Nightshift 46: Stairwell by Waiting Room/Lobby 1
[from here]This was the part where S.T. hesitated. The meeting hadn't gotten anywhere near actual planning. It hadn't devolved into logo-design and acronym debates, but it'd been close. Not that a group of Holmes wannabes made ideal bodyguard fodder, but this place had dropped his standards. Any backup he could get was good backup. Ability to
( Read more... )
Comments 33
Not far now, not far at all- Primus, only a few nights back he was suffocating outside the rooms in question with Javert, he knew that from experience- and Depth Charge was ready to prove he didn't need an extra hover mode to fly up these steps.
Strands of hair drifted in front of his eyes. He moved to plaster them back, impatient, then remembered his hands were full (if he was so hot, why were his knuckles so white?) and hissed out a curse. Well, slag it. He could care about that when he wasn't on a deadli-
Reply
S.T. took eight stairs four at a time, marginally lengthening his lead. Enough to turn around and shine his flashlight-toolbox combo backwards, and see if he cared who was leading a one-man Crusade off the Gibraltar cliffs. Swan dive in plate armor territory.
Shit. That was Depth Charge. Assuming he was his asshole robot self again. S.T. stretched out both arms -- toolbox and pipe turning him into a shitty excuse for a turnstile.
"Fuck, man, slow down. Unless you want to get eaten."
Reply
He didn't have time for this. "And unless you want your faceplate rearranged you'll get the frag out of my-- ST?" The growl died in the back of his throat as recognition kicked in, and for a second all the Maximal did was stare across at the familiar figure standing in his path.
It didn't last. Barely a moment later he was off again, engines primed and trying to dart around the man. "No time to talk. They've got my roommate."
Reply
"Right, let's go." The doors wouldn't open until they were good and ready. Not without heavier artillery than a toolkit and a few matches, at least. But they could discuss why cooling their heels all night in a hallway was a bad idea later. While they were sitting around listening to the dead air that should rival Pöyzen Böyzen's latest in scream decibels). For now, he dropped his hands and went back to hustling up the stairs.
[to here]
Reply
Anthy paused by the stairwell from last night and waited for Utena to go up first, since she wanted to make sure they were still going in the right direction. "Well," she began, wrestling with the question but careful to appear more thoughtful than distressed.
She'd hinted at some of that distress in the Sun Room, but it was less wise to continue to let that seep through during the flow of the night. At the same time, telling lies would only result in causing her guilt to stack. "We met and became acquainted under odd circumstances, it's true. I was curious what your response would be, but if you're uncomfortable answering, it's alright."
Reply
She shook her head, focusing on Himemiya again as they started up the stairs. "No, no, I'm not uncomfortable. You're a great person, I know you are. You're kind, helpful, interesting . . . pretty," she answered with a slight blush that wasn't visible in the darkness. She took her friend's hand gently as they ascended. Something about them and stairs always made her want to keep Himemiya just a little bit closer to her.
[To here]
Reply
Harley bounced up each step, happiness and enthusiasm more than apparent simply from her body language. And with good reason, too. She got to go shopping and had company. If they could keep from getting their faces eaten off, this might be a good night! "No matter what you're lookin' for, all the fun stuff is always upstairs. Look in the right places and there's treasure everywhere."
Reply
He wasn't sure he could match this girl's enthusiasm, though. She was certainly an energetic thing, and the way she used the term treasure might have been why. Thieves got to have all the fun.
"I'll trust you know all the best places," he remarked. "I've only got a few items I'd like in mind, though I'm sure I can find a use for anything that isn't on my list."
Reply
Reply
It was empty by the time he reached the stairs, though faint traces of activity still echoed through the hallway above. As much as it pained him to admit to himself, his earlier fear returned, coiling like snakes inside his skin and leaving him cold. His free hand gripped onto the rail at his side, each slow step filled with contempt for this damned institute.
It was pathetic. Someone of his power, of his stature, brought so low... He wasn't an egotistical or vain man by any means (in fact, he had been constantly scolded as a child for not having such self-assured thoughts. Assassins were supposed to be imbued with confidence in their own strength - hesitation led to failure. It was a miracle Master Zato ever noticed, none the less took pity on, such a useless little boy...), but he knew his limitations. And he knew they were not so low that he had any right to be as seized with dread as he was right now. It was not even what was at the top of the stairs that was causing this paranoia-fueled ( ... )
Reply
Leading the way, Teresa ascended the stairs. On alert for any disturbances, her flashlight lit the way. She held no worry as she'd been up these stairs before with Rolo and nothing had attacked them. Even if something did, she would deal with it as she was trained to.
Pity the creature.
Reply
"Something tried to snack on me last night," he said quietly, his tone amused. "I'll be disappointed if there isn't some variety around here." He gestured for Giovanni to go ahead, intending to bring up the rear, then switched off his flashlight. No sense burning through the batteries, and even with his impaired vision on the left, he could see well enough without it--hell, probably better than Giovanni could through those goofy-ass glasses.
Reply
A thrill sparked around his collar when Mello mentioned something about monsters "trying to snack on him," and he smiled. It sounded like fun, and as he ascended the stairs, Teresa in front of him and Mello behind him, he let his free hand run down to the knife at his belt, running a finger along the blade and thinking about how gratifying it would be to sink that same blade into someone's (or something's) flesh ( ... )
Reply
[to here]
Reply
Leave a comment