39 // [Video/Action]

[neverendingbeat]

[There's a man in the shadows. It's outside, it's dark, and he's huddled against a building in an alleyway, crouching. It's difficult to see what he's wearing but it's probably black, or some other equally dark colour. He is definitely wearing a hoodie, though, as the hood is pulled up over his head, putting the upper half of his face into shadow.

Comments

[Action] I tried to tell her she didn't want to do this. She insists he's her friend

[only_fell]

[Inara is going home late from the tea house alone. Lately she's had Priestly to walk her but tonight he's working so she's alone. Because of this, she's hyper aware of her surroundings so when she sees the creepy man her first instinct is to cross the street. One foot is on the street and then she pauses, head tilting. She swallows hard, going cold briefly as she realizes she knows this person. She takes a very wary step toward the man, communicator in one hand so that she's prepared to call...well she's not really certain who.]

Harold?

Harry? Are you--can I get you some help?

[Action] ...oh dear.

[neverendingbeat]

[His eyes dart to look at her from under the hood. He's standing, hunched over slightly and when she says "help" he cocks his head at her like a dog. Then he blinks once and stares at her for a little while longer before he starts to laugh hoarsely.]

Haah, you think you know what sort of help I need?

[Then, abruptly he turns angry, and growls out his last few words.]

You have no idea.

[He walks a bit closer to her, his mouth slightly open like he's about to speak, but it takes him a little while longer before he actually does, sounding disgusted, like he's on the edge of snapping.]

My name is not 'Harold' or 'Harry'. That's wrong.

Re: [Action] ...oh dear.

[only_fell]

[Okay, scared? Why yes she is now. She takes a couple of steps back before she takes a deep breath that she intensely wishes she hadn't needed and straightens her back. She arches one eyebrow and attempts to do that whole looking down at him thing. She's terrified so naturally she's decided to do the only defensive thing that comes natural to her; be an ice queen]

I'm not presuming to know what kind of help you need. That would be foolish. I'm offering to get you help. Whatever kind you might need.

And you'll have to excuse my mistake as Harold and Harry are the only names I know you by.

[Action]

[neverendingbeat]

How kind, oh, it's really, it's just...it's just so sweet.

[He's off in his own little verbal world. And then he really focuses on her, face angry and a little bit hurt.]

You can't help me, stupid human, no-one can. I'm broken. [He licks his lips.] All the King's Horses and and the King's Men. I'm not a giant egg, though. I could murder a giant egg. It sounds delicious.

[He moves closer to her again, looking desperate.]

I am so hungry, Inara. Famished. Starving.

[He pulls his hood off his head in a darting movement, making his hair stick up.]

I eat and eat and eat and eat and eat and-- but it's never enough.

[voice; private]

[cry_reaper]

[there's a long pause before...]

You should get yourself to a hospital, you're ill.

[voice; private]

[neverendingbeat]

[A pause on this end too, the sound of shuffling and then the Master speaks, quietly but very close up to the device.]

I'm not going to a hospital. I'm not letting them trap me again. Ha, even if...even...as if they could.

Why are you speaking at me?

[voice; private]

[cry_reaper]

Because it's what one does when she knows another is dying gravely ill.

If not a hospital, you should see a healer.

[voice; private]

[neverendingbeat]

Healers?

[He laughs]

Ohhh, I am so far past that, you have no idea. [suddenly much louder] Healers won't help! Nobody can help...this.

[video]

[bonescientist]

[Dr. Brennan squints at the poor quality video feed, a frown of concentration on her face. There's a reason she's one of the leading forensic anthropologists in the world, why her partner nicknamed her "Bones". It's because there's nothing on earth she knows better than she does the human skeletal structure. She's trying to figure out the bones on the disturbing feed - for those are bones, that much is certain - but can't quite get a clear enough picture to confirm or allay her suspicions. Finally, she can no longer keep quiet.]

Excuse me. What exactly are you in process of consuming?

[video]

[neverendingbeat]

[The Master looks up like a startled wild animal and then looks around for the source of the voice.]

It's food.

[He looks around a moment longer and then goes back to eating.]

[video]

[bonescientist]

[Brennan bites her lip in thought. This man is clearly not mentally stable. She's never been good at talking to people to begin with, much less ones that aren't quite sane. The next image prompts her to talk again: that long bone looks suspiciously like a femur. A human femur.]

What sort of food? Did it walk on two legs before you killed it?

[video]

[neverendingbeat]

Why do you keep interrupting me?

[He sounds rather cross.]

And why are you asking all these questions?

1/4; enhanced vampire vision; can haz recognising!

[der_freischuetz]

...? Is that really That can't be now, can it

2/4; [voice]

[der_freischuetz]

You! YOU. BUT--

3/4;

[der_freischuetz]

... [Brb, sulking. So much to the message.]

4/4; [voice]

[der_freischuetz]

...Welcome back, then.

[voice] btw. derp.

[supergorgeous]

Oh, well, isn't that pleasant.

[voice]

[neverendingbeat]

I am, yes.

[voice]

[supergorgeous]

Yes, well, if you could avoid televising your meals in the future, those of us who are actually civilized would appreciate it.

[voice]

[neverendingbeat]

You think I switched on the video? [His voice gradually turns into a growl.] Now, why would I want all of these interruptions during my meal?