031 - Northwest Berry Trio

[deadly_ned]

[Icy blue eyes - not the Piemaker's eyes - focus intently back at the rest of the Barge. When he speaks, he doesn't mention who he's speaking to: it's clear it's to one specific person he has in mind. Digby hides under the bed, as the Piemaker grasps meat cleaver and tenderizer in both hands]

Ready to serve, Master.

Comments

Re: [SPAM]

[neverfeltbetter]

[Now he's getting somewhere.]

Okay.

[He follows Ned without hesitation. He'll let him get a little comfortable first, and then ask to see the knives again.]

[SPAM]

[deadly_ned]

[The Piemaker leads the way to Arthas. He's no longer self-consciously shuffling around, instead looking alert and wide-eyed, far more engaged in what other people are doing than when he'd been unaffected]

[SPAM]

[neverfeltbetter]

[Crichton's too focused on the task at hand to notice the differences in Ned's demeanor all that much. After getting a short way into their walk, he tries again.]

So, can I take a look at those?

[SPAM]

[deadly_ned]

[He slows down a little, staring down at the tools in his hands]

Why?

[SPAM]

[neverfeltbetter]

[Ned, s2g just give him the knives. >:[ ]

Because they look cool. Come on, you said you would.

[SPAM]

[deadly_ned]

[A deeply conflicted frown. The Piemaker stares back hollowly at Crichton with his eerie and unnatural pale blue eyes]

I don't think I should.

[SPAM]

[neverfeltbetter]

[Calm. Be calm. He can still do this without a fight. Man are those eyes creepy.]

You said you would let me hold them. It's okay, we are on the way to see Arthas, right? I'll give them back before we get there. He won't have to know.

[SPAM]

[deadly_ned]

Arthas knows everything. He sees you with my eyes right now.

Re: [SPAM]

[neverfeltbetter]

OooOkay.

[That is unexpected and creepy as hell.]

On second thought. Maybe I don't feel like going to talk to him after all.

[SPAM]

[deadly_ned]

[Abruptly, his grip tightens on both weapons]

No. Come with me.

[SPAM]

[darknessb4me]

[Arthas steps out of the empty cabin he's been investigating, cool as you please. His sword has acquired a smear of red since he last encountered Crichton, and he seems to be in no hurry to clean it off.]

Amusing as this is to watch, I think I've run out of patience for it.

Re: [SPAM]

[neverfeltbetter]

[ Well crap! Why is he not surprised?]

Just once, I'd like things to actually go how I planned. Just once.

[SPAM]

[deadly_ned]

[The Piemaker turns to acknowledge Arthas, visibly relieved]

My king.

[Quick as lightening, he drops his weapons to one hand and with the other, goes to grab for Crichton's arm]

[SPAM]

[darknessb4me]

Acolyte.

[Arthas nods, smiles thinly at Ned.]

This one has trouble keeping to himself.

[SPAM]

[neverfeltbetter]

This one hears that a lot.

[He looks down surprised to see Ned's hand on him.]

Ned, man, do not make me hurt you.

[SPAM]

[deadly_ned]

[The Piemaker can only look hollowly back at Crichton, holding him close but not tight enough to hurt]

Don't make me hurt you either.

[SPAM]

[darknessb4me]

Won't be necessary.

[Arthas steps behind Crichton and moves to thrust his sword through the warden's chest.]

[SPAM]

[neverfeltbetter]

[He feels Arthas stepping in behind him, and tries to pull away, to get his hand free of Ned's grip so he can draw his pistol, for whatever good it might do him. It's all too little far too late. The sword sinks into his chest and his whole body goes rigid against it. But it's over almost too soon for the pain to register as more than a look of surprise in those wide blue eyes. One final, sighing breath escapes him and his body crumples to the ground.]

[SPAM]

[deadly_ned]

[As John sinks away from him, the Piemaker lets go of his arm to let him fall to the ground. From there, he looks over the dead man on the floor, and then to Arthas. It's not his place to question his liege, and thus there is no trace of sadness or confusion in his gaze.]

He wasn't ready.

[SPAM]

[darknessb4me]

He was never going to join us, he was trying to get your weapons away from you.

[Arthas casually kicks the body off of his sword.]

[SPAM]

[deadly_ned]

[He nods, kneeling next to Crichton without touching]

Thank you.

HI

[fireincarnate]

[Jean lives in a constant state of awareness. She doesn't pry, but she can always sense the life around her, pressing and pulsing. She can feel the twirling, twisting web of emotions tangling people together.

She could turn it off, if she really wanted, but it leaves her feeling empty, and vulnerable.

You can't be vulnerable, especially not on the Barge.

So she feels it, as she wanders the corridors; John's last agony, last hope, last breath. She knows death intimately, has for years; she knows what it feels like.

In an instant, she transforms. Her clothes shift to green and gold, her hair rises in flickering flames, and her eyes flash white. She's flying through the corridors, racing towards chaos.

She stops feet away from the scene, hovering just above the floor. Her expression is clear: are you fucking serious?]

Wow, that looks necessary. [The wry tone is Jean's, but the resonance, deep and searing, belongs to Phoenix.]

[darknessb4me]

[Arthas looks up at her, fearless and fascinated.]

Necessity is not my law. Not any more.

Sort of Here But Not Really, feel free to skip

[deadly_ned]

[Still kneeling beside Crichton, the Piemaker keeps silent, watching Jean with his eerie neutral gaze. Arthas is in charge; he'll be quiet unless directly addressed]

[fireincarnate]

Clearly. [She glances at Ned. It's clear, painfully, that he's not himself; he's one of Arthas' puppets, now.]

Is that really the only way you can get help? [She wants, desperately, to free him, but she's not sure how this works. One misstep, and she could destroy his mind altogether.]