crazed and calm with a sinners psalm

[goryteller]

WHO: Katurian and Ruka / Katurian and Cassie
WHERE: Ruka's place / Cassie's place
WHEN: Late at night, March 15th for Ruka. March 16th for Cassie.
WARNINGS: Discussion of murder, possible threats.
SUMMARY: There are two children that have the potential to ruin Katurian's life.
FORMAT: Quicklog.

[For Ruka, Katurian's visit is heralded by a small, plush lion dropping smoothly, soundlessly on the ground in front of her. The toy is clean. Unsullied.

For Cassie, Katurian appears in front of her bed late, late, late at night with bloodshot eyes and a twitch to his fingers. He doesn't wear his costume, but his body doesn't make any sound in the air, either, as though he is merely a piece of empty space, as though he doesn't belong.

He is Traveling today.]

Comments

[wrong_sometimes]

[She has no idea he's coming. Her powers are completely fritzed out, maybe forever, she doesn't know. It doesn't matter anyway, she's not asleep. It's hard to sleep with the nightmares - Skrulls, explosions and pain, home and this place and Nick and her mother and a thousand horrors just waiting for her to close her eyes.

Not to mention the news. The one with the Pillowman pushing the woman in front of the train. Cassie knows, Cassie remembers,a nd she doesn't know what to do with it.

So she sits, a blank sketchpad at the foot of her bed where Bot sits attentively. Silently.

Still she almost screams. It is rather sudden after all and he does look like hell.]

Christ, Katurian!

[goryteller]

[He puts a finger to his mouth. Shh.]

Quiet voice, Cassie.

[wrong_sometimes]

[She claps her hands over her mouth for a moment. Before whispering in a loud hiss.]

You are so lucky Scatty's not in here tonight! What the hell are you doing?!

[goryteller]

[Katurian closes his eyes, a blink, and then he blinks out of existence, vanishing all at once and then reappearing by the window. He leans backwards, his body making no sound as it presses against the pane.

He gives a sickly snicker, covering his face. God, he's so tired.]

Time travel.

[wrong_sometimes]

I get that.

[God, she is so not in a headspace to deal with the crazy tonight.]

What do you think you're doing?

[goryteller]

I haven't seen you.

[He swallows a laugh, dragging his hand down his face.]

Since you died. I-- wanted to see you.

[wrong_sometimes]

So you pick now? Middle of the night? Couldn't wait until the morning?

[She rubs her eyes and then makes a motion to Bot for the dog to leave the room. Fewer witnesses, and while she's pretty sure the Doctor (who went a left while she was... gone, the jerk), made him tamper- and interrogation- proof, it was best to just reduce the number of people, dogs, involved.]

Or is this about the news tonight?

[goryteller]

A little of both. The two-- the two really go together. I mean, they flow right into each other.

[He breathes, his body calming, relaxing against the window. He waves vaguely at the dog.]

It can't see me.

[wrong_sometimes]

Don't want to take the chance. With the dog. Still don't know all the Doctor programmed him to do.

[Turning her attention back to Katurian, she sat up against her headboard and pulled her knees up under her chin - a familiar pose these days.]

So, I'm asking again, because you still haven't really answered. What are you doing?

[goryteller]

[He moves from the window to the bed, taking a seat on the very edge. The mattress doesn't shift under his weight. The comforter doesn't crumple.]

You know what I did.

[wrong_sometimes]

Fine, can we go with why, then?

[Yeah, that's not creepy at all.]

[goryteller]

[He leans forward.]

Because of what they did to you.

[And then he leans back, his voice quieting.]

Because I'm tired of sitting around while good people get hurt. Because I need to do something. You said it before, about how you wanted me to use my abilities for good, and that's-- and that's what this is, that's what I'm doing. [He places his hands on the comforter and meets her eyes, his own unsteady and tired and not quite right.] You can't tell anyone about this.

[wrong_sometimes]

I meant like going to the police, stopping the crimes before they happen, not... [Whatever it is you're doing.] Why can't you just got to the police, tell them what you know? This isn't good, it's gonna get you hurt or locked up again.

[And she's going to crumble up a little, pull herself into a tighter ball, because that look is freaking her out. Seriously. Freaking. Her. Out.]

I won't I... please don't look at me like that.

[goryteller]

I can't stop the crimes, Cassie. I tried to save Andy and he died. And then you-- died. I can't stop the crimes.

[He stretches out a hand. An offer. His voice breaks.]

Don't run away from me.

[wrong_sometimes]

Then you find the people who can and... or you ask me and I'll help... [She'd found Nick. He helped her beat Division. She could help Katurian if he just...]

I'm not running a-away, I'm just tired of all the k-killing and d-death. [Congrats, Katurian, you've officially made her cry.]

[goryteller]

Shh.

[He inches towards her, reaching to brush the hair out of her face, but then pulls back, remembering that he is not quite tangible.]

Nothing is going to stop the killing and death. Not me. Not anyone ever.

[wrong_sometimes]

Then why are you adding to it? You're a good person, not a m-murderer.

[She's trying to understand, really, but all she sees is death.]

[goryteller]

I've killed since I was your age, Cassie. I do it out of necessity. I do it to balance out something in this fucked up world.

[His words caught in his throat, his muscles fought rigidity.]

I need you to understand that!

[wrong_sometimes]

You c-can't balance murder with murder. That's not...

[She's trying so hard, she's trying to remember Carver, everything he did, but killing him - having him killed - that was an act of self-defense. This... this is something different.]

You're not defending anyone by it, it's just... revenge.

[goryteller]

I'm defending people. I'm letting them know that someone is watching, that-- that someone knows their crimes and is willing to punish them for it, beyond this sloppy legal system, beyond parole and well-timed port-outs. I'm making a difference!

[dragony]

[Minding the clock doesn't mean much when you live alone. Afternoon, night, and morning blend together easily, especially when you're distracted. For Ruka, it's nearly midnight, and she's at the sitting room table, going once more over her charts of pros and cons for this and that school, this and that state.

The room is well-lit, and the house quiet; all the animals are asleep in other parts. She doesn't hear the toy, but she sees motion out the corner of her good eye. Cautious, she sits up, leans over the table, and--

She recognizes that lion.]

[goryteller]

[The next thing is a figure outside her bedroom door. Katurian wears his costume, a clean, gentle white one without a hint of blood on its soft fabric.

He mimes knocking on the door.]

[dragony]

[She hesitates for only a moment before getting up, looping around the table full of scattered papers and improbable futures before scooping up the lion onto one arm. Its legs dangle.

There's no sound in the house, but she recognizes the lion and knows what it means. No fear trembles in her footsteps, her soft weight hidden between socks and carpet.]

[goryteller]

Good evening, Ruka.

[He whispers. Hushed.]

[dragony]

Evening. [Her return greeting is quiet as well, the slightest of bows at her neck. The lion remains secure in her arms, simultaneous anchor and life preserver of soft fur.]

It's been a while, hasn't it?

[goryteller]

[He wavers in the doorway, his limbs unsteady, and takes hold of the wall for support. Then he steps forward.]

I've lied to you.

[dragony]

[She stands her ground, unflinching. Not even her grip on the lion tightens for threat.]

How do you mean?

[goryteller]

I'm an import. I'm not dead.

[The words come out quickly, like ripping off a bandage. He still whispers.]

I'm sorry.

[dragony]

[She turns her head a little, good eye to the fore. The ground wavers beneath her, but it does not shatter. She holds a little tighter to the lion.]

I never thought you were dead.

[Oh, semantics.]

[goryteller]

I'm no spirit. I'm a human, and I'm trying to help the people in this place.

[He softens his voice. It wavers.]

I'm trying to help you.

[dragony]

[Cautiously now, Ruka is the one to take the step forward, watching his mask as though its expression could change. The reveal of the lie hurts -- he's a friend she's known the longest of anyone, anyone in the City -- but she's not so petty as to end everything for that, is she?]

I know. All these years, you've always tried to help me.

[goryteller]

A day away from now, other people are going to know who I am. They're going to see me.

[dragony]

That's... [Somehow, she feels he's not the same as when he visited her that day. When he gave her that list, and told her what he was doing in this time. Her lower lip hides for a moment behind her teeth.] ... That's not a good thing, is it?

[goryteller]

People are going to look for me. I'll be in considerable danger.

[He extends his not-quite transparent hand, his gloved palm upright.]

I can still die, and I can still end up captured. Whatever happens, I want you to know that I'm on your side.

[dragony]

[The lion remains steady on her one arm, and with the other Ruka reaches over that short distance. She places her much smaller hand in his, glove against glove. A dark bloody red resting on cotton white. She tries to hold his hand, as if that could offer some comfort.

Like he's done for her, all these years.]

Is there anything I can do? To help? I don't want anything to happen to you.

[goryteller]

[That moment of comfort is almost too much. He doesn't know why it hits him so hard, but suddenly he's ducking his head, fighting the breath in his throat. Fighting tears.

Isn't this good? Isn't this how his life is supposed to be?]

No. [His voice is collected enough. Still a whisper.] Don't put yourself in danger. Stay careful. Just stay careful.

[dragony]

[Part of her flinches at that. He told her who was dangerous. He warned her, warned her right before that time, and had she listened? Look at her now, disfigured and alone, look at the people she still surrounds herself with. Would she listen now?

Her head bowed.]

There's some dangers I can't avoid. [She is who she is.] But I'll try.

[goryteller]

I know.

[He nods his head, his face bowed as well, his eyes focused on the smooth white fabric of his pants. No stains. No blood. The shoes he wears today have no smiling faces on their treads.]

There are some dangers none of us can avoid. But I ask you, please, I ask you not to-- not to do anything for my sake.

[dragony]

... Alright.

[Her fingers twitch and tremble, though the rest of her remains steady. The words feel heavy in her mouth, and she doesn't look up. Not yet.]

I suppose... I should know who you are, shouldn't I? Your human face.

[goryteller]

[The words catch him off the guard. His hand tenses in her's.]

Now isn't the time. Ruka.

[dragony]

[She looks up, staring steadily towards his pillow face, where she assumes his eyes would be hidden.]

You can't expect me to keep a promise like that, if I don't know who it is I'm not supposed to help.

[goryteller]

Isn't it enough to know that I'm doing the right thing? That I'm helping people?

[dragony]

... What are you frightened of?

[goryteller]

[He swallows hard.]

I could be killed. If my identity is revealed. I could be killed or locked up for a very long time.

[dragony]

[She squeezes his hand. She's being the steady one here.]

And you think someone would... think I would know? You know I wouldn't tell anyone. You're my friend.