week 4

[stagemanagers]

[Another week, and two more dead. King Richard and Red are both gone, and once again, it was through nothing more than an accident in the heat of the moment. Maybe if you all stay calm and collected, nothing bad will happen again?

Well, maybe not.

When you wake on Sunday, you'll find that you've recovered another one of those memories - or had another dream, if you still wanna be in denial about it. The grounds remain as they are, but this time, the door blocking the stairwell has been unsealed. You can now venture up to the second floor! This is the second time that's happened; it's almost as if you get more space every time someone dies. Or maybe the whole place just seems quieter.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday


(( Welcome to Week 4! Please remember to submit your AC and your memory regains, as well as your coins! You can also still contact the Phantom. ))

Comments

[isawallflower]

[ She makes eye contact. But her eyes are distant. ]

I'll b-b-be back in a few minutes.

[ Her voice is soft and shaking. Like she's afraid for anyone to hear her. She hurries to get him some painkillers. ]

[heathencall]

[With Riley out of the picture, and with Santana and Stephen barely a thought in the back of his mind, Mephisto allows himself a moment to feel his pain. A groan, agonizing as it is, rips itself from his throat. Briefly, he considers retracting his wing -- localize the area to whatever space it took up against his back.

But it doesn't go anywhere. He feels one wing slip away, back to the void it rested in, but the other one remains limp in the water.]

[isawallflower]

[ As promised, Riley is not away for more than a few minutes. She's back with some tylenol and a glass of water, breathing swift. ]

Okay. Okay, take this, and then I'll get some ointment on it, and it should all be okay.

[heathencall]

[Mephisto raises himself just enough to look at Riley and the pills she holds out. Any other time, and he might have questioned her. Now, he simply takes them and swallows them down with a gulp of water.]

It will be okay. [There's no conviction in that statement, just weak repetition.]

[isawallflower]

[ Riley lets out a slow sigh. She's calming down-- or, at least, she's pushed it all down. ]

What happened? What were you thinking?

[ She's exhausted. ]

[heathencall]

[He grits his teeth, trying to sift back through the memories now muddled by pain. His brows pinch together.]

Stephen asked for my assistance. Another way of getting out of here. I was only meant to provide assistance but. [He glances over toward Stephen, then back to Riley.]

The glass broke. Right in his hands. It would have.... [He couldn't say what it would have done. He hadn't let himself consider it.]

I... Protected him.

[isawallflower]

[ Dr. Browning almost died. Stephen almost died. Just like that.

Riley puts her face behind one hand, trying to maintain the stability she's managed. ]

You could- both of you could've- [ Riley's heart beats wildly. ] I wouldn't- I couldn't take-

[ She feels more like Jeremy right now. She can't get her sentences straight in her mouth. It's not something keeping her from talking, it's her own inability to comprehend that. ]

you're welcome

[heathencall]

[For the second time that day, Mephisto fights to bring a smile to his face. This time, he isn't struggling against the strangeness of feeling at all. Rather, he's feeling too much (mostly pain, and every other word associated with it) to really force one emotion to show.

He'd like to think he manages well enough.]

I told you. I won't leave you.

you motherfucker.

[isawallflower]

[ Riley wants to throw her arms around him and hit him at the same time. But she won't because she wants him okay more. Arms raised and rigid like claws, like that first time she completely broke in front of him, that first time she started really chipping away at him, she stares, eyes stinging with tears. ]

Be more careful next time. [ She casts a look to Stephen as well. This is for him too. ]

[heathencall]

[Mephisto also takes the time to glance over at Stephen. He tries to look as critical as possible but... Mostly he just looks concerned.]

There had better not be a next time.

[He glances over to Riley and... Finally lifts his good arm. He beckons her closer.]

I'm sorry.

[37773972]

[hi he's just getting glass shards pulled out of him but he's desperate for something to distract him so

whether not he's actually heard the two of them, he seems to register he's being looked at, and he manages a shaky smile]

[heathencall]

[Mephisto's expression darkens as Stephen catches his eye. His lips part to say something, but he presses them into a thin line and turns his attention back to Riley.

Later. He'll deal with that later.]

[isawallflower]

[ He'll have to have his attention on Riley, because she sure is going for that hug. Gently, of course, but she's been holding herself back. She more holds onto his good arm than anything, still worried about his limp wing, still terrified for Stephen. ]

I was so, so scared...! [ She'll get the ointment on in a minute. She will, she just- she needs a second. ]

[heathencall]

[Mephisto can't resist Riley, even when he tries. And the last thing he wants to do is resist her. The more time passes between the explosion, the less strength his body seems to have. Already, he's leaning a little more heavily into the hug than perhaps he should.

But he's also happy to provide as much of a buffer for Riley from anything else as he can, even if it isn't much.]

I'm sorry. We should have -- [But they've said all of this before.] I'm sorry, Riley.

[isawallflower]

[ She can feel his weight shifting to her, and really she should do something about this before too long. Get him somewhere he can rest. But she just...needs a moment. ]

...I know you just want to find a way out but, it- ...it wouldn't be any good, if either of you weren't... [ Slow, slow breaths. She casts a glance at his poor wing. Next step, ointment, whatever bandaging she can actually do on a wing, that's going to be trial and error. ] Let's just. Get you somewhere you can rest. Okay?

[heathencall]

I know. [It was a bad decision, and he's going to have words for Stephen as soon as they're both able to take such a serious discussion.] I'm here. It will not happen again.

[He eases off of Riley, swaying on his feet briefly before catching and stabilizing himself. His face tightens briefly, a small shudder rocking through him.]

If I sit anywhere, I won't be getting up. [A beat.] I should be able to make it down the stairs.

[isawallflower]

Then I'd better get your wing finished up and get you downstairs. To bed.

[ Now she's the one scolding him, huh? Riley won't step away until she's sure he won't fall over, but it's time for ointment and bandages. Or... ]

...Maybe this should be...something done there to begin with. But... [ She glances to Stephen and Santana. She doesn't particularly want to leave, if he's still getting bandaged up. ]

[heathencall]

[He follows her gaze for a moment, then looks back at her. He motions with his head toward the door.]

If you don't mind, I would rather be as comfortable as possible for this.

[It won't be the worst pain he's experienced today, but by this point, he's weak enough that he's not sure he can get through another round and remain on his feet.]

[isawallflower]

[ Riley casts Stephen one more glance, but. She trusts Santana. What matters right now is getting Mephisto to rest. ]

...Okay. Okay, you're right. Just... [ She raises her voice, just a little. ] Santana? I'm gonna. I'm gonna take him to lay down, to...get him bandaged up. Okay?

[ ...She doesn't want to leave her alone, neither of them should. Really be doing this. But. ]