ITP: We learn why we shouldn't be friends with vampires

[bitingcynicism]

[When we last left our heroes..., one severely injured vampire was doing his best not to look at the curious cleric who had wandered upon a scene of violence and misery.]

Comments

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

Just need to... rest... How'd you get so hurt anyway...? Who...?

[and now feeling weak as the adrenaline wears down - he blinks like he can't keep his eyes open and shakes his head. The next step he takes is clumsy and he falls]

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

[Tired but not enough to keep him from moving forward to catch Chris by his shoulders. He turns away as he does, speaking slowly and wanting so much to wipe the blood from his face.]

I did something stupid...

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

I'll say. What did you do? Get into a fight with a blender?

[Oof. is just going to... lean here. On you , despite this being YOUR FAULT... but.]

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

Yeah...

[Still so not looking at but may be unconsciously gripping those shoulders a bit.]

But I didn't want... You have to get back to your cabin. To do something about... that. Why couldn't you have just left?

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

[grits teeth]

I'm not going to just leave someone who's half-dead, be it human or not or even demon! Especially someone I know.

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

[Flinching roughly at this and closing his eyes.]

... I didn't want to hurt you. I couldn't.. control it, couldn't control myself -- Now look at you! You can't even stand. I told you to stay away from me!

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

[Snapping at Zero.]

Stop that! If it wasn't me you might have found someone else! And I can heal myself, I just need to... focus...

[Face is pinched in concentration - he's feeling a little drained. But he moves his hand from his neck and there's barely a mark left, just blood.]

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

[I'll be damned... Uh...]

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

I told you, Clerics can heal.

[The words come out slightly... blurred and he still is leaning. He only had enough strength to close the wounds, at this moment.]

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

[Yes, I am noticing that still leaning thing. Also back to emo self-hating. It's probably a good thing I don't have that gun right now.]

... Can you walk?

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

[Ignoring the question, but struggling to stand. Bleh, feeling not so okay.]

What in Rased's name happened, Zero? What did this to you?

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

That was a stupid question.

[Grabbing arm firmly while using his other to wipe away some of the blood, trying hard not to look at it, despite the thick smell in the air.]

I fought Darc.

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

[Allows, since he suspects he might tip over without the help.]



[Feebly wiping his palm on his own clothes to get rid of feel of it - then surprise.]

Darc? But...why were you fighting? Did he do something??

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

... He wouldn't stop saying things, comparing me to them. I wanted him to stop. I wanted him to know he was wrong. It was all I could think.

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

I told her I wouldn't fight. He was right. I'm just like any other monster.

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

So you two fought and...

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

[grabbing your arm back, too, and just trying to shake you]

It's not your fault. You're no monster.

[]

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

[His head shoots upward at that.]

-- Didn't you hear me? I attacked him. Like some blood-crazed beast! And look at this!

[Smearing his hand along the blood on his neck and holding it out.]

It's yours! That's what you get for trying to help me. How do you know I couldn't have killed you by accident? I was that hungry. It would've been easy. Would you have even fought me? I'm a vampire, Chris! I've lived by stealing the blood of the person who's been close to me most of my life and then drinking from the man she loves, the man I hate. How can you say I'm not a monster?

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I don't know! I couldn't just watch you lay there!! And... [meekly] I trusted you enough to not... kill me.

[flinching at his own words and the blood with a terribly pale look as he realizes that, yes...it could have been easily a lot worse. Grasping for something, anything to say.]

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

Trusted me?? I can't trust myself!

[Grits his teeth. Part of him wants to throw Chris as far away as he can. Wants it so much that he's forced to pull him closer to counter the impulse, turning his head as he does. The rest comes out low and harsh.]

You think I'm a good person. I'm not. Every demon I've met here, I've wanted to fight them. I don't care about their world or what humans have done to them. I want them all gone. All of them.

Including me.

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

[If he didn't before, he looks pretty freaked out now.]

And all those times, fighting with demons... other vampires... do you really hate yourself that much? Do you want someone to kill you?

Zero?!

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

[Turns back to but says nothing.]

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

[A sharp intake of air at the lack of denial. Gripping Zero's arm as hard as he can.]

Don't... don't you dare think about it! Don't even consider it! How could anyone want to... do that to themselves? S-stupid!

[bitingcynicism.livejournal.com]

[Stares at dully for a while before answering]

... I should've died back then. She should have killed me with them. Then I wouldn't be... this. I wouldn't have to hurt anyone...

[clericchronicle.livejournal.com]

[This death talk is pinging him in places he didn't know were there - grabbing Zero's collar, for once.]

Are you listening to me? STOP THAT! You survived! There isn't anything wrong with living! Wishing to die isn't what we're born for!!

You won't hurt anyone else - I swear to you, okay? I won't let you hurt anyone else, even yourself.