lucetilogs | So tear me open, but beware

Entry tags:

So tear me open, but beware—

Who:

ishisfriend.
What: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. (This is relevant.)
When: July 27th, late in the afternoon.
Where: Somewhere near house 53.
Summary: An encounter with an "enemy" draws out a certain chain, but it doesn't seem to belong to any of the contractors in the village. Maybe it's another random enemy... Or maybe it's not.
Rating: PG-13.

[There are random monsters showing up all over the village, you say? Here's Elliot Nightray giving a damn.

A little chaos in the village would not prevent Elliot from doing the things that he or his servant wanted to do. They're just monsters, after all, and Elliot sure as hell isn't afraid of them. As long as he had his sword, he would be fine. He could protect himself, his servant, and anyone else who might need it.

That had been Elliot's reasoning for venturing out today. But of course, it's not monsters or being a hero that's on his mind right at this very moment. Instead, it's flowers. He is in the backyard, staring down at what should be a garden, but no longer appears to be.

Hmm... Something isn't right.]

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[Just as soon as Leo makes his request, Elliot mutters a response. He reaches for the hand tugging at his lapels to get the other boy's attention. His head feels very cloudy, but...]

N-no. Forget it.

[Gilbert immediately nods and takes a step forward in response to Leo's request, deciding it best not to comment on the situation until Elliot has been taken care of, but— well, it seems he has been. Or at least is all right (relatively speaking).]

I don't know if inside is likely to be better than out here at the moment, to be honest.

[That hand...]

All we'll need is somewhere safe.

[He shakes his head, trying to sit up, but there's too much... servant in his way.]

No. I'm fine. [He glances between the two of them.] Are you...?

[Yes, he just blacked out. Yes, he wants to know if you two are okay.]

[Safe. With all the random scenery changes and aggressive... opponents popping out of nowhere, it could be hard to say where exactly is "safe" right now, but the house looks okay from here. And it was a minute ago. Gilbert glances back over his shoulder, then back at the other two, frowning.]

I didn't think... [And again he pauses, almost visibly rethinking what he was about to say.] Maybe we should go inside.

[Asking something like that when he'd almost attacked his own brother, when the Chain he'd own had almost attacked his own brother...

Leo moves his head just a fraction as he stands (he's still on Elliot, it would be difficult for the other boy to get up with him still there) but he's quiet. Inside would work— somewhere where all three of the wouldn't be as risk, somewhere where he could get his mind pieced together again.

And to ignore the voices speaking to him.]

[As it is, Elliot doesn't really care where they go, but he realizes they need to go somewhere. Trying to sit up even now that his servant is off of him proves to be a struggle—he's sore, and he isn't sure why. Had he been attacked by something...? How could he let his guard down like that?

Annoyed, but certainly unwilling to ask for help, Elliot just tries to stand up to join them. His voice is rough when he speaks, but he's definitely not yelling.]

Make up your minds already.

[Gilbert considers offering Elliot a hand up, considers the almost-inevitable reaction to that, and changes his mind rather quickly. Instead he just looks between Elliot and Leo as his frown deepens, his expression hovering somewhere between thoughtful and puzzled. At his brother's comment he blinks, startled partway out of his reverie, and turns toward the house.]

Inside, then.

[Break isn't home. That's as good a reason as any.]

[If Gil's not going to, Leo will offer that helping hand up. However, his grip is decidedly stronger and he probably won't let go of Elliot till they get into the house.

Sorry, he's not much of a conversationalist at the moment, with witnesses around.]

[He's hesitant. He didn't really need Leo's help—he's not that tired, or even badly hurt—but in the end, he doesn't decline it. This is why he had a servant, after all. His servant's closeness is vaguely irritating, but he doesn't complain about that. Despite feeling a little dizzy still, Elliot follows after Gilbert, leading the way for him and his servant.]

[When he gets to the door Gilbert first checks to make certain that the house actually is the house and nothing is lurking in wait, then steps back and holds the door open for the other two. He's watching both of them intently enough that he's almost staring, but he doesn't say anything, not yet. After all, he isn't quite certain just what he wants to say, if anything at all.]

[Leo's used to staring (people always stared, that's why he'd grown his hair out) but he's too far from caring to actually give a damn at the moment. He murmurs when they reach the doorway for Elliot to be careful and when they pass Gil, he nods again— or did he? It's brief enough for it to go unnoticed, but that's his way of saying thanks.]

[Elliot mumbles at his servant's warning (Stop telling me what to do!), and makes his way inside. Once there, he tugs his arm, a sign for Leo that he'd like to go back to his room, completely unaware of the fact that there might be things they need to talk about.]

[Gilbert lets them walk for a moment, bringing up the rear of the small group, but when he notices Elliot trying to turn away he finally speaks up to stop him.]

Elliot, I—

[...a plan which he probably should have thought about first, because now he has no idea what to say, so he'll just stand there and look worried and awkward.]

[There's a chance that Elliot might want to speak to his brother, so all Leo does is steady him as he looks over at Gilbert. The look on his face is almost annoyed-- does this have to happen now?]

[He turns to regard his brother when he says his name, and he waits for him to finish, but there's nothing. So he impatiently inquires—]

What is it?

I—

[He hesitates again for a moment, then finally just spits it out.]

I've seen that Chain before.

[Elliot will probably feel Leo stiffen hostilely, though he still doesn't say anything. Don't be ridiculous, Gil, you weren't around when Humpty Dumpty almost killed Elliot. Did he, what, read books?]

Which one?

[He can't mean Raven, that would just be silly. So he must mean the one they fought, right...?]

Humpty Dumpty. The... that's....

[He can say it. Really. He just can't look at Elliot at the same time.]

That Chain is believed to belong to the Headhunter.

[Elliot doesn't need this. He doesn't need this. He just wants to-- retreat into a room with books until Elliot is better and not so absent-minded.]

Master Gilbert, could I have a word with you?

[Elliot's the one who stiffens this time. He's hesitant to speak, almost like he's unsure of what to say, or perhaps... perhaps more like he's forgetting something.]

The Headhunter...?

[Had Gilbert seen something he hadn't? He's acting so strange. And Leo, too—Elliot turns to him when he addresses his brother that way. What's wrong with him all of a sudden?]

[Gilbert nods in response and opens his mouth to speak again, only to close it again and give Leo a startled look that slowly turns more suspicious.]

What is it?

Can this wait till later? All of us are rather shaken at the moment. [And just at that last word, his glance flicks towards Elliot, as if deliberately indicating him.]

No. It's fine. [Elliot frowns, pulling his arm away from Leo and looking up at Gilbert.] When did you see that chain?

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