Nightshift 19 - F1 Hall
Another night in this place. And, if the intercom was to be believed, more experimentation. Lust realized that she needed to learn the fake names of her companions, to be on the lookout for things such as this. She knew her supposed name, but no others. Ah well. She could only hope that Scar, Dias or River weren't among the ones taken. And
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...but what cinched it was the simple matter that Dante, if controlled, could aid Ling in controlling Lust. It would merely have to be dealt with extremely delicately.
"You are treading extremely dangerous ground, Lust," the Scholar said, taking the role of a concerned advisor and confidante, "you yourself were the one who warned me of her terrible power and her dangerous nature. If someone else were to offer her freedom, despite the price, she would pay it... and you would be left in a dangerous position of your own, should you allies prove unfaithful."
Her eyes drifted over to Dante, the black eyes glittering with endless promise, like the limitless expanse of the night sky. "And there are many here who would take offense at her predicament, warranted though it might be. Please consider this carefully; those like you and I are a true rarity in this place, and I am disgusted by wasted potential above all else."
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And yet she wondering what exactly the Scholar was getting at. She admired the woman's obvious skill with manipulation: a skill that seemed to rival Dante's own. But it seemed strange that Ling would talk of her like an object for one minute and then immediately switch to treating her with respect and attention. Even if her praise was only given in warning, it was still praise, and she knew it would do Lust good to hear it.
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No, Lust wasn't going to let Dante slip away from her. She would just kill the woman if she did, but she wanted her revenge first. Then the woman could die. But Lust would extract every bit of pain and humiliation that she herself had suffered at Dante's hand.
"Now if you will excuse us, there is much I want to accomplish this night."
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The Scholar turned to Dante, the faintest of smiles still on her face. "Will you hear my offer? You shall not be a servant; indeed, I despise the very concept. I believe that we could be very beneficial to each other, you and I. At least, I shall grant you my own protection; you need not fear her nor her allies so long as I live."
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"Of course." Dante dropped some of the facade she had constructed for the other patients, letting her true intelligence and eloquence fill her voice. "I'm willing to consider any offer, even if it pulls me away from my former allies. Just like everyone else, I am only interested in getting out of this place. I have so many other things I need to attend to, and this unexpected hospital stay is only further hindering my plans."
Turning back to Lust, Dante added, "And it's really a shame you feel that way, dear Lust. For I don't remember ever having you killed. I've killed many, but certainly not one of my own allies."
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"If you truly think this woman can protect you against the Beast of Ishbal, go right ahead and walk away from me. I won't hold him back any longer, if that's truly what you want. And don't claim you've never killed an ally. You did kill me - or I suppose you do kill me. Or have me killed at any rate." Lust shrugged. She didn't remember it either, but enough had told her it happened for her to believe it.
"Don't you realize we're all taken from different times? The Colonel comes from a time when the Fuhrer has been killed. I've heard Edward speak of his own death at your hands. And I've heard what happens to you, but that's not important now." Lust tossed her hair, hating that she would have to ensure the woman's death so soon.
"Throw your life away or suffer some mild embarrassment at my hands. It's your choice."
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Scholar Ling simply offered a soft smile in response to all of that; she wasn't going to name her terms where anyone could hear them, nor would she reveal the true depths of her powers. Not now, not when it could be used against her... and not when she didn't know how dampened those powers were. She was, however, thoroughly confident that she would have no problems at all offering much much more than Lust ever could.
...at least Lust seemed to be taking the offer well. Perhaps she understood the reasoning behind Ling's actions? Or perhaps she understood nothing; in either case, she seemed to be too busy with Dante to notice the Scholar. Time would tell where this river of destiny flowed.
...she could, however, offer a few hints. "It is your choice; already, the terms of the 'arrangement' are shifting in your favor. I can free you from everything; from your past, from the future she plans for you, and even from the wrath that hangs over your head like a storm cloud. It will cost you dearly, but that is my offer; freedom bought at the price it is worth, or the safety of servitude. If you are not willing to risk your life for that freedom, then I have nothing more to say on the matter."
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Watching for Lust's reaction, Dante suddenly returned to her usual condescending tone. "But I suppose I can't really expect anything different from you, can I?" She snickered, brushing Lust's frigid hand with her own clammy fingers. "You may have gained humanity, but not a soul. You'll never have that. I suppose that's why you're behaving like such a child."
Returning her gaze to the other woman, Dante nodded, feeling somehow less afraid of Lust's threats. Lust seemed strong in this place, but there were still weaknesses, and Dante would search relentlessly until she found them. It was one thing to join up with Lust and sacrifice some dignity for that cause, but it was quite another to become a servant. It wasn't worth it. Lust had crossed the line, and Dante would have to find other means to ensure her own safety. She wouldn't let Lust cross the line again.
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Lust folded her arms. She was growing tired of this and most likely Ginji was long gone. "As I said, do what you will. But you won't survive long without me. I won't bother holding anyone back from you - and you can't fight them all. Not even with help. You have far too many enemies in this place. One would think a woman who claims to be as intelligent as you do would realize that. Of course, I'm beginning to doubt your intelligence as it is. I've already lied to you to multiple times in this place and you've accepted them without question. I wasn't with Scarecrow that night I abandoned you - I haven't spoken to the man in days. I was with Scar."
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Still, the Scholar listened quietly, ears and attention alert. Lust's insistence that she had a soul was very heartening; that meant that the woman was out of Dante's jurisdiction... and right in Ling's. Another chain to bind Dante to her will, added to the groaning pile weighing the other woman down. This would be almost too easy, at this rate.
That was why, when Lust was done with her piece, Ling spoke up again. Her voice was quiet, almost bored; even though the Scholar had done a remarkably good job at keeping it from affecting her composure. "The night grows old, soon the Celestial Dragon shall begin stirring in his slumber. Lust; if you wish to kill her and obtain your revenge, then do so so we may be perfectly clear in this matter. Otherwise, let us part ways so I may make my offer and free her. All of us have many pressing concerns, none of which involve recounting the past. It is done; let us move forward."
Now, perhaps they could move on. The Scholar was most anticipatory.
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Dante couldn't have that. And she wouldn't have had to deal with it if they had all kept her past a secret. She probably would have escaped by now had they not hindered her by turning the whole hospital against her.
She was ready to put the past in the past, even if Lust refused. She wanted to hear what the Scholar had to offer.
Stepping towards the nearest door, Dante clapped her hands together, grabbing the door handle and forming it into a dagger. It was crooked and dull, she realized, running her fingers over it in disgust. But it would work. Holding it in front of her chest, she swaggered towards the former Homunculus, regaining some of her former dignity with the small demonstration of power.
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"I don't intend to kill her this night. Take her, then, and do what you will with her. I give her to you for the time being - but I will have what she owes me. It is the way of our world."
She nodded to the woman and continued to ignore Dante, as though the alchemist was nothing.
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...not yet, anyway. It would depend on how her negotiations went with Dante, apparently. "You shall have what you demand, in the fullness of time. Let us speak again during the daylight hours."
Then she turned to Dante, indicating Ling's own room. "Come with me; this offer is for your ears alone."
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'Let's just hope it doesn't come to that.' Lust was weaker than she was letting on. Dante was sure of it. She remembered scooping her misshapen body out of the desert and cradling her in her arms, and knew that that part of Lust was still in her somewhere. She would just have to find it.
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Agony. White-hot, piercing, all-consuming agony exploded in her mind; twisting with enough force to make even her iron-hard control slip. It was far worse than the pain of dying, exceeding the most virulent of poisons or the deadliest of weapons.
It felt like words, feelings, impressions were being burned into her mind. A desperate plea for rescue, and yet still with the arrogance to suggest terms. Not like a certain deity, who had been weak in her desperation, but rather suggesting strength and resilience- that aid would be welcome, but the one responsible would not perish if left alone.
Thus far, only one person had shown such incredible audacity in the entire Institute, and Ling hardly needed to 'feel' the one responsible before knowing who it was. Schuldig. That arrogant, yet undeniably endearing Outlander.
She had a general idea where he was. The telepathic blow seemed to come from above somewhere, and the plea seemed to include a rough mental image of where he was. And what he needed help from. They were going to experiment on the Outlander. Her ally.
The rage of Scholar Ling could not be expressed in words. It was a palpable force, a sudden hot breeze flowing from her as her perpetual discord flared. Her shadow seemed to twist and distort, becoming positively demonic as it reached up to the edges of the light with clawed hands. She would rescue Schuldig, and if she happened to catch the one responsible, she would show exactly why such things were to never be tolerated.
"Come with me, Dante," she said, as the overpowering pain passed, "come, and you shall see the protection I am willing to offer. I swear this; all under my protection shall know no fear, not from life and not from death. Even if the entire world were to be weighed against me."
With that she took off down the hallway at a rapid, yet energy-saving pace. She would tear the Institute down with her bare hands if she had to.
((Charging off to the hallways between Male and Female Wings. ))
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