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Speared through with bones, the child's body barely looked human anymore. Sans couldn't look at it long. He took no pleasure in the act itself, only a bone deep relief that he survived this round. There would be another, of course, probably many.
The child was only so strong. They would have to lose at least a dozen more times before the learned his patterns and dusted him for good. Not that even that was permanent.
With a wave of his hand, the bones disappeared and Chara's body thudded lifelessly to the ship floor. Sans knew he wasn't new to this, not technically, but the knowledge that he killed before was quite different from seeing it first hand.
Taking a moment over the body, Sans is completely oblivious to any activity at the doors behind him.
The child was only so strong. They would have to lose at least a dozen more times before the learned his patterns and dusted him for good. Not that even that was permanent.
With a wave of his hand, the bones disappeared and Chara's body thudded lifelessly to the ship floor. Sans knew he wasn't new to this, not technically, but the knowledge that he killed before was quite different from seeing it first hand.
Taking a moment over the body, Sans is completely oblivious to any activity at the doors behind him.
The walk to Miles' office felt longer than usual, made longer by the silence between them. Sans visited this place every day, after all, depositing a variety of ill-advised suggestions. On good days, thinking about it made him smile.
And though Sans was still smiling even now, as he dragged himself into the chair opposite Miles' desk, it was with a sick sort of numbness behind it.
"Pretty crappy weather lately, huh?"
And though Sans was still smiling even now, as he dragged himself into the chair opposite Miles' desk, it was with a sick sort of numbness behind it.
"Pretty crappy weather lately, huh?"
Edited 2016-02-08 22:12 (UTC)
It's a strange feeling to have to world shift suddenly out from under your feet. Lara has felt it so many times before that she looks down when it happens again, tensing for the life or death jump. The floor of the Moira stays where it was. She looks up. The bloody smear that had been the strange child she met... What days? Hours? That was still there. So was-
"Sans." Her voice sounds strange in her throat, raw and hurt, and she doesn't know what she's doing til she's moving. Reaching for- something, she doesn't see what, but it whizzes through the air. The arch is wide and the gardening trowel clangs off a rack of sprigs near Sans' head.
"Sans." Her voice sounds strange in her throat, raw and hurt, and she doesn't know what she's doing til she's moving. Reaching for- something, she doesn't see what, but it whizzes through the air. The arch is wide and the gardening trowel clangs off a rack of sprigs near Sans' head.
It wasn't out of surprise or even fear that Sans froze, bones going rigid all the way down to his joints. There wasn't anything stopping someone from walking in on them, after all. Hell, Sans was surprised it didn't happen sooner. That wasn't what sent an icy feeling of regret up through his marrow.
Of all the voices he could hear, that had to be one of the worst.
"Heeey, L." His recover was slow, but he was smiling all the same. His jacket and uniform were splattered with blood. Nothing much he could do about that. "What's up?"
Of all the voices he could hear, that had to be one of the worst.
"Heeey, L." His recover was slow, but he was smiling all the same. His jacket and uniform were splattered with blood. Nothing much he could do about that. "What's up?"
The casual tone of his voice makes her want to scream. She nearly does, but it gets tangled up in her lungs with a sob. The noise that comes out is a strangled sob. There's blood everywhere, and of course she's seen plenty of it, but never from a body so small.
Her hand lands on something else and she throws it without thinking. Her aim improves with the cold focus that seemed to settle over her. She knows this, she knows blood and death, but this is wrong.
Her hand lands on something else and she throws it without thinking. Her aim improves with the cold focus that seemed to settle over her. She knows this, she knows blood and death, but this is wrong.
It's not the first thing Sans expects, but it's not the last, either. All it takes is a quick side step to avoid the projectile, though his foot nearly slips in the blood. Sans' smile has yet to falter, but there's a fresh pain behind it now.
Not that he blames her for a second.
"Can I explain?"
Not that he blames her for a second.
"Can I explain?"
"Explain." The word comes out gritted and sharp, distantly Lara marvels that she's able to speak at all. "Explain what. Sans, you killed-" But hasn't she, isn't she so much worse, does she even have a right to this anger. "You killed a child."
It sounds horrible when she says it, and Sans can't really find it in himself to argue. That's exactly what he did. The proof is in the body by his feet. But he also can't manage to summon much remorse for them, either.
Honestly, most of what he feels is numbness. She could throw something else and it would probably hit this time.
"Heh, you're right." He chuckled, looking down at the body with a distant sort of humor. "Looks pretty bad, doesn't it?"
Honestly, most of what he feels is numbness. She could throw something else and it would probably hit this time.
"Heh, you're right." He chuckled, looking down at the body with a distant sort of humor. "Looks pretty bad, doesn't it?"
She would throw something, except her hands are curling into fists, short nails pressing in her palm.
"Stop laughing." This comes out as a hiss. She had heard him laughing, just before, it's what made her go into the garden to begin with. Now the sound of it makes her feel sick. "Just shut up."
"Stop laughing." This comes out as a hiss. She had heard him laughing, just before, it's what made her go into the garden to begin with. Now the sound of it makes her feel sick. "Just shut up."
She looks terrible. Even as distracted and numb as Sans feels, he can't avoid noticing that. She cared about him. That was sort of dumb of her, but then again, he cared about her too.
They were both dumb.
"Alright," he agreed, lamely. There wasn't much fight left in him at this point. Still, he stopped laughing.
They were both dumb.
"Alright," he agreed, lamely. There wasn't much fight left in him at this point. Still, he stopped laughing.
The problem is there's plenty of fight left in her, but... This isn't one that she wants to fight, that she could stand to. She can hardly take being in this room, but just leaving seems even more wrong.
She turns sharply, stalking through the garden, then turning and tracing her path back. She needs to call someone, probably, but god who.
"I'm calling Miles," she says before the idea even has the chance to take firm root.
She turns sharply, stalking through the garden, then turning and tracing her path back. She needs to call someone, probably, but god who.
"I'm calling Miles," she says before the idea even has the chance to take firm root.
She turns at the sound of his voice, drawing herself up in a show of silent rage her titled ancestors would have been pleased by. The thought doesn't occur to her, only the wild desire to lash out.
"Would you prefer I call one of the captains."
"Would you prefer I call one of the captains."
She's a towering pillar of strength. Hell, Sans is almost proud of her. Tough as nails and not letting anyone pull shit, not even him. It's an admirable quality, one many of the people in his life lacked.
Who would ever need someone as useless as you. Cheap bait, roared at him by a desperate and furious child. But bait or not, they were right in this case.
Lara didn't need him. Never did, really. And that's okay, Sans is sure. In fact, it's better this way. Not that she would remember any of this when the timeline reset, but maybe some vestige would hold over. Maybe she would keep her distance next time, even if she can't quite place why.
Yeah. Better this way. Even if the sucking feeling in Sans' chest is starting to ache.
"Heh, nah, you're right. No need to get short, L, that's Miles' job."
Who would ever need someone as useless as you. Cheap bait, roared at him by a desperate and furious child. But bait or not, they were right in this case.
Lara didn't need him. Never did, really. And that's okay, Sans is sure. In fact, it's better this way. Not that she would remember any of this when the timeline reset, but maybe some vestige would hold over. Maybe she would keep her distance next time, even if she can't quite place why.
Yeah. Better this way. Even if the sucking feeling in Sans' chest is starting to ache.
"Heh, nah, you're right. No need to get short, L, that's Miles' job."
Edited 2016-02-09 05:28 (UTC)
It's a terrible joke. He's told her so many by now, sent her even more, that her first impulse is to laugh. It gets tangled up in her anger, lodging like broken glass in her lungs.
She can't speak for a moment, the seconds spiraling out into a solid minute, as she stares at him. She wants to scream and cry and demand that he make things right, that he stop this. It would be childish. And there aren't any children left in this room.
"Just be quiet." Her voice is soft and dead. She'd think it a mercy she hasn't started crying, but she can't think past the cold spreading through her. She turns her back on him, half wildly hoping to feel the magic bones slamming into her, even knowing he would never, and calls Miles.
She can't speak for a moment, the seconds spiraling out into a solid minute, as she stares at him. She wants to scream and cry and demand that he make things right, that he stop this. It would be childish. And there aren't any children left in this room.
"Just be quiet." Her voice is soft and dead. She'd think it a mercy she hasn't started crying, but she can't think past the cold spreading through her. She turns her back on him, half wildly hoping to feel the magic bones slamming into her, even knowing he would never, and calls Miles.
He waits through the call, abiding by her request. It's the least he can do. Heh, quite literally the least. Useless, wasn't that the word? Heck if it wasn't accurate.
Lara's voice is quiet and Sans can't quite overhear, which is honestly a blessing. He never made a habit of caring what other people thought of him, but there are a few select people who have the dubious honor of him giving a shit. The woman behind the door, Papyrus (and wouldn't he be so proud to see his brother like this), and now Lara.
Gotta admit, this had to be a land speed record for him letting someone down.
Once she's off the phone, Sans gathers his words. Finally.
"It's not what you think it is, kiddo."
Lara's voice is quiet and Sans can't quite overhear, which is honestly a blessing. He never made a habit of caring what other people thought of him, but there are a few select people who have the dubious honor of him giving a shit. The woman behind the door, Papyrus (and wouldn't he be so proud to see his brother like this), and now Lara.
Gotta admit, this had to be a land speed record for him letting someone down.
Once she's off the phone, Sans gathers his words. Finally.
"It's not what you think it is, kiddo."
She looks at him, helpless and hurt. It's not far from the look she gave him when they first met, though she at least is more coherent. Barely a month ago and why had she come to care so much about him.
She doesn't know if she can bring herself to regret it, even as it hurts.
"Tell me how." Her voice is quiet, her reactionary anger subdued for now, leaving her numb.
She doesn't know if she can bring herself to regret it, even as it hurts.
"Tell me how." Her voice is quiet, her reactionary anger subdued for now, leaving her numb.
Honestly, Sans wasn't prepared for her to ask. He expected another barb, maybe a reminder to stop talking -- something he could acquiesce to easily enough before diving back into his own numb absence of thought.
And yet here she is, asking him. Sans actually finds himself at a loss for a few moments.
"They're dangerous. To us." He frowns down at the body, trying to ignore how his slippers were now sopping with blood. "Papyrus wasn't safe."
And here he is, laughing again, because wasn't? The past tense didn't apply.
"Isn't safe," he corrects, still chuckling to himself. "Isn't safe. No monster is."
And yet here she is, asking him. Sans actually finds himself at a loss for a few moments.
"They're dangerous. To us." He frowns down at the body, trying to ignore how his slippers were now sopping with blood. "Papyrus wasn't safe."
And here he is, laughing again, because wasn't? The past tense didn't apply.
"Isn't safe," he corrects, still chuckling to himself. "Isn't safe. No monster is."
She nearly hadn't. Even hearing him talk now was nearly too much. She wanted to cover her ears, but she stays still and listens, attentive as ever.
"That doesn't make sense," she tells him, frowning, and that's almost an emotion, "What do you mean?"
"That doesn't make sense," she tells him, frowning, and that's almost an emotion, "What do you mean?"
"All of this, you, me, them." He juts a careless hand towards the body, completely beyond remorse. "It's not even going to be here soon. You won't even remember this. Hell, we might be back on Emiri, I've got no idea when they last SAVEd..."
Even to anyone in his world, it would sound crazy. Hell, hearing himself say it aloud like this, Sans can hear how nuts it sounds.
"Look-- time, Lara? Time is not a flat surface. And your first mistake is thinking that any of it matters." He still sounds insane and he knows it, but there's simply no other way to explain it. "We're all caught up in it. I don't know if it will be tonight or tomorrow or the next day, but this is all going to go away."
Even to anyone in his world, it would sound crazy. Hell, hearing himself say it aloud like this, Sans can hear how nuts it sounds.
"Look-- time, Lara? Time is not a flat surface. And your first mistake is thinking that any of it matters." He still sounds insane and he knows it, but there's simply no other way to explain it. "We're all caught up in it. I don't know if it will be tonight or tomorrow or the next day, but this is all going to go away."
Edited 2016-02-09 06:45 (UTC)
It does sound crazy. It sounds like something she might have stumbled on in Matthias' logs and the comparison is enough to send a new wave of pain shooting through her. She wishes even a fraction of it where physical, that, at least, she knows.
"I don't know how this works in your world," she begins, slowly, "I can't even argue that it's not how it works in mine..." Not her expertise, but also not the point. She gestures to the body on the ground. "Things like this don't just go away, Sans. Memories like this don't just go away."
She knows that, straight down to the marrow, has seen that. Every time she goes to sleep. Every time she closes her eyes.
"I don't know how this works in your world," she begins, slowly, "I can't even argue that it's not how it works in mine..." Not her expertise, but also not the point. She gestures to the body on the ground. "Things like this don't just go away, Sans. Memories like this don't just go away."
She knows that, straight down to the marrow, has seen that. Every time she goes to sleep. Every time she closes her eyes.
"They're not supposed to, you're right." He agrees with her on that point, rubbing at his eyesocket with the palm of his hand. He looks and sounds as exhausted as he feels, the force of it hitting him like a wave. He could go to sleep right now. It wouldn't even be that hard.
"I probably could've waited it out. I did it before. It didn't work, but hey. Lazy is as lazy does, right?"
He cracks a wider smile, finally looking her in the eye again. His eye sockets are an inky black, light snuffed out of the completely.
"Guess I didn't want any new nightmares, kiddo. Pretty selfish of me, huh? But look who I'm talking to, you know all about that. We're a real dream team, the two of us."
"I probably could've waited it out. I did it before. It didn't work, but hey. Lazy is as lazy does, right?"
He cracks a wider smile, finally looking her in the eye again. His eye sockets are an inky black, light snuffed out of the completely.
"Guess I didn't want any new nightmares, kiddo. Pretty selfish of me, huh? But look who I'm talking to, you know all about that. We're a real dream team, the two of us."
It's so terribly obvious how tired he is and she nearly softens just at that. The comparison sends ice running through her. Sans is... They had clicked together, so fast and effortlessly, like Sam had sent him to keep an eye on her while they were apart. It was easy to forget that he didn't know. He has only a vague idea of what she's done.
"What did they do, Sans." She thinks she knows, or at least has an idea, what might push someone like Sans to kill.
"What did they do, Sans." She thinks she knows, or at least has an idea, what might push someone like Sans to kill.
It's an immense question. Bigger than Sans' has words to answer it with.
Devastated my home town. Laid waste to my entire race. Backed us into corners while they hunted us. Killed children. Decapitated my brother while I watched like an idiot and did nothing.
"It's not important what they did." It's a cop out, but he's tired. And the idea of even speaking those words aloud to anyone, even Lara, makes the thought of them getting back around to his brother too real. "It's done. And I've given up going back to fixing it. There's no home for me anymore, this ship is alls I've got."
Sans laughs, rubbing at his eye again.
"Kinda dopey of me to try and protect it, but hey. Never let it be said I don't know how to bone things up."
Devastated my home town. Laid waste to my entire race. Backed us into corners while they hunted us. Killed children. Decapitated my brother while I watched like an idiot and did nothing.
"It's not important what they did." It's a cop out, but he's tired. And the idea of even speaking those words aloud to anyone, even Lara, makes the thought of them getting back around to his brother too real. "It's done. And I've given up going back to fixing it. There's no home for me anymore, this ship is alls I've got."
Sans laughs, rubbing at his eye again.
"Kinda dopey of me to try and protect it, but hey. Never let it be said I don't know how to bone things up."
Edited 2016-02-09 07:46 (UTC)
She doesn't know what to say to that. Doesn't know what to feel. Cold. Like the floor's gone out from under her. She looks down again, reflectively. She wants... She doesn't know what she wants.
She lets the tension go out of her legs, sliding down to the floor and stares at the body and the puddle of blood and thinks about Yamatai. Smoke and snow and bullets tearing through flesh, the solid impact of a fist against her face and the screams of men as she fought and killed. Thinks about the dying man, trapped under rubble, begging for death. The jump of the shotgun had felt like redemption and damnation in the same breath.
That she doesn't hurt now, that she isn't bleeding, feels strangely out of place and wrong.
She lets the tension go out of her legs, sliding down to the floor and stares at the body and the puddle of blood and thinks about Yamatai. Smoke and snow and bullets tearing through flesh, the solid impact of a fist against her face and the screams of men as she fought and killed. Thinks about the dying man, trapped under rubble, begging for death. The jump of the shotgun had felt like redemption and damnation in the same breath.
That she doesn't hurt now, that she isn't bleeding, feels strangely out of place and wrong.
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