[HK Zap] Nagi Alone, Redux

[hemiketal_nagi]

Waking came gradually this time, and peacefully. Nagi opened his eyes to find himself lying on the cot, curled under the thin blanket and back inside the cell. A perfectly intact cell--the same as the one he'd tried to escape from, near as he could tell. For a moment he luxuriated in the ability to see and hear again, to lie there without

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[dormouse_in_tea]

Speaking of attention. . . as though someone had been watching, waiting for him to waken, there was a muffled click as the door was unlocked. "Morning, kid. Sleep well?" Bill was back again with another tray. He went to set it on the table, but checked himself at the sight of the cards spread out over the surface. "Ooops, don't want to mess up your game." His head tilted curiously to the side, but the weapon he held in one hand never wavered. "Don't know this one. You winning or losing?"

[hemiketal_nagi]

Nagi lifted his head. "Game?" He frowned as he saw the indicated cards. "That's not mine...I've been unconscious. You know that." What kind of game was the man playing? Nagi found it odd that the man's demeanor and his actions were so disparate....friendly and helpful, but always apparently ready and willing to use a weapon on him.

[dormouse_in_tea]

That earned him an odd look. "Hey, you know we have to watch you. Make sure you don't hurt yourself or anything. . . you started this game last night! It was the third one you played; guess you wore yourself out, eh?" The tray wobbled a bit. "Where do want your breakfest, kid?"

[hemiketal_nagi]

Nagi wrapped his arms protectively around himself. "On the table, please." What did she do in my head? The possibilities were endless....and none too pleasant. "How long has it been, then?" He either doesn't seem to know or care about the guard I killed. Has his memory been wiped too?

[hemiketal_nagi]

//As you say.// Nagi's agreement was mere superficial politeness, nothing more. Pushing aside the cards, he focused in on the tray. Thankful that at least he had food, he began to eat, though a bit more politely than he did the previous day. //Where's Schuldig? What have you done with him?//

[dormouse_in_tea]

Dagmar laughed. The telepath is elsewhere. If you wish to care about his fate. . . for now he is relatively intact. Now it sounded as though she whispered in Nagi's ear. You know what you can do to help keep him so, my little pet. . .

[hemiketal_nagi]

Nagi snorted. //You'll have to try harder than that if you want to use us against each other, Dagmar-san. We're the hostage-takers. Not the bleeding heart 'white knights' who try to save them.//

[dormouse_in_tea]

White Knights? Curious about the emotional residue she tasted off that thought, Dagmar indulged the diversion. Tell me about them, she ordered, alert to the nuances that would help her break these two. For now they were contained, and she had time for games. But they'd already cost her resources, and she would have greater value in trade from them if she had to strip it from their hides.

[hemiketal_nagi]

//I got the impression it was the chivalry. Though maybe it was just because he was stupid.// Having not been personally present at Persia's death, Nagi could care less. People who gave second chances to their enemies, family or not...it was amazing the man lived long enough to even create Kritiker in the first place.

[dormouse_in_tea]

And how did you know these knights of yours? It had been a long time since she'd shown such restraint; Dagmar was starting to bore herself. Much more, and she'd have to find some more interesting way to play with her new pet.

[hemiketal_nagi]

//They were enemies, of course.// Nagi shrugged--then winced. His muscles still ached from the aftershocks. //They thought we were 'dark beasts' and did their best to hunt us down. We--well, we led them a merry chase, gave them a fight every now and then, and let them kill off our enemies. It was a good arrangement.// Even if Weiss did have a nasty habit of being a little *too* persistent. Once Bombay got his teeth into something, he didn't tend to let go...

[dormouse_in_tea]

This? That mental image she'd managed to snag had been exactly what Dagmar wanted; nearly purring, she flashed it back at Nagi. This is your 'Bombay'?