![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luke catchall
[Is she here for murder... who's to say...
I rolled a 3, so she's able to fight it for now. Briefly, she can stop and observe--from this distance, she can see the man more clearly, but he isn't recognizable to her beyond the deep knowledge that he's her target.]
She told me it was hidden here? How could she lie to me?! That's impossible!
[The man looks up, then, and spots Shouxue--his eyes widen, and even in the dim light of the cavern, she can see his face go pale. He recognizes her: She has caused this man pain before, she knows, and recently. If she concentrates, she can recall the snapping of bones under her steady, ruthless hands, the pressure of skin splitting beneath her blade, the weight of a gun in her hand. If she tries even harder, she might even be able to recall the sound of his pained cries, though they blur with other voices.
Regardless of whether she dwells on this or not, the man scrambles up, approaching her cautiously.]
You--you can see the gold isn't here, so you can let me go, right?
I rolled a 3, so she's able to fight it for now. Briefly, she can stop and observe--from this distance, she can see the man more clearly, but he isn't recognizable to her beyond the deep knowledge that he's her target.]
She told me it was hidden here? How could she lie to me?! That's impossible!
[The man looks up, then, and spots Shouxue--his eyes widen, and even in the dim light of the cavern, she can see his face go pale. He recognizes her: She has caused this man pain before, she knows, and recently. If she concentrates, she can recall the snapping of bones under her steady, ruthless hands, the pressure of skin splitting beneath her blade, the weight of a gun in her hand. If she tries even harder, she might even be able to recall the sound of his pained cries, though they blur with other voices.
Regardless of whether she dwells on this or not, the man scrambles up, approaching her cautiously.]
You--you can see the gold isn't here, so you can let me go, right?
[ that's such ruthless behavior. it startles her. she's seen and witnessed enough violence and its consequences, but this is so close and personal.
she focuses on the man in front of her, and she shakes her head.
she has a feeling she isn't supposed to let him go. ]
she focuses on the man in front of her, and she shakes her head.
she has a feeling she isn't supposed to let him go. ]
[It sure is!! Sometimes you're a normie, but also a freak, just like the rest of this wildass graveyard.
She makes the right decision. She refuses to let him go, and unbidden, her mouth begins to move, reciting words that aren't hers.]
"Let you go? That's impossible. Aside from the gold, you're a murder suspect."
[The man looks at her, outraged.]
What murder? I've been busy looking for the gold and getting away from you ever since I got here. I didn't kill anyone!
[Once again, Shouxue will feel her lips move. This time, she can hear another voice--the one belonging to the person who lived through this.]
"I'm not talking about today, of course. But what about 10 years ago?"
[Now, suddenly, it all becomes clear: The man in front of her is Joshua Ott, 33 years old. He is a former member of a notorious gang, following in the footsteps of his father, another known robber. He is the lone survivor of a great heist from 10 years ago--here to retrieve the last item from back then, a priceless artifact from overseas. Shouxue--no, Luke--has been tracking him all over the island, waiting for Joshua to find the artifact.
But this man can't go free: He is a murderer.
He's killed many. At least 17, probably more. The sort of murderer who collects trophies, who cares little about anyone but himself. This is a man who bragged about his least memorable kill to the victim's son, another man on this island--someone who wants Joshua dead, not locked away. Joshua was never going to leave this island a free man.
Once more, the walls of the cave begin to soften at the edges. Shouxue will feel a pull at her hand--the one holding the dagger. Before her, Joshua is stammering out denials, but they're little more than lies and drivel.
What will she do?]
She makes the right decision. She refuses to let him go, and unbidden, her mouth begins to move, reciting words that aren't hers.]
"Let you go? That's impossible. Aside from the gold, you're a murder suspect."
[The man looks at her, outraged.]
What murder? I've been busy looking for the gold and getting away from you ever since I got here. I didn't kill anyone!
[Once again, Shouxue will feel her lips move. This time, she can hear another voice--the one belonging to the person who lived through this.]
"I'm not talking about today, of course. But what about 10 years ago?"
[Now, suddenly, it all becomes clear: The man in front of her is Joshua Ott, 33 years old. He is a former member of a notorious gang, following in the footsteps of his father, another known robber. He is the lone survivor of a great heist from 10 years ago--here to retrieve the last item from back then, a priceless artifact from overseas. Shouxue--no, Luke--has been tracking him all over the island, waiting for Joshua to find the artifact.
But this man can't go free: He is a murderer.
He's killed many. At least 17, probably more. The sort of murderer who collects trophies, who cares little about anyone but himself. This is a man who bragged about his least memorable kill to the victim's son, another man on this island--someone who wants Joshua dead, not locked away. Joshua was never going to leave this island a free man.
Once more, the walls of the cave begin to soften at the edges. Shouxue will feel a pull at her hand--the one holding the dagger. Before her, Joshua is stammering out denials, but they're little more than lies and drivel.
What will she do?]
[ she think she's starting to understand what's going on now. not the full context of what's in front of her but how this is a different shape to a memory.
shouxue's first inclination isn't usually violence, but she does think people deserve to be punished for irrevocable crimes. she doesn't think this man should go free. luke seems to think this man can't go free.
the dagger is heavy in her hand. she doesn't want to kill joshua ott, but he should be stopped.
she will try to restrain him with force. ]
shouxue's first inclination isn't usually violence, but she does think people deserve to be punished for irrevocable crimes. she doesn't think this man should go free. luke seems to think this man can't go free.
the dagger is heavy in her hand. she doesn't want to kill joshua ott, but he should be stopped.
she will try to restrain him with force. ]
[Shouxue goes with her instincts, moving to subdue Joshua. He panics, but her body moves with precision and ease--he is no match for her. Soon enough, he is on his knees, trembling. All she needs to do is get the truth from him, and turn him over to be imprisoned. No one needs to get hurt more than this.
But.
This man is dangerous. And a proven liar. She can't take that risk, can she?
This time, the pull on her hand is irresistible. The dagger rises, until it rests against Joshua's neck. He looks at her with wide, terrified eyes, shaking like a leaf. And suddenly her hand is moving again, pulled back, back, back--]
"Luke?"
[The voice comes from behind her. And Shouxue finds her head moving, unbidden--until she sees a young woman who certainly wasn't there before. She is looking at Shouxue with a frightened, horrified, expression. Shouxue will feel her blood run cold. This is the woman she--he--loves, the one person who was never supposed to see him like this, and she's backing away, and--]
But.
This man is dangerous. And a proven liar. She can't take that risk, can she?
This time, the pull on her hand is irresistible. The dagger rises, until it rests against Joshua's neck. He looks at her with wide, terrified eyes, shaking like a leaf. And suddenly her hand is moving again, pulled back, back, back--]
"Luke?"
[The voice comes from behind her. And Shouxue finds her head moving, unbidden--until she sees a young woman who certainly wasn't there before. She is looking at Shouxue with a frightened, horrified, expression. Shouxue will feel her blood run cold. This is the woman she--he--loves, the one person who was never supposed to see him like this, and she's backing away, and--]
[--But this is not quite a memory. It is a nightmare. And so--]
No, that's not...!
[--Shouxue can wake up.
And Luke can too, finally. He looks mildly disoriented as the scene vanishes around them, until his gaze settles on her, and he blinks, startled.]
Shouxue--?
[He hadn't realized anyone else was there.]
No, that's not...!
[--Shouxue can wake up.
And Luke can too, finally. He looks mildly disoriented as the scene vanishes around them, until his gaze settles on her, and he blinks, startled.]
Shouxue--?
[He hadn't realized anyone else was there.]
[Finally frees you from my mini-CYOA nonsense, shaking
But he is clothed!! And still bundled in the blanket, probably, though now it might just be a cozy thing, since he's chilling in the nice library with a book. He looks up and smiles at her, though it's a touch tired.]
Hey, Shouxue. I'm fine, don't worry.
[Is he. Unclear.]
But he is clothed!! And still bundled in the blanket, probably, though now it might just be a cozy thing, since he's chilling in the nice library with a book. He looks up and smiles at her, though it's a touch tired.]
Hey, Shouxue. I'm fine, don't worry.
[Is he. Unclear.]
[ MISS ROSAAAAAAA I LOVE YOU now shouxue knows luke can't ship. :face_holding_back_tears:
the sudden appearance of the woman shocks her and before she can process those new emotions, the dream ends. it's a nightmare for luke, but it's a dream to her. she's a little disoriented after a wake, but once she sees Luke, she's certain. ]
Luke. Was that....?
[ now she knows he's a freak. ]
the sudden appearance of the woman shocks her and before she can process those new emotions, the dream ends. it's a nightmare for luke, but it's a dream to her. she's a little disoriented after a wake, but once she sees Luke, she's certain. ]
Luke. Was that....?
[ now she knows he's a freak. ]
[ me clicking my first notif to deleted comment: DID YOU??? dw....
it's unclear. ]
Most people are haunted by something when they come back from one of those, or they lose an arm. [ she isn't gong to press for details unless she thinks it's important, at least. ]
What happened?
it's unclear. ]
Most people are haunted by something when they come back from one of those, or they lose an arm. [ she isn't gong to press for details unless she thinks it's important, at least. ]
What happened?
[STOP LISTEN I'll allow him to ship but someone else has to make the first move... AS YOU CAN SEE, MY HANDS ARE TIED.]
That was--it wasn't like that. It didn't happen that way. [It was more accurate than he'd care to admit, but this is still the truth.] I'm so sorry.
[That she had to see him like that, even in a nightmare.]
That was--it wasn't like that. It didn't happen that way. [It was more accurate than he'd care to admit, but this is still the truth.] I'm so sorry.
[That she had to see him like that, even in a nightmare.]
[LMFSKJDGHK AAAAA DW no it just double-posted this one]
I don't think I'm haunted by anything? [He says, after insanely tackling Dahut.] I don't know that I have a lot to share, though... after Dahut found me, we woke up in hell, and then we helped Gregor and Arthur wake up, too.
I don't think I'm haunted by anything? [He says, after insanely tackling Dahut.] I don't know that I have a lot to share, though... after Dahut found me, we woke up in hell, and then we helped Gregor and Arthur wake up, too.
[ ... ]
You tackled Dahut. I don't think that's something you would normally do.
[ her brows furrow. ]
You were in hell? I was surprised that you could be taken to someplace that Gregor and Arthur could also be.
[ that it did happen means they're not nearly as separated as she thought despite still being on the ship. ]
You tackled Dahut. I don't think that's something you would normally do.
[ her brows furrow. ]
You were in hell? I was surprised that you could be taken to someplace that Gregor and Arthur could also be.
[ that it did happen means they're not nearly as separated as she thought despite still being on the ship. ]
[When I leave this game single you will know it was not my fault
Despite her lack of judgment, he looks hesitant.]
Normally, I wouldn't talk about confidential work... [But... well. She saw most of that already. If she knows most of the context anyway, at this point, it would do more harm than good to leave her with her misconceptions.]
...Ott is fine. He's back in prison now. We were able to find the artifact he was looking for and return it safely to its home country. I promise, I never tried to kill him.
Despite her lack of judgment, he looks hesitant.]
Normally, I wouldn't talk about confidential work... [But... well. She saw most of that already. If she knows most of the context anyway, at this point, it would do more harm than good to leave her with her misconceptions.]
...Ott is fine. He's back in prison now. We were able to find the artifact he was looking for and return it safely to its home country. I promise, I never tried to kill him.
[ it is still a little bit your fault for choosing characters like this.
his confidentiality is already compromised. dreams are rude that way. she doesn't like death for no reason and she does think to live is more suffering, but... ]
I do not condone murder, but is he not a waste of space?
[ at least that's what the dream told her. ]
As long as he is being properly punished.
his confidentiality is already compromised. dreams are rude that way. she doesn't like death for no reason and she does think to live is more suffering, but... ]
I do not condone murder, but is he not a waste of space?
[ at least that's what the dream told her. ]
As long as he is being properly punished.
[ help me that's fine
in her experience of a great many sixteeen years, she has her own conclusions that have no substantiation. ]
The distance between us is closer than expected. The dead, or not quite dead, aren't usually close enough to interact like that. New ghosts don't usually have that much sway.
in her experience of a great many sixteeen years, she has her own conclusions that have no substantiation. ]
The distance between us is closer than expected. The dead, or not quite dead, aren't usually close enough to interact like that. New ghosts don't usually have that much sway.
[HELP
THIS IS NOT AT ALL THE RESPONSE HE EXPECTED SO HE JUST BLINKS AT HER IN SURPRISE]
Uh-- [WELL. Actually maybe he should be less surprised by this. Punishment by murder was legal and acceptable for so long...] Yeah, he is. The country he stole from has pretty strict laws, so I'll be surprised if he ever gets back out.
[But it's not really his problem unless the dude comes back to Stellis anyway]
THIS IS NOT AT ALL THE RESPONSE HE EXPECTED SO HE JUST BLINKS AT HER IN SURPRISE]
Uh-- [WELL. Actually maybe he should be less surprised by this. Punishment by murder was legal and acceptable for so long...] Yeah, he is. The country he stole from has pretty strict laws, so I'll be surprised if he ever gets back out.
[But it's not really his problem unless the dude comes back to Stellis anyway]
[Well, she's not wrong. But he's still a little bit (awkward_man_standing) because he really isn't used to people who aren't his colleagues seeing him that way, but he can't argue with her.]
I wouldn't have let that happen. [He does want to make that clear, even though he is so much more normal about killing people than that nightmare made it seem.] No matter what. I-- [...He hesitates, but. She already saw, so--] --there were people on that island I had to protect.
[Like--everybody, notably, because that's his job. But he's only human; his team matters to him, and she, of course, is someone he'd never allow to come to harm.]
I wouldn't have let that happen. [He does want to make that clear, even though he is so much more normal about killing people than that nightmare made it seem.] No matter what. I-- [...He hesitates, but. She already saw, so--] --there were people on that island I had to protect.
[Like--everybody, notably, because that's his job. But he's only human; his team matters to him, and she, of course, is someone he'd never allow to come to harm.]
[After Dion's arrival, Luke makes himself scarce, but he's not particularly hard to find; he's just in the tech lab, like he often is. He doesn't seem particularly worked up or anything--he glances up when he spots her and nods in greeting.]
Did you need something?
Did you need something?
Page 2 of 8