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

[enshadows]

"I just want... to be loved."

The words are quiet. Fragile. There may be one or two people left in the world who have heard Shikamaru use this trembling voice, but for most it might be nearly unrecognizable. His tone is normally so flat and even, annoyed or sarcastic if he's showing any emotion at all. But now it's small, almost like the voice of a frightened little boy on the verge of tears.

Shikamaru seems to step straight out of the brick wall, bleeding from the shadows there. He has been crying, in fact. The faint shimmer of his drying tears catching the pale moonlight. He takes a sharp breath, dramatically laying his hand over his heart as if it aches so badly he could just die. "I want to mean something to someone," he continues, his voice catching in his throat for a moment. "I want them to know that I loved them, too. I want them to know I did it all because I am good. I am good, I am a good person and I deserve to be loved. I really do

[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.

[reassures]

[ "How?"

"--You won't kill him, will you?" ]

[enshadows]

[Something about the Shadow darkens - its tone or perhaps the air around it.]

I'm going to fix him. I'm going to give him what he wants.

Take me to him. I will fix him.

[reassures]

[Nill's shoulders hunch slightly, go more rigid, but otherwise she doesn't waver.

"I don't know where he is. The only reason I found you was because you came when I called." ]

[enshadows]

Take me into the boarding house and we'll wait for him.

[reassures]

[ "Do you really think that's a good idea?"

"He'll be out looking for you for a long time." ]