12 // action // rescue team alex force GO!

[40410]

[ The Operator has J.

The Operator has J.

He took him right there on the screen. For Alex, who's already eaten by guilt over their last encounter, and who is perhaps understandably displeased about the man doing things like that, there's only one possible course of action

Comments

[timisnotme]

*The Masked Man is inundated with choices, first J, then Catalina, now this. He trails along keeping behind Alex. Maybe he can lead the Operator to him like a good little minion*

[40410]

[ It's been a while since these two met, hasn't it? Masky might notice that Alex's skin is more sallow than before, a few reddish blotches discolouring his jaw.

He doesn't notice the masked man yet, but pushes deeper into the forest, still yelling J's name. ]

[timisnotme]

Going the wrong way.

*Masky is standing in the darkness between two trees. He's not supposed to be helping Alex, but J is with the Operator, and leading Alex to the Operator would be good for Masky.*

SCREW IT I'M PROSING

[40410]

Alex startles - then picks out the white of the mask in the shadows, and glares.

"Where is he."

[timisnotme]

*head tilt*

With the Operator. *he points* That way.

[40410]

There's a moment's hesitation at the mention of the Operator, but... this whole place is like the Operator turned into a location, all twisty corridors and confusion and stolen memories. He can't stop it. He can't fucking stop it. So fuck it.

He nods brusquely and turns in that direction.

"J! Answer me!"

[timisnotme]

*Masky shakes his head and slowly approaches*

He can't hear you.

He won't answer.

[40410]

He's pretty sure that's true.

He can't let that be true.

He whirls around, brandishes his icy fist at Masky. "Show me exactly where he is."

[timisnotme]

*He jumps back startled at the icicles protruding from Alex's hand. He had forgotten about that.*

Can.

*There's the barest hint of hesitation. This could be very bad for Alex.*

Sure?

[40410]

Yeah, it could.

Alex is sort of bad at judging what could be really bad for him at the moment.

"Show me." A step forward. Frosty air falls from his hand like a barely-visible mist.

[timisnotme]

*He's silent for a while. If he remembers he's probably going to regret this. He doesn't even know what the Operator wants with Alex. He should just leave, should tell Alex to go back to the mansion. But he can't. Behind the mask he sighs. Then he turns and walks deeper into the forest.*

This way.

[40410]

Alex follows, aware that he only has Masky's word that he's telling the truth, aware that this is still his best chance of finding J.

Masky's sure to know. He works for the Operator.

Works for the Operator. For a moment, he processes that as new information - that's disgusting - before he remembers the rest, and that it's not by choice - his mind's just everywhere, snagging on some details but unable to come to bear on one thing for very long.

[timisnotme]

*Masky continues to lead Alex deeper into the forest. He gets progressively more nervous and twitchy the closer they get to the Operator. He stops in a small clearing and looks around, J had been here... where did he go?*

/hijacks

[41810]

[Have a rather dead J.

And by that, the narration means he's alive, he just looks dead. His eyes are dark, he looks drawn and tired and most certainly not there.

He pokes his head out from behind a tree upon hearing things moving in the clearing. For a moment, he stares at the masked man, but then his eyes snap over to Alex and he takes in a very deep breath.

And then he starts to run.]

oshi--

[40410]

...There is no way, no way by which that look can be good news.

But Alex misinterprets J's reasons for running. He's got the plasmid on, he's yelling - obviously J expects a repeat of their last encounter. Shit.

With an effort of will, he bites back the irrational anger at being run from, even slows himself after an initial leap forwards. "Hey, hey! I'm sorry, I - come back!"

Hope you don't mind. At least I brought snacks?

[41810]

[But he doesn't hear Alex's words - just jibberish that doesn't quite compute in his head. He keeps running, deeper and deeper into the forest, throwing himself down slight slopes and up rocky edges. The trees are starting to get much much denser.

After a moment he stops, sliding to a stop under a tree and slamming his back against it, totally unaware of his now totally scratched to hell legs.]