008 - Everything Carries Me To You - Accidental Video

[worldofourown]

[The video flicks on to show a tiny white room. Bare as a cell, except for a strange bed. Karl lies there. Flat on his back. Tightly restrained. His skin is shadowed with bruises and cuts. The orbit of one eye is purpling and puffy. He breathes in growls, in and out, like a saw.]

Someone's life is flashing before my eyes. And it's not mine.

[He jerks against his restraints. Resembling, in a disturbing way, an animal. One that conveys rage with its eyes alone. His injuries are quite raw. But Karl isn't a shrieking sufferer. Not with his history. His attention is on the network device.]

I know you're there, Solomon. Watching me, like a damned Argus.

[His eyes glow red. But even staring out of bruises, they're defiant and unblinking. Lucid. Ironic, that Karl should be his sanest, at a time like this. The very air around him seems different. Infused with a darker purpose.]

You said, earlier, that it was time we talked. Well? Talk. I can't tear your throat out, so you needn't fear death, brother. In this City, death's a cheap thing, anyway. Even for those who've given everything for it.

[Livid, he jerks again on the restraints. No luck. Fangs bared, he re-focuses on the device.]

Come out, Solomon. I'm waiting.


[OOC:  Back to square...negative one? Karl broke out, conducted a fail!kidnapping, fought a cursed Saya without the benefit of his healing powers, and got his bleeding ass dragged back to Solomon's labs. Fortunately, the ordeal seems to have dampened his mania. Somewhat. He's... sane for the moment? Or, as sane as Karl gets. Come annoy him, City! He's a real shiny happy fun ball B|b. Private filters are disabled!]

Comments

[shall_yield_us]

My, as ominous as they come and they go.

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[dignity_misery]

Karl.

[ 8( ]

[forourqueen]

Did you fail?

[hornblower]

I would disagree.

[valentineluke]

[Time to drop Sol a hint that he's been watching the 'show'.]

Hmm.

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[morphic]

[She appears worried for him, seeing him restrained like that, bruised and cut. She has to hold back the part of her that wants to smile with joy at such a sight, but she has enough control of herself that it's almost too easy to hide.]

Has anyone offered to help you?

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[worldofourown]

No comings or goings here, I'm afraid.

[Trapped Karl is trapped.]

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[worldofourown]

[SOB SOB]

Ms. Carla.

[He swallows, licking bruised lips.]

We seem to speak during under the strangest circumstances.

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[worldofourown]

[He rouses, blinking, lifts his head for a moment from the bed-- then lets it drop as if it's too heavy.]

In every which way.

[Dx]

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[dignity_misery]

You let them catch you again.

[worldofourown]

With what?

[He sounds bored, like it's more effort than he can gather just to pronounce his words.]

video;

[worldofourown]

I never 'let them'. But they caught me, regardless.

[Though, perhaps, deep down, he did want to be caught? He wanted Solomon angry enough with him that he'd kill him.]

[worldofourown]

'Hmm', indeed.

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[worldofourown]

[He offers her a look of listless annoyance.]

What do you think?

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[dignity_misery]

[If he wasn't strong enough to kill them, then it was his own fault to be caught. Carla's draconian nature has become a double edged sword now that she can no longer live up to its strict tenets.]

That's a pity.

[She really does hate to see it.]

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[worldofourown]

[He exhales, eyes slipping shut.]

Don't use that word. Please.

[He hates 'pity'. He received none from his family. He gave none to his victims. But perhaps that's what makes this situation doubly excruciating. He's neither victor, nor vanquished. Merely caught in a senseless limbo.]

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[forourqueen]

A pity, Fei-Ong. You need to be more discreet.

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[worldofourown]

['Pity'. That word again. It almost makes him wince more than the discomfort of his wounds.]

I need to not be here, Mr. Corpseblight. It's that simple.

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[forourqueen]

[He just huffs at that, heartless as he is.]

None of us need to be here. If all you care about is accomplishing your goals, you'll end up with nothing afterwards.

I failed at taking revenge on the person that kindled my hatred, but I didn't just roll up and wait to rot away after others killed him first. Because that meant he'd win. Instead, I found new goals... all to play the game after my own rules. If you can't win, cheat.

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[dignity_misery]

Karl...

[She knows nothing she can say will be of any use to him, so she just goes quiet.]

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[worldofourown]

[He appreciates the quiet. Appreciates, too, the fact that she isn't asking questions, or making shrill exclamations like the others. That isn't what he needs. He's not sure what he needs. But talking isn't it.]

[His face is bruised, his eyes hazy. But his stare has something soft about it. Something grateful.]

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[dignity_misery]

[She knows, even without really looking. She understands entirely too well. She stays there on the line just a little longer before she closes her head around the device to turn it off,]

Bye.

video;

[worldofourown]

[Despite himself, he's intrigued. This is the first time Gabe's mentioned anything about his history. But Karl isn't surprised. Who among them, in this City, isn't perpetually 'cursed' in some way.]

Cheat, hm?

[He snorts with mild amusement.]

I've always been so caught up in my goals. Revenge is everthing to me. I'd never considered finding anything else...

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[forourqueen]

[Gabriel isn't really a sharing person, normally. But someone had to kick Karl in the ass and teach him how to have fun. Otherwise he'd be useless to Gabe =/]

Keep vengeance closest to you, and let it fuel your life. Not lead it. You're not a slave to anything - least of all yourself. Have some fun.

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[worldofourown]

Fun?

[A half-lidded smile. Things have come to a pretty pass. Even the undead are lecturing him now. But strangely, he doesn't mind. A part of him-- a part that's been clouded in mania and adrenaline since he's arrived in the City-- knows Gabe has a point.]

It's true. I'm not a slave anymore. And Diva isn't here. But I've lived for vengeance so long. It's... a hard habit to break.