un: Eve 🔪; video

[wroughtandtempered]

[ the video opens to a large, serpentine beast with a wolf's pointed ears pulling back from the camera, having apparently started the recording via booping the phone's screen with her snoot. she flicks out a forked black tongue once, then lays her head down on her paws and says slowly: ]

What do you do when you feel like garbage, and you can't do anything to fix why? When you've just got to wait it out.

...I don't know how long I'm going to be waiting, so. The more ideas the better.

[ a beat, and then she adds: ]

Thanks.

[ —before reaching out to tap the phone again, this time with a paw. animal lovers, enjoy that brief full-screen shot of pink snakewolf toebeans before the feed cuts. ]

Comments

[daturameloxia]

I've been trying to come up with a low threshold explosive that will help her away from her kidnappers. Something easy and small. I thought it would be helpful if I could make something coin-sized.

I didn't have a chance yet.

[Primarily because he wanted to help Eve with a distraction, which led to this interaction.]

The alchemy helped me stay awake and I haven't needed to eat either.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Choco has so many options when she's cornered, he's pretty sure explosives would not make a difference. She may LIKE the explosives, but it wouldn't decide anything.]

You do know she's not helpful, right?

You also probably didn't need to eat because you haven't been and your body will just stop feeling hungry. The sleep thing is bad and its obviously been affecting you.

[daturameloxia]

[Wylan visibly deflates sitting back. So everything he's been doing this week has been entirely useless. Instead of tears, though, the self-hatred takes off instead. Will Relius even like his samples?

Would anyone?

And now he's blown his chance to work independently in the apartment.

Wylan ducks his head, chest heaving.] Just go away.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Not HELPLESS, whoops.]

She would probably think they're fun. I do too.

But she wouldn't want you doing all this for her.

[daturameloxia]

Doesn't matter, I've already done it. And done it for nothing.

[Except that sets off the alchemy and the pain in his chest starts with a slow burn. Wylan winces as he tries to shift into a comfortable position. However, with the ties, he can't really do that.

His breathing starts to slow, his pulse starts to pick up and he starts to sag again. It's never happened so many times before, he's not sure how many times he can take.]

I'm useless again.

[And then he's out for the count again. This time however, his pulse cuts out completely, punishing him for a lack of strength.]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[After his screaming fit, Wash was already making the switch to healing, and he can talk while switching. As soon as he goes down, he's getting another healing poured into him before he even checks his pulse.]

[daturameloxia]

[It takes a moment before Wylan is awake again, but he's more confused than usual when he wakes up. He and Wash were talking about something, something about how the work was fruitless, but he couldn't remember exactly why. He doesn't bother getting up and instead focuses on catching his breath.]

When did you get here?

[schrodingerscockroach]

[After the healing, he starts timing his pulse. Its really not steady at all.]

I've been here for a while. [A pause.] You were going to tell me who did the alchemy on you.

[daturameloxia]

[Wylan frowns, clearly confused by the request. But this is Wash, right? He can trust him?

Just as Wylan starts to open his mouth, he stops himself. It would be a betrayal to give up Relius like this.] How do you know about the alchemy?

[schrodingerscockroach]

You told me about it. After you passed out from heart problems.

[Which is true. Trying to keep it down to just one lie.]

[daturameloxia]

I did? [He shakes his ziptied hands and looks around. At least he’s in a familiar place.] I need to stop doing that. I’m supposed to get used to the alchemy over time.

[schrodingerscockroach]

How many times have you passed out this week?

[daturameloxia]

Only twice until… Eve was here, wasn’t she.

[schrodingerscockroach]

She was.

Two is far too much. And you're alone. This isn't a safe way to go about any kind of experiment.

[daturameloxia]

No, it’s alright. The alchemy helps keep me awake and I don’t need to eat.

It’s supplementing that with strength.

[schrodingerscockroach]

We had this conversation.

Things need fuel, don't they, Wylan?

[daturameloxia]

I don’t. [At least Wash is getting a smile instead of a frown?] I’m fine.

[Wylan tries to demonstrate how fine he is but that’s hard while tied up.]

Can I be untied? I’ll go with you.

[schrodingerscockroach]

You do. Magic isn't coming from nowhere. Energy can't be created from nothing and it can't be destroyed.

Something has to be fueling you.

You're going to take me to who did this?

[daturameloxia]

My hatred is fueling me. And the hatred is being fueled by my soul.

[Waaaait a second.]

I thought we discussed this already.

[sus]

[schrodingerscockroach]

You were light on the details and you still weren't believing on fueling magic things.

And that isn't a good thing. Hatred isn't a good thing for the soul and being the source. Hatred is...really the opposite affect on being good for the whole of a person. That is not a sustainable fuel source.

Hatred historically just grinds people to dust if it lasts too long.

[daturameloxia]

[Wylan shakes his head.] No, I have such a depth of hatred now. I never knew I had it before, but I do now. It's an infinite well of energy and power.

It is allowing me to power through any human needs, like breaks, sleep, food. It's impressive really.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Its not, Wylan.

I have had a lot of hatred. Far more hatred than you could ever have. I've used it as fuel.

But anger has a very short half life.

[daturameloxia]

[Wylan rolls his eyes at Wash.]

Are we done talking about this?

[schrodingerscockroach]

It will be when we go talk to whoever did this. [And get this removed.]

[daturameloxia]

Then we might be here forever.

[And Wylan dips into silence.