towerofanimus | Infighting Week Two

[...holy mother goddess, that was good.

Needless to say, Tara is looking leaps and bounds more energetic, and her suspicions are confirmed. She feels as though she's just drained someone...without actually having had to drain the power out of someone. She feels downright peppy, and Tara has to take a second to even remember the name for that.]

Y-Yeah. Lots. Thanks - that, th-that was amazing!

[The change is more dramatic than Kuja was expecting. He smiles, happy at causing such a difference.]

You're very welcome. Like I said, it's a trifling effort from me, so if you ever need a boost, don't hesitate.

Th-They also want us to win. And, h-here? [She gestures around, taking in their surroundings, their blessedly tame surroundings.] W-We want to win.

Even if we all don't vote, they, th-they might just decide to punish us a different way, o-or Dax, or disqualify us.

And...a-and there are a lot of people I don't want to get picked, s-so it should be me. That way, i-it won't be them. If you had the same idea, then...w-well, um, tough. I had it first.

[...You're beginning to sound like a certain voice inside his head from before his first surgery, and perhaps for good reason. Not that he minds, since he is on decent terms with said voice normally, but wow is it rather uncanny.]

Right. After all, the last little 'game' they had was enough of a hint. Especially with this one.

[Can Jason sense all the silent, icy hate vibes? No? Well, then he'll simply have to try harder.]

[Oh, hello Mr. Roboto Jr... He turns his head slightly to get a better look, but otherwise doesn't move. Logic is his friend, but right now he just wants one thing: to punch Jason in his pretty boy face. Repeatedly. With a knife ~~no yu, we don't kill people remember~~.]

Maybe so... [It's a painful admittance, and he hates the other truth.] But it will be harder to strike back, now.

[All he has left... are his bonds with others. It's the only thing left in this void as far as he can tell. Yet he still won't give up like the Fool he is.]

[It....kinda takes a while before Kanji response. He IS recognizing you, but when he opens his mouth it's like he's completely forgotten how to speak.]

Y....Yaaaa....

[He sounds angry as the blabbering escapes his mouth. At one point he hits his head so loudly it was a miracle it didn't break the stitches and fall off. There are...tears falling down his face from the frustration that is building and he finally lets out a sigh, nearly giving up, before trying one...last...time.]

Y....yuuuu....senn...sen...paaah!

[There. That wasn't soo hard was it? He didn't forget their names. GOLD STAR! Yu Senpai was his name, right? He then gives him a small wave, since he can't seem to do anything else after that, much less attempt to talk again.

Wait, why was there water running down his cheeks? Huh. That's weird... ]

[William is and always was a man of pride. Even when he is strapped down to the cold and unforgiving chilled operation table there was an air of absolute, unrelenting pride in who he is and what he does but even almighty immortals are allowed to have a limit as to what they could and could not handle. For William it was not the way that the cold and emotionless doctors took a scalpel across his head nor how they disrespected his flesh by merely tossing it to the ground like some dinner table scraps to feed the dogs... No. It was when they pulled out that beautifully shimmering record of his life. That was what brought a slight change within the stoic death god. How is it possible for a mortal to be able to see his cinematic record, let alone be able to have such a firm grip around it? Twisting his mouth in an annoyed manner, William barely got a syllable out before his breath caught within his throat only to be released in a panicked exhale.]

What is that doctor doing?

No!

Stop!

Get your bloody hands off that!

That's mine! Mine!

You can't play with records that are still being record!

Those are my memories! Leave them alone!

[Almost as if the doctor was deaf to the terrified cries from the reaper, he continued on watching the moving film in front of him only pausing when one golden hued clip flashed by. Inside that still frame there was a first eye view of someone tending to a flock of birds-taking the time to carefully brush through each feather, scrutinizing how well treated those pigeons where. That soft and light-hearten scene came to an abrupt end as a pair of scissors simply sipped...snipped...snipped that single fleeting moment of happiness right from his reel. Trapped in that tortuous position of being fully alert and completely immobile, William's sharp dual colored eyes could only watch as what was one of his few happy moments in his life flutter to the ground next to his once perfectly groomed hair. That was not the only alteration done to William's soul. With cold precision, that speechless doctor that had access to view the reaper's cinematic record only paused to put down the set of scissors and to instead pick up a sharp looking needle. Struggling against the numb feeling of not only being placed under drugs but also the sort of out of body numbness that came along with having your record viewed while still alive, William found himself simply unable to do more than watch as the one picked apart his soul unraveled what looked to be yet another record. This record on the other hand had an aura that took on an odd burned image to it, something about it was corrupt. Not right. That feeling of dread that had been gathering at the very pit of his stomach only intensified as the doctor started to stitch in new scenes inside the hallow spots where previous memories used to be. None of these memories where right... How could he forgotten the fact that Jason had a station with Headquarters? Or the many times that both Knox and Sutcliff took too much pleasure within their jobs and disregarded the safety of the souls that they were supposed to reap? The many times that he had come too close to the wrong side of a death scythe? Or the times that he had to go to the medical wing just because of their tempers? The way that Grell constantly made attempts to paint him that vivid blood red? Those whispers down the hall about the youngest member of dispatch gunning for his job, willing to go through any lengths to take him out of action? Or the fact that the one that is currently taking his very being apart was none other than that rouge of an reaper, Undertaker? Slowly the tampered with record was properly returned to operated on reaper, who was still left dealing with the mental repercussions of what was done to him,upon the operation table for hours after the doctor had cleaned up after himself and left before he numbly slid off the table and entered his cell without a single word mentioned.

[It was definitely OK to harbor desires of punching Jason with sharp objects. Many people did.]

Striking back right now is illogical and foolhardy, especially so now that you are ill-equipped and unable to resist. [You mean like he wa--]

If you want to prevent someone from facing the punishment that was visited on England, you would invest your energy into completing these tasks, rather than pointlessly resisting. It's the easiest way to make it out of here at the moment. If you want to assure his downfall, you will have a much harder time of it.

[ with asthma like his, running, unfortunately, hasn't been an option. Ciel avoids the treadmills. he's done his best with the food, but still only eats one meal a day, and has already been sick twice. for a boy who's used to three solid gourmet meals with supplementary snacks and tea, all of this is rather taking a toll on him. he's weak and somewhat disoriented from lack of nutrition, as well as the shifting of the pod.

while he'd done an admirable job on the balance beams earlier in the week--the only thing he could really reliably do--he's definitely not doing so well at the moment. his knees and the palms of his hands are raw from falling, and--as is typical with him these last few weeks--his clothing is hopelessly rumpled, perhaps even a bit worse than usual today. his feet bare, and his toes curl around the edge of the beam as he attempts to keep a hold, but it's no use. he feels himself toppling backward and prepares for the landing with a sense of hollow resignation.

he could just do nothing at all, he knows. but that will get him nowhere. he is determined--absolutely determined--to survive, everything and everyone else be damned. they're losing this so-called competition at the moment, and the punishment for further loss cannot be pleasant. so to the balance beams it is, getting back up and going back to it each time he falls. Ciel makes it a policy not to give up. giving up, in his eyes, is the same as failing, and failure is a luxury he does not allow himself. ]

[ after Sayaka's second surgery, she leans against the wall in her cell, after she's finished her forced 'exercise'.

She forces herself not to eat until it feels like she'll die without it, tries to conserve her magic.

And she raises her voice, fighting off the drowsiness and that ravenous hunger. ]

Five. Six. Seven. Eight.

[ She keeps counting, trying to show that she's there, trying to give her some reassurance.

Trying to help her, in some small way. ]

[ oh, huh.

there is a small boy in her cell. ]

Ah, hello...

[ what is she even supposed to say...

is he from Jason? did he just appear from nowhere? who knows, in this place. the numbness in her head is starting to affect her. ]

I know it's hard Feferi, but you're really brave and strong. [He couldn't do anything to help but he wanted her to know that, because they could beat Jason, they just had to work together and stay strong.]

[Romeo watched William sadly, he knew that really he couldn't stop Jason doing bad things to him, but it still felt like he had broken his promise to protect him. This was mister Ronald's best friend, and Romeo knew how much it hurt for your best friend to be hurt, to be taken away from you and so he would try and help him as much as he could.

When he was back Romeo shuffled to the edge of his cage.] Mister William?

And is this a common occurrence, if I may ask?

[ Better at least to ask someone who seems to have been here longer than he, after all. ]

[ But surprise, surprise. He doesn't hit the ground the next time he falls. Instead, he would possibly find himself supported by a taller figure in a tailcoat who seems to be carrying the most naturally condescending look ever. Unfortunately, Ciel, this is what you have to deal with in place of Sebastian's snark.

He'd seen what the three did to those who were voted off. Death was simply something he didn't have the luxury of allowing in. Not to this particular boy. Ciel Phantomhive dying was simply out of the question as per his master's orders. So he figures the best way possible for this not happening is to help the boy out as much as he can. ]

Romeo didn't go as quietly this time, or at least he still did as he was told and soon was rendered helpless. But perhaps it was a mistake to still allow him speech. "You're the most evil person I ever met mister Jason." He said, ignoring what was actually happening to him as best he could.

"You're even more evil than Luini, everyone hates you because you are so bad. I bet you pretend you don't care, because you like hurting people. But you don't have any friends and I bet you really are sad about that because everyone needs friends. But no one likes bad people like you."

What was he doing, he was attaching something to Romeo's side, they looked scary like giant spider legs. Romeo took a deep breath, pretending to be brave so mister Jason would never know he was scared.

"Evil people go to hell you know. And there it's really scary, scarier than anything you can even think of! There's the devil there..." Romeo had actually never really paid much attention to the concept of hell, except really bad people went there. He liked stories of heaven more.

"He will hurt you so much, then you will be sorry for hurting everyone here and you will know..."

Twelve year olds didn't cry... "You will know what it feels like and you will be so sorry. But it will be too late because hell goes on forever and ever and ever."

When it is finished Romeo gets off the table wobbling a little and his eyes widening in surprise as the extra legs he had been given attach to the floor and help him balance.

Later he was on the balancing beams, he didn't fall off any more, at least not all the time though he still slipped a few times. He was still angry and now he had more legs than he could count.

But he was still determined, they would get out of this, eventually.

[ ...well, it's better than falling again, he supposes. and that face is better than one of Sebastian's smirks any day. (except it isn't, because it should be one of Sebastian's smirks, Sebastian should be here, damn him!)

Ciel looks up in surprise, taking a moment to process that the hard collision with the ground he'd braced himself for isn't going to come. his first instinct, of course, is to struggle out of Claude's hold. being touched by someone he barely knows is far from comfortable for him. but he doesn't. he knows he would only fall if he did. ]

...thank you.

[ he speaks slowly, warily, as he tries to gauge just what Claude might think he's getting out of helping him. ]

[ But that's the thing. Claude's here. Not Sebastian. Claude. And it's gold eyes, not carmine that meet the Earl's own and help him back onto the balance beam. When he does, there's a polite bow from the waist as he takes a step back to give the boy back his personal space. ]

Think nothing of it, Earl Phantomhive.

[ And he remains in that position, watching Ciel over the rim of his glasses. ]

If there will be anything more...

[ and that's noted. he can't really avoid looking at those eyes, and noticing the difference.

...and the similarities, as well.

before last week, he'd been sharing a room with this man for more than two weeks. he'd never once seen him asleep--or give any indication that he was settling to sleep, either. and there were other things, too--things Ciel only noticed and picked up on because of his familiarity with Sebastian. ]

Claude. [ he says, before he can depart again. ] I have a request. [ he's in no position to make requests of someone else's servant, of course--but not only has Claude been aiding him in various small ways over the month since arriving, he had asked. so, without further ado: ]

Remove your left glove.

[ She's already sticking another spoonful into her mouth, as if she's trying to hurry up on purpose by now. Yes, she's a little excited by all this.

After a moment she can't help but stare at the head and then back to Tara though. ] ... It's.. difficult for you? [ the eating, that is. ]

[ Well this was a strange request. He hadn't really counted on the boy picking that up quite so quickly but well, here it was. Sharp lad. Of course, his master hadn't exactly been one for discretion so he was never ordered not to reveal his true nature. However, Claude was never really the sort to flaunt it in turn. But since he was asked...

Wordlessly, he lifts his glove to his mouth and tugs off the middle finger with his teeth. It comes off easily enough, revealing his own mark and the signature black nails of a demon. The glove in his mouth is released into his right hand and he remains with the back of his palm on display to the earl.]

Is this what you wished to see?

N-No, no, not at all! [Yes. Completely. The fact that Tara can identify the dishes less obviously provacatory than the dog's head isn't helping.] I just, um, I had a lot for breakfast. [Not actually a lie, though. Balut eggs are actually remarkably filling, and a massive dose of protein that Tara's not used to getting in her food.] D-Don't worry about me. [She stuffs more dog meat into her mouth to demonstrate this, catching sight of the skull beneath now.]

[ the way in which he removes the glove prompts an eyebrow raise from Ciel. really? they even do that the same way? ]

It is.

[ while standing on a balance beam may not be the best time for this conversation, he hadn't wanted to wait any longer. ]

You are contracted to Earl Trancy, then. [ and it cannot be a coincidence that Trancy knows who he is. ] How much do you and your master know of my own contract?

[ even if Claude deigns not to answer, that in and of itself will tell Ciel something. ]

[He'll just shift back into human form for a while. It's easier to keep up. He heads over to the treadmill again.]

Mm. A month, maybe? Not that long. Not long enough to learn a lot of things about this place. What about you?

[During one of the meals, an adorable baby rabbit jumps up onto Alcor's lap, curling up.]

It'll be okay.

[He has to keep everyone's spirits up any way he can...]

Infighting Week Two

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William T. Spears | Post Surgery 2 | TL;DR to DEATH

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post surgery: Wednesday

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