vatheon | (no subject)

Entry tags:

dr. franken stein

(no subject)

Who: Stein, Maka, and then other Villa people
When: Today, afternoon
Where: Coral and then probably the Villa
Style: Actionbrackets
Status: Mostly closed

[He drops into the middle of the Plaza, stumbling over himself before landing hard, facedown on the pavement. He's shaking as he pushes himself up, but he manages to get to his feet, walking forward unsteadly, like someone who hasn't slept in days. He hasn't.

Stein's mind is elsewhere, completely lost in fog and nightmares. The world he's seeing isn't the one he's in right now.]

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[It should have hurt.

But it didn't.

And he stopped?

Maka shakes her head at Kid, gripping his hand with hers.]

I'm glad you're here, sorry for the trouble.

Aren't you hurt? I thought I saw him strike, but...

[That brief squint at her, the weight of Soul Perception, and the minute shake of his head at the other Meister suggest the rest of his unspoken observation; somehow, what should have caused her injury didn't, and he has every reason to believe their professor held back.

But why?

Because he's still hanging on, in spite of his apparent slide into insanity? Kid's gaze returns to Stein.

This again. The familiar spiritual vibration unique to Madness alone.]

Stein! What's the meaning of this?

[A laugh hisses through his teeth, too much noise in his head to respond coherently.

He steps forward, hand sparking again with his unsteady wavelength. He will not misfire this time.]

I've been trying to talk to him, but he won't respond at all. I don't think he's going to respond to anything but force.

Regrettable. He won't go down easily, and I'm concerned about the rest of the villa, as well.

[He makes no effort to push Maka out of the way, not when he knows better.

But neither does he intend to let Stein advance on her without getting directly in his way; one forearm crosses over the other, his posture easily falling into a defensive stance.]

What started this?

[He rushes forward, hand aimed in a straightforward thrust at Kid's soul. Destroy.]

He just--

[She rears back, hoping that Kid won't just stand still to protect her. She can move herself. Move away from someone much stronger than her with gripping tight fingers like death--

Stop. Courage.]

He just came back like that! Then when I tried to help him up he started attacking!

[He'd better not take the hit.]

Kid, move!

[Kid spares himself a second's hesitation.

Once he's determined that he can dodge and not see Stein's attack land on Maka instead, he takes the chance, feeling the crackle of his soul wavelength scraping against the periphery of his own awareness.

Any closer, and even a grazing hit would have given him a fresh definition of pain.]

Then he's..! You can't counteract his Madness without Soul, Maka, this is bad!

[He's not moving with any of his usual intentionality or grace, just striking blindly, the desperate struggle of someone pushed past the point of total exhaustion. When the strike doesn't connect he stumbles, falls, and struggles to stand again.]

I know.

[Of course she knows, yet again someone she trusted was pushed to madness and violence. Unstoppable, relentless, horrifying.

And there was her, unable to do a damned thing about it.]

I...tried to resonate with him, but there was too much noise in his soul. I don't think he can hear anything right now. [He could hear Soul's music.

But Soul isn't here.

But she has to do something.]

I can pin him, do you think you'll be able to bind him?

[A darting glance flits from Stein to Maka, stern and then uncertain.

As much as he wants to help her, to facilitate the effectiveness of that unique wavelength that could restore some of Stein's sanity, there's nothing else he can do.

He can't help feeling like he's failed her somehow, but the professor is an eminent threat he can't afford to ignore long.]

I can't guarantee he won't be hurt. [But he's made of stern enough stuff to make his Father's own Death Scythe.] Let's try it. Just be careful!

[He struggles to his feet, teeth bared in a snarl, and he rushes at Kid, hand charged with his wavelength. No thought, just killing intent.]

[Careful?

No, the time for careful is gone. When Stein moves, so does she, his blind run is met with her charging into a skid to kick out his feet from under him, get him down on the ground and in a position where she can pin him.

There's no more room for making it painless, either.]

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