Newt Geiszler | Pacific Rim (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
groupiedrifter) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ximilialog2022-05-23 11:20 am
groupiedrifter) wrote in ximilialog2022-05-23 11:20 am
[PLAYER PLOT LOG] you can fight this all you want
CHARACTERS: Everyone opting into the Kaiju player plot!
LOCATION: The Train to Vrefesea
DATE: The very end of the mission.
CONTENT: Newton Geiszler, fully possessed by precursors, attempts to wipe out the Ximilia crew and get to the station to retrieve the orb — by borrowing some of the orb's power to raise a miniature kaiju, of course! How else do you try to kill your meatsuit's friends and take what's obviously yours? (Please read the mod's mission conclusion as well, as it contains information before and after this player plot!)
WARNINGS: Likely will involve blood/violence, potential mentioned NPC civilian death, and possession; any additional content warnings will be listed in anyone's top levels!
I. YOU BETTER RUN LIKE THE DEVIL | (KAIJU ATTACK PROMPT)
"Oh, screw it."
There's a vivid burst of light in front of Newton — a cacophony of energy around him that brightens his eager, manic expression. He talks to the mysterious glow, his smile wolfish, predatory. "Lend me some of that sweet power of yours, and I'll make it worth your while. Enough destruction to feed on for lifetime after lifetime. I know just the planets we can visit. I even have the perfect means of travel in mind to take over. What do you say? The Ximilia's really cozy. Help me get to you in Vrefesea, and we'll strike you up a fresh new bargain...!"
The orb is nowhere on the train; it's many miles away, and yet — it's power is here, and there's little room for doubt: it has given Newton Geiszler a fraction of its power. Before anyone can push through the force that has been created, it's too late. The ethereal light pops like a bubble in front of him, expanding to blind those in the train cars nearest to him.
If any crewmembers of the Ximilia are close enough and make the choice to lash out at him, what weapons they have on hand will not meet Newton's skin; their blades or bullets will bounce off a resilient set of thick, reptile-like scales. As the train shakes uncomfortably, rattling their bones and flickering the lights, a long-tailed, bi-pedaled beast bursts out of the light itself, created from thin air and shielding its master from harm. The sharp spines that line the back of the beast's head scrapes gashes into the ceiling of the train car, and its barbed tail whips around with enough strength to break bone, smashing into windows and letting unpleasant gusts of wind into the long line of cars.
It is a kaiju.
Just like the creatures from Newton's world that he'd spoken of many times aboard the Ximilia — smaller and more compact here, but no less of a nightmare when you're literally powerless. And despite Newton saying nothing to it, it seems to know exactly what its purpose is. The beast looks straight down the walkway ahead of it, toward orbers and confused civilians approaching from the back cars... and begins its wild assault down the middle of the train cars. Newton has already fled in the other direction — toward the front of the train — and as he goes, the kaiju lets out a battle-cry that rattles abandoned glasses before it lunges toward whomever may be unfortunate enough to be in its warpath.
You'll need to think fast or fight hard; the kaiju is creating chaos as it goes, and the passengers are all in peril if left unguarded. Likewise, many orbers don't have the means to fight, and must simply run and survive... to do what they must to get out of this without the beast's massive claws slicing through their skin or its tail snapping bone. It will not hesitate to try and take anyone too slow or bold in its mouth and shake them like prey, throw them aside, and move onto the next target. The kaiju's goal is clear: it is here to kill and damage, to keep them all at bay for their master.
Those who can manage it may dodge around the beast with some fast moves, or tucking away into corners to be passed over, left to be able to hide safely in the debris and chaos... or give chase to Newton. The others who fall back? Must fight it, as well as defend the train's passengers, many of which scurry toward the back of the train in a mad panic.
Luckily, the kaiju is not all-powerful: if a weapon is lodged between its scales, the pointed ends can be wedged in deep enough to draw blood and do real damage... and the softer underside of its long, alligator-like jaw can be pierced after many foolhardy attempts, but be careful: its blood is a terrible corrosive. If it meets one's skin and isn't removed very quickly, it will leave an awful burn where it falls, one that will worsen until the thick substance is wiped away and left to slowly corrode elsewhere.
Eventually, the creature will be taken down. Try not to get killed before then.
[PROMPT NOTE: The two selected characters from the plotting post's RNG may create a thread together to kill the kaiju; the takedown will happen at the very tail end of the player plot, of course, but feel free to start in any time! Everyone else is more than welcome to land blows on the kaiju or find themselves running, harmed or attempting to save civilians and orbers.]
II. SPARKS AGAINST THE RAILING | (OPT-OUT OPTION)
But not everyone will even know what's happening, in that moment: those who are further back in the train cars will be concerned by the distant jolts of energy making the train cars tremble, until an even larger jolt that knocks them to their knees — followed by the smell of smoke. If they make their way through the doors that bridge one piece of the train to the next, they'll find themselves stopped suddenly short... when they open the door and find that there is no next train car to greet them. No walkway that leads to a new door.
Instead, they look down to see railroad tracks submerged in ocean water.
And further up the tracks? The rest of the train is speeding away, leaving them behind.
As the backend of the detached train they're stuck in slowly rolls to a helpless stop, an inspection will reveal what must surely have been a bomb of some sort that had been detonated and completely blasted through the train coupler. Can't really keep moving if you're not coupled to an engine anymore, can you...? The orbers and passengers on these last few cars will be mortified to realize they're stranded — and there's no catching up to what sounds like the distant sounds of monstrous roars. Indeed, it looks like everyone trapped there will have to simply hope that those left aboard the speeding train will return for them later. And for the orbers: they'll have to hope that their fellow teammate will retrieve the orb and teleport them back to the Ximilia.
Hopefully with everyone in one piece. Hopefully.
[PROMPT NOTES: If you'd like minimal interaction, there's also the option of still being able to contact those involved through the network/inboxes! This is basically just an option put into place so that anyone who isn't feeling the player plot or are too busy to participate to have an easy out.]
III. SAY HELLO TO THE BRUSH FIRE | (BOMB DISARMING PROMPT)
Ah, but was that explosion the only one those left aboard the speeding train need to worry about?
Unfortunately, the answer is no.
Those who have managed to skate by the kaiju or are further back on what's left of the train will have another concerning dilemma on their hands, one of which is swiftly brought to their attention: explosives.
Explosives some of the more seasoned orbers may recognize, built eerily close to those used to blow up the pulse-fire mining tunnels on the planet Badrock. Another sample of Newton's work, something which the precursors possessing him must've sapped knowledge of to prepare before they'd even left for this train mission; those train guards really should have checked their luggage, huh?
There is a telltale timer build into the sides of the devices, giving frighteningly short windows of opportunity to be defused. Yes, if left unattended, these will no doubt finish off any of the remaining train cars, leaving them to become stranded — or worse. Derailing is not something anyone will want to happen here, nor do they want Newton to decouple the remaining train cars as he makes his way to the front of the barreling locomotive; being left behind or killed means the orb's as good as theirs.
Attempting to rip the explosives away from the spaces they've been attached will do no good, not unless you want an instant explosion to occur (and maybe some of you need to be urgently stopped before you do this very stupid thing; don't you know anything about pressure switches, friends?). But if you've got someone around with particularly skilled hands and well-trained brains when it comes to bomb disposal, you may be in luck, because they can most-certainly be disarmed by those familiar with basic technologies. Better get on that fast, team. Newton will appreciate it keeping you busy either way.
IV. KILL ALL YOUR FRIENDS | SEMI-CLOSED | (CONFRONTING NEWTON PROMPT)
'We feel you wriggling around in there, Newton,' the precursors think.
Armed with a supply of talismans from Sedorum powered by their new best friend the orb, they make their way from train to train, their perfectly shined shoes tapping urgently along the train. Most of the civilians make way, too busy cowering, but they don't hesitate to aim a handy-dandy ray gun from the Ximilia herself and shoot any brave souls who try to stop them from progressing. 'That'll show 'em.' As long as they can get this body to the first few train cars, it'll be easy breezy: the remaining bombs will detonate and decouple the rest of them to be left with a violent, murderous kaiju, they'll get to the station, and the orb will be as good as theirs... And then, of course, they'll take over the Ximilia and collect the rest of the orbs for themselves.
Easy peasy, as Newton would have said.
But the prideful creatures don't particularly expect too many of you to get through the kaiju's barrage, or the bombs planted along the couplers ... Hmm. But shouldn't they have heard some explosions by now? Surely the timed bombs weren't disabled, were they? They slide their hand into their pocket, curling Newton's fingers around the etched talismans there he'd taken from Sedorum — the last mission had a lot of benefits, y'know?
So do be careful if you're giving chase: he's more armed than he seems, and more capable of defensive attacks than some who are usually more superpowered aboard this train. They won't hesitate to shoot to kill, though you can try your best to talk to Newton; clearly this must be Newton, right? And Newton is a good man — surely he can be convinced what he's doing is wrong. Surely he will see reason and remember his empathy and better nature...!
(Oh, if only.)
But eventually, finally, with some elbow grease and maybe a bit of rough treatment, Newton will be apprehended.
Just in time for (most) of the train to roll up to the loading zone.
... Welcome to Vrefesea Station?
[PROMPT NOTES: This prompt is somewhat closed for Newton! I'll be plotting with CR and seeing who is interested in running into him and getting hurt or failing to capture him; if you're interested, feel free to hit me up on plurk at![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
simpledog or via private message! I cannot guarantee I can involve everyone that is interested for the sake of time, but I will try my best to keep it varied! There will also be a short network post from the precursors, as well as a post-player plot log where characters with the ability to supernaturally or technically help remove the precursors from Newton's mind, so there'll be plenty of other methods of interaction if those fit your fancy! The two characters who are RNG'd to apprehend Newton in a thread will be contacted and threaded out here in a closed thread.
And that's all she wrote! Check out the mod's conclusion post to see the ending of the mission and the player plot, in which the orb is retrieved and Newton is apprehended and returned with everyone else to the Ximilia. I'll be posting a log sometime after this one for (less perilous) precursor interaction and removal aboard the station, so stay tuned for that if you're interested in being involved!
Thanks so much for everything. ♥ ]
LOCATION: The Train to Vrefesea
DATE: The very end of the mission.
CONTENT: Newton Geiszler, fully possessed by precursors, attempts to wipe out the Ximilia crew and get to the station to retrieve the orb — by borrowing some of the orb's power to raise a miniature kaiju, of course! How else do you try to kill your meatsuit's friends and take what's obviously yours? (Please read the mod's mission conclusion as well, as it contains information before and after this player plot!)
WARNINGS: Likely will involve blood/violence, potential mentioned NPC civilian death, and possession; any additional content warnings will be listed in anyone's top levels!
I. YOU BETTER RUN LIKE THE DEVIL | (KAIJU ATTACK PROMPT)
"Oh, screw it."
There's a vivid burst of light in front of Newton — a cacophony of energy around him that brightens his eager, manic expression. He talks to the mysterious glow, his smile wolfish, predatory. "Lend me some of that sweet power of yours, and I'll make it worth your while. Enough destruction to feed on for lifetime after lifetime. I know just the planets we can visit. I even have the perfect means of travel in mind to take over. What do you say? The Ximilia's really cozy. Help me get to you in Vrefesea, and we'll strike you up a fresh new bargain...!"
The orb is nowhere on the train; it's many miles away, and yet — it's power is here, and there's little room for doubt: it has given Newton Geiszler a fraction of its power. Before anyone can push through the force that has been created, it's too late. The ethereal light pops like a bubble in front of him, expanding to blind those in the train cars nearest to him.
If any crewmembers of the Ximilia are close enough and make the choice to lash out at him, what weapons they have on hand will not meet Newton's skin; their blades or bullets will bounce off a resilient set of thick, reptile-like scales. As the train shakes uncomfortably, rattling their bones and flickering the lights, a long-tailed, bi-pedaled beast bursts out of the light itself, created from thin air and shielding its master from harm. The sharp spines that line the back of the beast's head scrapes gashes into the ceiling of the train car, and its barbed tail whips around with enough strength to break bone, smashing into windows and letting unpleasant gusts of wind into the long line of cars.
It is a kaiju.
Just like the creatures from Newton's world that he'd spoken of many times aboard the Ximilia — smaller and more compact here, but no less of a nightmare when you're literally powerless. And despite Newton saying nothing to it, it seems to know exactly what its purpose is. The beast looks straight down the walkway ahead of it, toward orbers and confused civilians approaching from the back cars... and begins its wild assault down the middle of the train cars. Newton has already fled in the other direction — toward the front of the train — and as he goes, the kaiju lets out a battle-cry that rattles abandoned glasses before it lunges toward whomever may be unfortunate enough to be in its warpath.
You'll need to think fast or fight hard; the kaiju is creating chaos as it goes, and the passengers are all in peril if left unguarded. Likewise, many orbers don't have the means to fight, and must simply run and survive... to do what they must to get out of this without the beast's massive claws slicing through their skin or its tail snapping bone. It will not hesitate to try and take anyone too slow or bold in its mouth and shake them like prey, throw them aside, and move onto the next target. The kaiju's goal is clear: it is here to kill and damage, to keep them all at bay for their master.
Those who can manage it may dodge around the beast with some fast moves, or tucking away into corners to be passed over, left to be able to hide safely in the debris and chaos... or give chase to Newton. The others who fall back? Must fight it, as well as defend the train's passengers, many of which scurry toward the back of the train in a mad panic.
Luckily, the kaiju is not all-powerful: if a weapon is lodged between its scales, the pointed ends can be wedged in deep enough to draw blood and do real damage... and the softer underside of its long, alligator-like jaw can be pierced after many foolhardy attempts, but be careful: its blood is a terrible corrosive. If it meets one's skin and isn't removed very quickly, it will leave an awful burn where it falls, one that will worsen until the thick substance is wiped away and left to slowly corrode elsewhere.
Eventually, the creature will be taken down. Try not to get killed before then.
[PROMPT NOTE: The two selected characters from the plotting post's RNG may create a thread together to kill the kaiju; the takedown will happen at the very tail end of the player plot, of course, but feel free to start in any time! Everyone else is more than welcome to land blows on the kaiju or find themselves running, harmed or attempting to save civilians and orbers.]
II. SPARKS AGAINST THE RAILING | (OPT-OUT OPTION)
But not everyone will even know what's happening, in that moment: those who are further back in the train cars will be concerned by the distant jolts of energy making the train cars tremble, until an even larger jolt that knocks them to their knees — followed by the smell of smoke. If they make their way through the doors that bridge one piece of the train to the next, they'll find themselves stopped suddenly short... when they open the door and find that there is no next train car to greet them. No walkway that leads to a new door.
Instead, they look down to see railroad tracks submerged in ocean water.
And further up the tracks? The rest of the train is speeding away, leaving them behind.
As the backend of the detached train they're stuck in slowly rolls to a helpless stop, an inspection will reveal what must surely have been a bomb of some sort that had been detonated and completely blasted through the train coupler. Can't really keep moving if you're not coupled to an engine anymore, can you...? The orbers and passengers on these last few cars will be mortified to realize they're stranded — and there's no catching up to what sounds like the distant sounds of monstrous roars. Indeed, it looks like everyone trapped there will have to simply hope that those left aboard the speeding train will return for them later. And for the orbers: they'll have to hope that their fellow teammate will retrieve the orb and teleport them back to the Ximilia.
Hopefully with everyone in one piece. Hopefully.
[PROMPT NOTES: If you'd like minimal interaction, there's also the option of still being able to contact those involved through the network/inboxes! This is basically just an option put into place so that anyone who isn't feeling the player plot or are too busy to participate to have an easy out.]
III. SAY HELLO TO THE BRUSH FIRE | (BOMB DISARMING PROMPT)
Ah, but was that explosion the only one those left aboard the speeding train need to worry about?
Unfortunately, the answer is no.
Those who have managed to skate by the kaiju or are further back on what's left of the train will have another concerning dilemma on their hands, one of which is swiftly brought to their attention: explosives.
Explosives some of the more seasoned orbers may recognize, built eerily close to those used to blow up the pulse-fire mining tunnels on the planet Badrock. Another sample of Newton's work, something which the precursors possessing him must've sapped knowledge of to prepare before they'd even left for this train mission; those train guards really should have checked their luggage, huh?
There is a telltale timer build into the sides of the devices, giving frighteningly short windows of opportunity to be defused. Yes, if left unattended, these will no doubt finish off any of the remaining train cars, leaving them to become stranded — or worse. Derailing is not something anyone will want to happen here, nor do they want Newton to decouple the remaining train cars as he makes his way to the front of the barreling locomotive; being left behind or killed means the orb's as good as theirs.
Attempting to rip the explosives away from the spaces they've been attached will do no good, not unless you want an instant explosion to occur (and maybe some of you need to be urgently stopped before you do this very stupid thing; don't you know anything about pressure switches, friends?). But if you've got someone around with particularly skilled hands and well-trained brains when it comes to bomb disposal, you may be in luck, because they can most-certainly be disarmed by those familiar with basic technologies. Better get on that fast, team. Newton will appreciate it keeping you busy either way.
IV. KILL ALL YOUR FRIENDS | SEMI-CLOSED | (CONFRONTING NEWTON PROMPT)
'We feel you wriggling around in there, Newton,' the precursors think.
Armed with a supply of talismans from Sedorum powered by their new best friend the orb, they make their way from train to train, their perfectly shined shoes tapping urgently along the train. Most of the civilians make way, too busy cowering, but they don't hesitate to aim a handy-dandy ray gun from the Ximilia herself and shoot any brave souls who try to stop them from progressing. 'That'll show 'em.' As long as they can get this body to the first few train cars, it'll be easy breezy: the remaining bombs will detonate and decouple the rest of them to be left with a violent, murderous kaiju, they'll get to the station, and the orb will be as good as theirs... And then, of course, they'll take over the Ximilia and collect the rest of the orbs for themselves.
Easy peasy, as Newton would have said.
But the prideful creatures don't particularly expect too many of you to get through the kaiju's barrage, or the bombs planted along the couplers ... Hmm. But shouldn't they have heard some explosions by now? Surely the timed bombs weren't disabled, were they? They slide their hand into their pocket, curling Newton's fingers around the etched talismans there he'd taken from Sedorum — the last mission had a lot of benefits, y'know?
So do be careful if you're giving chase: he's more armed than he seems, and more capable of defensive attacks than some who are usually more superpowered aboard this train. They won't hesitate to shoot to kill, though you can try your best to talk to Newton; clearly this must be Newton, right? And Newton is a good man — surely he can be convinced what he's doing is wrong. Surely he will see reason and remember his empathy and better nature...!
(Oh, if only.)
But eventually, finally, with some elbow grease and maybe a bit of rough treatment, Newton will be apprehended.
Just in time for (most) of the train to roll up to the loading zone.
... Welcome to Vrefesea Station?
[PROMPT NOTES: This prompt is somewhat closed for Newton! I'll be plotting with CR and seeing who is interested in running into him and getting hurt or failing to capture him; if you're interested, feel free to hit me up on plurk at
And that's all she wrote! Check out the mod's conclusion post to see the ending of the mission and the player plot, in which the orb is retrieved and Newton is apprehended and returned with everyone else to the Ximilia. I'll be posting a log sometime after this one for (less perilous) precursor interaction and removal aboard the station, so stay tuned for that if you're interested in being involved!
Thanks so much for everything. ♥ ]
no subject
even when he does get the assurance of her voice, the wrap of her fingers against his arm somehow still almost gentle even as he feels her try to dig her strength weakly into her, he keeps his attention on the broken booth until he can steer part of it away, tossing it with a harsh grunt to the other side of the train. ]
Marta — [ he reaches for her properly then, the fullness of his palms sliding against her cheeks, looking her over, thumbs stroking back and forth, as his gaze darts over her body, like he still isn't fully convinced she's properly alive.
she's still trapped, after all.
his eyes look at her with a focused stare, breath heavy, even as he speaks clearly. ]
I'm gonna get you out. Okay? I got you.
no subject
I know, [ comes her soft murmur, perhaps too soft not to be heard over the chaos that remains all around them — people scrambling to get themselves out of their own mess, the mad dash to retreat to another car that isn't half-hanging out of the ocean — but her hand grips his wrist where it's fallen, as if to reassure him that his own reassurance has reached her.
her body aches all over, but she has enough wherewithal to know that she none of the pain seems to be from any kind of puncture. there is blood, but from minor scrapes and scratches, and the ringing in her ears has already begun to fade. all in all, not too shabby considering how close she'd been to the blast, so she considers herself quite lucky, and thus more than content to simply lean into kovacs' touch and let him take care of the rest, as he's promised her he will.
—and it would all be alright, too, if it were not for the quiet beeping beginning to sound over the din. the sound coming from another bomb, attached to another timer, tucked innocently beneath an overturned chair on the other side of the car.
11:59 it reads. ]
no subject
his heart practically stops, everything else including the screams of escaping passengers and the clank of wheels moving across the tracks below all silencing to allow the higher pitch of the beep louder at his ears.
turning his head slow, he sees it, the numbers changing with each passing second, going lower.
lower.
lower.
he swallows, lips parted for a heavy breath that he tries to keep steady, to keep calm, as he attempts to divert his attention less on time and more on getting her out. he's had time-sensitive missions before, races against the clock. he can do this. ]
Marta— [ there's no doubt she'll hear the beeps if she hasn't heard it already, but he won't address it. focus. assess everything. ] Can you feel your leg? Can you feel where the pressure is? Can you pull it free — anything?
no subject
[ where seconds ago she'd been content to lean boneless against him, now her body tenses and strains, hips twisting under the weight of metal and wood to try and ease the lower half of her body free.
so many more seconds pass in her effort, too many to be wasting like this, culminating in a mere few inches loose and a desperate, frustrated sound to escape her clenched teeth. ]
I can't. [ her vision blurs from unshed tears, her voice made thicker still with it. she wishes so badly not to panic, but the beeping persists. ] Takeshi, I can't—
no subject
still, there's the beeps. ]
It's okay, it's okay.
[ he hears her straining tone, hand to her cheek again to ease her down. ]
Hey — you can do this. Listen to me — listen to me. I know you can. [ even through the beeping behind them, he strokes her cheek with his thumb, quickly leaning in for a brief press of his lips to her forehead. ] Take a few breaths, and on the count of three, I'm gonna push this up as hard as I can and you're gonna pull yourself, okay?
no subject
it's so much more different now. to be frozen in this moment, staring into his eyes, feeling the desperation in the way he holds her. it's okay, he tells her, and she wants so badly to believe him, but fear is so potent and spreads like wildfire.
all she can think is: this isn't her life. this isn't something that happens to people like her. people like her aren't made for this.
but he looks at her like he needs her to believe him, and marta is nothing if not inherently ready to support. ]
Okay, [ she whispers. closes her eyes to the phantom feeling of his lips on her forehead. wills herself to summon all the strength in her power if only so she can one day feel that again. ] Okay.
[ she steels herself, ready..
still, there's the beeps. ]
no subject
suddenly, in that moment, he'd give it all up, everything, every deal, every mission, every memory, every piece of himself, just to make sure she stayed alive.
(and that's how he knows, the thing he hasn't said, not to her, not to himself, that's how he knows it's real.)
he watches her to make sure she understands, steeling himself against the continuing beeps that taunt behind him, making sure it doesn't shake him from what he needs to do. ]
Okay.
[ with a nod, he withdraws his hand from her, shifting his body to press his knees firm to the ground, hands snatching a grip on the broken seat. ]
One — two — three —
[ and with a hard grit of his teeth, he lifts. or at least, attempts to, pushing up the rubble only a slight bit, finding that the piece is seemingly stuck against something else, making it even harder to lift. ]
no subject
five inches. maybe six, at most. not even a foot out from under the wreck, only her hip free to show for all that work.
the sound she makes is broken, shattering the steady rhythm of all those beeps. ]
Takeshi, listen.
[ she twists, reaching for him. now it's her turn to be calm, be rational. she knows by now the kind of person takeshi kovacs is. that not even a rampaging kaiju would tear him aware from trying to protect the people he cares for.
(and he does. he does care for her. stupid that it takes something like this for her to finally admit it to herself. you, marta. yes, you.)
she knows he would never walk away from this on his own, that he would die right along here with her if it meant continuing to try until he couldn't any longer.
marta can't watch that happen. and she won't let him watch another person he cares for die. ]
Listen — if it gets too late, if the time... [ 05:37... 05:36... ] You have to go. Promise me — promise me you'll go.
no subject
but he doesn't stop trying, not until he's shaken out of it by the sudden touch from her hand, his lifting strength finally easing as his widened eyes turn to look at her, breath panting hard.
promise me you'll go.
his eyes squint like he's not sure what she's trying to say, even while her message is completely clear. without even processing it, he's already shaking his head. ]
No.
[ it's firm, unshaken, and his eyes stare at her like she's offended him by even suggesting it.
the timer beeps but he isn't listening, even as he reaches for her again, hand cupping her chin to keep her eyes directed to him as he leans in, voice stern. ]
You already promised me. You promised you'd be there, right? Whenever I needed you? Well, I need you now.
[ he nods, like he's somehow convinced she's forgotten, that he needs to remind her. but then he swallows, eyes red, like the dust is stinging them, or something else altogether. ]
You said, don't go where you can't follow. So until you can come with me, I'm not going anywhere.
no subject
another stifled sob, equal parts frustrated and exasperated and so, so full of affection she can hardly breathe from it. on his chest comes down her small, balled fist — resigned and determined all at once.
what have they been doing, wasting all this time? ]
Then hurry, Tak — [ it takes everything she has to let go of him, to put her hands back on the ground and try again. meeting his eyes, her own tears unshed by pure will alone. ] Get me out of here.
no subject
there's no further reply from him, no need for it, save for a quick nod before he's right back where he needs to be. he doesn't waste a second looking at the clock, not wanting to know the time, not wanting to waste a moment trying to calculate the odds of success on this.
all he needs to do is get her out of here.
he counts again, those three seconds, now that they know the drill, and when that third number leaves his lips, he's putting even more strength into it. it doesn't matter that the neurachem isn't activated in his body while he's on this planet, that his endurance and power isn't as heightened as it typically is; he wills himself to push every ounce of himself into that lift, a groan deep and loud from his throat and past his lips as he lifts the debris higher, pulling the weight away from her legs. ]
no subject
their eyes meet. there's so much she wants to say.
but time isn't on their side, so her grip on him tightens, vice-like, before she pivots towards the door. it's just a few feet ahead and her legs scream for reprieve but she can make it, she has to — for him. ]
no subject
and the beeping. still that beeping.
he's standing quickly as he feels her hands grasp at his shoulders, at his arms, reaching for her hips fast to steady her. he's aware that she's no doubt feeling weak, that the weight had done a number on her legs, but they can't rest. not yet.
as she turns for the door, he moves with her, keeping an arm settled around her waist to support her, even as their feet race along the aisle further away from the bomb that's counting the seconds down.
everyone else has long since made their escape from the car, and it's only them remaining as they make it to the door, slipping past into the next car. kovacs doesn't stop there, urging her to keep going, further to the other side. whatever damage the bomb'll do, they need to get as far away from it as they can before it inevitably goes off. ]
no subject
this time, there are no debris, no dust to settle. the train clamors on, noisy and shaky, but the car they're in remains in one piece. and, in the silence that follows the explosion, marta can hear it — the absence of beeps.
there are still tremors in her hands when she pulls away enough she can look up at the man who's saved her, who wouldn't let her give up on herself. ]
Takeshi— [ her voice is raw, hoarse from the strain and the stress. when she swallows, it feels like she's taking in all the dust and debris from the first car, but still she struggles for words. even when she doesn't really even know where to begin. ]
Tak, I... Thank you.
[ that seems like as good a place as any. ]
no subject
like that, he remains still for a time, keeping her locked to his body, his own breathing settling back normally from its heavy pants. his eyes are to the train behind them, like he's still on the defensive, prepared for another threat to arise, another kaiju, another bomb, another betrayal —
and then he feels her shift to lift her head, his eyes turning back to her again, his focus suddenly abandoning what they've just left behind, attention on the light quiver of her lips as she tries to speak.
he raises his hand, bringing it up to her cheek, settling more gently without the previous frantic panic as a distraction. there's hints of dirt against her skin, a smudge left behind from the blast of the explosion that had her caught beneath the rubble, and his thumb strokes against it, almost absentmindedly as he merely looks at her.
how many times has he almost lost her now? nearly three hundred years that he's been around, countless people he's had to lose, had to give up, had to move on without. if he lost her, it'd just be more of the same, wouldn't it?
— wouldn't it?
the difference is, he would have died for each and every one. died for rei. died for the envoys. died for quell. died for clara. it's easy to sacrifice yourself for someone when you don't find any value in yourself, when you spend every moment chasing for a purpose. but he didn't want to die in that car today. he didn't want to go down in that explosion, because he wanted this, for them to escape, for them to live.
because he doesn't want to die for marta. he wants to live for her. ]
"So, alright, these two — they just met. It's the start of their story," he raises a brow at her. "So this is the point that we, what — root for them to save each other?"
Her thoughtful hum is matched with a brief wistfulness that she is quick to draw back in on a breath. Another page turned, though not a single word was read.
"Something like that," she says, carrying on like neither of them had made such melancholy pitstops in conversation. "They start off at odds with each other, two very different people with very different wants. Saving each other is a pretty tall order for any relationship's beginning. I'd say right now it's just enough to hope that their paths keep crossing. That they'll figure it out along the way."
He knows all about crossed paths, about being at odds and watching things unravel in ways no one would have expected. His own version of the tales never ends well. Maybe this one turns out better.
"Something to look forward to then."
[ kovacs takes a soft breath, like the chaos of the world stills in the passing seconds, like all he can hear is the fall of her breath as she peers up to him, returning his stare. his own eyes are softened in their gaze, blinking slowly. ]
The rest of my story — [ smudged in thoughtful scribbles in a journal, encouraged by her words for him to keep going, to fill the pages of a life he once found little worth in. ] It needs you. [ he leans his head in closer, his voice softer, meant only for her. ] I need you.
no subject
marta never considered herself the kind of person to lead a story, not even her own. but the way kovacs looks at her, the way he makes her feel — maybe it's possible to have a starring role after all. maybe it's worth it to try.
so she takes the plunge. ]
You have me, Tak.
[ he's so close, she barely needs to whisper so he can hear. so close she can reach up and thread her fingers through the strands of hair that have fallen over his eyes, tuck them back as he's always done to her. and if her fingers drift from there, down the cut of his cheek, trailing gently over the mouth her gaze has dropped to? she doesn't seem to notice. not when her whole heart has lodged itself in her throat, ready to burst out if she doesn't say — do — something too. ]
You have all of me.
[ he's so close, she need only tip her face up to shatter that distance and cross the line they've both been dancing around all this time. maybe this isn't the time, but she kisses him like they've got a wealth of it anyway. ]
no subject
ultimately, he knows his curse, knows that he isn't meant for the happiness found in fairy tales, and he's tried to banish that realm of thinking completely.
"Hopes doesn't have to be a dirty word," marta had told him, months ago, when he hadn't even realized yet just how much of it she could instill in him again.
but even more than just hope, he wants something else — a future, a life. one that has her in it.
"You have all of me," she says, like she offers more than just the small portions of someone's heart that he's only ever been able to afford. all, like she trusts him to hold it for her, just in the way he's been willing to let her hold onto him.
with her, there's nothing he needs to share, not as she gives him every piece, nothing to share but the kiss that presses firm to his mouth suddenly, fiery and transcendent despite everything that continues around them, from the betrayal of a friend to the explosions that nearly ended both their lives to the kaiju that still attacks somewhere down the line of this train.
it all stops with a kiss, eyes shutting with hers as he tastes her mouth for the very first time, his arms circling her back, and clutching at her body to keep her close, to breathe her in — his peace, his hope — and never let go. ]