How Would your Character Act (v2.00)

[Darth Pichu]

Wyatt put a finger against the boy's neck, and then to his chest. It seemed like he was breathing alright. He didn't seem to have been struck in any way.

"But how could he have fallen over?" Wyatt frowned, "Last I checked he couldn't move. Someone must have moved him."

[samedi]

Ardent rolled over and got to his feet, feeling quite drained. "Dunno." His voice was small and tired and instead of going towards Wyatt and Shane he went to bed.

[Brandon Skyblade]

"Maybe Mister Illusion over there did something." Brianna said, pointing at the downed Lazarus.
"That or tried to crawl out of bed to help." Brandon said as well.

[Darth Pichu]

Wyatt shrugged. At least Ardent was back to being himself once again. He was glad for that, and for the fact that the boy could stand. He put a hand against Shane's chest.

"He looks exhausted." Wyatt noted, "He didn't.. you don't think he woke up again, do you?" he asked.

Shane gave a little grunt in his sleep, rolling over a bit. He looked rather feverish.

"That's odd." Wyatt noted, "He feels a little warm to be honest, I..." he blinked a few times, realizing at once that he wasn't feeling very well himself. He took notice of the mark on the boy's chest. It was starting to grow and swell up like a boil. Wyatt recoiled a bit.

"What is..." he glanced up at Ardent, his eyes locking on the strange mark that had been on the boy's chest. It had completely split open like a sore. It looked as if it was bleeding.

"Ye merciful gods..." Wyatt murmured, "What in the five hells is that."

"I told you before." Lazarus said, "His anger is rotting his heart away. It's doing that to you too." Lazarus smiled a rotten, vengeful smile of his own. Wyatt only scowled.

"What did you do to them?" he asked.

Lazarus shrugged, "Nothing." he replied simply, "You did it to yourselves."

[Brandon Skyblade]

"I think he's telling the truth there, Wyatt. It's only giving you some kind of grim warning." Brandon said.
Brianna turned to lie on her back, facing Brandon and Twili. "So, that's mark is just gonna show them how worse they're getting?"
"Precisely. At least, that's what I think it is." Brandon confirmed.
"What exactly could be causing that anger? Is it something that happened recently? Or...some kind of bottled up hatred?" Twili asked, not sure if it's one or the other.

[Darth Pichu]

"Why would he be telling the truth?" Wyatt asked bitterly, "There's nothing he could possibly gain from being forward with us now, there's no plausible reason for him to want to make us trust him."

He glared at Lazarus. He could feel the wound burning into his flesh, like someone had taken a hot wire and held it there.

"Your problem, Wyatt, " Lazarus began, his face impassive, "Is that you see your world in terms of gains and losses. What do I have to gain from this or that? What you forget is that in the long run all of that means nothing to me. Demon or not, my life is over. I'm dead, and in the long run I can neither help nor hinder you. You accuse me of living a lie, an illusion, when in fact illusions are all you see. You and your petty gains and losses, none of them mean all that much at all in the end, do they?"

"Then what do you want?" Wyatt asked.

"Want? It's no longer a matter of want, Tellerman." Lazarus said coolly, "My time for wanting is up, I'm afraid."

[Brandon Skyblade]

"He doesn't have to be trusted to be right. Think about it. That mark practically begged to be put on him after his bout with Ardent last night. And I'm not saying he deserved it, but...it's just that there's some kind of hatred brewing in his heart, and within yours and Ardent's as well. Whatever that is, I don't fully understand yet." Brandon said, attempting to just get straight to the point.
"So, Lazarus really hasn't done much except rile us up?" Twili asked.
"From what I gathered...yes. Wyatt, I don't trust him either, don't you think that I do. He is right about one thing...the mark is only a sign." Brandon replied.

((Here's my non-serious reaction to this...Lazarus has basically been saying this: ))

[samedi]

"Stop talking about us as if we aren't here." Ardent snapped tiredly, struggling with the bed sheets.

[Brandon Skyblade]

"I'm sorry, Ardent. I just thought I had to be blunt there." Brandon apologized.

[bluedemonhybrid]

Yuri phased out from under the floor. "Sorry 'bout that, guys." He said. "When Lazerus got kicked in the head, I ended up phasing into someone's bathroom. Oh, hello."

[Brandon Skyblade]

The trio simply stared at Yuri for that last bathroom statement. Brianna even mouthed a "What...the...fuck?" without giving voice to it.
Each of the trio then shook their heads at it, brushing off the weird comment.
"Anyway...I don't think we've met before, have we?" Twili said. "My name's Twili. My friends over here are Brandon and Brianna. They're twins."
"Heya." Brandon simply said to Yuri. Now is a very weird time for introductions.
"So...this is quite awkward, isn't it?" Brianna stated, getting a nod from Brandon.

[Darth Pichu]

"He stuck a fake sword through Wyatt, almost strangled Ardent to death, threatened to cut out Gingkyo's eyes, and tried to rip Sakura's arm off." Clefina pointed out dryly, "That's a little more on the 'tried to kill us all in horrible gruesome ways' side of the spectrum than the 'riled up' side."

She narrowed her eyes at Lazarus.

"So, what do you want to do with him?" Averis asked, "We can't leave him here, but we can't exactly make him go back to hell." she frowned, "I knew how to get him here, but I'm not quite sure of how to get him back down."

"So then you don't want my help." Lazarus asked.

Averis deadpanned, "You tried to murder us all."

"And?" Lazarus asked, "I'm a demon. Shino tried to murder you all too."

"That was different." Averis turned away.

"Was it?"

Averis blinked, not really sure of how to respond.

"Listen, unless you plan on bringing us to Seven and Ratio I don't want to hear another word out of you." Clefina hissed.

"Who said I wouldn't help you?" Lazarus asked.

"You tried to kill us all!" Clefina cried.

"That was out of my control." Lazarus said, "I never wanted to start up controversy. Of course, Wyatt decided that he couldn't control himself and yet again..."

"Lazarus you are not going to pin this on Wyatt." Averis stood forward.

"Okay, okay!" Lazarus held up his hands, "No need to get defensive. I was just trying to see how his son was doing."

Wyatt blinked turning around, "How did you know he was my son?"

Lazarus shrugged, "You did say it." he mumbled, "'Get away from my son' and all that."

"You knew." Wyatt stood looking the illusionist over, "You knew it, didn't you? You knew Shane was my son."

Lazarus only smiled, "And what is it to you?"

"How?" Wyatt demanded, "How did you know that? What else do you know."

Lazarus stayed silent, grinning a Cheshire cat grin.

Averis turned to Yuri, "You're back!" she cried, grinning.

"Sorry about that." Clefina flushed, "I.. I suppose I got a bit carried away."

[Brandon Skyblade]

((Okay, enough with the color here for now. A bit unnecessary. XD))

"It's alright, Clefina. Besides, I accidentally made the understatement of the century, so I needed that reminder." Twili said.
"Laz, since you're still somehow willing to help out, could you already? Just explain yourself to Wyatt so we can get this going. Waiting isn't gonna do anything." Brandon said, going back to his glare.

[samedi]

Ardent, more or less trapped in cocoon a his own bedsheets, grunted and turned over. This could all wait until next week as far as he was concerned.

[bluedemonhybrid]

Yuri smiled. "I'm Yuri Tsaiban." He said to Brandon, tipping his head as one would tip his hat. "It's really more comfortable like this now, but I kept it on for Gingkyo. Anyway, I can go back in if you want. Just don't do too many sudden jolts."

[Darth Pichu]

Averis smiled at Yuri, "I think you're alright." she said, "We've gotten enough out of him." she smiled, "Thanks so much Yuri. I'm so glad we found you." she giggled a little, "I love your head. Do you do any tricks with it?"

"Laz?" Lazarus repeated, "Who do you think I am, Ratio? 'Ohh ye gods, my name is too long. By the gods, don't call me Horatio! To think it.' It's one syllable you clod! Get over yourself!"


"Enough Lazarus!" Clefina barked, "Get to the point."

"Of course." Lazarus smiled, "Anything for you my dear."

Clefina snorted, turning away.

"My purpose here is nothing more than you see." he shrugged, "I was called here by Averis. I saw the situation, and I was curious as to how the little Tellerman boy was doing."

"How do you know my son?" Wyatt gritted out.

"Well he's not your son yet." Lazarus turned to Wyatt, "He's hardly anything of yours. I'm quite sure I know him better than you do, Wyatt."

Wyatt frowned, "What do you know?"

"I told you before, time is no object to me. I've seen all that has happened with you. And as far as our timeline goes, all that is to come as of right now."

"What are you talking about?"

Lazarus smiled a knowing smile, "The Brotherhood falls." he said, "It's as simple as that. It falls, it's raised, and then it falls again. And the sweet irony, is that when it crumbles it's not an army that stands on top of the rubble, or who stakes the ruddy heart of Ratio Vartle. That role belongs to you and you alone, Wyatt."

Wyatt blinked, "W-.. What...?"

"Ask Shane the next time you get a chance. Ask him who ended the first Brotherhood. Ask poor Clayton who killed Horatio Vartle. Anyone can give you the answer 'Wyatt Tellerman did it'." He smirked.

Wyatt shook his head, "But I..." he stammered, "But what of... that's impossible, I could never..."

"Couldn't you?" Lazarus smirked, "But haven't you always wanted to? Doesn't the very sight of him boil your blood, the sight of your master. Master Ratio? I know you that well, you've always hated him, and even now I know you're agreeing with me."

"Enough Lazarus!" Clefina cried again, "I think we've heard enough."

Wyatt's face was deathly pale. He turned to Averis, looking for support, but Averis was looking away. She knew. Wyatt staggered to the floor, unable to remain standing. He stared at his hands, looking stricken.

[bluedemonhybrid]

"Lazerus, I have had it with you constantly picking on Wyatt!" Sakura snarled as she kicked him in the head. Yuri recognized that tone and made Gingkyo cover her own ears. "I would think that eternal punishment would make you less of a bastard, but that's not so. Do me a favor: when you get back to hell, tell Grandfather I said hello."

[Darth Pichu]

Lazarus winced a bit, glaring at Sakura, "Will you cut that out." he shook himself, "I'm dead and you're giving me a headache."

He stared at Sakura now, "And I wasn't picking on him. He's the one who asked me what I knew. I was just doing as I was told."

"You're a liar, Lazarus." Clefina growled, "You're a damned liar!"

"Why would I lie to you?" Lazarus asked, "When I know that the truth can hurt you so much more?"

"You're sick." Clefina cried, "You're wrong! You're wrong Lazarus!"

Lazarus only shrugged, "Believe what you like."

"Sakura is right, I'm tired of Wyatt always being the target of your abuse. I'd have thought you could at least pick on someone your own size, instead of going around planting your silly lies in..."

"No," Wyatt shook his head, "No Clefina... I... I think he might be right."

Averis looked up, a pained look crossing her face.

"Clefina when... when we saw the empty Citadel..." Wyatt admitted, "When we were there I... I saw writing on the wall. My writing. I was talking about..." he shook himself, "Something happened there, Clefina, something terrible and I..." he looked away, "I think I was the cause."

A silence settled over the room. Averis knelt down next to Wyatt, but now the mage was unwilling to look up at her. Clefina looked back up at Yuri.

"I'm sorry about all this." she apologized, "Things have been rather turbulent for us lately. We really didn't mean to drag you into this and disturb your peace."

[samedi]

"Maybe it's the mark's fault." Ardent offered, sitting up. "Maybe, being consumed by it is just the beginning."

[Brandon Skyblade]

And to Laz, I bequeath...a boot to the head.
Lazarus: A what? *struck down by boot*
((Too easy, sorry. XD))

"Bro, I think Ardent's got it right on the money there." Brianna stated.
"Mostly. The mark's not causing anything other than direct panic...but it IS showing that something's gonna go wrong if we let this play out." Brandon replied.
"Do you have anything in mind about what we should do?" Twili asked.
"Like hell do I. If I had anything in mind, I'd have told you all long ago." Brandon answered.
"Well, there's no way we're gonna just let that consumption happen, right? Maybe his destiny can be changed!" Brianna said.
"It does sound a bit ambitious, but I don't see why it's impossible. Don't worry too much, Wyatt, we're bound to think of something before it's too late." Twili added.
"Couldn't have said that better myself, Twili." Brandon said and nodded. I'd say shit just got real, but it got real the moment I arrived already.

[bluedemonhybrid]

((XD it's ok))
"What peace?" Yuri shrugged as he put Gingkyo's arms down. "Then again, you guys did help me see Sakura again, so I'm eternally grateful to you."

"So, how do we get rid of the marks?" Sakura asked.

[Brandon Skyblade]

"Well, the objective for getting rid of them seems simple. Find the source of their negativity and do away with it, one way or another." Brandon stated.
"That sounds way too easy, bro. I hope you know that." Brianna said.
"Course I do. Nothing's ever that easy, unfortunately. That's why you guys will have to find what's causing them to be eligible for that mark." Brandon replied.
"'You guys?' Brandon, it's not like we can't help out." Twili said.
"I know...but it'll be easier for those he's been around for much longer than we have. I'm not saying we can't help, but it'll be preferred if someone like Clefina, Averis or Sakura goes first, for example. I'd say Shane and Ardent, too...but obviously, we need to ask about them before they can help each other." Brandon answered.
"Not to mention said two are out of commission as we speak." Brianna stated the obvious.
"Then we can be the backup for this. Is that about right, Brandon?" Twili asked.
"Exactly so. Now maybe we can make it so." Brandon said.
"Heh, not only do you sound like a Tactician, but Captain Picard as well. Quite professional, if you ask me." Brianna said.
Brandon laughed at bit, not agreeing too much. "Oh come on, I just used the line. I'll never be of HIS quality."

[Darth Pichu]

A look of horror crossed Wyatt's face. He turned to face Ardent, suddenly even more pale than he'd been before. His hands were shaking horribly.

"Y-... you think.." he stammered, "You think it's the mark's doing?" he asked. Subconsciously he fingered the place where the specter had branded him. The spot felt hard and slightly warm to the touch, almost like a burn or a boil.

He glanced at Averis. There was a pained look on the girl's face.

"So then..." Wyatt clenched his shaking hands, trying to make the tremors go away, "So then if this goes on all three of us are going to be..."

"You're not going to be anything." Averis shook her head, "You heard Brandon and Brianna. We're going to find a way to fix you. All of you. And once we do you're not going to have to worry about this mark, or killing any.. any of us."

Wyatt lowered his head, "But... but what if we do?" he asked, "What happens of one of us does end up being... being overtaken?"

"Then we..." Averis began. She stopped herself in mid sentence, a pained look crossing her face, "I don't know Wyatt. We'll think of something."

Wyatt looked down at his hands. He knew it was happening already. He thought on the way he'd lashed out at Lazarus. He'd never had the strength, or even the urge to do that before, but now the drive was there. An insatiable, uncontrollable urge to cause harm. Perhaps he's imagined it. Perhaps he was imagining it now, but looking back on it the evidence seemed clear. With the way he'd treated Ardent the night before, how quick he was to lash out at Averis, he was already being consumed, just as Shane was, just as Ardent was.

"Yuri." Averis turned to the spirit, her eyes hard, "You're one of the dead. Did you feel the presense of any other spirits around here last night." she frowned, "Were you around here last night? I...I know I saw one, a big armor clad man with a brand. But... but he eluded to another one. You didn't see any... any other spirits, did you?"

[Brandon Skyblade]

If one of them gets fully consumed...I don't think we'll have a choice of what to do. If and when it's too late...we'll have to "take care of them," by any means necessary. Brandon thought before shaking his head.
"Try not to think about every single possibility, Wyatt. When the time comes..." Brandon stopped himself.
"We won't hesitate. Just act." Brianna finished.
"Yeah. That fits perfectly." Brandon commented.
At least they're learning to use those quotes wisely. Twili thought.

[samedi]

"Why don't you just slit my throat now, save you the trouble later." Ardent suggested nonchalantly.

[Brandon Skyblade]

"Because like hell do you deserve that." Brianna answered. "I know you might counter with what you've done recently, but quite frankly, I don't care."

Good one Ardent, she's fired up now. Brandon thought with a smirk. Brianna's like a Pringles chip. Once she pops, she just can't stop.

"That mark of yours proves that you're only dangerously close from being consumed by your own emotions. You still have a chance to turn that around. Like it or not, we're not giving up on all three of you. So, don't even try thinking about taking the easy way out. You never know if you might regret that decision later on." Brianna said, making Brandon look down at the floor.

And you had to go and make her say that? As if I didn't hear enough about regret already... He thought.

Twili noticed Brandon looking down and moved closer to him. "Are you alright? Was it something Brianna said?"
"Something I what?" Brianna said, then seeing Brandon looking depressed. "Oh no...damn it. Alright, what did I say?"
"It's nothing. It's just that what she said reminded me of myself." Brandon replied.
"Mind if I ask how that related to you?" Brianna asked.
"It's because of how I left my old life behind. Remember, sis?" Brandon said.
"Oh..." Brianna looked down as well before looking back at him. "Oh man, I'm sorry, bro. I should've just-"
"-No no, don't be. I've known that I regretted jumping to that decision. That's the only regret I'll ever have." Brandon finished. "You don't need to choose your words carefully around me, okay?"
Brianna nodded in response.
"You're okay, now? I just don't want you to look sad like that." Twili stated.
"I've been fine. It's alright to have the feeling sometimes, right? It's just makes us human." Brandon said.
Twili smiled, patting him on the back. "If you need to talk to someone, you know where to go, right?"
"Always to the two of you. We've been over this a million times." Brandon said, chuckling.
"Just making sure." Twili answered.

[Darth Pichu]

Don't hesitate, huh? those words struck Wyatt harder than anything else, Don't hesitate to strike us down if we act out, is that what that means? a deep frown creased his face, It's just like before. People are fine as long as you don't post a threat. The second you think you might be in danger its every man for himself. The mark on his chest started burning again.

Averis stayed silent, pain obvious on her face. As it stood both Wyatt and Ardent were in mortal danger, and worse, if they didn't get a cure for what was ailing them, eventually the situation would come down to either killing them, or dying themselves. No. she instructed Don't think about it. Neither of them are going to die. We'll find a way around this. We won't have to kill them.

That was when she heard Ardent's words. Tears sprung to the girl's eyes immediately, and she looked at Ardent as if she'd been stuck, pain and fear obvious in her eyes. Wyatt saw the girl's reaction, and immediately rage flashed in his eyes. He stood, hands balling into fists. The boy knew what he'd done. Brianna had given enough exposition about that. Now all Wyatt wanted was to take the boy up on his suggestion.

"Wyatt no!" Averis cried, latching onto his arm, pulling him back down, "Wyatt, please! Don't, I don't want to lose you too!"

Wyatt stared into the girl's eyes, his face softening. He let his hands drop. I'm already beginning to give in he realized. the overwhelming urge was still there. To rip, to hurt. He'd hurt Averis after all, and as far as he knew, the boy still did deserve a good lashing. He'd received quite a bit of punishment as it stood, but still.

"Wyatt please." Averis was sobbing. It had been a long time since Wyatt had seen Averis cry last. It disturbed him a bit the first time. Now it just broke his heart.

"I'm sorry." he said softly, pulling the girl close, "I won't, I won't. It's okay, it really is."

He shot a cold stare at Ardent from over Averis's shoulder. You know what you did.

There was a silence.

"Well, I think it's a fine idea." Lazarus chimed in.

"Lazarus!" Clefina glared at the illusionist, "That talking thing you keep doing. Stop it."

"Fine, Ratio, whatever you say." Lazarus mumbled. He caught sight of Clefina staring daggers through his head, "Well, sorry. That time it was uncanny."

[Brandon Skyblade]

((Did I mention that I think Lazarus is completely and totally trolling everyone? XD))

Brianna quickly stood up right when Wyatt did, alert as can be, but backed down when she saw Averis plead for mercy. She gave a sigh right after that, both physically and mentally. That was TOO close for comfort there!
Brandon had shot a quick glare at Ardent as well when he saw Averis having to stop Wyatt, but it wasn't anywhere near as cold as Wyatt's seemed to be. "Ardent, please...I know this doesn't seem like it's worth it to you, but it is to us. Just...don't ever say that out loud again. We don't want to see someone like you just giving up like that. We ARE gonna help you, and we ARE gonna get you through this, no matter how hopeless it seems to you. That's what I told Wyatt, and by the gods, I'm gonna go through with what I said."
"Ardent...could you at least listen to us for once?" Twili said, sounding as sincere as possible.

[samedi]

Ardent untangled himself from the sheets while Brianna made her little speech and rolled off the bed. He stood up and turned to see Wyatt ready to tear him limb from limb. He backed away only to see Averis in tears.

He was absolutely bewildered. Then Brandon and Twili started giving him grief.

He stared at Averis like a chick separated from it's mother by a lion.

[Brandon Skyblade]

I'm really not too fond of the way he looks right now...I can't tell if he's just plain speechless or scared out of his mind. Brandon thought about Ardent. "Maybe that was a bit much. I'm sorry that I sounded forceful right there, but I said what I thought I had to. If anything, you can just shorten all that to this: Don't give up so easily. Can you...try to do that?" He said.