ϡ - Chapter TwentyTwo; Sweet dreams are not made of these [action/voice]

[folklorist]

[ It begins with deep breathing as if someone is injured or being held down against their will. There is no light, there is no sound, only darkness and nothing more. There's a man who looks exactly like him, a mirror image, cutting and kicking a foot into his skin and side. He's bound to a chair eyes shutting from the unfamiliar presence of the sudden light.

"You're a fool. You should have joined me when you had the chance. Anyone would have if they were in your position. I thought being one in the same would have aided in your decision."

"We-we're not the same, nothing at all!" The other man's voice...his voice, is shaky uncertain afraid. "You treat them like they're nothing, just...just stock for you to use. They're more than just that."

"Are they? I couldn't hear over your half assed reply. Do you think they deserve anything after what they've done to you? After what you've sacrificed for them to gain something? You seem to want to give them a chance, and what do they deserve? What have they ever done for you? Ha! Oh, yes, I forgot they're like a poor representation of a marginally less broken family, correct? You've had your chance to tame them and you failed."

The bound version of himself looks away jaw clenching an audible shaky sigh escaping before he replies. "Be quiet! They-that's not true. I never wanted to do that in the first pl-place."

"With magic comes power, and with power comes control. You're pathetic, no wonder you lost everything." The meaner, darker version of Helios replies. He is nothing like the other a completely different man in all aspects of the word. He is not

"Stop it! You-you have no right to speak about her like that." A scream tears through the bound man's throat. And the man with the same face has a wicked almost sinister grin on it.

"Murderer." They were the same but they weren't they had the same name, the same face and powers, but they were not. It begins with darkness and it ends in darkness as the dream fades. ]

Like a doppelganger. No, it's not real. None of it's re-real.

[ You might hear a strangled almost hysteric mantra coming over the journal's Luceti. The dreams have been proving to be a formidable foe to Luceti Valley's headmaster. The constant reliving of a life that you were certain wasn't yours. And that...inner turmoil was now just rekindled. He didn't want to think about it...that other half that was brought out by the Third Party being so in control in his dream. A life that, had you truly lived out, you wouldn't know how you'd be able to go on like that. It was wrong, familiar, and yet wrong because he couldn't even see his family in any of them.

Careful not to awake anyone Helios will slip out of CH7 and begin his walk, where to? He doesn't know but he's definately not sleeping anymore tonight. He'll be taking a walk well into the morning before happening upon one of the beasties. They track him more closely because of his past meeting with Rem. He doesn't know that and he hates being put into this position. It's too familiar, too real. The journal eerily silent will now capture the growling of a beast and a humanistic sharp intake of breath. ]

What...what are they. Go...go away.

[ His voice gets a little sharper, more different than how it is usually. But the creature does not leave and every step forward it takes Helios backs away before he finds himself backed up against a tree. Cornered. ]

I said leave me alone.

[ The voice transmission will cut off abruptly as the beginnings of a scuffle is heard. And then there is the crackling sounds of electricity accompanied by agitated growls before a yelp and a loud bang breaks the unending silence. Should anyone be in the woods between CH4 and CH7 there is now a dead beast in the forest a little way inward. Helios on the other hand will have left and be found around the village and general area. ]

(( ooc: AU Helios has something along the lines of MPD thanks to Giles and his imprisonment by the Third party way back when. Basically it's an excuse to portray his Mirror!verse side only slightly more realistic. So if you don't want to meet his suppressed, meaner, side I suggest you steer clear. Also the thread with Giles is going to be the main thread where Helios is brought down. Anyone else is free to reply and interact with him though! Characters might get injured if you catch him at the moment unexpectedly. But in general he'll just be snippy and not so nice. ))

Comments

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ That spell will go deep into the forest past the downed beast in the forest nearest to CH7. It might find Helios hovering over another dead body, but better he take his anger out one these things than people right?

It gives this side of him some small satisfaction at least. If Giles catches up with his brother there will be blood dripping from his left arm where the most recent beast caught his arm with its claws. ]

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles is barely a few seconds behind the flickering green light. That means Helios will have a few seconds warning that he's coming, but it also means that Giles will catch up with his brother.

He stops, bracing one arm against a tree and joining Helios in surveying the dead monster. He's not surprised. He's not...entirely surprised when he looks over at Helios properly and sees the blood staining the grass. But even so, a strange expression flickers over Giles' face at the sight. He looks almost sick, pained, sad. Guilty.

Which is stupid. Some of the spells Helios uses even in his normal state require blood. Giles knows this, although he's never liked it. Which is why the first words out of his mouth are this.]

...I hope that was this thing's doing. [Referring very obviously to the blood. He seems...almost horrifically transfixed by the sight of Helios' blood.]

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ He catches that light knowing exactly what it means. An audible annoyed sigh and a slight shrug of his shoulders as he hears Giles' question. Helios will turn looking at the other with a slightly twisted smile. He enjoys seeing Giles with those expressions...at least this side of him does. ] It proved to be rather formidable not nearly enough.

[ He doesn't pay his arm any heed though as he fully turns towards Giles. His right hand goes to his temple, rubbing it as he glares at Giles. ] So now what, are you going to tie me up and take me to our sister? So I can talk about my problems and everyone can go back to being blissfully unaware and happy?

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

...I don't want to tie you up.

And I'd like for Helios to be aware.

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Just some crackling electricity from his palm to fill that silence. ] Hm. Maybe he already is. But being aware can so such odd things to you.

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

Maybe he already is.

I doubt it. He wouldn't have let you kill these creatures.

[Action]

[folklorist]

Maybe. You know as well as I when we were in that facility being tortured he created me so I could do everything he could not. Feeble minded pacifist.

[ He just gives the beast behind him an abhorrent look. ] Nothing to be done about it now.

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

[And they both know that, in a twisted way, Giles owes his own survival to this Helios' creation. That they truly wouldn't have been able to escape if Helios hadn't stepped aside and let this man take the reigns.

It makes fighting him harder than it should be.]

I know.

But that was a long time ago. And you serve no purpose anymore.

[Action]

[folklorist]

Apparently we disagree in that regard. [ He will begin to pace it's a common action this and the other Helios share. Something of a shared trait that has transitioned through their respective personas. ]

Because here I am, again.

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

I don't actually care whether you agree or not.

If you care at all about Helios...and I know you have to, since you still exist at all...you won't make me take him to Paprika by force.

[Because he did pick up a coil of rope at the item shop. Along with a long, simple strip of black cloth meant to serve as a blindfold. Giles folds his arms tightly across his chest and says in little more than a whisper:]

I don't want to hurt him.

[Action]

[folklorist]

I care, of course I care. But I don't want to leave just yet.

[ There might be a small burst of fire that erupts beside Giles. Helios staring at the spot where it occurs before looking back at Giles. It's been so long since he's had this freedom just a little while longer, it's too soon. ]

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles doesn't flinch.]

So be it.

[Darting forward now, driving an elbow in at Helios' solarplexus.]

[Action]

[folklorist]

Damn it! [ It's said in a breathless whisper as practically all the air is forced out of his lungs. That hurts and Helios is driven back jaw clenched tightly shut. Giles might feel the air around them go stagnate and then a burst of wind will hit into him. And like a vacuum it'll suck out all the air around him while forcefully pushing him away.

Helios will be coughing trying to right himself, taking deep gulps of air as he does so. ]

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles braces his feet against the ground - flashing back to the tournament as he does so, the quick thinking brought about by dangerous terrain, the need to react. His eyes flash briefly black and a word in Latin ends the spell early.

He's left staggering from the force of the spell, his ears ringing, but he's on Helios a second later, grabbing at his wrist and elbow to try and wrench his arm behind his back.]

((ooc: So...does Robert need a voice post rescue now?))

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Giles no doubt has more physical strength than Helios does. He's always known that so when his brother grabs his wrist and twists his arm he can't help but let out a small cry of pain. He might stumble forward the ground around the two of them twisting and cracking but no projectiles are formed. Something, an inner conflict, is causing this Helios to hesitant. Like the sanity from the other half in holding him back trying to protect Giles at all costs. ] Arg! You-!

[ Just an angry sigh as Helios tries to wrench his arm away even if it means doing physical harm to himself. He hates contact especially on his arms and wrist. There's a loud crack as a stray bolt of lightning hits the tree branch overhead. ] Let go.

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

No.

And if you don't stop thrashing around, this is going to get worse for both of us.

[His voice is quiet, and calm, despite the effort he's having to exert to hold Helios in place. As it is, he'll wrap his other arm around Helios' chest in an attempt to hold his upper body in place.

But the next step if Helios doesn't stop is to restrain the other arm, the step after that is to pin him against a tree, then to tie him up, and then finally to blindfold him if all else fails.

All of which will, he knows, probably drive both sides of his brother mad with fear. It won't be the first time he's had to take such steps. But he's always, always hoped it would be the last.]

Please, just come with me.

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Sharp intake of breath. Can you feel his heart pounding rather fast in his chest, Giles? That's the fear overtaking the both of them. He hates it hates it, hates it, hates it. He might struggle a little more but he knows the deal, he's been through it before sadly enough. He knows why the rope and the blind fold is lying there and it drives him mad that it might be used. ] Damn it. I hate you.

[ It's almost half whimpered and not even half as menacing as he wanted it to be because this contact is maddening. He doesn't mean if only partially he still wants to fight and run. But it's Giles, it's his brother and no amount of hatred could possible force him to hurt the person now restraining him. ]

Re: [Action] - Yeah, he's going to hate Nero even more atter this

[consultmybooks]

I know.

...you have every right to. [Both of you do. He can feel the fear overtaking Helios in every line of his brother's body, and in his mind he hears Helios' voice, words that he never said but did, in another dream.

"At least it wasn't someone you knew. Like your brother."

He doesn't want to use the rope. But he's danced this dance too many times, and so he does, binding Helios' wrists behind his back.

His hands don't shake as he does so, and he hates himself for that. He wants to apologize again, and he knows it won't do any good because he'll just cry, and so he doesn't. He hates himself for that, too.]

We're going home.

[Action] - If Nero ever came to Luceti he'd get the crap beat out of him

[folklorist]

[ He goes ridged because it's a reflex that his body is simply used to. Mostly from the memories of the facility but also...those horrible memories of someone named Nero. He tries to curb the shudder that runs through his body, tries to stifle that whimper but it's sometimes too much. It's just multiple shaky sighs and silence on his end. He can't muster up enough energy to really defy the other or break away because the other side is pretty much gone, Helios' regular normal side taking control again, mostly. ] I-I'm sorry.

[ It's barely above a whisper and Giles might be able to hear it. But it's the whisper of a broken man and Helios doesn't say much more on their return back to the apartment. He's not even sure what happened exactly; he just remembers bits and pieces but finding himself bound by the wrists meant it had happened again. ]

Re: [Action] - Dude, *Spike* would be shocked at the level of violence that would ensue

[consultmybooks]

[Giles does hear it. And his hands tighten convulsively over Helios' wrists when he does. He lets out a shaking sigh that's almost a sob, then takes a deep breath in a vain attempt to steady himself.]

It's all right.

[Giles doesn't say much more on the way back, either. He keeps one hand on Helios' back in an attempt to steady him and stop him possibly tripping and falling. But the touch is so light that it might as well not even by there.]

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Despite the light touch the tightening of the other's grip on his tied hands gets an instinctive hunching motion out of Helios. He might even try to pull away but it's nowhere near as prominent as the other side's attempt. It's quiet walking back and they're almost to the apartment so he might as well ask it now. Quietly: ]

W-What did I do?

[ It's a small feeble, tired question. As if he dreads knowing the answer to said question. He hates this because he blacks out and never once could he remember what the other side has done. It's probably for self-preservation, but still he asks. ]

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

[Emotionally and physically spent, Giles sighs before giving Helios the grim recap.]

Killed a couple of the monsters prowling around.

Terrified Robert half to death. But he was able to get away - it didn't sound as though he was hurt.

Beyond that...I don't know.

S-Sorry.

[Action]

[folklorist]

I-I didn't kill anyone then. [ He sounds so anxious asking that. It's happened obviously when they escaped it happened to their captors. But these were innocent people. He didn't kill anyone then, that he knows of. But god...Robert saw him like that. ]

Monsters... [ Just a inwardly groan from him. ]

A-And Robert...he's not-he's not hurt. Thank gods. [ Though the relief is short-lived. He can only imagine what terrified half to death by his other half would entail. He doesn't have high hopes for ever being seen as nothing more than a monster to the other now. And that...backed by his hidden emotions makes for a very painful thought. He doesn't say anything to the apology thrown out. In a way he's sorry as well and in a way Giles' apology makes him feel a bit better. It was...both of their faults at one point or another. That side that needn't be used anymore...yet still exists. They both had created it inadvertently it was a desperate time and equally desperate measures. ]

I-I just had a bad dream. I-I didn't think anything would-would happen.

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles hopes to the Great One that Helios hasn't killed anyone. But he can't say for certain. He'll look into it later, but...]

No, you didn't kill anyone. And Robert's not hurt - he's probably back in the village by now. [And Giles will do his level best to find him and explain the situation to the other man. He deserves as much now, as does Helios.

Because it is both their faults. The Third Party may have been the catalyst, but something in Helios' mind is keeping his other half around and Giles' own hopeless, helpless surrender at the end had probably pushed him over the edge. To say nothing of moments like this, which probably only antagonize the other Helios, if he's still aware.]

You should have stayed in the apartment. You didn't know these things were wandering around?

[Action]

[folklorist]

I did. I-I just...didn't think I'd run into one of them. I made sure not to but then one- [ He goes silent. ] It was too dark, I didn't see it. I just left for a few moments to clear my head, these dreams kept waking me, and then...it all went blank.

[ Another tired sigh and his head might tilt towards the ground. ]