16 - Knight Lancer S

[radiantwingedone]

Who: Duke, Zelda's household, and Angelina
When: The 3rd
Where: Random Alley, Angelina's House, then Zelda's house.
What: Duke was a kidnap victim! Time to get found.
Status: Closed.

[ Duke wasn't sure where he was, but that really, really didn't matter that much. They were still around, somewhere, waiting. They weren't happy that he remained silent, but Duke didn't care. He refused to make noise louder than the pained notes that made it through his breathing. He won't be bait. He wouldn't let them use him to lure his friends close, he wouldn't...

Even if everything felt like nothing would work, and breathing was a bit of a chore, he wouldn't make a sound. Even if it meant the fires turned to dull, cold aches because there was nothing left to burn.


Of course, the glow leaking off of him would probably attract people, nevermind that he looked different than he normally did. ]

Comments

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke makes a shaky noise of some sort of agreement, remaining balled in the blankets.


Although, a couple of minutes after Zelda heads downstairs, Duke realizes that he doesn't want Zelda out of the room, because if he can't see them, they're not in his room, but what about the other rooms?

He doesn't even realize how off that sounds, he's just going to migrate his blanket nest to near her and settle there. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[She isn't doing anything more than washing dishes. She blinks a couple times in confusion upon seeing Duke nesting on the floor near her feet, setting her plate aside and drying her hands.]

Duke?

[radiantwingedone]

Worried. [ That's all he's going to say, and he's not even going to poke his head out of his blankets to say it. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[Of course. His other friends had died, he'd already been worried about something happening to her... of course this would make him worry more. She decides to just leave the dishes be, kneeling down next to him.]

Do you want to stay in my room tonight? I won't force you to sleep, but I am getting a little tired.

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke shuffles about in his blankets so he can peek at her knees. ]

... would be okay? [ Yes, he would feel much better. ]

[zelda_hylia]

Why wouldn't it be?

[They've slept together before, after all. It's terribly obvious to Zelda at this point that Duke doesn't think of her in that way. She holds a hand out to him to help him stand again.]

[radiantwingedone]

[ Because he's a mess, because he's still not quite sure what is luring them closer, because there are lots of people in the house who care for Zelda, because he's just plain a bad person and should stay far far away

Duke makes a short somewhat confused noise, and slowly takes Zelda's hand. He's going to study the floor intently and try to keep his blankets wrapped about him, using the posture of someone who doesn't want to look tall. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[She leads him upstairs to her room, pausing outside the door. Whatever state he's in, there are just some lines you don't cross.]

Wait here for just a moment, all right? I'm going to change. I'll be right back out.

[Zelda ducks into her room and shuts the door gently behind her.]

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke stands there for a moment, before he settles on the ground again. He likes it on the floor right now.

And maybe while he doesn't want to sleep, he's rather close to exhausted. Its just stubborn Duke keeping him awake - although its also fear. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[Properly clad in her usual nightgown, she opens the door again. She's already pulled her blankets back.]

Come in. You get cold, don't you? Lay in the bed with me.

[Zelda recalls how much Duke relaxed last time when he could hear her heartbeat. If she's nearby, maybe he'll be able to sleep.]

1/2 for meansamm is mean

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke blinks, then picks himself up off the floor carefully and straightens to go do so.

Of course, looking at Zelda means looking at faces, because that is what one does and-

2/2

[radiantwingedone]

[ Blue.

Nononono, they found him, he can't stay in Zelda's house, they'll hurt her, or her friends to hurt her too and no!

Duke gives a startled, pretty much scared cry, and attempts to run down the hall away. He doesn't get too far before the blankets he's been wrapping himself in tangle about his legs and he goes crashing to the floor. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[It was her. He'd looked at her and it scared him. Sucking in a sharp breath, she runs after him.]

Duke! Duke, what is it? Do you still feel strange? Is it still some sort of drug? Do you understand me?

[radiantwingedone]

Don't stay. [ Duke shudders, drawing his legs up so he can curl back up into a ball. ]

Zelda should run. Zelda should run... [ A panicked ball, that is Duke. Only there's no magic to go with it. ]

[zelda_hylia]

There's nothing here! It's just us, Duke...

[Try as she might, she can't figure out what it is that set him off. He'd seemed fine, and then suddenly he just snapped again.]

Can you tell me what it is you saw? What should I run from?

[radiantwingedone]

Should run...

[ That would be a bit of a pleading note, Duke remaining in his trembling ball.

Would that be a good idea? Tell Zelda who they were, help her get away from them - from him?

He needs to think on this more, panic and fear making it hard. ]

[zelda_hylia]

Please, I need to know. What is it I should run from?

[Does he actually remember his captor, or is he hallucinating like the rest? Goddesses, please let him remember...]

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke shudders. He doesn't want to talk about it. It hurts. ]

Again. again [ He doesn't want to remember. ]

them again

[zelda_hylia]

Okay. I just looked, okay? There's nothing here...

[Having no idea what else to do, she kneels down in front of him and wraps her arms around him, blanket ball and all. If it doesn't calm him down, she'll have to put him to sleep somehow with magic, but she really would like to avoid that. He's already gone through enough today.]

[radiantwingedone]

them again....

[ He's not sure how to get it across, more than that. It hurts too much to try to get more.

His trembling increases for a moment when he feels arms about his hiding place, but the words are placed with the voice and he... he thinks its Zelda.

Zelda should have gone, they'll get her if she stays, no it can't-

Duke is going to need some time being held before the shakes die down to a fine tremor. ]

[zelda_hylia]

I'm sorry.

[Her voice is quiet, mostly speaking just to fill the silence so he knows she's there.]

I shouldn't have let you go back, not with that maniac on the loose. I thought - I thought I was being paranoid, but I should have asked you to stay...

[But she didn't. When it comes down to it, she always lets people leave.]

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke's silent for a while, before he tugs himself a bit more into his blankets. ]

... Too many people. Would have wanted ...

[zelda_hylia]

What would you have wanted?

[Even as he continues to draw away, she only presses closer. It was something about looking at her face that set him off, so once she reaches his head she simply holds it to her chest like she did in his nightmare, hoping she can make whatever illusion he's seeing fade away in a similar manner.]

[radiantwingedone]

Space. Would have wanted that...

[ Oh. That's .... nice. Duke will slowly curl about Zelda instead.

And it will be a while before he talks again. ]

Ones.. who... killed friend. Them. Them again...

[zelda_hylia]

In Vatheon...?

[Now that he's coming to her willingly, she rearranges his blanket cocoon to include her, trying to ignore the sleeves of her nightgown slipping down as they are wont to do. Zelda rests her hands in his hair, stroking soothingly.]