the sound of his voice, it never got old

in_verbatim @ 2008-12-13T23:44:00

2008-12-14T04:49:04Z

Mr. Soze has been home for the last few months, living out his old life again, just like he dreamed of.

* Soze has been home for three months now. Every night, he hears the humming in his ears like a train or a river, the same humming he's been hearing since the anniversary of his death. Still, the Nexus is a distant dream, a sepia colored painting, the fake watch in his coat pocket. It's nothing more than that. This is what he tells himself. (But he feels so tired these days.)
* Soze doesn't travel as much as he usually does, these days, not since his identity was compromised almost two years ago. He seldom sleeps in the same place twice. He wears green colored contacts under a pair of thick-rimmed glasses, and he's grown a beard. Plastic surgery is probably on the table, but for now he wants to take his time. Adjust. Bring the world back into his command.
* Soze is tucked in Pakistan this week, the country where he built himself up after fleeing Turkey, where he formed contacts and stabbed people in the back and cemented his name over a decade ago. He has some of his closest allies here, at least the ones who know his face, and also some of his strongest business prospects.
* Soze isn't with people who know him by face now, though. Soze's name for tonight is Paul Essex, and he's supposed to be a middleman for a tall, Pakistani man who everyone thinks is named Kermani. He takes his clients to dinner--a nice, fancy restaurant in the tourist district--and goes with them back to a hotel room where they can discuss their business a little more privately. The drug of the day is cocaine (it usually is) and the price clocks in around 20 million.
* Soze eventually excuses himself from the room--he needs to think things over, he says, and takes his translator with him, even though he can speak Urdu himself. (The translator is armed, of course.) He takes a smoke break outside, meets with his 'boss' in another hotel room ("we're going to take it," he tells him, and then goes) and then joins his translator back on the sixth floor again.
* SozeFlunkie is standing there in the hallway waiting for Soze's return, the heavy scent of smoke still present on his breath. He's a decent sized guy, yet he doesn't seem the overly intimidating type, just standing there with his hands in his pockets and his weight shifted to one leg.
* Soze nods wordlessly, indicating that he should lead the way back to the room. Yes?
Gabriel: It is very quiet in the hallway.
* SozeFlunkie as Soze nods at him, he turns and walks ahead of the man, hands leaving his pockets once they reach their destination. He looks pretty relaxed, and why wouldn't he be? There hasn't been a sound in this hallway to indicate anything is out of the ordinary. Keycard in hand he slips it into the door, turning the handle and pushing the door inwards once the light flashes green.
* Soze follows behind him, giving the occasional glance at the hallway around them.
Gabriel: The room is just as they left it, save for the blood, a bright arterial spray decorating the wall opposite the door. To the right, one of Soze's business associates never left his seat, his throat deeply cut. To the left, the second man lies on his back, blood blossoming from the center of his hand-tailored shirt, his own gun half-pulled from his shoulder holster. The third and final man had pulled his gun, and had unfortunately lost his gun hand for doing so. Deep cuts adorn his face and his chest. It's impossible to tell at first glance exactly which wound was the killing blow.
* SozeFlunkie 's eyes widen at the gory display he hadn't quite expected to walk into. Oh. Well. That's not good. He curses under his breath and starts to back away from the door, keeping his body in front of Soze as he does so, and he moves to draw the gun hidden at the small of his back as his eyes scan the room for the culprit.
* Soze 's immediate reaction is panic-- the calm always comes a few moments later-- and so he scans the room as well, pale, before thinking better of it and quickly glancing behind him.
Gabriel: A lone figure stands behind him, dressed in dark clothing and a black longcoat. He looks like he's raided Trent Reznor's closet as there are leather straps and buckles criss-crossing his chest. A dark, wide-brimmed hat and a grey scarf mask his head and face. The only features showing are fierce blue eyes, lined with age. And then there are the really, really large knives in his hands. The blades clean, but are dotted with blood near the hilts. The man is blocking the exit.
* SozeFlunkie finding no immediate culprit upon scanning the room, he grabs the door handle and slams the door shut again, holding it shut with his hand. Whoever did this did it with knives and not guns. /They/ had the superior weapon here, so... how had this person managed to kill /three/ guys with guns? He moves to turn to Soze... and that's when he sees who's behind them. He starts to go pale, like he's seen a ghost, and that gun hand rises, aiming quickly for the man.
* Soze doesn't recognize Gabriel immediately-- not with that outfit and his face covered save for the eyes. In a split second decision, he goes for his own gun, buried in the inside pocket of his suit.
Gabriel: The man takes a step forward, raising his arms and attempting to push/shove Soze into the room, /through/ the door, if necessary. Curiously, he does not use the knives themselves. He seems to be ignoring the guns for the moment.
* SozeFlunkie is knocked aside a bit as Gabriel shoves Soze past him into the door, but as soon as he's regained his footing he's firing at the man.
Gabriel: He takes a shoulder hit which spins him around, then another in the chest. Funny though, he's getting back up... and as he does so, he throws the right-handed kukri at the flunkie.
* SozeFlunkie stares for a moment when the man just... gets back up. You don't just get /get back up/ after being shot twice, once being in the /chest/. He's so shocked, actually, that he doesn't have time to even try to dodge that blade. It sinks into the bulletproof vest beneath his shirt, deep enough to puncture flesh. He gives a surprised sound of pain before firing at Gabe again, point blank at his chest.
Gabriel: He /felt/ that, reeling and stumbling backwards into Soze. He's not sure the suit held, but he's not instantly blacking out so he assumes it did. Nevertheless, this tilts his windmill a bit more than the last two, and it takes him a moment to regain his bearings.
* Soze goes to shove Gabriel off him, teeth clenched, so that he can start digging for his gun again and figuring out how to get the fuck out of here.
* Gabriel grunts, annoyed, and throws the other knife at the thug.
* SozeFlunkie tries to bring the gun up to block with but the tip of that knife still slices into the side of his throat, just enough to sever that vital artery. His eyes fly wide and he stumbles back as blood starts to /spurt/ from that wound, each spray in time to his heartbeat. He goes down, dropping the gun and clutching at the wound desperately, blood pressing between his fingers. Safe to say he's not going to be a problem for you anymore, Gabe.
* Soze doesn't take any time to mourn the man. All he's thinking about is how -guns aren't working-, and so, steady as ever, he lunges to elbow Gabriel in the face.
Gabriel: Finally finished with the detritus, he turns back to his prize and gets an elbow square in the face. His hat, which likely should have been knocked off several minutes ago (but his mun is half awake), is finally dislodged, showing off a nicely shaved head. Stumbling backward, he grabs Soze by the shirt and takes the man with him.
* SozeFlunkie is busy bleeding out on the floor. He frantically tries to apply pressure to the wound at his throat, but it's far too late at this point. There's a few more moments of struggling on the ground, his breath fast with panic, before he falls into a dazed sort of state, the spurting slowing to a pulsing gush. Finally, he slips unconscious. A few seconds later, the bleeding slows to nothing more than an ooze as there is no longer a pulse to send it from his body.
* Soze knows who it is now. Of course. Of course. He -laughs-, actually, short and rough, before allowing Gabriel to pull him closer, using the momentum to add strength to a punch, aiming for his face.
* Gabriel gets another to the face before he can react properly, and they both go over onto the floor. As they fall, he bends his knee, aiming for Soze's stomach.
* Soze chokes, but then his hand is going for his pocket and -not- grabbing for his gun, but instead a PINpoint. He slams down a few keys and the two of them snap out of the hotel lobby-- and down into the storage rooms in the basement. Cold, hard concrete.
Gabriel: The cold centers him, and he thrusts his fists toward Soze's stomach, trying to dislodge the man, get enough room to pull his glock.
* Soze doesn't give up very easily. The fists connect, alright, and they knock the wind out of him, but before he's even recovered, he's aiming to hit Gabriel in the face again. He moves mechanically, like he's going through a routine. Like he can never stop.
* Gabriel slams his fists in again--get off him, damnit! Tries to tuck his chin in so that Soze's blows aren't hitting as square, but he can't. He's starting to see stars. Something needs to happen.
* Soze sees that Gabriel's starting to get disoriented-- he knows the signs. He quickly rolls off of him, scrambling for his gun again.
Gabriel: As soon as Soze is off of him, he reaches for the gun strapped to his thigh. The scarf he'd used to mask himself is now falling free, and he grabs a fistful of the fabric, pulling it off. He's still reeling and his face is already feeling like pulp, but he knows he needs to get the first shot. He /needs/ to regain control of the situation.
* Soze is halfway to his feet when he has the gun pulled on Gabriel. He isn't even panting-- much.
* Gabriel smiles. He has his own gun, but it's not pointing at Soze. Just a slight too slow. Fucking guns. If he'd had his kukris--but no, they were wasted on the flunky. Stupid. Even so, he smiles as if he's the one with the advantage.
Soze: "You made a really shitty decision."
Gabriel: "Simply tying up loose ends."
* Soze purses his lips, almost smiling. "Who told you where to find me?"
Gabriel: "Does it matter?" Gabriel mentally figures how long it would take him to hit the panic button on his PIN versus the time it would take Soze to shoot him in the head. Must think of a plan b.
* Soze can shoot you in the head very quickly, Gabriel. "I want to know. It took you long enough."
Gabriel: "I took my time. You weren't going anywhere, were you?" Duck sideways? No, the man is a very good shot. This is not a positive position. Another tack, perhaps. "And why is that?"
Soze: "I'd like you to answer my question," he says, perfectly calm and patient. His patience is further displayed by how he-- without the slightest hesitation-- abruptly aims his gun at Gabriel's leg and -fires.-
* Soze quickly rearranges his aim for Gabriel's head again. Hello, there.
* Gabriel stumbles, but catches himself before he falls. Shit, that hurt. Righting himself, he starts to raise his own gun. Two can play at this game. "Repeat the question."
Soze: "Drop your weapon."
Gabriel: "In the form of a question, Alex." Nah, he'll just point it at you, Soze.
* Soze gives a short, bitter laugh. Now he's getting nervous. "Fuck you."
Gabriel: "Fuck me? Fuck you." He doesn't want to kill Soze yet. Why not? He doesn't quite remember. Oh yes. Kill Soze, get the hell out. He remembers Z stressing the speed, the need to get back. But... He takes a shot, aiming for the shoulder. /Drop the gun/. Try anything once.
* Soze fires his gun a split second later, before the bullet lodges deep into his shoulder-- a sharp, maddening pain. He lets his arm drop, gritting his teeth. The pain goes all the way down his arm and neck.
* Gabriel catches Soze's bullet in the arm, feels the impact all the way through to the bone, hears the slug hit the floor. He was going to /kiss/ whoever made this suit when he got back. And he /would/ get back. He was gaining control again. "I searched for you all over the fucking place. I grilled everyone who knew you." Pointing the gun at Soze's head now.
* Soze is panting finally. He stares at Gabriel, searching for a weakness, an exit, anything. He should have killed him at the first opportunity, no questions asked. He was too confident. He was careless.
Gabriel: "I even asked Levitt. He had no fucking clue. So I went to the only one I could think of." Closer yet. He wants to see the man's eyes when he kills him. He isn't sure why, but it's /important/. He needs to remember this moment. This. /Moment/.
* Soze eyes widen visibly at the sound of Jeff's name. (These are things he shouldn't be thinking about it. There's no proof of anything. It's all over.) He thinks about tossing his gun to the other hand-- judges the odds. He thinks about playing along. "Who?" he asks.
Gabriel: "Flavius. Of /course/ he'd know. And he did. And now you and I are here. As it should be." Tension on the trigger, the barrel nearly between Soze's eyes now. Cold, not-sane, blue eyes above a serpent smile. Yes. Now.
A_lawyer: Cold metal against the back of Gabriel's head. A command again, the words smooth and polite, as if anyone could afford to be diplomatic in this sort of situation. (He can.) "Release your weapon."
Gabriel: He freezes. Another one? He killed them all. All of them. Dead. How? He grips the weapon, not moving an inch. "We seem to be at an impasse."
A_lawyer: "I will not ask you again," says the voice, keeping its calm professionalism. "I have no idea who you are, and so I have no qualms about killing you right here, right now. If you stop, perhaps you'll be spared."
* Soze watches the newcomer out of the corner of his eye, but for the most part, he keeps his eyes locked on Gabriel. He isn't going to lose.
Gabriel: "I cannot let him live. I'm sorry, but you can kill me. He's going to die." Dead. Calm. He starts to pull the trigger.
* A_lawyer meets Soze's eyes before abruptly swinging the gun back, aiming to hit Gabriel hard on the side of his head.
* Soze reads his signal and -ducks-, doing his best to avoid the gunshot while Gabriel's off balance.
Gabriel: The gun goes off, burying itself in the wall behind Soze, narrowly missing him as he moves. Gabriel himself gets a pistol in the back of the head, cracking his skull and sending him off balance. The gun goes flying.
* Soze swiftly shifts his gun to his uninjured hand, takes aim, and fires, going for the neck or head or anything not covered by the suit.
* Gabriel hears the shot before he realizes what's happened. He can't move, he can't breathe, he can't-- damnit. Dead again. Not in the Nexus. Not at home. Not-- ... .. .
* A_lawyer flinches only slightly when the shot goes off, but nothing about his expression changes. He and Soze, they're two peas in a pod. Wonderful.
* Soze exhales, lowering his gun. His arm is killing him. He walks over to Gabriel, shoots him again, and then steps back. There's the humming again, washing over his ears. Jeff. He talked to Jeff.
* Gabriel would say 'yeah I did, you fucker,' but he's dead as toast.
Soze: "I'll explain later," he lies, voice bland. He isn't even looking at the other man.
A_lawyer: "There's no need."
* Soze is quiet for a long moment, looking down at Gabriel's body. Everything's changing. Everything could be -changing.- "Let's get out of here," he says finally. He has work to do.

The next week.

Home

2008-09-03T18:02:27Z

[20:21] * MrGrey is, as usual, nosing around the Nexus. If anything, out of boredom, although there might be more reason to it. Hands in his pockets and his hat pulled low, he walks briskly.
[20:30] * Soze , meanwhile, has more of a purpose. He'd promised earlier to treat Jeff to lunch out in one of the safe, non-LOLed restaurants. He doesn't know if it's an apology or a favor or what. He hasn't mentioned leaving the Nexus in days, but that doesn't mean he isn't thinking about it.
[20:30] * Soze walks briskly as well, taking the occasional glance down at his watch. He still has a few minutes before Jeff's expecting him.
[20:34] * MrGrey does a slow double-take. Hm. He detours slightly to approach Soze, mostly out of curiousity than anything else. His PIN is in his coat pocket; his fingers curl around it out of habit.
[20:38] * Soze would have PINpointed directly to the restaurant if he were sure of its location. As is, he's caught out in the Nexus, away from the anti-violence field, and mere meters away from one of his enemies. Great. He stops walking when he sees that Grey is approaching him. He doesn't stick his hands into his pockets-- no need to make the other guy overreact-- but he does brush his hands against the side of them. PINpoint. Gun. More than that, probably. Okay.
[20:42] * MrGrey isn't looking for a confrontation. He's just bored. Damn the Nexus for giving him the randomly chatty habit. "Evening. How are you?" Easy smile.
[20:48] Soze: "Great," he says with a flat, forced cheerfulness. "And you?"
[20:49] MrGrey: "Well enough." A beat. "How is Jeff's restaurant coming along?"
[20:55] * Soze keeps the smile. "It's coming along -great-, thanks for asking." He moves to go past Grey. "Sorry," he says, voice and expression fading back to neutral, "but I'm kind of in a rush."
[20:56] MrGrey: "Where are you off to?" Grey's got nowhere to be, so he'll follow.
[20:57] * Soze continues to walk, glancing behind him as he goes. "It isn't any of your business."
[20:57] * MrGrey shrugs, continuing to walk. "Sorry to bother you." He doesn't sound all that sorry, and he's still following.
[20:58] * Soze stops suddenly, turning around to face him. "Do you mind?"
[20:59] MrGrey: "Not really. You're going my way." Grey does a very good impression of an innocent confusion.
[21:02] Soze: "I doubt that."
[21:03] * MrGrey spreads his hands, palms out. "I'm sorry if I make you nervous. I can go another way." An odd emphasis on the word 'nervous'.
[21:09] * Soze has told Jeff about this before, about how he hates this place because it makes him -fear.- Grey's words, then, earn a narrowing of his eyes. When he speaks, there's an edge to his voice that wasn't there before. "Please."
[21:19] MrGrey: The corner of Grey's mouth quirks up. "You have no reason to fear, Mr. Soze. I won't say a word to anyone."
[21:26] * Soze goes rigid. For a second, he can't believe what he just heard, but Grey -did- say that, didn't he? Grey knows. He's always known, and it's been so -fucking obvious...-
[21:27] * Soze throws on a dangerous smile. "What are you talking about?"
[21:27] MrGrey: "Please," he says, imitating Soze's earlier tone.
[21:29] * Soze clicks his tongue. He doesn't lower his eyes. "How'd you find out?"
[21:31] * MrGrey simply smiles. Why should he show his hand, even though Soze has? "It doesn't matter. And as I said, your secret is /safe/." He takes out his PINpoint, making it seem obvious that he will travel another way.
[21:37] * Soze wouldn't trust Grey with his dry cleaning, let alone his -life.- Sure, if Grey tells, he can easily jump out of the Nexus and disappear. It isn't like he wasn't considering it anyway. But he hates being boxed in, and he -sees- this, how Grey has something to hold over his head.
[21:38] Soze: "Oh, thanks, I appreciate it. I mean, I'm sure you get the importance of keeping secrets."
[21:39] MrGrey: "Mmm." Tappity tap on the PIN. Pause. "What do you mean by that, hm?"
[21:44] Soze: All Soze wants to do is punch him, -hard-, but he knows he'd probably do poorly in a physical confrontation. This would have to suffice. "I'm saying," he starts, slowly, "that I'm not the only one who likes to keep secrets."
[21:45] * MrGrey narrows his eyes, tilting his head. "Explain. Now." His voice holds command, and a warning. Tell me, or face the consequences.
[21:48] * Soze gives a short, harsh laugh, but his eyes stay dead. "Don't think I'm blind, Mr. Grey. I can see you're like me. I can see you're surrounded by something bigger than you. You have a reason for the things you do, and maybe even orders. What's stopping you from attacking me right now?"
[21:55] MrGrey: A look crosses Grey's face, moving from caution, through anger, and stopping at bland. Invisible tendrils reach out, slide around Soze's shoulders, neck, waist. "Nothing."
[22:01] * Soze was trying to get a rise out of him and -knew- he might attack, but not like this. He could have let him attack, and then he could have dodged and PINpointed away. He could have left knowing that he was winning. That he had made him break. Now, look at him.
[22:01] * Soze barely flinches when he feels the tendrils. He keeps his eyes on Grey, expression as calm as ever.
[22:12] MrGrey: Grey never moves. His control has been honed by years of practice, training, and work. If Z had wanted, he could be an assassin, and a very good one. The tendrils tighten, suddenly and painfully.
[22:14] * MrGrey reaches into his jacket and withdraws something that catches the dwindling light. His glass knife. He shouldn't take chances, but this is Soze. He wants to bleed him, just a bit, before finishing the job.
[22:20] * Soze doesn't give Grey the satisfaction of screaming, but he does gasp when the tendril tightens about his neck, forcing the air out of it. -Now- his survival instinct kicks in, buzzing in his head where there was once apathy. Though the tendrils around his shoulders make it difficult to move his arms, he struggles for his pockets, trying to recover his gun.
[22:26] MrGrey: No, no, that won't do. More tendrils wind around Soze's arms, keeping his hands from his pockets. He knows the flatscan is full of tricks, and he's not going to spend weeks in hospital again.
[22:26] MrGrey: Without hesitation, he pushes the knife into Soze's abdomen. It's very, very sharp, but doesn't go far. It's a small knife.
[22:41] * Soze chokes quietly when the knife goes in, but he doesn't lose his footing. His head is heavy with the lack of oxygen. His fingers are numb. Still, he doesn't look away from Grey as if he can still afford to be -defiant.- Things are failing, though-- his plan and maybe even his life --and in those eyes, there's also fear. Quite a bit of it, actually.
[22:45] * Jeff_Levitt began to get worried when Keyser didn't show up for lunch. For all the other faults one would be able to accurately place on Keyser, a lack of punctuality wasn't one of them. When the time went from "something's holding him up" to "okay, something is *wrong.*" He went looking for him. He rounds the corner, to see his friend bleeding and strangled.
[22:45] Jeff_Levitt: Oh my God.
[22:47] Jeff_Levitt: Without hesi--okay, let's be accurate here. Without *thinking*, he breaks into a run. It would be nice to say he has some sort of plan, but that's giving him too much credit. He just needs to *stop* this somehow.
[22:51] MrGrey: Grey is just pulling the knife back when he hears the all-too-familiar voice. /Levitt/. Momentarily startled, the tendrils loosen--the ones holding Soze's arms dissipate completely--and Grey turns to see Levitt running. /Jesus Christ, Levitt/. Blood running from his fingers and down his arm, he is caught fast. Pursue or finish it?
[22:59] * Soze takes a deep, shuddering breath before diving for his pockets again. His vision is filled with grey blobs and he can hardly direct his hands, but he finds his gun easily enough and raises it, firing blindly at Grey.
[23:02] Jeff_Levitt: [Oh Jesus...Oh Jesus...]
[23:04] * MrGrey catches the bullet in the lower back, right above his hip, and he falls hard. The tendrils drop completely.
[23:04] * Jeff_Levitt 's panting with the effort of sprinting, and they're still painfully far away. At least Gabriel seems to have been distracted momentarily. He tries to call out, but he's wheezing and out of breath. Nothing comes out.
[23:15] * Soze doesn't even pause to catch his breath after shooting Grey. Instead, disoriented, he turns and fires at the figure running towards them as well. With his oxygen starved brain and the blood dripping from his stomach, he doesn't even realize who it is. All he sees is a witness or an accomplice or just an empty shadow in his vision, moving towards him when all he needs to do is escape.
[23:18] * MrGrey raises his head, reaches out with his teke and feels for the wound, winces as he plugs it temporarily with energy--and the second shot goes off. For a moment, he's sure he's been hit again, even through the weak shield he'd thrown up in his haste, but when he looks up he sees Levitt fall.
[23:19] MrGrey: "You /idiot/. That was /Jeff/."
[23:19] * Jeff_Levitt is hit square in the knee, just as he's about to put his weight on that leg. It explodes in pain and he screams, going down *hard* onto the concrete sidewalk. He doesn't have time to brace himself, so there's nothing to soften his fall. His head hits the ground with a sickening *crack,* and he doesn't move.
[23:26] * Soze doesn't understand the words at first. He doesn't even realize they're coming from Grey-- in this wounded, winding state of his consciousness, he already considered him taken care of. He raises a shaking hand to feel the stab wound in his gut, and then it clicks. The shape of the form. The sound of the scream.
[23:26] * Soze stays absolutely still.
[23:29] MrGrey: Grey finds his feet, draws his legs up underneath himself, braces himself with one leg, stands with the help of his teke. "Even without the link, you're poisonous for him." Standing, reaching out with tendrils again, to finish what he started.
[00:11] * Soze snaps out of his trance like a switch has been flicked. He quickly raises his gun again and fires at Grey, hands perfectly steady.
[00:27] * MrGrey starts to wrap his tendrls around Soze, until the shot rings out. The energy reforms into a shield and the shot glances off of it as he starts to move... toward Levitt?
[00:34] * Soze continues to hold his gun up, aiming it at Grey. He fires another shot, desperate, before tearing after him despite the pain his stomach. He's off balance and -now- his hands are shaking, but -no one- fucks with the people that mean something to him. Still, he can see how Jeff fell, again and again, how he raised the gun and fired without even thinking, how everything is falling -apart-...
[00:37] MrGrey: Grey is quick, even with the blinding pain in his hip, his leg tingling. When he reaches Jeff he pulls his knife again, and he holds it to Levitt's neck. He bares his teeth, bloody lips peeling back from a snarl. "Put the gun down, Soze. I'll kill him, too."
[00:46] * Soze can taste blood in his mouth, but with everything around him, he hardly notices. He stares at Grey for a beat-- a very -disbelieving- beat-- and then, slowly, raises his gun. He's really sorry, Jeff, but this is how it's going to work out.
[00:50] * Soze feels like he's going to vomit, though, and his head is swimming, and somewhere behind his calm, he's screaming at himself. He doesn't mean to, but instead of pulling the trigger and plugging Jeff in the head like he's supposed to (rather die than live another day after this), his finger trembles uselessly instead.
[00:51] * MrGrey sees where Soze is pointing the gun, and doesn't even pause to make the decision. He hits the return button on his PIN, and he and Jeff disappear.
[00:58] * Soze fires after they're gone. Not to hit them, but just to -fire-, just to do -something.- In an instant, he's putting the gun to his own head... before sucking in a breath and letting his hand fall.
[00:59] * Soze can't do this. He can't do any of this. He fumbles for his PINpoint, his hands bloody from touching his stomach. He doesn't bother planning or packing or sending any letters. He types the coordinates of his home world into his PINpoint, holds the button down, and disappears.

[for jmlevitt]

2008-08-29T02:53:03Z

In the middle of the night, he hears humming.

It's quiet like a dying alarm, rising and falling in the darkness. He tries to ignore it, but it's no use. The pillow does nothing to block the sound. It's the blood rushing through his ears, maybe. The air in his lungs. Wherever he goes, it follows him, and in the morning, it's gone.

It comes back every night.

There's nothing during the day, but he's so tired now. When he's not locked up in his room, he's away on walks. He continues to help Jeff with the restaurant, but not with the same drive or vitality.

He's slipping. It isn't what he wants to think. He doesn't slip-- he never slips-- but lately, it's the only thing that happens to him. Lately, being since last year. Lately, being since the days leading to his execution. The anniversary of which is-- surprise, surprise-- happening very soon.

But then the anniversary comes and goes, and he doesn't feel any different. The ringing continues. He scrapes up all the enthusiasm he can muster speaking to Jeff, and spends the rest of the day with nothing. He makes some trips to the main Nexus, but never for very long, and he rarely speaks to anybody. It's a few days later when he hears it-- his PINpoint making the same, faint noise that plays every night inside his head. When he looks down at it, he sees a new message alert.

He clicks it.

IICNT_______, ___o_! XXe#@E.

It's very beautiful, when things come together. After the (familiar?) message, the PINpoint starts responding to outside coordinates again. He can leave the Nexus. It hasn't happened in almost two years, but now he can do it. He can leave.

He experiments with it for a bit, testing various coordinates, convincing himself that it works, that it's real. In the evening, he comes home to the keep and lights a fire in one of the fireplaces. He can feel the heat on his face. He stands there, closing his eyes, dreaming about the heat and the flames and what's going to happen next.

Maybe he isn't slipping after all.

OOC meme

2008-08-09T14:43:59Z

Because I haven't posted in ages...

Post here, and I'll tell you what Soze thinks of your character!

OOC

2008-06-27T15:42:50Z

Lyrics Drabble Meme- Check it Out!

OOC: Vacation Notice

2008-05-27T04:41:23Z

I'm going to be out of town from Thursday morning (May 29th) to Sunday, June 9th with limited to no internet access.

:( ♥

Just a heads up. I'll miss you guys!

[narrative, dreams]

2008-05-19T03:08:31Z

Life has been quiet. Life has been suffocating. He's been dealing as well as he can, but still, nothing feels complete anymore.

It starts with Jeff staring at Verbal's body. It's not too long after he died; probably the same day. He's exhausted, numb, stressed and in utter disbelief. And then as he's staring, it slowly dawns on him that someone has to take care of all this. Someone has to bury him, or he'll be carted off to be eaten by a grue or God knows what. And Jeff comes to the sickening realization that there's no one to do it but him.

But it's got to be done, and so he starts by moving the body off the chair where Keaton left it, maybe just on the floor so he can put a sheet over it. He's probably mentally babbling something to himself about rigor mortis or some other such nonsense, but it's mostly just Verbal sitting there and staring... And just doing that is enough to make him run off to the bathroom and throw up a couple of times.

And after that he sort of...goes numb. The whole thing becomes this step-by-step process. He goes to the Clinics, hoping that they know what to do with a body (and they do). He makes the arrangements for the body to be cremated. He deals with Soze's belongings, what little that are left, anyway. Most of the clothes he throws out. The mystical items he gives away to whatever magical version of Goodwill he could find. He can't really figure out how to have a funeral, so he just says a prayer while the cremation goes on. He frets about the urn; no, no engraving, would you put "Keyser Soze" or "Verbal Kint" or "Roger Kint" on there or what? He isn't planning on hanging on to it anyway.

Only then he can't figure out what to do with the ashes. He'll just hold on to them, then. He'll figure something out. Just until he figures something out. And so he clears off a little space on a bookshelf, which becomes a lot of space, and then a whole shelf, because using the ashes of your dead friend as a bookend really, really doesn't seem right, but it's okay, he can rearrange his books.

And then it's all done. There's no more steps, nothing left to do, nothing left to arrange.

And there's this long moment of "..." before everything he's been holding back just rushes in like high tide in a hurricane. We're not talking "single emo tear" here, we're talking "complete and utter emotional breakdown." You know, the one that starts with a couple of sniffles, then the chest starts heaving and he starts making those hitching noises that could be either crying or hysterical laugher, and then the sobbing starts, and his knees give out and he slides down the wall and just loses it. The kind of breakdown that leaves you with your face and hands all numb and a pounding headache and pure, bone-crushing exhaustion afterwards.

It's because his friend's not just dead but never existed in the first place, but he's nowhere near coherent enough to articulate it by that point.

In the morning, Soze gets up and washes his face for-- he doesn't know-- maybe an hour, just standing in front of the bathroom mirror and running the washcloth over his forehead and neck. He closes his eyes but doesn't consider going back to sleep. It's been weeks since any direct memories have crossed over.

When he snaps out of it, finally, it's past nine'o'clock, and he realizes he's going to be late for work. He calls in sick instead, voice raspy enough to fool them (but he hadn't been crying, had he?), and slips on his jacket to take a walk.

He doesn't make it to the door, though. He finds his new sofa and lets himself collapse on it, numb. It takes another twenty minutes before he gathers the energy to grab the old newspaper by his feet, which he does, propping it against his lap. From there, he reads.

So much for keeping a clear head.

OOC-ish, over the fourth wall hooah

2008-05-10T16:46:34Z

Soze took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test!

"Feels the situation is hopeless. Strongly resists ..."

Click here to read the rest of the results.

in_verbatim @ 2008-04-20T02:07:00

2008-04-20T06:12:20Z

*Soze is here, right on time, as always. He's carrying two cups of coffee in one hand when he knocks on the door.
Jeff_Levitt: It's open!
*Soze slips in. He's wearing one of his usual tacky, cheap outfits-- dark blue shirt with white, almost star like patterns, and faded grey slacks. He's still recovering from the last week-- circles under his eyes and all that-- but he's doing -much- better. He even manages a smile, albeit weakly.
Soze: How've you been?
*Jeff_Levitt is actually packing his things into a bag when Soze comes in. He finishes folding the shirt he has in his hands and moves to a chair. "I've been getting better," he says, nodding to the suitcase. "I've been getting used to the Keep again. I'm still working on...actually going *outside,* but..." He trails off, shrugging. "One step at a time, right?" He smiles weakly.
Soze: Right.
*Soze offers a cup forward. "I brought coffee."
*Jeff_Levitt takes the cup. "Thanks," he says, sipping. "How have you been?"
Soze : Not bad. I'm thinking of getting a temporary job to hold me over.
*Soze gestures vaguely with his cup. "Until we get the restaurant off the ground. You know."
*Jeff_Levitt nods. "Right. I was actually thinking of testing some stuff out here every so often. You know, to see what people think."
Soze: Like requests?
*Jeff_Levitt nods. "Right. Or trying recipes out on people."
* Jeff_Levitt runs a hand through his hair. "I have to figure out how to tell Jon I'm moving out of the Library too."
*Soze purses his lips. The look in his eyes is not all together friendly. "I guess you should. You wouldn't want him to--" Something changes. It's only for a moment and then things are normal again, but still. It felt -strange.- It's like their link suddenly lead out into something far away, something ELSE... and then settled back down again.
*Soze stares ahead, blinking. "...Huh."
*Jeff_Levitt felt it too, and he stiffens, dropping his cup on the floor. His eyes go very wide. "Keyser? What was that? Did you feel that?"
Soze: ...yeah. Like...
*Soze 's voice trails off.
Jeff_Levitt: That didn't feel right. That didn't *feel* right.
*Jeff_Levitt sounds panicky.
Jeff_Levitt: ...Keyser?
Jeff_Levitt: Are you all right?
Soze: I'm--
*Soze takes a chair.
*Soze is suddenly caught up in a bath of light—bright, blinding light—that sweeps over his arms and legs and neck and eventually consumes his whole body. He gives a muffled choke through the haze. His arms. Can he feel his arms? It’s over fast, though—luckily.
*Soze is, when the light clears, seven years younger. He’s wearing a suit without a jacket—white shirt, blue tie, suspenders—and a pair of round, non-prescription glasses. He stares out ahead for a moment, unseeing, before keeling over. Acks.
Soze: *The bond feels out of time, now, reaching ahead towards an unspecified point... but the point is not this man. Not right now.*
*Jeff_Levitt stands frozen, unable to do much but stare at first. Then tentatively, one step at a time, he approaches and kneels next to Keyser. He knows a bit of first aid, and checks his breathing, etc.
Jeff_Levitt: *timidly* ...Keyser?
*Soze[30] flinches, stirring.
Soze[30]: ...where...
*Soze[30] 's entire body tenses.
Jeff_Levitt: A-are you okay?
*Soze[30] 's arm LUNGES out, grabbing for Jeff's wrist. He shoots up into a sitting position, pulls Jeff forward, and attempts to wheel him around to pin him.
*Jeff_Levitt is too surprised to offer any resistance, not that he'd offer much if he *was* expecting it, and is easily pinned to the floor. "Keyser, what are you *doing?*" he yelps, his eyes wide and frightened.
*Soze[30] 's expression is probably familiar... from all those months ago when he was still Jeff's enemy. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, but there's nothing here-- only dull, brown irises and pupils and Jeff's frightened face reflected back in them.
*Soze[30] speaks each word slowly.
Soze[30]: Who are you?
*Jeff_Levitt 's face drains of all color. He remembers that look, that expression. The same one Soze had when he pressed a gun to Jeff's head all those months ago. "J-Jeff," he stammers. "You don't know me...you don't know me yet. Th-this is g-gonna sound crazy but we're in you're future now and s-something must've been in the c-coffee you drank and you're all back in time..." Yeah, babbling is go.
*Soze[30] 's voice is perfectly even. There's a slight, implacable accent, now and again, slipping into certain words. "You're right. That does sound crazy."
*Soze[30] leans in closer, inches from Jeff's face. "Let's try this again."
Soze[30]: Where am I?
*Jeff_Levitt flinches and closes his eyes, turning his face away. "It's called the Nexus. It's a sort of...crossroads between different worlds and different times."
Soze[30]: Look at me.
*Jeff_Levitt obeys.
Soze[30]: Jeff. 'Jeff,' right?
Soze[30]: I have a lot of questions for you.
Soze[30]: I'm hoping you'll answer.
Jeff_Levitt Right. Yes.
Jeff_Levitt is shaking.
Soze[30]: You tell me-- this is the future. Okay. All right.
*Soze[30] doesn't sound like he believes him.
Soze[30]: How do you know me?
Jeff_Levitt: We met when I first came here. Al-almost a year ago. You were going by a d-different n-name then.
Soze[30]: What was it?
Jeff_Levitt swallows. “R-Roger Kint. But you went by Verbal. You had a limp, too.”
*Soze[30] pauses. "Go on."
Jeff_Levitt: Oh Christ...th-there's a lot. Um...well um...we were both from New York...and um...there aren't a lot of regular humans h-here. S-so we s-sort of stuck together for awhile.
Soze[30]: Here. This 'crossroads between worlds.'
Soze[30]: Can you prove that?
Jeff_Levitt: J-just walk ouside the f-front door of the b-bar. You'll see for yourself. Or...um...
*Soze[30] very slowly, gets up off of Jeff. He doesn't break his gaze.
*Jeff_Levitt very slowly sits up.
Soze[30]: Why don't you come out there with me.
*Jeff_Levitt hesitates, then nods. "I can s-show you the door, sure."
*Soze[30] flashes a pocket knife-- just out of his sleeve. "You're coming out with me."
*Jeff_Levitt goes white. "But...I..." His eyes are drawn to the knife. "aaaahgod...okay. Okay." It looks like the very idea makes him want to throw up.
Soze[30]: How many other people know that I'm here?
Jeff_Levitt: You're...not exactly hiding anymore. But if you mean...you right *now*, just me.
Soze[30]: Okay. Well. Show me.
*Jeff_Levitt swallows audibly and nods, opening the door to the side room.

[public]

2008-04-15T20:38:47Z

jeff's okay. he's back and safe. the threat's been neutralized, and no one's dead. i want to thank all of you for your support.

[for ghostshield]

2008-04-10T04:28:00Z

You go to bed. You dream. You wake up like every other morning, only this time, part of you feels like it could be crazy.

Soze spends the day looking for Jeff, following the vague not-quite signals from their bond and finding nothing. It's like he's vanished from the multiverse, vanished from everything, and now all that remains is a false presence that could very well be standing behind his shoulder but never is.

The world is starting to feel different on his end. Blurry. Discolored. Time crawls at an impossibly slow speed. The hours feel like days.

And then there's the sleep, the tugging behind his eyes that pulls him in, again and again, just when he starts to lose focus. He's slept all night, but it never goes away. He closes his eyes, he blinks, and there are only dreams. Worlds and worlds of dreams, just beyond his perception and never quite whole...

And then there are images of Jeff, inside a mirror

inside, but not

a thousand threads

and

He makes it partway to the sanctuary before the wave of sleep comes again. He just barely manages to catch himself on a bench. He breathes, sharp and irregular, and wills himself to stay awake.

[locked to his loose defintion of "friends"]

2008-04-09T03:25:31Z

Something has gone very wrong with Jeff.

[private entry]

2008-03-31T14:48:04Z

Part of me sees me coming out of this all right.

OOC- Character Soundtrack

2008-03-18T19:09:01Z

What can I say. I finally have enough songs to form a coherent character soundtrack.

So here we go! Download, tell me what you think, and let me know if I made any mistakes with the links. ♥ I hope you enjoy.

Steam Rising (And Falling Again)
1. John Ottman, The Usual Suspects- Verbal Kint [download]
2. Murder By Death- The Devil in Mexico [download] [lyrics]
3. Chevelle- The Red [download] [lyrics]
4. The Rolling Stones- Sympathy for the Devil [download] [lyrics]
5. Radiohead- The Trickster [download] [lyrics]
6. Link 80- Verbal Kint [download] [lyrics]
7. Murder By Death- The Desert is On Fire [download] [lyrics]
8. Scissor Sisters- I Can't Decide [download] [lyrics]
9. Muse- Butterflies and Hurricanes- [download] [lyrics]
10. Murder By Death- That Crown Don't Make You a Prince [download] [lyrics]
11. Fall Out Boy- This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race [download] [lyrics]
12. Eliza Lumely- No Surprises [download] [lyrics]
13. Murder By Death- A Masters in Reverse Psychology [download] [lyrics]
14. PANIC! At the Disco- Camisado [download] [lyrics]
15. Murder By Death- One More Notch [download] [lyrics]
16. Korn- Let's Get This Party Started [download] [lyrics]
17. Murder By Death- Raw Deal [download] [lyrics]
18. John Ottman, The Usual Suspects- Keyser Appears [download]

[week in review, narrative]

2008-03-10T19:37:43Z

Last Saturday, he was a child.

His apartment felt so much larger then, so much more empty. At that age he wasn't used to living alone, and so he watched the windows obsessively, careful to duck his head at the slightest hint of someone approaching. There was nothing interesting in the apartment either, only newspapers and stories that were so frightening they made him stay up at night. He found himself wandering the Nexus most of the time, listening to questions and burying himself in the comfort of the crowds. He wanted to be bigger again because he figured he'd be better at handling this, even if people kept saying he wasn't going to be a good person. He didn't care.

But then Njoki let him borrow her bird and made him pancakes in the morning, and Jonathan was letting him visit the library instead of threatening him. Jeff came over that one day with Njoki and took him to the zoo where they saw dinosaurs and fictional creatures. He and Jeff spent the entire time swapping jokes and riddles, and everything was fine. He remembers saying-- and believing, in a naive sort of way-- that he promised never to hurt him again... he swore it.

This Saturday, he tortured Jonathan. An older alternate of Jonathan, but Jonathan, Crane, all the same. Soze had been an adult again nearing a week, and all of his promises were starting to come apart. He had tried to control himself, tried to whisper reason into his own head, but it was no use. He got Jonathan alone and started tearing him apart, firing near-miss bullets and calling him useless and pathetic and ruined. In hindsight, he might have been talking about himself (maybe), but right then there was only rage. He wanted to bring him to his knees. He wanted to make Crane scream like he had in that vault all those months ago. It was his revenge, and he loved it.

Until he saw what he was doing, that is. How he was pulling himself down, too. He's becoming something else. He isn't a businessman anymore. He's a simple murderer. He's a bully. He's out of his element. He must be insane, because he keeps trying the same things over and over again and hoping for different results...

(and for god's sake, jon was nice to him, he wanted to like him)

Last night, he was feargassed.

He expected it. Jeff had come over earlier that day, asking if something had happened, and he didn't lie. He told him everything. Crane. Bullets. Snow. The frightening thing was that he felt bad about it. Not because he knew punishment was inevitable, or even because he left Crane in a whimpering pile out in the cold. It was because Jeff had taken him to the zoo and protected him and kept his goddamn ashes after everything, and now this was what it came to. The past week, they even had something like a friendship.

That day, Jeff left without saying goodbye.

This must be what happens when you get to the bottom of the pecking order, he told himself. You start caring about what other people think. Great.

All day he waited for the familiar tightening of his chest, the fluttering of his heart, the sweat on his palms, tell-tale signs of fear gas. When it finally hit, it took him off guard anyway. That's what it does.

It came in through Jeff's side of the link. Soze shrieked and screamed and stabbed himself in the leg twice, just wanting this to stop, please. He saw himself about to die fifty times over. His legs went numb. Several times his entire body stiffened and he fell forward, nearly banging his head against the cool tile of his kitchen, but he always managed to catch himself. The blood was pooling on his pant leg. He lost consciousness maybe fifteen minutes into it, and when he came out of it, he stabbed himself again, just out of habit. He saw from his PINpoint that he had been sending messages the entire time, though he had no idea what.

He tried to stand up, but he couldn't.

He stayed on the ground for a while, a long while, falling in and out of sleep as the night went on. In the morning, the pain in his leg was only a dull throb, though his pants were ruined and the tile below it was stained a deep red. He felt strangely removed from the whole thing. Jeff was being treated somewhere, and that was probably good enough for him. Okay.

He tried to fall asleep again, but he couldn't. He only stared out the window from his spot on the ground, counting the heads as they went by.

fill the streets with his dead this time [open]

2008-02-17T01:39:30Z

Now that he's eating again, finally, he can no longer afford to stay locked up in his room. Most of what he kept in his refrigerator has run out or gone bad, and so he only lasts a week on what's left over.

If you're looking for him, maybe you can find him-- every week or so-- ducking in and out of the aisles of some of the lesser known Nexus supermarkets. He's physically in better shape than the last time he was in public, but emotionally, little has changed. He's been taken down a notch, and it shows in his sluggish movements and the way he walks with his eyes to the ground. He wears an old, gray, hooded jacket in hopes that it'll take longer for people to recognize him, but for the magically inclined, his aura sticks out like a sore thumb. It seems only half there, somehow, trailing off into nothing where it shouldn't.

Of course, he never stays out for very long-- on his way out, he PINpoints away before he even reaches the exit-- but he's still around, from time to time. Maybe you'll run into him.

((THNMY! feel free to leave a tag here, and each new thread will be treated as a different day/meeting/whatever. tagging will be a little slow because of school, unfortunately, but i will do my very best!))

OOC meme

2008-02-08T03:17:37Z

1) Make a list of 10 characters.
2) Assign each character a number.
3) Without telling anyone who's on the list or the character's assigned number, get questions from your flist about what they'd like to know about them. (IE: "If 3 and 4 were trapped in a cave together with only a blanket and a toothpick, what would they do?" (The more random the better!)
4) Post the answers and who was who on the list.

in_verbatim @ 2008-01-30T10:11:00

2008-01-30T22:18:10Z

He still hasn't left.

It's been four days, now, that he's kept himself hidden away in his apartment. He doesn't sleep much anymore, and when he does, he wakes up on the floor with his limbs shaking and a throbbing headache. He feels bruises on the back of his head. His palms are covered in cuts from fingernails that don't belong to him (but sometimes do), and his knuckles are welted from pounding the walls and floor. His throat is raw from screaming.

It was bound to fall apart. One month being hunted. Four months dead. Three weeks without a real identity. Five months in total as nothing at all.

(Because you see, what he is right now is no better than being dead.)

It was after Nick invaded his soul that his world collapsed. When he woke up from it, he slammed his own hand (and so Jeff's hand) in the door and ran. The pain was enough that everything that followed was a blur. He can only remember Jonathan and his canister, and the way his hand jerked irregularly, betraying him, when he fired his gun into nothing. When he snapped out of it, finally, lying on the sheetless bed in his apartment, the hand he had crushed hours before was only bruised.

He didn't know how he escaped.

So much for staying calm. So much for planning his way through this. Something snapped that night. The walls are filled with holes. The furniture is broken. His body is shaking. And now it's official. Extra, extra. Keyser Soze has completely lost control. Keep an eye out for updates.

He isn't eating, either. At first it was accidental, but now it isn't. It's less obvious than causing physical damage, he tells himself through the cloudy haze of his mind. People are less likely to drag him off and pump him full of sedatives for Jeff's sake. He can keep his freedom-- or what's left of it-- and he can still fight back.

He feels like his body is rotten inside. His head bursts into sudden, inexplicable pain, and he can hardly walk in a straight line anymore. The only thing that keeps him going is the knowledge that Jeff is suffering along with him. He reminds himself of this fact, again and again, murmuring out loud so that he can hear his own voice.

Sometimes, though, to his horror, he wonders if it's the right thing to do in the first place.

[open]

2008-01-27T22:16:26Z

Soze doesn't often leave journal entries, especially ones that are public, but today, he makes an exception.

If this is the road to redemption, I'm not taking it.

And then a few minutes later, he adds, locked to himself.

I think I'm losing my mind.

Today he doesn't leave his apartment for his usual cup of coffee. He doesn't leave it at all.

in_verbatim @ 2008-01-24T22:10:00

2008-01-25T03:15:04Z

Well golly gee, it's that time again! Hiatus. I'm starting the new semester on Monday, and until I get settled, I will not be online. I might be on during the weekends, or I might be gone for a month straight. I... cannot say, yet.

I'll see you all later! :D

[open, narrative]

2008-01-21T15:16:01Z

What the people in the Nexus did was ruin him. It's as simple as that.

Last year it was only mental. He'd wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat, his body shaking, thinking about Crane and fire and bugs, and he blamed this place. He slept with the lights on. He was miserable, but he was okay, he was still kicking, and that was what mattered.

Now they're tearing him apart. His soul and mind are no longer his own. Jeff can slip into his mind, pull out languages and thoughts that don't even belong to him, and he, meanwhile dreams dreams of women he doesn't know and emotions he's never felt. It's all wrong, it's all not him, and he hates it. Kaa even used the connection to slip through Jeff's mind and into his (you fucking cheater) to place a wall in his brain, preventing him from killing. He isn't even able to defend himself anymore. He's weak. Helpless. Nothing.

In this place, he's losing himself.

It's a terrifying feeling. When you've been so sure of yourself for so long, to watch everything you've ever made slip through your fingers, it feels like you're dying. In his home world, people have probably already moved on. Keyser Soze is only a legend now, and how long before they forget that, too? How long before the people here forget what he's capable of? How long before that doesn't even matter?

This was how he defined himself, and he can never go back. He's stuck. Goodbye, goodbye.

He's been staying in a cheap apartment on the edge of the anti-violence field, as close as he can get. Coverage is spotty, but enough that he can maybe count on it. When he isn't in the sanctuary bar, he's reading the paper front-to-back or sleeping or thinking about actually getting a job. Today he has a crossword puzzle and a cheap chair to sit on, with coffee that he had picked up earlier from the sanctuary. He doesn't have a table. He's used to this at this point.

Dreams

2008-01-20T01:17:56Z

It's a dream of happier times.

He's making love to Susan, the sunlight from the bedroom window falling on her skin, making her look like an angel. She writhes beneath him, her face ecstatic as she moans his name over and over again. "I love you," he answers each time. His hands trace the sensitive places on her skin, marveling at their softness, and at the way she arches her back when he hits just the right spot.

The bedroom becomes a field now, endless and green, the bed a small hillock, transitioning seamlessly in the way only dreams can. Neither of them break stride. He's on his knees now, her legs twined around his waist, her hands tangled in his hair. Faster. Faster. "Forever," Jeff whispers, his arms wrapping around her, entangling her. Imprisoning her. Wrapping her in a cocoon of vines and roots. She begins to scream, and struggle, but her fists have no affect on his wooden skin. He smiles as that same bark envelopes her body, their roots entwined, their branches woven together.

Then all is still.

Forever.

When Soze dreams, this one is his own. He wakes with the morning light, tangled in his sheets, his cheek resting up against the pillow. He's relaxed, actually, despite being groggy from staying up late that night, and it's a bizarre feeling. He's usually no good at remembering his dreams-- and when he does, they aren't nice-- but something about this one sticks with him. Part of it's like a far away memory, like a piece of him he had forgotten a long time ago.

But there was something strange about the whole thing. He didn't recognize the woman. And seriously, what the hell was with the tree? He props himself up in bed and frowns to himself. It's all fine and good, sure, but something... isn't... quite...

'oh, and to answer your question, i was a tree for about a month.'

He feels his stomach lurch. His hands grip the covers until his knuckles turn white.

Fuckers.

OOC: Log

2008-01-15T06:03:52Z

Not directly related to the plot, but Sweeny Todd and Keyser Soze and... yeah.

* Soze[yard] steps outside, practically hugging the wall, as always.
* Mr_Todd hasn't moved.
* Soze[yard] raises a hand in greeting. He's more emotionally deadened than usual (if that's POSSIBLE), and it's mostly because he hates this fucking place.
* Mr_Todd is pretty emotionally dead out here, too, you know. Whatever. Tinkertinkertinker.
* Soze[yard] leans against the wall and closes his eyes.
* Mr_Todd hits the wrong button, and ends up five feet -above- the bench. Whump! Oh, for the love of.... ><
* Soze[yard] 's eyes shoot open.
Soze[yard]> ...You okay?
* Mr_Todd dusts himself off and puts the pinpoint away, for now. "M'fine."
Mr_Todd> Thank you.
Soze[yard]> Still taking it apart?
* Soze[yard] leans forward a bit.
Mr_Todd> Hm, well. I took it apart, and put it back together, but I don't really have it, do I?
* Soze[yard] smiles. "Seems not."
Soze[yard]> Are you trying to make it do something special?
Mr_Todd> I just want it in a bloody pocketwatch.
Soze[yard]> I thought they made watch versions.
* Soze[yard] folds his arms, still leaning back against the wall. He watches, curious.
* Mr_Todd is done being annoyed about the pinpoint. He shrugs.
Soze[yard]> Can't get it to take you back home either, can you.
Mr_Todd> I can't leave the Nexus.
Soze[yard]> I know.
Mr_Todd> I can't do anything, here.
Soze[yard]> We're prisoners.
* Soze[yard] pushes himself off the wall.
* Soze[yard] jerks, suddenly. Jeff is probably freaking out about something inside. This is -wonderful.-
Mr_Todd> This is hell.
* Soze[yard] purses his lips. "Have they done anything to you yet?"
Soze[yard]> The people here?
Soze[yard]> They're awful.
* Mr_Todd shakes his head, expecting an elaboration.
Soze[yard]> They're oblivious to their own faults.
Soze[yard]> They see nothing -wrong- with themselves, when in reality...
* Soze[yard] shakes his head, giving a weak laugh.
Soze[yard]> They tortured me. More than once. They killed me, because they thought it was -justice- and they were -wrong.- It was for their own fun and satisfaction and they -knew- it.
Soze[yard]> And they're lying to themselves, and everyone else, that they're decent human beings.
Soze[yard]> Nobody's decent. Especially not -here.-
Mr_Todd> Not anywhere, so especially not here.
Soze[yard]> Not anywhere.
* Soze[yard] steps off from the wall.
Soze[yard]> I hope you're looking out for yourself.
Mr_Todd> Sort of thing should be damning, so why are we the ones in hell?
Soze[yard]> We're the ones that got caught.
* Soze[yard] is having this conversation at what, 10 feet away? He steps forward now, probably outside of the AV field. He tells himself that he has his PINpoint and his gun and that should be enough if something happens. It's complete habit.
Soze[yard]> But we're also stronger than them, because we're the ones that are lasting.
Mr_Todd> We're the ones -kept there-, is what it is, sir.
* Mr_Todd isn't playing with razors right now. The man is probably sa... oh, wait, there's a razor.
* Soze[yard] frowns, but it fades fast.
Mr_Todd> This isn't what we deserve. We deserve to die, as much as they do, but they're not stuck here, are they, sir?
Soze[yard]> ...
Soze[yard]> We're in a very interesting position.
Mr_Todd> Interesting.
Soze[yard]> We can still affect their lives. Even now.
Mr_Todd> There's no worth to that.
Soze[yard]> ...No worth?
* Mr_Todd shrugs.
* Soze[yard] tilts his head.
Soze[yard]> Why?
Mr_Todd> You might be a little more specific, first.
Soze[yard]> Revenge?
Soze[yard]> Oh, of course, this doesn't matter to you.
Soze[yard]> They haven't done anything yet.
Soze[yard]> Not to you.
Mr_Todd> Affecting their lives isn't revenge.
Soze[yard]> Would you like me to use stronger language?
Mr_Todd> I thought I had revenge, and I will take it, but 'affecting their lives'? I think you'd better.
Soze[yard]> I will kill them.
Soze[yard]> Is that something you can understand?
Mr_Todd> That's different.
Soze[yard]> Semantics, semantics.
* Soze[yard] 's voice has grown icy, all of a sudden, which shouldn't be too surprising, considering he's started talking about killing people.
Mr_Todd> I thought you were talking about something impractical and petty like... 'affecting their lives'.
* Mr_Todd is, on the other hand, possibly a little more lively, now, for the topic of conversation. The way he examines the blade is much more human an expression than the one with which he regards the people inside.
* Soze[yard] eyes the blade.
Soze[yard]> I don't go for the impractical.
* Mr_Todd turns it so Soze can see it better. Here, he'll hold it closer for him, as well. It's likely he right well means that to be a threat.
* Soze[yard] is going to take that as a threat, since, according to Jeff, he should be unable to fire a gun right now and so he -shouldn't take chances.- Still, he doesn't step back. He's thinking about what he'll do if he needs to ecscape, of course, but he doesn't step back.
* Soze[yard] is a stubborn bastard.
Soze[yard]> *flatly* Nice.
Soze[yard]> Is the person who killed you here?
Mr_Todd> No, he's not. That doesn't matter.
* Mr_Todd thinks the blade is very nice, yes. See how shiny it is? Isn't that lovely? Look at it.
Soze[yard]> Why not?
Mr_Todd> I let him.
Soze[yard]> ...
Soze[yard]> Huh. I can see why you're disappointed.
* Mr_Todd is terribly disappointed.
Soze[yard]> I wonder if it always snows out here.
Soze[yard]> Anyway, I'm heading inside. Nice chat, right?
Mr_Todd> ....
* Soze[yard] smiles anyway. Oh, he's so sweet.
* Soze[yard] pulls out his PINpoint, mostly because he doesn't feel like turning his back to Todd.
Soze[yard]> I'll see you later.
Mr_Todd> Good evening, sir.
* Soze[yard] PINpoints back into the sanctuary.

OOC: Logs

2008-01-11T02:57:19Z

Here's the final log for this whole possession plot thing. not!Jeff gets found out, fights back, shit hits the fan several times, etc etc.

* Kacey PINs back in, looking around. No mepit tonight, she is here on Serious Business. ". . . has anyone seen Jeff?"
Nick_Wright: Eh? He's right here, why Kacey?
Jeff_Levitt: ...huh?
* Keaton glances at the girl who just appeared. He's used to PIN's now.
* Kacey blinks. Oh, well, that was easy and . . . yeah. She heads over to Jeff and peers up at him, fidgeting. "Um."
* Keaton returns to sipping his drink.
* Jeff_Levitt turns to her. Oh? Huh?
Jeff_Levitt: What's wrong?
* Kacey wrings her hands a bit. "Did you remember who I am yet?"
* Jeff_Levitt gives a sheepish smile. "Sorry..."
Kacey: Well, um.
* Kacey goes "um" a bit more and then gets over herself, already, and straightens up (to only two feet shorter than Jeff) and composes herself. "I wanna tell you something. But you gotta promise you won't think I'm crazy, 'cause we're friends when you're not LOLed."
* Jeff_Levitt watches Kacey. She... actually DOES look familiar, but he can't quite place it. Huh.
* Nick_Wright watches the two curiously.
Jeff_Levitt: ...Sure? I promise.
Kacey: . . . okay.
* Keaton is half listening to the conversations around him and half daydreaming as he sips his drink.
* Kacey huffs a breath and kicks at the floor with her sneaker. "I keep having bad dreams about you," she says, carefully and a bit more quietly. "And--" she gulps-- "and, sometimes my bad dreams are true."
Jeff_Levitt: ...What do you mean, bad dreams?
* Nick_Wright looks back to Jeff and Kacey.
* Jeff_Levitt is frowning, a little paler than usual. The idea that the dreams-- whatever they are-- could be true, is more than disconcerting.
Njoki: "Do you really? I ... if you really want, I could look into that. I don't know how, not yet."
* Nick_Wright sort of bounces back and forth between the two conversations.
* Jeff_Levitt is also giving the occasional glance over at the other conversation, though
* Nick_Wright finishes his drink. Ponders refill.
* Kacey is fidgeting again. "I-- there was a guy I heard about, I guess 'cause you're LOLed you don't remember him anyway? But he gassed the Sanctuary or something and I wasn't here but I dreamed about it--" she's gone beyond fidgeting to something near a panicked babble-- "before I /heard/ about it, even, but I been dreaming about him and you like you're a puppet on his strings and--"
* Kacey is going to breathe, now. And cough a bit.
Nick_Wright: [Wh...what?]
Jeff_Levitt: ...what?
Kacey: . . . yeah.
Jeff_Levitt: I'm sorry, wait, what?
* Keaton doesn't quite catch what Kacey's rambling is about at first but a few seconds later he pauses. Wait... what?
Nick_Wright: [LOLed... person on a string... and the Jeff who didn't recognize me... or Some's cooking... wait a second!]
* Jeff_Levitt fidgets, though it isn't entirely obvious.
* Nick_Wright frowns. He seems to focus a bit, and those observing with spiritual ability may notice the magatama around his neck growing green a bit.
* Keaton doesn't catch on quite so well. Soze /did/ have Jeff under his thumb for a while... but why bring it all up now?
Kacey: Puppets. On strings.
Nick_Wright: ...
Nick_Wright: !!! S-s-s-s-s-s...
Jeff_Levitt: ...I don't think that makes any sense.
* Nick_Wright backs THE HELL UP. "SOZE!!!
* Jeff_Levitt doesn't move.
* Kacey is ten years old and already spent today in the Clinics with her comatose friend DO YOU EXPECT HER TO BE COHERENT
* Keaton jumps a little and stares at Nick like he's lost it. Wait... this is the guy who can sense spirits...
* Fish stops chewing. Okayyy...
Nick_Wright: Exorcist... somebody who can exorcise, help
Nick_Wright: !
* Keaton looks directly at Jeff. There's no way...
Mr_Todd: .....
* Kacey jumps when Nick yells, and bursts into tears.
MikhailRamphet: Exorcist... what? What on Earth are you talking about?
Jeff_Levitt: ...
* Jeff_Levitt just... doesn't... move.
* Njoki looks over to the mess. What?!
* Nick_Wright points to Jeff shakily. "Soze... Soze's in Jeff's body!!!"
MikhailRamphet: ....what is a Soze?
* Some pauses, fully distracted, and leaves his fish to look out at the Sanctuary.
MikhailRamphet: Soze... wait, that man with the gas...
* Keaton is up in that moment, hand on his gun though it's not drawn. He watches Jeff carefully. He's still skeptical. Needs to be skeptical. "Well?"
* MikhailRamphet frowns at Jeff. "He is.. possessed?"
* Nick_Wright nods, looking pale.
Jeff_Levitt: This was all too good.
Jeff_Levitt: Wow.
* Njoki will let someone else deal with what may or may not be a possession. She's learned to keep out of these troubles.
* Keaton is trembling a bit now. Can't be. Can't fucking be.
* Nick_Wright would, but he can't. ;_;
* Mr_Todd scowls.
MikhailRamphet: What makes you so certain?
* Jeff_Levitt shakes his head, laughing quietly.
Nick_Wright: I... I can see it! He's there, possessing him!
Jeff_Levitt: And what are you planning on doing now, Nick?
Jeff_Levitt: God, this was really poorly planned on your part.
* Fish looks over to Njoki, wherever she may be. Facial language says: what the junk?
* Some totally knows he's better off with no soul now. This shit can't happen to him.
Nick_Wright: Gh...
Nick_Wright: I... gh...
* Keaton draws his gun shakily but... doesn't aim it at Jeff. He's remembering the AVF.
* Kacey sits down hard and cries. "I just wanted to help, okay, I just wanted to /help--/" It's perfectly okay to leave her alone for the moment, as she probably won't snap out of it for a good bit.
* MikhailRamphet narrows his eyes. Then again, if Nick were able to see that projection, maybe he does have a sixth sense. That, and it looks like the possessed man is agreeing with him.
* Njoki makes a face Fish to signify 'to the loft, Batman!'.
* Deb wanders in, currently in a sweater and jeans. She looks over at Keaton. o-o
* Nick_Wright totally has that light shining, the one that shows souls out. Mind, he's fully aware it's an exercise in futility.
Jeff_Levitt: Keaton, come on, you can't use a gun in here.
* Jeff_Levitt hardly sounds like Jeff at all anymore. He has the same voice, of course, but it's all... it's all out of place.
Deb: What's going on? *she fiddles with her glasses a moment*
Nick_Wright: [Aglaophotis... didn't Otto have some sort of stuff? I've gotta...] *begins reaching for his PIN to nake the call*
Mr_Todd: >_>
* ElizaHarker looks at Some, acutely aware of what he's offering her, and what it might mean if she says yes - but she, like Some, is completely bewildered by the goings-on of the outside, and when she sticks her head out she doesn't even notice Fish, she's so raptly attentive to the situation at hand.
* Keaton is pretty much frozen there. He can't believe what's happening. It was just too good. It's Jeff's voice... but... oh god.
Jeff_Levitt: Nick, please put that down. I'm not hurting anyone in here either, you know.
* Fish shakes his head, wearing the world's fakest grin. No, this is weird!
Nick_Wright: No, but who knows what you've been doing out there, you psycho? Get the hell out of Jeff!
MikhailRamphet: Hmph. The last time you attacked this place....
Jeff_Levitt: haha... this is just too good, I can't believe this.
* Njoki will stay, for Fish's sake. B|
Keaton: It's really Jeff...? *Keaton manages weakly. It's directed at Nick*
Jeff_Levitt: I'm not Jeff.
* MikhailRamphet stomps up to Jeff and attempts to slap him across the face.
Deb: o-o Anybody willing to clue somebody in here?
* Keaton was hoping it just /looked/ like Jeff. But if it's possession. Christ he can't shoot him...
Nick_Wright: It's Soze. He's in Jeff's body. Bastard... I should've seen it sooner when he didn't recognize me in the Nexus...
* Jeff_Levitt calmly, very calmly, stands up.
* Jeff_Levitt pulls a gun out of his jacket, OH HEY THERE.
* Keaton is still trying to wrap his mind around this. It's too much. OHGUN. Keaton has his gun trained on "Jeff" in a flash. Fuck.
Jeff_Levitt: It was nice while it lasted, I guess.
Deb: ... but isn't he dead? *unworried about the guns... mostly*
Nick_Wright: Wh... what the hell?! You said it yourself, you can't use that in here!
* Some comes out of the kitchen, still carrying his long boning knife. "What good do you think that's going to do any of you in here?"
* Bastet , in her impeccable timing, chooses about now to arrive
* Kacey curls up on the floor. "no, no, I wanted to /help/, stop it--"
* Nick_Wright looks at Deb. "Death isn't always the end."
Bastet: ...*blink*
Jeff_Levitt: Because I'm not planning on sticking around for much longer.
Keaton: Someone get the kid out of here. *Keaton hisses*
Deb: Yeah, but how'd he get from -there- to...
* Mr_Todd expects the fellow to hold himself hostage.
* Jeff_Levitt raises his gun in the air.
* Fish sneaks over to Njoki-- if Todd's near enough, he'll nod at the guy, 'sup-- then settle down into a seat next to her, all hunched up like a kid goofing off in the library. "Thiiiis is kinda messed."
Nick_Wright: !!
* Simon is a teenly looking lad, with a lean build bordering on Thin. He stops inside the hallway to tap the snow off of his boots and to tug his Too Big winter coat tighter. A gloved hand ruffles short black hair, skewing it all over the damn place. Inside the main room, he peers around at what all the noise is. Where is everyone?
* Mr_Todd is sitting near her.
Jeff_Levitt: Hey. Anyone feel like taking a stroll?
* MikhailRamphet forgets about the slapping thing, and attempts to grab Jeff's gun.
Nick_Wright: ?!
* Jeff_Levitt jerks away, oh don't you dare.
Simon: "WHOA SHIT HE'S GOT A GUN!"
* Some pulls the hood of his hoodie up, because if that gun goes off, the avf doesn't usually stop the muzzle flash.
Keaton: What are you on about? *still has his useless gun trained*
* Simon dives into the kitchen! D:
Njoki: "More than kinda, yes." There's room on the arm of the chair for a Fish?
MikhailRamphet: rgh- hand that over, you brute!
* Mr_Todd watches. Or not.
* Jeff_Levitt laughs. "Excuse me?"
Jeff_Levitt: Excuse me...?
Jeff_Levitt: Like I said, I'm going to take a stroll.
* Bastet blinks
Jeff_Levitt: Anyone who wishes to join me, of course, is welcome.
Nick_Wright: What're you planning to do?!
* Jeff_Levitt completely ignores Nick.
Keaton: You fucking... *Keaton's gun hand is shaking.*
Jeff_Levitt: I'd like to remind you, though, that this isn't my mind
* Fish perches! ...and glances over to the kitchen, because, yelling.
Jeff_Levitt: And if you try anything it's just... well, it isn't going to work too well.
Jeff_Levitt: I'll see you later.
* Jeff_Levitt leaves for the yard, still holding his gun above his head.
Nick_Wright: Jeff... damnit! If I could just exorcise spirits...
* Keaton stares after him for only a moment. Fuck. He follows quietly.
* Some can't follow. Guns are involved, he's no help at all.
* Deb starts after him, after just a moment.
Bastet: Okay, what the heck's going on?
Deb: He's been possessed.
* MikhailRamphet runs after Jeff, drawing his sword.
* Kacey gets up and follows. Why, she couldn't say.
Bastet: ..Uh-huh
* Nick_Wright knows this is fucking stupid. There's an AVF in here. But if Soze does something to Jeff... He grits his teeth and follows.
* Some groans through his teeth. Why is everyone being a fucking moron and following him. "Kid! Don't go out there!"

In the yard

* Jeff[yard] strolls out into the yard, taking the occasional glance back behind him. Not that it matters.
* Keaton moves out into the yard and trains his gun on Not!Jeff. Like it'll do any good.
* Jeff[yard] cocks his head, ever so slightly, and turns around.
Jeff[yard]: Hey.
Keaton: Keyser. *He practically snarls.*
* Deb comes out a few moments after Keaton, hands held together in front of her. She doesn't exactly look that imposing, what with being a casually-dressed early-teenage girl.
* MikhailRamphet comes rushing out with Keaton, sword drawn.
* Kacey|yard comes out and sits down on the steps right outside the Sanctuary, arms wrapped tightly around her knees; she's still crying, and her shoulders are shaking, but she wants to /know/ what's happening.
* Nick_Wright darts out. "You bastard..." He hovers by the door, though, where the AVF is still functional.
* Keaton automatically moves in front of the child. For Christ's sake wasn't anyone tending to her?
Nick_Wright: Kacey, get back here, that man is dangerous.
* Deb glances back at Kacey, hesitating a moment before her attention goes back to Jeff.
Jeff[yard]: There are a lot more people than I thought.
Jeff[yard]: God.
Jeff[yard]: Haha. This is -amazing.-
Jeff[yard]: I love this place.
Kacey|yard: I was trying to help.
* Kacey|yard is really kind of a broken record, right now.
MikhailRamphet: ....che... you were the man who attacked the Sanctuary with gas.
Jeff[yard]: Aw. Good one. Yes, that's right.
Nick_Wright: I know, honey, I know, but we've gotta get you back in here. Please.
* Kacey|yard huddles down a little more and shakes her head.
* Keaton remains near Kacey, though he'll move if he needs to. He's hoping Nick can handle her.
* Jeff[yard] isn't raising his gun, but.
MikhailRamphet: And now, what? You're hoping to kill the man you possessed?
Jeff[yard]: Oh, no.
* Deb is smiling just a little, for some reason.
Jeff[yard]: I'm hoping to kill a few of you first.
Jeff[yard]: And of course, if Jeff dies... I mean, ha ha, it's not like I'm in any trouble, because I'm already dead, right?
* Keaton 's finger tightens a bit on the trigger. Fuck. Fuck.
Jeff[yard]: Maybe I'll just slip into one of you.
* Nick_Wright heads over. "Please, Kacey, you don't have to get involved with this. We're the ones he wants..." He glares at Soze as Soze says that, but.
Deb: Go ahead and try. *shrug*
MikhailRamphet: What makes you think you will actually be able to harm /anyone/ here?
* Jeff[yard] tilts his head, ever-so-slightly.
* Kacey|yard stares at Jeff, and shakes. "'m inside the AVF." She thinks.
Jeff[yard]: What makes you think I won't?
MikhailRamphet: The fact that you are outnumbered.
Nick_Wright: That hasn't stopped him before. He's nuts.
Keaton: Get out of his body. *It's like talking to a brick wall but what can he do? The situation is pretty shitty*
Nick_Wright: Kacey...
Jeff[yard]: Weren't you listening before?
Jeff[yard]: You can't kill me.
* Nick_Wright stays next to her.
Deb: You're talking like there's nobody here who can deal with spirits.
Jeff[yard]: And don't worry, Keaton.
Jeff[yard]: I'll be out soon enough.
* MikhailRamphet flourishes his weapon. Like a rapier is going to do anything against a guy with a handgun! "And this time, you have made the mistake of angering a Royal Knight."
Jeff[yard]: Can you deal with spirits, Miss?
* Nick_Wright looks to Deb hopefully.
Deb: It's not my main area of study, but- yes.
* Jeff[yard] raises his gun, suddenly, and fires at her.
* Keaton leaves Kacey to Nick and moves to a better position. /Why/ he has no idea since he really doesn't want to shoot Jeff. At least he feels like he's doing something.
Nick_Wright: NO!
* Kacey|yard whimpers.
* MikhailRamphet takes advantage of the distraction to charge at 'Jeff', cutting the distance on his long legs and thrusting his sword out at the man's gun hand.
* Deb is shot in the shoulder, very obviously... and despite the sudden hole and bleeding there, she barely moves. "Ow."
Nick_Wright: Doing that in front of a child... you really are heartless, Soze...
* Jeff[yard] spins away, giving a frantic shot at Mikhail, now.
* Keaton nearly fires automatically but restrains himself, gritting his teeth. No one's hurt badly. Not yet.
* Bastet[Yard] comes jogging out here, a long handle appearing in her hand via PINpoint
Nick_Wright: Don't hurt Jeff!
* Jeff[yard] has been nicked, though, and his sleeve is torn just above the wrist. He's starting to bleed.
* Kacey|yard stiffens and, inexplicably, glares at Nick for a moment-- which is better than being curled up and whimpering, but still. She's perpetually baffled and confused by the idea grown-ups here have that they need to /protect/ her from knowing about death.
Jeff[yard]: Fuck.
Bastet[Yard]: Yeah, fun word, that.
Jeff[yard]: Oh, great, someone else. Hello there.
* Bastet[Yard] holds the device behind her. It looks like some sort of hilt or something.
Bastet[Yard]: Hi :|
* Nick_Wright is overprotective, wut.
MikhailRamphet: *with a grunt and a loud metallic 'clang', Mikhail stumbles back and slips, falling onto his butt.*
Keaton: Nick... what can we do? *Keaton moves a little closer to him, talking quietly.* No one here can handle this shit? *For Christ's sake the Nexus has EVERYTHING and now they are suddenly short an exorcist?*
* Bastet[Yard] is /not amused/ at this BS.
* Deb 's hands flick, and there's an explosion of light and sound not more than a foot or two in front of Jeff - and all, somehow, mostly aimed in his direction, so that to everyone else there's a flash and a thump, but to him it's blinding and deafening, almost-but-not-quite painful.
Jeff[yard]: Man, Jeff is going to hate this cut in the mornin-- ??
Nick_Wright: ?!
* Jeff[yard] drops to the ground.
Kacey|yard: !
* Bastet[Yard] flinches slightly when she does that. Nngh, that felt weird.
Bastet[Yard]: ...
Jeff[yard]: ...ah... god.
* MikhailRamphet drops his sword and half-crawls over to Jeff, ignoring the pain in his shoulder and attempting to restrain the man. Fortunately for him, he'd bothered equipping one of the few pieces of armour he wears... a decorative pauldron over his right shoulder.
* Deb is shaking a little, but it's not affecting her pace as she jogs towards Jeff -too- much.
Bastet[Yard]: How long will that keep him stunned?
* Bastet[Yard] is jogging that way too
* Nick_Wright continues to stay with Kacey. "Can you extract the spirit? I... I can do things, but I can't do anything like that..."
* MikhailRamphet is 6' even and in peak physical condition, so getting a scrawny weakling like Jeff in a wrestling hold shouldn't be too difficult for him.
* Jeff[yard] 's gun hand flinches. He shoots up, once, and tries to jerk himself away.
* Nick_Wright winces.
Bastet[Yard]: Gah!
* Deb tries to kick Jeff's gun away - pretty hard. It might hurt something if he's holding it tightly enough.
* Keaton remains with his gun trained but there isn't much he can do at this point.
Bastet[Yard]: If someone can get the ghost out, I think I can banish him.
Jeff[yard]: [no no no no]
* Jeff[yard] is able to jerk his hand away from the kick, but barely.
* Jeff[yard] tries to pull it away from Mikhail.
* MikhailRamphet doesn't even flinch at the sound, slowly working the man's hands down towards the snow. He attempts to shift behind Jeff to better restrain him.
Nick_Wright: Soze... why'd you have to go after Jeff... I was the one who got you caught...
Jeff[yard]: fuck it.
* Jeff[yard] jerks his hand away, aims for his OWN HEAD, and fires.
Bastet[Yard]: -!!!!
Nick_Wright: NOOOOOO!
Bastet[Yard]: SHIT
MikhailRamphet: Urgh!
* Bastet[Yard] rarely curses, so.
* Kacey|yard shrieks.
Deb: F- o-o
* Keaton watches, stunned. Oh... fuck.
Bastet[Yard]: o_o
Nick_Wright: Jeff... Soze, you goddamn son of a bitch!
* Jeff_Levitt twitches.
Keaton: Fuck. *Keaton lets his gun arm drop.*
* Soze 's spirit is nowhere to be found. Is he still inside Jeff? Is he away somewhere? Is he in somebody else...?
* Kacey|yard bursts into tears again.
* MikhailRamphet , still clinging to Jeff, gets an artistic spray of blood across his face. "Grh!"
* Nick_Wright begins looking around frantically, magatama on full blast.
* Bastet[Yard] is reaching out with her own mystical senses as well, where is he...?
* Jeff_Levitt 's eyes suddenly open, staring blindly.
* Keaton realizes this isn't over when everyone else starts "searching". Right. He's still somewhere.
* MikhailRamphet wrenches the gun from his hand, a little too late, and throws it away.
Soze: *Meanwhile, there.... something really weird going on with the blood. It's... trickling off towards Jeff's left. Wait, what?*
* Bastet[Yard] tightens her hand on the hilt of the device she's holding.
Bastet[Yard]: ...O_o
Kacey|yard: O.O
* Jeff_Levitt suddenly takes a deep, shuddering breath. And he really, really shouldn't be doing that, what with the BIG FUCKING HOLE IN HIS HEAD.
MikhailRamphet: ...dear Lord...
Nick_Wright: J...Jeff?
Bastet[Yard]: ....o_o
Keaton: Jesus...
Nick_Wright: How...
Bastet[Yard]: What the /hell/.
* Deb pulls a vial from between her hands - where it actually came from isn't clear - and wrenches it open, trying to force the (blue, fizzy liquid) contents into Jeff's mouth. (It's a healing potion, but not really rated for injuries -that- bad.)
Jeff_Levitt: *The big fucking hole in his head that's...slowly getting smaller.*
* MikhailRamphet is horrified, but tries not to lose his grip on the man, especially as it looks like he's still got some kick in him after all.
* Jeff_Levitt doesn't swallow. The liquid just trickles out of his mouth.
* Kacey|yard gets up from the steps, finally, and goes to see what's going on. She's still shaking and huddled in on herself, and staring a bit blankly.
Soze: *The blood, meanwhile is building upwards, or... something. It's folding on top of itself, forming patterns and glistening blue waves and it's all very beautiful, and slightly horrifying, because wait a second, is that a LUNG? Okay, now that's just freaky*
* Nick_Wright is staring, and notices something out of the corner of his eye. The blood...?
Bastet[Yard]: ...Oh god. It's reforming into him or something
Keaton: ..... *Looks very pale*
Deb: ... o-o
Kacey|yard: . . .
Nick_Wright: Oh HELL no.
Soze: *Yeaaah, pretty much.*
* Deb drops the vial, bleeding a little from her shoulder onto Jeff's body.
* Kacey|yard backs up a step.
* Bastet[Yard] will try to do the obvious thing and blast it to bits with a dark magic bolt of energy before it fully reforms.
Soze: *The forming speeds up, though, all of a sudden, waves and waves and waves and patterns and oh, hey, look, that's definil-- oh*
* MikhailRamphet gets even more blood on him. As Jeff's body goes slack, he realizes that there's no point in holding it and... "....dear God."
Soze: *For whatever reason, though, despite the GAPING HOLE IN it, it just starts all over again. Can you stop that, please?*
* Jeff_Levitt 's body erupts in burns that match the places where the reforming body was blasted.
Bastet[Yard]: ....o_o
Bastet[Yard]: Okay, what the /shit/.
Bastet[Yard]: ..../ACK/.
Bastet[Yard]: You gotta be kidding.
* Jeff_Levitt 's body begins to slowly repair itself.
Deb: Shit! Do you even have any idea what that's -turning into-?
* Deb pushes herself away from where she's almost-not-quite leaning down on Jeff's body.
* Keaton is cursing repeatedly under his breath*
Bastet[Yard]: Okay, if it shoot that, it hurts him, and it keeps reforming /anyway/...
* MikhailRamphet finally releases the body and flops back onto his rear, staring in horror at the bizarre event taking place in the yard. "What... what is happening?"
Soze: *Okay, so NOW the forming is speeding up, having recovered from the dark blast or whatever, and speeding up and speeding up and speeding up and... hey, we have a person here! An unconscious person, entirely familiar to a lot of the people in this room.*
* Soze is there, yeah. Wait. What the hell. WHY?
* Jeff_Levitt 's own wounds are healing faster and faster, until he, too is whole. And also unconscious.
* Keaton stops cursing. Ohshit.
Deb: ... the fuck ... symbiosis?
MikhailRamphet: ....that man...
* Kacey|yard lets out a small sob. She's huddled and shivering and it's really really /not/ because it's cold out here.
Bastet[Yard]: I'm guessing
* Soze wheezes suddenly, eyes snapping open.
Bastet[Yard]: Meaning this is /way/ the heck out of my realm of experiance o_o
* MikhailRamphet crab-walks back to where he threw the gun, and grabs it, aiming it amateurishly at Soze.
* Keaton is wondering if it's too late to start hoping this is a /really bad nightmare/
* Kacey|yard takes another step back.
* Jeff_Levitt 's eyes focus at the exact same moment. "Nnnnh..."
* Soze 's clothing is covered in bloodstains that don't quite match Jeff's. His eyes are open, but he's completely oblivious to the gun being aimed at him. Instead, he's focusing on remembering how to breathe. Excuse him.
* Keaton very much recognizes that pattern of bloodstains. And the clothes.
Kacey|yard: . . . I don't get it.
Deb: ... ngh... *she retrieves another of those vials from wherever the no-space they're from is and downs the contents herself. A little of the color comes back into her cheeks, and the bleeding slows, but her right shoulder keeps the gunshot wound.*
MikhailRamphet: Die.
Bastet[Yard]: Don't shoot him!
Deb: Don't! You kill him, you might kill the other guy.
Bastet[Yard]: What she said
* Soze snaps back to reality, still wheezing.
* MikhailRamphet steels himself and fires, missing horribly. The wall over there probably hates him, now.
Bastet[Yard]: ...
Soze: ...fuck... *wheeze* please don't... jeez...
* Soze curls up.
MikhailRamphet: Ugh... what?
* Jeff_Levitt stirs, just a little. "Wh...whrr'm....whu.."
* Bastet[Yard] goes to take the gun from Mikhail, if he'll let her. Of course, she won't be much better with it, but she won't be firing it off at random. God knows who he could've /accidentally/ shot.
* MikhailRamphet struggles to his feet, and doesn't protest when Bastet confiscates his firearm.
* Soze is just curled up there, wheezing. Well, clearly he's done shooting at people for the night.
* Ariekne is that dark-robed and hood-covered figure with the glowing eyes stepping outside. a golden shield surrounds her, as well.
* Jeff_Levitt tries to sit up, and fails utterly.
MikhailRamphet: I would like to know which of these men I should be killing. What has happened here?
Ariekne: What's going on?
* Kacey|yard is here and probably recognizable, as she is the only blonde ten-year-old who's usually around here. She's curled into herself and shivering and crying, though, and yet still too fascinated by Soze and Jeff to notice Ari just yet.
* Keaton is moving towards Soze slowly.
* MikhailRamphet goes to retrieve his sword, which is a much more trustworthy weapon. He's angry-looking and covered in blood, none of which is his.
* Ariekne runs over Mikhailwards. admire her concerned face.
* Deb pulls a roll of duct tape from between her hands, offering it up to... whoever. "Somebody... who doesn't have an arm going numb, at least get his arms tied, please?"
Bastet[Yard]: Bad guy just came back from the dead.
* Ariekne frowns. "Bad?"
* Soze is perfectly good, honest. Look at him, pathetically on the ground there. wheeze.
* Ariekne can imagine Soze is the "bad guy" as he's the one on the floor.
MikhailRamphet: Aah... Ariekne. That man... he revived himself from the dead by possessing someone and drawing blood from his body.
* Keaton is in the process of carefully approaching Soze
* Ariekne GASPS! looks a bit horrified. "Are you injured?"
* Jeff_Levitt is also on the floor, but would point out that he is NOT a bad guy. Or he would if he could say anything more coherent than "Mfrgthrlse."
Deb: Somebody? Anybody? Christ, do I have to do this myself... *she starts towards Soze*
* Ariekne knows Jeff is not the bad guy, as Kacey likes him, and she is obviously the best judge of character, being ten.
* Jeff_Levitt stares at Ariekne. "Whrrmi?"
MikhailRamphet: Me.. no, I am fine.
* Soze really isn't up for talking right now. He squeezes his eyes shut. Oh fuck, not this again. He's tired of dying.
Ariekne: Oh, good. *relieved*
Keaton: Get back. *Keaton says this to Deb as soon as he sees her move.* Jeff... can you hear me? *He's near Jeff now*
* MikhailRamphet heads towards Soze, weapon drawn. Nuts to talk, he's going to stick this guy like a pig.
* Ariekne looks at Jeff. "Jeff? Oh.. Kacey was -" She notices Kacey. "She found you."
* Kacey|yard giggles. She sounds just a little more hysterical than someone her age should really be capable of.
Deb: Then is -somebody- going to make sure that if that guy gets his breath back he isn't going to run off or shoot himself again or something???
Jeff_Levitt: Uh?
* Deb proffers the duct tape again.
Keaton: Jeff get up. *Keaton says carefully, nudging the man with a foot. His eyes haven't left Soze's curled up form*
Bastet[Yard]: Hello. I have the gun. *Holds it up.* Even then. *Rolling her eyes and gesturing, Soze will, if this works, find his wrists and legs bound together with tendrils forming out of some sort of shadowy material*
* Ariekne looks over at Deb. "What do you need help with?" Two delicate hands appear out of the long sleeves of the robe.
MikhailRamphet: The world will be a safer place if this villain is dead.
* Soze coughs.
* Jeff_Levitt tries, he really does, but he hasn't used his body in almost a week, and it's kind of in bad shape. He manages to roll onto his side with some effort, but sitting up is out of the question.
Ariekne: .. Apparently, if he came back to life...
Bastet[Yard]: You might want to tape him, though, those'll eventually collapse
Bastet[Yard]: And /don't kill him/.
* Deb relaxes a bit when she sees/senses what Bastet is doing, but still offers the duct tape to Ariekne.
* MikhailRamphet pauses, frowning at Bastet.
Bastet[Yard]: Injuries transfer over to the other guy--his name is Jeff, right?--/and he might die too/.
MikhailRamphet: Are you so sure?
Deb: S'... the one side is sticky, you can get his arms and legs with it.
* Ariekne spends a few moments looking at the duct tape - what is this stuff? it's so sticky and strong! Damn, if goblins had this.....
* MikhailRamphet kicks Soze with one of his spurred boots.
Ariekne: .. Ah. I see.
Bastet[Yard]: Considering Jeff got hurt when I blew a hole in him while he was reforming..
Ariekne: Mikhail! Don't be cruel.
* Nick_Wright has been watching all this, a little bewildered.
Jeff_Levitt: AH!
* Kacey|yard edges towards Ari.
* Soze grits his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut.
* Deb is hoping Ariekne will be able to pick up on the idea on her own. Yeeeeah, she's going to just stand her and chill a little, and down another of those healing potions before she gets back to shaking.
* Keaton kneels a bit and offers Jeff his hand. Srsly get away from the Soze Jeff. Though Soze is restrained, Keaton still has his gun and eyes trained on him
* Ariekne glares. Then goes to duct-tape Soze's arms behind his back.
* Jeff_Levitt yells in pain and clutches whatever spot Mikhail kicked on Soze.
Nick_Wright: ?!
Nick_Wright: Jeff? ...oh, you've gotta be kidding me.
* Ariekne knows tape. duct tape however would be like, the goblin messiah. PS: Soze, if you try to hit her, you'll feel weaker. :D also, it will. reflect off that golden shield surrounding her.
* Soze is... really not going to try to hit her in this state.
* Keaton curses at Mikhail and tries to get Jeff up.
Deb: Get 's ankles, too, don't want him running... away... *she starts back towards the Sanc, kind of unsteadily*
Soze: I... I would like... to go to the clinics, please.
* Ariekne Good. *tapes*
Ariekne: Of coures.
* Nick_Wright takes his glasses off and rubs his face. "Well, this is all a fine howdy-do isn't it?"
Ariekne: Mikhail, lift this gentleman, so we make take him to the clinics.
* Jeff_Levitt tries to help, but is pretty much a rag doll right now, sorry. ._.
* Ariekne smiles up at Nick, despite the fact she's currently duct-taping Soze's ankles together.
Deb: Think I could... probably use a stop there, ... too...
* Bastet[Is-in-the-yard] didn't leave
* Nick_Wright goes over to Jeff as well.
Jeff_Levitt: Wha...hap'n...?
Bastet[Is-in-the-yard]: You were possessed.
Keaton: Nick? Help me get 'im up. *Keaton is less focused on Soze as he's bound by people*
* Kacey|yard sits down in the snow, quietly.
* Deb is now back into the sanc!
* Nick_Wright nods. "Man, this is messed up even by my standards. NOW what do we do, if Soze and Jeff are linked like that?"
Bastet[Is-in-the-yard]: I don't know...
* Jeff_Levitt would be shocked if he didn't feel like he'd been run over by a fleet of semis. He does manage to stare at Bastet. "Whuh?"
MikhailRamphet: ...tch... how can this be...
* Soze 's breathing is calming down as he gets used to it. He still doesn't move, though, offering no resistance.
* Keaton hasn't gotten that far yet.
Bastet[Is-in-the-yard]: I don't know anything that could /unlink/ them.
Ariekne[yard]: My magic is not that powerful.
Nick_Wright: This is bad. And with the Nexus having no method of incarceration...
* Keaton very reluctantly puts his gun away and moves again to get Jeff at least sitting. "Are you hurt?"
* Jeff_Levitt shakes his head weakly.
* Keaton is trying very hard /not/ to look at Soze now.
* MikhailRamphet sheathes his sword, defeated, and helps Ariekne by lifting Soze up over his shoulder, grunting a little from the pain but too stubborn to try shifting him.
* Bastet[Yard] gestures the hilt device behind her back, where it vanishes in a subtle PIN effect. She still has the gun, though, unsure /what/ to do with it.
MikhailRamphet: ....
Nick_Wright: How'd that happen, though? You should've been dead...
Jeff_Levitt: ....tirrred...
Soze: *breath* ... *breath* ... *breath*
* Nick_Wright blanks a bit. "Wait a sec. Haven't I heard about something like this before?"
* Jeff_Levitt looks at Nick, confused.
* Bastet[Yard] glances at Nick as well
Bastet[Yard]: Enlightened those of us on the darker side of things.
Nick_Wright: What was it... the situation my alternate had, with his version of Edgeworth. Or something like that. Um.
* Ariekne[yard] blinks at Nick.
* Keaton will also give Nick an expectant look.
Ariekne[yard]: Should we take him to the clinics?
Nick_Wright: Like... Edgeworth was supposed to have been fatally wounded by something, but didn't die... or... damn, I don't really know the specifics.
* Jeff_Levitt hasn't noticed Soze yet, apparently.
Bastet[Yard]: Clinics might be smart, although what we do with Soze, I.. have /no idea/.
Keaton: Lock him up until we figure this out. *Keaton sounds tired all of a sudden*
* Jeff_Levitt tenses. "Soze?!"
Ariekne[yard]: So that's his name.
MikhailRamphet: I... suppose there is no other choice, if his health is tied to that of an innocent. I don't know what will stop him from harming people in the future with the threat that retribution will only harm this man, though.
Nick_Wright: Geez, Jeff, don't strain yourself, you just came back from the dead. Or never really died, or, uh, something.
* Keaton pinches the bridge of his nose
Ariekne[yard]: Yes.
Ariekne[yard]: You need to rest, Jeff.
Bastet[Yard]: Goddess Alive this is weird to wrap my head around. *Rubs her forehead*
* Soze coughs.
Nick_Wright: Immortality, huh? Man, you lucky bastard.
MikhailRamphet: Where do I bring this criminal?
Ariekne[yard]: The clinics.
Ariekne[yard]: He can be chained to his hospital bed, can he not?
* Jeff_Levitt just nods. He would really, really like to sleep now.
Bastet[Yard]: Yeah, they can strap him to a bed or something
Keaton: He needs more than that.
* MikhailRamphet nods, and heads back towards the Sanctuary, not thinking to use a PINpoint. "He... should be. A nurse offered to... when Georik was unwell.."
Nick_Wright: Should be able to yeah. *looks to Jeff* Man... do you want to go to the clinics too, or do you just need to lie down a bit?
Soze: oh... haha.. that sounds lovely.
* Soze is... talking, apparently!
Bastet[Yard]: And there they have scanners, along with M--Eiko's stuff, maybe they can figure out the nature of the link.
MikhailRamphet: Silence, dog.
* Bastet[Yard] says Eiko's name like she's unused to referring to her that way.
Jeff_Levitt: Maybe juss...lie down...?
* MikhailRamphet is about to tote Keyser Soze through the Sanctuary, past all the nice people. Maybe someone should stop him?
* Keaton is not pleased with Soze going to the clinics but he says no more. Instead he once again tries to get Jeff on his feet. He'll help support him but he damn well isn't carrying him.
* Nick_Wright nods, smiling a bit. "We'll get you to one of the side rooms."
* Ariekne[yard] moves from next to Mikhail to over to Jeff. She whispers some magic words, which should have a calming effect on him.
* Jeff_Levitt does seem to be a bit calmer, but it's kind of hard to tell.
* ElizaHarker bursts into the yard fast enough that the door nearly breaks off its hinges, and ... arrives at a scene nearly over. She would facepalm if she felt anything except like a shell, like a pointless waste of time. She fights with herself so much, makes the right decision, and this is the result. It's enough to make a girl laugh, so she does, hoarse and quiet.
* MikhailRamphet wrinkles his nose and tries to ignore the bloodstains on his face, hair and coat.
Nick_Wright: !!
Bastet[Yard]: !!
Nick_Wright: Geezum H., Eliza, you scared the shit out of me.
Ariekne[yard]: !!
MikhailRamphet: ....ugh. Out of my way, Miss Vampire.
Jeff_Levitt: ?
* MikhailRamphet is also carrying a duct-taped guy. He looks mad.
* Jeff_Levitt stares at Eliza. Hi.
Soze: ...oh hi.
* Bastet[Yard] blinks
* Ariekne[yard] facepalms. For a royal knight, he sure can be rude.
Bastet[Yard]: Don't /DO/ that.
* Soze 's voice is quiet and raspy.
* Jeff_Levitt is leaning on Keaton rather a lot, sorry. ._.
Jeff_Levitt: C'we go inside?
* Ariekne[yard] will help Keaton with Jeff.
Jeff_Levitt: Please?
Bastet[Yard]: Inside sounds good
* Nick_Wright sighs. "Yeah. Where's Kacey?"
Ariekne[yard]: Over there. *points*
Bastet[Yard]: It's bloody cold out here.
* Jonathan is here with canisters. What's going on?
* Nick_Wright blinks. "Dr. Crane... ah, you missed the main fireworks."
* Jeff_Levitt stares tiredly at Jon. "...Jon?"
Bastet[Yard]: ...*And look at Bastet pale a little! o_o;
* MikhailRamphet is holding Keyser Soze and would be carrying him to the Clinics if there weren't all these damn rubberneckers in his way!
Jonathan: Jeff!
Jonathan: Where is he?
Jeff_Levitt: ...yeah.
* Soze sees Jonathan and goes white.
* Ariekne[yard] is helping Keaton and Jeff. :3
* Keaton will try to guide Jeff towards the Sanctuary. Out of his way ppl B|
* Ariekne[yard] helps!
* ElizaHarker growls, and moves out of the way, without so much as a change in expression at the sight of two bodies - she could smell them the whole time, after all.
* Nick_Wright goes along with Keaton.
MikhailRamphet: I would appreciate.. a little room...
* Bastet[Yard] will head inside as well, trying to get the hell out of dodge before Crane explodes or something.
* Jeff_Levitt shuffles along.
* Kacey|yard is sitting here in the snow, a very small heap of shaking crying ten-year-old.
* Jonathan sees that Soze is held?
* Soze is very, very still. More still than before. Oh god. Crane. Crane.
* Ariekne[yard] goes over to Kacey, acutally.
* Leoben follows Jon out.
* Nick_Wright stares. "Oh... Keaton, can you handle getting Jeff inside?"
Ariekne[yard]: Kacey?
* Ariekne[yard] leans down next to her.
Jeff_Levitt: He's...afraid...
Keaton: I can handle it *Keaton's strong :D*
Kacey|yard: I tried to help, I tried to help, I was worried and I tried to help--
* Jonathan sees that he is afraid. Oh, that's wonderful. He -smiles-.
* Nick_Wright stares at Jeff. "You guys share an EMPATHIC link too?!"
Jeff_Levitt: I c'n feel him...why can I feel him?
Ariekne[yard]: Shh, shh.
* Leoben , for once, doesn't notice Kacey right away. He is glaring /holes/ through Soze.
* MikhailRamphet finally manages to stumble around and back into the Sanctuary, now that the assholes are out of his way. He's tired and in pain, and doesn't notice that Soze has gone still upon seeing Jonathan.
Nick_Wright: Ugh, the hits just keep on coming.
* Ariekne[yard] whispers a few calming words.
Soze: ...Leoben. oh this is wonderful.
Ariekne[yard]: You helped.
Jonathan: Those were my thoughts.
* Ariekne[yard] hugs Kacey close.
Jeff_Levitt: Oh...God...what's happening?
* Soze is in the sanctuary with Mikhail, I think!
Nick_Wright: We'll, uh, TRY to explain later, try being the operative word. Come on...
* Keaton mutters something and quickly gets Jeff into Sanc.
* Nick_Wright leads him in as well.
* Jonathan follows in.
* Leoben follows as well.

[Soze is brought in from outside.]

* Soze is.. pretty thankful he's away from Leoben and Crane. Oh hey, anti-violence field. Sweet deal.
* Jonathan is back in here.
Bastet: ..Hi.
* Some sits up when he sees Soze. "... Goddamnit."
Jonathan: Let me help.
* Keaton wanders in supporting Jeff
* Leoben doesn't give a crap about your physical health, Soze. "Yeah," he's saying. "It's a really good time we're all having."
* Jeff_Levitt is supported by Keaton. Hi.
* Nick_Wright is supporting Jeff on the other side. He looks very troubled.
MikhailRamphet: Urgh... alright. I'd appreciate you negotiating with the nurse at the Clinics, Jonathan Crane.
* Eiko gets up, throwing off her backpack. "You don't need to do that. I'm a doctor there.
Bastet: >_>
Some: Eiko's the best doctor the Clinics have.
* Keaton will try to get Jeff over to a couch to sit
Nick_Wright: Ah... Miss Eiko! The normal Miss Eiko! I haven't seen you since that guy futzed with the AVF...
* Soze is, for those who don't know yet, utterly soaked in blood and looking mentally beaten by a train, or something.
* MikhailRamphet pauses. "Do you have a full-body restraint for this man? He is dangerous, and if he harms himself, Jeff will be injured."
Jonathan: Negotiate?
Bastet: Yeah, that was the plan, tie him to a bed at the clinics.
* Leoben is yea close to choking a bitch. Seriously.
* Jonathan has canisters. He doesn't want to -negotiate-
* Jeff_Levitt also has a great deal of blood on him, mostly matted in his hair and on his face.
Bastet: [Probably not the /best idea/, but I've got /nothin'/]
Nick_Wright: We should get you washed off first, I think...
* Leoben heartily approves of the use of canisters, where Soze is concerned.
Some: We have a place he could be kept... The door is welded shut.
* Jeff_Levitt collapses bonelessly onto a couch.
* Soze really doesn't approve, thank you.
* Soze stiffens again.
Jonathan: Oh, that's right, Some, we do.
Jonathan: We do....
* Bastet really wishes you would /put those away/, Jon. They make her nervous. Very nervous.
* Nick_Wright sits down next to him.
* Jonathan shivers.
* Leoben continues not caring what Soze thinks, tyk.
* Eiko nods. "Jonathan, please take Mr. Soze to the clinics and insure he is restrained the best you can think of. Until I get a chance to examine him more, I'd like him somewhere I can get at him."
Nick_Wright: ...I should go make sure Kacey's okay too.
* Jeff_Levitt just...watches, expressionless.
* Eiko knows that Jon will give it to old Arkham try.
* Soze is oh you are fucking kidding me no.
* Leoben /chokes./ "What happened to Kacey?"
* Keaton looks very worn. Again.
* MikhailRamphet nods to Jonathan and Eiko, then heads off with Soze. Right now, he won't really care, even if he knows that Soze is being tortured.
Some: She ran out after -them-.
Jonathan: Let me take him somewhere -else-
* Leoben will likely regret saying that if Soze catches on, later.
Leoben: Where. Is. She.
* Some points to the yard.
* Nick_Wright sighs. "She's okay; she stayed close to the Sanctuary so the AVF was still operational."
Nick_Wright: But she's very, very rattled.
* Soze is... taken away, I guess?
Bastet: And, uh. *Glances to Eiko* I /really don't/ know what to do with this, at this point >_> *Hold up the gun*
Eiko: Jonathan. Until we know the effects of what happened on both Mr. Levitt and Mr. Soze, I don't want either of them in anywhere unreachable.
* Keaton quietly finds a seat not too close but not too far from the whole thing. He's very quiet.
* Jonathan doesn't listen. Following!
* Some is sticking with Jon, like a shadow.
* Leoben heads back out to the yard. D:<
* Eiko tried.
Eiko: Bastet, bring me my backpack, please?
* Eiko sits down next to Jeff and starts checking him.
Bastet: Okay. *Jogs on over to get the backpack without a second thought, and handing it to the past-version of her Mother.*
Eiko: Thank you.
* Jeff_Levitt is dead pale, and looks completely exhausted, but is uninjured.
* Nick_Wright sighs. "I wonder... maybe this was some sort of bizarre side effect of the immortality?"
Bastet: No problem, and.. ..What should I do with this gun? Because I honestly have /no idea/.
Eiko: Put it down on the bar, I'll look at it later.
Bastet: Okay
* Some will simply try to distract Jon at the earliest possible opportunity.
* Eiko checks Jeff's pulse and heartrate.
* Bastet goes to do so, and looks a lot more relaxed when she does. Guns are /not/ her thing.
* Keaton seems rather oblivious to everything going on around him now.
* Jonathan was distracted from stealing the prisoner, somehow!
* Jeff_Levitt 's heartbeat is strong, though very, very fast.
* Eiko opens the bag, which folds open to reveal a full doctor's kit. "Jeff, can you hear me?"
* Jonathan is back here now?
* Jeff_Levitt nods. "Uh huh."
* Some is trying to take him home. C'mooon.
* Jonathan is annoyed. But he can be taken home, sure.
* Keaton stands quietly, puts his gun away, and leaves.
Eiko: I'm a little concerned about your heartrate. I'm going to give you a light sedative, slow it down a little. I understand you've had a bad day, so this will take the edge off.
Nick_Wright: I'm just thankful he's alive...
Bastet: So am I.
Bastet: Oof. X_o
* Eiko injects him with something. There's no pain from the injection, just a small pinching sensation on the lower arm.
Nick_Wright: Jeff, how long have you been immortal, anyway? Have you always been like that?
Jeff_Levitt: ...I'm immortal?
Bastet: Apparently.
Bastet: You. uh.
Jeff_Levitt: What *happened*?
Nick_Wright: Uh, considering you took a shot point blank to the head...
Eiko: ...I guess that's an 'I don't know'
Bastet: ...I can't say it x_o;
Jeff_Levitt: ...A *what*?
* Bastet 's PIN chirps four times.
Jeff_Levitt: I...last thing I remember...coming home...day after New Years.
Bastet: ..Ohboy. >_>
Nick_Wright: Oh man. Jeff, you've been possessed since then.
Jeff_Levitt: By Soze.
* Bastet gets to explain this little adventure later. That'll be fun.
* Jonathan is gone!
Bastet: Iiiii gotta run guys. >__>
* MikhailRamphet returns from the Clinics, still angry and blood-soaked.
Jeff_Levitt: God...He...I remember...he was in my *head*.
Nick_Wright: I'm sorry, Jeff. I wish I'd seen it sooner...
Eiko: it's probable the only way to tell would have been an EEG.
Jeff_Levitt: And he's back now. Oh Christ.
Eiko: he's also being locked down in the clinics.
Bastet: Night all, and uh. Be careful
* MikhailRamphet sees Jeff and friends, and stops by them. "I... am sorry, for harming you."
* Nick_Wright shakes his head. "Or if I'd just been more clued in to the idea instead of thinking alternate... I swear to God I'm going to try and pay more attention."
* Bastet will PIN out after goodnights
* Jeff_Levitt smiles weakly "Thank you," he says before Bastet PINs out.
* Jeff_Levitt shakes his head. "Not your fault."
* Bastet said 'your welcome' before PINning out, she's polite! And wasn't raised in a barn (The Nexus, sure, but not a barn).
MikhailRamphet: This situation was unlike anything I have had to deal with on my own world, yet... I allowed myself to become frustrated and overwhelmed with emotion.
Jeff_Levitt: You did?
* Jeff_Levitt is a bit fuzzy on the events of the last hour or so.
* MikhailRamphet sighs, realizing that Jeff probably doesn't even know what happened... or at least, he wasn't around for it when it was.
* Kacey|yard is shrieking out there. Really a lot. Something about how THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT AND I HOPE HE KILLS YOU.
MikhailRamphet: !!
Nick_Wright: ?!
* Eiko looks up.
Nick_Wright: Was that... Kacey?
Jeff_Levitt: ?!
* MikhailRamphet goes clattering off to see what's going on in the yard. Did that vampire...?
Eiko: ....wonderful.
Jeff_Levitt: She's okay, right?
Nick_Wright: I... well, she was pretty rattled. She tried to warn you.
* Leoben comes back in. He looks about twenty years older, which is quite an accomplishment since he doesn't age, and horribly tired and sad. ". . . okay," he says again, quiet and even. "Someone. Tell me what happened."
* Jeff_Levitt stares at the door worriedly.
* Jeff_Levitt looks at Leoben. "I...I don't know. I think I was possessed by Soze. I...don't remember anything after New Year's."
* Jeff_Levitt 's voice is tired and slurred.
* Nick_Wright rubs his face. "Soze possessed Jeff. When things looked bad, he killed himself, but Jeff had some sort of immortality... and they seem to be linked body and soul now."
Jeff_Levitt: ?
Jeff_Levitt: Wait...what?
Leoben: . . . immortality?
* Leoben looks at Jeff, sharply.
* Nick_Wright looks at Jeff. "Soze... he formed from your body. I guess that means you two share pain and emotions as a result."
Jeff_Levitt: ...Oh fuck.
Nick_Wright: Tell me about it. If Soze goes and does something...
Eiko: ...that's a problem. Or it can be one.
* Jeff_Levitt I think...maybe there's a way to keep him...
* Leoben is still looking. ". . . Jeff," he says, quietly. Apparently this is his night for opening as many emotional wounds as humanly possible, all at once. "Remember when you rescued me from Soze, before?"
Nick_Wright: ?
* Jeff_Levitt looks at Leoben and nods. "Yeah."
* Leoben flicks his tongue over his lower lip. "Did I--" There is no tactful way to put this, really. "I called you the wrong name, didn't I."
* Eiko starts running a small scanning device over the top of Jeff's head, not blocking eye contact.
* Jeff_Levitt nods again after a moment. "Yeah. Um...'Jack', right?"
* Jeff_Levitt obligingly holds still.
* Eiko probably finds no missing brain tissue, skull fragments, et cetera.
Leoben: . . . that's it, then.
* Jeff_Levitt appears perfectly healthy and uninjured, yes.
Jeff_Levitt: *Just really, really tired and stressed*
Jeff_Levitt: What's it?
Nick_Wright: Huh?
* Leoben tilts his head, looking at Jeff with near-unnerving steadiness. It's possible he's not blinking. "There was an LOL," he says, slowly. "Made you a fact, made you permanent. Like Jack. But it's gone, now."
Jeff_Levitt: ...
Jeff_Levitt: I'm sorry, I don't understand.
Jeff_Levitt: A...fact?
Nick_Wright: A LOL... Maybe that's what happened with that other Edgeworth back then too...
Nick_Wright: So you're saying the immortality is gone now?
* Leoben smiles, with only the barest hint of warmth (and that's for the thought of Jack, not for Jeff at all) and shrugs. "Doesn't matter," he says dismissively. "It's too late for it to matter, now-- it's gone, and you're good old mortal Jeff again. Except--" and he nods, meaningfully, towards the portal to the Clinics.
Jeff_Levitt: --Except for him.
Jeff_Levitt: God.
* Nick_Wright sighs. "This sucks. Though I wonder..."
Jeff_Levitt: There...has to be some kind of way to...I dunno...keep him in line?
Nick_Wright: Hmm... if his pain is yours... doesn't that mean yours would be his?
Jeff_Levitt: Probably, yeah.
Nick_Wright: Maybe there's a way to take advantage of that somehow...
Jeff_Levitt: ...maybe? I...I don't know. I...
* Jeff_Levitt shakes his head.
Jeff_Levitt: I'm too tired to think.
* Nick_Wright nods. "You should get some rest."
* Jeff_Levitt nods, starts to stand up...and stops, putting his head in his hands. "Ooh-kay. Bad idea."
* Nick_Wright stands up. "Don't strain yourself! Here, lemme lead you. I'd let you stay at my place but, uh, I've kinda got another houseguest right now."
Jeff_Levitt: 'Sokay...maybe just one of the side rooms?
* Nick_Wright nods and leads him that way.
* Leoben sits down, quietly, in the armchair nearest where Terrwyn's curled up asleep on the floor.
Jeff_Levitt: Thanks.
Jeff_Levitt: ...for everything.
Nick_Wright: ...I just wish I could do more, Jeff. But... you're welcome.
* Jeff_Levitt manages to get to a bed with Nick's help, and falls asleep almost instantly.

OOC: Logs

2008-01-08T00:20:59Z

Jeffmun is currently working on the big showdown log, and I'll link it over here when she's done. :) The clinics post is also up. For now, though, here are some short examples of possessed!Jeff in the sanctuary.

[20:21] * Jeff_Levitt PINpoints in. He's a tall, skinny man in his forties with grey-streaked brown hair wearing a grey suit coat, slacks and a black button-down shirt. Judging from his expression, he did *not* expect to end up here.
[20:21] Torch: Shai-Hulud? *waves vaguely to Jeff*
[20:21] * Jeff_Levitt waves vaguely back.
[20:22] Jeff_Levitt: Hey...
[20:22] * Lily_Lu nods to Jeff.
[20:22] * Jeff_Levitt blinks.
[20:22] * LetoII waves to Jeff. Hello am imperial heir apparently :D;
[20:23] * Jeff_Levitt does have *something* odd about him today, if you have the ability to tell, but it's hard to place. He runs a hand through his hair. Mrr.
[20:24] Jeff_Levitt: ...I was supposed to be going home. Can someone tell me where this is?
[20:24] Torch: This is the Nexus!
[20:25] Jeff_Levitt: Oh, I know *that.* Is this a different area?
[20:25] * Torch is a tanskinned girl with oh so messy and currently way too long hair. Drinking soda, no spice for her.
[20:25] * Lily_Lu looks at Jeff. Sorry, she can't help you, but she will stare in a way that suggests that she would help if she could.
[20:25] Torch: It's some bar thing... Sanctuary, I think.
[20:25] Jeff_Levitt: A sanctuary?
[20:26] Torch: Yeah.
[20:27] * Jeff_Levitt frowns at his PINpoint. "I don't think this thing actually works."
[20:27] * Jeff_Levitt taps its edges vaguely.
[20:27] Torch: You need a new one?
[20:27] * JoeCampbell moves like a workhorse sort of fellow, a man used to hard work and - at one time - hard partying, too; he runs a hand through his salt-and-peppered hair and leans against the wall immediately next to the door, letting out a breath as he takes in the room. "Sanctuary, huh?" There's a slight irony to the word, but he just smiles loosely, as though that says it all.
[20:27] Jeff_Levitt: I don't know. Maybe I'm not using it right?
[20:28] Jeff_Levitt: I mean, I've never used one before.
[20:28] Jeff_Levitt: urgh.
[20:28] * Torch shrugs. "I dunno, I mostly just hit the buttons for the Nexus and here."
[20:28] Jeff_Levitt: Do you live here?
[20:30] * JoeCampbell looks, specifically, like this: (Link: http://userpic.livejournal.com/69273509/14464627)http://userpic.livejournal.com/69273509/14464627 "Think my kid's mentioned this place once or twice. When she's around, anyway." His eyes pinch a little tighter at that, but he doesn't expand. "Talking about those Pin-Whatsit things, are we?"
[20:31] Torch: Yeah.
[20:31] Jeff_Levitt: Yeah.
[20:31] Jeff_Levitt: ...I don't think I'm using mine right.
[20:32] * Bastet arrives. She's a shortish gal of mixed descent, black hair, purple eyes, and comfortable winter clothing.
[20:33] * JoeCampbell shrugs, an easy gesture from a man evidently quite comfortable in his own skin, even in days like these. "I feel your pain. I can barely figure out the damned cell phone my daughter keeps trying to get me to use."
[20:33] * Jeff_Levitt smiles up at Bastet and then goes back to fiddling with his PINpoint.
[20:34] Jeff_Levitt: Ahah. Yeah. I'm sure it'll come to me eventually.
[20:34] * Bastet waves to Jeff as she goes to claim a coke from underneith the bar, and then a seat.
[20:37] * Bastet pops the can open and drinks the soda.
[20:38] * Jeff_Levitt is entirely concentrated on this PINpoint. He has the cool of professional as he flips through the options... which is pretty good, considering he said he's never used one before.
[20:38] * JoeCampbell nods. "Best of luck, kid." And he'll call all of you fuckers under forty that unless you stop him, folks.

The next evening.

[19:35] * Jeff_Levitt enters the sanctuary. He's still missing his memories of the Nexus, he's still tired-looking, and he *still* has a slightly wonky aura. Eh.
[19:35] Jeff_Levitt: Hey.
[19:35] Bastet: Hiya, having any luck?
[19:36] Jeff_Levitt: With the PINpoint? No, not really.
[[19:36] Jeff_Levitt: It isn't letting me get anywhere outside of the Nexus.
[19:36] * Mr_Todd 's gaze immediately snaps over to Jeff.
[19:36] Bastet: ...Weird
[19:36] Bastet: That makes no sense.
[19:36] Jeff_Levitt: I don't get it.
[19:37] * Jeff_Levitt frowns and runs a hand through his hair. What a week.
[19:37] * Mrs_Lovett tsks, sympathetic, at Jeff. "You remember any accidents lately, love?"
[19:38] * Jeff_Levitt catches Todd's gaze. Wha...?
[19:38] Jeff_Levitt: Accidents?
[19:39] Mrs_Lovett: Have you been in any bang-ups, 'urt yourself?
[19:39] Jeff_Levitt: I don't think so?
[19:40] Jeff_Levitt: Why?
[19:40] Mrs_Lovett: Y'might be dead.
[19:41] Jeff_Levitt: !
[19:41] Jeff_Levitt: I... really don't think I'm dead.

Ha ha, oh come now. But anyway, Jeffmun and I were having a ball, because hey look, more dead things!

[19:48] * Shaen stomps in from the yard, stopping inside to brush off the snow from his fading, tattered cloak. The metal fasteners and buckles on his person rattle as he steps into the main room, heard over the groans of his leather covers. It's nice to be in some place warm. Hood down, the figure is... Jesus Fluff, he's DEAD! There's a large hole in his cheek, which only shares its space with a few thin strips of flesh and a beetle.

Stuff happens, etc etc.

[20:03] Jeff_Levitt: ...Why are you still able to move inside that body?
[20:04] * Jeff_Levitt doesn't sound rude, only curious (and maybe a little concerned.)
[20:04] * Shaen scratches at his scarred scalp. A slight discoloration (er, compared to his usual sickly almost-green) rises to his cheeks. He seems to ponder the answer for a moment before frowning. "I don't see why that's any business of yours."

Burn.

Of course, later on, Mr. Todd kills someone in the arena.

[20:21] * Mrs_Lovett ... well, so much for that new shirt. :( Folks in the Sanctuary can probably hear some gurgling, and a thump.
[20:22] * Novak stands and goes out there.
[20:23] * Shaen narrows his eyes warily, but is distracted by the sounds of DEATH.
[20:24] * Adrimar looks a bit green.
[[20:24] * Shaen dons a cruel smile.
[20:27] Jeff_Levitt: ...Oh my God. Did he just...?
[20:28] Jeff_Levitt: She can come back to life, right?
[20:28] * Mr_Todd 's expression deadens, and he takes a step back.
[20:29] Jeff_Levitt: ....
[20:29] * Novak follows, shrugging. He plops down and returns to his crossword puzzle.
[20:30] * Mr_Todd looks numb, all things considered. He goes, quietly, back to his chair.
[20:31] Jeff_Levitt: ...
[20:31] Jeff_Levitt: ...man.
[20:31] Novak: Can't say she didn't ask for it.
[20:32] Jeff_Levitt: That's a horrible thing to say.
[20:32] Novak: Well, I probaly won't win any Nobel Peace Prizes as is, so.
[20:32] Novak: Plus, it's true.
[20:33] Mr_Todd: :|
[20:34] Novak: Sometimes the truth is a horrible thing.
[20:34] Novak: Hah! *fills in something on his puzzle!*
[20:34] * Jeff_Levitt glares at Novak, perhaps a bit more icily than usual.
[20:34] Jeff_Levitt: I can't believe this.

Translation: Someone should go out and kill him, because they killed me, and this isn't fair. B|

[20:34] * Novak is too proud of himself to have filled in another slot on his crossword puzzle to care, Jeff.
[20:35] * Jeff_Levitt turns to Todd. "How many times have you killed each other??"
[20:35] * Novak SNORTS. XD.
[20:35] * Mr_Todd doesn't answer.
[20:36] Jeff_Levitt: This is ridiculous. It doesn't mean anything anymore, and you know it.
[20:36] * Jeff_Levitt isn't even going to look at Novak.
[20:36] * Novak opens his mouth, but then closes it, decidng Jeff hates him enough as is.
[20:37] Jeff_Levitt: How long before she comes back to life?
[20:37] * Mr_Todd doesn't answer, again.
[20:38] * Jeff_Levitt sighs and lets himself drop onto the sofa. He rests his head in his hands.
[20:40] Jeff_Levitt: can't fucking believe this.

Really, this evening isn't over. Keep the fun times going.

[22:02] * Jeff_Levitt pitches forward suddenly, almost violently, clutching his head.
[22:02] Jeff_Levitt: S-Shit.
[22:03] * Jeff_Levitt is doubled over at his place on the sofa.
[22:03] * Jeff_Levitt has... one hell of a headache... apparently?
[22:04] * Taylor walks in.
[22:05] * ElizaHarker has nothing to say to that. (GHOOOOST RIDERS III-IN THE SKY) Instead, she'll look over at Jeff, and ... not make any move to possibly help him. Just watch. (Wow, Eliza, that's bitchy, even for you.) "You okay there, buddy?"
[22:05] * Jeff_Levitt is just CLUTCHING HIS HEAD.
[22:05] * `Taylor looks at Jeff.
[22:05] `Taylor: Are.. are you alright, dude?
[22:05] Jeff_Levitt: f-fine... just... someone-- oh god this i-- jesus christ, I'm fine. It's just a headache. *Christ.*
[22:06] * Jeff_Levitt is shivering.
[22:07] * ElizaHarker sniffs the air, as she registers the new arrival. As she smells about as good as any animal with ridiculously good smell can, obviously she will pick up scents off of Taylor. One wonders what a few of those might be! "Looks more like a whole body ache, the way you're shaking." And yet, she's not comforting him.
[22:07] * `Taylor reaches into his jacket pocket (he's wearing a dashing, yet worn, leather jacket) and pulls out a small bottle of Advil. He pops off the cap and offers two to Jeff?
[22:08] * Jeff_Levitt gives a dry laugh, before-- oh HEY MORE PAIN.
[22:08] * `Taylor smells like New York City, mostly, with faint hints of cigarettes, alchohol, and marijuana.
[22:09] Jeff_Levitt: no thanks I'm go--- oh god get me out-- ....christ.
[22:09] * Jeff_Levitt shakes his head.
[22:09] Jeff_Levitt: no thanks, no thanks, I'm good.
[22:09] Jeff_Levitt: I'm going to get some fresh air.
[22:10] * Jeff_Levitt doesn't seem to be in the kind of pain he was earlier. He gets up, stiffly, and makes his way to the yard.

That's what you get for stealing bodies, I guess?

[22:29] * Jeff_Levitt re-enters the sanctuary, still looking a bit shook-up. His eyes are bloodshot.
[22:29] octopus: ...huh. Mr. Levitt... are you alright?
[22:30] * Jeff_Levitt freezes, for the quickest moment.

Translation: OH MY GOD IT'S OTTO YOU'RE GOING TO KI-- oh, wait, I'm Jeff right now. Hey.

[22:30] * Jeff_Levitt calms, though.
[22:30] Jeff_Levitt: ...yeah. I'm okay.
[22:31] Jeff_Levitt: Just a headache. It's pretty much gone, now.
[22:32] octopus: ...em... I see.
[22:32] * octopus looks vaguely skeptical, but... enh.
[22:34] Jeff_Levitt: Yeah, it's no-- FUCK.
[22:34] * Jeff_Levitt doubles over again, clutching his head.
[22:34] octopus: !!
[22:34] * octopus jumps to his feet and stomps over to Jeff. "Should I take you to the Clinics?"
[22:35] * Jeff_Levitt waves his hand, stepping back. "No, no, no. Pleas-- aah, jeez-- no, I'm okay, it'll-- stop..."
[22:35] `Taylor: I think so.
[22:36] * Jeff_Levitt takes a deep breath, straightening up.
[22:36] * Mister_E raises a dark eyebrow at Jeff while he cleans his compact flame-thrower. Yes, he has one. And the permit to use it.
[22:36] Jeff_Levitt: ...there. It's all normal again.
[22:36] `Taylor: Dude, fucked up migraines like that are uncool.
[22:36] `Taylor: You need to get that checked out.
[22:37] Jeff_Levitt: You're telling me.
[22:37] Jeff_Levitt: ...Yeah. I probably should.
[22:38] octopus: ....if you're having this sort of violent reaction to a mere headache, I would begin to suspect that it...
[22:39] * octopus stutters a bit. "It- it... is something more. Especially around here."
[22:40] Jeff_Levitt: ...I haven't been able to remember this place.
[22:40] * Jeff_Levitt looks very panicked, all of a sudden.
[22:40] Jeff_Levitt: My memories. It's related to my memories.
[22:41] octopus: You're suffering a memory lapse?
[22:41] Jeff_Levitt: Yeah.
[22:42] octopus: ...hn.... that... s-sounds like either a serious brain injury or a psychic fugue of some kind...
[22:42] Jeff_Levitt: Everyone says they know me, but I only remember being here since Wednesday.
[22:42] Jeff_Levitt: ...ugh.
[22:43] Jeff_Levitt: I'm going to go home and get some sleep. I'll check out the clinics in the morning, if this is still happening.
[22:44] octopus: ......nh... that... might be a good idea, Mr. Levitt.
[22:44] octopus: [....could be... a temporal problem?]
[22:45] * octopus looks strangely unnerved.
[22:45] Jeff_Levitt: ...Yeah. Anyway, I'll see you all later.

And he gets the hell out of dodge, like the smart boy he is.