|
|
Post by Satra on Oct 6, 2009 21:35:42 GMT -5
She didn't protest, she simply nodded and let him go, flopping down onto the bed. She hugged her knees to her chest and pawed at her hair. After only a few moments, she raised her hand out of habit to take a drink, only to be reminded that her hand was empty. She stared at it, turning it over a few times in confusion. What had she done with it? She searched around the bed, throwing the covers around and reaching a panic. Where... where did it go?! She was barely able to handle reality without the detachment from reality the bottled liquid provided. She found it tipped over on the floor. She felt a flash of victory replaced by panic. That puddle! All that waste! She knelt over the liquid carnage, her gaze switching back and forth between the now nearly empty bottle in hand and the puddle on the floor. Her despair quickly turned to shame. She'd really turned rather pathetic, hadn't she?
In the crib, the Human girl quieted some, opening her eyes to look at the touch. When it became apparent she wasn't getting fed, her wails renewed. Heilyn just looked up from her position on the ground and Bernard helped her up. A walk and working on getting sober might do me some good. Still. She couldn't stand the thought to be out long. She simply nodded, and cherished the touch, the kiss on her head. How sweet of him.
"Lemme.. go wash my face first..." some cold water might help. She hobbled to the bathroom and splashed her face with some cold water and dried it, taking every effort to not look at her own reflection. She took her hair out of her ponytail, letting it hang. She didn't want to bother with making it look neat.
"Let's go..." she said in a slightly more stable voice, "An... jus' make sure we don't put milk in the human's..." Ah yes. She'd heard about the effects of that when other people were taking care of them while she was left to mourn.
They left the room together, closing the door behind them. Heilyn wrapping her arm back around Bernard's. Her step was still wobbly and she tried to remind herself that if she tripped to let go of Bernard. He was too old and she couldn't stand to lose him quite yet.
[Umm, sorry if this is really shitty... I'm caught between needing a break and the stress that I haven't accomplished enough. >> ]
|
|
|
|
Post by Nathalia on Oct 6, 2009 23:36:39 GMT -5
The Highland King tried his best to ignore the sounds of Heilyn's scramble for the liquor. He hated seeing her like this, it was driving a part of him mad...
Seeing her drunk?
Fine.
Seeing her drinking to make everything stop?
Painful.
He nodded at her request to wash her face first, he should have probably done the same, but he just couldn't convince himself to do so...that would require effort. Effort he was unwilling to give right now. He pressed his hand to the little Human's face again, trying to quiet her with further soothing. Gingerly, he reached over into the hunched furry form of the Biped, and stroked the fuzzy belly.
He couldn't get over how much the child looked like Rhi.
That took him back...
Once Heilyn returned, he linked arms with her, half to keep her up, half to do the same for himself. He didn't exactly trust himself right now. Niether of them were safe without the other.
Literally, figuratively...all of it.
He cracked the door open, and nudged it further with his elbow. "Not to worry, I heard a bit too much from Betsy about the reaction she had to it, no, we'll make sure it's a substitute. Got your balance?"
He let himself lean on her, he hadn't his cane and would really rather have her support any day. He could feel his arms shaking a little from strain, he hoped he'd be able to stay awake long enough to gather Betsy and get the kids fed. The back of his mind twinged painfully with a memory of Seth, laughingly slinging both of them over his shoulders and hauling them up to his room, protests and all.
Wouldn't that have been nice now?
"You asked about names, Heilyn?" He muttered, a small smile tossed in her direction. "Any inklings at all yet?"
They turned the corner slowly, making their way to the marble stairs. Hills, he hated and loved the stairs in this place, the beauty of them was astounding...the amount of them...painful. They staggered toward them and Bernard couldn't help but snort at their plight. "Look at this, I told you hanging around with me would make you old before your time. Think we could go any slower if we went backwards?" He teased, nuzzling her cheek again gently.
He hoped he was helping and not making it worse. When she was like this, he couldn't really tell.
|
|
|
|
Post by carcinoGeneticist on Oct 7, 2009 0:22:21 GMT -5
Tucked beside the stairs as he was, Vaska could hear the sound of voices creeping ever closer, but it was happening so slowly! He made a frustrated noise, his little rump waggling impatiently. He wanted to step out and say anything, make some kind of motion to encourage them, but that would ruin it all. Instead, he started to pace, moving to the wall opposite the stairway and back, glancing for them. They looked distracted. He decided to completely ignore his brothers, the only indication he'd even heard them a small and angry twitch of his ear.
They were dumb. They were dumb and they'd see soon that he was right. He knew it.
Bernard was so old, wasn't he? He was probably having trouble walking around, especially since Daddy had... He'd... Vaska made a soft noise in the back of his throat, angry and sad and frustrated. He didn't want to think about that!
He just wanted to know that they'd both be okay... They'd been alone with the chupathingies for so long, he was sure that they'd had some of their life drained. He slipped behind a statue across from the stairs, burying his face in his wings. He knew that it had happened. Of course it had happened. He could see it in Miss Heilyn's face, in how hollow and sad her eyes looked. She missed Seth too, he was sure, but she was so strong! Death shouldn't affect her this badly!
It was more than that. He knew, and he was going to save them. His thoughts were racing, panicked and desperate. He had to do something. They wouldn't stop after they'd killed her. They'd kill Bernard, too, but he was old and wouldn't be filling, so someone else would be soon after. Betsy, maybe, or his mommy, or Miss Xiven, or... "No," he whispered once, quietly. Soon it would be him and Falksie and Ben left alone in the palace, because they would eat Alex's soul too, even though he was just an Ace. It would eat them, too, and then he'd be the only one left, and - "No! No, no no no no no..."
It quickly slipped into a mantra, and without realizing it, Vaska bolted from where he was hiding, screaming all the while. He managed to work up quite a speed with his skipping wing-foot hop, his eyes still closed tightly as he ran from his own mind. He had lost track of his surroundings and the pair had finally reached the stair. He crashed into something bony and frail, and his eyes flew open as the ground vanished from under his feet in a blur of white and red and gold, so much gold. He could see the stairs below them, Bernard falling with him, and he screamed in sheer terror.
When he hit the ground he heard something snap, and incredible pain radiated through his wing. Vaska screamed.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Oct 7, 2009 0:41:01 GMT -5
Both of them were being ignored. It was wonderful. Falks sighed pitifully as he watched his brother. He leaned closer to the wall as he watched everything quietly. Miss Heilyn and Bernard looked awful. He gave a small whimper as he squeezed his eyes shut.
Things weren't supposed to be like this. Not at all. Why had Daddy died? Why was this happening. He could feel the tears welling up again. And then he heard Vaska's voice. His ears popped up and his eyes snapped open. His brother was....
Oh no! Falks yelped as he skittered out of his cover. He regretted it as he watched the events unfold in front of him. There was nothing he could do to stop his brother. Everything happened in one bright blur.
A scream. A snap.
The cat-bat mix stared blankly. Oh no. OH NO.
Benedict was more than a little horrified when everything unfolded in front of his eyes. He had been spacing out until he heard his brother's cries of no. And then everything came tumbling down. Literally. He watched in utter horror as his brother just....
"Oh suits," Ben choked as he stared at the outcome. Was Bernard....? Oh.... oh suits. Had their brother just done that? Had their brother just... just....?
(( OOC: ... *STARE* ))
|
|
|
|
Post by Satra on Oct 7, 2009 1:24:34 GMT -5
The walking and the cold water helped her start to work off the alcohol. Not completely, but it was a start. She needed to work on actual healing as opposed to avoiding it. She knew it would be hard, but it needed to be done. She still had a job to do, duties to perform. Children to care for. She put a hand on the railing next to her to prepare herself (and Bernard) for their journey down the endless flights of stairs.
"A few. I think I might go with Solandrian names for all of them... though the human girl will probably get stuck with Boggie name," she smiled. Her Human girl. The smile became slightly less weak as Bernard teased and nuzzled her. She sighed, just enjoying the touch. It was sweet and it helped solidify her decision to break out of her constant drunken stupor. They were both hurting, but he was doing everything to get her back on her feet. He understood her pain. He'd experienced it all before.
The screaming, however, was processed a little late. It seemed she'd just realized that someone was screaming when Bernard was ripped from her grasp. She stared, horrified, disbelieving what she was seeing. Numbness washed over her. This couldn't be happening. None of it. It was all some horrible terrible--
"BERNARD!" she screamed, the sound distant to her, almost unnoticed as reality set in and the adrenaline forced her into action. The chemical seemed to push all feeling of the effects of alcohol from her consciousness. As quickly as she could, she ran down the stairs to his side.
"Bernard? Bernard!" she cried, touching him with shaking hands, trying to figure out if moving him would help or hurt him. "No, no... please... Bernard..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Nathalia on Oct 7, 2009 18:19:54 GMT -5
He allowed himself a grin of satisfaction at the sigh.
She was responding; if she just walked around a bit, got some real food and sobered up, they could start the uphill climb, instead of sitting together at the bottom and rotting.
"Sounds like a plan, Seth would've loved that, I'm sure." He gave her arm a squeeze as she placed a hand on the railing. "Heh, nonsense. Nothing can be as bad as a name that leaves you with the nickname options of "Berno and Nard"; unless maybe it's unpronounceable... Give the kid a few vowels, eh?"
He reached out, intending to take the other railing when an unearthly shriek sounded out behind them. Bernard turned slightly, trying to focus his good eye on the source as the sound of running approached.
Had one of the palace children been hurt?
He felt his heart jump in his chest as he turned further, hoping to catch sight.
"Heilyn?"
He managed, before somehting heavy slammed into his legs.
Bernard gave a small gasp of shock as he felt Heilyn's arm tear out of his grip, his nails sinking in as he tried to keep hold. The soles of his shoes gave a small squeak and he went over backwards, eye bulging as he choked out a yell. Something whirled past him, proceeding his fall and screaming all the while.
His shoulder came down awkwardly on the first step and knocked all the air out of him, the force causing his teeth to sink into his cheek. The marble felt sharp and he couldn't see anything. His eye was screwed tightly shut and he tried to pull his arms in to protect his head, even as his injured shoulders forbid the movement. His head cracked backward and the noises and pain had him awash in ill, numb, horror. He would have screamed if he could get his mouth open again, but he blood had created suction, keeping it closed and choking him.
He felt his right arm snap, something go horribly wrong with his legs, and his back twist, and finally, on hitting the landing, snap as momentum slowed and he skidded to a halt. His body coming to rest about six feet from Vaska.
For the first few seconds, he couldn't even think, a sea of confusion and throbbing torn innards devoured his mind as he struggled to breathe. He came back to himself as he dimly heard Heilyn's voice.
His mouth opened in an attempt to respond and blood gushed out. He tried to move...anything.
And began to shake uncontrollably.
He couldn't move.
Nothing worked and he could feel things inside bleeding out.
He choked down air and struggled against the pain, trying to activate his ability to ignore some of it and having it fail miserably. He let out a pathetic sobbing yell as realization crashed down.
He was dying.
Hills, he was dying!
He felt the touch as an electric shock and yelped, his entire body shaking as he heaved for air.
"Heilyn? Heilyn. help! Suits, please! I cugh-!" He choked on more blood and felt tears stream down his face, how long they had been there or whether they were the result of pain or panic he couldn't tell.
Hills, NO! He didn't want to die! He didn't want to become nothing, he didn't want it to be over. He mentally begged someone to come running, half of Corvistowne, anything illogical that might help. His neck was turned awkwardly, and there was nothing he could do to fix it, he could feel the odd position he had fallen into causing the muscles in his leg to separate further.
He shuddered and gasped as something in his chest lurched sickeningly.
Was he talking?
He was trying.
"Heilyn..."
He coughed on the blood, the force wreaking havoc on his nerves.
"Lin..."
The world was fading at the edges, like it was collapsing into itself.
Funny...
He had always assumed it would go dark...
|
|
|
|
Post by Nathalia on Oct 7, 2009 18:29:47 GMT -5
((OOC: We'll play this one out to your satisfactions. Once we've hit a close, I'll start up a little something special for the palace of hearts at large...
Bernard did have a will. Seth encouraged him to write his with him. It's a little sketchy, but he'll be giving away some of his items and the secrets to some of his own abilities.
Also, I'm not done here. Guys?
I hope you're ready for a fight.
Yes, others may come running, but only others you three play.))
~Nathalia
|
|
|
|
Post by carcinoGeneticist on Oct 7, 2009 18:41:36 GMT -5
Something was wrong with his wing. Vaska tried to pull it in, but it wasn't bending right, and it hurt so bad his head was spinning, almost like he'd turned himself in circles until his feet had stopped working, but this... Somehow, this was worse.
The boy flailed on the ground and keened pathetically, unaware for a moment of the other body beside his, too focused on his own panic. He flipped. He flopped. He saw Heilyn coming down the stairs, rushing to his side - but no, she barely even seemed to look at her. His wailing reached a fever pitch before he turned and saw who she was focused on. Something in his stomach twisted when he saw it. Bernard. Blood. Arms and legs and body twisted in all the wrong ways, just like his wing had been! But it looked worse, somehow, and in an instant, Vaska knew.
They'd gotten to him. He'd tried to get Bernard out of the way, but it had been too late, and now...
"NO!" the wordless wail took form of a single shout, tears streaming down his cheek. His wing, oh, Suits, it hurt! And somewhere, over the fear of the fact that Bernard was staring blankly, over the fear of the pain... Vaska felt afraid. They were right there, but it was as if he didn't exist. They were too focused on Bernard, on his pain. What about him? What about Vaska? "It hurts..." He managed to whimper, trying to scramble back to his feet, but the second he put weight on his wing it crumpled beneath him.
He couldn't look at Bernard. It was too scary.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Oct 7, 2009 20:10:00 GMT -5
There were a few long moments where both Falks and Ben found themselves staring blankly at the scene that was laid out at the bottom of the stairs. Both of them were drawing a nice blank as they watched Vaska squirm and Bernard cough up blood.
What were they supposed to do? A horrified sound came from Falks as he stepped forward. Vaska was hurt. Bernard was something he wasn't going to think about. Everything was a shade of bad. But. But what were they supposed to do. Finally after a few more moments of hesitation the boy scurried to Vaska's side. He gave a frantic glance over to the man. Oh no. Oh no no no.... that looked bad.
Benedict had been watching Bernard the entire time. If he had a proper face it would have registered complete and utter fear. His attention wasn't broken until Vaska whimpered about the pain. Snapping around Falks' shoulder he glanced at his brother. And then back at Bernard. "We need to get a doctor."
But Falks wasn't exactly going to wander the palace "alone" in the dark. Great. Just Great. Mom. If only mom was here. Or Xiven. They would be able to do something. Or anyone for that matter.
|
|
|
|
Post by Satra on Oct 9, 2009 18:52:09 GMT -5
Pain was only gruesome when it happened to the people she loved. Too many limbs were bent in the wrong ways, his head, his face...
"Bernard?" she squeaked, tears running down her face. She gently touched his shoulders, "I'm here, just hold on..." Her head whipped around to see who else was there. There was Vaska, injured and unable to go to anyone, but still alive. Falks! He was at the top of the stairs. "FALKS! Get a doctor! NOW!" Oh please let the urgency of the situation override the boy's paranoia of being alone. She turned her attention back to Bernard, gently stroking his neck and head in spots that didn't look like they would hurt if she did.
"Please..." but as he laid there, it was obvious he was fading. Her entire body began to shake when he called her name weakly. This couldn't be happening. She knew his time would be soon just from his age, but days after she lost Seth? It was too much. Tears fell from her face. He went still. His breath stopped. There was no pulse. He was gone. She wrapped her arms around him, leaning over his body. She buried her face into his back and screamed, his body muffling the sound. The scream deteriorated into more crying. Why did this happen?
Her sobbing choked to a halt. She knew why. Her head slowly lifted up from Bernard's back to the Bat next to them on the floor. Her stare was locked on him and her anger flared.
"You..." she growled, "You little SHIT!" She dropped Bernard and lunged at the child, wrapping her hands around his neck and squeezing hard.
"YOU LITTLE FUCKER! WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!" she screeched at him as her grip tightened and she shook him every few words to emphasize them. Then, she suddenly dropped him. Out of nowhere, she realized how much he looked like...
Her stomach lurched. She turned quickly to the side. Kneeling on on fours, she vomited onto the ornate rug of the hall. It was too much for her to take. She felt sick.
She felt lost.
She exudes an odd aura (though only when she feels like it) that makes people feel slightly uneasy when around her. Queens and Kings can shrug this off without an issue, but Jacks and anything ranked lower will feel the desperate need to edge away from her when she stands too close to them. If she activates this power and looks directly at someone, they will feel as though they are staring into a death trap, and though they may be able to overpower the urge, they will be distinctly uncomfortable.
[8U]
|
|
