ioduanlogs | (no subject)

Chase doesn't say a word to the man as he grabs his arm and hauls him upright.

"What are you?"

Chase...is not the most sensitive of people. And for the moment, the ominous green sparkles are his priority. He doesn't look overly hostile, at least, and his grip on Kei's arm is just as much to hold him up as to get a look at him.

Kei sags in his grip, looking desperate and miserable, as if standing on his own is too much.

"Please.... was I useful?..."

Sensitive or not, it doesn't matter much right now. He isn't quite seeing Chase, his mind superimposing Belial over him.

"Yes."

He adjusts his grip to better hold Kei up. Chase doesn't know what Kei is talking about, but that only means that Chase should find out. But finding out requires—

"Return to your senses now."

(Because it's that easy...)

That "yes" had something of the intended effect. Sort of. Kei doesn't move - if anything, he's supporting his own weight less - and the green sparkles increase, his body fading a bit.

"Where are we, Belial-sama?..." His voice is small, tenuous.

"Aifaran." Jury's out on whether Chase knows that that likely doesn’t mean anything to Kei, though.

He watches the sparkles, his brow furrowing slightly.

"I'm not who you're looking for. Why are you disappearing?"

It takes several seconds for what Chase says to sink in, and then Kei's vision clears. No, this isn't Belial. It's some stranger. His mood entirely changes, and he tries swinging his cane in a feeble attack, only succeeding in throwing himself further off balance.

"Let me go."

If that actually happens, he'll probably fall, but he's not thinking that far ahead right now.

Chase blocks the cane fairly easily with one hand, but thinks nothing of the attack itself. Kei had been calling someone else’s name and was obviously disoriented; one of Chase’s friends would occasionally attack him for less.

“Very well.” He lets go, but slowly.

He repeats his question. “What are you?”

Having actually been let go, Kei has little choice but to support his weight on his cane. He has enough presence of mind to realize he's not leaving without answering some questions. It's not like he can get far fast on his own right now. He doesn't have the strength left to teleport away. And at this point, maybe it doesn't even matter if he answers.

"An Alien Sturm."

Chase has no idea what that is, which, honestly, he should have expected.

He gestures with his head at the parts of Kei that are fading. "Is that normal?"

Because if it isn't, they have a bigger problem on their hands; if Chase holding onto Kei didn't actually make the fading abate, then Chase has no idea what to do about it.

"It's not."

He half-collapses to one knee, the rest of his weight still on his cane. Chase is taking this... surprisingly well, and the part of Kei that had started telling him he needs to fight, needs to be left alone, weakens. His already tenuous grasp on reality starts slipping again.

"I'm... dying."

Chase kneels, his gaze drifting to the fading again.

"What will keep you from dying?"

"Nothing... it's gone..." Kei laughs, a pained sound with a hint of madness. "I don't even know how I'm alive... Belial-sama..." His voice drops to a whisper, his tenuous grasp on reality fading.

His eyes narrow at that—Chase is most likely dead, himself, which means that whatever's keeping Chase alive right now is probably also what's keeping Kei.

The mental state is the real issue. He doesn't know enough about Kei to say anything. So Chase rears his arm back to punch him.

Kei doesn't even try to dodge - doesn't even register what's happening - so when he's punched he falls on his ass, cane clattering to the ground. It takes a moment, but one arm goes up to touch where he was hit. Apparently, even as he's fading away, he can feel pain.

"You.... you hit me."

He's fought people before. It shouldn't be this shocking. But with the way it shocks him back into his surroundings, it registers more strongly than any time he's fought before.

"I did."

He stands, ready to do it again. He expected anger, fighting back—he doesn't quite know what to do with shock. So he watches. Cautiously, perhaps, in case Kei's anger revs up very suddenly, but with puzzlement, as well. Bewilderment leading to dropping one's guard, he can understand. This seems...to be something different.

"If that had been a harder blow, this Belial would have lost you, as well."

He knew someone who would have done everything he could to protect his sister, alive or not. This seems...strange to him.

He looks down. His cane is visible through his hands at this point. If... if there is any chance he can find his way back to where he was... he can't feel Belial anymore, but he also shouldn't be alive. Something strange has happened.

He internally flinches at that statement, but with his head down the twitch at the corner of his eyes might not be visible.

"Yes. I might have finished disintegrating."

As it is, he's more translucent than before.

"I don't suppose the hospitals here - wherever here is - could handle this."

With the state he was in, he hadn't really noticed the vast variety of persons in the city.

Chase tilts his head. Kei looks to still be here; from Chase's point of view, Kei has not "finished" disintegrating at all.

"They might." The hospitals, that is. What with the different races that exist here, and how accustomed the place is to Dreamfolk, Chase would wager a guess that certain hospitals might be able to make an attempt at analyzing what Kei might need.

"What do you normally do to prevent it? ...Are you stable right now?"

Chase, that's not what that meant.

Is he stable... ha. It's more surprising that he's lasted this long. Arriving here must have returned some of his remaining time, somehow.

"I'm missing part of myself. If I had it, this wouldn't be happening."

He picks up his cane and starts using it to try to stand back up.

"What do you mean by that?"

A ‘part of him’ sounds dire if Kei were human, but a part of Chase—the Proto-Drive Shift Car—is also external, so he isn’t sure he should be concerned yet.

In any case, Kei looks a little calmer, at least.

“Whatever can be done to help you, you should inform the hospital workers. The closest one is nearby. You do not object?”

"Most people can't survive lacking a vital organ, no matter their species."

With his thinking not being entirely clear still, and with as much as he's already said, the easiest answer is the truth.

"That would be best, I suppose." He doubts there's anything they can do, but either way, there's nothing to lose.

"Some people here were not meant to survive at all. I arrived without the injuries I'd sustained back in my own world."

He peers at Kei for another moment.

"If you would rather walk yourself, I will lead." The insinuation being that if Kei needs assistance walking, well...Chase would still be leading, but he would also be carrying.

[The fact that Padparadscha's people don't ail in the same way humans do just makes it more obvious that there's something wrong with this human staggering down the street. Though they approach somewhat cautiously, they don't hesitate to snap fingers with crystalline nails under his face, then trail their hand up to hopefully bring him to looking at their face.]

You look like you need rest, little one, before you go looking for anyone.

[Chances are the person won't be here anyway, but it's probably a bit early to say that.]

[The words sound sort of like something Belial might say to him, though it seems like forever since he's heard anything with even a hint of kindness. Kei's gaze follows the hand up to look at them with an expression like he might start crying, only half-registering the actual appearance of this person.]

Belial-sama?...

[Well, well. Someone's confused enough to think them the person they're seeking, and despite the fact that Padparadscha isn't familiar with crying, the look on this person's face looks like they could shatter with a single wrong word.

Padparadscha's expression doesn't change, but they decide, for now, perhaps it's best to go along with this delusion. Or at least, not outright oppose it. They offer their hand in case he wants the reassurance.]

Follow me, child. Let's see if we can put you back together.

[It takes a moment to register, but then Kei unhesitatingly, trustingly takes the hand that's offered him. It might not feel quite solid, as if he could fade away.

Some part of him faintly registers that that's not quite right; Belial rarely allowed touch, and right now he's... But at this moment the reassurance in that gesture overrides whatever traces of rational thought are currently left.]

[No hesitance, overly trusting...it could be a sign of someone having gone through too little, but in this case, Padparadscha suspects it's in fact a sign of having gone through too much. Perhaps at the hands of this person he's fixated on, though it's hard to say without knowing who it is.

Nonetheless, they start moving to lead him through the streets, towards the Dreaming Bridge. Surely he's not the only Dreamfolk to have arrived in such a sorry state.]

This is a new place, different from the one you know. Once you're fixed, you'll have a lot to learn before you can put it to use again.

[He follows ungracefully, not as easily able to walk as usual. Despite that, he doesn't watch where he steps, his eyes staying on the one leading him. On "Belial".]

Another planet?

[It's all he can think. He's been on Earth so long now, yet he's been to many planets before then. But if they're no longer on Earth, that could only mean...]

You won. I knew you would.

[Well, that's an interesting thing to note. Padparadscha's not exactly trying to get information out of him, but if he's going to give it, then they're also not going to avoid whatever might come up naturally through leading him to a safer place.]

It doesn't seem to be over yet. This isn't a place I meant to be. [No lies, not the complete truth - deceptive only as far as necessary to prevent this man from having some kind of breakdown on the street.]

[Kei accepts that wordlessly. Who knows what had happened during that battle? If they'd somehow both wound up somewhere else together, and Belial hadn't truly abandoned him, that was more than enough.

He'll continue following wherever he's led.]

[Padparadscha leads him to the Dreaming Bridge, the large dormitory building, and considering his less than present state, they decide to try directing him to sit down by the door.]

Let's see if we can't find someone to fix you. I'm a little better at breaking myself, but someone here should know how.

[They'll just have to ask around inside.]

[Kei sits as directed. The green sparkles floating off his body seem to slowly take some of him with them every second.]

[That's certainly not a reassuring sign, and Padparadscha straightens up rather quickly.]

I'll be back very soon. [They head into the Dreaming Bridge, looking for one of the helpers - thankfully, there's one there almost as soon as they get into the lobby area, and they flag them down to come outside.

As soon as the other person sees the condition Kei is in, they nod seriously and say they'll make some calls. Before they go back in, they bend down to him.]

Come inside. We'll call someone who can help.

[Padparadscha gestures for him to do so, just to make sure he follows the request.]

[Which is a good thing, because Kei doesn't move until Padparadscha motions for him to do so. After that, though, he follows the person who came out for him inside.]

[Padparadscha follows them inside, indicating that he should take a seat once they find one. The helper dashes off to make some calls, and Padparadscha crouches down by Kei.]

How long is it you can last, in this condition?

I don't know...

[Everything is so confusing, so much more than it's ever been. Even with Belial here with him, he doesn't know the answers... but he has to try. He has to answer as best he can.]

I... don't understand how I'm alive.

[So he should be dead already, with an answer like that. Which makes getting help all the more urgent. Padparadscha might have only learnt about the concept of death recently, but they can understand being in a precarious position of health.]

Well, you don't need to understand. Just continue surviving until someone arrives to help you, right?

[Kei nods silently. Right now, if he's told to survive, he'll hold on as best he can.

It's not long before the ones who were called arrive. The helper directs them to where Kei is sitting. He's reluctant to leave, looking at "Belial" for direction.]

[Padparadscha waits with him, and once the helpers arrive, they straighten up, expression serious. They do expect he won't go with them unless prompted, so they make a gesture for him to follow those who've come to help.]

Go with them. They can help you to survive. And once they're finished, you can return here to my side.

[It seems like he needs that reassurance, at least. Hopefully he won't once he's regained his senses, but they'll remain around the Bridge for the day just in case.]

[Kei nods, wearily standing.]

I'll come back.

[And then he follows the helpers away.]

[Lobco has only just arrived herself and despite some of the kind guidance she has been given by some natives, she's more than a little alarmed and unsure of how to proceed. There is doubt...suspicion in her eyes as she makes her way where she was directed, keeping to the alleys and emptier streets to avoid the crowds. When her eyes fall on Kei she freezes, as if this is confirmation that she was indeed in a dangerous situation.

Lobco as a moment of internal panic, before empathy wins out and she hurries to his side. She's quite at a loss about just why this person is sparkling but it's clear to anyone that he is hurt.]

W-what's wrong? Are you okay?

[Kei collapses to his knees next to her, not quite registering her talking to him as he continues repeating "Belial-sama" under his breath.]

[Lobco's brow furrows further when the man collapses and she twists her hands in the air before leaning down. Her hand reflexively goes to her side where she usually has a pouch of potions only to remember she didn't have that with her.

Belial-sama? Is that someone if importance here? The shrimp hasn't the faintest clue and the injured..human? doesn't seem to be aware of her presence, instead lost in thought.]

Hey. Hey there. [Her voice softens as she wills herself to calm down.] Are you looking for Belial?

[At the mention of Belial's name he stops repeating that name, looking up with a devastated expression. One hand reaches out to try to grasp whatever he can reach.]

Belial-sama... was I useful?...

[Ouch. Something there resonates with Lobco. She hasn't the faintest idea who Belial is--are they some sort of figure of authority in this world? Just someone this person knows? Yet the way that he asks that reminds her a little of her own situation with Chlomaki. She wants so desperately to be useful to her witch, to anyone really, and that's why she's able to reach out and gently take his hand when ordinarily she would be adverse to even such an innocuous contact.]

[What does she say? Lobco values truth and honesty to a high degree, and she can't exactly answer such a question without having any idea of what was going on...yet more than honesty, compassion was needed.]

I have no doubt that you were, and that you are.

[Relief washes over his expression. Finally... that one sentence is something he's been seeking for years through all his nonetheless unwavering loyalty.

Even not quite having all his faculties about him, as the green sparkles increase in number and his hand becomes less solid in "Belial's", he knows he's dying.]

Master... Please, if you've won...

["Stay with me." But even now, he can't get the words out.]

[It's getting harder for him to speak, it seems, which means he's getting worse. As much as Lobco wants to comfort him there really doesn't seem to be time for that right now.]

Let's head somewhere to get you patched up, okay?

[Despite her small height, Lobco is certainly stronger than she looks and she shifts her arms so she can carry him. She's slow in her movement, fearing that appyling pressure anywhere would cause him pain.]

Pardon my..intrusion.

[He's much lighter than he should be for his height, so it shouldn't take terribly much effort for her to carry him. He doesn't put up a fight; in his mind he's being carried in the much larger hand of Belial.]

Master...

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i'm sorry...

this is beautiful

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