open log » ❝ Beware the Jabberwock, my son! ❞

[flecks]

Date & Time: March 1st, after all the new arrivals have arrived.
Location: The Courtyard
Characters: Leo Baskerville, the Jabberwock and anyone who wants to get in on this.
Summary: Leo freaks after arriving and sets loose the Jabberwock who thrashes the place for about 8 minutes before it disappears after Leo passes out. ( Details here! )
Warnings: Violence and all that good stuff, NPC casualties.

It has been nothing but shocking revelation after shocking revelation for Leo and suffice to say, he's grown weary of it. The seals had been broken and Glen was free and Leo had been tired of fighting. Thus, Glen had taken control. Leo could have stayed safely hidden away from it all in the recess of his mind and he would have, if he hadn't suddenly been taken to a strange place and put back in control. His mind was oddly empty and lacking any presences that weren't his own and the Jabberwock's now. It was more unnerving than he thought it would be.

He felt numb as a woman led him through strange corridors and explained the situation. Not that Leo was registering any of it other than some keywords that she kept repeating, it was meaningless to him after all. He took a stainless steel kitchen knife when prompted to pick a weapon, despite the black Nightray heirloom sword he was already holding. The entire time a sense of panic was slowly starting to take hold of him.

However, it wasn't until he was left standing alone in the rain that the situation suddenly truly hit him and the mounting panic reached its peak. A tightness seized his chest, making it hard to breathe while a pressure built in his head. It quickly became too overwhelming. With a shrill scream he clutched his head, not bothering to hold back Jabberwock as it reacted in accordance to his emotions and flickered into existence to lash out at the nearest thing.

Leo stumbled back until his back hit the wall and he slid down, curling in on himself and around the black sword before covering his ears with his hands. He remained still like that while the Jabberwock raged on.

Comments

CLINIC VISITS

[flecks]

[ It hadn't taken long at all for this Initiative to track him down and 'apprehend' him about the chaos he'd created in the Courtyard, which wasn't surprising at all. What was surprising was how mildly (in his opinion) they'd gone about it. Leo had expected them to be a lot more angry considering some of their own had been killed in Jabberwock's rampage. What it had amounted to was practically a slap on the wrist for him — extra training and community service to clean up the mess Jabberwock had made.

It was laughable, but all Leo could do was listen and obey, or at least pretend to, as there was nothing he could do to resist. He couldn't summon Jabberwock again, he didn't have the strength to, and it's not like he had even cared to resist anyway. Not even when they put a small device around his ankle to "track him and make sure he checked in."

It didn't matter. Nothing did. He was no longer where he was supposed to be and Glen — all of them — were gone. He was alone.

The hectic had died down in the clinic somewhat by now, but Leo still didn't feel like going to sleep and rest to regain his strength even though he felt utterly exhausted and his head still hurt. Instead he had propped his pillow up and just sat there, half-curled up.

His mind goes blank as he traces the sleek steel anklet with his finger absentmindedly, staring unseeingly at his own feet. ]

[velveteened]

( oz sighs with a certain amount of relief once he's in an empty hallway, leaning back against a wall. it's hard to say how much these people really can do for someone exhausted from the strain of his contract, but it's much better than nothing - and, anyway, how much more could they really do in their world for break than let him rest? it's not inferior treatment by any stretch of the imagination, preferable as it'd be to go to pandora. it should be alright, he thinks, flashing a smile to one of the women that works here as she passes. he waits until she's gone and he can't hear the echoing of her footsteps anymore; then he closes his eyes and breathes out slowly, letting his back slide until he hits the ground.

hopeless. he really is hopeless.

it's impossible to not feel responsible for this. true enough that the arrival of baskervilles was as random as the rest of them - if it really is as random as the people here claim. if not...why bring members of pandora, why bring him, and then go on to bring the very people they're opposing?

no, that's not the right question to ask yet. jabberwock has certainly been associated with the baskervilles, but with no contractor in sight....could the technology here really have stabilized the existence of a lone chain? a black-winged chain, no less. but after a point, it seemed to have vanished, so surely there is its contractor, here in the city? and if jabberwock has a contractor, then - unless a lot has changed - glen baskerville is in the city.

had they been looking for him?

breathe out.

(he really, really misses gil and alice right now; it's been an effort to keep that off his mind, but for now he lets that wash over him, pulling his knees to his chest.)

but this isn't the time to be sitting around here, so after another few moments, he stands and starts to walk down the hallway. it's less happenstance and more something else that has him glancing into rooms as he passes, and he slows to a stop when he sees the familiar form.

no, this isn't surprising at all.

he only walks in as far as the doorway, resting a hand on the doorjamb and offering a smile, more melancholic than anything else. )

Good evening, Leo.

[flecks]

[ Oz's presence goes ignored, much like the rest of the world, at first until Oz actually announces his presence. The familiar voice pulls him away from the blissful blankness, such an odd thing after the crowd he'd had in his mind before his arrival here, and back to reality where he finds himself glancing up at an unexpected familiar face.

His eyes widen briefly in his surprise and a slow blink follows, as if he's not quite sure what he's seeing is right. The sight of Oz also brings an instinctive tenseness, noticeable in the way he hunches his shoulders, as the memory of B. Rabbit's power piercing right through him is still very much fresh in his mind. He's well aware that wasn't Oz's fault and he can tell that it's Oz smiling at him, not Jack.

But that doesn't mean that Jack isn't there. However, it's not like he can defend himself in his current condition. So if anything is going to happen, it's going to happen. He's powerless to stop it. He can very faintly feel Jabberwock stir at his thoughts, but that's about it. Might as well carry on.

He looks how he feels — like crap. He's so physically and mentally exhausted, but despite that, he still musters a pleasant smile in return as he sits up properly and straightens his legs.

Pleasant, but hollow. ]

My, I see they've gotten you too. Good evening, Oz.

[velveteened]

( he laughs a little, but notes the surprise. its origin isn't something he can quite work out yet - maybe leo's just surprised to be approached like this, and frankly oz can imagine what gil or break would have to say about it - and so doesn't address. )

It looks like they want all the help they can get! I guess I can't blame them. Their situation sounds pretty bad.

[flecks]

[ Leo tilts his head and instantly regrets the small action when it causes a brief sharp jolt of pain to go through his head and he's unable to stop himself from flinching completely. But he ignores it, not letting the fake smile falter. ]

Maybe so, but I must say their methods are rather crass. Kidnapping people and forcing them to fight for them, it's quite rude.

[velveteened]

( the flinch may be something leo can ignore, but it makes concern cross oz's expression, and he ventures a step inside. )

Leo...

[flecks]

[ There's a slight tensing of his body again, but other than that, Leo doesn't react to Oz stepping inside. Just a mildly curious look. ]

What is it?

[velveteened]

( he stops there, not moving any closer. )

Why did you let Jabberwock loose? There are a lot of innocent people here.

( better to be direct, he thinks. maybe elliot is rubbing off on him. )

[flecks]

[ It's a directness he can appreciate and it shows in his smile for a moment before it's dropped for a more sober expression as he glances away. ]

I lost control. [ It's not a total lie. ]

[velveteened]

( it's not hard to imagine, especially knowing what a new contract it is. )

...that's kind of a relief. ( he admits, rubbing at the back of his neck ruefully ) I didn't think ( want to think ) you'd do something like that intentionally.

[flecks]

[ It's true he hadn't set out with the intention of setting Jabberwock loose, it was something that just happened in the moment, but Oz has already seen the things he'd been willing to do. The denial is kind of amusing.

He looks back, his previous smile returning to his face. ]

Don't worry, they already gave me my punishment.

[velveteened]

( that's worrying, and nothing about leo's expression can be trusted to assure him that it's alright. )

What did they say?

[flecks]

They'll forgive me if I do a few things for them and they'll be watching me.

[ He briefly lifts his leg, showing the thin metal band around his ankle, and (carefully) inclines his head toward it to indicate it before he adds, quite cheerfully: ]

It could be much worse.

1/2

[nobleminded]

[Elliot had heard about the destruction, and despite technically not having a position of any status here, he didn't feel right just ignoring it. His investigating had taken him to the clinic, where he had heard those who hadn't been killed in the attack were being cared for.

He really hadn't liked what he had heard no matter how little it was. Back home, they could have easily pinned the blame on a chain and gone from there, but it wasn't that simple in this place. Still, the possibility was still there. Was there another contractor here now? He didn't feel like he was in much of a position to pass judgment on an illegal one anymore, but that didn't mean he should ignore it!

So, while wandering the halls and looking into the rooms, Elliot had stopped a few yards away from one when he heard a familiar voice.

I didn't think you'd do something like that intentionally.

That was definitely Oz Vessalius. Was he talking to the person responsible for this? Why were they in this place and not locked up somewhere?

As he entertained that possibility, he heard the other party respond, and every muscle in his body seemed to freeze. That voice...it wasn't Leo, was it? He was talking about "punishment", so the odds of his first suspicion being right were true. But...Leo? How? And more importantly, why? Then again, if this was Leo, something in the tone of his voice sounded...off.

There was a mention of Ada Vessalius like this person should know her. Dammit, this couldn't be happening! Yes, Oz had mentioned to him that Leo hadn't taken what had happened well, and honestly Elliot had expected it. That was one of the reasons he left him an apology. But Elliot had never suspected that there was something horribly wrong.

The conversation seemed to have descended into mindless chitchat. Elliot had to find out more about what happened. He ran off from the room, going to find officials to get more details on what exactly had happened.

He really didn't like what he ended up hearing. Not only did it sound like a chain, it sounded like one that should have been under the control of one of the dukedoms. Had Leo seriously made a contract after everything that had happened? It seemed like there was only one way to find out...]

[nobleminded]

[Elliot stormed back down the hall of the clinic where he had overheard the conversation, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. If there was anyone else nearby looking at or saying anything to him, they were totally invisible at the moment. His goal was in mind, and he was getting answers straight from the source.

Without hesitating for a second, Elliot marched into the room. He looked at him with a scowl for a moment, noting the haircut. If he hadn't heard him speaking already, he wouldn't have believed it was really him. What, he stopped hiding and immediately did something stupid?]

YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD EXPLANATION FOR THIS, LEO!

[flecks]

[ After sending Oz off Leo was just done. Done with everything. The exhaustion had seeped into his very bones and he was finally ready to just go to sleep, no matter the terrible and bloody nightmares that came with it nowadays. If there was even a slight chance of blissful darkness, Leo was going to take it.

He was in the progress of lying down and about to pull the blanket over himself to block out the world, a thin cotton barrier was better than none after all, when suddenly it was like a tornado of loudness just blew into his clinic room. A very familiar loud tornado and the previous topic of discussion between him and Oz. One he hadn't expected to see.

It's not that he hadn't believed Oz when he'd said that Elliot was here. Leo knew that the possibility was a real one here in this place, the Initiative soldiers that had come to visit him had explained everything clearly. Of course Oz hadn't been lying, Oz wouldn't have lied about something as important as Elliot, he was wretchedly kind like that. It was more a matter of Leo not wanting to believe it, he didn't dare to. Not to mention the question of how he was supposed to face Elliot when he was the very reason that Elliot had suffered so much and ultimately died a horrible death.

He felt like he couldn't, but now he didn't have a choice regardless of his conflicting feelings. It's not so much the shouting, shouting he was too intimately familiar with to be fazed by, but the sight and sound of Elliot that has Leo freeze up like a deer in headlights, still clutching the blanket to his chest. He looked very much like a wide-eyed child staring at what might as well be the bogeyman.

His breath was caught in his throat, his voice lost because of it, but even when he finally found it again, he has no explanation. Both because he didn't know what Elliot was demanding an explanation for and mostly because the question was promptly forgotten, or rather went unheard, in his shock.

There's only a hoarse almost-whisper of ... ]

Elliot ... ?

[nobleminded]

[The reaction doesn't really surprise him. It was enough of a shock to him when he had found himself here, so it couldn't be easy to believe for anyone else.

Yes, the expectation is exactly why Elliot's mood doesn't falter at all as he marches up to the bed.]

I heard you talking to Oz Vessalius! Was what happened this afternoon your doing?!

[flecks]

[ Elliot had heard all that? Well, that just made things even worse.

The blanket slips from his fingers as his grip goes slack and normally he'd be quick to reply to anger with anger or violence, but not this time. Not right away. Although Elliot's rage is something so familiar and trusted, he at least doesn't shrink away. He opens his mouth to speak, but when no words come out Leo settles on nodding instead. There was no hiding the truth from Elliot anyway. ]

whoops thought I tagged this...

[nobleminded]

You...?!

[Disbelief (or perhaps not wanting to believe it) was the only thing that initially held Elliot where he stood for a few seconds. But it was more important to get answers now, and regardless or whether or not Leo did bear the blame for this, just admitting to it was bad enough.

Elliot approaches him and aims a slap at his face.]

Why, Leo?! Why would you do something like that?!

[flecks]

[ Leo doesn't budge even though he sees the slap coming, perhaps because he's frozen to the spot or because he thinks he deserves it. Possibly both, he's not sure himself. But the force of the slap is enough to knock him back in his feeble state and he can instantly feel the sting of tears in his eyes that come with the sudden pain.

Leo hardly pays that any mind though, what he's focusing on is how real the hit felt. Elliot was truly here, breathing and solid. No longer a dead, bloody corpse to cry over. The revelation brings all the conflicting feelings to the surface— relief, delight, happiness to have a chance to see his dearest friend again when he thought he never would, but none of them compare to the gut-wrenching guilt that follows and consumes him. It keeps him lying still, stops him from raising a hand to his hurt cheek and makes looking at Elliot extremely difficult even if his sight is already blurry.

So he glances away, takes a deep breath to get enough composure to answer the question. When he finally speaks, it's almost coolly if not for the slight tremble in his voice. ]

I lost control, it was just protecting me.

[nobleminded]

It was...?!

[Deep down, he knew this encounter was must not be easy for Leo, but he was too angry too consider that. Getting to the bottom of this came before anything else right now.

He lost control? It was trying to "protect" him? Considering that he had lost his own life to something that was trying to protect Leo that he couldn't control, that was not an excuse that was going to sit easily with him.

Elliot grasps his collar and pulls him forward a bit.]

Did you know what it was doing?! If you did, you should have been able to stop it if you wanted it to stop! YOU CHOOSE THE PATH YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE!

[flecks]

[ And just like, despite himself and the guilt, Leo suddenly finds himself getting angry. He knows Elliot's right and he knows he doesn't deserve to get angry now, but the familiar anger is there and it reaches boiling point within seconds all the same.

He looks back to Elliot with a fierce glare, although it's slightly ruined by the tears still clinging to the corner of his eyes. ]

What do you know!? YOU'RE DEAD! You don't know— [ what I've been through, he means to say, but he chokes on his words in his frustration and the tightening feeling in his throat. So, instead of trying to speak again, Leo reaches behind him to grab the pillow and bring it round to smack it into Elliot's face with what little strength he can muster in his anger. ]

And then life finally let my brain work again orz

[nobleminded]

[The tears catch his attention, although he's not overly surprised. That was one of the reasons he hated what had happened so much.

But any amount that might have pulled back his anger instantly vanishes with Leo's statement and the hit from the pillow. While it didn't hurt per se, it was the anger behind it that fed Elliot's own temper.]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT?! JUST BECAUSE I DIED DOESN'T MEAN I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, YOU IDIOT!

[flecks]

[ The second the pillow connects with its target, there's an instant where Leo regrets it and tries to calm back down, but just as his anger feeds Elliot's, it does the same vice versa. What Elliot blurts out just rubs him entirely the wrong way and any attempt at reigning back his anger goes promptly forgotten.

The hand that isn't holding the pillow snatches Elliot's wrist and he grips as painfully tight as he can manage. He doesn't try to pull Elliot's hand away from his collar however, he just keeps it in a painful hold. The tears aren't just from the slap anymore now and they're freely falling, but Leo is oblivious to them. When he speaks again, his voice is raised to an almost hysterical pitch. ]

THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, IDIOT! ARE YOU THAT STUPID!? [ He moves his arm, ready to bring the pillow down on Elliot's head this time. ]

[nobleminded]

[Elliot grimaces a bit at the tight hold on his wrist, but makes no effort to release his collar. Even getting hit on the head by the pillow doesn't phase his grip, though it does annoy him enough that he uses his other hand to try to make a grab for it and possibly turn it on Leo. Seriously, it did smart a bit.]

WHO ARE YOU CALLING STUPID?! WHAT DOES THAT MAKE YOU, THEN?! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO HAS A CONTRACT NOW!