044: Death and All His Friends

[contract_star]

[Hei appears on the Plane in a simple wooden chair, his wrists zip-tied together behind the back. He seems to be unconscious, slumped forward in the chair, hair hanging in his face. He looks half-dead--battered and bruised and dusty. Blood is drying at his hairline and near his nose.]

[A moment goes by, and then he opens his eyes and sits up rather abruptly, shaking his head and sighing in annoyance. It's clear that while he's obviously been in a fight, it's not as bad as it first looked. He looks around the Plane.]

...Mostly according to plan...sort of.

Comments

[madamemoiselle]

...{Hei, this is the look of Diva not being pleased} Then for your sake, I should hope that you know what you're doing because I don't feel obliged to retrieve your corpse if your clever plan "sort of" doesn't "mostly" go according to plan.

[contract_star]

...Thanks for the vote of confidence.

This is exactly what I wanted. They think I'm unconscious. Now that I'm here, I'll be able to get free. Then I can deal with them.

[madamemoiselle]

Well, when you tell someone at the same time not only are you planning to get yourself captured, basically, it doesn't really soften the blow any when Hei shows up on the Plane tied up like a common criminal. And besides that, I'm still upset with you, but that should be easy enough to figure out.

{But she does walk behind Hei and carefully just pulls the plastic zipties apart}

[contract_star]

I'm not much better than a common criminal. [Pauses and looks away, contrite.] I'm sorry. I figured this would happen, and I planned to come here in order to get free.

[Freedom!] ...Thank you.

[madamemoiselle]

{She just stands silently, gingerly placing her hands on his shoulders. Her tone is softer, but it still has a very hurt edge to it}

I just don't want to lose Hei too.

{But she turns away, and her voice is chiming and indifferent once again} Well, what kind of place are you? Now that you're free, will you be fine?

[contract_star]

[Looks up at her.] They wouldn't kill me. I have something they want.

I should be. I got a relatively good look at the layout. I know where Yin is, and I know how many there are. I just need a weapon...and maybe some wire.

[madamemoiselle]

But they hurt you anyways.

A weapon? Ah, I can at least get that for you. Ne, what do you want? It might take a while since those corpses are still around, but it won't be a problem.

[contract_star]

[Shrugs.] It's normal.

I can get knives from the kitchen, but if you could get your hands on any wire, that would b helpful. Just don't put yourself in unnecessary danger. [Realizes what he just said and looks away.] Or, I mean...you know what I mean.

[madamemoiselle]

{Diva just nods, dropping off the Plane. It takes her a while, since she doesn't exactly live near any hardware stores, but she pops up after a while with red freckles of blood dotting her clothing, but she is completely indifferent to this, apparently. But she holds out a spool of wire}

Is this alright?

[contract_star]

[Tugs on the wire and his eyes spark red as he shoots some electricity through it.] This will do.

Are you okay?

[madamemoiselle]

I'm fine. It's troublesome, but they don't move very fast, so they're easy enough for me to deal with.

[contract_star]

Good. Just take care of yourself.

[madamemoiselle]

I'm hardly the person you need to worry about! Worry about Yin, or yourself, for that matter.

[contract_star]

[Small smile.] We'll be alright. [He hopes.]

[madamemoiselle]

{Teasingly,} You had better be! If not, you'll never hear the end of it, especially from the people here, you know?

[contract_star]

I figured as much. Anyway, I'd rather not die again.

[madamemoiselle]

I think most people wouldn't. Ne, but do you think if you die twice, they change your blood again? Like it turns blue or something else odd.

[contract_star]

I don't know...I wonder.

[madamemoiselle]

Well, as long as you don't actually die, I guess it's not really important.

[contract_star]

I won't.

[madamemoiselle]

{And here Hei, have a hug} Be careful, alright?

[contract_star]

[Hugs her back.] I will. Thank you.