[Action, forward dated to after the shadow event]

[sternefacade]

[He was in trouble. He knew it. There was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't run, he couldn't hide, and he could never disobey.

So he waited for her. He waited for her to call, and he waited for her to punish him.]




((OOC: This is for Grace and Brera only. WARNING. This will be... oh god I don't even know. It's going to be intense, there's going to be physical and psychological torture involved, and it's not going to be pretty.))

Comments

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

Again.

[The pain alone is nothing.]

You know, even though you want her by your side, Brera? Ranka doesn't feel the same. She doesn't trust you.

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[He shoots a look at her as the metallic taste of blood fills his mouth. Her comment stung unexpectedly. If Ranka doesn't trust him... not only does that mean whatever he's feeling can't be returned, but it also means he hasn't done his job as a protector properly.]

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

You probably should spit that out.

[There's a faint smirk on her face, as she says this. Yes... This was going well enough. If he thought rebellion would ever help this was going to change that.]

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[He stares at her for a moment, attempting to gauge her intentions, but of course that's impossible. Grace has the ultimate poker face. He turns his head to the side and spits a fair amount of blood onto the floor.

He turns his gaze back to Grace, his lips tinged with red.]

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

You're pathetic. How could anyone, let alone Ranka, trust you?

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[He lowers his head, staring at the ground. He can think of a few reasons why he could be trusted, namely that up until now he's never failed anyone.

But... after recent events, why should anyone trust him? If he was so susceptible to incidents like that, why should anyone place their faith in him?

He really was pathetic.]

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

[She had hoped, in vain, that he was competent enough not to let the community's ways affect him. Even she was affected, once, but that hardly mattered. She could always...keep her mouth shut about important matters.

He, it turned out, couldn't.]

That's right. Be ashamed.

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[He just continues staring at the ground, the taste of blood filling his mouth, the shame of who he was and what he'd failed to do affecting him as much as it could.]

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

[She continues to stand away from him, waiting, watching.]

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[A thought comes to him, which he mulls over for a moment before voicing it aloud, still keeping his head down.]

If I am such a failure, why haven't you gotten rid of me?

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

Would you rather I do?

[Odd question. Rebellious question. Her expression doesn't change, and she shrugs.]

Because, Brera, you can be re-purposed.

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[He answers the first question with only silence, but the next with a slight nod. He understands. He doesn't like it, but he understands.

Brera straightens in his chair but still doesn't look at her.]

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

I'm giving you a second chance, but, if you'd rather to die here? I suppose that could be arranged.

[She says this idly, as if she was talking about the weather.]

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[He manages to look her in the eye for a moment. He has a choice? It's not much of a choice, but it is still a choice.

It would probably be better for everyone if he died.

But if he chooses to live, then maybe, someday, he'll have a chance to redeem himself.

He looks at Grace again.]

I would rather live.

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

You want redemption.

[Yes, yes... Of course he wanted to live. Life never wanted to end, no matter how useless it was.]

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[He lowers his gaze again, and whispers.]

Yes.

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

Come here.

[She raises a hand, making a quick gesture.]

You need to see something.

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[He stands and walks over without hesitation.]

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

[She holds out her arm, pulling up her sleeve. The evidence of their fight is still visible; a few slashes still bandaged.]

What do you see.

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[He responds quietly, without emotion.]

The wounds I inflicted upon you.

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

You do realize I let you inflect these, yes?

[She asks it as a question, but it's not. Not really.]

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[He nods, vaguely recalling wondering why she didn't defend herself. He had been so overcome that it didn't matter.]

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

When you go back, they will ask what happened to you. You will tell them that Vajra attacked you while on patrol. That will give no doubt to why you're injured.

[Beat.]

You know that this must happen. Even if I allowed it, you injured me. You deserve at least a fraction of that. On your knees.

[sternefacade.livejournal.com]

[He nods in understanding and gets down on his knees, mentally preparing himself for the pain that's to come.]

[implantsgrace.livejournal.com]

[She walks behind him, placing her foot in the middle of his, she begins to put pressure on his back.]