031 | VIDEO

[myresponsibility]

[Pete doesn't look... totally awful. I mean, it could be worse, he's not screaming or curled up on a ball on the floor.

But he is a little pale, and hunches over on himself with a gasp of pain right after clicking on the feed. The camera angle's a little slanted, and one arm is folded over his stomach, but he's upright and walking through the hallway trying to figure out one thing:]

Okay, who has mine? I'm flattered you're so interested in me, but this really needs to stop.

Comments

[warisart]

Is it?

I don't think you want me to do that.

[Distracted, the X5 turns the doll in his hands over from back to front and back again, quickly, fingering at the small hole in the seam down its side that he's made. His lips move but not loud enough to be discernible as words, his eyebrows pulled together in concentration.]

We don't know what their purpose is.

[myresponsibility]

[Peter bites back something that might have been a shout, because now he feels nauseous and his side is uncomfortable and painful in a way he can't really describe. He tries to keep his voice steady when he finds it again.]

I do, because that hurt. Knock it off.

[warisart]

[Ben's shoulders stiffen at the order, and something flashes across his eyes. Annoyance.]

I'm being careful.

[He picks up something out of sight of the screen, leans over again. And indeed, carefully loosens a few more stitches to make the hole wider with the knife Rhade left him.]

[myresponsibility]

[He bites his lip, tries to push past the urge to say something stupid in response and tries to just breathe through it.

That doesn't work as perfectly as he'd hoped, but he does grit his teeth and manage to say:]

Where are you?

[warisart]

[Ben doesn't look up, not until Peter asks a question and then he notices the clear signs of strain on his face.

He blinks slowly, processing, and then his eyes narrow and his head cocks curiously.]

You truly can feel that. [He still has the point of the knife where he'd left it. Without looking away from the screen, he twists it ever so slightly, carefully precise.]

[myresponsibility]

Yes, [He bites out, sagging a little against the wall. He's sort of just holding the comm at this point, not bothering to direct it at his face.] Where are you?

[warisart]

[Something else changes in Ben's expression, flickering interest and studious intent. He doesn't seem to register the question or, more likely, blatantly ignores it.]

It is a direct transfer? What do you feel? [The X5 doesn't move the knife again, but it holds steady right where it currently is anyway.]

[myresponsibility]

Like you're poking holes in me. Please stop.

[warisart]

But I'm not. [This sensibly. Dismissively.} How is it linked to you? How does it transfer?

[myresponsibility]

I don't know. It's just some crazy flood thing!

[warisart]

Very rarely do floods grant us something physical and external. Something we, in fact, cannot touch without consequence.

You should come here. Proximity may change the effects and I would like to know if this is the case.

[myresponsibility]

Yeah, that's why I keep asking you to tell me where you are.

[warisart]

My mistake.

I am in the eighth level common area.

[myresponsibility]

I'll be right there.