Friday, February 13, 2004
Character: Melisandre Gautier
Game: Eternus Infinuum
Although her eyes were closed, Meli could see her kitchen and smell the familiar bitter aroma of coffee. Hands wrapped about the ceramic, one mug for each of them. She could make another cup later; Xi wouldn't mind, she was sure. Barefoot, she padded back into the main room.
"Cher? I hope y'don't mind it black, but..." Both mugs shattered against the cold steel of the compartment floor, boiling liquid seeping to the corners. Hands reached out instinctively towards the figure crouched over the missile track. Her feet moved too slowly, catching shards in the skin and leaving a bloody trail. She clutched at the man's arm, voice strangely calm in the chaos of sirens and smoke. "Jerry, move. Get Dorsey, call the chem containment group."
The figure refused to move, even as the missile casing craked and hissed as the sludge met the air. Meli placed her hands on his shoulders, barking orders through the compartment even as she stood in her flannel nightgown. Maybe this time, it could be different. "Jerry, didn't you hear me? Jerry, this isn't-"
Hands fell away as she stared into all-too-familiar teal blue eyes, half hidden by soft white-blond hair. Lips parted in shock, the cry for help stuck in her throat. Mel felt her body shake, fear multiplying at the sight of someone new in her crewmate's place. Liquid poured from the casing even faster, the white-hot ooze thickening on his skin as it consumed layer upon layer. Regaining control of her body, Meli managed to rush forward, throwing herself between Kort and the missile track.
She clutched at his clothing, ripping the fabric to keep the chemicals from eating through to his skin. Meli raced Death, separating it from Kort even as the biotoxin coating her pajamas and skin. Death had ripped friends and family from her. Death had exacted its revenge upon her by taking away the blessed ability to feel the warmth of the sun on her face or the featherlight touch of lips against her skin.
Death threatened to take from her the one person that had actually managed to make her feel, feel alive and whole again. No, you can't have him. Take everything else, you can't have him. Mine. This one is mine, t' keep. Don't want t' be alone, won't let it happen.
Crying, swearing, praying, she shoved him back towards the door. Rather than leave, he reached for the cracked casing again. Again, she shoved him away. She sought his hands; burnt flesh hung from bone, strong hands now charred and useless. Her own chest burnt, she felt her heart pound and threaten to burst from beneath her skin. His face was scarred, hair singed, his mouth naught but a weepy pink line in a field of blackened tissue.
Meli heard herself scream, felt wet tears pour down her cheeks, feeling again. Feeling burning. Feeling pain. Feeling loss. Loss of one who made her want to feel, made her wonder if she might somehow be able to feel that whisper of a kiss against her skin once before she died.
Died.
Dead.
Dead, like Jerry.
Like Jerry. Like Kort.
Dead. Like Kort.
She couldn't call for help, her own lips now burnt beyond the ability to form words. Unable to breathe, Meli futilely pulled her body over to shield the tall Swede. Help couldn't come; she heard sirens and the dead thud of the bolts sliding into locks, quarantine in effect. Meli cradled his head in her lap, unable to say his name as the fire raged in the room.
You're not supposed t' be here. This isn't for you, cher. This is my nightmare, I'm the one who can't leave. I'm the one who can't get out, who has t' stay behind. I hafta pay my dues, you're not part of this.
"Meli?"
Not your job. Not your fight. Don't wanna feel anymore, it hurts so much. Can't feel anything but fire, it burns...
"Meli, wake up..."
Make it stop, please. Make it go away, don't let me feel this. My heart's burning, he's burning. He's too good, he shouldn't be here with me, don't let him die.
"Karesta..."
Dead. Lost. Dead, all dead. Like Jerry. Dead, like the rest. Dead, all dead, and he's too good t' die, don't let him go, let me go instead, don't wanna feel anymore, it burns everywhere, the fire's everywhere, and they're leaving us here, leaving us t' burn, t' die...
"Karesta, wake up. Please, wake up..."
make it stop dear God make the burning stop don't wanna feel it feeling hurts dead all dead take me save him don't let him be dead dead dead all dead...
Game: Eternus Infinuum
Although her eyes were closed, Meli could see her kitchen and smell the familiar bitter aroma of coffee. Hands wrapped about the ceramic, one mug for each of them. She could make another cup later; Xi wouldn't mind, she was sure. Barefoot, she padded back into the main room.
"Cher? I hope y'don't mind it black, but..." Both mugs shattered against the cold steel of the compartment floor, boiling liquid seeping to the corners. Hands reached out instinctively towards the figure crouched over the missile track. Her feet moved too slowly, catching shards in the skin and leaving a bloody trail. She clutched at the man's arm, voice strangely calm in the chaos of sirens and smoke. "Jerry, move. Get Dorsey, call the chem containment group."
The figure refused to move, even as the missile casing craked and hissed as the sludge met the air. Meli placed her hands on his shoulders, barking orders through the compartment even as she stood in her flannel nightgown. Maybe this time, it could be different. "Jerry, didn't you hear me? Jerry, this isn't-"
Hands fell away as she stared into all-too-familiar teal blue eyes, half hidden by soft white-blond hair. Lips parted in shock, the cry for help stuck in her throat. Mel felt her body shake, fear multiplying at the sight of someone new in her crewmate's place. Liquid poured from the casing even faster, the white-hot ooze thickening on his skin as it consumed layer upon layer. Regaining control of her body, Meli managed to rush forward, throwing herself between Kort and the missile track.
She clutched at his clothing, ripping the fabric to keep the chemicals from eating through to his skin. Meli raced Death, separating it from Kort even as the biotoxin coating her pajamas and skin. Death had ripped friends and family from her. Death had exacted its revenge upon her by taking away the blessed ability to feel the warmth of the sun on her face or the featherlight touch of lips against her skin.
Death threatened to take from her the one person that had actually managed to make her feel, feel alive and whole again. No, you can't have him. Take everything else, you can't have him. Mine. This one is mine, t' keep. Don't want t' be alone, won't let it happen.
Crying, swearing, praying, she shoved him back towards the door. Rather than leave, he reached for the cracked casing again. Again, she shoved him away. She sought his hands; burnt flesh hung from bone, strong hands now charred and useless. Her own chest burnt, she felt her heart pound and threaten to burst from beneath her skin. His face was scarred, hair singed, his mouth naught but a weepy pink line in a field of blackened tissue.
Meli heard herself scream, felt wet tears pour down her cheeks, feeling again. Feeling burning. Feeling pain. Feeling loss. Loss of one who made her want to feel, made her wonder if she might somehow be able to feel that whisper of a kiss against her skin once before she died.
Died.
Dead.
Dead, like Jerry.
Like Jerry. Like Kort.
Dead. Like Kort.
She couldn't call for help, her own lips now burnt beyond the ability to form words. Unable to breathe, Meli futilely pulled her body over to shield the tall Swede. Help couldn't come; she heard sirens and the dead thud of the bolts sliding into locks, quarantine in effect. Meli cradled his head in her lap, unable to say his name as the fire raged in the room.
You're not supposed t' be here. This isn't for you, cher. This is my nightmare, I'm the one who can't leave. I'm the one who can't get out, who has t' stay behind. I hafta pay my dues, you're not part of this.
"Meli?"
Not your job. Not your fight. Don't wanna feel anymore, it hurts so much. Can't feel anything but fire, it burns...
"Meli, wake up..."
Make it stop, please. Make it go away, don't let me feel this. My heart's burning, he's burning. He's too good, he shouldn't be here with me, don't let him die.
"Karesta..."
Dead. Lost. Dead, all dead. Like Jerry. Dead, like the rest. Dead, all dead, and he's too good t' die, don't let him go, let me go instead, don't wanna feel anymore, it burns everywhere, the fire's everywhere, and they're leaving us here, leaving us t' burn, t' die...
"Karesta, wake up. Please, wake up..."
make it stop dear God make the burning stop don't wanna feel it feeling hurts dead all dead take me save him don't let him be dead dead dead all dead...
