[ action post to Hojo ]

[tracedmemories]

[ Shelke realizes something is wrong the moment Hojo's brainwaves begin to fluctuate erratically, but the change is so sudden and so drastic that she isn't able to react fast enough. Even as she hits the emergency shutoff switch to begin the shut down sequence, she sees Hojo crumple to his knees, and another moment later she sees the trails of

Comments

Sorry. Tense problems. >.>

[moralmisconduct]

[He is only vaguely aware of his surroundings through the fading haze of pain still gripping his head. Hojo's senses are skewed, body shivering uncontrollably as his consciousness returns.

A hand reaches out and latches on to something immediately within reach - Shelke's collar - drawing it closer to himself.]

They mock me still! I-

[He spits out a mouthful of blood, and the claw on the girl's clothes loosens.]

I...can do this without them...

[tracedmemories]

[ Half exhausted already, Shelke stumbles forward upon Hojo taking grasp of her collar. She watches him, troubled, noting the first signs of delirium. She does not yet know its depth, however, does not know if it can be recovered from. ]

Professor.

[ Her voice is steadier than she expected it to be, and she is thankful for it as she places her hand over his own, trying to free herself from his clutch when his hand loosens. The moment he stops holding fast to her, she too stops trying to escape. Had this been any other time, she might have wondered the broader implications of that, but this was not any other time. So she simply stands there, hand over his, conflicted gaze cast on his stricken form. ]

Professor, can you hear me?

[moralmisconduct]

[Her voice... he is reminded of their first contact after his re-awakening, her tone cold with an undercurrent of emotion detectable perhaps only by himself. Unable to see her, the touch of her flesh on his is...

Familiar.]

Shelke.

[He chokes on the blood still running into his throat, but the pain in his head has all but subsided. The trembling dies down. His hand remains in contact with hers.]

Don't just- Stand there...

[tracedmemories]

[ At the sound of her name spoken on his lips, Shelke loathes to admit it but she does nearly go boneless with relief, breath leaving her in an unsteady sigh before she is able to bite it back. She swallows hard, grip briefly tightening over where his hand is on her and then--

She forces it away from her, stepping back. ]

Understood.

[ She says nothing more, retreating to the bathroom to fetch a damp washcloth. When she returns, she wordlessly kneels next to Hojo, expression unreadable as she begins to wipe away the blood. ]