86

[perfectsymmetry]

[Downtown, backed against a store front surrounded by zombies are two figures. One is Silence, holding his arm where he was bitten, blue blood trickling from between his fingers. The other is Crowe, who looks panicked and frightened, doing his best to shoot down the horde surrounding them. He won't be able to do it forever, he'll run out of bullets eventually. Before that happens, Crowe grabs Silence by the other arm, kicks the zombie in front of him down the an impressive force, and makes a break for it, down an alley, where Crowe will keep an eye out. he looks totally defeated.]

S-Silence, I... I'm so sorry.


Stalking through the streets now is Crowe, leading along an injured Silence by the hand. Crowe is holding out a pistol, and looks frightened, tired and panicky. Silence, most notably, is missing an arm. Crowe will stop to shoot any of the zombies that come their way in the head without hesitation, but his aim isn't the greatest right now. Crowe's trying to get him to the hospital or church, whatever he can get to first. Any other zombie fighters out there care to help? Any zombies looking for another snack?

[[OOC - replies will come from both Crowe and Silence in this post!]]

Comments

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Eventually, off in the distance, there echoes a sound that both Crowe and Silence may recognize. No horse's hooves had ever sounded so crisp, so clean, so perfectly... clip-clop-y. Such was the power of the surreal world that Lucas called home. Every so often, there is a dull sort of punting sound, as if a ball had just been kicked rather hard.

...The latter will be explained when a limp zombie flies around a corner, Lucas and the table chasing after to launch it into the air repeatedly.]

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence is doing his best to keep up with Crowe, but the fact is that losing an arm has proved more detrimental than he'd ever anticipated. For one thing, while he was able to stop the bleeding in relatively short order - between his own accelerated healing and his Starlight Heal spell - he hadn't taken 'going into shock' into account. For another, with Crowe leading him by his one remaining hand, he's not able to contribute anything to the fighting. Not having had time to recover yet, Silence is merely trailing behind Crowe, somewhat glassy-eyed, leaving his well-being entirely to the boy.

When Lucas and his table gallop into view, Silence actually has to stare at them for a few uncomprehending seconds before recognition cuts through his daze and brings a relieved smile to his lips.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Lucas! [He stops them in thier tracks. Crowe is relieved to see a friendly face who doesn't look infected.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[The call surprises Lucas enough that he glances around wildly, steering his table straight into a lamppost. The whole thing topples sideways, and he'll bounce off somewhat comically.]

Owww... Oh! Crowe! Mr. Silence!

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence isn't sure whether to be amused or concerned when Lucas tumbles off of his table, but he moves forward when he sees it either way - without Crowe's pulling at him this time. He even pulls away from Crowe's hand in order to offer his one hand to Lucas to help him up.

In the meantime, his eyes scan over Lucas for injuries, and the report they come back with is reassuringly positive. At least Lucas has been looking after himself, which is a great weight off his mind.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Lucas, a-are you okay? [Crowe is really on the edge of his nerves right now, and probably sounds a little more worried than he should be.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I'm fine.

[His automatic response to that question, Lucas smiles faintly as he accepts Silence's hand, lifting himself and dusting himself up. The table rights itself as well, trotting over to stomp around on the zombie some more. Silence may note that despite being dirty, bloody, and in some need of a bath, Lucas does not have any injuries.

Very little of the blood is his.]

What about the two of you? There just seems to be more and more of them every time I -- ...

Mr. Silence! What -- ... What happened?!

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Obviously any answer to that question is going to have to come from Crowe; Silence himself has not only lost his arm, but his ability to hold his notepad and write at the same time. Still, he attempts to give some reassurance in the form of a shake of his head and a wan smile - It doesn't matter, I'm fine now.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Same with Crowe. He's covered with blood, red and blue, but has managed to stay in one piece so far. Other than his nerves, though.]

He... H-He got bit, s-so he cut it off a-and healed it. But he's got a lot o-of blood loss so I'm trying to get him to the hospital. Um. I-IU could, ah, hotwire a car, that might be easier...

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

...

[Lucas breathes heavily for a moment or two, staring at the missing arm in some combination of disbelief, dismay, and... something else. Something... heavier. He'll speak after Crowe's finished, shaking his head slightly.]

Most of the cars are smashed. I can take you. It's not far.

[There's a pause before he continues.]

You know the arm... It won't come back until you die again, Mr. Silence.

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence watches Lucas process this news, eyes narrowing thoughtfully; he can't tell what the boy is thinking, exactly, but it seems to be more than simple regret at the loss of his limb...which is, of course, comfortably temporary in the setting of Mayfield. It was Lucas himself who demonstrated that death, oddly, heals all lasting injuries here.

So, in response to the boy's openly stating this...he gives one simple, matter-of-fact nod. I know.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

W-We'll worry about that later. For now... A-Ah, I just hope all that m-managed to get rid of the infection. Would it be faster if you just took him, Lucas? I-I can get there on my own, I don't want to slow you down.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

The table goes just as fast with two or three. And I need to steer, so I might not be able to support Mr. Silence as well as I should...

It's too dangerous alone, besides.

[Lucas will hesitate for a moment or two, seeming to want to say something else before he glances away.]

...I should've gone with you.

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence hears that murmur at the end, and he shakes his head firmly, reaching out to touch Lucas' shoulder comfortingly with his remaining hand. This isn't your fault.

He also gives Crowe a sidelong glance - one of concern and, strangely, apology for the wordless request. Please come with us.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Crowe looks to both of his friends. It was hard to say no to that look.]

A-Alright. Let's hurry, then. I-I think Sniper is holding down the hospital with his colleagues so we should be fine once we get there.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Though Lucas doesn't pull away from the touch, he continues to keep his gaze lowered to the ground. He'll nod to Crowe's words.]

OK. Mr. Silence, do you need help getting on?

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence gives Lucas an affectionately amused look, flapping his wings twice, significantly, before he moves over to the table and hops onto it unaided without a hint of difficulty, using his wings to give him a boost. I'm hardly helpless.

He may be minus an arm, but he has his own ways of managing. Of course...the lightheadedness from the shock and blood loss (and the bloodlust; he's resisted the urge to feed on Crowe to speed his recovery, but managing it takes even more effort on his part) comes back full force with this exertion, and he's forced to kneel to prevent himself from swaying. However, he tries to pretend this movement is intentional.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Crowe carefully climbs up next to Silence, so he has something to lean on if he needs it.]

Alright. I'm really glad we ran into you, Lucas. I owe you.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

No, of course not. Friends don't owe each other anything...

[Lucas will still concernedly and ineffectually put a hand on Silence to steady him with the lightest of touches before he hops on himself, his technique somewhat smoother from months of practice.][Though Lucas doesn't give a command, the table seems to recognize his desire nonetheless and immediately takes off.]

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence allows himself some measure of relaxation once he's on the table, and the thing is moving; the zombies probably can't catch them now, after all, so he can close his eyes and focus his energies on recovering. That and resisting the urge to sink his fangs into the necks of either of his companions; he's never been quite this badly hurt before, and so never craved blood so strongly as now. He can practically smell it pulsing through their bodies.

But wanting and needing are very different things. He can go without, and he's determined to do so. He's not particularly good at hiding things, but the tight press of his lips, the muscles working in his throat, the uneven and agitated twitching through his wings...all these things could just as easily be attributed to shock, or so he hopes. He doesn't want either Crowe or Lucas to fear him, and that more than anything else helps to rein in his hunger.

He wishes he had something to hold onto. Something inanimate, preferably, because he's not entirely sure his grip wouldn't crush things right now.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Crowe, much like the rest of the group, is quiet and thinking, but keeping an eye on the area around them. He doesn't want any zombies to get in their way. He'll turn to Silence after a bit though.]

You hanging in there?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas, unfortunately cannot do much to help Silence from his position up front. He will glance back, though, and after a short period passes, the three of them will take on the characteristic glow that marks Lucas's healing power. Refresh would, hopefully, take some of the edge off the exhaustion that his friends had to be feeling.]

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence's eyes open at Crowe's question, and he gives him a quick smile and nod - though the immediacy of the response suggests it may be more for his companions' benefit than whether or not Silence is in fact doing all right. When the three of them begin to glow, he shoots a grateful look at Lucas, recognizing the abilities almost immediately. It isn't as though he hasn't seen the boy in action before.

He does a quick internal review of himself, checking to make sure he doesn't feel any of that burning sensation which he assumes was the infection. None, still, which is a relief; if he'd worried his friends only to turn into a zombie regardless, he'd have been incredibly irritated with himself.

He isn't sure whether it's a sign of his recovery or a symptom of whatever Lucas is doing, but the craving for blood seems to be gradually lessening. Enough for him to trust himself to shift closer to Crowe and lean on his shoulder a bit for support before he closes his eyes again; the movement of the table is doing nothing for his lightheadedness.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Crowe wraps an arm around Silence to hold him steady. He may say he's doing alright, but he doesn't look like it. Thankfully there was Lucas's power. He was really grateful for his friend's talent and timing in this case.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[After what must seem to be an interminably long table ride, the whole thing will jolt to a stop.]

Everyone alright? We've made it.

[Lucas will hop off quickly and scurry around back to help Crowe and silence off.]

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence had kept his eyes closed for the rest of the ride, leaning lightly on Crowe; he might almost have been asleep - or unconscious. But as soon as they stop, his eyes open again, flicking over Crowe and Lucas both before scanning their surroundings for threats.

He's aware that Crowe and Lucas are both at risk while they're fretting over him, so it's best if he gets himself to safety quickly. But it suddenly occurs to him that, once he's been gotten somewhere safe...Lucas and Crowe will probably go off again, looking for more survivors, and he won't be able to watch over either of them. His expression reflects his distress at the thought...but he can't easily communicate his worry to either of them, not without slowing them down more.

So, rather than holding them up, he slips off the table - though he grabs the edge of it once he's standing to steady himself. He's already feeling a bit better, but there's still a bit of dizziness there.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Crowe slides off too, and address them both.] It's probably safer for all of us inside at the moment.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Mr. Silence, we should get you to an actual doctor who might be able to examine you... I don't know enough to do anything but mass-heal.

[The table will become steady as a rock as Silence leans on it for support. Lucas will offer an arm.]

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence shakes his head at this with a small, rueful smile, though he takes Lucas' arm willingly enough. The boy will be able to pick up on a very clear thought from him - I would need a mystic doctor, and Nusakan isn't here anymore.

He moves toward the house, although he glances back over his shoulder to make sure Crowe is following them.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Oh yeah. You won't get rid of him just yet. He's following while keeping his eye and his gun on the surroundings.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas has often thought in the past that it would perhaps be more useful to be the conventional type of psychic - mind-reading wasn't something he did well, or at all. But he had come to realize in his time with Silence that, much as he was able to read animals with perfect clarity, he could read Silence through his body, his expressions, and probably, something... more. Whether it was because Silence wasn't human, because of their close proximity, or because Lucas's empathy was more powerful than he thought, Silence's thoughts had never been difficult to guess.]

But, I guess... your physiology might be difficult to work with...

[He'll frown a little as he leads Silence through the doors of the hospital.]

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence's eyebrows raise slightly - perhaps Lucas' remark was coincidental, but if it was then it was extremely well-timed - but he gives the boy a confirming nod to show that yes, he read Silence right.

Once inside, he looks around curiously. It's been a very long time since he's seen the inside of a hospital like this - partially because any medical concerns of his own had been tended to by Nusakan, who has a private clinic, and partially because a hospital like this one is decidedly outdated by his own world's standards. Either way, his mild curiosity certainly doesn't add up to the demeanor a recent amputee victim would be likely to have under any other circumstances...though he does sit down rather gratefully in a chair, as soon as he spots an empty one.

The bloodlust, he inwardly notes, is gradually fading; certainly it's getting no worse. He seems to be past the worst of it.]

1

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence follows Crowe readily, almost not needing the hand on his arm to guide him - though it helps, because currently his mind is racing. The word that keeps repeating itself in his thoughts is infection; whatever is doing this to the town, it's contagious, and it has almost certainly been passed to him. His lower arm is already tingling, almost burning in an unnatural way; he can guess what that means. And it will spread. And when it does take him...Crowe will be right next to him, won't he?

None of this is particularly comforting. But Silence has been in tight situations before, and he keeps a level head. There are two options - one is to kill himself now, before he turns, though whether he's killed before or after he turns makes little difference so long as Crowe is prepared to deal with him infected. And, judging by the apology the boy has given him...yes, he knows what could happen.

The other, slightly more practical option is to attempt to rid himself of the infection. A quick healing spell - accompanied by the soft glow of starlight bathing the alley - heals the bite on his arm, but does nothing for the burning in his flesh; that's not enough, then. He can think of only one other way to keep it from spreading, and it seems logically preferable to any other possibility right now.

He unties the red bow he usually wears around his neck, quick fingers working to tie it tightly just above his elbow in a makeshift tourniquet. Having decided on his course of action, there's no hesitation in his thoughts or movements - only intense focus. Mystics are often far more dispassionate than humans are, even the nicest ones, and in this at least Silence is no exception. At one point he glances to Crowe, wordlessly asking for assistance in securing the ribbon.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Crowe looks behind him again quickly to make sure the coast is clear. Then he walks over to help Silence. Since coming to Mayfield he's gotten a lot of lessons in first aid from Dr. Yagokoro, so he could be helpful here.]

W-We need to get you to the hospital o-or something…

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence shakes his head at this; not that they shouldn't necessarily go there anyway - especially considering what he's about to do - but he seriously doubts they could make it there before the infection becomes irreversible. All the more reason to continue with his own plan.

Once the ribbon is as securely tied as he can get it, he touches Crowe's shoulder lightly - perhaps both in reassurance and preemptive apology - before taking a few steps backward, stretching his arm out straight before him, fist clenched.

Into the other hand, he calls his Mystic Sword, its blade seething violet.

The next few seconds go by mercifully quickly. When they're over, Silence's infected arm is lying on the ground, cleanly severed just below the elbow, and Silence is hurriedly trying to cast Starlight Heal on himself to staunch the flow of rich blue blood from his new stump. Mystic healing is extremely thorough, and works quite quickly on smaller wounds, but for larger ones it moves more slowly, and anything to accelerate the process will be useful. The tourniquet itself wasn't even strictly necessary.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Silence briefly hopes that Crowe realized what was happening in time to look away.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Wai-- [that's as far as Crowe gets before Silence draws out the sword. He barely has time to look away before he registers what Silence was about to do. When it was over, without hesitation he darts forward to him.]

O-Oh God, what dis-- Are you-- Oh no…

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence is only barely paying attention to Crowe, focusing first on getting the wound to close - which, between the spells and his mystic regeneration, is happening quickly enough to actually be visible to the naked eye. Of course, with Silence feeling his blood gushing from the place where his arm was a moment ago, it can hardly go fast enough, and it seems ages before the wound entirely closes.

When he finally stops casting Starlight Heal and opens his eyes again, there's no sign of his wound beyond the arm lying at his feet and the (still somewhat sizable) pool of blue blood on the pavement. That, and Silence's hungering for blood like he hasn't in years. Blood isn't critical to a mystic - they aren't forced to feed on it as traditional vampires are said to - but it does grant them strength and power(even to the point of absorbing the power of other mystics should they drink mystic blood, which is often the primary purpose), and in particular helps them recover from grievous injury. The instinct to feed is suddenly no longer a casual impulse, but a fierce desire, and Silence has to force himself not to stare at Crowe's neck. He touches the stump of his arm with his other hand, which he notices - with some surprise - is trembling. Likewise, occasional shivers make themselves known through the stirring of his wings.

Finally, though, he manages to give Crowe a weak smile. The one good thing he's able to note is that the searing sensation - which he can only assume was the infection traveling through his mystic blood - is now entirely gone...most likely flushed out of his system entirely in the bleeding, or severed with his arm. Which, he notes with some distaste, is rotting away where it fell.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Crowe is oblivious to the vampiric side of mystics. He walks over and gently tries to help Silence to stand. It takes him a few tries to get words out.]

Ah, we should... we need to get y-you inside. Now. Preferably at the hospital...

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[It's all the more difficult to hold back his hunger for blood at this close proximity, and Silence bites his own lower lip with visible fangs as a way to hold his own focus. Despite his discomfort, however, he finds himself leaning against Crowe more heavily than he'd planned - he feels a bit more woozy than he'd expected to, though there's nothing he can do about that fact other than resignedly accept it. A little lightheadedness is still infinitely better than the alternative, isn't it?

His Mystic Sword seems to have vanished, he belatedly notices; it only materializes when Silence actively calls on it, and it must have faded away during his spell-casting. He rests his remaining hand flat against Crowe's chest briefly, steadying himself on his feet with a conscious effort. Then he gives the boy a slight nod of agreement.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Fangs? Somewhere in the back of his mind it hits him. Silence mentioning Dr. Nusakan being a mystic as well, and the fangs he was sporting too... Not that he was sure what it all meant. Crowe will help Silence get his bearings, a bevy of emotions on his face. He'll check the exit back out onto the street before proceeding on, though. The last thing they needed was someone to jump them after all this.]

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[But Silence isn't quite ready to leave just yet. He touches Crowe's shoulder in a restraining gesture, then holds up a finger. Wait.

One-handed, he pulls out his notebook. After being at a momentary loss for how to proceed, he actually kneels down to set the thing on the ground in order to write, somewhat less elegantly than usual.]

IF NECESSARY, LEAVE ME BEHIND. ARM WILL COME BACK IF I DIE ANYWAY, Y/N? AM NOW MORE EXPENDABLE.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[That statement gives Crowe a start.] Absolutely not. I-If you... If you stay here, you could get attacked a-and become a zombie. That's worse.

[He takes some ammo from his backpack, and begins reloading.] W-We can do this. We've gotten this far together.

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

WOULD NOT LET IT GET TO THAT POINT. [Silence doesn't elaborate any further than this, and probably doesn't need to. Still, Crowe's determination tells him that it's equally unlikely that the boy will permit him to be left in the first place...so the matter is moot.

He picks up the notebook and puts it away again; there isn't really anything more to say. Though, when he stands up again, his balance is off - to say nothing of sudden dizziness - and he has to put his hand on Crowe's shoulder for support.

Fortunately for both of them, Silence is anything but heavy. Even less so minus an arm.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He speaks gently now.] I-I won't let it get to that point either. Come on.

[He carefully wraps an arm around Silence's shoulder to help hold him up, pistol readied in the other.] We can do this. You ready?

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence gives Crowe a small and unmistakably grateful smile. For a moment, he almost feels as though he's back with IRPO, with one of his patrol partners; even Fuse wouldn't abandon him in this situation. Or so Silence hopes, at least; Fuse is especially grumpy and unpredictable when it comes to him. Crowe's refusal to abandon him reminds him of the people and the bonds between them that he misses - nearly as much as the work that goes with them.

In any case, if Crowe won't leave him, then it's incredibly important that he manage; he refuses to get the boy killed on his behalf. He gives his partner a firm nod, pulling out his own pistol. Not his preferred weapon by any means - he only ever carried one at home because it was standard IRPO issue - but it's the easiest for him to use one-handed, and he's as determined to protect Crowe as Crowe is to protect him.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Crowe returns the smile, glad to see Silence is still focused and with him. And at that, he'll start moving, slowly at first to gauge how well Silence can keep up, eyes scanning the streets.]