EPIC SIDESTORY: LOVER'S DUEL CONTINUED

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

[Pain got a call from Viper fifty minutes ago telling him to show up for a fight or he'd kill Alek.]

[Forty minutes ago, Pain called his 'nephew' Ocelot for help and started a plan.]

[Twenty-five minutes ago, The Pain used Mantis to find the Sorrow and figured out the plan.]

[And now he's waiting for Sorrow to report back on the state of Viper's traps before he goes to confront him. He's going to rescue Alek, no matter what he has to do.]

[The Pain is here. The Pain is not happy.]

[The Pain is ready.]



((for actuallyhornets , donttripwire , old_gunslinger , a_sign_of_rain  and hall_patrol ))

Comments

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

Don't underestimate yourself. If Viper had proven as much of a threat as I had anticipated, you would be the only reason Alek would be alive.

[A small squeeze for the man in his arms as he follows Ocelot.]

Do you want it treated, or are you going back to take care of your Big Boss? I'm heading to see Para-Medic after this.

[old-gunslinger.livejournal.com]

Hnn... I'm curious about the level of response we received...

[Ocelot leads them down the corridor, alert as --well-- a cat. But they seem to be in the clear.]

I'd ask you to please not qualify Big Boss like that. [Even if that's what he does in his own head.] As for that, yes. I don't wish to trouble the good doctor any more today.

[He peeks around the corner of the next hallway. Empty as before, and there's the theater. He motions Pain along.]

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

Yes; why wasn't my evil self still there? Wouldn't Viper have brought reinforcements? And why were't there any lethal traps?

[The hornets buzz, still on alert.]

Why not? It's true, isn't it?

...

Or is it too disturbing having a reletive talk about him in that way?

[He nods and continues following.]

[old-gunslinger.livejournal.com]

[He looks back at Pain. He has his own suspicions about the ease with which this operation was carried out, but he won't relate his thoughts until he's sure. Something in the way control was taken away from him on that last tripwire hints strongly that they're being monitored at the least; manipulated at worst. An adept puppeteer never appreciates being turned into a puppet.]

I couldn't say.

[He checks the theater door. Locked. Fortunately, his projectionist key takes care of that. He should enter first to ensure Para-Medic and the other two inside are where and how they should be-- though he doesn't intend to interact with Jane beyond that.]

No more or less disturbing than anyone else doing it... Let's not get into ownership at all, if it's all the same to you. He's just as free as I am.

Wait here.

[He ducks inside.]

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

[Pain has his suspicions as well, but none nearly as well-formed as Ocelot's. He's never been very good at fighting an unknown.]

It's not ownership. You don't say "my religion" in the sense that it belongs to you as if it was shoes; the same goes for Big Boss. It's...more than that, you know?

...

Alright.

[He waits, rocking back on his heels in nervousness. Hopefully he'd be back soon; he had no idea if the powder was permanent or not, and he's still somewhat restless from the battle.]

[hall-patrol.livejournal.com]

...Pain? We can go to my room you think?

[After everything that's happened in the last couple of hours, he just wants to recover somewhere comfortable, with as few people as possible seeing him in his current state.]

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

After we see Para-Medic. I want to make sure that you don't have any permanent injuries, and although I have some medical skill, I don't know what to do about paralysis.

Although...I don't know if your room would be safe with everything that's going on. And if we want to gather the hall patrol together to figure out how to stop the evil Cobras, this place would be easier to use than your room.

[He gives him a soft squeeze.]

We'll figure something out once you get some treatment, alright?

[hall-patrol.livejournal.com]

But I do not want to see Para-medic. I am sure it is not permanent...

...Please? It is not like it is safer with Para-medic. She is not fighter.

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

...

Let me check in with her, at least. I don't want her to worry. And it might be better to go to my room; I can set the hornets to kill anyone that's not me me and you with no fuss.

[hall-patrol.livejournal.com]

[He sighs quietly in relief.]

Thank you.

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

[Another squeeze.]

...

Can I ask what happened?

[hall-patrol.livejournal.com]

...I was guard the base when I saw many hornet come down hallway. So I run from them because I know they are not your hornet. But then evil you were wait for me in other hallway and catch me while I run. Then he call that man Viper and they bring me to room.

And... you know rest.

[He decides to skip over the details of what was said and done while he was there. Pain can see the haircut, anyway.]

will be slow tonight :|

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

...

[Alek is hiding something. And Pain is not the kind of man who lets sleeping dogs lie, especially if those dogs could do psychological harm in the future.]

I don't know the rest. What happened after they took you to the room?

Likewise :|

[hall-patrol.livejournal.com]

...They put me on hook and that Viper cut my hair. Evil you did not stay long, just say something and leave. [What he said isn't important, of course not!]

Viper act... a little familiar to me, he compare me to someone else.

lol lucky timing this time

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

What did evil Pain say? And what did Viper do and say?

[Everything is important to Pain!]

[hall-patrol.livejournal.com]

...

[He's not talking.]

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

[He looks down at him sadly, giving him another squeeze.]

Alek, please...

[old-gunslinger.livejournal.com]

[Ocelot returns from inside.]

The third, Natalia, seems to have gone off. You'll have to get the full details from Dr. Clark. This place should be secure for the foreseeable.

[He surveys the two of them, while avoiding Alek's gaze. He'll address his own sins at some less overburdened time.]

I'm off. [quick salute] If there are problems, use that radio of yours. It should still be the most reliable means of contact.

[Turns to depart.]

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

Understood. I'll call if something happens.

[He nods, then looks to Alek.]

And now we need to make sure you're not permanently like that.

[old-gunslinger.livejournal.com]

[Hears that. He speaks over his shoulder as he's walking off.]

It should wear off. If I'm right, this is the same powder I've been struck with several times in the past... possibly explaining why the effect was mitigated somewhat for me.

Dr. Clark should know how to speed the process along. Once you've played doctor to Big Boss, anyone else is a cakewalk.

[This is what qualifies as reassurance out of him, recently.

So he's gone.]

[hall-patrol.livejournal.com]

See? It is fine. I can already move fingers.

[He wiggles them experimentally, despite still being tapped behind his back.]

We do not need see anyone.

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

...Well, if that makes you feel better... But I still want to know what happened with evil m--Evil Pain and Viper.

[He goes inside the theater, locking it behind him with a key hanging next to the door. He wanders around until he finds a small room with a bed and some supplies in it inside the theater (because when has the Nexus made sense?) and lies Alek down on it face-down. He starts taking out the medical supplies, then grabs a knife.]

[Pain climbs on the bed and starts slowly untaping Alek's hands, eyeing the handcuffs on as well. Evil Pain was a resourceful bastard.]

/Please talk to me, Alek./

[hall-patrol.livejournal.com]

[He lies there passively as Pain begins releasing his hands from the tape. His arms and shoulders are stiff and sore- he feels exhausted and angry.]

/What do you want me to tell you? How can I share what they say? What if they are right?/

[actuallyhornets.livejournal.com]

[Once he finishes with the tape, he pulls at the handcuffs until the chain snaps. He gently manuevers Alek's arms to his sides, then carefully pulls his shirt down so he can check his shoulders.]

/If they said something that's bothering you, it's better to get it out now than let it gnaw on your mind for months./

[hall-patrol.livejournal.com]

[He winces as the chain connecting the handcuffs snaps, but almost moans out loud in relief when Pain frees his arms to his sides.]

...

/And what makes you think you know what is better for me?/