accidental video / action

[forhishonor]

[ he doesn't remember it.

of course he doesn't, not with Humpty Dumpty so lovingly tracing spindly fingers over every inch of his memory. they come as snapshots, or vivid scenes that he dismisses as simple, useless nightmares of flames and blood and heads rolling across the floor.

it's the nightmare he wakes up from now, with a start that knocks his device half across the nightstand, and turns the video feed on soundlessly. the device sits at an odd angle, but as Elliot sits up, still a bit disoriented, the words on his sudden wardrobe change make themselves clear on the screen.


I BEHEADED TWO OF MY BROTHERS
AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY T-SHIRT

he doesn't realize it until a moment later, at which point he blanches, and immediately makes for his closet, pulling him off camera. there's the sound of fabric sliding across skin, growling, and then sudden movement, as Elliot grabs his phone and shoves it in his coat pocket.

the feed goes dark, and after about five minutes of pitch-black rustling, it finally times out. ]

--------

( ooc: feel free to catch him out and about in the City. the letters have made their way onto the back of his coat, so no hiding for him! )

Comments

text;

[dispossess]

[ He doesn't trust himself to talk right now, not after that. He hopes, though he doesn't (because of what that means), that Elliot doesn't remember this by the next day. ]

Elliot. Are you alright?

[ Of course he isn't. But it feels wrong, if he were to apologize like this. ]

text;

[forhishonor]

[ it's about an hour before Leo gets a reply back, and when he does, the reply is woefully inadequate. ]

no

[ at least it's honest ]

text;

[dispossess]

[ He'd been waiting by the device for that hour, and even though it may be an inadequate reply, it's a reply at all. ]

What can I do?

[ There wasn't much he could do before, but...it's possible, maybe. ]

text; 1/2

[forhishonor]

nothing

text;

[forhishonor]

[ and then, a minute later, because that's just really not good enough, and not all of what he wants to say: ]

dont do anything stupid

[ it might not be so clear via device, but there's a world of meaning in those four words, ranging from the literal meaning to 'don't get hurt' to 'don't leave'. ]

text;

[dispossess]

Of course not.

[ He has, though-- not here, but back then-- and he's wearing the proof.

A few minutes later: ]

You should have stayed in today.

text;

[forhishonor]

[ Elliot's not sure how much he believes the reply, but it makes him feel better, even if a little bit. ]

i needed some air.

[ and he didn't particularly want to see Leo's reaction to his less-than-honorable shirt. ]

Private

[worldofourown]

They make it sound like such a bad thing.

[ He'd love to behead his brothers. ]

Private

[forhishonor]

[ Elliot's never really in the mood for Karl's games, but he's also never been able to hold in tongue in the face of any such barbs. ]

I didn't do it! [ It's a heated outburst, meant to be angry, but Karl can probably hear the doubt and fear buried beneath. ] Why would I kill my own family?!

Private

[worldofourown]

...Why wouldn't you? [ Dripping with mockery. ] Sibling rivalries happen everywhere. And the First Murder was between Cain and Abel, after all.

Private

[forhishonor]

Because they're my family! They're people I'm supposed to love and protect!

Or do those words mean nothing to you?

Private

[worldofourown]

No need to shout.

[ Making a show of cleaning his ear. ]

I'm not the one who performed the beheadings. Or is that another form of 'love and protect'?

Private

[forhishonor]

[ oh, he'll shout all he wants. ]

But I didn't do it! [ But...his tone is weaker now, more unsure. He'd always thought they'd just been nightmares but....no, no he couldn't have done it.

He wouldn't have, right? ]

I wouldn't do that.

[ But who he's trying to convince, he's not so sure anymore. ]

[errandry]

... hey.

[ .............. ]

Oi! You still listening over there?

[forhishonor]

[ STFU Kazu. X(

have some more rustling instead. is he ignoring you? maaaaaaybe. ]

[errandry]

Jeez...

[ sort of. scrubbing at his hair awkwardly. ]

You know there's an off-button, yeah?

[forhishonor]

.....Of course I know that.

[ that's his way of saying 'hello' today. ]

[errandry]

Just checking! There's been a ton of posts today anyway...

[forhishonor]

And you checked up on everyone else who had something to say about these stupid shirts?

[misfortunes]

Elliot.






Elliot, Elliot, Elliot!

[forhishonor]

[ Elliot is not much in the mood for games right now, which is why it's a minute before he deigns to respond. When he does, his voice is direct, curt. ]

What, Vincent?

1/2

[misfortunes]

What a tone to take. . .

[misfortunes]

I'd thought to ask you for a favor, that's all.

[forhishonor]

[ silence. ]

What kind of favor?

[misfortunes]

Do you recall the rules for chess, Elliot?