paradisa | Number 4. [ Dictated ]

Entry tags:

!plot: samkranti,
5

Number 4. [ Dictated ]

[When he awakens in the morning, he doesn't feel anything out of the ordinary. It is only when he passes by the pointed shard of mirror he'd propped up against the wall beside his bed that he freezes, mortified, raising a hand to the burn that has spread across his eyepatch. He remembers exactly where that mark came from. How could he ever forget? But it wasn't supposed to be there anymore, it had been gone when he awoke in this place...]

[He moves to pick up his journal, speaking tentatively into a blank page, his voice strained. He just has to get it fixed, that's all. That's all. He'll make it go away.]

Is anyone here good at sewing? I need a favor.

[He's shaking as he sets it down again. There's a mark on his back, but he doesn't see it; he's too busy burying his head in his hands.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Five...? Wh-what's happened? [his voice sounds strained and weary]

[He doesn't want to talk about this. He doesn't want to, but he has to; he can't put on a new patch by himself. His voice sounds similarly hollow, full of tremors.]

I... have a burn on my face. I-I need to get my eyepatch replaced with a new one, I don't know how it got there, it...

I need to get it fixed.

I... I don't think it's... something you can fix, man. Th-the castle... is doing... something.

[Percy is really struggling to talk. It's like something heavy is pressing down on him or something]

What? No, y-you're wrong... of course it can be fixed! I-I can just take it off and put on a new one. It'll be gone! Heh...

[Lost in his own despair, it takes him a moment to acknowledge the similar misery in Percy's voice.]

Are... you okay?

Th-the beads around... my neck. They're really... heavy. And the burns... on my arms... hurt.

You have burns too? I--

I d-don't remember this happening, it wasn't there yesterday. I don't know what to do... i-it's supposed to be gone!

Percy... is it the same? For you...?

I... think so. The castle's... doing it. I... I know that much.

If it's hurting you...

[He takes in a deep breath. His mark, at least, isn't physically painful-- and it upsets him, to hear that his friend has to endure that. He was always been the one to heal the wounds of his companions in the past, and he can't help but be compelled to do that now.]

I want to help. I d-don't know if I can, but there has to be some way to make it stop. Right...?

It's... it's okaay, man. I'll j-just wait it out.

No, that--

[He can't stand to hear Percy like this; his own voice becomes more choked just from listening to it.]

That's not okay! I-I won't leave you to suffer alone! You're my friend...

[There's the sound of shuffling as 5 tucks the journal under his arm and bolts out the door, even though his legs don't really want to let him move. There has to be something he can do...!]

F-five? [what even. But something 5 said sparks a thought]

...Violet.

[5 is on his way up to Percy's room, though he can't exactly get there very fast. For once, he's not going to be a coward and let somebody else fix things. This is someone he really cares about, and he's in pain; that's all that matters to him right now.]

I-- I'm coming to your room, all right? I-I've been learning a little bit of human medicine, maybe I can do something...

[He pauses at the sound of that name, confused.]

Violet...? What-- what about her?

I... I have to... find her. I... I'll be okay, it's h-her I'm worried about.

Are you sure? You said you're in pain, Percy, and--

[He hesitates, slowing his pace to more of a downtrodden walk. He still hasn't met Violet, and likely couldn't help by going to find her... but Percy sounds more nervous than ever, and 5 bites his lip as he stares down at the journal. 5 is worried, but he trusts him.]

O-okay. I'll be here, if you need help.

[this is where Percy's fatal flaw comes into play. He ignores his own suffering and focuses on those he cares about]

I kn-know. Thanks.... Five.

It'll have to wait a few days at least, but I may be able to take a look at that.

[Yeah he doesn't want to be seen right now.]

A few days? N-no, that's too long, I can't--

[He has to calm himself for a second, slowing his words to a more measured pace.]

I...

I need it fixed sooner than that. But thanks...

...Where are you?

In my room. B-but you said...

[He stops, shaking his head. If Blues is going to help, then he absolutely won't ask questions.]

I'm aware of what I said. Do you have the material to replace it?

Ah-- yes, I have everything! Thank you-- t-thank you--

[He gathers up a sturdy, clean needle, some good thread, and a small patch of leather, then moves to wait by the door of his room.]

[It isn't long before 5 hears a single knock on his door. Blues lets himself in after the knock as he knows he's expected. The young robot is covered in blue and cyan graffiti. The words "Son of Light" are the most noticeable on his back, along with "I was a fool," ""Broken and Forgotten," "Ran Away," "Replaced," "My Name is Blues" in other places.]

[He pries open the door a crack, stepping out into the hall with his arms full of supplies once a glance affirms that it's definitely the person he was looking for. His one eye, however, widens in shock at the writing on Blues' body-- but 5 doesn't comment, turning his head almost guiltily for a second before shaking it off and handing the materials up to him.]

H-here, it's--

[Uncomfortably, he points to the scald mark covering almost the whole of his eyepatch.]

This. Can you t-take it off, and put a new one on? Please.

[It hurts-- not physically, but emotionally, to think about how he got the burn in the first place, and he starts shaking again. As he turns over the needle and cloth, he bows his head as if in apology, and it's vaguely possible to see that the number 5 on his back is overlapped with what looks to be a different number, crossed out.]

[He'll kneel down to take a hold of the the supplies 5 had gathered up, before lean in to get a better look at that the patch. Since 5 didn't mention anything about the markings on Blues, he'd respect that and not ask about the mark on his back.]

It shouldn't be a problem. Hold still.

[Time to get to work on taking that off.]

[It's easy enough to assume that Blues wouldn't want to talk about something like that; he's curious, but it would only make things awkward and difficult right now. He draws in a deep, tense breath, nodding briefly before sitting as still as he can. The stitching keeping the patch attached to the rest of his body is fairly tight, but can be pried off with a bit of effort to reveal the tiny mechanical skeleton of sorts underneath. 5 doesn't display any pain as a piece of what is essentially his skin is removed; he just seems very anxious and uncomfortable. He wants to get this over with as soon as possible, so that he won't be forced to think about what happened that day...]

[It doesn't take him long to carefully peel the original patch off. He's a little surprised to see the mechanical skeleton beneath it. Mainly because he hadn't seen the inside of another machine before, but it certainly doesn't seem to far from what he is beneath his shell. He's careful as he works slowly starting to sew the new one in place.]

[5 tries desperately not to fidget during the 'operation' of sorts; he's nervous to have this done no matter who's the one manipulating the needle. But he manages to keep himself composed enough, clutching his hands together tightly until the moment the last stitch is sewn.

When it is, however, there is a low sizzling sound, smoke rising from the exact same spot on the new patch as the burn reaffirms itself. 5 lurches back, nearly tripping over himself as he raises his hands to claw at the mark.]

Agh-- what?! No, w-what's going on?! It can't-- no-- that's not fair, n-no, no, go away!!

[He's clearly directing those words to the burn itself as if it somehow has a mind of its own, not to Blues; on the contrary, he'd probably be thanking him right now if he wasn't busy panicking.]

[Blues just watched for the moment. He imagined this is what would happen if he tried to sand the graffiti off or paint over it. He knows 5 isn't lashing out at him, dealing with past wounds is something he's a bit accustomed to by now.]

Relax. It appears we're stuck like this for now.

[After a few moments of futilely trying to rub the burn away, 5 sighs, letting his arms slump back to his sides. Blues' words are enough to make him turn his head, his pained expression wavering. He wasn't alone in suffering these marks; Blues had them too, and he'd seen many on the journals claiming the same.]

Will it ever go away? I-- I don't want it to stay this way, I don't want to... remember that.

[He hesitates for a moment before speaking again.]

It just appeared on you, too, didn't it? Out of nowhere...

Not sure. If it's anything like the other things. It should only be temporary.

[He nods slowly at that last comment.]

Yeah. Happened to me too.

I hope you're right. I really... really hope you're right. Thank you for trying to help. And...

[He turns away.]

I'm sorry. I-I don't know what brought yours about, and I won't ask, but... I'm sorry.

[He glances down at all the graffiti. He didn't have to explain it, the messages on it were clear.]

...It's a little self explanatory. Don't worry about it, just something I have to deal with it.

Edited 2013-04-16 03:36 (UTC)

Well... y-yeah, but I didn't think you'd want to talk about something like that.

[He shifts awkwardly in place; he probably shouldn't have mentioned anything to begin with, and now he feels kind of bad that he did. He's not quite sure how to cope with it, really.]

Um, I-- maybe I should just... g-go back to my room now...

[He doesn't want really want to talk about it, it's a hard thing to avoid though when it's written all over you.]

If you want to.

...By the way despite what all this might say. My names Break.

Oh! I can't believe I never even asked... I've seen you a lot, but I must have forgotten, somehow...

[His voice trails off; 5 feels a bit ashamed at the realization that he's never asked his name, despite how many times they've met. He tries to manage a smile regardless, though.]

Thanks again for your help... Break.

Don't worry about it. Just as you never asked, I never introduced myself.

I can sew ... what do you need?

[This isn't someone he's spoken to before, but right now he can't afford to be nervous about that. He'll take any help he can get, and so he tries to keep his voice steady.]

My eyepatch is burned... I need someone who can t-take it off and put on a new one, as soon as possible. If you think you could do that, really soon, I'd be grateful.

Oh, that does sound horribly uncomfortable. Where are you?

I'm on the sixth floor, room 616. U-um, you might not need to come after all, though. One of my friends just showed up to help. But...

[His tone seems to grow a bit calmer.]

I really appreciate your kindness. I've never even met you, and you're still offering to do this... so thank you.

If my friend can't do it for some reason, o-or something goes... wrong... I may still need you to come over. I hope it doesn't...

I try to volunteer my help whenever it is needed, and whenever I can be of reasonable use. Think nothing of it.

I do hope that your friend is able to satisfactorily stitch a solution to your situation, but should you need me, simply say so.

I will. I definitely will.

If I can ask-- what's your name? I don't want to forget your offer.

You certainly may, sir. My name is Lemony Snicket, and circumstances notwithstanding, it is a pleasure to meet you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Number 4. [ Dictated ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject