therealbrianna | Come As You Are // Open Post

[Looking on, amused, as you're coming over. Also dutifully lifting the kitten (who squirms around a little, poor thing) and handing him over.]

Should I be hurt that you're choosing to greet him first?

[ Heee, carefully taking Mitsuru with both hands, bringing him up to her shoulder and hugging him. ]

Sorry daddy, but you're just not half as cute as Mitsuru. I have good taste, don't I?

[ Actually she has 0 Animal Ken. Just lucky, maybe.

Cooing at the little bundle of fur now. ]

You have incredible taste.

[Standing up now, and lingering just long enough to kiss you on the cheek before starting to move off.]

Give me a bit. I need to get ready.

[ Breaking away her attention from Mitsuru to beam up at Hikaru after he kisses Brianna on the cheek. ]

Okay~ I'll just be here! [ Something about baby animals makes Brianna feel, talk and act even younger than she already is. ]

[Which is something he finds adorable, by the way. It's also putting him at ease for the moment, because it's showing him that maybe he shouldn't worry too much about what the both of you are about to do.

Slipping into his room now. It only takes him about five minutes before he's stepping out again. with his mangeyko wrapped around his body. Beneath, though, he's dressed for much colder climates. It's both because he goes everywhere as Death, and because finishing his duties always leaves him chilled to the bones.

There are no weapons sheathed at his side. For tonight, if the need arises, he IS the weapon that he'll be using.

Smiling at Brianna now, then canting his head towards the door.]

Shall we?

[ Turning her head to Hikaru as he calls her, smiles then puts down Mitsuru on Hikaru's bed.

Gentle strokes on the kitty's head. ]

Sure let's go!

[ Taking in the details of what Hikaru's wearing though. Quite curious how this whole thing will... happen. ]

Where to first?

I don't know, actually. We'll see once we're outside.

[Holding the door open for her, of course, and then locking it once they're both in the hallway.]

You're okay with heights, right?

[ Thanks him with a smile, then smirks. ]

I wear heels higher than some people's IQ, I think I'll be fine.

[ I'll be fine....Right? Ehe. Oh well! ]

[Chuckling. Yes, the Blade King is always enamored by people with the brains and the wits to match.

La la la, down the stairs.]

Now, I know you're a big girl already, but every time we shift around, you're going to have to hold my hand.

[Else, he'll lose her. She'll see what he means soon enough.]

[ Eh? ]

Okay! I'm totally fine with that. You'll tell me when I should, right?

Yeah, or I'll just catch your hand if there isn't any time to.

[And, once they're finally out and on the grounds, that crimson ring appears around his eyes. He takes a moment out to catch his breath, steady himself, and let every living soul in the world flash before his vision. Then he's reaching for your hand.

A heartbeat later, and the both of you are standing in an alleyway. The air is colder than it was at Falner, and dry. The bulidings look Middle Eastern.

There is a child curled up against the wall, but it might be hard to tell that it is a child and not a skeleton with skin hanging off of its frame.

It might be 2063, but that does not mean that hardship no longer exists.]

[ The change in setting catches her entirely by surprise. Even if there was time for her to compose herself, the sight was too much for her. She's seen some movies, documentaries and news clips of people suffering with barely anything to eat or sleep in.

She looks at the child sadly and rubs her arm awkwardly. Then, she looks up at Hikaru. ]

[And while he notices this, there isn't any time to do anything about it. He's already letting go of her hand and walking over, stopping once he's knelt in front of the child.

The boy can't see him, and even if he wasn't already at that point where the darkness is eating at the corners of his vision, he still wouldn't be able to. Such is the nature of his work.

Reaching out, then, and placing a hand on the boy's forehead. It doesn't take more than a few seconds before his tiny body is rattling with that last, painful, breath.

When Hikaru steps away, he has the child's soul wrapped about his arm. A gesture from his end, and it's shooting straight up, into the sky.

Softly:]

We're going to be here for a while.

[There are more in the area. Many, many more.]

[ Looking around now, absorbing the details of the area. While it does ring a bell (not that she's been there, more like Brianna assumed because of the style of the buildings, roads and other infrastructure.

And saying in an equally soft voice: ]

Where are we, daddy? What happened here?

[ She assumed that there are a couple more people to "collect", since Hikaru said they'll be there for a while. ]

[He glances around once as he's stepping out of the alleyway. That, plus one breath of the air, is all he needs.]

This village doesn't have a name. It's somewhere in the Middle East, though.

[And maybe she can hear it now: the almost complete lack of sound, beyond distant sobs, terrible coughing, fearful voices. There is, as well, the heavy stench of death and those who now stand closest to it.]

There's a plague going through this area. One of the Kindred passed through this area... Morbus. They carry disease within them.

[He can see the echoes of its presence in the shadows, in the eyes of the few people that are out on the streets. It is still around, feeding on the people.

He will deal with it later.]

[ The bloodline is familiar, per what she learned in Gideon's class. That's all she knows about them though, that they store diseases and spread them. ]

Oh. You were just here, right? I mean in the Middle East. Did you hear about this thing happening before tonight?

[ She's a bit... concerned. She doesn't know much about diseases and plagues and the developments of plagues from one stage to another but if some of them look a little bit fresh... ]

No. This area is Aegis Kai Doru's purview, due to the political instability here. Many countries in this area are anti-supernatural, and had to be forced to accept help from the Legion of the Phoenix.

[He'll probably call this one in once he's not busy with. Well. This.

Speaking of. Stopping in front of a house now, and stepping right inside.]

[ Right. Realizing that things here aren't as good as they are in the Philippines.

Saying nothing more and following him in. ]

[The smell of blood in there is about as bad as the foul stench outside. It's a woman this time, flat on her back, eyes wide and staring at nothing, belly still engorged from her pregnancy. The child she bore is in the bloodstained pile of rags on the table beside her.

She is not alone: there is a man at her side, clutching at her pale hand. He's crying, loudly and pathetically, as he presses his forehead against her knuckles.

None of them see Brianna or Hikaru, once again. None of them see how the Blade King's passing his fingers over the pile of rags first (the soul whispers up and vanishes immediately), and then moving to stand by the bed.

Bending down, now, kissing her forehead. She stops breathing. Her soul, though, remains: it appears, as if written in television static, at the man's side.

Please.

That is all she says in her language, as she turns her eyes up towards Hikaru's. He considers her a moment, nods, and then turns away.]

Let's go, Brianna.

[And you may note that he sounds quiet not just because of how he feels, but because he's getting tired. It's been a harrowing few... no. Not few. It's been a harrowing year. This also takes a lot out of him.]

[ She takes in the scene, one eyebrow furrowed. If she's stressed out, she doesn't show it. Hikaru might not take her again if he knew how it made her sad. But given that, if she's affected that way then she is all the more concerned over what Hikaru feels.

She nods and follows Hikaru, looking one last time at the people inside before stepping out. ]

So... The baby and the woman?

Yes. The woman wanted to stay, though. I suppose I can let her do that for a while.

[He's... going to suffer for that later. As things stand, he can already feel the ban scratching against his brain. Still, it isn't a direct violation: he's just going to feel lousy for a while.

Glancing at Brianna now, and trying for a smile.]

Are you okay?

[ Her eyes are still unfocused. Not that she has to really hide anything from Hikaru. Besides, it'd be freaky if she'd smile at him. It is her first time doing something of this sort. ]

Yeah. I'm pretty fine. I didn't know you could do that.

Technically, I can't.

[But enough of that. He's perceptive enough to notice the look on your face.]

We can take a break. Go elsewhere.

[People are always dying, as it is.]

[ She lifts her chin up to meet Hikaru with a smile. ]

I'm okay. Don't wanna get in the way of your work. But if you want to, we could.

[ She's sad and a bit shaken. Mostly shocked. She can't imagine what it feels like for him, though. ]

Okay. Maybe after I take care of one last thing here.

[He knows where the vampire is, has known since they arrived in the village.]

We have to stop what's going on down here in as much as we can.

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