You Wouldn't Pirate Ululox. Knolane. This is stupid.

Oct 05 17:24:30 <Knox> Knox has been conscious for... how long now? He'd lost track of the time. Unusual for him, when he was a stickler for keeping himself disciplined enough to eat and train at certain times. He's been staring at the ceiling sort of absently, as in a daze. Or maybe as if he were trying to burn a hole in it with his eyes.
Oct 05 17:27:10 <Ululane> There's a knock at the door: certainly a rhythm to it, but not any common one. If it's one of those glass doors you can see through, Knox would notice crazytits is still hiding her true colors.
Oct 05 17:27:36 <Knox> "Come in." he says a bit hollowly, not even looking at the door.
Oct 05 17:28:24 <Knox> As Lulu comes in, she'd notice Knox staring absently up at the ceiling, and that his right hand is gripping the metal railing of his bed rather tightly.
Oct 05 17:29:44 <Ululane> The door quietly opens and closes. She takes a few steps closer to the bed. "Are you expecting company from above?" ...she grimaces a bit, realizing she just suggested a visit of someone in the afterlife.
Oct 05 17:31:09 <Knox> "..." He just tilts his head at her and stares a moment. "...maybe." he finally says, rather weakly.
Oct 05 17:31:17 <Knox> "...He's dead, isn't he?"
Oct 05 17:31:56 <Knox> He knows what he thought he saw in that scant moment of lucidity but... he has to make sure.
Oct 05 17:33:47 <Ululane> "The man we saw is most certainly dead. As per whether he was the same man you sought...well I wish I were one of the more useful sort of psychics to have even a hint of whether that is or is not the case." There's a rather uncommon directness, both in speech and mannerism, not normally present in Melanie.
Oct 05 17:35:58 <Knox> "He... didn't look exactly the same. Couldn't see his eyes... his hair was brown instead of red, and I couldn't really tell from his voice... but... the way he fought..." he says quietly. "It's hard to forget someone you've sparred with that many times. And in the end, he seemed to recognize Selene's name..."
Oct 05 17:36:30 <Knox> "Even if he wasn't August, he could easily have been. And... I can't just pretend that it wasn't until we know for sure."
Oct 05 17:37:27 <Knox> He takes a deep breath and leans his head back into his pillow, letting go of the railing. Mel would see that it's been eaten into, leaving corroded metal and gaps where his fingers were.
Oct 05 17:39:27 <Knox> "Sometimes... we just gotta face reality, right?" Tears are starting to leak out of his eyes and running down his face. "...It was stupid to get my hopes up again after all this time... of course it couldn't go back to old times..."
Oct 05 17:39:40 <Knox> It's a disturbingly unknox-like behavior.
Oct 05 17:40:40 <Ululane> "As one who has heard the tales and exploits of their alternate selves...it is hard to know if it was your ally or another shade of him. If your friend is particularly interesting, and as you claim the people you surround yourself with always are, perhaps it was more an echo than a shade. But you have already burried him once before in your mind...unless we learn otherwise...I imagine it is easier to believe him to have already
Oct 05 17:40:40 <Ululane>  been dead and this some disturbed copy."
Oct 05 17:41:08 <Ululane> She's disturbingly serene about the whole bit.
Oct 05 17:42:24 <Knox> He gives her another confused look, not really sure why she's going with the whole Ululane bit at the moment, but he grunts. "...I don't know. Somehow it hurts more a second time... especially after seeing it happen right in front of me, and there being jack shit I could do about it. ...Someone very close to me called me her hero, once. ...But wouldn't a hero have been able to save
Oct 05 17:42:24 <Knox> him?"
Oct 05 17:43:04 <Ululane> "Even tragedies must have their heroes, and likewise heroes must have their tragedies."
Oct 05 17:44:58 <Knox> "...what bullshit." he sighs, a bit sadly. Not really at Lulu but more at the entire situation. He takes in a few more breaths, before speaking again. "I've been turning it over in my head who he might could be... a clone, an alternate dimensional version of him, some random dude who was getting combat data fed into him from the real August through that visor, but... Fuck, I don't know.
Oct 05 17:45:00 <Knox> Selene's bond seemed to resonate with that guy specifically. ...shit, Selene... She probably felt that happen from across town..."
Oct 05 17:47:39 <Ululane> "The only alternative explanations I could conceive for the link are that either we had just missed the real one or the way in which a clone could have been informed imprinted some of that same link, and the real man is...elsewhere or long dead. But nowing know the enemy we deal with...it is best to have the most devestating expectations. Have you already forgotten the girl you saved from what was more than likely a similar fat
Oct 05 17:47:39 <Ululane> e?"
Oct 05 17:48:10 <Ululane> (Goddamnit, *knowing now)
Oct 05 17:51:47 <Knox> "...Robin's going to be torn, too. I think she might have been as close to August as me, too. But... Shade, echo, clone, whatever the hell he was... all I know is that I feel like I've lost my best friend for the second time. ...yeah, me and him rarely got along, always butted heads, but... at times I felt like we understood each other. Hell, it was more than friends... more like...
Oct 05 17:51:48 <Knox> brothers, even. Brothers among brothers, that whole crew was my family. ...I guess it can be comforting to try and think of it in a way that doesn't hurt until we know for sure, but... it's hard. As tough a bastard as I've been my whole life, this is something I can't shrug off easily..."
Oct 05 17:52:02 <Knox> "But..."
Oct 05 17:52:12 <Knox> He wipes his eyes and struggles to sit up a moment.
Oct 05 17:53:01 <Knox> "This isn't a time to feel sorry for myself. This is a time to channel all that pain I've been holding into a venom so potent that Aether's not going to know what the fuck hit them."
Oct 05 17:53:30 <Ululane> "...I did secure that scientist, by the way."
Oct 05 17:54:07 <Knox> He looks over at her and nods, a rather scary look on his face for a moment. "Thanks. When I'm out of here, nothing gets between him and me."
Oct 05 17:56:15 <Knox> "You must think I'm pathetic, bawling like this." he looks down at the floor and brooding.
Oct 05 17:57:59 <Ululane> She eyes him a second, carefully studying his eyes, something Melanie would generally sooner die than do. "...I will step in if your...zeal threatens to cut the interrogation short. But once we've bled him dry..." She taps her temple, "...I will let you bleed him dry." She draws a finger across her neck. The last remark prompts...a giggle. "I would wonder if you thought Melanie was equally pathetic."
Oct 05 18:01:43 <Knox> "...you have a good point." he lays back again. "I don't. In fact, I was always bitching about how yo...she?" he gives her a weird look, he's not really sure how to talk about this but given it's a public place he plays along. "...was too hard on herself. And here I am, doing the same thing to myself. ...As for the scientist. I don't deny it. Ever fiber of my being wants to rip him limb
Oct 05 18:01:43 <Knox> from limb. But I have a feeling he might be more useful to Lecia alive. ...it fucking sucks to be responsible. It's unsatisfying as hell."
Oct 05 18:02:08 <Knox> "Still... I know interrogation techniques that should clear my stress up a bit."
Oct 05 18:04:25 <Knox> "That's one of my specialties, you know. Making them squeal. Jasmine always encouraged me to be a bit gentler but she couldn't deny I got results."
Oct 05 18:07:18 <Ululane> "Then you will be pleased to know I left him with a nightmare that should leave him soiled and sniffling by the time we are ready to address him. However...I do not believe it prudent to leave him alive. The crew has done it once before...a man destined to death anyways and actively trying to help in the end...but what does it say if we leave another alive, especially after the blow they dealt us? I suspect they have eyes on us
Oct 05 18:07:18 <Ululane> ...at least while we are in public here. Leaving him alive gives them the opportunity to best us once more by killing him in brief moments of vulnerability. I find it unlikely he has any information for us that will prove it wise to spare him. But if we announce his death or carry it out somewhere visible...we at least give the shadows the middle finger."
Oct 05 18:08:12 <Knox> "It's pretty goddamn tempting, that's for sure."
Oct 05 18:08:38 <Ululane> "Perhaps one of Melanie's books may even allow us to make use of the corpse..."
Oct 05 18:10:52 <Knox> It really does seem to be tempting him. There's a bit of a wicked look in his eye.
Oct 05 18:11:15 <Knox> "We'll see. ...anyway. You came by..."
Oct 05 18:11:25 <Knox> "Was it just to check on me?"
Oct 05 18:16:49 <Ululane> "I was curious as to whether the food here is better than what is on the ship or not." She teases, before her mood drops back down. "...it has been...quiet. Two of you in here...Sir Frazier tending to his fox...I have not spoken to the child yet...presumably she has heard from the rest of the crew. I feel we should speak with her parents again...they need to know the true dangers. Mirai is..." She hesitates, looking away briefl
Oct 05 18:16:49 <Ululane> y as Melanie would. "Is there anything you would like me to do for you while you are in here?"
Oct 05 18:17:53 * Mayuri (mayu@sux-DCC9351A.lightspeed.rcsntx.sbcglobal.net) has joined
Oct 05 18:21:52 <Knox> "I don't even know what Mirai's deal is." he mutters. "But it can wait a bit, I think. ...Let's see. As far as entertainment goes, TV sucks shit, drugs and alcohol wouldn't work even if you could smuggle them in... As far as base pleasures, all I have left is sex, eating, and beating the shit out of things." he says dryly. "The first is out of the question, the food here is balls, and
Oct 05 18:21:52 <Knox> my sadistic leanings will have to wait until I'm out. So... yeah, I dunno. Just talking with you is helping a lot."
Oct 05 18:22:37 <Ululane> "'Out of the question,' is it?"
Oct 05 18:23:09 <Knox> "I was thinking of asking Melanie for some help regarding teaching some of my pokemon things, but I don't think they're ready. And-" he pauses and just looks at her.
Oct 05 18:23:35 <Ululane> 5d6+4 Pokerface, come at me fellow shitintuitioner
Oct 05 18:23:35 <DiceMaid-9001> Ululane, Pokerface, come at me fellow shitintuitioner: 16 [5d6=2,2,1,2,5]
Oct 05 18:23:52 <Knox> 1d6+1+1
Oct 05 18:23:53 <DiceMaid-9001> Knox, 1d6+1+1: 3 [1d6=1]
Oct 05 18:24:35 <Knox> He snrks. "Well, maybe some fun with the beautiful and mysterious Ululane would be fine but I don't really think I'm in the condition anyway."
Oct 05 18:25:13 <Knox> He gestures down to his rather extensive injuries.
Oct 05 18:26:54 <Knox> It's hard to tell if he's joking or not.
Oct 05 18:27:12 <Knox> Not an opposed roll but you can go for intuition if you like.
Oct 05 18:27:23 <Ululane> "Ah, I was wondering if you meant the tears, but perhaps you are not aware of how much of a turn on they are."
Oct 05 18:27:51 <Ululane> 1d6-2+1 YOUR GUILE AIN'T GOT SHIT O- on second thought we could just repeat this forever
Oct 05 18:27:53 <DiceMaid-9001> Ululane, YOUR GUILE AIN'T GOT SHIT O- on second thought we could just repeat this forever: 5 [1d6=6]
Oct 05 18:28:50 <Knox> Like I said, he's not actually trying to hide it. With a max roll... Mel can MAYBE intuit that Knox still isn't sure how much difference she's placing between herself and her Ululane persona but maybe not.
Oct 05 18:29:42 <Knox> Either way, he laughs at that. "Oh, do you get off on pain, too? Or maybe you have a weakness for guys showing their soft spots." he teases.
Oct 05 18:31:25 <Ululane> No smile. "I am being sincere. The offer is on the table if you would like. I heard you have magic fingers...although she never had a chance to reciprocate."
Oct 05 18:36:59 <Knox> "Alright, sorry. I wasn't trying to say you weren't sincere. ...honestly, yeah, I would appreciate that if you want. Lock the door, though?"
Oct 05 18:38:48 <Knox> It's rare for Knox to be a bit flustered on this kind of topic, but there he is.
Oct 05 18:39:47 <Ululane> Do hospital room doors even have locks? If not...well she can probably prop a chair or something against it. Otherwise, lock initiated, engaging bowchickawowow brief fade out?
Oct 05 18:40:24 <Knox> Brief fade out indeed.
Oct 05 18:43:12 <Knox> (Fading back in?)
Oct 05 18:43:46 <Ululane> After the lewdities finish, Lulu takes an inhaler puff, a peaceful smile on her face. "Well, Ser Knight...was there anything else before I go?"
Oct 05 18:44:47 <Knox> "...Yeah. Thank you." He's laid back and a good deal more relaxed. It seems he really needed a destresser. "...thanks for everything, Lulu."
Oct 05 18:46:20 <Knox> "Not just that, but for coming by and talking, too. All of it. ...if I had just stewed here, don't know what I would have done."
Oct 05 18:47:56 <Ululane> "It was, is, and continues to be my pleasure. Well...off to go tell the world how much of a crybaby you are." She nods and, after making sure everything is in order, turns to leave. Upon reaching the door, however, she turns back wearing a heavy frown. "...I...I do not know when Melanie will return...I hope...it is alright if I remain here for a while?"
Oct 05 18:48:31 <Ululane> It's quite clear she doesn't mean physically here.
Oct 05 18:48:46 <Knox> "...I'll definitely miss her. But stay as long as you feel you need to."
Oct 05 18:49:58 <Ululane> She nods again before leaving the room.
Oct 05 19:22:39 <Knox> </mini>