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Role-playing Page for pg 147!

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Mz.Hyde

Mz.Hyde

@disqus_NnFUI30kih a year ago

Wait.....wait...H-Hyde's gone?......1/2 OF MY 2 IN 1 HUSBANDO BARGAIN DEAL IS GONE?!?!?!!?!!?!?!!

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MillieGriffin • a year ago

He'll be back.

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RBDECEPTICON17 • a year ago

Don't panic, Mz Hyde, he'll be back eventually! X3

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Setae • a year ago

It’s just to lull Jekyll into a false sense of security.

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Mz.Hyde Mod  Setae • a year ago

Which has now been shattered completely.

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Setae  Mz.Hyde • a year ago

Yep. I feel like Frankenstein and Hyde are gonna get along great.

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Mz.Hyde Mod  Setae • a year ago

Ye!

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MillieGriffin • a year ago

Charricthran smothered a twinge of irritation towards himself at failing to understand what, exactly, Millie had needed.

Ah, well. Nothin' ta be done for it now, s'pose.

He glanced towards Richard again, shirt unbuttoned and lines drawn on his chest. The sight twisted itself into a dagger, slid against the soft skin of his arms as they struggled against restraints in a place cold and damp and he had to find Richard before this got out of hand-

Nope. nopenopenope.

"You have my apologies 's well- must've lost somethin' in translation, else I would've.. mentioned."

His voice slipped hollow, despite his smile, despite the twinkle of gratitude and relief that still hadn't left.

"I'll be by the fireplace if either o' ya need me. Don' wanna distract an' all. Richard'd be a sight miffed if I caused him ta have a scarred heart as well."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked out calmly, all but falling into a chair the next room over, all but Falling into The Other underneath it's shadow, just barely hanging on to that real, tangible place he'd left behind.

Some things were better forgotten. For both of them.

−

Jekyll1886

"Right, then," replied Lewis, disinfecting his hands and readying his scalpel. "'Tis time to give him the kindest cut of all."

He proceeded to make the surgical incisions, using further implements to hold back the flaps of tissue and thus keep Richard's heart accessible for Millie.

"There we are," he pronounced when all was in readiness for her.

He stepped back, allowing her more room.)

When Weir did the incision Millie has stayed just outside the door, but she could still hear the cracking of the ribcage as it was opened and pulled back. Every crack she heard twisted another knot in her stomach as she fought more memories from taking over. When he pronounced that he had fineshed Millie came up to the body meekly with a step stool, the sight before her when she stepped up to it made her head spin.

stop being weak! you can do this damnit! stop being so damn weak!

She grabbed the large syringe full of the cells, Lewis... Co... could you hold me back so I don't fall forward..." She uttered before leaning towards the heart. She did her best to keep her hands steady as she started to close up the holes by piping the cells on the edges and working her way in.

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Jekyll1886 MillieGriffin

5 days ago

"Of course, dear."

Belatedly, he realized what he'd said, and prayed Millie didn't loathe the term as much as Hela and Rose did. He took solace that he'd uttered it in an avuncular tone, at least.

He supported the younger Griffin regardless, just as she'd requested.

((MillieGriffin ))

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MillieGriffin Jekyll1886

9 hours ago

Millie had too much on her mind to acknowledge Weir's words of endearment as she worked maticulisly on the Swiss cheese heart.

just focus on the work, just focus on the work, just focus on the work, just focus on the work--

Gradually the holes started to get smaller and fewer until there were none left.

(Jekyll1886)

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Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • a year ago

Weir watched her at her task, the missing portions of Richard's heart filled in as if they'd never stood vacant.

"That's a remarkable treatment, Millie," Lewis said with a hint of awe when she'd finished. "How does it work?"

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MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

The sudden question from Lewis threw off Millie's concentration.

"I... I-uh... it's... um..." She tried to keep a forced smile as she spoke.

i don't feel well...

"I-it's... St...stem cells... a-and... his DNA..." Her blood stained hands struggled not to tremble as closed the rib cage again.

i feel ill...

"O-okay done." She said after making a haisty patch up of the incision. She quickly hopped off the chair to make her way back to the sitting room, staring down at the bloody gloves as she walked before pulling them off of her shaking hands and throwing them in the nearist bin.

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Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • a year ago • edited

Lewis had hoped the question would take her mind off whatever unease she was feeling, but, to his chagrin, it seemed instead to have the opposite effect.

He also hadn't anticipated she'd be the one to close up the incision, having expected her to leave that to him once she'd finished with the heart itself. Yet he decided not to interrupt her, not wishing to distract her in the midst of such a delicate task. Additionally, he feared that to do so might be misinterpreted as doubting her skill, and so held his tongue and stayed his hands.

After she'd left, he checked Richard for and tended to any lingering medical issues. Then, satisfied, he returned to the other room to join Millie and Charricthran.

((Tairais ))

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Tairais  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

Charricthran gave a small smile and a wave as Millie entered the room, followed shortly by Lewis. A simple copper kettle sat on the stove, steaming ever so slightly as he drank from an unadorned white teacup. Two more such cups sat in front of him in silent offering, with the faint scent of ginger drifting in the air.

"All's well, I trust? Didnae hear any screamin', so's tha's usually a plus. Tea's made if ya want some, might have food about somewhere..."

He set his cup down gently and stretched his arms behind his head, speaking softly.

"Again, ya both have a great deal o' gratitude from me. Call on me next time ya need a favor, hm? I'll repay ya somehow."

(( MillieGriffin ))

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MillieGriffin  Tairais • a year ago • edited

Millie put on a new pair of gloves as she entered. Dispute Charricthran's praise she couldn't bring herself to enjoy the moment as her mind was now free to torment her again. She tried to put on a smile for him.

"Eh... Where's the loo?" She asked weakly still feeling the twists in her stomach but tried not to show it.

(Jekyll1886)

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Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • a year ago

Lewis nodded in response to Charricthran.

"Richard seems good as new. He'll just need to heal a bit, is all."

Millie spoke.

"Oh, the loo's down that way," said Weir, indicating the direction for her before picking up a teacup for himself.

"Are you alright?" he asked with a slight tilt of his head, concerned.

((Tairais ))

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Tairais  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Charricthran nodded to reaffirm what Lewis said, unvoiced concern furrowing his brow.

He was relieved to hear there'd been no further complications- ripping the influence and being of a fae from the kid had been plenty complicated on its own, ta.

Having nothing to say that hadn't already been said, he simply took another sip of tea.

(( MillieGriffin ))

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MillieGriffin  Tairais • a year ago

"thank you continue talking without me." Millie muttered to a rushed manner as she immediately headed to where she was directed. After locking the door behind her, she went over and sat on the side of the tub as she leaned over the an empty toilet bowl with grim anticipation. Her mind buzzed unbearable in her skull thoughts, memories and emotions like angry hornets in her brain. She was so sick of feeling this way but for some reason she couldn't help herself.

(Jekyll1886)

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Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • a year ago

Lewis simply stood there a moment after Millie'd left.

"Well," he said quietly, "that was odd."

He took a seat, not wishing to intrude on Millie's privacy but ruminating about her nonetheless.

Deciding there was nothing to be done until she returned, he sipped his tea.

((Tairais ))

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Tairais  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

Words tripped silently on his tongue and died behind his closed teeth.

"Aye." Was all he managed to say at first.

Time passed as relief carried waves of weariness over him.

Eventually, he managed to add, "When she's back, I'll take the two o' ya back Society-like, 'less you've somewhere else ta grace."

Another sip of tea, another ginger swallow.

(( MillieGriffin ))

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Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Jekyll1886 Helen Jekyll • 5 days ago

Lewis headed for the room toward the front of the house, the one on his left and farther away as he walked along the upstairs hallway.

Before long, he'd found the window and peered out into the neighborhood beyond.

Helen Jekyll Jekyll1886 • 2 days ago

From the long, dreary shadows cast onto the street, it was evident that the sun was sitting somewhere low on the horizon behind the house.

The neighborhood itself was by no means a wealthy sort, though out of all the neglected and ill-kept houses within it, the building Hela and the two vampire children resided in was by far the worst.

As Weir peered out the window, a crooked little desk and chair sat behind him, covered in numerous oddities, along with quite a few gashes in its wood.

It was a vast collection of items, including a dirty jar filled to the brim with the varying currencies of fifty or so different dimensions, short stacks of papers and journals with everything from sketches of otherworldly organisms to nearly incomprehensible scrawling to what appeared to be blueprints for futuristic machines, and laying at the edge of it all, a Society of Arcane Sciences business card, slightly stained with blood.

Interestingly, the singular closed drawer of the desk seemed to contain some array of devices, both functioning and not, their presence betrayed by the energy they gave off.

Hela drew near and leaned against the doorway of the office, quirking her head as she settled in to watch Lewis.

“You really think you can track down and kill Ayato in less than a day?”

Jekyll1886

"Well, I'll need to know which neighborhoods he frequents. And make preparations.

"Given those prerequisites, the answer is 'probably'. Certainly it should take no longer than two days' time, even without them."

A pause.

"By the by...what's all that on the desk?"

He had his suspicions, but preferred to let her tell him to see whether he was right.

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Jekyll1886  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

((Helen Jekyll ))

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

At his first requirement, she gave a short bark of laughter, quickly covering her mouth with her hand as she tried to swallow back a smile.

“They’re mementos,” answered Hela with a shrug, dropping her hand once she regained composure, “Nothing too interesting...”

“What will be, on the other hand, is how your little hunting trip plays out.”

Her eyes danced with amusement.

“I’ve no idea where in Heaven nor Earth nor Hell the vampire b*stard resides, not since his red-headed toy broke.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"From everyone else you've...killed?" Weir asked, as if the thought were just occurring to him.

By "red-headed toy", he took it she meant Alicia.

"Hmm... That is troublesome. I suppose I'll have to extend it to two days."

He turned to Hela.

"Have you any baking supplies--flour, sugar, almonds, eggs?"

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

“Oh no, only willing gifts remain,” She explained with a chuckle, self-satisfaction gleaming in her gaze as she glanced to her collection, “These came from welcomed guests, not victims.”

Hela looked to him once more, appearing slightly annoyed.

“I might have some scraps left of this or that, but this place isn’t exactly a cafe—I don’t often bother with cooking.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

He looked at the curious little collection of items on her desk.

"Welcomed as you were going to welcome me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She spoke of the kitchen's probable lack of ingredients.

"Hm, I may have to procure them myself, in that case."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela laughed, the sound a low, rumbling purr of amusement.

“Why, do you not think me a hospitable hostess?”

Another deep chuckle, her gaze fixing onto Weir with a curious intensity.

“Do you... believe that I wouldn’t be able to be given all of that willingly?”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

He met her gaze with an easy grace.

"The answers to those questions depend upon the definition of 'hospitable' and the circumstances behind 'willingly'," he asserted, then chuckled, a skewed smile creeping onto his face.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

The corner of her lips twitched into a smirk.

“I can assure you, I used no manner of force nor fear to abtain any of it—My visitors knew me only as a kind and courteous soul, wishing to simply help them.”

Her voice rose in pitch as she spoke in clear, posh tones, placing a hand on her chest with a tip up of her chin and straightening of her posture.

“They may as well have met the doctor, for all the ill-intent they perceived.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

"Ah," he said with an air of suddenly understanding.

She masqueraded as her counterpart.

Yet...she said they were in separate bodies, so...

"How recent is the latest addition to your collection there, by the by?" He briefly tilted his chin up, in the general direction of the desk, to indicate the motley assortment of items upon and in it.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela shifted her attention briefly to the desk, then back to him, her playfully melodramatic air fading to something more detached and cool.

“Not too long ago, at most a week,” She replied levelly, cocking her head to the side in a casual manner, “I’m not one for keeping track of time.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

At this, he tilted his head at her with a look of extreme confusion.

"Then...have you had a separate body from the doctor for only a week?"

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

There came an explosive sound of equal parts surprise and mirth at that, and Hela soon fell into a laughing fit.

“Oh, Hell no,” She snickered, finally settling herself enough to speak, “As much as the doctor would absolutely love to be free of me...”

The Hyde began to alter as she spoke, the sharp, hard edges of her form softening into something gentler and more innocuous.

“We’re bound together in this body, her and I, and I don’t plan on letting her go—She’s far too useful.”

She lost several inches in height as her eyes and hair each shifted from their almost black to a warmer, chocolate brown. The brightened locks fell further down her back and lost their subtle wave as the roots of her hair continued to lighten until they were tinged with grey.

“So, I keep her in the palm of my hand, under control and easy to access.”

She extended an arm, flexing her fingers as she watched them grow slender and dainty, the skin crinkling and paling slightly with age.

“She always did such a terrible job of caring for herself,” said Hela in the silvery tones of her counterpart, letting out a tsk in disdain at the weakness in this other body, “It’s a wonder she lasted as long as she did.”

A rather unpleasant smirk found its way to her lips as the changes came to a finish, the expression ill-fitting for the alternate Helen’s form, and she dropped her hand to peer at Weir with a self-satisfied air.

“Would you care to meet her?”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"I...suppose. I must admit I'm quite baffled, though. You said you'd split from Elaina, into a separate body. This," he gestured to her, "is obviously another form, yet you've only half a soul. Are you simply mimicking the other body--the one you 'got rid of'?"

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

“Helen split from Elaina,” corrected Hela with another laugh, the sound now light and airy, “I was created in the aftermath of their separation, and thus, can hold the doctor’s form, should I desire to—It seems she never did learn her lesson from the first time her experiments created a monster.” A pleasant chuckle. “Nor did Elaina take the bloody hint before turning herself into a dual-sided coin as well.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

"Waitwaitwait. So Helen is 'the doctor'?" he asked, the pitch of his voice rising. The scenario that presented itself to him seemed nonsensical at best. "And she split from Elaina, who then split? And then...'Helen' split further and you resulted? Do I have that right?"

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela snorted, the sound both mildly amused and annoyed by Weir’s confusion, and her irises briefly darkened.

“Is it really that tricky for you?”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"So, essentially, if you count yourself separate from Helen, you'd be...one quarter of a soul?" he asked rhetorically, then shook his head.

This dimension is positively daffy--practically a parody of itself.

"Right," he said, shaking off the situation.

"Carry on, then. You were going to introduce me to this 'Helen'."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

A dark and eager smirk flashed across her expression.

“As you wish.”

Briefly, Hela shut her eyes, seeming to completely relax for the first time since Lewis found her reclined before the fireplace.

As the tension drained from her muscles, weariness took its place, etching into the age lines of her expression and sagging her shoulders.

Her breathing had deepened, as if she were asleep, then her eyes snapped open with a sudden gasp.

Almost at once, she started at the sight of Lewis and stumbled a few steps back, clutching the doorframe in a white knuckled grip.

“W-What— Who—?” stammered Helen, her voice shrill with fear.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"Easy, there," he said as he took a step back from her, his hands raised to his chest, fingers up, palms toward her. "I mean you no harm."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

“I-I... I...”

Closing her eyes, she swallowed hard, visibly working to control her breathing.

A few moments passed and Helen appeared to have calmed herself somewhat, watching Lewis with barely muted apprehension.

“What... h-happened...?”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

"I...take it you're Helen Jekyll," Weir replied. "Hela and I were just speaking. She asked if I'd like to meet you, I assented, and here you are.

"I'm--my birth name is Henry Jekyll," he corrected himself. "Which you may call me, if you like. I'll also answer to Edward, or to Lewis," among other names.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, doctor," he said with a dip of his head.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

She appeared rather overwhelmed, fiddling with one of the too big sleeves of her now ill-fitting shirt and giving only a faint nod in response to his greetings.

“I don’t understand, you... have been talking with Hela?”

Her brow furrowed deeply as she studied him, looking from his head to his toes.

“There’s not a scratch on you...”

A sudden thought struck and she retreated another step back, into the hallway, with a jolt of fear.

He’s a Jekyll and uses multiple names—this could merely be a trap Hela set up with another Hyde!

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"Yes. She mentioned an 'Ayato' and I--"

He broke off as Helen retreated to the hallway.

"Was it something I said?" he asked with a tilt of his head, confused.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

“Y... You’re a Hyde, aren’t you?”

She swallowed hard, a touch of resignation in her gaze as she steeled herself.

“Hela doesn’t leave others unscathed, as you are now,” revealed Helen, her voice still wary but steadier than it had been, “Not unless they’re like her, and even then...”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

A sigh. It looked like he'd have to explain this to her, too, and hope she might understand...

"I'm Dr. Henry Jekyll," he said, placing his right hand palm-up as if to say "on the one hand..."

"And Mr. Edward Hyde," he continued, doing the same with his left.

"To simplify things, I often go by an alias, 'Dr. Lewis Weir'--I choose to retain the 'Dr.' because I did earn that degree.

"But I will answer to any of the aforementioned names, so call me as you like.

"I do hope that clears things up.

"By the by," he added, steepling his fingers, "I've no intention to hurt you, nor your counterpart. Though, if she does hurt me, I shall swiftly return the favor, rest assured. Just as, if I were to hurt her, she would do the same. As we are both aware. With this understanding, she and I have been able to hold a conversation, during the course of which she mentioned you. As I've said."

He extended his right hand, but made no move to close the distance between Helen and himself.

"Again, 'tis a pleasure to meet you face to face."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

“How can that be possible?” she breathed, absolutely stunned by this... deviant in pattern before her.

Even in observing over half a dozen cases of split souls, never had she an occasion where two halves became one once more—It was something Helen had never even considered feasible.

She appeared lost deep in thought, a rather distant look in her eyes.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

Weir withdrew his extended hand, resting both behind his back.

Right, then.

"Years of trial and error," he replied.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

“Was this something you did willingly?“

Her gaze fixed on him once more, and took on a vaguely clinical nature.

“How did you, or more rather, how do you keep your Hyde in check?”

She had to suppress a wince, her second question drawing a warning jolt of pain down her spine from Hela.

Evidently, her counterpart wasn’t pleased, but Helen hid it well.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"It was something I did of necessity. And it's not a matter of 'in check'," he clarified, "it's a matter of balance--I am my 'Hyde' just as fully as I am my 'Jekyll'. I'm the better off for it in both regards--I no longer need waste time nor energy fighting myself on either front."

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Jekyll1886 • a year ago

((The Fox ))

The Fox • 4 days ago

( HONK HONK Jekyll1886 Here we are! Took me awhile, some dinner, and the caring of pups, but here we are! Let's pick up where we lat were.( For those curious, this is the continuation of From Hell to Rehab. ) )

-

Richard swallowed and shuffled back, trying to disentangle himself from the situation. He turned to hide his face as a pained, remorseful grimace twisted his features. He hid this, leaning into his elbow and resting it on a knee.

Desirae came down beside him and tried to get him to unfold himself.

" [ Richard? Richard please...

You don't have to be scared anymore! What ever it is, it doesn't matter anymore. Just be honest... ] "

Jekyll1886

"[It would be the best thing]," agreed Lewis quietly.

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

( WELP time to push this reply out before i go to Texas literally within a couple of hours. so BEEP BEEP TIME TO GET THIS PARTY STARTED )

" I....I....! "

Enfield looked up but couldn't find it in himself to broach the subject. He stammered and stumbled and gestured with his hands in an effort to shape his scattered thoughts into shape. Eventually though, he let his head fall back into hiding,

His voice came back in a dejected, muffled murmur.

" I was being a selfish *ss...A selfish *ss with worse for friends... "

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Jekyll1886  The Fox • a year ago

The half-shrug and sympathetic look Lewis gave Enfield seemed to suggest the doctor might, at one time, have done something similar himself, and that Richard would find no judgment here.

Weir also quietly translated for Desirae.

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

Utterson said nothing, merely giving Richard the space to be.

The man continued, struggling between speaking and wincing.

" I was petty and cruel and wanted nothing more than to make the world squirm. Most of all I wanted you to squirm the hardest...

I...knew I could get the house to myself and I knew she was naive and desperate enough to make it work to my favor. It was to prove I could do it, to friends, to myself.... "

Desirae settled in close, trying to make sense from what little English she understood. This bothered Richard.

" Listen. I don't want to talk about this alright? The damage was done three years ago and it isn't going to change. "

Utterson sighed and nodded in solemn understanding. Quietly, he looked to the dancer.

" [] Desirae...Has he told yet? [] "

" [ No...I don't know what he did. I knew he made you upset but... ] "

She glanced at Enfield in a quiet question, getting his avoidance as a response.

Gabriel glanced to Lewis then back to the couple before taking upon himself to explain.

" [] He bedded down with a new servant who I was taking in. It was the greatest kindness I could do for her considering her and her mother were in dire straits at the time.

She was a good worker but still young in mind and she went along with the scheme unknowingly...

Suffice to say she was disgraced and her mother had her leave her position here. [] "

He gestured to his home.

" [] I didn't know why she had left until I heard it from him... [] "

Gabriel put his hands up.

" [] I tracked them down shortly after to make sure all was well for them. They both were fine but they weren't very happy about things. Especially her mother, who pinned it all on her daughter. [] "

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Jekyll1886  The Fox • a year ago • edited

Weir nodded in understanding.

"[That was the instigating incident, then.]"

He looked from Utterson to Charbonneau to Enfield.

"[I take it you don't plan to do it again]," Lewis ventured.

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

A hot wave of shame washed over Richard as Utterson had to explain for him. He could do nothing but grit his teeth as Lewis spoke. Even worse in his mind though was Desirae's ensuing silence.

Every second was torture as his heart pounded in his ears. A thin layer of sweat wet his brow, a shiver coming over him as he felt her race settle on him. He didn't dare look up or speak. He hardly breathed under the intense glare he knew he was getting.

" [ Richard... ] "

He flinched.

" [ Richard, look at me... ] "

His stomach twisted. A shuddering breath left him before he managed to meet her gaze. He blinked.

Instead of the piercing glare he was so familiar with, he was met with a sad, accepting look, the look of someone who was all to understanding of his flaws and all to understanding to be furious. Her regular anger was traded in for a rare, Honest to God, peaceful look, her emotion held in a strong but gentle balance.

Utterson, too, was unusually peaceful, his own state one of grounded, conscious forgiveness.

He unintentionally blanched, a reaction tied up in the remaining knots of disbelief.

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Jekyll1886  The Fox • a year ago

"[What's done is done]," concluded Lewis. "[The important thing is that we're all here now.]"

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

" I m-mean! I and she! W-we--! "

" [ Richard Thomas Enfield... ] "

" Richard Thomas Enfield... "

His eyes went wide, his full name calling his attention fully.

" [ By this point, I think it's clear enough where we stand. All you need to do is show us that your confident and won't let yourself cling to the past. ] "

She took him into a quick embrace.

" [ You've already promised you would work to be better. You HAVE begun to change.

Don't let this keep you back. ] "

" Rest assured though, that we will both be making amends with them when the opportunity arrives.

You have the my love to give for my forgiveness, but not so much them.

Consider it the final test of your dedication. Whether or not you are forgiven, it should stand as the proof to yourself, honest and fully, that you've made yourself anew. "

Utterson smiled.

" How about it? "

He offered his hand out for a friendly shake. A playful laugh.

" Can we pull a 'you' and get back inside? "

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Jekyll1886  The Fox • a year ago • edited

"Despite the occasional stumble, you do seem to be on a new path," agreed Lewis. "Embrace it."

A smile.

Get back on that horse.

"That sounds lovely," he seconded Gabriel's suggestion.

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Tairais • a year ago

(( chatterghosts One day I'll manage to respond in a timely fashion. One day.

anentirerice:

Elias swiveled his head, staring down at the empty space shoulder-down that still wasn’t fully reoriented, still felt a twitch wrong and hollow. “I shouldn’t have any trouble.”

Surprisingly, he made no move to run off.

And Huxley counted the seconds in silence, watching the limited outcomes in his head drop like flies.))

Charricthran watched too, though it was for a sign of whatever Song bit and stung and tickled its way down his neck and the back of his hands. Nausea gripped him by the stomach and shook, no better than a dog with its prey.

Outwardly, he was as calm and collected as Hannibal, once the vampire strode into view. Inwardly, there was no way to affect that sinister calm as it blanketed the room like smoke, heady, seductive, and cloying. Everything was cloying, choking to him: the vines smothering the walls from sight, the carpet underfoot devouring any sort of footstep from his party, the accursed feeling of something, somewhere just not being right.

Granted, a fair amount of that sensation likely had to do with Will's soul, wrapped around his Song and trying desperately to yank free, to reform elsewhere and away from fire and ash and heartache, to return to Hannibal, his heart and love.

Charricthran couldn't allow that.

Red eyes glittered with just-checked rage and the hint of smug amusement that was all-too-familiar. Hannibal tilted his head and clucked his tongue, admonishing.

"Charricthran," He said, and his voice went low in the same way a parent patronizes children and something was clearly hiding from the situation, "Had I known you were bringing... guests to this little reunion of ours, I might have made dinner for us."

Hannibal smiled, baring fang to candlelight. They glistened with crimson and black, blood and ichor, and Charricthran was cut with a piece of the truth, unable to help himself as he laughed and cawed and bared his own knife-edge smile to Hannibal's thinly-veiled challenge.

"Had I known you were resortin' ta ancient magics ta try an' escape the bonds of our... arrangement, I might've not even bothered. Dear Will-" And oh, how Hannibal's eyes darkened with grief and bloodlust alike when the name of his mylimasis fell into the air from unkind lips "-Trusted me ta uphold my end o' the bargain, did he not?"

"Yes," Said Hannibal airly "I suppose he did. And yet, look where it has left each of us now, hm?"

Hannibal narrowed his eyes so that they were snake-like as he prowled closer to the balcony's edge. He did not seem as if he were intending to launch himself into battle as Will had done, rather, he seemed fully intent on having this conversation.

Charricthran, for his part, was fully intent on leaving the conversation, lest whatever ritual Hannibal had attempted (with Will's blood, no less) see time to complete itself, and yet he couldn't help but feel the Whispers of Hannibal's grief as his own, and yet he couldn't stop imagining this same scenario happening to him, to Richard, to-

(Better not to think about them. It would be rude to place concern and fondness where it could be received poorly.)

And yet.

And yet... He felt an extraordinary amount of guilt for considering his next move in their verbal game of chess. Objectively, it was equally foolish of him to do so, considering he was coming into this with an intent to see Hannibal dead, and yet.

And yet.

Charricthran gestured sharply to Huxley and Elias beside him.

"I'd say it's us pretty close ta where I said it would if ya did somethin' like this ta someone close ta Richard. I thought ya didnae kill kids- younger. Siblings, Hannibal- what would Mischa say if she could see her beloved brother now?"

Oh, how he'd thought Hannibal's eyes were full of blood when he'd mentioned Will, scattered to ash in the wind. Now? Now they were an ocean of fire and rage, smoldering and curdling flesh from bone with the lightest of looks, razing all of creation to nothing more than smears on the ground like the Biblical God of the Old Testament.

Charricthran feared him then, even though he had no right to, no true need to that he knew of.

Elias, on the other hand.

No sooner had the thought occured to him, no sooner had he started to tense and get ready to move with his own preternatural speed to act the part of human shield, Hannibal's form blurred with the same smear of black mist that had fled the village to stand in front of him, Elias in hand and dangling above them like a ragdoll.

Charricthran knew better than to try and stop Hannibal when he threw Elias full force into one of the suits of armor lining the wall. He didn't need to hear the resounding clatter that followed to know poor Elias had to have at least cracked, if not broken several ribs in the process.

With a weary sigh, Charricthran locked crimson within crimson, holding Hannibal's gaze as time grew heavy and liquid with movement. Hannibal had the presence of mind to notice the change, a muscle in his jaw jumping with renewed rage.

"Time ta tango, kids. Jump in as ya feel like."

With that, the world shuddered into motion, breaking like waves against the shore as Hannibal blurred and struck lightning against Charricthran, who could only dart around the vampire in circles like a terrified minnow.

And he was. Terrified, that was to say: with every successful strike, Hannibal sent parts of him to splatter against the floor. Will's soul shook with every blow, fists and claws hammer and spike against a chain that had already been cracked.

Hannibal struck him across the face with one clawed, curled hand that sent him flying much like Elias, straight into the staircase he'd turned his back on.

Everything began to take on a muted quality after that, sound and blood swimming together in his ears. Staggering to his feet, Charricthran only just managed to throw himself aside as Hannibal snarled and made a beeline for his throat.

Mischa would not have said anything were she still alive. Hannibal could no longer imagine, could no longer hear her voice or see her face: he had lived too long, loved too much, devoured far more.

They both knew this, and that inadequacy was what caused Hannibal old grief piled on the new. His control would have been in tatters no matter what, and now, so was Charricthran.

Tatters and shreds and grief. It all came full circle in a mess of blood and ash.

He laughed as ichor ran back into his face.

What was the point, in the end?

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chatterghosts  Tairais • a year ago • edited

Elias collided with the armor on the far wall, ribs splitting like hairs upon impact - the world around him was starry smears of color, shapeless shadows inching along his eyesight.

Huxley flung himself into the hectic movement of things while bits of Charricthran hit the floor, holding the flamethrower with a desperate distress - still, their chances weren’t gone, if he could get a good shot on. Had Charricthran provoked him on purpose? He tried calling on his Sight as he wrapped closer to the staircase, sending a message, or an attempt of one, Charricthran’s way all the while. Char, buddy, a tip on how to kick the dog while he’s down would be REALLY useful right now!

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Tairais  chatterghosts • a year ago

Charricthran glanced at Huxley, then yelped as Hannibal crashed through his line of sight to wrench part of the wrought-iron railing to use as a makeshift weapon.

Gritting his teeth against the ghost of pain threatening to be felt, Charricthran snapped his arms out and pulled the shadows out from under the suits of armor. He took care not to jostle Elias as tendrils of darkness lashed up to swallow and wrap around the bar as Hannibal swung it overhead, barely stopping the blow as it rang through his arms and teeth and the air as if it had struck a metal shield.

From there it was a dance of whirling staves as both Charricthran and Hannibal weilded weapons taller than them: Hannibal ducked under a spinning slash and made to tackle him; Charricthran flipped over his shoulder and slid across the floor on his feet; wind and breeze howled their fury in the spaces behind movement, blurring thought and motion alike.

As Hannibal leaped from the floor to the balcony and off again, he threw his would-be-spear at Charricthran, who used the gently held breath of a moment suspended in time to respond to Huxley.

"Here's a tip!--"

Charricthran moved with the spear as it traveled through his right shoulder with a flash of searing white pain, leaving himself parallel to the floor as he planted the whole of his weight into that same hand and lifted his legs into the air. His coat tails just barely cleared where Hannibal landed next to him in a crouch: as Hannibal rose, Charricthran flipped himself backwards, pulling the spear out as he went. They darted forward again in synchronicity, left arm finding left arm around the elbow, right hand wrapped around the other's throat as two sets of teeth and hands bared on skin.

Their eyes met, holding a whole, bitter conversation in the span of a heartbeat shattered with a strangled bark of laughter.

"--Use your leg!"

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chatterghosts  Tairais • a year ago

“Use your—?- Oh, for the love of God,” Huxley murmured, the steps that would unfold flashing in sequence in his mind. His options were slim, and though still potential scenarios fell out of sight, the chances increased they’d succeed.

That was all Huxley needed as he ran across toward the right staircase, eyes locked with Hannibal dead ahead - whose back was turned to him. Unfortunately, that also meant that Charricthran was undoubtedly going to be caught in the fire.

If he was interpreting Charricthran’s warnings right, however, it wouldn’t matter.

With that in mind, he hoisted the flamethrower high, balanced it on his shoulder, and pulled the trigger.

Elias watched, eyes glassy and wide, as pulsing flame crawled out of the barrel and flew toward Hannibal.

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Tairais  chatterghosts • a year ago

Charricthran had seen his fair share (and more) of fire and things burning-- specifically, of people burning.

The burning of vampires was always a curious thing that varied from specimen to specimen, phenomenon to phenomenon: Some bubbled and boiled as blisters chewed their way out from under the skin, screaming the whole way; some burned clean through to ash with nary a whisper to mark the passing of a breeze dispersing what remained.

Hannibal's demise was something entirely of his own making, as brutal and primordially visceral as the day of his rebirth.

For a handful of seconds marked only by the rush of blood in his ears, Charricthran watched as the flame curled over Hannibal's skin and clothes as if it were simply going to pass over it. Certainly, Hannibal himself didn't seem to notice anything amiss as he slowly bared his teeth closer and closer to Charricthran's neck.

It was only after Hannibal's gaze slipped to Elias' eyes, cloudy with pain Charricthran could only remember the ghost of, that he truly seemed to become aware of his fate. Realization and resignation left a curious light in his eyes as fire fell into his skin like water into parched earth, leaving cracks like magma in its wake,

In the place where his heart might be lay a white-hot mass of flame, writhing with agony as Hannibal's grip loosened and ultimately fell from Charricthran. True to form, the vampire was near-silent as light devoured him from the inside out, the only sign of his pain bared fangs and his hunched-over posture.

With movements bordering on gentle, Charricthran moved forward and placed a hand on Hannibal's shoulder. Slowly, steadily, the fire grew brighter, burned hotter, tongues of it springing forth like trees violently reaching for the sky. The warm wind falling from flame became searing, went from a dull whisper to a growing roar the more light spilled from each new furrow.

Only when Hannibal's eyes were white with heat and suffering did Charricthran plunge a hand into his chest, fingers closing around the very core of what remained of Hannibal's humanity. With a terrible RIIIIIP, the light burst free from his chest, and flame spilled outward onto flame until the whole of the castle was filled with blinding lights. The wind began to howl, mixed with Hannibal's first and only cry of pure, unadulterated pain and grief as it rattled everything from hollow bones to suits of armor and the chandelier overhead.

Awareness for all fell between sound and light until there was little more but the awareness of one's own breath.

When the smoke cleared and when the sound faded into nothing more than the crackle of sparks falling to the ground. Charricthran was only a mass of sharp-toothed shadows whirling around the dying ember clutched in his hands, form abandoned for survival, humanity abandoned for justice.

In time, that too faded, and his usual semblance of skin and cloth returned to form and order even as his thoughts were slow to reform.

Eventually, he managed to look up from his hands to lock eyes with Huxley, speaking with a low croak just the right side of audible.

"He'll need someone else ta heal him from.. all o' tha'. My inside's ain't the same as yours."

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chatterghosts  Tairais • a year ago

Elias had only watched half of Hannibal's ultimate death when the pain of snapped ribs and aching lungs finally caught up to him in full -- with a deep, exhausted wince, his eyes twitched closed.

All the while, Huxley stood by, watching Hannibal dissolve into light and sparks with rapt attention. Only when the light began to fade did he realize that Elias had finally fallen unconscious, and he appeared at his side as soon as he'd noticed it.

His head snapped up when Charricthran spoke, gaze landing somewhere between Elias' body and Charricthran. "I can't heal things like you, but I can get him back to the Society." His eyes roamed across the castle floor, sparks of Hannibal's remains still flitting in the air. "Do you need help cleaning things up here?"

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Tairais  chatterghosts • a year ago

Charricthran shook his head.

"Get him safe, get him healed-- I'll take care o' things here proper-like."

He cast a long, slow look about his surroundings: at the ash falling through the air, at the crystal still shivering on the chandelier, at the scuff marks on the carpet and marble tile.

Hannibal and Will's souls intertwined within him, pressed against their newfound cage with an insistent urgency, a need to be free that clawed at him with panic like two birds beating their wings against his ribs.

Only when they settled for a moment did Charricthran allow himself to smile, sharp-toothed and relieved.

"All quiet. This chapter's closed, an' it's time ta pick up the pieces for good. No more loose ends."

He spoke with a finality he didn't quite feel, but the shape of the words felt right on his lips. Whatever happened now, Hannibal and Will would no longer trouble Richard, and Artemis' death had been repaid with interest.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

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chatterghosts  Tairais • a year ago

A heavy, solemn nod, and Huxley took Elias gently into his arms and disappeared.

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