(Untitled)

[twiststheblade]

The weather is nice now, and the ground less hard, so Miho is going through excercises outside - just very basic sword kata, with a pair of bokken. Every now and then, it is good to go back to the most basic of basics.

She looks relaxed though, rather than intensely concentrated, and would not be averse to company.

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[symbiote_venom]

One still-slightly banged up Eddie, arm in a cast and sling, makes his way outside upon spotting her. He's become increasingly aware of how little time he might have, and is trying to make the best of it by tying up a few loose ends before letting it all hang on the outcome of one night.

"Got a minute, oh wise and powerful teacher?"

[twiststheblade]

Miho lowers the bokken.

"Of course, Ediie."

She gives him a concerned look.

"What happened?"

[symbiote_venom]

"I decided to rush into something like an idiot."

That'd be the very short version of things. The bruises are almost gone, the swelling has disappeared, his arm is healing, and his body is more or less healed, if still a tad sore. Only his pride remains seriously wounded.

"On a related note, if I need your help with something, can I count on it?"

He may or may not have asked her the same thing before, but he's got to be sure before tossing the rest of it at her.

[twiststheblade]

"You have asked already," she says, seriously.

"But yes. If I can, I'll help."

[symbiote_venom]

"And if that includes a fight? And the possibility of having to kill somebody, or at least making sure I can kill him?"

He's willing and ready to accept any answer she might give. He's pretty sure she's used to death, but not knowing who it is he's even after might make her change her mind.

[twiststheblade]

"Within reason."

Under other circumstances, she would smply be at the disposal of whoever was commanding her, but here. . . she can shoose.

"Who needs to die?"

[symbiote_venom]

"The son of a bitch who did this to me." There is a pause as Eddie realizes he's coming off as a revenge-hungry idiot. "He's a monster, Miho. He's got something of mine and he probably doesn't even know it's controlling him. I know for a fact he's tried and succeeded in killing innocent people. He's a threat." And Eddie wants his god-damn suit, be it to wear or destroy.

[twiststheblade]

"Must he die?"

It is a perfectly matter-of-fact question. She just needs to know.

[symbiote_venom]

"Well, no, actually. It's the suit that's gotta die."

Eddie may or may not be sounding a little crazy. Most people don't insist on the death of a suit.

[twiststheblade]

"The. . . suit."

Her voice is a little blank.

"I think perhaps you need to explain exactly what we're up against, Eddie."

[symbiote_venom]

There is a moment of silence as he wonders how to begin.

"It's...this guy, he's a bad guy, but the suit's making him worse. The suit's not really a suit, actually. It's a symbiotic alien that needs a host to live. It bonds himself to somebody and acts like a second skin. It can change shape and size, grants them super-human abilities, all sorts of stuff. But it also controls them, warps their minds without them knowing. That's why I've got to stop him, and destroy the symbiote. Otherwise, it'll keep using him, and more people will die."

[twiststheblade]

iho blinks. This is a little more than she had reckoned on.

"Okay," she says, slowly.

"How do we kill it?"

[symbiote_venom]

There's more. But he'll let her in as seems necessary.

"Well, actually, we don't. It's immune to almost all normal weapons. I've got something that should do it in, but what I need your help with is taking down the guy himself so I can kill the damn symbiote. He's a mean bastard, but I think with a little help, I can get this whole ordeal behind me."

[twiststheblade]

Miho nods, slowly.

"I see. Well, I will help as I can."

She has no compunctions about killing the symbiote's host if it's neccessary. She just wants to know what they'll be up against.

[symbiote_venom]

Time he got a little more truthful with her then.

"Miho, you should know that this guy...well, when I say he's bad, when I say he's strong, I mean it. This guy could toss cars and probably even tanks around. He brought a wall down on me. A whole wall. Just...pulled it down. The symbiote...it's not just for making him strong. I- I mean, it's suffocated people before, shoved itself down their throats and choked them. Sometimes killed them from the inside. You need to know that if you say you'll help, you're putting yourself in serious danger. If you say no, I'll understand. You don't owe me anything, certainly not this."

Slowly working his way to being totaly honest.

[twiststheblade]

She cocks her head to one side. To be honest, nothing he's said so far is completely outside her realm of experience. Sure, it's extreme, but she thinks she can handle it.

"What else, Eddie?" Softly coaxing tone.