altimit | August Catch All

[Killing him will probably lead to my death.

Those words pull Sinclair up short. He had...guessed, maybe. Tried to prepare himself for it. But it's one thing to know that maybe, this is a suicidal task, it's another thing to know Mithrun was throwing himself in it without a second glance back]

...I mind.

[He's trembling again, but this time with anger. His eyes might be hot with tears again, but they're angry tears this time]

How does that make me any better than her if I just used you--and then let you die. Like that. In a roundabout way, doesn't that mean he wins too?

( Ah. It's the remark about the professor that shakes him to his senses some, and it's enough to process the words that came before. It's enough to remind him faintly, seeing Sinclair shake with anger and tears - that he said he'd try to take care of himself.

He didn't really know why he said that then - agreeing to what Sinclair said about trying to take care of himself for other people. He didn't really want to. He guesses it just - he doesn't know. He isn't sure. But Sinclair's anger now reminds him a little of Yael's anger, too.

"I mind." Mithrun considers, if only for a moment, that he doesn't really think much about others, does he, or what they want.

He's quiet. )

... After you kill her...

( He says it, like it'll be a definitive thing. )

... What do you want to do?

( He can't imagine a life after killing him. But Sinclair sees something for himself. And maybe he's upset because he sees something for Mithrun, too. )

Edited 2023-08-20 11:35 (UTC)

[He exhales softly. If it's a definite thing...maybe]

I'm not sure yet. But...I think I'd like to see the world. Travel. [Most of his family's money was tied up in other things, things he never wanted to touch. But a portion of that was entirely his. It'd be enough] I probably wont be allowed, of course. But...that's what I want.

[He's been living in a cage of everyone else's making for so long. Is it a bad thing to want to unlock that?]

Maybe I'll write something. I've always liked reading.

( if limbus company isn't giving sinclair vacation days.......

Mithrun listens. Those are such mundane things. They're so quiet and uneventful compared to some of the hell they've been through he'd never once pictured doing them, not in a million years.

He casts a gaze toward a distant windmill, overgrown with vines. )

... What do you like to read?

Edited 2023-08-20 11:50 (UTC)

[what vacation days this is Capitalism Baby]

Fantasy novels, mostly. [That's always been a childhood favourite of his, something to cling to when times got dark] Rereading the novels I grew up with like Siddhartha and...

[The latter all in German of course. Sinclair couldn't imagine reading it any other way. He studies the distant windmill with Mithrun. If Mithrun lets him, he'll go through his list, trying to pick out anything that might interest him too]

( Mithrun will let him. He'll respond, too, to whatever Sinclair picks out for him - he lacks the desire to read them. But, if presented, but Sinclair is persistent enough he produces results. A little more persistence and he can even get Mithrun to say he can try to read them.

At the tailend of that, he has a recommendation of his own: )

... Have you ever read Flowers for Algernon?

( A famous science fiction book about an experiment that massively increased the intelligence of a mouse, named Algernon. They try the same thing on a human with low intelligence, and he becomes a super genius - but Algernon's intellect then wanes, and so does the man's. Algernon dies, but the man is subject to pity and derision from his peers, who never respected him, but now they see how he is haunted by his loss, knowing acutely what it was to have and now knowing what it is to be without, and find him even sorrier than before. At the end of the story, the man "goes away," asking that someone leave flowers for Algernon in his stead.

It might be apparent, if Sinclair's read it, which part of the story Mithrun identifies with - the feeling of loss, the consequent isolation from peers; and, maybe, the need to leave. It might thus be apparent why maybe Sinclair's recs might be better for him because he only ruminates on the gravest of subjects all the time in his head, jeez. )

It's different than some of the stories you've recommended. It's also in English. Though, I guess it's been awhile since I practiced any other languages...

[One story will probably stick out to Mithrun from the list La Petite Prince. It's one of the few in English, because Sinclair never learned more than the basics of French and then promptly forgotten it. But it's clear what resonates with Sinclair: a young boy standing side by side with a pilot, dreaming of a bigger world than the one they lived in.

All of Sinclair's favourites are filled with hope. A general sense of warmth, love for humanity, the desire for people to do better. Even after everything, it sparked.

He nods]

...most of mine are too. 'Flowers for Algernon'? I'll have to read it and tell you what I think.

( Warmth... Mithrun may need some of that serotonin, so Sinclair's rec list may do him some good. He does recognize that book, though; he read it, a long time ago. He thinks he sees the connection.

What's interesting about Sinclair is that he does radiate a desire to hope. Mithrun's disposition is due to his condition, but he doesn't think he'd be so oriented toward love even if he hadn't gotten his injury - he can only see himself as someone who would've come out even more bitter and violent than before.

He nods. Feel free to let him know. )

... I think you should write that story.

( Sinclair's clearly very passionate about reading. He wouldn't write a bad one, probably. )

[Sinclair startles, eyes wide. Then his gaze softens again, and he looks away. Mithrun was carrying so much he couldn't understand.

Yet, he was here, helping Sinclair in his own way.]

...thank you. I'll try.

[He nods, and then turns to the first set of monsters crawling out from the windmill.

If Kromer didn't -----

If he didn't lose himself trying to -----

Maybe if his work didn't eat him alive.

Maybe he can write something that's a little happier than what they have now]

( It's Cadet Valkyries that dive out from the windmill toward them, inexperienced but earnest in their task, their speed brutally quick. They come down with their spears, their battle cries fierce - but their attack patterns relatively straight forward.

Mithrun is calm. Once Sinclair dives in first (being that they're here for him, and being that Mithrun distantly remembers that Sinclair wants to tank the damage), he'll jump up off a boulder and follow up Sinclair's opening with Koranshuu - a broad, relentless sweep of his sword, slicing through as many Cadets as he can manage. )

[It's in Sinclair's nature to hold back. It's his role - play defense, draw the aggression so other people could increase their own damage.

Not this time.

The Cadet Valkyries spark something in him and it's only after Mithrun sweeps through many of them, Sinclair charges in, driving his spear viciously through a Cadet Valkyrie too slow to move out of the way. There's anger in his movements, wrath unchecked

It doesn't feel good.

But it does feel a little bit better]

( Mithrun fights solo, relentlessly, flowing into his combos without much particular care. For once, though, he keeps an eye out for Sinclair as he fights, the wrath in him a near-radiating heat - just to make sure Sinclair doesn't get overwhelmed by enemies in the blind spot of his anger.

Just as the number of Cadet Harpies starts to thin, though, from the forest encroaching from behind the windmill shoots out some dozen black blurs - Wood Harpies come together, a second wave before the first had even done. They descend upon the two of them while they're working at the weaker forerunners, swooping down with fierce claws and high-pitched laughter. Mithrun narrows his eyes, and combos into a Koranshuu again - but it's his only AoE, and he can only use it so many times off CD between his ST attacks. )

Tch.

[It's probably the first time Sinclair has made an annoyed noise like that in battle, or even ever. He charges in without question, shielding Mithrun, barely using his actual attacks as he slashes and pierces at his targets, uncaring of the damage clocking up.

When he has one down far enough he slides into a Thorn Dance, driving his lance through a wood harpy without question]

( Mithrun doesn't miss the annoyed sound, though he near mistakes it for a Valkyrie Cadet at first - regardless, this is what Sinclair's here for? To expel that aggression and rage - or, at least, vent it, even if it doesn't leave his body in the end. An anger like that can be an endless well. Mithrun doesn't think he'd be out of murderous intent so easy, either.

He focuses on slinking through his combos, beating back the remaining Cadets and slicing them cleanly in two, pushing into the lines and falling back behind Sinclair when the onslaught gets a little too fierce.

Mithrun fights a little more mindfully. He's not taking damage with a calculated mindset, knowing he can just rely on potions and healing ticks to fix him up later - he's trying to no-hit this entirely. When a Wood Harpy comes in at Sinclair from behind, though, Mithrun is quick to skewer it with his claymore, the blade falling just short of Sinclair's back.

Instead of flowing into his next combo, though, he grabs Sinclair by the back of his neck and yanks him back, tossing him to the ground behind with a number of of potions. His message better be clear: Mithrun's not going to tell him not to fight that way (he is, after all, the one who invited him to do so), but don't die in the middle.

Sinclair better drink quick, because Mithrun's holding aggro until Sinclair's back on his feet. )

[Sinclair yelps and goes tumbling back onto other ground and only just catches the potion. It's enough to snap him out of it as he looks at his own HP bar.

Oh. He had been reckless...

Even after he had gotten upset at Mithrun for the same thing]

...thank you.

[He'll down two potions quickly and leap back into the fray, charging in to redirect an attack from a Woody Harpy from Mithrun, still striking with anger--but a little more focused this time. Less wild]

( Mithrun's not looking too hot by the time Sinclair assesses his HP bar, but he's managing - taking down a good number of mobs in the attempt (while taking that much and more damage to himself) - and he does not miss that thanks. He got it, at least.

He falls back when Sinclair leaps back in, destroying the Harpy who'd just been harrying him. He takes a potion in one hand himself, a little more conservative with their use (he's still not so good with taking care of himself, after all), before mopping up the mobs out of Sinclair's range of view from behind - so he can just focus on venting (without death).

It might just be a game, but death is death. Mithrun knows how it feels.

With Sinclair's focused rage and Mithrun's single-minded determination to kill anything that might distract Sinclair from that end, it won't take them much longer to clear out the mobs, leaving nothing but digital bodies dissolving into pixels in their wake.

And also, presents! Weird. Monsters don't usually drop gift boxes wrapped with nice little bows when they die.

Mithrun squints at them, clearly recognizing them, but they seem to sit still for the moment. He looks to Sinclair instead. )

... Need another potion?

( In some way asking "How are you feeling?" but a bit more tangible. Mithrun probably looks pretty cut up himself, but at least not in critical condition. )

Edited 2023-08-21 10:59 (UTC)

[It might just be a game. But Sinclair's pain sensors have been turned back up, and each wound makes him grit his teeth--but he uses that as a focus, hone his anger into a keener edge. By the time the last harpy falls, his breathing is ragged, and his fury has abated. But he's learned how to recognise the tides of it, the simmering beneath the surface, so easily roused once sparked again.

And he knows better than to draw other people into his anger, and hurt them instead of its target.

There's only one person he wants to really hurt after all.

He glances over at Mithrun uncertainly...and then nods, reaching for the potion. It's strange, how he's beginning to recognise the odd little ways Mithrun shows his version of care]

I think so. [He glances at the Deadly presents and frowns] Those tend to explode when they die, don't they?

( Potion get! Mithrun drinks one of his own, letting the weird sensation of wounds healing overtake him.

He glances back at the presents. )

More or less. But I don't think they're very strong.

( Just. Ow. )

[ Ow indeed. Unlike the valkyries and harpies, there's no real satisfaction in fighting deadly presents but]

No. It's a little funny...that these come after the others
[ What if they knock one exploding present into the pile? They'll just...set off a chain reaction wont they?]

I guess they're meant to be rewards.

( That kill you. Mithrun understands ludonarrative irony. )

... Since they're inert right now, we could probably kill them unconventially.

( So why Not knock one into a pile from afar and watch them all go off like a domino of landmines? Neither of them are ranged, so it's that or just eat the pain as they work through them normally. )

Mm. I rather we don't lose any more HP.

[Giving a present a good ol' smack with his lance, sending it rolling into the pile]

( It tumbles into the other presents, in the process its lid coming off... setting off an explosion, knocking off the other lids and setting off an explosion for Those, the blaze great and powerful and exactly like a Michael Bay movie.

It also catches up the windmill and the plains and some portion of the in the blaze, this place being exceptionally flammable and all.

Mithrun looks on at the domino booms and the great and spreading fire. )

... Do you want to kill things in another Area?

( Or just enjoy the flight. Up to u. This is a vibe check. )

Edited 2023-08-22 03:59 (UTC)

[Staring. Um. UMMMMMMMM

What have they done?]

I think...lets leave it for now. Flying might be more relaxing.

[Blinking]

( Despite everything, Mithrun is unperturbed. He nods. )

All right. See you in town.

( And, leaving the Area a little more on fire than they found it, Mithrun exits the instance with Sinclair. Victory! )

Edited (apparently i didn't link the ooc area exploration thread anywhere in this thread so adding that in) 2023-08-22 04:51 (UTC)

[VICTORY...

Now to keep Mithrun away from walls]

(no subject)

tablescraps - 2023-08-22 05:18 (UTC) - Expand