Night 46: North of the Institute

[unheroed]

[From here.]The landing was rough, but not as bad as it could have been. Pressing a hand against the ground to brace himself, Harvey straightened painfully and then searched around for his flashlight and pipe. The former was easier to fine, and once he'd collected that and turned it back on, he used it to run over the ground as he waited for the

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[gald_digger]

[from here]

Sneaking around and climbing over walls like this reminded Anise of the time she and Ion left Daath in secret, just before their journey began. Only then, she had gentle, cooperative Ion by her side, and this time, she had... this guy. Aidou was definitely seeming less and less like a charming prince by the minute. Most men would be delighted to have someone like Anise along with them - or they'd act least act like they were.

Anise took a moment to step away and look back at the institute. This was the first time she'd ever seen the building from this angle, even if all she could make out was its massive, looming silhouette.

But once that sight was taken in, Anise brought herself back to the wall. If it could provide cover in the recreational field, it could probably do the same for them out here, at least until they reached the east end.

[blood_and_pocky]

What, like his point became less valid with time? It was quite the opposite. And the longer this went on, the longer he left himself open for a series of… well, the options were numerous, and none of them good. If he believed for a second Anise could actually be an effective companion of sorts, capable of defending against foes, everything she could do he could probably do just as well, anyway. Probably better. The same applied to all of Aidou’s ‘companions’, but where he got along well enough with Sasuke, he couldn’t reconcile the boy’s personality with Anise’s. Knowing half of what Sasuke did about him, Anise would no doubt out him in a minute, and he’d rather not have that

[gald_digger]

Once again, Aidou's movements were way more agile than expected. Anise wasn't sure what to think of it. It seemed pretty unusual to her, but maybe it wasn't so weird where he came from. It was always so hard to judge other-worlders.

"Huh? Didn't we just go over this?" Anise looked surprised at the question. After all the arguing they'd already done, he wanted to do more? Hoping it would get him to back off quickly, she tried to look hurt while she replied. "I want to spend more time with you. Is that bad

[blood_and_pocky]

They had, but when the answer didn’t satisfy Aidou, there was nothing resolved about the subject. “I don’t think that’s true,” was the vampire’s response at first. “So perhaps it is.” Playing on affections with a certain lack of sincerity was something he, himself, had been doing for ages, and the fact that Anise seemed to do the same, with him no less, would’ve bothered him had he been outside Landel’s. Here, though, that she hadn’t been taken in by him was mostly water under the bridge. He just didn’t believe her. It was about time she realized that

[gald_digger]

Huh? He didn't believe her? It was true that Anise wasn't exactly being sincere... but she wasn't exactly lying, either. In a way, she was just trying to get to know Aidou better. And normally, traveling with someone at night was a really good way to get closer, worm her way into his heart, maybe help him out and get him to feel indebted to her... stuff like that. "What else would it be?" she asked, sounding bewildered at his apparent suspicion.

Hmph. Anise wasn't sure what he suspected her of, but it was pretty rude when he was acting so suspicious himself.

His non-answer to her own question got a pout from Anise. "No, I don't really." She wanted to know, which was a big part of why she was out here in the first place, and hopefully Aidou was going to start talking before they ran into something weird or dangerous.

[blood_and_pocky]

Although his own physical restrictions and the layer of mist made it difficult to see very far into the distance, Aidou couldn’t make out anything out of the ordinary in the forested, half-dead area the hospital was situated in. Everything was as it’d been the first time he’d come this way, including the aroma of blood that circulated along air currents and tickled the back of his throat. Soon there would be the burble of water, followed by a moderate run to the town. If nothing hindered him, and he didn’t lag, he could make it there with time to spare, despite how much time he’d lost arguing with Anise.

But that was without factoring her in. Unless he was carrying her on his back, he’d have to keep in mind that she would probably move at a slower pace… unless he really was going to leave her to get eaten by a bear. But that was… And she was in slippers, no less