Adventures of Dantgil in #Dickmegle - Part 10

-*- abstersiveTournure He did not know how long it had been.
-*- abstersiveTournure He'd hardly moved since setting foot in the room, but to pay a visit to the bathroom and to wrap his brother's wounds as well as he could, claws careful and gentle against their very nature. Now, he was sitting in the quiet dark with only the hum of an old tube television in the background, the fragile little carefully-tended body wrapped up in the thick blue comforter that had been neatly arranged on the bed, and the bundle tucked protectively close.
-*- Rabbit neatly arranged on the bed, an)
-*- abstersiveTournure neatly arranged on the bed, and the bundle tucked protectively close.
-*- abstersiveTournure It seemed unlikely that much time had passed -- the warm twilight cast on the double window in the room hadn't changed at all, and there was no clock or calendar by which to tell the time. Time was immaterial, in that room, but for the steady stream of movies and television shows drawn from some deep subconscious part of his memory.
-*- abstersiveTournure Nothing except that seemed to change or progress at all. In fact, if one were to look closely, they'd see that he was barely even breathing -- as though he was lying in dormant wait for something to happen.
<abstersiveTournure> [Nitro's intros: a bunch of words in which nothing actually happens]
<Rabbit> (but are amazing)
<abstersiveTournure> [aaaa thank 0///0 I just always feel a little bad for not actually /doing/ anything in them, really]
<Rabbit> (you are setting the ~mood~ also even though there isn't much going on there is still things happening o: )
-*- cocksureGuttersnipe He was hardly the only one. World's could've ended, bubbles destroyed, and time itself could have dissapated into a mere vapor...and he still wouldn't notice. Wouldn't notice, wouldn't care, wouldn't even blink. None of it was his problem. None of it mattered to him. This entire world was /bankrupt/.
-*- cocksureGuttersnipe It was big and scary and far too dangerous for him. Nothing he needed to involve himself in, no. Returning only meant returning to the pain, the memories, and all the suffering that would come with it. He didn't need that. Never needed that.
-*- cocksureGuttersnipe So he was gone. Still here, but not quite here. Escaped to some far off place where no thoughts, no feelings dare tread. Only the warmth of the comforter and the sizzling heat of the scaly body beside. That's all that mattered to him.
-*- Rabbit am
-*- cocksureGuttersnipe Everything else could just burn.
-*- Rabbit am I good to go?
<cocksureGuttersnipe> [hahaha and you thought /nitro/'/s/ intros were bad]
<abstersiveTournure> [fff yes unu]
<Rabbit> (shhh no yours are awesome too)
-*- Rabbit wanted to feed the ducks, to talk with Pappy, to sort his muddled circuits and be alright; but the ducks weren't there, Pappy couldn't help, and old memories once wiped were drifting through his systems and haunting him. The one place that gave him peace was giving him the opposite at the moment. He needed to distract himself from his own addled mind.
<cocksureGuttersnipe> [how do i dissassociation]
<cocksureGuttersnipe> [i don't]
<abstersiveTournure> [you do tho]
<abstersiveTournure> [and you do it well uwu]
-*- Rabbit wandered, at first, singing and thinking of different things. It sort of worked, but eventually it came to him that, maybe, he should check on the demon brothers. He didn't know where their room was, but a wander into the mansion would soon get him directions from a stranger in purple. Curious fellow, he was. Liiittle creepy. sort of. a lot.
-*- Rabbit but that didn't deter the copper bot, who's heavy steps brought him to the door he needed. He adjusted his hat--with goggles in their place on it--and then proceeded to knock. "V-V-Vergil?"
-*- abstersiveTournure He heard something. Something low and thudding, strong and steady unlike the soft, weak, fleshy rhythm he'd been honed in on since the floor had splintered like glass under his feet. He tensed, on guard, slitted eyes set on the door.
- {Day changed to Tue Nov 27 00:00:00 2012}
-*- abstersiveTournure The thudding drew close, much too close, and paused at the door. Deadly-sharp claws readied and flexed to summon his weapon of choice as the rap of metal on wood echoed hollowly.
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-*- abstersiveTournure And then a voice, unmistakeable when his hearing was sharper than his teeth -- stuttering, nervous, low and familiar.
-*- abstersiveTournure Some part of his tension deflated, and some part of his mind relaxed. It was only Rabbit -- only the friendly automaton he'd known before his death. "Rabbit," he acknowledged in return, monotone in the strange, hissing rumble of a voice that this form had to offer. He had no other words to offer, and so said none -- did not question the robot's presence, did not invite him to enter, did not tell him to leave. None of those things seemed particularly necessary.
-*- abstersiveTournure Underneath passive neutrality, he was a little curious, though the emotion felt worthless and distance, drowned out by the blank sense of protective calm. Most emotions felt like that right then. (Nevertheless, he nestled closer to his self-appointed charge.)
<abstersiveTournure> [fff it is ok Jasp -- thank you uwu]
-*- Rabbit shrinks a little bit at the tone of Vergil's voice from the other side-it wasn't what he had expected to hear. He stood straight once more, when it was clear that Vergil didn't intend to speak anymore. "Can I come in?" He asked with a slight hesitation.
-*- chthonianGunslinger There was a twitch.
-*- chthonianGunslinger And nothing more.
<chthonianGunslinger> [i]
<chthonianGunslinger> [contributed 8y]
-*- abstersiveTournure Oh. He hadn't expected that. But then, he hadn't expected much of anything. There was a pause as he mulled it over, as though beset by some grand decision. Deciding with no logic to support one way or the other and any emotion on the matter being drowned out was...a slow process.
-*- abstersiveTournure "You c-can," he said simply, and one might swear his voice tripped with an insectoid click on the 'c'.
<Rabbit> Red cloth-covered hands with exposed copper fingertips turned the knob. Rabbit peeked in at first, his face scrunching up after having thought Vergil had dropped the reptilian skin. He stepped in, and closed the door behind himself, then spoke up. "You okay, buddy?"
-*- chthonianGunslinger Ignore Dante, he's just staining the bed like a silly billy. An armless silly billy.
-*- chthonianGunslinger Oh, what a goof.
-*- Rabbit shhh maybe he just
-*- PurpleKoopa > Dante: Retrieve arms from... Oh, forget it.
-*- Rabbit doesn't notice you
-*- Rabbit snrrrrk
-*- chthonianGunslinger i'LL BITE YOU
-*- PurpleKoopa are you going to claw him with you /toenails/
-*- PurpleKoopa *your
-*- Rabbit you know what maybe it's because of his sensors being weird-woah dude you must have some gnarly toenails
-*- chthonianGunslinger THEY'RE
-*- chthonianGunslinger PRETTY SHARP TOENAILS SO SHUT UP.
-*- PurpleKoopa he shoots ebony and ivory with his /FEET/
-*- Rabbit that takes some talent
-*- Rabbit but now they smell like feet
- {Day changed to Wed Nov 28 00:00:00 2012}
-*- abstersiveTournure Another question that he didn't know what to do with. Is he okay -- he was not injured despite the lingering taste of bile in his throat, but the warm blanket-wrapped body pressed close to his side said no, nothing was okay, especially not him. His half-diluted mind grasped for a logical answer and found only an unsettling uncertainty in his gut.
-*- abstersiveTournure "Dante is hurt," was all he answered with, in a steady, guarded tone -- but a little vulnerable, like a lost child told over and again not to trust strangers but now alone and desperately looking for someone to trust.
<abstersiveTournure> [I forgot the background color but in hindsight it seems appropriate]
<Rabbit> He looked to the bundled form, properly noting his present as his face shifted to an expression of worry. "oh." He said simply, at first, fingers twitching as his cogs turned in thought. "An-anything I could do ta help?"
-*- PurpleKoopa i think it was a gray bg, but carry on
<abstersiveTournure> [It was -- I just forgot to add it, haha]
-*- abstersiveTournure And the process repeated -- another baffling question, another hesitant pause. After a moment of examining the facts and what little logic had to offer (he'd dressed the wounds as well as he could but so much more than that was broken), and took in, perhaps unwillingly, what emotion had to say (stay away) -- and the only answer he could offer, for a moment, was an insectoid noise that sounded caught between a very human-sounding hum and a throaty croak. He seemed all too helpless -- he didn't know how to answer at all. But only a beat after that, some rare, impulsive part of him offered something.
-*- abstersiveTournure was an insectoid noise that sounded caught between a very human-sounding hum and a throaty croak. He seemed all too helpless -- he didn't know how to answer at all. But only a beat after that, some rare, impulsive part of him offered something.
-*- abstersiveTournure "You were th-there," he observed very simply, as though to change the topic -- though he didn't really think of it like that. He also didn't think of the fact that maybe the robot didn't want to think very much about...those events. He didn't think about it very consciously at all.
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<cocksureGuttersnipe> [oooops this again]
<Rabbit> Black eyebrows lowered, and photoreceptors darted to the floor. "Yeah." He agreed, not wanting to remember the panicked and terrified screams, nor the blood and arching electricity. He did, though. "You were there t-too."
-*- abstersiveTournure Another strange halfway-human hum, this time lower. He shifted, craned his neck, scrutinized the automaton sharply, as though testing with his eyes to see if he could really be trusted. "You are not hurt." Another observation sprung out of some half-drowned feeling that felt like a vague pressure in his chest, almost like the immense weight he felt on his shoulders at the thought of his brother's mangled form, except he could still breathe. Despite that, it came out almost accusatory, confused. Defensive. He remembered the robot being in shambles, remembered being wholly ready to strike him down if he tried to interfere. The pressure on his chest felt heavier.
-*- abstersiveTournure at the thought of his brother's mangled form, except he could still breathe. Despite that, it came out almost accusatory, confused. Defensive. He remembered the robot being in shambles, remembered being wholly ready to strike him down if he tried to interfere. The pressure on his chest felt heavier.
<Rabbit> Metal shoulders rolled as smoothly as they normally did-which is to say, in a somewhat jerky fashion. "Yeah, w-well, after whoever made a mess a my cogs and tried to take me apart..." His tone was turning bitter--his systems had restored to find one and a half arms detatched, and various pieces of his chest removed (thankfully not his core.) Memories and
<Rabbit> blue matter where probably the primary reason why the automaton was able to scuttle away and repair himself. Didn't seem like anyone cared to look for him, after prying apart ancient pieces. It was easy enough, as well, to repair himself, as he had on numerous fields of battle.
-*- abstersiveTournure A vaguely quizzical head-tilt was the response, and the weight pressed harder. He remembered a little more clearly -- leaving the tattered, bent remains of the robotic body that had broken on impact. He had left Rabbit alone, too, left Rabbit with them like he had Dante. (But Rabbit was whole, some part of him said, jealously, angrily, while another part cringed at the bitter reverberation in that voice -- both reactions were muffled and confused and pushed away.)
-*- abstersiveTournure while another part cringed at the bitter reverberation in that voice -- both reactions were muffled and confused and pushed away.)
-*- abstersiveTournure "You are not hurt?" he repeated, but now quieter, uncertain, almost-but-not-quite a question, the weight on his chest shifting to his throat, his voice, heavy and just maybe a little guilty. Upset. Angry, underneath -- they had promised to fix him. Fix them both. And he'd trusted them to do it.
-*- abstersiveTournure Something in his chest set alight and he twisted his head, looked away, stared out the window instead.
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<Rabbit> He looked back up, his bitterness subsiding. The tone in Vergil's voice rang familiar--soldiers, members of Walter manor, Rabbit himself--"They p-p-payed enough as it is, Vergil. Everyone's out of there now, everyone's sssafe."
<Rabbit> But damaged. He remembered well enough, at the moment--none of his siblings were the same after returning from the wars, prior to the wipes that usually followed. Organic beings couldn't have their memory wiped, though. Rabbit shifted uncertainly on his feet.
-*- abstersiveTournure Oh. His name. Something echoed in response at the back of his head. He faced the automaton, eyes sharp and something in his voice as tense as his shoulders. "They hurt Dante," he pointed out, as though the simple statement was argument enough. They could not suffer enough to make up for that. "They hurt you," he added, lower, calmer, but guilty all the same.
-*- abstersiveTournure (Some distant part of him wondered if he should be punished just as much, but the rest of him felt grimly satisfied at the knowledge that they'd exacted punishment, though perhaps less punishment than he would've liked.)
<Rabbit> "An you hurt them. Now inst-tead of two being hurt, there's fi-fi-five. K-killin them did n-n-nothing but spill morrre blood!" He said angrily, a huff of steam accompanying it. "Why do hu-humans-" He paused briefly, "or annny other sp-sp-species, for that matttter, not realize how mu-mu-much you actually loose and stop it?" His image flickered to one more
<Rabbit> suited for battling. One from his first brush with death, having seen human forms fused to copper elephantine shapes; green matter having long since turn them into lifeless husks. "War d-d-don't fix a think, Vergil; it only hurts." the automaton gestured with what was now a silent buzz saw, steam hissing from the pipes jutting out of his body.
-*- Rabbit ref http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/152/9/8/steam_powered_giraffe_circa_1896_by_whitebunny-d51unkb.jpg )
-*- Jaspersprite Are you waving a saw around the guy who just got both of his arms cut off
-*- Jaspersprite Rabbit..........................
-*- Rabbit is caught up in a sEA OF EMOCEANS OKAY,,,,,,
-*- Rabbit still have time for puns tho
-*- Rabbit also I can't help it that's how pappy made me 8(
-*- Jaspersprite 8(
-*- PurpleKoopa  38(
-*- PurpleKoopa and by 38( i mean 38) keep the puns up roebot
-*- Rabbit I will missus fish lady uwu
-*- abstersiveTournure rowboat
-*- Rabbit hehehe
-*- Rabbit I think I have a good song for you miss fish it is about the greatest sea captain who ever /lived/
-*- abstersiveTournure He recoiled at the words, as though they were a visible force driving him to withdraw -- but his chest felt like someone had plucked his ribs like strings and his mind hazily, vaguely, shivered. At the forefront, his conscious mind foggily felt the effects. The automaton was correct. It was his fault, and it was wrong.
-*- abstersiveTournure A sense of faint discomfort (that might have been fierce horror if his mind was entirely human at the time) drifted and then latched on. He curled tighter, closer to Dante, beclawed hands holding his head. His logical mind did not know what to do with the mounting bed of coals in his chest, the heavy weight of every increasingly frustrated word that was spoken. And then, immediately when the robot fell silent, he looked up, saw the gesture, tensed.
-*- abstersiveTournure But did nothing more, head still gripped in his hands. "Th-they hurt Dante," he repeated, on the brink of quiet, underlying desperation, misery. "I --"
<Rabbit> Rabbit didn't realize what he had done. Not until those soft, hesitant, stuttering words reached him and suddenly a heavy wave flooded his circuits with what a human would call pure guilt. He looked at his weapons, a pathetic hiss of steam escaping as he shifted back to his prior image. "I'm--I'm sorry, Vergil. I..." He closed his eyes for a moment, fighting
<Rabbit> away the emotions he shouldn't have. "You d-did what you had to do for your brother. Brothers are important--Ya need to protect them." A dry swallow, as memories of war started to be replaced by his metal family--The Spine, The Jon, Hatchworth, Upgrade--"Family's all we got left." The only ones he had beside him war after war-"It don't mattter now-it's over,
<Rabbit> an you've got your brother an everyone's safe. An that's what's important."
-*- abstersiveTournure Sorry -- and then brothers. Brothers are important, he said. Sorry.
-*- abstersiveTournure The words rang sharply, plucked some chord low in his head that he was never even aware of. He uncoiled a little, stared with a frown, the emotion that had felt far off suddenly looming all too near. "Sorry," he echoed softly, as though dumbfounded -- or maybe he was apologizing. It was his fault, he knew, after all, and the pressure on his chest was too heavy to ignore.
-*- abstersiveTournure Family's all we got left. Everyone's safe. Something slackened in his posture, although the sharp edge of caution and wariness remained wrapped tightly, bound around his neck. "Safe," he mumbled, tucked closer to Dante, furrowed his brow. And then paused -- a very long pause.
-*- abstersiveTournure "Don't ap-pologize," he uttered, straightening up shakily -- and though the wording was gruff, there was an underlying self-deprecation. Too proud to apologize properly, always, but...it was his fault, and for some reason, against all logic, that hurt.
<Rabbit> "No." he spoke softly, shifting again and adjusting his hat, "I shhouldn't've done dat. Since... since that happened I ju-just keep rememberin things and my circuits ain't handlin' it all to well." Too many memories that make themselves known and then slink out of his head.
-*- abstersiveTournure He paused, processed that -- felt guilt, distinct and rough, grip him again. "R-remembering things," he echoed, voice low. Painful things, if the tone of voice was anything to go by, and he wondered faintly what he could do, because this was also his fault -- if he hadn't been so stupid.
<Rabbit> A faint nod. "Rememberin' is only n-nice when it's good memories." He shifted again. He never liked fighting-he liked performing, and singing with his brothers. "You ever sing, Vergil?" Much nicer then yelling and fighting. Yeah.
-*- abstersiveTournure He...he did, actually. Dante had always been better with instruments -- had the hands of a pianist -- but Vergil had taken to singing. Sounded like his father, his mother told him. But he hadn't sung in years, hadn't wanted to.
-*- abstersiveTournure And his throat felt like a rasp, low and humming in his throat -- all wrong, inhuman. Still sounded like his father. "I have," he admitted. He could barely imagine doing so now, though.
<Rabbit> He smiled softly. "Maybe we could get together and sssing sometime. D-dante can join us, once he's better." Now wasn't the time for nubby arm puns, as much as the opportunity was presented. "S'alright if I sing?" He hadn't sung to someone in a while.
-*- abstersiveTournure A hum of distracted agreement was the only response -- singing wasn't the most prominent thing on his mind, suddenly. Once he's better. That seemed far away -- something that had barely occurred to him because the idea seemed so impossible, with this weak, battered body beside him and nothing to reassure him that his brother still remained in it. He...
-*- abstersiveTournure He wouldn't mind. Sitting here with his brother forever, if he'd just open his eyes. It wasn't like there was much else for them.
<Rabbit> He simply cleared his throat, and then proceeded to sing. The melody of the chorus was how it began, in the form of a single vowel. Then, he carried on to the lyrics of 'Honeybee.' It was sweet, and a bit sad. He could hear the familiar acoustics in his wiring from The Spine's favorite guitar, and the harmony's from him and The Jon. He stepped side to side
<Rabbit> when he reached the song's name sake, and fondly remembered the times he'd sing it to calm his little brasold brother, and to audiences of all ages.
-*- Rabbit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojYK6CW8gdw
-*- abstersiveTournure The voice sounded remarkably soothing -- steady, warm, honey-smooth, lulling him. Yeah, he could deal with existing like this. Forgetting about everything they went through and just... Drifting. Maybe forgetting that he existed, sometimes, when that drifting became too tiring. As long as Dante was there, he thought he'd be okay.
-*- abstersiveTournure Basking in what scraps remained of good memories would be okay with him. He was tired of trying to move forward, as much as he'd always tried so desperately.
<Rabbit> Soon, the song would end, but Rabbit would quickly launch himself into another song. A story this time, about a man in a bog. He didn't have Squeezy, but his hands would move as if the accordion was actually there. He'd emulate what parts he had to-thankfully his range practically as large as The Spines. The song was more southern in tone, and with a quicker
<Rabbit> tempo.
-*- Rabbit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1nQ-T2Pz0Q
-*- Rabbit some introductory stuff as well, but Rabbit skips it.
-*- abstersiveTournure The song was a low drone still, humming with a soft electric static but ringing so much more human than the growl trapped in his throat. He closed his eyes, leaned very lightly against Dante, ran fingers through white hair. Felt the electric heat fade from his skin, as though simply worn out.
-*- abstersiveTournure He was worn out. Was tired of having bad things to remember. "You sing well," he observed when that song had ended. (Saying somethng was better, he thought, than stewing. Stewing never led to good thoughts.)