フランケン・シュタイン

affiliated with bethlehem royal. room o-2.

[ripper-in-red]

The Red Queen's downfall [ Video Chat ]

[ripper-in-red]

“Ah…” And so he disappeared. Her savior in white, gone from the mysterious box. She wasn’t sure how to feel; relieved, because she found someone kind enough to help someone as pathetic as herself? Worried. for it may have been nothing more than illusion. She still didn’t know the true purpose of this machine: A misleading hope, hidden in this chaos, planted by her tormentors. It was certainly a possibility.

But she could do was wait and see.

She rubbed her hands together nervously, shutting her eyes and doing her best to ignore the thumps! thumps! thumps! that continued without falter— … no. They stopped?

Through narrow, weary slits, red eyes stared at the door that now remained silent. Had the horrors given up? Or did the man managed to stop them, in such a short amount of time? For one final time, the door received a powerful attack and it splintered across as useless wood. Revealed, in all his mad glory… the doctor who saved her.

… With the bodies of the people she loved at his feet, drenched in the color she hated so very much.

“That wasn’t so bad..”

She stood up from her chair and backed away from his approaching steps, her anguished expression becoming more apparent the more she gazed upon the ruin and the offending weapon.

“Y… You went too far! This… isn’t what I wanted! I wanted to run away! Not… Not see them like this…!!”

[shutain-blog1]

She was disappointed.

No, worse than that... tormented, in pain, because of what he'd done. For the first time in what felt like ages, a spark of anger flickered into Stein's system, setting his veins ablaze with frustration, pumping adrenaline. His feet scuffed slightly against the floor as he approached her more, glasses shining from the harsh reflection of the faintly buzzing lights. "But they're fake." The doctor spoke harshly, blatantly stating the truth.

Somewhere within... his sane side could see and hear everything that was happening, and he was horrified. This sense of terror that filled the room to the point of near suffocation was wretched, and it was partly his fault. It seemed that Stein would never truly be able to help people, for no matter what he did... the madness always won.

"I was only trying to help you..."

It had become eerily silent, and, as soon as the doctor paused for a moment, his smirk grew into a dark grin. He gave her no time to move and immediately lunged, pinning her against the wall. With surprising strength, Stein clasped both the woman's wrists above her while his right hand, which held the scalpel, fingered her cheek, pressing his thumb lightly against her smooth skin.

"But if you won't accept my assistance, then there's little more I can do.."

"Ah, such smooth skin... maybe I'll replace it with sandpaper.."

And as his hand slipped to her waist, he allowed the scalpel to graze her side, drawing blood. It wasn't a very deep wound, but still enough to send cold shivers down his spine, features ecstatic. He'd held himself back for far too long..

[ripper-in-red]

The Red Queen's downfall [ Video Chat ]

[ripper-in-red]

“… … …” For every click of his screw, the baroness visibly winced and quite quickly she was reminded of those left back at home. The crimson reaper who had betrayed her… the eerie shopkeeper who most definitely designed the coffin she must have laid in before all this… it was hardly reassuring that the man who offered to be her savior held resemblance to such eccentrics.

The resounding cracks of splintered wood spoke the truth quite harshly. She would take all the help she could take. Madam Red removed her eyes from the screen, keeping them instead on the door that would break at any moment. She didn’t want to see them. She couldn’t see them. She refused to see them.

“… I-If you’re able… although it’s a risk… Please. Please help me…

I’m in room N-2. I don’t how far that may be for you but if you could come as quickly as possible, then…”

[shutain-blog1]

Wordlessly, he nodded and stood, the desk chair rolling away. Stein didn't bother turning the computer off, and, without saying any more, he left the room, moving down the hall while his pace sped up. His white lab coat fluttered behind with each movement, and it did not take long before he heard those signature noises... that body, whoever it belonged to, slamming itself against the woman's door.

The doctor came to a halt, viewing the people who clearly were Madam Red's fears. How tragic. It appeared to be a family of some sort. Truly, this was heart-breaking--- but the doctor hardly cared. Not while he was in such a state, anyway.

As he lunged towards the terrors, his soul-attacks finally worked.. but Stein knew, deep inside, that his abilities were only back because he feared his own power. Perhaps his powers were only more hallucinations. It only took a few moments before both the red-haired woman's husband and sister appeared to be lifeless bodies sprawled across the cold floor, laying in pools of ruby-red blood. The sickening stench filled the air, but the doctor only enjoyed the thrill of it all.

It only took one powerful kick for him to force open the door. Dripping scalpel in hand, Stein approached Madam Red slowly, lips curling into a cruel smirk.

"That wasn't so bad.."

[killedtheking]

“How many people would be offended if I killed everyone who lives on the second floor? Can I see a show of hands?”

[shutain-blog1]

"Something tells me that isn't a very wise idea.."

[ripper-in-red]

The Red Queen's downfall [ Video Chat ]

[ripper-in-red]

Her body became rigid with disgust as she watched the once nauseatingly calm man’s body become racked with laughter…  it was a pure act, certainly. Pure madness, unshackled by mirth and joy or anger and fury. It was raw. Frightening… nearly did it make her forget her own recognized fears thundering against the door.

“How… How lucky you are.” He was also afflicted. It brought a level of trust; misery loved company and all that. At least it assured her that the man was no staff here.

“Souls can be so very weak.. don’t you think..?”

Her initial feelings of repulsion had faded down, though traces of it remained in the act of leaning her body away from the screen and crossing her arms over her chest.

“… Yes. I agree. So weak and easy to break. The slightest provocations can lead us to a desperate road. And here we are, at the end of our destination and finding nothing but a sickening bottom line…”

[shutain-blog1]

"Lucky? On the contrary... that makes them more difficult to escape."

By that point, Stein wasn't sure if he was supportive or against the insanity.. but it was most definitely winning. The hallucinations were multiplying, as well. For a moment, a large eye appeared over his computer screen, flashing across the video before disappearing once more.

But the doctor paid it no mind. He'd stopped trying to determine what was real and what he'd imagined a long time ago. Ultimately, he saw no use to such clarity of vision. It only stopped him more.

"You seem to see all this as a dead end.."

"Perhaps I can help you." 

He could still hear the woman's fears hammering relentlessly against her door, and oh, how it only clouded his mind further. Hand returning to the screw through his head, Stein cranked it again, the smoke trailing from his cigarette fading slightly.

Click.

Click.

"Would you like me to dispose of that.. creature trying to get inside? It seems to be fairly troublesome. Tell me where you are.." 

[shutain-blog1]

operation o1., open

[loveoverdiscord]

There was not a single enjoyable evening to be had in this place, Charles had decided. Between the struggle of adapting to a new home and life, and then this rather unorthodox treatment…Charles couldn’t say he saw himself whiling away the evening playing chess with Erik anytime soon. Rather, since the announcement over the monitors, things had been lively. And Charles had no need for telepathy to make himself aware of the thoughts of others. Or, more specifically, their fears.

They roamed the halls, shadowing their maker, prompting them to scream or swear. And Charles was no different. But fear could be controlled, so long as one knew how to traipse the expanse of their own mind. There were those far less fortunate than the mutant, who had forcibly attempted to overshadow his fear for the sake of helping others. If only he had his powers…he would be of far greater help…

“It’s no use…” He reflected softly, lowering his fingers from where they had been settled against his temple. He couldn’t fix anything. And, it was as this realization dawned over him that he became aware of another figure in the hall. He hadn’t detected him previously, the silvery shock of hair a surprise to behold. “Excuse me…” He began cautiously, careful steps bringing him closer to the figure. He seemed in pain, the fear assaulting the inhabitants of the hospital closing in on the stranger before him. If only his powers had been available to him, perhaps Charles would have been able to judge the situation more appropriately. However, it was that soft heart of his that got the better of him, leading him to advance further, extending a hand to settle upon the other’s shoulder.

“Are you alright…?”

[shutain-blog1]

The stranger's voice stirred him from the madness, clearing his mind if only for a brief moment. This man, he seemed.. tired, but not entirely worn out. It seemed his fears were not pursuing him, at least not for the present moment. That was what Stein believed. Quite honestly, he was grateful for any distraction that would take his mind off of the insanity. Slowly, the doctor straightened, his gaze moving over towards Charles' own.

"Ah.."

"I'm.. I'm fine."

He made an attempt at walking forwards, but merely staggered, his step terribly off-balance. Unfortunately for him, his actions did little to convince the stranger of his words. Stein chuckled faintly, but he only did so out of bitterness towards his own behavior. He was disappointed in himself.

"..This operation is rather.. troublesome, though."

Stein's fears were overwhelming, so difficult to control, and all he wanted was a clear mind. He wanted to act wisely, as he normally did.. but it seemed the people in charge of the hospital had different intentions for not only him, but for all the other patients there, as well. Another painful sensation wracked his body, as though the madness were a physical force, and, in pain, the doctor flinched, his legs giving in to his weight as he toppled down.

[shutain-blog1]

sylpnaeve started following you

[shutain-blog1]

operation o1., open

[timehostage-blog]

Mayuri opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out, she was truly terrified. Stein’s laugh echoed through the room, reaching every dusty, neglected corner. She knew something was wrong with her new-found companion. She was certain. 

As the doctor drew closer she had no reason to run.. had no reason to be afraid.. but her mind was fighting a battle against her body. It ached from its core, she told herself to move, back up even a little. But her grey eyes faced forward wide. The deer in headlights you could say. 

When the lunge came, she jumped a bit back only to be pulled back by her collar slamming into the doctors fist, holding her close to his tool of choice. Her blue dress rising and choking out a cry. Mayuri tried to smile, but it was out of place and shaking. “S-S-Stein—”

When the man drew scalpel closer to her cheek, her facial expression took a turn into agony. She felt betrayed. The girl had thought she had made an ally, but she had been mistaken. “Y-You said you weren’t a doctor here..” Mayuri tried to choke back her tears but did not succeed as it showed in her voice, “Did you lie—” 

Her feet began to scramble on the floor to do anything to get away. One hand went up to grip the doctors’, to control the choking while the other reached back for anything that could help her. Grasping aimlessly— she ended up knocking a few tools to the ground and cutting her hand open. Giving up on finding a source of defense, she brought the bloody hand back to push against the mans body, leaving marks on his coat that curved with his slouch. 

[shutain-blog1]

Slowly, he tilted the scalpel, it's razor-sharp edge piercing her smooth, nearly silken skin, drawing the faintest line of vividly red blood. A drip of the precious liquid slithered down the girl's face and he couldn't help but smirk. 

He'd quieted down, merely crooning his words, "Did I lie..?"

But Stein didn't answer the girl's question. Instead, his right hand moved down to her abdomen, the scalpel held near his nuckles while he moved his thumb to her waist, prodding in such a way that should have made him feel embarrassed-- but it was merely scientific.

Slowly, he traced with his finger an invisible box over Mayuri's stomach. Her terror did not stop him, no, it did not even halt him from proceeding with his own personal urges to cut open, to dissect... and as he moved closer, face to face, he continued speaking, "Humans are like presents. You have to unwrap them to find the true gift... cut them open.."

A tear could be heard as he slit a line through her dress, not yet cutting her skin. Stein was too experienced for such clumsy mistakes. One thin finger finally rested upon her abdomen.

"Here."

There was a small pause of complete silence, one that filled the air and made the room seem flooded with a sickly sense -- and then it was stratingly interrupted, and he cut, slitting her open as though following the lines he'd previously traced, blood seeping through the fabric of her attire as the silver scalpel shone through the dark ruby-stained mess. The blood dripped down his hand, going so far as to stain the very cuffs of his coat and shirt, making a harsh contrast from the previously pristine white fabric. Stein felt no remorse... no, that would come later. His grin grew across his features, eyes shining with madness, and he did not stop until the deed was done.

[saladlyfingers]

How could someone not know the War? It’s spoken about on the radio almost constantly, between the beautiful music sounds and threatening voice speaking. Salad Fingers figures this man must be living in a box.

Then he starts to wonder how one could possibly become injured during a war if he were stuffed in a box during the entire event. How strange.

“You must know! It’s the Great War, of course — the one from which you only just returned.”

“I won’t have you making a mockery of your fellow soldiers, Helena Schumaker.”

[shutain-blog1]

"..I'm afraid you must have confused me with someone else." Exactly how that had happened, Stein wasn't sure of at all, seeing as his appearance was rather strange, but perhaps this green being's senses weren't entirely up to par. Maybe he was just mad.

The latter seemed more plausible.

"Unless you are referring to the struggle against the Kishin.. but no one has yet referred to that as the Great War. I'm afraid I don't know the war you're referring to."

[saladlyfingers]

“Oh, we’ve a straggler… Injured from the War, were we?”

Salad Fingers reaches into the nearest needle receptacle, retrieving a marvelous present. His arm returns riddled with pointy shots and injections. The red water is flowing from one of the wounds, which Salad Fingers caresses gently.

“Well I have just the thing for that, you handsome soldier, you.”

[shutain-blog1]

"The war...?"

His green gaze hovered over the peculiar creature, smoke trailing from the cigarette that had been placed to his lips. Stein was most fascinated by the stranger. He'd never seen anything quite like it before, and that was most definitely unusual.

Warily, he eyed the creature's mutilated arm. 

"I'm not quite sure I understand what you're talking about."

[shutain-blog1]

operation o1., open

[timehostage-blog]

The girl turned back to look at the tools, examining the one she held tightly. All she hoped was that this hadn’t been used to hurt someone, though she knew the chances of that were slimmer than that of her escape from here. 

But Stein brought her back. What did he mean it would be safer outside, hadn’t he just suggested they come in. Spinning on her heel she saw the horrible shape the doctor was in. She began to rush over to help, but he toppled over onto his knees. “Stein..!” She crouched down next to him, letting the tool hit the floor as she rubbed his back.”A-Are you okay.. Is your fear here..?” The words came out rushed, seeing the calm man react so strongly to something she didn’t even see yet made her pulse take another peak. 

The man began to shake his head and Mayuri took back her hand from his back. Get out.. She didn’t understand? “T-Than you come with me Stein,” she pleaded at him, if his fear was really so great they should both run. But Stein’s words weren’t making any sense anymore. 

“Doctor Stein—” The girl trembled, it felt like all she could do was stare at him and call out his name to him. But no response came. She moved back a bit from the man, his own actions frightening her. “C’mon, let’s go.. Let’s get away-!”

[shutain-blog1]

He could hear her faintly, and part of him, somewhere in the back of his conscience, was ordering himself, nearly shouting internally so as to convince him to take control, to handle things better--- but perhaps it was too late. Perhaps there was no stopping any of it. And as Stein continued to trembling faintly, whether out of fear or simple insanity, he took his time in answering, tone of voice having gone eerily soft.

The shakiness disappeared.

"But you can't.."

"No one can escape."

Faintly, he began tittering to himself, the noise of such bitter mirth escalating into a fit of laughter while he suddenly moved to stare her in the eye. With one pale, stitched hand, the doctor pushed himself back to onto his feet, a slight slouch now added to his posture. Slowly, he shuffled towards her, one hand reaching to the wall of equipment.

"Yes, Mayuri-- let's get away."

Without further ado, he snatched one of the scalpels, lunging forward with shocking speed so as to grip the girl by her shirt collar, pulling her close while his pale fingers held the weapon tightly. There was a terrible problem with his own phobia.. for as terrified as he normally was to see himself behave in such a vile manner, Stein was enjoying himself, at least for the time being.

That was why it was so difficult to escape that state. He only felt the fear later.

He grinned at her, slowly pressing the tool's flat surface against her cheek, dangerously close to cutting her face and drawing blood. Oh, Stein was delighted.

[ripper-in-red]

The Red Queen's downfall [ Video Chat ]

[ripper-in-red]

Another voice? Not the same as the man who announced their misfortune but the dryness was almost the same. She turned her head, squinting at the bright screen and the man who appeared on it…

Judging by his clothes, he was doctor. Though far different from the norm of her world. And how ere they speaking through this device?

She would remain silent on his living remark. She would be the judge of that.

“I.. this is… I assumed it was sick humor. This madness they’ve created, running rampant through these halls… it’s simply impossible—” BANG! BANG! BANG! Her interruption came in the form of hard pounding against the frame of her door. Her heart jolted and she paused for a deep breath before she ran and threw her weight against her only defense. With a soft ‘click’ she locked herself within — away from her monster.

Impossible was not a word recognized in this horrid world. She would refrain from speaking it again.

Rather meekly, Madam Red returned to the man, sitting down at the desk with a irritated huff.

“… I must remark, you’re eerily calm despite all of this. Are you so remarkable that you have no haunts to manifest here, sir?”

[shutain-blog1]

He merely blinked in response to the harsh noises, pulling a cigarette to his lips as the smoke from it trailed upwards lazily, forming into a skull design. Stein waited, hardly moving as the woman threw herself in a most ungraceful manner against the door--- but he hardly cared for keeping a good public image. That much was certain.

The doctor remained undaunted.

A faint chuckle escaped his lips as she returned. "Oh, if only that were so.." Another shudder wracked his body, leaving a cold trail of fear down his spine in its wake, but he managed to hide it.. for the most part.

"My own terrors are a little more well hidden than most others."

She didn't need to know any more than that.

Unfortunately for him, however, the laughter seemed to blossom, leaving him in a fit of madness, hunched over in the chair as he trembled and shook with sick mirth. Stein threw his head back, the laughter increasing.. only to cut off silently as he grinned madly. From the shadows, it was as though dripping, black limbs of slime were reaching forth, prodding him, about to snatch ahold-- but they withdrew, and he seemed to calm.

"Souls can be so very weak.. don't you think..?"

[ripper-in-red]

The Red Queen's downfall [ Video Chat ]

Fear. She felt absolute fear.

She had barely stepped a single foot outside of her bedroom when she was confronted by the chaos that ran out in the halls. The madam in red had heard the announcement but she hadn’t anticipated the magnitude of it. After all, bringing nightmares to life… that was simply in the realm of wicked fantasy, wasn’t it?

But considering that she had been brought back from the dead, she was doubtful there was anything they couldn’t do—

Covered in red, shambling from foot to foot, her own personal nightmare began to approach her room with it’s arms outstretched. Before she had the to comprehend her form, she shrieked and slammed the door, running back into the room and stumbling against a strange machine.

“That wasn’t real. That can’t be… possible… Is this hell? Is this… my punishment?”

She stared blankly at the door, her breathing heavy and ragged… and unbeknownst to her, a small camera recorded it all, broadcasting the broken woman to all who wished to see.

[shutain-blog1]

He'd been sitting at another computer, the room entirely dark except for the harsh light from the screen. That was how he preferred things. The brightness reflected off of Stein's glasses as his pale left hand rose to grip the screw that went through his head, each turn producing a grating cranking noise.

There had been some static to be heard from the equipment situated before him, but the room had nearly been entirely silent for oh so very long-- at least, up until the strange woman in red appeared.

“That wasn’t real. That can’t be… possible… Is this hell? Is this… my punishment?”

Stein's hand paused over the screw before he squinted his eyes, a faint grin appearing across his features before it disappeared and he ran a hand through his grey hair, emitting a faint groan of dismay.

The madness was slowly winning.

"..Did you not hear the announcement?"

"I'm afraid you are still in the world of the living."

[shutain-blog1]

operation o1., open

[timehostage-blog]

To be honest Mayuri hadn’t even thought of him as a doctor. She had always associated white lab coats with scientists.. but now that she thought of it there were white doctor coats, as well. Doctor Stein’s however had an interesting design on it, along which matched his stitching on his face. 

“Don’t worry Dr. Stein, you’re too kind to be like them, I’m sure..” The girls voice brightened up for a bit, well as much as it could in the current situation. It felt weird to have a moment of happiness and it left a strange taste in her mouth. 

She believed she could trust Stein, after all, he was being subject to the treatment, just like she was. Mayuri didn’t know how doctors treated each other but she knew at the lab they would never put each other subject to danger without their consent— and Stein looked very far from being ‘A-OK’ with this going on. Though his stitching and screw through his skull were a little off-putting she put it to the side, why did it matter if he was kind. 

“I’m Mayuri,” she looked up to meet the doctors green eyes in contact, “I’m glad to have met you—” It was a bit odd of a nice to meet you, a lot more mature than what she was used to. She would usually go on about her hobbies and the cute nickname she had made up for herself.. the situation didn’t call for such banter though. 

“Perhaps your fears will be slowed down if we wait inside.”

Peeking into the room from behind Stein, Mayuri nodded. The many tools of operation around the room made her bit off of ease. The tools here could have mangled many bodies before, just like the ones the two had seen. The worry of one of the doctors also returning was present to her.. however, the safety of being out of the halls over-rid her other fears of the room. 

Taking a step into the room she walked over to look at the tools, before she picked up the cleanest one by its handle. “M-Maybe we could use these to protect ourselves in the future.” She took a glance back at Stein to see his opinion, being a doctor his intelligence out ran Mayuri’s by a long shot. If he said it were a bad idea, she would trust him. She doubted her ability, if the situation were to occur, to use it on anyone. Having it with her would just be a safety net, and more of an actual tool to Stein.

“Do you think… we will need to fight..?” 

[shutain-blog1]

He was tempted to say no.. after all, it didn't seem that Mayuri's fears actually were capable of standing up and chasing them, much less attack them. As far as he could tell, all they could do was cause terror (for the girl, at least). Hopefully, that would be as bad as things would get. Stein's primary concern, however, was of his own self control.

"..It's possible. I wouldn't let my guard down just yet, if I were you. Not until this terrible experiment is over with."

The doctor's hands had begun to tremble, a sure sign of the approaching insanity, and he sat down on a rolling chair, one pale hand rising to the screw stuck through his head. With an eerie clicking noise, he turned the mechanism in an attempt at calming himself.. but it didn't help. It didn't do anything. In fact, he could've sworn that it strengthened the madness.

That was not normal.

His green gaze moved towards the girl while he took a shaky but steadying breath. "Ah.. Mayuri.." Warily, he eyed her, "Perhaps it would be safer outside." 

The doctor stood, leaning against the chair, but it moved to the side, unbalancing him, and before he knew it, he'd toppled down to his knees, half-collapsing from the internal struggle that was happening. "No.."

Desperately, he shook his head from side to side, white bangs fluttering with the movement. "Get out..." His speech had been reduced to incoherent mutters, but he wasn't even speaking to the girl -- rather, he was addressing his own hallucinations.

"No.. not that one..." A sudden roar broke loose from his throat-- "I told you it's not that one!!"

They were running out of time.

[shutain-blog1]

operation o1., open

[timehostage-blog]

The girl’s breath was set an unsteady rhythm, and her hearing faded in and out with almost a wave of her own pulse. So this really was happening. Through all of her year never had Mayuri seen something like that. Not even the news, her favorite movies, showed something so… real. How could anyone help themselves from believing in the sight. 

Mayuri wondered what she must have looked like for the man to try to comfort her. His touch to her shoulder did calm her down, however, she felt a bit hopeless coming over to help him— and in the end being the one a wreck. 

”..We should leave. It isn’t safe here.”

Mayuri swallowed hard before nodding, “Y-You’re right..” Her legs began to follow close behind the others’, too close for strangers but the situation was different. The girl’s opinion on this man stood very high at this point, how strong could he be to fight through both his own fears and pull Mayuri out of hers. She followed behind him like a shadow, her pace matching his exactly.

Though Mayuri couldn’t yet pinpoint what was haunting the stranger pulling her along, she knew it was something that haunted him greatly. Before she had said anything to him, she had seen how he staggered over, the weight of his terror bearing greatly down upon him. 

If his fears were really that great of a burden on him, Mayuri was just making it worse on him. No matter how she tried to help, just like home, she never seemed to be able to support someone in the end. 

“I.. I’m sorry for this..” Though she didn’t force the other into helping her, she couldn’t help but feel selfish for sticking around. And if the two really were in danger, Mayuri knew she would be nothing but dead weight. She wouldn’t leave though,  truly selfish. 

Her head twitched, she wanted to look back, she wanted to see if her friends really were dead. Gathering about all the courage she would ever amount for, she shoot a quick glance back… 

All that laid there had vanished, except for the sickening pool of red.

[shutain-blog1]

They turned a few corners before Stein finally slowed down, believing that they'd gained at least some time of safety... anything was welcome, though. He gazed down at the young girl, sharp eyes hidden by the light shining against his glasses. Well, this was quite the predicament--- Mayuri appeared to be unable to fend for herself, but the longer she stayed with the doctor, the more danger he put her in...

But he had to try his best to remain under control. That was the only remaining option.

"Please, don't apologize. I might as well do what I can to help while I'm here, anyway..."

"I am Doctor Franken Stein -- but don't be mistaken. I'm not part of this hospital's staff.."

Quite honestly, he didn't want to be associated with any of the other doctors there. It had become evident that their motives were rather terrible, and as horrific as Stein's own psychotic temptations could be, he'd never go so far as to work in such a dreadful place.

A shudder ran down his back, but he did his best to stifle it. Stein couldn't afford to show any weakness. His faded, green gaze darted about the hall before he moved to enter one of the rooms. It was an examination room, filled with medical tools and all sorts of equipment, some of which seemed fairly... malignant. He held the door open for her, features remaining calm.

It was almost like a nauseatic experience; Stein knew the sickness was coming, he knew there was little he could do to truly stop the madness, and yet, he fought on, holding it back to the best of his abilities. After all, he'd never be able to forgive himself for attacking someone harmless.

"Perhaps your fears will be slowed down if we wait inside."

[shutain-blog1]

operation o1., open

[timehostage-blog]

Watching the other stretch out their spine to their full height made Mayuri feel a bit better. At least he was alright, unlike the images that kept persisting their way into her vision. She was any bit but sure what was happening, and though she could feel the pressure of the man’s fears— she didn’t want to wander off alone now. 

Looking up at the man, the young girl’s eyes were barely halfway open. She wanted to run away- keep her eyes shut forever, but even this had no success of escape. “Not safe..?” 

Mayuri had only just ran into the other, and this had been her first contact with anyone else in the facility. She wasn’t quite sure how many people were here, and if the announcement was really true or just a frightening fib.

Following the man’s gaze to the side, she saw the images that had been flashing through her head—there on the floor. Her face flushed of its color and her knees began to buckle more than the girl would have ever thought possible. 

The bodies unrecognizable by anyone else, but the young girl knew. Kurisu’s red strands of hair being caked down by her own and another’s blood. Okarin was laying there with her. Dismembered and completely still besides his bubbling skin, melting down, away from the bone.    

Mayuri gagged but her body did not respond. It only felt like she had received a punch to her stomach. She couldn’t think of one reason why she had to suffer through this, why was this happening?

“..Don’t let it fool you.”

But she had already been fooled. 

[shutain-blog1]

Good... finding distractions did tend to help clear his mind of any stray thoughts that did not belong-- except that was the issue. No matter how much Stein tried to convince himself that the insanity was not natural, he knew that it had always been a part of him, and it would always be there. Nothing could change that. The worst part of it all was that he didn't entirely want it to go away, either. It was, after all, a part of his identity.

"..Didn't you hear--"

But as soon as he'd spoken, the girl shuddered, gagging at the sight of the horrendous terrors that awaited them. Of course.. Stein had to remind himself that he was unnaturally used to such gruesome scenes.

Carefully, he put one hand on her shoulder, the professor-like side of him coming out more strongly. Although they didn't know each other, he felt a sort of responsibility for the girl. Besides, he did have a conscience, just like any other person, and despite how powerful the insanity was within, he always did try to do good.

 "..We should leave. It isn't safe here." Hopefully Stein would be able to hold on for long enough, himself. He simply had to keep his mind on what his priorities were... his right priorities. 

He was gentle in pulling her along, tugging her away from the mutilated corpses, away from the sickening stench. Along the white, pristine corridors the two of them went, their footsteps echoing down the hall as Stein's lab coat fluttered faintly with his movements. The madness was pushing forward, but he would hold on.

He had to.

[shutain-blog1]

operation o1., open

[timehostage-blog]

Mayuri had only just began exploring the white halls of her new residence. The pamphlet and red bar-code engraved in her skin made it all seem too real. Maybe the fact that she was here ‘alone’ made her suck up her ideas of the terrors that could be hiding behind the corners and stop her eyes from tearing up. But it would be an outright lie to say the raven haired girl was not scared down to her core. 

Mayuri didn’t understand why she was here, and it only confused her more to think too hard about it— however, the thought that she had died popped up several times in her head. She would miss everyone and the lab and the thought of losing them sent a cold shiver down her spine, when a voice chimed in—

“What you fear most, whatever makes your skin crawl with goosebumps and drenches your spine in shivers… we’re making it real.”

Though the girl tried to ignore the taunting threat, her pace quickened as she rounded out the corner. Images of loved ones, all she held dear, being mangled to pieces— left dead and alone. The smell of the rot hit her nose and she covered her mouth. It wasn’t really happening, right? 

Mayuri looked up from the ground to finally to spot another. They were wearing a white lab coat, which raised the girl’s hopes but smashed them when she spotted the others’ white hair and adjoining screw. With the loss of hope of Okarin being the person in front of her another gruesome image shot through her head. It pierced all of her thoughts and left her mouth dry. 

When she could straighten out her vision again she looked over at the man. He looked tormented in more ways than Mayuri would be able to understand, but how could she not even try to lend a hand to the other. The raven haired girl shuffled a little closer before calling out a weak cry to them, “You should sit down—” 

[shutain-blog1]

It was such a pity. He'd hardly gotten the chance to settle in at all, much less actually take a look around the hospital for himself. Stein shuddered, the harsh lights flashing against his glasses as he made an attempt to straighten, cold gaze staring at the stranger who'd so carefully approached him-- Fool. She should have done her best to stay away.

It took the doctor a moment to register what she'd said before he finally moved to speak. "...I'm fine."

With a faint click, he adjusted his lenses and continued, "I'm fine.. but no one ever believes me when I say so."

Stein heaved a great sigh, finally standing up in his entirety, looming over the young girl as his eyesight seemed to clear. The stranger, whoever she was, didn't seem to be in good shape, herself. "Didn't you hear the announcement..?" His tone of voice was nearly dazed. "You shouldn't be out in the halls, it isn't safe here."

Stein only feared himself-- at least, what he could become. He feared his own insanity, for it had been present within his mind for his entire life. He'd simply learned to adjust to society, to pretend to be like the rest of them. Pretend to be normal. Witches, Asura the Kishin.. he could take them all, but when it came to facing his own inevitable downfall, the doctor was lost.

He'd been doing so well, but the madness always crept back.

But he was strong. Hand drifting back to his side, Stein clenched his fingers into a fist, doing his best to.. well, for lack of better term, keep his head above water. He'd noticed the girl's own fears, he'd smelled the stench of rotting corpses, and it hardly helped him maintain control. His gaze moved towards the mangled bodies before he frowned, finally looking back at the girl.

"..Don't let it fool you."

[shutain-blog1]

operation o1., open

A hospital.

Stein, a doctor, had been placed in a hospital without any sort of warning--- surely there must have been some kind of mistake... Death would never have let him go there unless there was meaning to such an act. And yet, that was why the doctor remained so calm. He could only assume that this was a mission of some sort, perhaps one to investigate the place and its staff. It was clear that there were some fairly major ulterior motives present, he just had to discover and reveal them.

Of course, little did he know that such a feat would be made terribly difficult due to the other doctors' plans. Stein listened as the announcement was sent out over the speakers, amber-green eyes remaining calm even when the halls shuddered with change, the stranger's voice finishing their spiel.

This would be quite a mess.

He could feel it taking over his mind, as though limbs of hideous proportions were twitching their way in control, taking him, taking his sanity--- the madness. It was returning. Stein was not a fool, he knew this was what the doctors wanted. This was their test, and he was there as a mere lab rat, but, try as he might, he found that fighting the insanity was so very difficult, it nearly seemed real.

The man leaned one hand against the wall closest to his side, resting his weight against it as his thin fingers ran through his tussled, grey hair, breath turned shaky.

It was too soon.