#v;unknown

[theartifxce]

“I don’t understand why you are still here.”

“I don’t understand why you are still here.”

✖  — ; Her knife-like words had dulled upon it's delivery. Johan stared blankly at her flushed demeanor, observing the specs of sweat glistening across her hot porcelain skin as she struggled to catch her breath. Completely unmoved by her attempt to wound him with her callous façade - Johan lifted his hands and placed a cold towel on her forehead.

"You should save your energy, Anna." He uttered warmly, purposely contrasting her cold tone from earlier in order for the guilt to seep in and fester. And it worked because her once tense body relaxed from its stubborn performance just before she sighed. Her fiery eyes eased upon his form and her lips pouted from its protest.

He understood the extent of her anger - and his silence was in no way trying to displace her feelings. But the emotional explosion she has displayed over the day has now landed her in her current state; a high fever of 104.6. Retreating, Anna threw her arm over her eyes. He was fine with her ignoring his presence.

The quiet that replaced the battle that took place in her living room was certainly a nice change of pace. Johan took in a deep breath and exhaled gingerly - relaxing his own nerves as he started to truly access the situation.

Unlike the expected dawn - Anna's outburst was abrupt like a terrible storm on a beautiful sunny day. He was only thankful that the Lieberts were not around to witness it. The pair have been left alone to mind the house while they were on a business trip. The first few days went without incident.

But late last night, something had triggered his dear sister and she collapsed. The natural distrust of adults and children alike made it painfully obvious not to call the doctor or even bring her to a hospital.

While she laid asleep, Johan read up as much as he could on her possible ailments given her symptoms. Without the colorful hues of her laughter painting the house with her fervor, Johan had been left alone with the hauntings of his mind.

Her terrible scream shook him to the core. No matter how hard he tried, it was not something he could rid off his mind. The sound repeated over and over - the shriek of terror and confusion. The blond tried to steel himself, but the past was beckoned for him - to the time at the 3 Frogs when he was first exposed to the sound of pure fear.

He held her hands in his - one of the only things he was able to afford her in the past. He nearly dozed off when he felt Anna shuffle from her spot on the bed. When he prompted his head, the sight in front of him plummeted his heart into his gut. For the first time, his mechanical expression was broken by a look of astonishment and anxiety.

Anna was backed into a corner, staring at him as if he was a monster with fangs and claws. He slowly edged closer and that was when Anna ran towards the living room in a frenzy, panting heavily as doing the meager task took a toll on her body.

She was still sick and that is why Johan was able to easily catch her by the arm. Instinctively, his sister turned and clawed his face, causing him to let go immediately. The stinging burn on his face further shocked him. He cupped his cheek, wondering what exactly happened to him, doubting that his sister would hurt him in this way. But once he looked at the spats of blood on the palm of his hand, he accepted the truth for what it was.

He couldn't understand what was going on with his twin sister. But he knew that in order to handle the situation, he needed to detach his sensitivity. His eyes became lifeless, as if he had turned off his soul when facing his sister once again.

She pressed herself against the wall, looking like a cornered wounded animal. He planted his feet into the ground and appeared to have no intentions on coming closer when he finally opened his mouth and said with a strict tone.

"Anna - you need to rest. You're sick."

"Stay away from me!!!" She shouted coarsely.

"..." Johan simply stared, expressionless and aloof.

"You were there when they came - wh-when Mother threw me away."

He watched as pools of tears welled in her eyes, teetering on the edge of her waterline refusing to fall in her stubborn nature. She took in a deep breath, her cheeks and nose red as her lamentations choked against her throat.

"...You just stood there as they dragged me away."

Johan thought he could turn off his humanity like he had in 511. But he should have known - he never could when it came to his sister because her words shattered him. In his defense, he forced that nameless smile upon his features in order to harden himself. But that had only made matters worse.

"WHY ARE YOU SMILING?!!?" Anna screamed in a fit of anger, panting exhaustingly as she now took a step forward from her hiding place.

Yet, Johan did not budge.

"Come on Anna, go back to bed." He said sweetly, trying to deescalate the whole ordeal, not liking where the conversation was going. The warmth of his blood dripping down to his chin reminded him of the gash his sister had given him and it was now he understood why she was so angry.

She remembered it all from that fateful day. Something from the night before triggered the memory he worked so hard to repress. All for naught.

"THEN YOU MADE ME FORGET IT ALL!!! TRICKED ME THAT NOTHING HAD ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO ME. WHY?!!" She cried out, stepping even closer to Johan and he could feel the tension rising in the room they shared. Yet, he stood as still as a statue.

She gripped her head, her voice quivering as Anna tried to take in a few breathes and exhale.

"All those dead people...the darkness..." and just as it looked as though her knees would give away, Johan rushed forward and caught her in his arms once she fell forward, unconscious once again.

-

Now, she was up once again - this time a bit more composed. Emotional, but at least it was not in a fit of rage. Each time he opened his mouth, the words retreated down his throat. But he knew, his refusal to speak was an admittance of guilt. Given the situation, Anna needed him to be sincere for once.

"...If I could take it all back..." He started off in almost a whisper. He took a deep breath and continued.

"On that day, when the Monster came - if I could take it all back and just give up myself up instead...I would do it in a heartbeat." He felt Anna's eyes on him now but he refused to make eye contact.

"If I had known that mother was capable of giving you up, I never would have clung to her believing her up until the very end."

[inproelia]

❛ i thought you’d like some company. ❜ 

✘ — ;It was a rarity when Clive took it upon himself to kick his feet up and relax. He swirled the pool of red liquid in his cup, staring at the mess of his reflection as the water stilled before he took a gulp. There was a war of thoughts in his mind; poems of anger and regret – songs of lamentations.

Yet, there was one thing that constantly made its way to the forefront of it all. It was a trivial concern really – especially in the grand scheme of things considering the world was on its last leg against Ultima and his blight. But regardless, Clive was haunted by this one question he couldn't shake. Much to his surprise, it was as if great Greagor read his mind and placed his brother in his company. Clive snapped from his cogitations and turned to meet his brother’s gaze and gentle smile.

He held his stare before shining him a reflecting expression and nodding.  “The best I could ever ask for.” He replied airily, placing his cup on the table.  But, as the two sat beside one another, silence lingered instead. The sounds of the night filled the lack of noise between them; the waves dancing along the night breeze and the parties of people off in the distance.

Clive could feel it, the tension growing in the air – or perhaps it was just him. He wanted to ask – spit it out. The words lingered upon the tip of his tongue but retreated down his throat every time he thought he had summoned the courage to speak them. It was then a sigh forced its way out from reluctant lips and he knew that his observant little brother would take notice. Clive bowed his head and took a moment to reflect on the words he wished to convey, knowing that now he could not simply hide and keep it inside.

“Joshua…” He started with a solemn tone – another sigh sneaking through his pale red lips.  Clive raised his head and gazed at the full moon above, pleading for some sense of wisdom and strength to carry on with this damn conversation. Even if the answer was not something he wanted to hear – damn it all, he needed to hear it.

Finally, he turned his attention back to his brother and took a deep breath, paused and then said, “…Why was it that you…hid yourself from me all these years?” He could imagine that the Undying, whose sole purpose was to keep the keeper of the throne alive, made it priority that the Phoenix stay away from Ifrit given the circumstances of what transpired at Phoenix Gate. But Clive wanted to hear it directly from his brother and not allow his mind to wander any longer.

“…Was it because I…” He faltered, taking his eyes off his brother and down to his blood stained hands.

' Was it because I nearly killed you?'

@hisrising

[inproelia]

is that your blood? (from Olivier / and hello!)

✘ — ; Clive flinched at the question, feeling caught in a terrible act. A quick glance at his attire and the specks of blood that adorned it – guilt festered as the adrenaline from his battle dissipated.  As the child stepped forward in wonder, Clive naturally stumbled back. 

He threw a defensive hand before him and said airily, “Stay back – you’ll get blood on you.” The flashes of lightning illuminated the room – shedding light on the lifeless bodies Clive ruthlessly cut down in his pursuit. It was never a second thought – to show mercy when it was his life or theirs.

But now, under the gaze of a child; Clive began to question the honor behind his blade. The grip on his hilt loosened and he bowed his head, taking his eyes off of the boy for a moment.

“You should run along…this isn’t the place for you.”

@cinderella-gurei

[inproelia]

Take some deep breaths for me. (from @glacialux!)

✘ --- ; It was like he had been consumed within a terrible storm. The world had distorted from its colorful exuberance to that of solemn grays. The sound of the joyful birds above was replaced by the violent howling winds that now surrounded him. Clive became frantic, holding his breath as his heart pounded fiercely against his chest.  The apprehension, that was overthrowing all his other senses, soon turned into a deafening ringing sound that filled his ears. The only frantic thought cycling through his mind; 'Where had Jill and Joshua gone?' He spun not once, but twice – observing his surroundings with near desperation only to find he was all alone.

It was then, at the center of the storm, stood a hooded figure. The haunting of a man smiled devilishly once he had been found. “Where are they?” Clive started off in a disheartened tone. But as he stumbled forward, the anxiety which festered soon twisted into blinding fury. It all came pounding back – that fateful night he had seen him once before. The fires of Phoenix Gate – the night he thought he lost everything.

He couldn’t lose Jill and Joshua again– no, he couldn’t bear it.

He stomped his way towards the figure and demanded with a howl,

“WHERE ARE THEY?!!”

And suddenly, the soothing gentle caress of another had pulled him from that nightmare.  His eyes shot open, his vision blurred and breathes heavy. It took a few moments for the gentle cooing of her voice to enter his ears. There was pain in his chest from how hard his heart had been beating. He turned and looked at Jill who was sitting at his bedside, her cool hand cupping his cheek while her thumb continuously rubbed – reminding him once more that he was not in the place he thought himself to be.

It was only then, that Clive was able to take a deep breath in an attempt to find composure. “J-Jill I-“ he stuttered, feeling abnormally vulnerable and exposed. He was not aware he had even fallen asleep. He recalled that terrible feeling in the pit of his gut and thanked Great Greagor that it had all been just a night terror. Rough digits pinched his eyelids as he sighed to release the tension building within.

“Forgive me Jill. I…” he started off feebly. “I did not mean to scare you.”

@glacialux

[theartifxce]

"Shit!" Few things make the hair on his neck twitch, and after some consideration Kenzo is well versed in accepting his fate. Except when in the hands of an absolute monster. He holds a scalpel, the only weapon at his disposal in an otherwise empty, dimly lit office. "I-I guess old habits die hard." 👀

A smile had formed upon hearing the other break out of decorum; an ugly twisted little thing pulled at the edges of his rose colored lips. He took his sweet time walking down the empty hall, the slow tapping of his shoes leaving behind a haunting  while following closely behind the vulnerable doctor. With his hands tied behind his back and his shoulders pronounced in his veneered poise; Johan paused at the open doorway and turned when he finally spotted the other, barely - in a poorly lit office space.

Johan's snake-like eyes contradicted the gentleness of his demeanor. His contorted shadow stretched along the only source of light on the floor painted his being in a more candid way. He stopped after only taking a few steps into the room, not wanting to corner the already frightened man before him. He took a moment to consider the room, reading the golden nameplate on the desk as “Kenzo Tenma” and he smiled amusingly.

“Hello, Dr Tenma.” The words slithered off of his tongue in a gracious manner. Then he locked eyes with his, reveling in the clear apprehension and confusion pooling in his autumn hues. “Why do you look as though you’ve seen a ghost Dr?” He teased, a light chuckle humming at the back of his throat. He closed his eyes and unfolded his hands from behind his back - as a way to relieve the other that there was nothing being concealed about him; not a weapon or a trick up his sleeve.

“Are you really that surprised to see me?” He allowed his words to linger in the air before continuing, “ - Given you’re the one who brought me to life once again?” He mocked - a slight tinge in his tone blundered his usual restricted speech. Finally, he reopened his eyes and stared, focusing now on the scalpel in his hand. He was quite entertained by his weapon of choice. It was ironic but also very fitting. If the kindhearted Doctor would choose to end his life now out of all the more suitable moments the call for his death was necessary, Johan would simply let him do it. 

 It was only then did he raise his arms up to depict there was no need for such hostility. “ Please rest assured Dr, I am only here to talk with you.” As if he would trust his mechanical, half baked smile for anything human. But given the circumstance, did he truly have any other choice? “Of course, if you’d rather take my life with that scalpel in your hand, you’re more than welcome to do that as well.”

He offered him a way out - the only other way out.

@dernarrleid

[gatecoeur]

{ @dontstepinmypuddle }{ cont’d from here }

“You might not be, but I am. Trust me, I’m doing this for both of our sakes.”

[gatecoeur]

[ text ]: I miss hugging you and smelling your hair (in a non-weird way!).

{ @daddypooltm​ }{ ❝30 texts to send to my muse:❞ | sentence starter }

[ texte à : saskatoon afternoons ] well, the good news is i’m back in new york now, so if you’re in town, we can totally do that [ texte à : saskatoon afternoons ] 5 pm at my place?

[gatecoeur]

Don’t sneak up on me like that.

{ @iamdarcylewis }{ confrontation! sentence memes }

“I thought the whole point of me coming here was to be sneaky. ‘Make sure no one follows you’, remember?”

Arrie let out a small chuckle before fluttering over to the ground, slowly rising up to her normal vigilante look and height.

“So, what are we dealing with this time, hmm?”