51st Frontier [open commentlog]

[ecopiracy]

[Concussions are not something to take lightly, so Phoenix has been resting the past few days. The air cast he had saved from when he'd broken his hand has proven useful again, saving him the need to visit AMU to get his fractured arm bound. He owes Damas a great deal as well. Once again the man had assisted him when he had needed it, treating him

Comments

[maddattik]

[Attika has forced herself out of her room to get something to eat, despite the fact that she's still horrified by her new black eyes, and is convinced anyone who sees her will be, too. In the end, though, the need for food won out over the lingering shock, so here she is, Phoenix, poking at mashed potatoes.

She's just finishing up when she notices Phoenix. Quite sane, now that the "timer" on her Infection has been reset by not one, but two deaths, her instinct to run isn't nearly so strong.

...That, and she recognizes him. From both encounters. Oh dear.

She'll just hesitate for a moment more before approaching him to apologize for...well. Trying to kill him.]

...Excuse me....

[Crap. She doesn't know his name.]

[ecopiracy]

[Phoenix turns, a plate in hand and an eyebrow lifted in question. When he sees who it is, though, he immediately stiffens.]

You!

[Quickly he takes a step back, preparing a defensive stance.]

[maddattik]

[Take a second look, Phoenix! She is even less threatening than usual, being unarmed, with her hands fisted in her skirt. The poor woman looks distraught (and not only because her eyes went all weird on her).]

I'm so sorry!

[ecopiracy]

[The distress and the apology catch him somewhat by surprise, but not enough for him to lower his guard. He's still eyeing her suspiciously and keeping his distance.]

Oh? What brought this change of heart?

[maddattik]

I won't--I can't--

[One moment. She needs to take a deep, calming breath. Apologizing to people you tried to kill is remarkably stressful.]

I--I can't make excuses, but...but please believe me when I say I was--I was ill and I didn't--if I hadn't been--

I didn't want to hurt you! I'm so sorry I did!

[ecopiracy]

Ill in what way?

[If Attika is watching, there is a flicker of something in Phoenix's expression. He's had experience with attacking others because of an outside influence.

But that doesn't mean he's going to trust her, either. Not without a better explanation than that.]

[maddattik]

I have...

[Really, she doesn't want to explain.

But, Phoenix, you deserve it.]

I have a sickness. An Infection. And the longer I stay... [She gestures vaguely at their surroundings.] The longer I say in--in the same place, the worse it gets.

[Oh, wait, that's not reassuring.]

But I'm fine now! Fine. Now.

For now.

[ecopiracy]

[Phoenix's expression hardens.]

You claimed you would be fine before. What guarantee can you give that this won't happen again? Because if you'll pardon me from pointing this out, the chances of you leaving this place any time soon are virtually slim to none.

[maddattik]

[She flinches. For several reasons--one of them being that Phoenix still scares her a little by virtue of the long ears.]

I can't, I--

I can't.

I can't, but I--I died. I died and I feel...I mean, I'm--

[She's a little bit jumbled, but she's trying.]

I'm better.

[ecopiracy]

[Oblivious to the intimidation his ears represent, Phoenix gestures sharply.]

For how long! If you refuse treatment, how long can you expect to last before this... infection takes over again? Or are you claiming that death cured you?

[He stares into her eyes, trying to drive the point home by sheer force of will - then abruptly stills, feeling as though he's been doused with cold water. Her eyes. Her eyes are completely black.]

...what sort of infection is it?

[maddattik]

[She squeaks and flinches again. Honestly, it's bad enough getting berated by someone in general--never a fun feeling--but it's just this side of frightening when a fairy (something she's still sure shouldn't exist) is doing it.]

That's what they said before, too, so I stayed in the hospital and it--it--

It ended badly.

[The way he stills gives her a little more confidence. Precious little. She does her best to explain, her voice a little more level, almost practiced--it sounds like she's given an altered version of this explanation before.]

There's a story about a little girl who wanders into the woods and is tricked and eaten by a wolf. She's saved when a woodsman comes along and kills it, cutting the wolf open and setting her free.

I don't...I don't understand it--nobody does--but there's...there's a wolf inside me that sometimes comes out, and I have to kill it.

[That's not entirely accurate, but it's as accurate as she knows.]

As long as I keep moving, it stays quiet, but there's...there's nowhere to move here.... But

[ecopiracy]

[She's right when she says that nobody understands. Phoenix certainly doesn't.]

So you have no idea how this "infection" came to be? [His voice sharpens.] How does killing this wolf inside you lead to you attacking other people?

[maddattik]

[Were you not listening, Phoenix? She repeats herself.]

It isn't inside me when I kill it. It comes out. It comes out and it infects--it tries to infect others and...and I have to stop it. When it comes out, I--I become the woodsman and--

[She flinches again, withdrawing a little.]

I know it sounds crazy.

[ecopiracy]

[Phoenix snorts contemptuously.]

"Sounds" is not the word I would use. It is insanity when you attack others you believe to be infected without any proof. Because I assume that is why you chose to attack me.

[maddattik]

[Attika wilts further. To be fair, she hadn't really expected forgiveness, but his words sting all the same.]

I'm sorry.

[ecopiracy]

[She hasn't exactly given him any reason to forgive. Phoenix just shakes his head in disgust.]

If you are truly sorry, do something to prevent this from happening again, or sorry will never be good enough!

But know this.

[He grimly looks her in the eye again, refusing to flinch this time.]

If you succumb to this so-called infection and attack me again, I will not hesitate to take you down any way I can.