Hallways always [OPEN]

[vandalization]

who: Vandal and any visitors. [OPEN]
what: Vandal is bed-bound, recovering from her month-long detainment and torture.
when: All this week.
where: The Medbay
warnings: very yes
notes: Tag in your own threads, it can be set during any point in the week.



The beep of the monitors is loud with her head this eerily silent. Whatever he did to her, between the needles and questioning, he separated it. Took something. Now that static in her head is far quieter. It's almost as maddening as when it was present.

Now she's almost lonely without it. Well- she was lonely before, but now even more so.

She doesn't sleep, no. It's not safe to sleep anymore. She wants to scream every time she's left alone, but it's not practical to have someone with her all the time. Prism is dead, the Gatherer is dead, but the way she goes back to that place every time she shuts her eyes.

So she lays in a space between waking and sleep, startling back to consciousness every tie she starts to drift. Shaking. Thinking about it. What it did to her.

She reaches up to smooth a finger over the gauze covering what used to be her right eye.

Ruined. He ruined her worse than the church did. The mental, the physical.

Everything. Ruined.

She wishes they'd have killed her when they found her.

But she's also a coward, and afraid of death, so here she sits and lets the stitches heal.

Comments

[thxforthememories]

"I'm sorry."

Because what else do you say? To any of it? The words seemed very inadequate, but they're all he has. He lifts a hand, to brush one of hers with a fingertip.

"Don't thank me," he says, and shakes his head. He doesn't want to say it, though it bubbles out all the same. "I... I was too afraid to look for you there."

Not that he had an excuse -- his frame hadn't been harmed. Not like hers.

[vandalization]

"I don't blame you." She wasn't Prism's only victim. Just apparently his favorite. He kept her for nearly a month.

She's not much for conversation unfortunately, turning her hand over to touch his.

"Still. Thank you, really."

[thxforthememories]

It's strange -- how much he dreaded saying that. Compared to how easily it was all taken care of. Four words, and that was that. He lowers his head for a moment, his finger holding steady under her hand.

"All right," he says, and this time, he doesn't bother hiding the relief in his words.

The silence sits.

Then he reaches out, grasping the bottle gently in two fingers, bringing it over closer. The paper snowflake is hanging from its neck. "I brought you things," he says. "Kay made the paper... I found the glass. I thought you might want something to look at."

[vandalization]

She reaches out to take the bottle when he hands it to her, the glass feeling unnaturally heavy in her hands from how long she'd been strapped down. It's cold and the texture is smooth and wonderful.

"You didn't have to bring me a gift," She says, sounding already defeated in her protest, "Thank you though. And tell Kay I said thank you for the snowflake."

She'd actually never seen real snow before, so the imagery is a bit lost on her, but it's still pretty to look at.

[thxforthememories]

When she takes it, and then thanks him, it's like praising a puppy. His optic actually brightens, and the corners of his mouth twitch up. "I wanted to," he says. "I thought that, maybe you'd like to look at something from outside... I did."

Not the same thing, really, but, for the first time, he wants to speak. Just to talk to her. She's safe now -- his friend is safe now.

Or maybe he just wants to fill the silence. Talk about everything but the state in which they'd found her.

"I will." That makes two of them -- Kay had to tell him what he was looking at. "She's been decorating. For a holiday coming." He paused, before adding, a little more softly, "I think she wanted to make it beautiful for you."

[vandalization]

It's actually nice to let him talk and just have that emptiness filled. She can see the way he practically oozes energy, and it's a little refreshing. She won't take it for granted.

"Thanks. It's really lovely." She'll do her best to try and not look utterly devoid of everything for him. He went to such trouble.

"Oh. It is almost Christmas, isn't it...?"

That does sound like Kay. Another person who is full of energy. A little exhausting at times, but Vandal is glad to know her.

[thxforthememories]

She's not telling him to stop. Which only encourages him. The smirk at the edges of his mouth flickers again, broadening -- a smile.

"I'll bring you more things, if you like," he said. "It won't look like a--" What was the word? "--hospital, that way." That had to be better. Right?

His smile faded, when she asked about Christmas. Kay had been chattering about it, which was good, but, honestly he wasn't sure what to tell her -- whether or not it was near or far. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "It... probably is, since the others are talking about it."

One shoulder lifted in a shrug. "I've never heard of it before. But she's determined to make it good."

[vandalization]

"You don't have to. Honestly I'd rather have the company." It;s true, it's something she can use far more, despite how sweet the intention is. She needs presence. And by presence, rest.

"It's a good holiday. All about friends and family and togetherness and all of that fun shit. You'll like it." She does sound, just a tiny bit bitter.

"All you gotta know is that people exchange gifts, drag trees in and decorate them, and you have to be good because Santa Claus is coming."

[thxforthememories]

"I can do that, too," he says. Maybe it was wrong to sound so eager, but, in a way, it was a chance to make up for not coming for her sooner. Not doing something sooner. "As often as you need."

Maybe when she felt better, he could bring Kay. To make it up to both of them. He does hear the slight change in her voice. That's a good thing, right? That means this is a good topic.

"Then we'll make it a good one for you, too," he tells her. "I'll do my best. I promise."

He nods slowly, taking that in. "Who's Santa Claus? Is he your friend?"

[vandalization]

"Thank you, Kagerou. That means a lit to me."

Even in the darkest hour... adorable robots come through.

Now, the question makes her think. It would be a dick move to... make something up. But it's so.

So easy. And harmless for the most part. Maybe she'll leave it up to his imagination.

"No. He travels all through the universe, and keeps a list of every living being. He checks who's been naughty and who's been nice and... well."

She trails off.

[thxforthememories]

"It's fine," he says, and the smile remains. "You're my friend. You look after your friends."

He means that, too, if the look on his face is anything to go by.

Except then the look is replaced by concern, uncertainty. Who's been naughty and... well... He blinks.

"What happens... if they aren't 'nice'?"

Because kidnapping, property destruction and fleeing authorities doesn't really sound 'nice' to him. Not to mention what he'd done to the Chieftain...

[vandalization]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh damn it he's just too sweet to mess with or maybe she doesn't have her heart in it right now. She sighs.

"He gives them lumps of coal. Gives presents to the nice people."

She just couldn't do it. After last time, anyways.

"But that's just between you and me, okay?"

[thxforthememories]

"Oh."

Well, that's not nearly so bad. He's not sure what he's going to do with coal, but, that's better than what his mind automatically jumped to.

"What is he going to give you, then?" he asks. Because, clearly, she's going to get a present.

He nods slowly. "I won't tell anyone. Okay?"

[vandalization]

She lets out a little chuff.

"Coal for me, babe. I haven't been on the nice list for a long time."

Mass-murderers aren't on the nice list.

"You should write him a letter and ask for something."

[thxforthememories]

His head tilts. That doesn't make sense to him. Maybe he's a terrible judge of character, but she's never seemed 'bad'. Not to him. A little abrasive, sure, but...

He squares his shoulders, tilting his chin up. "You can be on mine, then." As... if he actually had one. But with all she's gone through, why would she deserve coal?

"I don't think anyone can bring me what I want to ask for."

Like a soul. Or someone who's missing.

[vandalization]

"Okay." She's not going to argue. It's incredibly cute how he takes everything so seriously.

"You never know. Don't doubt Santa. He can do anything. He's magic."

Not to give anyone false hope or anything.

[thxforthememories]

Friends are serious business. At least, to him. Now he just needs to figure out what he's going to do for her. Somehow.

He shakes his head, shifting to touch her hand again.

"It's a nice thought... if magic could help someone bring you a soul. A heart..."

Life, in other words.

[vandalization]

He earns a dubious look.

"Is that what you want?" She shakes her head, "You already have plenty of soul, Kagerou. Probably more than some of the folks here. A soul isn't a tangible thing. It just means you have the capacity to feel. And for compassion, and all of that nice shit."

She shrugs and lays back.

[thxforthememories]

"Among other things," he admits.

Though he doubts anyone is going to be capable of bringing him the other thing he desperately wants -- it's safer though, to say this alone. He's surprised, though, at her answer. It's more than she's really spoken so far.

"I trust you," he says. "But I'm not used to a human being thinking so highly of my life... I should be, though. Shouldn't I? You always have..."

[vandalization]

"S'okay. I'm not used to anyone thinking very highly of me, either. This had been my own world? I'd have been abandoned."

Here she gets way more than a handful of people running to her rescue.

"You deserve it though. Be treated right. You're just as much a person as I am. Probably more."

[thxforthememories]

"Abandoned...?" He's stunned. His experience is limited, sure. But he'd always thought human beings valued their own kind highly. Why else go to the trouble of creating AI to protect them? "That's..." Then his shoulders square. "That won't happen to you here. All right?"

He doesn't say it aloud, but it's as much of a promise as any. She's his friend. He won't leave a friend. No matter the risks.

Recent events have proved that much, anyway.

"Don't say that," he tells her, more firmly than he usually tends to speak. "You... have the capacity to feel. And for compassion." A hesitation, and the slightest of smirks as he finishes repeating her own words. "And all of that nice shit... A soul. As you put it."

He tilts his head. "I don't know what's more human than having that."

[vandalization]

"I know. Not with bots like you around." She tries, but it's hard to sound confident after you've spent a month being tortured.

The moment he repeats her though... that earns a raise of an eyebrow.

Did he seriously just say 'shit'?

"Kagerou... you ever hear the phrase, 'do as I say, not as I do'?"

Well. Whatever. She'll leave well enough alone. Serves her right for cursing so much around him.

"Anyways thanks. You're too sweet for your own god."

[thxforthememories]

"Because we're your friends," he says. It's all right if she doesn't sound confident -- in this case, he can do it for her.

The confidence fades quickly, though, when she asks the question. He blinks, shaking his head slowly. Had he said something wrong? He was trying to make a point. To help.

"No...? Should I have?"

He'll learn. Eventually. He already found out the hard way not to say "buttfuck".

"Sweet. I wouldn't say that." Another shake of his head. "Sweet implies goodness. I've... done things no one would consider good."

[vandalization]

"We are." She relents, nodding at him tiredly.

"Ah don't worry about it. I should know better than to swear around you anyways." He's like a small child that's bitg and made of metal.

"You know, a lot of people here say that exact thing, including me. Doesn't matter what you did in the past, okay?"

[thxforthememories]

He lets the first matter drop. He won't press her, not on that, and not when they agree. No point in it.

But he does frown, then. "I don't mind," he says. "You can speak how you want. It doesn't bother me."

Probably because he hasn't heard those words before, but, there you go.

"If it doesn't matter for me... does it matter for you?" If he's not allowed to claim he isn't a good 'person', then his friend shouldn't, either. At least, that's how it works in his mind.