[the last voyages] ic inbox

[onlyhearmusic]

[a lyrical hum cuts in, almost as if someone didn't know what they were doing]

"Leave yer message."

[oh. no, he knew. he just didn't care. the beep comes after another brief humming stops.]

Comments

[onlyhearmusic]

[a pause this time]

Do ya now? What made you wanna be a damn warden then? What tha fuck is yer problem?

[zichen]

To help. [Zichen tilts his head.] Have your other Wardens mistreated you?

[onlyhearmusic]

Just tha one with tha cursin'. Haven't had any before tha murderin'. Gonna undo what yer fellows have done?

[That's a challenge in his tone.]

[zichen]

I can only promise to treat you as a person. [His eyes narrow.] You were murdered? Are you experiencing the death toll? That isn't easy. I recently experienced it myself.

[onlyhearmusic]

[Well. It's not technically a lie that he was murdered. ...in retaliation for doing a bunch of murdering.]

A little pain is nothin'. I'm fine. Now, if we're done talkin' about yer uselessness, kindly fuck off.

[zichen]

I'll bring you something to eat and plenty of water. [Maybe tea too.] Those last words won't work on me.

[onlyhearmusic]

[Jesus fucking Christ, this guy. Was he a warden or a waiter?]

I'm not a fuckin' invalid. I can take care of meself.

[zichen]

But you don't feel well. Accepting kindness won't kill you. [Again. Also, excuse you. Song Zichen is a healer.]

[onlyhearmusic]

Why tha fuck would ya want ta be kind ta me? Are ya daft, lad?

[zichen]

Everyone needs kindness. [Everyone.] How are you expected to overcome your past if things remain the same here?

[onlyhearmusic]

I don't! I didn't ask ta be here and I ain't changin' me ways!

[zichen]

You died, didn't you?

[onlyhearmusic]

Everyone dies.

[zichen]

Yes. Death can be a sign that change is necessary, too.

[onlyhearmusic]

Ain't about change, lad. It's permanent.

This place ain't natural. Bringin' people back from tha dead. Forcin' 'em ta do what someone else thinks is right. Fuck that, and fuck all of ya complacent with it.

[zichen]

Not here. Not for us.

I agree with you...on the first part. [It isn't natural for death to be undone.] Right and wrong are not difficult to assess. If you have been abused, that too is wrong.

[onlyhearmusic]

Well let me clear it up fer ya: I'm a killer fer hire. Doin' me job is me gift. I ain't changin'.

Go help someone else.

[And with a snarl, he "hangs up" his side of the conversation. He won't look at the next reply as his device is no longer within his reach. It's...crashed against the opposite wall.]

[zichen]

[Later, food will be brought to his door. A knock follows, alerting Dennis to the offering. Zichen hesitates, wondering just how bad off his inmate might be.

Should he force his way in...?]

[onlyhearmusic]

[He'll ignore the first knock as if he didn't hear it. Zichen can either try knocking again to get a reaction or force his way in.]

[zichen]

[As much as he likes respecting boundaries, this...worries him. So he tries to push open the door normally before he uses his unnatural strength to break the barrier down.]

[onlyhearmusic]

[That sort of thing startles Collins and he's up and moving despite the ache before Zichen is fully through the doorway. His hands are fisted, his jaw clenched in pain anticipation of a fight, and his stance like that of an old-timey (Irish) boxer.

Of note: the lingering bruises from the killing blows of his death are mostly hidden beneath his shirt collar but one of his eyes is horrifically red at the moment.]

Tha fuck are ya doin'? Get- [His eyes narrow as he recognizes Zichen.] Jesus fuckin' Christ! What is yer problem, lad!?

[zichen]

[Zichen picks up the tray of food once he has enough room to get inside. He brings said tray to a flat surface before taking out a healing balm that is good for cuts and bruises. He sets that by the tray too.]

I'm here to help. [Ah...aggressively.] You needn't fear me.

[Now? Now he bows to Dennis.]

[onlyhearmusic]

[He would be so much more inclined to swing a punch at Zichen if he wasn't 99% certain it would simply end up with him phasing through the lad instead of actually hitting him. Which would just annoy him further and possibly exacerbate his aches as he flew into a rage over it and broke something he could hit solidly.

So instead he huffed angrily and watched Zichen in an irritated wonder for his ridiculous (in his eyes) actions. Especially once the man got to the whole bowing thing. He definitely didn't understand that.]

Stop that. What tha hell are ya even doin'?

[zichen]

[Punching Zichen wouldn't have much effect anyway. He is basically a walking corpse with supernatural strength. In the end, it would just worry him that his inmate is overexerting himself.

Rising from the bow, he answers calmly, his voice low:]

I am being disrespectful. I must be to ensure you are healthy and safe.

[He eyes the door he damaged and considers putting seals on it - for Dennis's protection.]

You are still healing. The last thing you need is someone attacking you.

[onlyhearmusic]

[He was confused at first until he realized Zichen was answering a different point to his question as he had intended. Then he just scowled because either way he hated this whole scenario.]

I didn't ask fer yer help. Told you already, I can take care of meself.