031 ☣ she has a lot of true colors

[fridgetothefire]

[Video, Public]

[The feed is at a slightly awkward angle, held one-handed. It's Anya and Two-Face. She's behind him, her chin on his shoulder on the scarred side, her other arm wrapped around him and holding a slim black knife at his throat. The knife and her hand are already thoroughly bloody, though his neck is - thus far - unscathed. Two-Face looks furious and strained. Anya looks fierce but cold and calm, almost serene.]

Two-Face is losing a lot of blood. Someone should come help him to the infirmary. We're in the library, historical nonfiction, MA to MC.

Comments

[with_my_teacup]

I can see that.

I don't actually care what his reasons are for pulling this shit. I never care what his reasons are. But I should probably ask anyway.

[fridgetothefire]

He hates me. I knew it, I didn't back off.

[She shrugs.]

I don't really want to talk about him.

[She does want to talk. Just...Two-Face can explain his own damn self. She's tired of trying to gauge him.]

[with_my_teacup]

[He holds out his hand towards a corner, where what could have been another pile of fur-- but really isn't-- unfolds itself lazily. Partner investigates his hand, licks it, gets a scone, goes back to a sleep he doesn't need.

Partner likes Anya. He remembers she smelled like Arthas' magic. He didn't even bother to wake up for her when she came in, because Arthas magic is good magic so Anya's allowed. Undead logic.

It's a useful silence for Riddick, check-on-dog yes-good-dog, a little time to think.]

I'ma need your input on something. But... later. Definitely later.

You hurt at all?

[fridgetothefire]

[Good dog. She smiles a little, watching them.]]

Some bruising. Less than I usually come out of practice sessions with, honestly.

[with_my_teacup]

Good. You did a good job. Effective, not stupid, not cruel.

[That's verging on 'talking about him,' though; he lapses back into quiet.]

[fridgetothefire]

I did like it. At a certain point.

[When she knew she was going to win. She's not distraught by this, and less surprised than she wants to be. She's not pleased with it either. It's just. A thing she's going to have to deal with.]

[with_my_teacup]

[He nods.]

Liking it's fine. If you know when to stop. If you don't get greedy. He'll probably live.

I do know the feeling.

[fridgetothefire]

[She nods, blows out a slow breath.]

The only time I ever killed someone with my own hands, she was - she didn't deserve it. It was awful.

This was about as different as it could be, but it feels mixed-up in my head. It'll probably sort out if I just let it settle.

[with_my_teacup]

Adrenaline's not real good for philosophical thinking.

Speaking of which. Lemme see your hands; need to check on your circulation, see if the stress is fucking with it.

[fridgetothefire]

[She holds them out dutifully.]

[with_my_teacup]

[He tests their temperature between his, rubbing gently. Doesn't seem shocky, which honestly he wasn't expecting, but he rubs soothingly still.]

[fridgetothefire]

[She lets her eyes close, relaxes a little more.]

Mm. Feels nice.

[with_my_teacup]

[He hmms a little agreement, turning the touch into a massage, rubbing her palms with his thumbs.]

How long you had the knife?

[fridgetothefire]

Since just after Silent Hill.

[Almost five months.]

[with_my_teacup]

Good. [He twines his big blunt fingers in hers, gently shifting them back and forth to take the tension.]

You got another one?

[fridgetothefire]

A spare, though I don't carry it all the time.

[She could get whatever weapons she wanted, now, she realizes. It's a shame most of them are metal. Kevlar, though, because she knows from Sokolov that Two-Face has access to firearms at least some of the time. Something from 2030, 2050, light and flexible and effective. She should make a shopping list.]

[with_my_teacup]

You should start carrying a spare. I can show you how to hide them, if you need. How to make them in an emergency.

[fridgetothefire]

I can always use more ways to hide them, I guess.

[She unsheathes and hands over the one she's carrying now for scrutiny. It's easier to see now that it's not covered in blood, but the blade is dark grey ceramic.]

I don't like carrying metal. I mean, emergencies, sure, but not as regular thing.

[with_my_teacup]

[He takes one of the ceramic knives from his chest harness and offers it for an inspection trade-- this one worn where someone might keep a shoulder holster.

The ceramic is matte black, sucking in what little light there is in his room.]

Yeah. I get you. Too easily detected. And... pushed.

Mega made me these.

[He examines Anya's knife, spinning it lightly between his fingers, checking the balance.]

[fridgetothefire]

After Silent Hill...I trust Erik, mostly, and Zane. But Magneto's always going to be my demon, and we all know the barge loves those. So it just seemed better to be vigilant about it.

[No metal, no metal ever, except the twisted strip of nickel and zinc that she's going to use to mess with Harvey's head someday. Not today, but - sooner, now. The knife is balanced for close-quarters work, more than throwing, but it's good. The Admiral made it to order and after that disaster he seemed contrite enough to give Lua what she actually needed.]

[with_my_teacup]

[He purses his lips.]

It's a good plan, as long as you're ready to grab metal if metal's all that's there.

...I don't actually worry about you that much, mostly. You're resourceful. [He hands the knife back.] You work hard. You learn. You know most of the lessons I got to teach already.

[fridgetothefire]

If it's there and I need something, yeah. I just can't...habitually. Or rely on it at all. Feels like painting a target on.

[She slips the knive back into its pocket-sheathe, breathes out, smiles softly. It feels good to hear. She's good, she's going to be okay.]

Thanks, Riddick.

[with_my_teacup]

Any time.

[He reaches out to brush her cheek with his knuckles, affectionate and casual. His face is soft; he can feel it.

His experience with other Furyans amounts to one brainwashing victim, one statue, one psychic vision. Hard to really pull together a picture of a whole race from that. But he thinks it would be like this, to know others. To be surrounded by people who thought like him, whose thought processes he understood, who he didn't have to make mental corrections for.

Yeah. It would be like this.]

[fridgetothefire]

[She leans into the touch, rubbing back catlike against his hand, eyes closed in contentment.]

I gotta. Touch base with everybody else.

[People will be worried. Are worried. That's a nice feeling too.]

[with_my_teacup]

Yeah. [He uncurls his finger, runs his palm across her hair, reminiscent of the way he rubs his own scalp sometimes.]

Room's open for you if you need it after. Should be quiet. Mega comes in sometimes and sleeps, Selina might drop by to use the shower. I'll prolly be in the kitchen.