TRAUMA PROM

[takewing]

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[takewing]

[Bluebird is just kind of . . . standing there . . . Her eyes are wide with shock.]

[unlocksmith]

[yelling at. . . the ceiling. . . his voice practically a snarl as he stands protectively in front of Nalea]

No! I gave you the best I had to offer! Take it!

[takewing]

[Would you look at that TOTALLY UNSURPRISING lack of response! It's almost like somebody's too busy munching popcorn to bother with your anger and denial.]

. . . Khoalan.

[Gently presses both hands against his back, not quite gripping his shirt.]

[unlocksmith]

Show yourself, coward!

[the lack of response just serves to fuel his anger more. sorry, Bluebird, he hasn't noticed you yet]

[takewing]

[Well then. If the gentle approach isn't going to work, she'll just have to get his attention in a better way.]

Khoalan! Are you going to waste time yelling at her or are you going to listen to me?!

[unlocksmith]

I'll kill her before she even has a chance to lay a hand on you!

[SOOOOO MAD]

[takewing]

I'd not stop you.

[That statement may or may not have been something of a lie; even with her life at stake, she's not sure she could stand by and let somebody die right in front of her. She slides around to stand in front of him.]

But do you really think she'd have to appear in here to do it?

[unlocksmith]

No.

But she's a coward if she won't!

[takewing]

Her type never care if they're seen as cowardly.

[unlocksmith]

[w-with frustration, the kind that comes with knowing you want to prevent something but not knowing how to stop it]

You will not die today!

[takewing]

[Better me than somebody else. She doesn't say that, though; not yet.]

Not by her hand.

[unlocksmith]

[he understands that distinction perfectly]

Not at all.

[takewing]

And if we can't find a way out of it within the next few minutes?

[She can't think of anything. They have no tools, there's no way out, Vanessa isn't responding to them--]

[unlocksmith]

We will!

[practically snarling that answer out, and turning away from her to pull back his fist and then slam it hard against the glass dome]

[takewing]

[The glass doesn't so much as crack! His knuckles, on the other hand, are probably smarting.]

Khoalan!

[Catching his wrist, her grip tight.]

We've tried that already!

[unlocksmith]

[They are, but he's rearing back for another punch anyway-- though she manages to catch his wrist before he hits it again]

There has to be a weak spot we missed!

[takewing]

You'd break both of your hands before you even managed to scratch the glass!

[Grabbing for his other wrist just in case.]

[unlocksmith]

[she manages to do that, and he turns to face her]

I'm not givin' up without a fight!

[takewing]

[Looking him in the eye, trying to keep her own nerves out of her expression.]

Khoalan, listen to me. If . . . There's something I need you to do for me, if we can't get out of this.

[unlocksmith]

[. . . falling silent, his gaze narrowing, because he thinks he knows exactly where this is going]

[takewing]

[. . . smiles.]

Look after Kou. Tell my mother. And stop her.

[unlocksmith]

. . .

Nalea. . .

[he can't. he can't]

[takewing]

Please. You're the only one who can.

[unlocksmith]

[thunks his head against hers, hands shaking]

Nalea--

[takewing]

[Leans into him, closing her eyes.]

. . . I know. I know.