[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

[zichen]

[He should feel frustrated that Dennis thinks so little of him, but they are...different. Too different, maybe. So instead Zichen admires the fact that the other man is warning him - in his own way.]

When will he betray me, do you think? When we return to our world, perhaps? He has had many opportunities to slit my throat or poison me. Would it shock you to know he has taken blows and pain meant for me?

[onlyhearmusic]

[The twitch in his jaw was the only indication of his surprise, concealed behind the glare he continued to bestow upon Zichen.]

Aye, it would. Perhaps he plays a good game ta get where he wants, but even if he's convinced himself of tha lie it'll just come back ta bite off of ya in tha arse. Scorpion don't change his nature. In tha end, it will come back.

[zichen]

[He has considered that outcome and after everything, he knows he is the type of fool that has to try.]

If that happens, he and I will venture to the afterlife together.

[onlyhearmusic]

That's fuckin' foolish. What a waste.

[He wanted to throw something. He almost reached for something on the desk behind him to do so--but he refrains with a noticeable attempt donated on his face and a discreet pinch of skin upon his arm. It didn't make him feel any calmer but he managed to stand still.]

[zichen]

I have to try. If I can't help him, if I can't save him, what he could do to others must be prevented. He knows that.

[And Zichen doesn't have much of a taste for life - especially if his last bit of happiness is swiped away too.]

[onlyhearmusic]

[His eyes snapped to Zichen.]

That's why tha bastard should just be dead.

[zichen]

Death, for him, doesn't stick. [And he doesn't want it to stick, frankly.]

[onlyhearmusic]

Everything dies. You just have ta get out of this place and figure out what does stick. Make it permanent. As it should be.

[zichen]

I don't want him to die. [Not as he is now.]

[onlyhearmusic]

That don't matter.

[zichen]

It does since I am protecting him.

[onlyhearmusic]

It doesn't because eventually everything dies. Including him, including you.

[zichen]

But not yet.

[onlyhearmusic]

[He simply sighed and rolled his eyes beneath his lids. The room fell into silence as Collins waited, arms crossed and leaning against the desk, for Zichen to leave or bother him with something else.]

[zichen]

You didn't tell me why you killed this time. [He would like to know - and, no, he doesn't buy the "I just felt like it" defense.]

[onlyhearmusic]

[Collins bored his pale blue-gray eyes at Zichen as if perhaps he could stab with them. Languidly, he replied.]

Because I wanted ta hear tha music again. To return everything to normal tha way it should always be.

[zichen]

But it can't return to that. [Zichen can almost empathize. Wouldn't it be nice to be normal again? Though he isn't sure what that word means in regards to him anymore.] Like it or not, you've experienced a transition.

[onlyhearmusic]

[Collins heard the music swell now as his anger at the other man grew.]

You don't understand. Get out, now!

[He pointed emphatically at the door.]

[zichen]

I want to. [Understand. Badly. He suppresses a sigh and moves to the door.] I won't be far.

[Night or day, Dennis can contact him.]