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

[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!