8th trial | Text

[cameclosest]

spam for Norton Folgate

Like last time, Varker wakes suddenly, with a gasp, but this time it sounds more like he's choking. Something about death by throat slashing seems to have his breathing acting up, and it's all very-

"Au-" He tries and fails to form the word, stuck between not being able to breathe and trying to breathe too quickly. His head hurts, horribly, as if someone had stacked two of the fucking tolls on top of the other, but it's not quite so, just that she's there, and she hasn't so much as made a sound, her mouth shut and upper lip quivering. And all he gets from her is fear, flickering in and out like a dying lightbulb.

[Varker won't admit that it has taken a good half an hour to type this. Between the fact that his vision keeps blinking out, and the panic of the stuttering connection between he and his unnaturally quiet little monster, it's been a fucking time already.

But awful as it is, Dr. Clement Varker does not let that stop him from being a petty bitch.]

While I know I didn't put up nearly as good a fight as you're probably used to, I figured I'd at least give you some practice, Belmont. For all the collateral damage you've already written off.

Just remember, the children will go even easier than I did.

[He hopes you feel like a big boy with your victory and plans, Trevor. He'll see you in hell if you succeed.]

Private for Oscar

5 minutes is a short amount of time, an eternity I think.

[Zero context, sorry love.]

private for John Doe

Audrey needs you, if you'd please come to Folgates?

[Varker will be most commonly found in Norton's cabin, in his room at the top of the stairs. He won't be leaving for the first few days of toll, he's a little too fragile for that in more ways than one, but when it starts to peter down he will be seen here or there. If you catch him in the halls, on the way to work in the infirmary and in the memorial room Audrey will be far more reserved and quiet than usual. She greets little to no one, if barely making a noise at all when Varker's on the move, and is quite even when he's found some place secluded and safe to sit.]

Comments

Private

[withintenfeet]

[ Oh, no. ]

Please tell me you talked to Oscar about this before us.

Re: Private

[cameclosest]

He knew before I left his cabin earlier this morning, I think. He's not an idiot.

But I did text him, not that its any of your business.

spam

[greatoldjohn]

[ There's a knock on the door before the message comes. ]

It's me.

Re: spam

[cameclosest]

[Varker had asked Norton about the cabin access, so at least this is easier. He's not getting up for fuck all at the moment, thanks.]

Not opening any doors for you John, upstairs, to the left.

Private

[unilaterallydisarming]

Five minutes can change everything.

Sometimes less.

Re: Private

[cameclosest]

It wasn't less.

I last longer than that.

[You set him up for thr incredibly inappropriate joke, Oscar. You can't blame him for it now.]

[howtheyshine]

[Somehow in his general seclusion, he missed the post about the bombs. He finds it now. He finds it when he tries to see if there's any information as to why Varker would say the children will--]

Wh... Do you need- Uh.

[Sorry, he's taking in the fact that the guy he used to ride behind on horses in the Enclosure murdered someone and is trying to blow up the ship.

Get it together, dipshit.]

I don't know if you know my brother, John, but we have- have these- creatures we call Dancers, who can kind of act like scouts for us. If you're- if you want something to watch your back for a bit.

[cameclosest]

[Varker isnt unaware of John's brother, but he hadn't expected this. He reads to him as barely out of childhood himself. It's probably the stuttering confidence, but even so, the dial gets adjusted all same.]

If Trevor wants to come for me again he will with or without a slice of god following me around.

I have labeled myself a threat and that was the point, the consequences of that I'll suffer through.

[He just wont go looking for another fight until he's thought about it and Audrey has recovered. She holds grudges just about as much as he does in any case.]

[anashthetic]

Monster hunters always find their cause to be righteous, regardless of the fallout. They're very predictable that way.

[cameclosest]

Mmhmm. Righteous as the fucking Unabomber.

I doubt being labeled a terrorist will do much to hurt his ambitions but it does make ME feel good, so thats something.

[rou_gui]

What are you idiots doing

[cameclosest]

being stupid fucking men about it, Quetzi.

Seems the only language Trevor understands. Man hit other man, BIG EMOTION, lots of grunting.

Its all very complicated and profound, for him anyways.

Spam

[pharadyne]

Norton had been sitting by Varker's bedside, reading another of the trashy pulp novels he finds in the library. He sits up and tosses the book aside when he hears the first sounds of (painful) life coming from Varker.

"Shhhh, sweetheart, here's some water and some medication for the pain. Let's start there."

Re: Spam

[cameclosest]

The series of events that lead to his death are pouring right back in and Audrey feels like she's scrambling into a corner in his mind.

Christ, he's shaking, and crying and he doesn't want to drink anything. What he does want is connection, something soft, and he doesn't care if the water spills, or the pills fall to the ground, he's grabbing Folgate and clinging to him.

He's been scared so much of the last year, but its been a long time since he felt the fear of actual death, of wanting to keep going and being unable to.

[de_nile]

[Marc uncorked Steven 20 minutes ago with deep reluctance. He's already locked in, by which I mean he has no FUCKING idea what's happening.]

The what?

Dr. Varker, did you two fight? Like, physically?

[cameclosest]

[Steven, he is not in the mood to be gentle with you, and later he will regret this but right now?

Right now he wants to be gross and hateful about what happened.]

I think it would be generous to call it a fight. Belmont doesn't play with his food as much as I thought he might.

If janatorial staff has been lazy today you might be able to find what was left of Audrey in a pool of our blood just outside the chapel.

Private

[planetdialup]

Want some healing, Uncle Clem?

[A beat.]

I have a spell- esuna. Sometimes it works for death tolls.

Re: Private

[cameclosest]

John is taking care of it, but thank you.

Aside from the pain I wasnt aware there was anything to be done about the symptoms and fatigue?

[cigsandbeer]

[Gojyo's seen Oscar's post about the bombs. He didn't comment: strategy isn't his forte; he'll leave that to better-suited people. The allusion to kids being in danger, however, riles him up enough to comment:]

It's one single guy being a pain in everyone's asses, how hard can it be to just punch his daylights out??

[Not meant as an attack on Varker's attempt, although it might come off that way.]

Cw: character death mention

[cameclosest]

[He knows you, Gojyo. More as a concept of 'Ellie's warden' than anything else. He doesnt spend too much time remembering that walk back to Norton's cabin. Which is both a shame for the fact that it probably would put him in a better light and a blessing for how traumatic that day had been.

It had done most of the heavy lifting of getting Varker to decide 'no, not again.' But he can't take that question any way other than insulting.]

He forceably tore a sizeable chunk of my fucking SKULL from my head with a god damn CHAIN and his BARE HANDS in less than five minutes before slitting my throat.

But sure. How hard could it be?

[Stupid Asshole.]

[major_rawne]

The fuck did you do?

[cameclosest]

Took a cheap shot that failed miserably, but hell if I regret it.

If I didn't feel like shit I would say it even feels good.

Note to self, next time? Cheaper shot. I'll call it a handicap.

[does he care that Trevor is probably reading this? Fuck no, the man murdered him with a fucking chain and a knife. Anything underhanded is just leveling the playing field and he feels zero remorse for it. Call him a coward, but at least he's going for it.]

Private voice

[adamantea]

You did a good thing, fighting him. I just wanted to make sure you know that.

It's not going to make him stop. That doesn't mean it doesn't matter.

Re: Private voice

[cameclosest]

[Varker is squinting at the communicator, wondering who the hell this is. Someone's been slacking and missed her coming in.]

why thank you, strange young lady ive never met before.

SO encouraging. Bravo. I feel so much better about getting my head ripped open.

[queen_anne_chonk]

Oh my gosh, what happened?! Are you dead? Do I need to do a revenge murder?

[cameclosest]

Miss Donut, I would be very upset for a number of reasons if you got yourself demoted, so please restrain yourself, for me?

Besides, one spontaneous failed attempt isn't going to deter me. I can learn from this.