12 • [voice|action]

[endthem]

[he'd been 'good' long enough, and it's left a bad taste in his mouth. The acid tang of failure and disappointment and restlessness. So... he is hardly surprised when he finds himself snatching mentally at a stray presence on the edge of town and drawing them to him. It was nearly an accident, really. An instinctual reaction. One that he won't be

Comments

[endthem]

[the scene is coming to a close now-- that much is clear. Feeling the presences of Vash and Wolfwood turn in his direction and meet was a disappointing sign... but then they'd stopped. And then, for the past several minutes, he'd been treated to a wonderful and surprising performance. Such a smile it brought to his face...

Bravo!

Ah. And now Wolfwood makes his exit, and Vash turns and heads deeper into the forest]

[to the girl, lightly] Your work here is almost done.

[making sure the journal is open and listening, then, Legato mentally picks up the girl's already-damaged arm and heedlessly yanks it backwards. Harsh and unexpected, to ensure that she won't remain quiet about her situation]

--Getting warmer, Vash.

[seiriald]

[There was no time to even think about stopping it, the shriek escaping her as tears began to leak through. Several more veins were broken this time, if it didn't stop she could bleed out internally. It would take a long time, but agonizing nonetheless.]

Vash...!

[goldenglasses]

[Vash stops as soon as he hears Kaori scream. So, you've decided to stop ignoring him?] Legato! Stop!

[endthem]

[isn't being ignored wonderful? Ah, but he's certainly paying attention now, aren't you glad? He feels with clarity that halt in forward motion after the girl's scream]

Oh, don't stop now, Vash. You're so close.

[twisting the girl's arm until the tension settles at a precise point in the bone of her upper arm, turning with far more strength than she should have been able to elicit from her muscles on her own, holding it right at the limit of that tension. Threatening.]

[seiriald]

[She can't stop screaming, it hurts too much. Her mind recedes further to the frightened child she really is, pondering why Humans were hurting her when Masude had always said they really were kind people. He'd been wrong.

Despite the fact that the tension is at it's limit she begins struggling anew, simply switching to survival mode.]

[goldenglasses]

[That gets Vash running. Damn it, Legato.] Alright, Legato! That's enough! Let her go!

[endthem]

[soon the girl's screams can be heard somewhere through the trees, not only over the journal. There is another urge running through the girl's arm, however-- shoulder dislocating with a muffled pop.]

You're being hasty again, Vash. You're running in blindly. Don't you see?

[seiriald]

[At this point her throat is exhausted from the screaming, the old scars both inside and out beginning to bleed out. So all she can manage is a strangled cry for her now-dislocated shoulder, her mind still registering the flood of pain that will undoubtedly come in a moment or two.]

[goldenglasses]

[Found you at last. Vash approaches.] Yes, I see. You've proved your point Legato, let her go. Please, stop this.

[endthem]

[leaning against the trunk of a fallen tree, the girl laying crumpled and twisted in the snow before him]

Have I?

I am unconvinced.

[watching every detail of Vash's expression carefully, as he lets a little more of his mind slither into the girl's body, working until he could hear--until he could feel with gruesome acuity--the crack of bone. Better talk quickly, Vash.]

[seiriald]

[Another sound manages to escape her following the crack, her throat no longer capable of screaming. Her body begins to shiver uncontrollably, trying to curl into itself to avoid the pain, but her eyes are wide-open and drenched with fear, searching out Vash even though she couldn't see him anyway.]

[goldenglasses]

LEGATO, STOP! STOP THIS NOW! [His arm screams to draw his gun, but he's learned. He knows it's pointless against Legato.] What do you want!?

[endthem]

I want to know that you have been listening.

[he doesn't explain beyond that. He doesn't need to. He heard your conversation with Wolfwood, Vash. He wants to hear what you've learned, how things might have changed, face these things that you have been ignoring. Admit it. Admit something, while he holds this broken bone out of place, keeping little ripples of energy running through the girl at irregular intervals to keep her from losing consciousness]

[seiriald]

[Kaori will just lay in the spot Legato left her, still shivering in pain and seeking out Vash, her eyes pleading for release from the man's control.]

[goldenglasses]

Legato... please. Don't do this. Let her go. She's not part of this. [Can he do it? Can he really deny, Rem? It's not true... so he should just be able to say it. It's just words.

Why can't he do this!?] I'll listen to you, I promise, just please... don't hurt her!

[They're just words. Say them. Say them for Kaori! Yet his throat locks up as he tries.]

[endthem]

So selfish...

[Vash would chose someone who has died long ago over one who is still alive? He supposed he shouldn't be surprised. Pitiful. Slowly, Kaori's entire body is then pulled, crumpled, backwards. Pressing all of those already-sprained joints back into motion, her limbs writhe on their own while Vash refuses to cooperate, preparing to snap and pop like her arm has already done. If Vash won't break, then she will.]