Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, y'all! ))

Lewis speaks with Joseph about a certain freckled brat, Nicolette suffers a hand wound and is aided by Jasper, Richard waits to be called upon, and Silver tends to Artemis and Susan.

(( This is probably the last TEOAE post, and oh man, y'all! It's getting quite branchey-offey, who knows what'll happen?

Stay tuned for an Aftermath/Explanation post, where all will be revealed (including lovely art from lovely friends!) ))

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Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(As the last discussion timed out before I could post this in response to chatterghosts painful reference, you all now can hear my suffering:

* From the narrator corner comes pained HJ noises* DON'T STOP SINGING!!! DON'T STOP UNTIL YOU'RE OUT!!! *Retreats under the table to cry...again*)

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Catt Hatter  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(*Hands you some Chocolate and a pillow.*)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(*takes chocolates and pillow, and mutters a thank you.*)

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Catt Hatter  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(*Murmurs a 'you're welcome' and hides under the table with you.*)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago • edited

(*Bear hugs Cat and weeps* He was singing...he was singing....THEY'VE GOT TO GET HIM OUT OF THERE!!! )

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Catt Hatter  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Mph! *pats your head soothingly* Not sure about the significance of singing, but I'm sure they will get him out soon. There, there.)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(*all the tears* That's what I told him to do!!! That was me talking to him and OH! They've all hurt him so much!! DX )

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Catt Hatter  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(*is confused* Why would you tell him to sing? *keeps patting*)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago • edited

(*Hugs all the breakfast food* ...because that's what you do...because that's what you do...)

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Catt Hatter  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(I'm still confused, and where did these pancakes come from?)

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chatterghosts  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(( No pancakes, just... coffee and orange juice :') ))

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Hyde without a Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

(You have no right to bring up coffee and orange juice!!! Not after what you've done to them!!! >:'(

* squishes coffee and orange juice in a hug* There, there. It's going to be okay now. The muffin will save you. )

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Jekyll1886  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

((Meanwhile, the tea is desperately trying to keep things from going to [forgive the pun] pot...))

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

( XD Oh the puns! I'm so glad Helen wasn't around for that! But I just hope that between the tea and the muffin we can prevent this breakfast from falling out of the pan and into the fire!)

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

(( NOT LIKE THE MUFFIN IS HELPING. ))

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Hyde without a Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

(The Muffin is going to go eat some people! The Muffin is adorable when he's all protective and murderous! The Muffin needs a hug for doing such a good job waiting!

Don't bash the Muffin!)

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chatterghosts  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(( *muffled yells of dismay from the smooshed breakfasts* ))

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Hyde without a Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

(Shhhhh!!! I know I know! But I've got you now! Everything is going to be okay! *more smooshing*)

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Catt Hatter  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

(Orange coffee, that sounds interesting. I hope they come out okay in the end! As unlikely as I know that is. :T )

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago • edited

( Orange coffee *looks at Doodle with a huge grin* ....ORANGE COFFEE!!!)

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Catt Hatter  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(I think I may have said or suggested something by mistake. 8T )

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(OH WHAT!!!?!? EWWW!!!! NO!!!!!! AGHHHH!!!!!! ...no no nonononononono!!!! Ehhhhhhh!!!!

[Please hold...] *this continues for 3 minutes*

ICK! NO! No, I was just thinking of this other thing that I was talking to doodle about and don't say just plain coffee Doodle!!! You know what I'm talking about!!!)

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Catt Hatter  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Ah, okay. Good.

I honestly don't know what you're talking about, but that might be because I'm kinda brain dead from being tired right now.)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Nah you're fine! I think in hindsight that was the most common way to interpret that so you're fine!!)

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Catt Hatter  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Oh good. ^^; I'm not the only one then.)

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Jekyll1886  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

((It's "Sanka" meets "Tang"! ... That actually sounds repulsive, now I picture putting them in the same mug... :P ))

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

( I'm repulsed not only by that drink but by the idea of that being a ship or something [not at all what I was trying for btw...]! Just...eww...)

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Jekyll1886  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

((Not to worry; the thought honestly hadn't occurred to me.))

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

(Oh! Okay good! Whew! :P )

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chatterghosts  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(( GETOUTETOUTGETOUTGETOUT ))

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Hyde without a Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

(*Raises hands* I'm just saying. *walks out with breakfast square*)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago • edited

(I'll explain everything when this RP is over but there are no pancakes...yet. Right now just tea, coffee, orange juice, and muffins. AND I LOVE THEM ALL TO BITS!!!!)

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Helen Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(*Blinks slowly* i have a lot of catching up to do...)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(um...yah...half of this is in a sort of code because slight spoilers but I suggest you go check the nickname sections on characters for slightly more insight.)

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Helen Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Thank you! Now I know what it's like to be on the other side... XD My friends and I speak in code all the time. It feels very baffling.)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Oh once I'm clear of spoilers I'll be screaming and you'll understand why and the code terms...but for now I'm going to go cry while I eat an orange...I hope you're happy doodle. -_- )

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Helen Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(XD Thanks, I look forward to it.)

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Catt Hatter  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Yet? Oh dear.

We love the breakfast square and all its distressing antics!)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(It is the best!!!! <3 )

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Catt Hatter  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(The best breakfast ever! T~T)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(I wish breakfast was like this everyday at my house! It would be much more interesting! XDX)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

( Watching the muffin and coffee make out while Tea and Orange juice grumble off to the side? Cause this has been my breakfast everyday for the past 2 months and it has been very nutritious! :D )

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Helen Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Oh dear, I didn't know some of these treats were getting intimate with one another! I'm not sure if I'd want to watch the muffin and coffee... 😅)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(...Everyone wants the muffin...I think it's so they can create a balanced breakfast [ 3 drinks and one food stuff doesn't really balance out well] as for watching them ...this has been going on for much, much longer than 2 months.... *looks back on Drinking buddies*)

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Helen Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(I... think I understand... a little bit, at least...)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Well...muffin is short for scar-muffin and coffee is short for bitter coffee bean and the lot of this is in the aliases section of the character bios. )

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Agreed!)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Hehe... Helen and Hela managed to get a new pet! His name is Leo!)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Sweet!

Out of curiosity, do you remember when Catt and Helen were in an office and it started raining?)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Oh, yeah! And there were a bunch of kittens for some reason? Am I remembering that right?)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Yup! Mz. Hyde had come in with a box of kittens and let us keep one each. I was wondering if that was still canon? Cuz if it is, Helen has two cats now.)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Hmm, I don't know... I think it closed before it was finished... but Helen probably gave the little guy away, knowing she couldn't care for him. Where is Catts cat?)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Catt's kitty is usually forgotten by me, so I have to say it was allowed to roam around the society after Catt went into her room the one day and found three different time-versions of him in her room. She does make sure to feed him regularly though! She's even considered trying to teach him tricks, but she doesn't know how.)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Aww, that's really cute! I'm sure Helen would be happy to help train the kitty, if she could stop being a ball of anxiety and worry and guilt for half a second. XDX Does the kitty have a name?)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Catt would appreciate that very much, thank you.

It does, but at the moment it might be escaping me. Maybe it was Edward the 6th? Yeah, I think his nickname was Eddie6.)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Hehe, I'm sure she would! I'm too mean to my little ball of angst...

That sounds about right! Mz. Hyde had all sorts of names for the kittens like that.)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(We both are, but we love them. :3

Yeah! Hm, I wonder if I put that in the Archives/wiki yet? I should make sure I do that.)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Yeah, in a strange sorta friend/child/creation relationship. ^-^

I don't know, perhaps? I don't recall seeing it. Hmm... well, it it's not there, I wish you the best of luck finding it!)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(It is a unique relationship dynamic, to be sure.

Oh don't worry. I have it in my archives, I just need to post it on the wiki.)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Mhm... and to think talking to her is like talking to myself, seeing how she came from my head... she barely seems to sometimes...

Ah, that's good!)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Goes to show how powerful the human mind is, doesn't it?

Yeah. :> )

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Powerful or perhaps easy to deceive?

^-^ I like cute stories like that. They're a good contrast to all of the drama.)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Both most likely.

It's up now in Early Days if you wanted to read it!)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(*nods* both sounds right

Yay! I'll keep that in mind for when I'm having a bad day or an emotional rp!)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(*nods* Both is good.



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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Ah, casually discussing the nature of mankind... Helas doing the same with Lewis [at the moment? How does rp time correlate to real life?])

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Poorly I think. We've been at this for hours and at the most a few minutes have passed in story!)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Yes, very poorly... I've spent all day online and such a short amout of time has passed in the stories... perhaps that's part of why we enjoy this? You get to sayvour every moment?)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Most likely. Hooray for days off! :D )

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Yeah! Otherwise I could never manage even a few roleplays going on along with school work!)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Divided attention is murder on efficiency. XP )

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Mhm... that's why each worker has a specific job but I can't hire another me... :P)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Yup.

Hela just asked for a little thing, didn't she? Holy crackers! 8T)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Hmm? You think it's a little wish? ^-^)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(So little! Like I can't believe how tiny it was!

I can't even imagine how that could be accomplished!!! If I can't imagine it, Catt won't be able to make it happen and the guilt would crush her!! DX T^T Halp!)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago • edited

(Yeah, I was pondering the same thing myself! Just the amount of science that would have to go into making something that could tell Helas story without being broken down over the billions of years it'd have to survive. Catt could pass the story to kids and those kids to their kids but who would want to? And facts would be forgotten and people would die too soon or not care... I would suggest asking around the Society for help, without telling them that Hela has a wish like that.

Sorry, I don't even know how her wish could be fulfilled! Make her immortal, I guess? Have her commit mass murder to put her in the history books forever?)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Well, with Catt being practically immortal she would be able to tell the story of a friend of hers to many generations. But that might run the risk of her starting a cult by mistake.

It would be more simple to make Hela at least semi-immortal, I mean we do have vampires and the like in-universe already. I'm sure there's more options, it would just depend on what Hela would be willing to live with, and live with forever. Then there's Helen's side to consider too. :T So many dynamics we could employ here! Yikes!)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(I think Hela would be alright with a cult. XD Though having it done that way would require her to accept that Catt can do more than she ever could and that she's going to die while Catt lives on... not to mention trust her.

The thing is, even if she is semi immortal as a vampire or some sort of monster, that still isn't forever. One day she'd slip up and die and that would be the end of it...

Hela knows that what she's asking for is probably impossible and could never happen... which is why she went to Catt, the impossible girl, the one with a magic hat, the one who survived something that should have killed her several times over, one of the only people she couldn't understand. All of these qualities are what usually make her want to avoid Catt [along with the nightmares] or get rid of her but now she's hoping that despite everything, she'll be granted a miracle.

The funny/sad thing is, she hates humanity for what it is and how it behaves but she's really just like everyone else in the world...

Sorry about the rant, just some food for thought. ^-^'

Yeah, tons of ways to try and accomplish this! Mass murder is still an option too, right...?)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Yeah, that's not a favourable option I think.

Well, it depends on how far reaching her desire actually is. Does she want to be remembered through all of this universes timelines, or does she want the whole multiverse to know her story? By being a friend of Catt's, and by expressing her desire to be remembered, she has already ensured that she will be for a much more substantial amount of existence than most.

Ah yes, the human condition. I am familiar with this concept.

I like brain food, don't worry about it. ^-^

Only if she wants to be remembered for what she did, the same way Hitler is.)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(She just wants someone to keep remembering through the rest of time, in her own universe, starting from the moment she entered the past and going out on forever, and if she's lucky, maybe actually care about her story in some manner. As long as at least one person remembers her, she's not dead and she matters. That's something at least!

Hehe, it's a rather common one, is it not? I've always found it fascinating.

True... but it would be something, at least. She could get desperate some day, probably if she found out she was going to die from whatever reason, and do anything to be remembered for just a few days longer.)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(In that case, mission accomplished. Catt is never going to forget the girl who first put a bullet through her head.

Tends to be, yeah.

Let's make sure it doesn't come to that.)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(But Catt might not live forever... even someone like her is going to go down some day, right?

I would like to avoid that as well.)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Someday. But she's going to see the end of several universes before she decides she's satisfied with the life she's lived.

Yeah. :T )

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(You mean... Catts probably not going to die until she wants to...? >~<)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Yes, but not in a strictly sad way. More of a bittersweet way, especially since she gets to go somewhere nice afterwards. :> )

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Awww... that is a very bittersweet ending for her... She's going to have to leave a lot of people behind or watch them grow old throughout her lifetime.)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Yeah. I expect I'll know more about how to write those moments as I get older. :

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(I hope that you won't have to have real life experience with loss to write those!)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(It's either inevitable, or a different tragedy would prevent it.

But I think I'll just have to read about some, or imagine it. Sad as it is.)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Yeah... well, if you ever want any help, I can try and offer some advice. I tend to torture all my different characters regularly so I might be able to assist you.)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Thanks!

If you joined me on Google hangouts we could maybe write a scene like that together!)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Oh gosh, I think I'd have to bring tissues to that! XD I'd be happy to do it though! How do you get on Google hangouts? I forgot.)

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(It should be in the extended app list on the main Google page if you use chrome. Otherwise it's in the play store for mobile.)

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Helen Jekyll  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(Ah, that's right! I think that's what everyone at school uses to talk to their friends when they're not supposed to. ^-^')

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Catt Hatter  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Yeah. It's a handy work-around when you can't use your phone. There should be a message waiting from me.)

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Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( Repost because I can't Jasper out of context:

“ That's the other problem. You could have been infected with something. ( Frowning, Jasper inspects the cut further, looking for a telltale needle mark. When she is done, she undoes her ascot- exposing the gleaming gem underneath. She ties the fabric tightly around Nicolette's wound, forming a silken bandage. )

You let me know if you start feeling weaker.

There was no needle mark.

She nods, returning a small smile. When she notices the gem, however, she pauses, before shutting her mouth and shaking her head. It wasn't her business." )

( Jasper pops her collar up and buttons it, concealing the gem once again. )

So NOW what?

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

"... Keep looking for the way to bust the barriers?"

(( I KNOW I KNOW *waves hand* ))

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Jasper Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( Yes? <:D )

Yeah, if we can even FIND a way. ( She kicks a piece of scrap metal aside. )

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

(( CHECK UNDER THE D-- *muffled yelling* ))

Nicolette sighs. "Have some faith. Let's just... keep looking."

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Jasper Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( With an annoyed sigh, Jasper repeats the process of upturning every scrap and tossing it behind her. )

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

(( Ehhh... eheh, I'm not sure what to do. Y'all knocked out your information mine. ))

Nicolette acts similarly for a few minutes, and all seems peaceful. The silence is broken, however, by a groan. "Jasper?"

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Jasper Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( Jasper bolts upright and scurries over to Nicolette- too much like an animal. )

What's wrong?

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

"I don't-- I don't know," she says, her balance wobbling.

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Jasper Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( Jasper lifts Nicolette into her arms and sets her by the door. She unties the makeshift tourniquet and lifts her wrist up to the moonlight, looking for signs of infection. )

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

And sure enough, there is - the flesh along the slice has become a sickly green. The very edges, however, are brown, almost black.

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Jasper Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

( She curses under her breath. )

It was a matter of time.

We need to get out of here. ( She lifts Nicolette into her arms, picking up a sheet of metal on their way out. When they reach the dock, she sets her down and bends the metal into a bowl. In a moment, the metal begins glowing a bright red. She dips the bowl into the water and sets the boiling liquid in her lap. She takes the makeshift bandage and places it inside to sanitize it, squeezes the excess out, and applies the fabric to Nicolette's hand. )

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

Nicolette flinches away at the hot fabric, but she doesn't say anything - though that was perhaps due to the fatigue clinging to her mind.

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Silverliné Carew  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( Silver looks to the pair, eyes alight when she notices Jasper but expression horrified when she notices Nicolette. )

Oh no not you too! ( She looks up to Jasper )

What happened?

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Jasper Jekyll  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

( Gruffly, without looking up. ) We were ambushed. What did you bring with you?

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

Artemis follows Silver's eyes to the pair, his face paling. "Nicolette?"

"I'm fine," she says, a hand rested on the ground to keep her from keeling entirely.

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Jasper Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

You're not fine. ( Jasper dumps the water out and refills the makeshift bucket, waiting for it to heat up. )

I don't know what they spiked that knife with but if we don't kill that infection then we're going to be missing more than one person. They don't play nicely in these parts. Now do any of you have something I can use to clean this or am I going to be pouring hot water on her?

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

Nicolette pales. "Wh-- please don't.."

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Jasper Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Relax, it won't be scalding. Can't risk opening up more skin.

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Silverliné Carew  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

I um

( "I wish I'd known..." )

have some...lip balm...but I don't think it can disinfect.

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Jasper Jekyll  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

( With a frustrated sigh, Jasper runs a hand through her hair. )

Take this ( She holds up the garment. ) And hold it to her wound until I get back. ( Jasper pushes the now boiling bucket towards Silver. ) Wait for it to stop scalding first. We can't afford a bigger wound.

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Silverliné Carew  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

What?! Where are are you going?

( "Now that I've finally found you, I'm losing you again." )

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Jasper Jekyll  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

To get some help. I can't dress a wound this infected with water. ( With that, she turns and runs back in the direction they came, bouncing off of buildings to shave time off the commute. She practically wrenches the Society's doors open. Bellowing. )

WHERE ARE YOU GUITAR MAN?

( Dr. de Lezo Dat you )

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( At the top of the stairs on the second floor, a door opens and the Spaniard steps calmly out, securing his guitar behind his back. )

Not so loud please, the others are sleeping.

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago • edited

( Jasper marches up the steps. ) I don't have TIME for niceties, I've got a patient waiting at the docks. Get your medical equipment and let's go!

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( He narrows his eyes. ) Patient? What kind of patient?

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Who cares? she's got a gaping infected hole in her hand and if you don't want to perform an amputation, then cut the chit chat and grab your kit!

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( He disappears behind the door. ) There's no need to be a Sembrador de perforación

Disinfection... ( He scours the room, scooping up items both modern and Victorian. He closes the door behind him. ) So, where to?

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( When he returns, He comes face to face with Jasper. )

If you call me a funny name ONE MORE TIME, I'm gonna pummel you. Let's go. ( She gets up from her crouch and pulls him sharply up by the arm. )

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

Please let go, you're hurting me.

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

And let YOU get away? HAH! likely.

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( He winces as the momentum tugs sharply on his socket. )

I can get us there faster.

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Jasper flashes him a nasty look reading very clearly: I DON'T TRUST YOU. )

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago • edited

( He looks back up at her, brown eyes soft and pleading. )

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( She drops him with an agitated sigh. )

Fine. Prove it.

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago • edited

( He hits the ground with a thud, muffled by a shrub of jasmine that vanishes as soon as it had appeared. He removes the guitar from his back and strums an F chord. As soon as his fingers slide across the steel, giant vines spring up under them, lifting them several feet in the air. )

Where to?

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Jasper's eyes widen at the sight. )

Wh- What? Are you a Gem?!

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( He holds up his hand. )

Please, no chit chat. We need to get to the patient.

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Jasper grunts at the reference. )

Past the docks.

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

Which is...?

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

OH GIVE ME A BREAK! How could you not know where the docks are?!

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

I'm from Spain, I don't know how this town is laid out!

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Jasper kicks the vine. ) How do you make this thing go?

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago • edited

( The vine bucks in protest. )

You have to be nice to her. ( His fingers begin dancing across the strings, playing something suspiciously similar to the Malagueña rumba

As he plays, new vines shoot out, moving them forward. )

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Jasper suppresses the urge to growl and rip the guitar from his hands. Instead, she sharply yanks the doctor's body in the direction of the winding streets. )

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago • edited

( The vines follow the angle and direction of his body as he plays, much like an aircraft. )

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( "Well THIS is interesting"

Jasper steers him through the windy roads of town, weaving in and out in much the same fashion as Lewis had driven the carriage. )

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( As they fly through traffic, the vines continue growing- covering the entire city in foliage. Townspeople begin to stare and crowd the streets to marvel at the witchcraft. Without a warning, He leans back, sending them hundreds of feet up into the air and out of view. )

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Gripping his shoulders a little too hard, she continues steering them past all the busy streets and down towards the East end. As they fly, she looks down at the rapidly passing city below, searching for the docks. )

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( Alano continues playing, eyes closed as he feels the music pulse and swell all around him. His fingers continue to dance, tracing steps they know all too well by heart. )

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

THERE! ( She shouts steering Alano sharply to the ground. )

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( With a few final flourishes, the music tapers and the plants with it, lowering them gently to the docks. )

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Squeels of joy erupt from the narrator section! XD )

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Jasper Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

( ...what? )

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( 1. "Guitar man"

2. Lezo

3. Jasper and Lezo scenes give me life!

4."Guitar man" )

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Jasper Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

( What else is she going to call him? )

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

(I expected nothing less and I love it! <3 )

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Jasper Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

( I'm glad you enjoy her suffering XD )

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Oh! It is the best!!! With her using Lezo as a steering stick and just... I love their relationship SO MUCH!!! <3 )

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Jasper Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

( She was originally going to wrench the guitar from his hands and steer the thing herself. )

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ATasteForVintages  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago • edited

I'm not sure either of them would like that :/

If I recall, La Rosa is semi-sentient and would probably snap a string in protest

...either that or start attacking Jasper with thorns

Also, you don't rip a guitar from its player. Ever. That's, like, literally the single rudest thing you could do to them.

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Hyde without a Jekyll  ATasteForVintages • 3 years ago

(I'm going to agree with Vintages here because Guitar Man has the guitar and not Jasper for a reason.

...though I do wonder what instrument Jasper would play, if any.)

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Jasper Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago • edited

( Hah! Jasper caring about what they think. That's a funny you just made there

Ah! I believe "Steven Universe" has that question answered. If you listen closely to Rebecca's themes, you notice a motif for each character both in instrument and sometimes in genre.

Pearl's themes tend to belong to the classical/swing genre and are played by a upbeat piano.

Connie's motif is the violin, Steven, the guitar. He and Connie both share the Chiptune genre ( how thoughtful! implied ship perhaps? *eyebrow wiggle* )

Garnet's motif is the tubular synth Bass and her Genre is "Waka Waka" Hip Hop.

Amethyst is erratic 90's drums.

Gem-on'the-Nose Jasper's instrument is a distorted synth bass. My Jasper, however, does not share the distortion so she in essence is more like Garnet's Waka Waka. She does have a genre, but I have no idea what it is. We were thinking that MAAAAAAYBE she could share Disco techno with Silver ( with some Barbershop chords thrown in there, of course ).

If you're interested, here's the Tumblr about the canon motifs:

http://gem-science.tumblr.c...

The short answer is TECHNICALLY the keyboard. Jasper would play a digital piano-like device that produces bass sounds :]

....but no magic. She doesn't get a magical instrument )

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ATasteForVintages  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

Alano has the enchanted guitar because he saved a plant witch in the army and she made it for him.

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Hyde without a Jekyll  ATasteForVintages • 3 years ago

(I remember reading something about that! )

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Silverliné Carew  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

( Oh ouch! XD )

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

"I-- ..fine.."

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Silverliné Carew  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Okay. I'm really sorry about this but...(she takes Nicolette's hand and places it palm up in her lap. She dips the fabric in the heated water and presses it to the wound. )

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chatterghosts  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

Her face lights up bright red, and she begins breathing deeply, trying to remain calm.

Artemis lets out a resounding cry, eyes falling to his hand. It was bright red, but it lacked the slice or infection. He smacks the rag out of Silver's hands, before sputtering. "Sorry, I j-.."

He looks down at his hands with wide eyes.

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Silverliné Carew  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

ah HEY! (Silver fumbles with the rag, nearly dropping it and falling in before quickly catching it and regaining her balance. She flashes Artemis a pouty frown reflecting more concern and disappointment than anger. )

...it's okay

( "Ew. I just got all her pus on my hands!")

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chatterghosts  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

"..you're... fine." Arty still looks quite confused. What on earth had possessed him to act in such a way?

There's a small sniffle from Susan's end, her first sound in ages.

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Silverliné Carew  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Ah uh ( They are interrupted when a giant vine lands in front of them. Silver's jaw slackens a great deal more, unable to comprehend the scene before her. )

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Jasper Jekyll  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

( Jasper walks past, as if nothing had happened. )

We're here.

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

Both Arty and Nicolette turn to look, eyes widening at the giant vine. The former offers a small, tired smile. "Alano!"

Nicolette blinks. "You know him?"

He waves a hand in response. "He was the one I told you about. With the accent and the guitar!"

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Dr. de Lezo  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

¡Buenas tardes amigos!

( He turns to Artemis, flashing him a particularly large smile. ) It's so good to see you again Arty! ( His eyes glimmer with concern as they flicker between the pair. ) You look a little run down though. Are you okay?

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chatterghosts  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Arty lets out a bark of a laugh. "It's been a stressful month." His eyes drift towards Susan, whose gaze is and has been fixed on the floor. Gently, he taps her shoulder...and Susan flinches away and twists his wrist.

Arty lets out an alarmed shriek and yanks his hand back, his eyes wide. "What the hell was that?" he hisses.

Susan blinks, and turns pale. "I'm not... I don't.."

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Dr. de Lezo  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( Alano takes hold of Arty's wrist, giving it a quick once over. )

How much does it hurt?

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chatterghosts  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Susan still looks horrified at her actions. Arty lets out a gasping chuckle, "It's just a little, it's not that bad..." He nods his head towards Nicolette. "Just, uh - tend to her, would you? I'll be fine!"

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Dr. de Lezo  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

You need some ice Señor. ( He opens up his kit and pulls out a bottle and a rag. He opens the cap and dips the rag in, filling the air with a sharp stinging smell. He closes the cap and holds the very cold rag to Arty's wrist. )

You keep this on. It'll help reduce the pain and swelling. ( He approaches Nicolette. ) So you must be our patient then. Hi! I'm Alano, and it's a pleasure to meet you. I hear you're not feeling well? ( He eyes the wet silk compress in Silver's hand. ) And short handed I see. ( He reaches into his bag and pulls out a pair of rubber gloves. He slips them on. ) Would you mind if I take a look?

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chatterghosts  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

He nods and keeps the rag pressed against his wrist.

Nicolette flashes a bleak, albeit warm, smile. "That's me!"

She holds out her palm slowly. Blackness and sickly greenness has creeped across a significant amount of flesh on her hand.

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Tairais  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

It took only a few moments of deliberation and calculation for Richard to decide his odds of taking down the barrier from the inside were decent enough to warrant the chaos he was about to cause.

"I calculate I can.. dispose of the man responsible for the barrier and perhaps one to three of the others before things become difficult. I will inform the others and hope they can take care of whomever is left and wake the both of us before progressing."

He smiled wryly to himself and added "Here is hoping my calculations are correct, then."

The mist that had been clinging to his heels during his time standing continued to do so as he stepped from the alleyway, painting the world in shades of grey.

He slipped towards the rest of the group with a tread as soundless as it was graceful, noting the new addition (one he actually recognized, though his mind was preoccupied by things other than names) and filing his appearance away behind an expression as calm and smooth as porcelain.

Appearing besides Jasper, since hers was the name he could easily remember and the one most likely to be able to respond at the present moment, he delivered his news and plan with a voice like the smooth surface of a pond after a great beast dragged a piece of prey into its depths.

"Jasper, forgive me for adding chaos to the current circumstance, but I fear our time is rapidly closing. I have received word and location of the man responsible for the barrier. I am going to.. take care of the situation, as it were." He cast an almost apologetic look towards Artemis, but like the tension crackling off his shoulders, it was a sharp, brittle facsimile. "Do come join me if I do not already return after.. say, five minutes or so."

He turned on his heel and strode to the door of the decrepit, looming fortress he was about to ravage.

For a moment, his shadow flickered, even as his arms sparked when he crossed the barrier of runes.

The hunt had begun. They were hungry and furious and calm, a glacier sweeping across and tearing great gouges out of the land before them.

He shook the foreign thoughts out of his mind and allowed a blanket of calm to temporarily dampen the red at the edges of his vision.

He knocked, and after a moment's pause, smiled and said with a falsely-cheerful voice, "Delivery for you, sirs!"

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chatterghosts  Tairais • 3 years ago

A gruff, unamused voice sounds from the other side (with a more curious reaction, considering the last attempt had earned a bullet to the foot). "In' no delivery here. Off y'go."

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Tairais  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

He adopted a falsely worried tone, though in the back of his mind he wondered why, of all the ways to gain entry, had he chosen this ploy?

Comedic potential, perhaps. It's not like he'd stated what exactly he was delivering.

"Sir, I really must insist you at least check the package to be certain, it has this location written as its intended recipient."

Even the smallest crack in the metal door would be enough. He'd climb from there.

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chatterghosts  Tairais • 3 years ago

An answer to his prayers, the door opens a sliver. "What the hell is it?"

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Tairais  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Richard gave Lewis's warning the metaphysical equivalent appreciative nod before he slipped a hand into the crack of the door.

He addressed the man before him with a wicked and darkly gleeful smile made of the shattered pieces of all his masks, flickers of something primal and bloodthirsty in his eyes as he brushed his hair aside.

"I do believe it was you and your associates that ordered this shipment of bloodshed, yes? No? Well I have to deliver regardless."

With that (perhaps overly dramatic) statement, Richard exploded into a flurry of movement, the very picture of a bowstring snapping and unleashing a poison-topped arrow straight into the heart of..

Him. His target.

Using all the speed and force cultivated from years worth of athletic and acrobatic activities, he shoved open the door to the warehouse and barreled inside.

A countdown had started in his head the moment he sprinted across the threshold like a particularly vengeful wraith. Surprise was a formidable element, and he was not one to waste it.

Which was how he found himself, half a moment later, with his teeth hovering above the throat of the man Lewis had said was responsible for the barrier.

With a smile dripping glass and metal and blood and hunger, he mentally stepped back from conscious control of himself and let instincts long suppressed bubble and spark forth.

Both he and the walls around him were soon painted with the red of a fallen foe, and he turned and based his teeth to the rest of the room in the most gruesome approximation of a smile, snaggly canines and flat molars alike coated in red viscera.

He took off Jack's coat and took care to toss it as far to the side as he could: he despised having to clean it, and he didn't wish to disrespect Jack's memory that way.

Across the bond he and Lewis shared, the roar of a thousand unleashed creatures echoed with an unearthly howl, ringing painfully in the ears. There was a staggering sense of primal bloodlust and unfathomable hunger, and the sound of hooves was heart as the steady harmony to a heartbeat.

Oddly enough, his heartbeat was back to the steady calm he was normally able to summon at will, except in front of Elias.

One man would not be enough. Two or three would not be enough, but there was no time. The odds were too stacked against them and they were desperately hungry for anything.

They felt gloriously, wonderfully alive, coated in the lifeblood of prey and predator alike, none would stand in their way- they would have their fill.

Then came the time of shattered glass and cursed tempests. The time of shattered teacups and desperate murderers. The time of secret ritual and the time of lavender and roses and...

Rage. Cold, burning rage that beat in their heart like icicles hammered into their arms, through skin and vein alike.

Then nothing for a time.

Then the briefest of moments when all parts of that accursed window were aglow with the red of spilt blood and shattered promises, when they could almost be an 'I' again.

Moments like these.

The thoughts were foreign and alien and a whole new level of disturbing in the sense that it.. wasn't quite Richard for a moment.

Then it was gone as quick as it came, not even lasting the span of a third of a heartbeat, but just long enough, just long enough for some perceptive soul to have the chance of noticing.

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chatterghosts  Tairais • 3 years ago

Half the men would have fled right then and there, were they not so financially desperate to continue their employment. The other half were quite confident they could win- and that's the half that one of the next foes comes from, storming towards Richard and unsheathing a knife. Though never as wicked as the one Richard wore, this one had a rather cruel smile. Elias would have said that it was the grin of someone who knew something you didn't.

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Tairais  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Richard gave an answering smile to the blade that was just as cruel, empathy long suppressed bubbling forth to turn him into the worst kind of mirror.

This one, he knew, would be more difficult to fight.

He took the time to unsheath one of two katars, wicked, jagged metal and obsidian gleaming darkly, like blood in the moonlight.

He took a breath and licked some of the blood from his teeth, then shifted his balance into a stance as practiced as any dance.

In fairness, he was fond of mixing both the grace of fighting and the elegance of the ballet he still practiced, so perhaps it was an apt comparison.

His gaze flickered towards the rest of the room again, calculating and recalculating odds.

It was difficult to say how he'd fare in the coming minutes. He took a single second to use all his concentration to push the impression of a half-sure smirk and a sense of urgency towards Lewis and hoped for the best.

Since when had he become a gambling man?

Well, he could answer that in the smell of tea and the play of kitchen lights over freckled skin.

Rational thought trickled away again; the next few minutes would flash in a blue of impressions and crackling energy that was just shy of being tangible.

All this took perhaps two steady heartbeats to process and become.

On the third heartbeat, his shadow flickered back to the likeness it had been in his room at the beginning of the day (though it felt as if it had been weeks and days leading up to this moment).

On the fourth, it flickered out as the sound of hoofbeats and the cloying smell of carrion and copper blood filled his nose, though he knew instinctively that it was mere imagination.

On the fifth heartbeat, the stag behind him sprung into movement with him. They slashed at their foe with blade and antler alike, bodies exuding a lethal, fluid grace and agility few would hope to mimic.

It was, after all, the result of a lifetime of fighting. But even that could fall before sheer numbers.

They let the last of those flickers of ideas fade like sparks of embers into a winter night and thought only of the play of light, blood, and air.

Each piece of glass that joined its brethren was another life lost, another monster slain, another foe brought to justice.

Perhaps the ones that came before then were wrong to trust in the inherent kindness of the human nature. The pieces of the sky that fell and tore parts of them away hardly seemed to matter, pebbles in an ocean, by comparison.

Not that they minded. It would work in their favor. They just had to wait, in endless hunger and agony.

They were waiting.

They were hungry.

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chatterghosts  Tairais • 3 years ago

The man could only succeed in ducking out of Richard's path for so long, sliding and worming just barely past the direction of his blade and all the while getting a jab at Richard every so often; but there was, eventually, inevitably, a slip. And it was enough, too. The next two slip into step behind their fallen friend.

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Tairais  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

Richard hadn't even blinked, hadn't grinned, hadn't done anything, really, as his blade carved a curling, gaping path down his now-fallen target's chest and abdomen. Ruby-red and deep purple glistened on the floor as he turned from the now-eviscerated corpse towards its two friends.

He huffed a calm, almost bored breath that did nothing to express the gnawing pit of hunger and glorious adrenaline drumming to the beat of his heart as it throbbed in his stomach. He probably should've eaten something besides a man's throat for lunch. Breakfast. He hadn't eaten in a while. Perhaps that's why he'd been sloppier than usual.

He settled some of that by lunging forward and repeating his first attack on the next man, leaving nothing behind but a gaping crater where his trachea had been.

He launched his next flurry of blows with a well-placed elbow towards the man's face, paying no mind to the superficial wounds that oozed and bled his his crimson lifeblood sluggishly.

Perhaps he shouldn't have invited a fresh coating of red rain to bathe him with open wounds, but at least it was proving enjoyable.

The earsplitting roaring continued and writhed like a serpent. Images of a cathedral not unlike but still different to the one Richard called his sanctuary flickered in and out of existence, the walls made of the bones of the fallen or glass and white marble in turns.

The body of a man about twenty years old lay in a pool of his own blood, crimson spreading like wings against a bone-white sky.

Why wasn't he breathing?!

Rage and grief were quickly chased away by bloodlust once more, but both they and deja vu left a gaping chasm of their own. He wasn't sure where he was anymore, staring into the abyss as he was.

The abyss had eyes of its own, green and hazel and full of sympathy and understanding and the urge to help combined with their own darkness and he could no longer tell if the abyss was its own entity or merely a different reflection.

HUNGER. Pure and unending HUNGER and the desire to be free, but wasn't he already? Something was wrong.

He supposed blood did look black in the moonlight, though the moonlight he was seeing wasn't exactly all that real, images of old memories superimposed onto reality.

He had fought like this to save his brother, once. Well, both of them, at one point.

He didn't care to repeat either encounter's ending.

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chatterghosts  Tairais • 3 years ago

The second of the two actually proves a reasonable opponent, at least landing a few good elbows to the nose and gut, perhaps a slice here and there, but his story ends much in the same way that his comrades' had.

The next one briefly looks unarmed, until he shows his cards: that is, a pistol.

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Tairais  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Richard had prepared for such an eventuality: in a world of clockworks and magic and gadgets, it was really only those who enjoyed the intimacy of a hand-to-hand fight like himself that relied solely on blade and fist when it came to delivering blows.

Though, he had to admit, the few instances he had used or crafted a firearm of his own design, there was something inherently appealing about it as well.

Still, he had gadgets of his own, though the one he pulled from his trouser pocket (that he was amazed had not been crushed already) was decidedly simpler than the weapon currently aimed at him.

In short, the glass sphere he threw to the ground with his free hand was a smoke bomb. The device did its job admirably, he thought as he watched gray smoke bubble and fill the room. It wouldn't buy him more than a minute or two at most, but they were important minutes nonetheless.

Every second that passed was another trickle of blood down their throat, hot and invigorating as it came to splash and settle in their stomach like waves in a crimson sea.

It still wasn't enough.

It was never enough.

HUNGER

Distantly, a part of him not consumed by glass and antler and bone and blood and everything was rapidly growing aware of how quickly he was sinking into the depths of his own unbridled psyche.

That part of him cried out in wordless fear, but it was largely swallowed by the pure, unrivalled joy and bloodlust.

He circled away from his target with a cat-like great and waited for an opening.

As proven by the door,the size of it wouldn't matter; he'd pry it open far enough to crawl in and eat the heart of whatever lay beyond.

He was utterly and unearthly still. Not even the sound of his breath could give him away.

His heartrate still hadn't changed.

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chatterghosts  Tairais • 3 years ago

There was a hacking, coughing noise almost perfectly center of the cloud; unintended, but it gave up the position.

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Dr. de Lezo  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( Although his expression does not deviate from its kindness, his already ashen skin loses the last of its color. He flashes Nicolette a pained smile. )

You called me not a moment too soon. ( He turns to Silver and whispers. )

I need you to take my guitar and play it.

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Silverliné Carew  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

But my hands are...and I'm not...I can't

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Dr. de Lezo  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

There's a bottle of isopropyl in my bag and an extra set of gloves.

Please

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Silverliné Carew  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( After a moment, Silver gingerly takes the bottle and washes her hands in the noxious mixture before snapping the gloves on. Hesitantly, she lifts the guitar off his back and secures it around her. )

....I'm really not very good.

( With that, she plays a much simplified version of the Malagueña Rumba

http://chirb.it/skPBeO )

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Dr. de Lezo  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

( All around the gang, narcotic plants sprout and grow like wildfire, forming a wall of foliage. He studies Nicolette's eyes. )

You don't have an addiction problem, do you?

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chatterghosts  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

"Uh- n- no? Why?"

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Dr. de Lezo  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Because these plants can make you dependent on them. ( He turns to Silver. ) I need you to take one of each plant, place them in my mixing bowl, and grind them.

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Silverliné Carew  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Silver quietly slides the guitar around to her back and sets about the task of picking the plants. )

How many?

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Dr. de Lezo  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

three buds each should do

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Silverliné Carew  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Silver sets about the task of picking the blooms, counting them out as she goes. )

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Jasper Jekyll  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

( As she does this, Jasper refills the bucket and begins to reheat it. )

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

...What are you doing?

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

You're feeding her Opioid chalk, she's going to need a sterile solution to drink it in if it's going to anywhere other than her trachea.

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

...( He turns to Silver. ) Make that five buds each.

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Silverliné Carew  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Whispering to herself. ) Five... buds each...aaand there! ( she starts grinding them down into a paste. )

And done!

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Jasper Jekyll  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

( Jasper takes the bowl from Silver and pours some boiling water into it. After a minute, she hands it to Nicolette. )

You don't want to be here for this next part. Drink up.

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

Nicolette turns pale. Handling the bowl with her good hand, she begins taking long, careful sips of the strange mix. Arty eyes it with concern, "Opioid-- what's going on? Why are you feeding her narcotics? Is it--"

He looks to her hand again, his face bearing a green tinge. "... oh."

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Silverliné Carew  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

( Silver greets Arty's concern with a sympathetic expression. ) I'm so sorry. If there was any other way...

( She doesn't have the heart to finish that sentence. )

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chatterghosts  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

Nor does Artemis have the heart to say any more.

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Dr. de Lezo  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

We are going to fight this amigo.

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Jasper watches Nicolette slump down to the ground. She bends down and places two fingers to her jugular. )

She's out. Let's go.

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( Alano quietly nods, turning to Silver once again. )

Could you get the surgery kit out, por favor?

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Silverliné Carew  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Silver looks into the bag and pulls out a smaller white bag? )

This it?

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Dr. de Lezo  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

( He nods. )

Sí

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Silverliné Carew  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Silver opens it up and sets the tools out before him. ) Good luck.

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Dr. de Lezo  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

( He gingerly lifts Nicolette's hand onto the ground. His soft light weighted voice reduces to almost a whisper. )

Scalpel please

( At times like this, he really wished his colleagues knew Spanish. )

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Jasper picks up the instrument and hands it to the doctor. )

How much?

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( Breathily. )

Ay it's bad.

( Very carefully, he begins creating incisions at the border of the wound. )

Scissors.

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Jasper trades the scissors for the scalpel, which she takes and heats until it turns red. After scorching the infection from the blade, she wipes it down with a fresh isopropyl soaked rag. )

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( Just as carefully as he mapped the destruction, he begins cutting away at the death in her hand. )

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chatterghosts  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Arty felt the very same incisions in his hand and chose to ball his hands into fists. At every chance that Susan attempted to speak, he nudged her into silence.

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Dr. de Lezo  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( He continues to snip away at the rotten crater, fighting against time and bacteria. )

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chatterghosts  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Arty succeeds in holding back tears, but Susan is less so - she has to cover her mouth to keep from throwing up at the sensation of getting the flesh of her palm dug through.

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Silverliné Carew  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( Silver watches them, horrified. She springs to her feet and grabs a handful of the Opium. pressing a wad into each of them. )

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chatterghosts  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

Arty and Susan both look alarmed, but they accept it just as quickly, both falling unconscious soon after.

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Dr. de Lezo  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( He makes quick work of clearing away the rest of the flesh. He almost breathes a sigh of relief when blood begins to flow into the now gigantic hole in her hand. Passing his tools to Jasper, he begins to pack the wound with dry dressing.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. )

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Jasper plucks both forceps and scissors from his hands and sterilizes them just as she had the scalpel. She sets the newly cleaned tools back on the towel and bundles them up again. Her eyes flicker to the gangrenous bits. )

...You want me to get rid of that?

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( He carefully peels the gloves from his ashen hands and wraps them into a ball, placing them into a spare paper bag. )

If you please.

( He then takes the Isopropyl alcohol and washes his hands with it. )

I think it would be better if we kill the bacteria.

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Shrugging nonchalantly. ) Okay.

( She scoops up both the rotten tissue and the paper bag and sets them on fire. )

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( He watches the infected inferno, an unsettling feeling growing in the pit of his gut. )

So. Fire huh?

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

You're seriously surprised?

This coming from a magical plant guitar guy?

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

It's just...not every day I see my biohazard being turned into a campfire.

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Well grab the marshmallows then, because here it is sweetheart.

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

I wouldn't...

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Why?

Afraid of a little Science?

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

No, but the idea of eating a Pusey marshmallow isn't exactly what I'd call "yummy"

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( After moments of silence and flickering flame, the material finishes burning to a crisp. Jasper flicks the ashes into the water. )

Well that was fun.

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

Aaah....( The conversation once again gives way to silence. He looks to the moon. It would be morning soon and he'd have to hide, but he forgot how much he missed the warmth. )

Do....Do you have anything else you can burn?

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Why?

You attracted to fire?

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

I just...

It's going to be a few hours before she wakes up and...it's a little cold out. It might be a good idea to warm her up first.

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Oh! in that case, I'll just use the dock.

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Silverliné Carew  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( With that, the plants seemingly melt away, revealing the people on the other side. Silver bursts through. )

What? No! I can't swim!

What about these guys?!

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Dr. de Lezo  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

( He looks first to her and then grows horrified when he spots the unconscious bodies of the siblings. He springs to his feet and rushes over to them. )

Sangrado maldito infierno! What happened?!

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

It almost looks like...

( She trails off, stony faced when she notices the thread. )

...We just chopped up every human here.

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Silverliné Carew  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( "ALMOST every human. "

If it weren't such a serious matter, she'd be more tempted to correct them. )

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

I

Wh-

How can that even be possible?!

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Corruption.

But how could they do it without...?

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( In a heartbeat, he's down besides the others. ) Who cares?! We need to pack these wounds now!

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Jasper grabs wads of cotton from the bag and descends upon Susan. ) Alright Alright, don't work yourself up into a frenzy! geez!

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( As he packs Arty's hand. )

Well excuse me for honoring my oath!

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Ugh, you sound just like Henry

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

Good! maybe you should too!

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( She erupts into bellowing laughter. )

Are you kidding? No way!

This Society has too many "Dandy Lions" already!

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

That's not what that word means but okay.

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Between you and the Chicken, the town is already drowning in ladies' perfume!

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

Oi! I'll have you know that HENRY'S the one who likes to smell like roses

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

( Jasper gestures to the guitar on Silver's back. ) Apparently you're the one who grows them!

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago • edited

Growing flowers from the heart and drenching yourself in perfume are two totally different things! there are plenty of men who grow, we have farmers for a reason!

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Jasper Jekyll  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

What kind of man grows flowers?!

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chatterghosts  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

Though the siblings don't appear to be waking up any time soon to quiet their bickering, something else came to them: in the form of a resounding SHRIEK. A high pitched whistle barrels past the group, leaving ears ringing. It's followed by a rush of energy not unlike the kind one could have felt when failing to cross the barrier in the first place.

When the energy finally fades, it leaves a whispering imprint on the group, a message traveling across the docks:

The walls have fallen.

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Jasper Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( The high pitched sound pierces through both the Gem's steely demeanor and her hyper sensitive hearing, paralyzing her and crumpling her unbreakable form. A loud pained yell rips through her lungs, all too well resembling a wounded animal. When the sound fades, she claws her way up and onto her feet, breathing heavily. )

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Silverliné Carew  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( Silver too, crumples into a ball- hands desperately clasped to her ears. Were they not sharply ringing from the unholy screech, she'd have heard the wounded animal's cry. Slowly, she returns to her feet and joins Jasper. )

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Jasper Jekyll  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

He's taken it down.

He's probably been ambushed.

( She looks to the doctor. )

You. Look after them.

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Dr. de Lezo  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

What's going on?!

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Silverliné Carew  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago • edited

( Silver casts a brief sympathetic look in his direction before turning sharply to Jasper, panic easily read in her tone. )

You can't go in there alone! ( She stands still, eyes boring into Jasper's. )

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Jasper Jekyll  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

Well come on then!

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Silverliné Carew  Jasper Jekyll • 3 years ago

( With a nervous bounce to her step, Silver scurries after Jasper in the direction of their doom. )

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chatterghosts  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

Nicolette remains under through the entire process, naturally.

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Dr. de Lezo  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

( The doctor continues to debride. Years in the military granted him a steely nerve, but they never took away the pain he felt when he looked into his comrades' eyes.

How does one go about telling you you're going to lose a hand?

He didn't know why the others are suffering, but he wanted more than anything to make the pain go away.

And he couldn't do that.

It's suffering by the knife, or death by being eaten alive. )

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chatterghosts  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

All parties are now unconscious.

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chatterghosts  Dr. de Lezo • 3 years ago

He looks away from the scene about to ensue.

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Silverliné Carew  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( :'

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Silverliné Carew  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

( After setting the tools out, Silver joins the others. She falls to her knees and lifts the guitar from her back and into her arms. As the surgery ensues, she plays for them.

http://chirb.it/CsaED7

As she plays, aloe sprouts up all around them. Hydrangea and Balm of Gilead grow together to form a beautiful wall of heartfelt sympathy, shielding them from the gore. )

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chatterghosts  Silverliné Carew • 3 years ago

Susan begins to protest, knowing exactly what will happen to her and all other 'connected' parties, but Arty shoots her a glare and she falls silent.

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Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago • edited

((This is in response to Joseph.))

He sighed.

"I was trying to make inroads into the Society for Arcane Sciences--I'd heard it was fairly open-minded, and didn't ask too many questions about one's past. The perfect place for a new start," he explained. "I'd even had a measure of success, limited though it was. Made several acquaintances, a few of whom could've become friends. Perhaps more than friends, eventually.

That was before I ran afoul of Elias." He said the name as if it tasted foul upon his tongue. "One night in the library, I saw a potential...friend in danger. An odd metaphysical occurrence had transpired, but I'd contented myself with merely observing it up until that point. I applied my knowledge to end the aberration, and thought all would be well thereafter. Imagine my surprise at discovering Elias had been there the entire time, and hadn't moved a muscle to help a fellow lodger in need!" He shook his head. "He then had the gall to question what I was doing there--as if he owned the library, or the person in question! I suggested he go fetch a blanket and some water for the poor dear, but he wouldn't have it. So, I retrieved those myself. The way he looked at me when I returned, you'd've thought I'd shot his mother! His behavior really was quite baffling...until I finally realized he was being territorial. Over my new friend, his...lover, I think. Or would-be lover. I honestly wasn't certain, at the time." He sighed.

"It was downhill from then on. He spread rumors about me, maligned my newly-forged reputation, which I'd worked so hard to build. Did you know, I'm not even allowed to reside on Society premises? Oh, I can visit--perform whatever work they may have need of, put up money for bail when a lodger does something stupid--but even that psychologist I mentioned began to question my motives. My motives! I'd been so very careful to stick to the straight and narrow, and still the bastard nearly ruined me!

And the worst part is, all the while, Elias'd convinced everyone else he was somehow worthwhile! His demeanor is obnoxious, his manners are atrocious, his heart as black as they come--and yet to raise even the suggestion of doubt about him was to be disbelieved and dismissed at best, to become suspect oneself and court disaster at worst. His hateful nature was taken as mere grumpiness, an endearing 'quirk of character'." He seemed nauseated even as he said it.

"What a number he must've done on them! There was nothing for it. Not then. So, I suffered in silence. Bit my tongue. 'Played nice,' as well as I was able. Even praised him, on occasion, though he'd have none of it and insulted me for my trouble. I began to climb, ever so slowly, back into the others' good graces, though that cur held me back at every opportunity he could. But I was patient. One day, I knew, I'd pay him back tenfold. One day."

He smiled as he looked at Joseph.

"Today."

A pause.

"Or you will, at least. Which is honestly almost as good." Almost. He was actually a bit disappointed, but tried to cover it. Beggars couldn't be choosers, after all.

"What's he done to you, by the way?" If Joseph is going to be the one meting out punishment, he ought to at least have suffered more at Elias's hand than I.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

Joseph snickers at the mention of 'shooting his mother'.

At the final question, however, his gaze darkens, and he shifts his weight on his feet in discomfort. "Ahah. Well. That's a... long story."

He clears his throat. "I had a dear... friend of mine many years ago- James. Good man. We worked together, in fact. Very close." He rubs his hands absently. "Our line of work wasn't the best, but it had given me many opportunities. The friends I had made there were ..we were a tight-knit group." His gaze falls to the side. "We were a family, really."

Joseph's jaw hitches, and he snarls, "But then James saw something in that brat. Took him in! Years, I put up with him. Like he did you, he slandered my name. He managed to convince the people I'd known for half a decade against me."

He scoffs. "But that wasn't enough. He and James started to disagree on things, but of course, I was tossed to the side. Maybe James wasn't a... eh," his voice lingers on the word before he resumes, "He'd made mistakes. And when Elias found out, he was furious. They turned on each other like that!" He adds a snap to the final word for emphasis.

"One day, they grabbed weapons. You could guess who walked away," he finishes plainly. "He deconstructed our... work. Destroyed my family in that process."

He pauses. "All of them."

Elias was somewhere above, and he was angry. What was this garbage? Lewis wouldn't really believe this, would he?

Truth be told, some part of him was incredibly grateful that Lewis was there. Insulting him, maybe, but he was still there. Granted their standing was...poor...

He'd rather elect to trust that Lewis wouldn't accept such a warped version of the story.

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

"Vengeful little s***," said Lewis. "I knew he was bad news, but..." He shook his head as he gave a low whistle of awe. "I suppose I ought to count myself lucky I don't have any family to speak of." And Elias had better have a damn good explanation for all of this. He did wonder whether said murders had taken place before or after Joseph (judging by his laugh) had killed Elias's mother (or at least had something to do with her death). He knew from personal experience that things were rarely black-and-white.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

"Putting on an act, insisting he's a changed man..." He sighs, scrubbing at his face. "No one changes, not really. I pity him. He can lie to himself, sell a story to the masses if he desires, but I - we - know the truth, don't we?"

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

"Indeed." Lewis nodded. "If he honestly thinks he's changed, his powers of self-delusion must be truly formidable."

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

"Mmhm," he chuckles out. "I'm glad we see eye to eye."

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

"As am I. I'd begun to fear no other soul on earth would ever see him for what he was. I'd resigned myself to the loneliness and isolation to which my knowledge of his true character confined me." He chuckled. "But here you are--quite serendipitously, I might add, but I'll not knock it." A relieved smile. "Things are finally looking up. 'Can't rain all the damn time, I suppose." A contented sigh.

Then a wince and a stifled grunt, at a throb of pain from his foot. He hopped, shifting his weight and repositioning the makeshift staff.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

Joseph's gaze flicks to Lewis' feet, and for a brief moment, he almost looks sheepish. "My sincerest apologies..."

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

Lewis shrugged.

"I might not have made my intentions to parley clear enough," he admitted, voice strained. "And the body's initial shock kept the pain at bay long enough for us to talk, at least. But I'll need to tend to it sooner than later. Is there anywhere I could do that? Maybe lie down, get this," he glanced at his foot, "elevated so the swelling'll decrease?"

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

"Uh, well," he looks towards Lewis' foot too, "I don't really have a place you can do that, but..."

He sighs, dragging a chair over. "Just, uh, prop your foot up on the desk." When did I become so hospitable to a stranger? Am I getting played?

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

Lewis nodded.

"Thank you."

He positioned himself in the chair and set his staff aside. Then, with a small hiss of pain, he hoisted his right leg up so the calf rested upon the desk, careful not to let his shoe touch its otherwise clean surface nor disturb the books upon it. He leaned back. This was as close to recumbent as he was going to get.

"Would you mind if I administered myself a sedative?" he asked, pulling the syringe slowly from his pocket and placing it on the desk for Joseph's examination if he so desired. "I had intended it for the lodgers, in case they found me out and turned on me, but I'd rather not be conscious for the pain of this," he admitted, glancing to his foot and back to Joseph. "At least for a little while. If it's all the same to you."

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

His eyes narrow, and he takes a careful step backwards before nodding. "Alright."

He watches quietly, before leaning against a wall, eyes darting above for a moment. "So your... potential friend that you saved in a library, he was Elias' lover?"

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Lewis took a narrow strip of rubber from another pocket, and, using his right hand and his teeth, tied it round his already-sleeveless left upper arm.

"Yes," he answered Joseph, curling his left hand into a fist to better discern a ready vein. "Whether they...consummated the relationship, I don't know, but there was certainly an air of...neediness between them." He picked up the syringe. "And territoriality, on Elias's part. But with him out of the way..." he smiled, raising a meaningful brow at Joseph. He readied the needle. "Anything else you'd like to know, by the by, before blessed unconsciousness takes me?"

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

Joseph looks at him, the gears turning carefully in his head before he flashes a tiny, tiny smile. "Not at all."

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

"By your leave, then," Lewis said with a nod. He pierced the vein in the crook of his elbow, and depressed the plunger about a third of the way. This done, he capped the needle, put the syringe back in his pocket, and undid the rubber tourniquet. It fell from his hand as he went limp in the chair.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago • edited

Joseph watches the entire ordeal, head tilted with mild interest. As Lewis goes limp, he sighs, observing for another minute to assure himself that Weir was unconscious. This done, he returns to his side and removes the syringe from his pocket, uncapping the needle. He pierces the very same vein, depressing the plunger by another third. My apologies for this, Doctor Weir. You need to stay asleep for this part - I simply can't have someone like you conscious for my finale.

He caps the needle once more, slipping it into his own pocket.

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Weir had hung around to see what, if anything, Joseph might do to his unconscious body. While not thrilled by the latter's action, he couldn't exactly fault him for it, either.

I'd have done the same.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

Joseph leaves the room for a minute or so, but he returns just as quickly with someone else in tow. He gestures to the desk as he speaks: "Stay here and do not leave. If he wakes up, knock him out. Otherwise, just .. let him be."

The other man nods and rests against the desk as Joseph returns to the upstairs, closing the door gently behind him.

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

Lewis took a moment to size up the fellow, making note of weapons and weak points, then zipped through the walls and barriers of the workhouse. He sought to map it out, from both a physical and a metaphysical standpoint, paying attention to the locations of souls and currents of magic, as well as doors, windows, and weak timbers or masonry. All the pertinent information flew straight to Richard's mind at the speed of thought. Weir ended his zephyr-quick tour by homing in on Joseph's soul.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

Joseph weaves through a series of unremarkable rooms, but that's... obviously not a problem for Lewis. For a moment, he stops, eyeing the most recent door. Lewis could feel the soul - the permutated soul, Elias' soul - behind it.

With a slip of a key into the lock, the door is slid open, and Joseph closes it behind him.

Just as there had before, though in a slightly different script, runes create overlapping circles on the floor. They glow with a gentle golden color, softening the sight before Lewis:

a sleeping figure, but it's not Elias... but you could be wrong. The face was so hideously bruised to a point of nearly no recognition. Though his face is obscured by dirty and clotted orange hair, it's clear he's been through a similar hell: his clothes, baggy and loose on his skin, are flowered and stained with blood. His pants pool around his legs. It's almost a miracle that he was asleep, with the disgusting state of things. The distinct smell of vomit clung to the air.

Despite a small twitch now and then, he's in a deep sleep.

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Now this is interesting... thought Lewis. He'd suspected something along these lines, based on the books he'd stumbled across, but it was intriguing to behold the exact permutation.

Before he got too far lost in similar thoughts, he refocused himself on the task at hand: Which runes bound (Not-)Elias? How might they be undone? What had Joseph used to power them? It was apparent from the pattern of his soul that he had the talent, but every act of magic had its price. What had it cost him?

A bit of himself, apparently. That wasn't unexpected; the same had held true of Lizzy's sister when she'd cast her spells. What Weir wasn't expecting was the nature of...entanglement he sensed. Like a Gordian knot of briars. Artemis, Susan, the figure before him, and...Nicolette, too, he realized. All the tangled, strangling strands led back to Joseph, were enmeshed with him...

He was very, very glad Richard hadn't had the chance to kill the man.

He sent all these thoughts Prince's way.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

Joseph kneels down at the edge of the text, clapping his hands loudly. "Wake up."

With a start, the not-Elias sits up, his eyes a familiarly icy blue. "Wh--...oh."

Joseph chuckles. "I'd have figured you would be more excited." He tilts his head. "Your friends are here."

Not-Elias shuddered, looking away. "I don't want them. I don't w- I don't want anything to do with Elias!"

"Not even Arty?"

"... The-- the nice one?" Not-Elias turns, expression confused. "Why is he here?" Shock. "You're not asking me to ki--"

"Never," Joseph reassures. "I'm no monster, and I'm not after you. Elias is all that I'm searching for."

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Tairais  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Richard's eyes snapped open, and he blinked in surprise, unaware he had closed them until the snatches of memories and dreams had started to bleed and mix with Lewis's vision (why in the name of all the gods was he sleeping? Had he missed some-

He was losing time. Again. At the worst possible moment.

Somehow, he managed to retain and process all the information Lewis threw at him.

"With all due respect, Lewis, what, in the name of the seven bloody hells, do you expect me to do? At this point in my.. tempestuous existence, I am really only good for silent destruction, not problem solving. For which I do apologize." He added the last sentence almost as an afterthought, forcing the great, hulking beast within him behind bars of obsidian and steel, coloring his tone with calm that did an imperfect job of hiding the far and blood dropping from his mouth.

He was disassociating, he realized. The world had taken on an ethereal quality in his monumental effort to remain still.

Disassociating, losing time, hallucinating.

Bloodthirsty. Hungry.

Irritated. Confused. Irritation at confusion.

Restless.

He smothered another snarl in the folds of his scarf, the expression growing more and more feral and animalistic as time passed.

As a second afterthought, he added, perhaps redundantly, "I would not... unleash myself into that building until we have a surefire way of dismantling this connection, and we are running out of time, so do hurry."

He stifled another snarl, this one tinged with dark mirth that was a far cry from the man he should have been for Elias.

In fairness, he was fairly certain he had temporarily lost his humanity.

Perhaps he had never had it.

"Though I suppose none of my caution will matter if Elias perishes. Then Joseph can.. as my friend Jack would have once said, mangia merda e morire."

(( That translation is probably off, but it means something along the lines of eat s**t and die xD ))

The patchwork nature of his personality was falling apart to reveal the thing of hewn glass and shadow, blood and bone and tinkling china underneath.

The thing newspapers had called the Patchwork Prince was emerging.

He never had bothered to correct them.

see more

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Jekyll1886  Tairais • 3 years ago • edited

Lewis gave further instruction. A choice, really.

If you can confine yourself to the ground floor, feel free to kill everyone you meet--except for me, naturally. But be warned: There are nine of them, excluding my guard, all armed with guns. Watch for knives as well. Concentrate on, he focused in on the mental image, a fellow at the rear of the workhouse, this man. Kill him, and the outer barrier falls. But, Weir admonished, don't get lost in it. I need you with your wits still about you to administer a shot of adrenaline to me. And Elias will need you in at least some semblance of yourself. If you can't look at Joseph without killing him, stay downstairs. As he goes, so will they all. A mind's eye scenario of all those linked together--especially Elias--falling like so many dominoes.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago • edited

There's a period of silence between Joseph and Not-Elias, but it's broken by the latter, a sense of urgency in his voice.

"Is it because of what he did to your family?"

Joseph pivoted, incredulous. "How did you--"

"Thin walls."

He snarls. "You listen closely, E-.." His voice falls flat. "What do I call you?"

Not-Elias appears quite frankly alarmed, both by the mood change and the question. "Err... uh, well - um, I don't know."

"Well, figure it out! You have his memories floating around in there, don't you?"

"Erm - n- not all of them, no. There's some..."

"Some is enough. Take a pick! I can't just call you Not-Elias."

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Hyde without a Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

(*Holds stuffed Breakfast Square, flow charts, AUs, Fan fictions, pictures, songs, etc. In anticipation.* :DDDDDD

[Also I liked that Not-Allison prod, very nice! ;) ])

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Had he voluntary control over his lungs, Lewis would have laughed aloud.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago • edited

After a moment, Joseph continues. "Well?"

"Wh-- I can't just call myself any random.. t- thing! Names are meaningful!"

Joseph scoffs. "Think of some childhood memory or something. I don't have time for this." (Truth be told, he actually had quite a bit of time to kill. But Not-Elias didn't need to know that.)

The thought arrived unbidden, with images of a much, much younger Elias. There was someone else, too, but he failed to recognize them. Pictures of children's games gave rapid way to more bittersweet scenes: sickness, bedside stories. Grief. Time spent alone. Missing, longing.

A name finally surfaced.

"Um-- uh. Well, does Oliver work? I'm sorry, I don't know wha--"

"Yes, that's fine. I could care less. Nice to meet you, Oliver."

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Hyde without a Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

(MY CHILD HAS A NAME!!!!!!! :DDDDDDD )

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Lewis would have outright guffawed.

A plot out of Stevenson and a name out of Dickens!

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

(( LEWIS DAMMIT YOU CAN'T MAKE THOSE KINDS OF META JOKES ))

Before Oliver can say any more, he blinks, face screwed up into some semblance of confusion. His gaze falls to his hands. ".. Uh... o- ow. Sir?"

"Joseph."

"Joseph?"

A tinge irritated, without looking, "What?"

"There are cuts on my hands."

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

((XD Yes he can; he's aware there's a dimension where a couple of guys named Stevenson and Dickens existed and he's actually familiar with some of their work. He himself has mixed feelings on the subject, but he does know they exist. He's just politely not mentioned that to anyone in this dimension. Wouldn't want to cause a timeline snafu or anything. ;-) ))

Time grows short. He was curious how Joseph would take this new development, and whether it would change newly-named Oliver's perception of the man.

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

(Mean while there are shrieks of joy from the audience section! :D [That is totally a Lewis thing to do!!! <3 ])

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago • edited

Oliver slowly extends his palm as far as the runes would permit it, showing the crater in his skin.

Joseph chuckles out, "Looks like they're performing surgery on one of your buddies, huh?" He pauses, giving it a once-over. "You're... taking it well."

The former gives a strangled laugh. "Do you have, er... s- something to help it, or.. something?"

Joseph eyeballs him for a moment before removing the syringe from his pocket, placing it on a table, and bowing out of the room. He returns a minute later with... a roll of bandages.

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

If Richard takes much longer, the sedative may just have a chance to burn through my system on its own, came the thought, half rueful, half hopeful. Weir'd devised it with his own specific physiology in mind, taking his body's weaknesses and tolerances into account. The extra dose Joseph had given him would've killed anyone else, whereas he had merely gone from a comfortably light doze to a deeper state of sedation. He regretted bringing along so much of it, at this point, but had thought he might have need of it. And he'd had to keep up appearances around Joseph; it wouldn't've done to stick himself with a lesser amount. Still, it made the current situation no less worrisome.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

Joseph kneels down aside the runes and gently takes the hand, much to Oliver's confusion. "I - thought you couldn't..."

"Simple precautions. Why would I cross towards a," Joseph hesitates, looking him over, ".. potential threat?"

Oliver frowns. "How d'you know I won't just hurt you, huh?"

The only gesture of a response was a raised eyebrow and a, "Would you?"

... Oliver gives a defeated sigh. "No."

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Well, I'll give the man credit: He doesn't show his cards until he has to, Lewis reflected. Joseph had deceived Oliver regarding the nature of the runic circles' border, and had the lad's confidence to such a degree that he was safe to treat him. I couldn't've done a better job myself.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

Joseph handles the hole in Oliver's gently, wrapping it with a first layer of bandages as he inquires, "Call me curious, but.. knowing Elias' nature, you're rather tame. Why is that?"

Drawing in a sharp breath at the sting of the process, Oliver takes a moment before returning. "I'm not interested in hurting anyone. I just.. want to survive. That's all."

Joseph moves on to an additional layer, remaining silent. "Hellbent on surviving.." A thought occurs, and he asks slowly, "Do you think I'm going to hurt you, Oliver?"

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Because," he says, tying off the last of it, "you're just a facet of Elias. You're a part of him, but..." He glances up, continuing as he saw Oliver's expression darken a shade, "You're not the one I'm after. You want to survive, yes?"

"At all costs..."

"And you understand that it's a dangerous trait," he says, passing the hand back, "and one I'm intending to call upon, unfortunately." He slowly gets to his feet. "I'm not claiming to have good intentions. I'm not going to pretend that I do. Just know that I've never intended to hurt you."

"..But, Oliver," he warned, "if you want to survive, and you want your freedom.. you'll do what I ask when I ask it of you."

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Lewis wondered whether Oliver would catch Joseph's careful phrasing. Joseph had never actually said he wouldn't hurt him. Simply that he hadn't intended to.

Up to this point, potentially. And he's offering him exactly what anyone like Oliver would want: survival and freedom. That's going to be a tough combination to beat.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

"Now, we wait," Joseph continues. "One of your would-be rescuers are about to enter." He gestures to the window, where Richard stood below.

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Well, Richard, be aware Joseph and...Oliver know you're coming. Weir doubted there was any stopping any of this now. If you confine the killing indoors, they won't see you do it. He was still aware Prince cared what Castellanos thought of him, that he tried to be a certain self around him. And, as Oliver was, to use Joseph's word, a "facet" of the same...

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Jekyll1886  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago • edited

Time continued to pass. Weir felt the increasing pull back to his body, a sure sign that he was coming to consciousness. He could resist it only so long, but wanted to hold out till the last possible second. In this way, he'd wake instantly instead of gradually. He hoped to surprise his guard; he'd need every advantage he could get, given his injury. He noted the man's position: across the desk, leaning casually against it, keeping an eye on him. Lewis marked where he'd set his staff as well; he'd have need of it.

Finally, like a piece of elastic snapping back to itself after being stretched taut, he rocketed back into his body, instantly awake. The very first thing he did was spit in the face of his guard, aiming for the man's right eye. Without affording himself the luxury of seeing whether the spittle connected, he grabbed his staff. Flushed with adrenaline and braced against the chair, he used the end of the weapon in an attempt to jab the man as fast and as hard as humanly possible, right in the solar plexus. He aimed to knock him back at the very least, but preferably knock the wind out of him as well.

These twin movements resembled nothing so much as a spitting, striking cobra.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

(( I SRSB'd, by the way. It likes you! ))

The spit doesn't land, and the man rises from his slumped position - a truly perfect opening, however, as he is afforded no time to move when the staff lands right where it intended, and also just as hard. With a coughing gasp, he's sent towards the nearest wall, with no sign of immediate recovery from the blow.

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

Using the staff (in his right hand) and left leg to launch himself, and his left arm as a weight-bearing pivot point, Lewis sprang across the desk to close the distance. He landed on his left foot. Bracing himself against the desk, he sent a whip-like motion through his right shoulder, arm, and wrist, the momentum transferred to the staff and amplified by its length. He aimed at the guard's temple, hoping the force of the blow would knock him down at least and out at most.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

The man only narrowly reels out of the path of the staff, and even then, still partially dazed by the previous blow's effects, makes almost blind motions to snag the staff away.

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

Lewis immediately yanked the staff out of his reach and used his left hand to throw the heaviest book on the desk at the man's face with all his might.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago • edited

He simply bats the book out of the way, finally getting to his feet fully and beginning to lumber towards Lewis. However, he is effectively interrupted by a deep, hurried thumping behind the two. He turns a ghostly white and stiffens up (and also creates a good opening for harm).

When the door behind them inevitably opens moments later, there's a short, "I told you not to hurt Lewis."

The man draws himself upright, eyes wide. "But he attacked me fir--"

"Out," Joseph spits.

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

"You were about to hit me!" Weir asserted a mere half-second after the guard had begun speaking. This unfortunately meant Lewis overlapped words a little with Joseph, but he stopped talking when he noticed it, and waited for the guard to take his leave. He leaned against his staff, relieved at the cease in physical hostilities, but unable to get his system to calm down, eyes still wider than usual, breathing still rapid.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

A gruff snarl and the man storms out, leaving the two alone yet again.

With an amused, breathy snort, Joseph tilts his head, observing Lewis' still tense demeanor. "Do we deem it adrenaline, or should I be apologizing for cutting your fight short?"

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

"It's very...difficult to get back to homeostasis when I've just--when something like that happens," Lewis admitted, eyebrows raising as he glanced briefly to the door the guard had exited through, then back to Joseph. "My apologies, if it's troublesome." He found the mild, tingly-burning sensation he'd experienced since crossing the barrier had either grown slightly stronger, or he was simply more annoyed by it in this moment. "It merely takes time. Or medicine," he added, as a thought occurred to him. He reached into his pocket, where the syringe would have been, had Joseph not taken it. Lewis looked frankly surprised as he felt its absence. He patted a couple of other pockets, showing confusion and then mild alarm at not finding the object in question. He scanned the surface of the desk, looking utterly baffled.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

Joseph mirrors Lewis' confusion with an expression of his own, a tell to his lying not surfacing once. "What are you looking for?"

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

"I...I'm afraid I seem to have mislaid my syringe," said Lewis, sidling away from Joseph to make his way round the desk and to the chair. "Did it fall out of my hand when I--" he cut himself off as he looked over the floor. Under his breath, patting his pocket again, "I could've sworn I put it--" He shook his head. "Have you seen it, by any chance?" His left hand trembled a little, though he hid it quickly.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

"I haven't, unfortunately," Joseph murmurs, all the while aiding in the search and looking through drawers. "Was there a point you and Lee- er," he points his head towards the door that the man had exited through, "you and him were in close enough proximity that he could've taken it?" His voice was laden with all the concern he could possibly muster.

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

Lewis thought about it.

"I suppose it's possible," he said. "It all happened so quickly--but, yes. Yes, I suppose there was, actually. When he grabbed me by--hm. Yes. Must've been then," he said, nodding. He looked simultaneously troubled that he'd been robbed and relieved that the mystery was solved.

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

Joseph waves a hand nonchalantly. "Shall we go and retrieve that, then, or --"

Enraged yelling, the crackling of a fallen barrier. The sweeping wrath of an angry, murderous soul. Both men could feel it.

There was no trouble that appeared on Joseph's face, simply a small, amused smile. "I'll take that's one of your friends."

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

Lewis had just begun to nod his assent to Joseph's query when the waves of emotion and energy crashed upon the shore of his soul, one after the other. He'd known they were coming, of course; his connection with Richard had ensured that. But the strength of them, the difference in the nature of their essences, and the rapidity with which they succeeded each other put him to the test. He closed his eyes, doing his damnedest not to betray anything unnecessary to Joseph.

First, the storm-wracked sea inside Richard flooded across him. Visceral, excited, intimate--as if he'd plunged his own teeth into the waiting artery, felt the delightful warmth of the blood as it spilled from the shocked German soldier, the light in his eyes already beginning to dim--

Wait, that wasn't right. That wasn't now. Now was here, in the workhouse. Richard was Richard, and he...? He was...

Lewis. Lewis Weir. Doctor. Trying to help. To get back Elias. Or Oliver.

The irksome tingle-burn he'd felt since entering the edifice was present...up until the moment Prince's target expired. Then, as one barrier fell, the tingling half of the sensation vanished without a trace, the dissipating vibrations lending contrast to their very absence. It felt as if a cold, clean wind had swept him over. Richard still burned ice-hot, of course, but that was to be expected. The source of half the sigils' power was undone.

On ground level, at least. The upper one, the burning one, the one binding Oliver, would be trickier, he knew...as would its lower-floor equivalent. They'd likely need Joseph himself to unsnarl the strands of energy. And, on that note, he answered his host:

"The worst possible one, by the sound of it," he said, shaking his head with an air of concern, brow drawn up in the center, above his nose. "Like a tiger unchained, that one." His eyes were slightly wider than normal as he said it. "I wouldn't advise going in there unless you've a plan." He paused in thought. "Or me," he realized, turning to Joseph with the look of having just hit upon a possible solution. An unpleasant smile crept over his face. "They still think I'm on their side." A brief, smug chuckle.

see more

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

That amused look creeps back into his expression, and he crosses his arms on his chest. "What do you have in mind, then?"

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

"I was about to ask if you had any suggestions--if so, I'm naturally interested--hm. I wonder if we might..." He thought a moment.

((I did not know if Joseph would have any suggestions. If so, Lewis has paused to think.))

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

(( Joseph will be waiting to hear his idea, before voicing his own. Go ahead and respond whenever! ))

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago • edited

((Ah, okay. Thank you!))

"The man in there is fierce, but he knows me--well, thinks he does, anyway. He's...suggestible, to a degree, when he's like this. Gets in a state of bloodlust...hallucinates, from what I can tell. He sometimes can't even tell friend from foe. Elias's absence gave me the opportunity to work on him a bit, try to implant a few things, mentally speaking." A wicked smile spread across Weir's features. "The state he's in now, I may just be able to aim him at the others. If he's here, they won't be far behind."

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

Joseph smirked, his gaze half-lidded, wholly unconcerned and cool. "And.. how many people is that, hm?"

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

"Let's see...two of them are not really in fighting shape, so that's..." he calculated, "three, I believe. Though at least one is really quite formidable. But I've no doubt the man in there," he indicated the other room with a brief upward nod of his head, "would be able to handle her, particularly if he had the assistance of your men--if I can dissuade him from tearing into them."

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

(( Robert Carlyle yelled "All magic comes with a price" in the back of my head. ))

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

((XD That's hilarious! He is a little like Rumple, now I think about it...))

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

(*reads with puzzled expression* uh... hate to be a bother but... I don't understand what's going on? What did I miss? Why is Lewis kicked out of the Society?!)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Oh so this RP has been going for a while but Lewis has an apartment which he lives in so he's not as big a burden to Hastie. Also Lewis is Lewis so we'll just have to wait and see. ;) )

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Helen Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Oh, okay... *lets out a sigh of relief* I thought he wouldn't be around to treat my two babies anymore... alright... I'm going to try and read more. XD)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Yah! He's going to be around for a LONG time. To quote 86 " He's like a scruffy mongoose you can't get rid of without losing an arm." But yah this RP has been building for months now and I'm so happy to finally see it happen! You have any questions don't hesitate to ask but I may not be able to answer all of them due to spoilers and the likes.)

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Helen Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(XD That's an interesting analogy! Thank you, I'm going to try and look around for answers but I'll be sure to ask if I need to!)

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Sounds good! I suggest you start at the first TEOAE with the knowledge that Lewis showed up and started flirting with Richard [much to Elias dismay], Elias then disappeared after his mother's passing, a note was left for Arty saying don't come looking for my signed by Elias [but it wasn't Elias's handwriting], and now after a month of nothing Arty is going to go find Elias.)

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Helen Jekyll  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(Oh dear... that... that's a lot of drama... 0-0)

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chatterghosts  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(( That would be on account of the fact that I'm a terrible writer! *thumbs up* ))

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Helen Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

(That's not true! You're an amazing writer and roleplayer! I can't believe you managed to weave such a story like this, you have Hyde without a Jekyll and Catt emotional distraught!)

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chatterghosts  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

(( *blink* ...Okay, I know of HJ, but Catt? *checking RPs past* ...When the hell did that happen? I didn't even know they remotely enjoyed my characters... ))

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Hyde without a Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

(Oh Catt's been reading for a long time now! I've been getting messages from them about this! You've got quite a cult following! [at my school alone like 4 people think you're an oracle.])

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chatterghosts  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(( That implies I'm not an oracle. ))

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Hyde without a Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

( XD Well i am one those 4 people so ....)

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Helen Jekyll  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

(I think it has been that way since the beginning! And they're not the only ones!

It's crazy, isn't it? Realizing people actually like what you've created...)

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Catt Hatter  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

(Do you think I'd stick around if I wasn't emotionally invested!?

I love your cast and will be quite the unhappy alligator if Arty doesn't live!)

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Jekyll1886  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

((You are not a terrible writer, or I wouldn't've wanted to participate in this story. As it is, I'm having a blast!))

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chatterghosts  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

(( Pffff... ))

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Catt Hatter  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

(If you were a terrible writer, nothing would ever happen that wasn't anticipated.

I didn't see most of this story coming, so you're a good writer. Like it or not.)

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

((Lewis is telling Joseph many things. How does the saying go? "The blackest lie is one which is half truth."))

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

(So... Not all of that is true and some of what is true is skewed slightly...? Am I interpreting that correctly?)

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 3 years ago

((Yes.))

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 3 years ago

(Woohoo! Now, to reply and do more research!)

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Starry Eyed • 3 years ago • edited

(HEY CATT im sorry i cant tag rn im still on mobile

I hate to be a handicap but can someone just?)

"Ahh Catt dimensions ... yes." Naimh had heard and experienced the effects of Catt's experiments from the floor tiles and air vents; probably the highlights of her day besides seeing Dr. Jekyll pass by [Niamh you creep get a life]. "Well uh North. Ireland Scotland ... area" You see living as long as Naimh has you tend to ... forget a lot of things; birthday, place of birth, the sort of unimportant arbitrary things you don't really need to know.

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Hyde without a Jekyll  Starry Eyed • 3 years ago

(Here you go! Catt Hatter )

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Starry Eyed  Hyde without a Jekyll • 3 years ago

(HJ back to the rescue :D)

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Catt Hatter  Starry Eyed • 3 years ago • edited

(I thought we were supposed to move over to the main page? Since we're probably not going to be able to interact with the main plot since it's rather crowded as is.

chatterghosts ?)

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chatterghosts  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(( Yeah, sorry...y'all fell off the main plot wagon D: Continue here if you want, but the main page is fine, too! ))

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Catt Hatter  chatterghosts • 3 years ago

(Heh, sorry about that. ^^;

I'll move us over to the main page when it's up!)

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Starry Eyed  Catt Hatter • 3 years ago

(I just read through, I await your reply Ms. Catt :D)

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Catt Hatter  Starry Eyed • 3 years ago

(Tagged you!)

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