None of my Time is Wasted [Finished!]

[carcinoGeneticist]

There was a certain thrill to walking away from the scene of a killing. Deep down inside, Apocalypse knew that he'd done something wrong, that he'd crossed a line. It was a line he'd crossed before, a line that he'd gladly cross again if the need ever presented itself. Tonight had been a perfect example of a need: He'd needed revenge for Rhiannon's daughter, and he'd managed to get it. He'd almost given up hope, but that was before he'd seen the teenage Corvie trotting down the street cheerful as could be while carrying the coyote's legs like so much meat.

Granted, the second deer hadn't really deserved death, but she'd been in the wrong place at the worst possible time, and there was no sense in regretting something he could never reverse.

Vengeance tended to give the world a sugar coating, too, and the man felt... Cheerful.

Or rather, he would, as soon as he'd gotten medical attention for the gash in his throat. It wasn't serious on its own, but infection could set in at a moment's notice, and he was still bleeding pretty heavily. He knew he must have made a grim sight - deer blood on his torso, his own blood trickling down his neck and across his chest - and the man was abruptly rather thankful for the cover of night. The streets were clear, for the most part, and he gave a precursory glance before heading in the direction of a river. A splash to rinse off some of the blood that wasn't his would be a good thing, and then he could head for the clinic to get his wounds tended to.

Spirits high, Apocalypse pushed his hands in his pockets and smiled as he crossed town. Until, that was, he heard soft footsteps. Then he paused, glancing behind him, eyes narrowed. Did the deer-duo have more suicidal siblings? "I recommend coming out now, before I get too jumpy," he called out softly, unable to keep the cheer out of his voice.

[Lucca]

There was just something about being in a dangerous place at night that really got one's blood pumping, the Cat reflected. Perhaps it was because she knew that there could be a killer around every corner, that she'd have to run or fight at a moment's notice. Or that the dark rust color staining so many of the walls in the darker parts of the City was certainly not due to weather stains, as she'd heard one deluded moron claim. Or maybe it just...reminded her of home.

What better way to spend a night off then by coming here, then? White as a ghost, but with eyes that glowed a strange yellow color (as they did every night while the sun was down) she padded on near-silent furry paws, wandering somewhat aimlessly until a familiar and strange alluring smell drew her feet in a certain direction, yellow eyes taking on an odd brightness.

When the man covered in blood called out, she stepped forward, tilting her head at him and smiling in a way that would clearly show she was a bit...unhinged. The mask that was normally in place, preventing her darker, sadistic side from showing, was harder to put in place at night, and was in fact banished entirely by the sight, the scent of so much blood. "No need for that," she commented off handedly, noticing most of the blood looked to be coming from a wound in his neck. He was quite beautiful, she reflected, especially with the red painted down his pale chest... "Hello, and good evening to you," she said, voice having an odd tone to it. Something dark and creepy. It was nothing like her normal voice: sweet-and-innocent with occasional darker undertones.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Such soft steps, the man realized as he scanned the area again, his eyes bright in the darkness. When a ivory-white form made its way into his view, for a moment he tensed - and the, barely a half a minute later, relaxed. Tulgey, feline, and from what he could see of the body movements, female. There was a curious look to her face, an expression he wasn't quite sure how to interpret, but that feeling was tempered by the sight of a bright-crimson mark against her pristine fur.

Her words only calmed him further, and his expression took on a thoughtful cast as he inclined his head to the side, watching her approach. To be undeterred by the sight of all the blood that was covering his body - that took a certain type of person, one with qualities that rather intrigued the King. Those qualities were reflected in her tone, and something about it sent a small shiver up his spine and sent a smile curling across his fanged mouth. Oh, this was terribly interesting, wasn't it? The night just got better and better as it progressed, and he was beginning to feel genuinely curious as to where it was going to lead him.

"It wasn't my intent to frighten you, so I apologize sincerely if I did," Apocalypse said in a silky-smooth voice, letting his eyes wander over the lithe feline figure that was standing before him. Something fluffy - like Xiven. That almost made him purr. All Tulgey, from what he could see in the dim light - but her eyes looked strange. Perhaps it was a trick of the glow of the streetlamps, but he could almost swear that something about them looked Bog. That made his own expression brighten, his lips pulling further from his teeth in a genuinely pleased grin. "You just can't be careful. Dangerous people lurk the streets at night."

His tone would indicate quite clearly that he was one of these dangerous people, as if the blood covering his pale body wasn't enough to do that without a single word. His hand slid along his side slowly, finally coming to rest on his hip, a curious tilt to his head as he regarded the woman once more. "Not to interrupt our introductions, but I actually don't have time to chat." He raised the hand, brushing his fingertips across his open wound. "I seem to have picked up an injury in the course of the night, and I rather thing I should have it seen to."

Light and teasing. He knew perfectly well where the wound had come from, but this was a fun game to play.

[Lucca]

"Frighten me?" she said in a soft tone that might have indicated she didn't even intend to speak the words aloud. "Now whatever gave you that idea? Is it because I'm so alone, lost and...innocent?" A light laugh, somewhat eerie, and the glint of white teeth. Not as sharp as his, maybe, but still formidable. She seemed undeterred by his gaze or his insinuations, moving a bit closer, fluffy tail swaying from side to side idly, the calm movements of a predator at rest. "I find dangerous people to be the only ones worth my time. The others are merely fools and softies." All the time while she said this, she kept slowly approaching him, yellowish eyes never leaving his, unless it was to dart to the blood that painted his chest.

She gave that eerie laugh again at his joking statements about his own wound. Well this was certainly the most delightful person she thought she'd ever met outside of Tulgey! Her eyes held a glint of amusement as she replied, "But we haven't made any introductions at all! All I know is that you're dangerous," she nearly purred the word, now close enough to brush her tail against him, unless he had moved back. "And covered in blood." She tutted in an almost motherly way, something of the personality she showed during the day coming out, but her eyes still held that gleam of extra awareness, and if he let her she would move to place a paw on his chest, where some of the blood was starting to dry. This was not an encounter she wanted to end, so if he wanted to go find a doctor or something, the Cat would follow, unless he objected outright.

[carcinoGeneticist]

There was something strange about this encounter, something alluring and troubling at the same time. If anything, that only grabbed the King's attention more tightly, put a curiosity in his expression, his stance, and his voice that normally wouldn't be present. After all, this was the Capital City. It wasn't hard to find a crazy woman - it was, however, hard to find one that looked this well-kept and spoke with such high-bred words and intonations. If nothing else, that was interesting, but her apparent love for blood (how could he miss the way her eyes seemed to crawl over his form? that made something in his head spin, and he knew it wasn't from blood-loss)...

That was just the cherry on top of the cake. He'd have to be careful with this one, oh yes. She was next to him, now, close enough that he could easily reach out and smear some of the blood on his hands across her pristine-white fur, leave his mark...

The man shivered, a slight blush crossing his cheeks at the thought. That wasn't gentlemanly of him, now was it?

"A defenseless lady walking the Capital at night... One can never be too careful, else they might lose what could provide to be a rather interesting encounter." He chuckled softly, eyes narrowing - though not with displeasure - as he made eye contact with the Tulgey. "And if that's the case, then we have quite a lot in common already. I certainly hope I don't end up being a waste." He purred as he spoke, the sound low and rising from his chest. She was certainly close enough to hear it, especially with the quiet of the city around them.

Then he laughed again, but this time the noise was soft, carrying a dark undertone. He'd killed tonight. The rush from it was still pulsing through his limbs, making him feel more alive than he'd felt in months. "This is true, and you are wise to recognize me for what I am. Fear not, I've had my fill of prey for the night, you needn't worry about your own well-being," he remarked with a broad grin. He watched her with no small curiosity as her paw was extended towards him.

The touch made him shiver again, his eyes slipping closed. When they opened once more, there was a glint in them that had been faint before. He reached out with his own hand, lightly drawing a bloodied finger across the back of her paw, then out to stroke her cheek, if she would allow it. "Dear lady, it would please me to know your name." That rakish grin reappeared in a flash, good-natured and in stark contrast with the way he was carrying himself and his current state of being. "...Almost as much as it would please me to hear that you know of a place I could possibly wash up. It's not often I find myself in this part of the City, I'm rather at a loss for ideas."

The river could wait. Clean water would be better for rinsing his wound, and then he could apply some of the powder he'd stolen from Temmin. That would halt the bleeding for long enough to let his body catch-up.

[Lucca]

One eyebrow raised, giving her an intrigued expression. So he had come fresh from a kill? Granted, it wasn't a hard thing to guess, but hearing confirmation of it...sent a shiver down her spine. Of the good kind. "Well I am glad to hear it, good Sir," she said seriously, though her eyes held a laugh. She watched in fascination as he drew a finger over her paw, leaving a stain of bright red against the black and white fur. It made the memories flow and blur in her mind, making her feel more awake, and she grinned at him, leaning slightly into his hand as he drew it across her cheek. A very idle, cat-like motion.

"Nellwyn," she purred, for once leaving out the surname. She hadn't failed to pick up on the man's low purr earlier, either. So he was Feline, as well? That just made everything better...she laughed again, and then let her paw fall from his chest, turning with a flick of her fluffy tail, looking back, eyes burning into him, before walking gracefully down a street, expecting the man to follow. She did know of a place, oh yes...not the most reputable, but there was clean water, and a doctor if he should need it, one who wouldn't ask any questions...she'd spent a month or so in and out of there before she'd found her feet, so to speak, and landed a job with that fool of a Duck she worked under now...but tonight was her night, and she didn't need to think about Scrooge. She smiled at that thought.

[carcinoGeneticist]

The movement of her face against his hand was catlike, and thus familiar and almost comforting. Apocalypse's gaze went almost soft, his fingers playing lightly through her fur to find the woman's skin, which he scratched softly. Then he pulled his hand away slowly, almost regretfully. There was no need to push the boundaries, at least not yet. After all, she'd only just told him her name, and what a name it was! It struck him as being extremely fitting, a curious collection of sounds that rolled pleasantly off her tongue.

"A pleasure, Miss Nellwyn," he said softly, reaching for her paw once more and placing a soft kiss across the back of it. "I am Apocalypse." Her paw was released and he watched her carefully, wondering how she would respond to the second thing he'd requested of her.

...By turning and walking away, it would seem. For a moment, the man was stunned, wondering if perhaps he'd said or done the wrong thing. But no, she was glancing back at him from over her shoulder, waving her tail in an almost inviting fashion and then continuing along down the road. The man began to walk as well, long-legged strides helping him catch up with her relatively quickly. They were heading to an area of the city he wasn't entirely familiar with, and a little voice in the back of his head nagged for him to stay alert. After all, he'd never met the woman before, and Heart or not there was always the potential for betrayal to occur.

But a little trust might help, at least in regards to getting himself patched up. "I appreciate your help." He said softly as they walked, keeping pace beside her.

[Lucca]

Apocalypse? Now wasn't -that- a name! She found she certainly liked it. If he was as dangerous as his name, well, time would serve to tell her that. "Likewise," she purred, enjoying the contact. Though she didn't push, knowing the night was still young, and besides, a bleeding neck wound like that really needed to be seen to, as much as she wouldn't deny how thrilling it was to see so much blood, so much life, warm and pulsing...

She continued walking, though a wide smirk lit up her muzzle as she heard footsteps behind him. How curious he was for a human, she reflected. Usually she saw them with a lot more clothing, but this man seemed to prefer exposing all that delicate-looking skin to the air. She nodded at him when he caught up, keeping the pace even, and before long they would arrive at what would seem to be a slightly run down building. A hastily written sign read 'Clinic, inquire within', and Nellwyn pushed the door open with a confidence that would clearly say that she'd been here, more than once.

The interior would prove to be much cleaner and homier than anyone could have expected from just seeing the outside. The first room they entered would seem to be a cross between a waiting room at a doctor's office, a longue at a bar, and a living room in someone's house. No one would be visible at first, but after a moment when Nellwyn shut the door behind the two of them, a bipedal Card would scramble out of one of the three door leading off the room. He was, simply put, a nightmare of a mix, equal parts Corvie and Avington with what seemed to be a bit of Morganberry thrown in for good measure. What animal he was would be rather impossible to guess, and he was likely a mix of several.

His green eyes lit up, however, at the sight of the Cat. "Mrs. White! I wan't expectin' to see you agin 'round here! How's life been..." She silenced him with a glare, and his ears went back. "My apologies, what kin I do for ye?"

Nellwyn was, simply put, annoyed. That wasn't the sort of greeting she'd been hoping to get, and the bristling of her fur and that fluffy tail would clearly indicate this. But her voice was very calm as she spoke. "Kent. My...friend has need of your services. He's injured." One black tipped paw would gesture back toward Apocalypse, and then she would begin to lead the way toward one of the rooms.

"Of course, right dis way please, Sir," the mix said with a bow, indicating that Apocalypse should follow the Cat. His eyes would rove over him, taking stock of the injury, though he seemed less surprised by it than most might. Upon entering the room, it would be a typical doctor's office set up, with an examination table, various tools of the trade, and a large sink. Kent would waste no time in getting out bandages and antiseptic, gesturing the man towards the sink.

Nellwyn sat on one of the chairs in the corner, yellow eyes on the pale man. "Widowed," she said, almost to herself, with a dark smile.

[carcinoGeneticist]

((I hope this is okay xD He's being tricky!))

Such a curious woman, this Nellwyn was, and she was bringing him to a rather seedy-looking part of the Capital that he'd never seen before. It would seem that tonight was to be a night of firsts, and time would tell how that would end up. The King was willing to bet that it would end up rather well, and with any luck he would end the night with a new friend as well as new information about a place that he could utilize, should he ever find himself roaming the city while bleeding from the neck.

He was rather wary of the outside of the place, but he held his tongue. After all, he'd visited a place much like this one in Corvistowne once, and he was still alive to tell the story of it. He gave the Tulgey a sidelong glance before they stepped in, a question held in his eyes that was somewhat tempered by the rakish grin that was making its way across his face.

As soon as they stepped inside, Apocalypse glanced around, taking in his surroundings and relaxing ever so slightly. This was much better than he might have assumed from the outside, but once again, that was also true of the place he'd been in Corvistowne. It would be evident that he was still somewhat tense, however, because at the sound of sudden footsteps his posture changed slightly, his eyes narrowing as he stared down the man that had appeared. A hideous creature, for sure. He'd seen Corvie and Avington mixed before; he knew well that it could be rather pleasing to the eye. The addition of Morganberry, all gaudy shades added into that mix, however... It was quite the look, and the man couldn't say he much cared for it.

He didn't relax until the man began to speak to the feline. Mrs White? He relaxed slowly, turning to look at his companion with a rather curious expression. Married, then? That put a slight damper on his mood, but... He wasn't discouraged just yet, especially since she'd gone to such great lengths to avoid mention of it, before. Not just that, but her outward reaction to being addressed as such in front of him was rather extreme, leading him to believe that she would have much preferred that no one bring that up, at least not tonight.

Just the thought was enough to make the man grin to himself as the pair arranged for him to receive the care he rather needed. He was starting to feel a little lightheaded, and it would be nice to sit down if nothing else. "Thank you for the help," he said in passing to the strange man - Kent? - before following the feline back into a quiet little examination room. Apocalypse wasted no time whatsoever in washing his wound out, then following the supposed-doctor's lead for further treatement. Orange eyes met yellow when Nellwyn spoke, his eyebrow raising.

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said, in a tone that implied very much that he was not sorry in the slightest.

[Lucca]

"Don't be. It was a long time ago," Nellwyn said lightly, with an odd little smile. And it was. It had been nearly...five years? Six? It was a bit hard to keep track of the time passing, since her life had undergone several major upheavals since that one. Some of which had brought her far more grief than her dear husband passing on. Her eyes darkened for a moment as her demon of a brother's laughing face flashed across her mind, and she pushed him away. It wouldn't due to dwell on that, tonight of all nights. This was her night.

Kent would waste no time in tending to the man's wound, first disinfecting it--"'S about t'sting a little,"--and then bandaging it, skillfully with calloused hands that had done the same hundreds of times. And other than basic instructions, he did it completely silently. A lot of his patients appreciated his silence, his habit of doing his job unquestioningly. Of course, if the patient wanted to talk, he could make conversation as pleasantly as they may want.

Nellwyn curled her tail around herself and settled comfortably in the chair, watching the proceedings with a sort of detached air. In an absent motion, she paused to lick her paw clean, where a bit of blood had gotten on her earlier. Somehow, she doubted this would unnerve Apocalypse, though it certainly did unnerve some.