Saturday, December 17th, The Midnight Channel

[thepull_mods]

Who: The Port's Latest Shadow Televisions Stars! And Thousands of Home Viewers!
When: Midnight, Saturday December 17th
Where: In front of your Television Sets or Streaming NV TV. (Digital Cable? You'll still get the analog effect.)
Summary: Full Plot Details Here
Warnings: Please Put 'em In the Subject Lines As Necessary, Kids?

Comments

[reassures]

[It wasn't actually a surprise to see the Shadow on the television; they weren't things about Shika that Nill was unaware of after all, weren't things that she hadn't realized about him. Nill had very good reasons for liking and disliking certain people that Shika was associated with, after all, and equally good reasons as to why she liked him and Uryuu together so much.

But those reasons don't matter very much now. She doesn't know that she'll even be able to do very much... but if she could find the Shadow before Shika did, then maybe-- she could do something. Anything. Whatever it took to make it even a little bit easier on either of them.

Shika was going to be so mad at her later if he found out.

But it isn't the first time that Nill has gone out during the night time hours, and she's very careful as she makes her way through the streets. Searching for the thoughts that had been broadcast, following them. And as she does, she reaches out gently with her mind, calling for it.

"Shika... where are you?"

Maybe she wouldn't need to find Shika's Shadow; maybe it would find her.]

[enshadows]

[It does. So desperate for something to connect to, it hears Nill's message from across the city. It surges through the Darkness, streaming from one shadow to the next until it arrives spilling at Nill's feet. What looks at first to be nothing but oily blackness shifts and becomes more defined in the dim light: folds of a coat and locks of black hair. The Shadow is on its knees in the street, and it lifts its head to look at Nill.

It's still weeping.]

[reassures]

[Nill stumbles back at first, unable to tell by sight alone that it isn't something else, something (more) dangerous than what she's looking for; but as it becomes more defined, she steps forward again, and kneels down in front of the shadow. She reaches over and very carefully cups its cheeks between her hands, brushing at the tears with her thumbs regardless of whether or not it actually helps.]

[enshadows]

Nill...

[Of course it recognizes her. Undoubtedly, she recognizes it, too. Not just because it looks like Shikamaru on the outside. It tilts its head slightly, nuzzling into her hands.]

Nill, I love you.

[reassures]

[Of course not. She's more suspicious out here in the darkness; the only reason she doubted it at all in the first place. But she's not worried about that now.

"I know." She smiles slightly, gently. Never wavering. "I love you too, Shika." ]

[enshadows]

[That seems to appease it slightly, but a new thought is already bothering it:]

Why do you let him hurt me?

Every day... Every day you help him poison me.

[reassures]

[She seems confused at first, 'poison' the word that causes the confuses and sticks out the most... but when she thinks about it, it isn't difficult to tell what he means. Her smile falls entirely.

"The drugs... I don't know what else to do for him anymore."

Or for herself, for that matter. ]

[enshadows]

[He trembles. Even his voice is shaking:]

He wants to kill me. That's what he's trying to do.

[reassures]

[ "He doesn't want people to know what he's really like."

But Nill knows that Shika would easily kill part of himself to accomplish that. So the Shadow is right, in more ways than one. Shika... he'd probably rather not be like this at all.

"Because you're both in pain, and lonely... and he doesn't want to be anymore."

Carefully, she pulls her hands away. "I don't think he's intentionally trying to hurt you that way, though. He's just-- making it easier to handle for a little while." ]

[enshadows]

No... He wants me gone forever. He wants me to die because I won't let him kill people. But once I'm gone, he can do it. Without me, he'll kill everyone. You know that's what he wants to do. Just as he did in that other place. He tells himself it's the only way.

But it isn't!

[reassures]

[ "...I know I help him-- and that it's been hurting you, but... I don't know what else to do for him. I'm not the one that can make him happy, or fix him."

"I would never let him kill you, though." ]

[enshadows]

[Fresh tears begin to fall as he clenches his hands into fists.]

But he is. He is killing me.

We have to stop him!

[reassures]

[She doesn't wipe them away this time, instead reaching over to place his hands on top of his fists.

For one, awful moment, she's tempted to reject him. To run away and beg Shika how to tell her to kill this part of herself as well, the part that was hurt and alone and afraid all the time... but she could never leave part of Shika alone if they felt those things. So Nill doesn't leave.

"How? What should I do?" ]

[enshadows]

[The Shadow bows its head, body curling in on itself. It can't speak for a moment, it's so lost in its sobs. But after several moments of crying and cradling itself, it finds its voice again:]

...Will you take me to him?

[reassures]

[Nill leans closer, heart wrenching as it sobs. Knowing full well that this was how Shika felt on a regular basis; even though she knew it, could tell, it was so much worse like this. To see those feelings personified right in front of her.

Carefully, she places her hands against his shoulders, trying to reassure him somehow, console him. Nill shakes her head to his request, though her expression never changes from one of concern.

"I can't! He'll kill you-- you know he will." ]

[enshadows]

I won't let him. But I must see him.

I know how to fix him.