The first shot struck the prow right in front of her, the second and third hit the jetty as Sarah threw herself to the ground to avoid them. She’d seen Gabriela moving, she’d been ready to run if the silhouette didn’t stop its approach, but Elliot’s question had distracted her enough that she’d let the other girl get too close, far too close. Not that it made much of a difference either way when said girl had a gun; if Sarah had run she’d have been shot in the back before she could get anywhere.
Because Gabriela was trying to kill her.
She’d known that was a possibility, but the thought still left her shaken. Seo-Yun had wanted to kill her as well, but that was different from… Seo-Yun had been menacing but… when actual bullets were involved…
Sarah couldn’t run. She couldn’t fight either, but she needed to stop Gabriela from killing her. If she got the gun away from her then they could talk it out. It didn’t matter to her what teams they were all on, she didn’t care, if Sarah could get Gabriela to stop then they could talk; Elliot would help her, she’d convince him and then they’d convince Gabriela.
Pushing herself up from the jetties Sarah sprung up and ran for the ramp that connected the small boat to the wooden platforms. She didn’t even think about the knife in her hand as she threw herself towards the other girl, trying to grab the wrist of the hand holding the gun with her free hand as she did so.
There’s a Fire in the Sky That Only I Can See
Night following the Third Announcement, Private
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It had been incredibly stupid of her to think that literally firing off shots in the dark like that would work, obviously, and as she witnessed Sarah rising to her feet following her volley of fire, Gabriela couldn’t help but fixate on what a fucking brainless maneuver it’d been.
In the history of SOTF, the most successful killers had usually thrived off of variety, off of making use of differing strategies that would best suit a given situation. Gabriela had instead gone back to the well, trying to use the same trick she had on Carol.
Now Sarah was rushing toward her, which would make everything worse. Sarah had a bit of height and reach on Gabriela and, if she recalled correctly, was more athletic to boot.
Gabriela’s finger met the trigger once again, but before she pressed down on it for a fourth time, moonlight shone upon Sarah’s face for the first time.
She panicked, and then Sarah was upon her.
As the other girl took hold of her wrist, Gabriela lost hold of the pistol and it clattered onto the deck.
Fear shot through her system and some cross between a grunt and a squeak shot from her throat. Gabriela’s right wrist bent sharply as she attempted to grab a hold on Sarah’s hand, her arm, anything, while her other hand grabbed a hold of other girl’s left shoulder, the nails of both hands digging in deep wherever they found purchase.
Gabriela just needed to get Sarah off of her, to get her away. She drove her knee upward at Sarah’s core, but she’d already been knocked off balance, and the move sent Gabriela tumbling back onto the deck, pulling Sarah along with her as her back connected with the hard surface.
In the history of SOTF, the most successful killers had usually thrived off of variety, off of making use of differing strategies that would best suit a given situation. Gabriela had instead gone back to the well, trying to use the same trick she had on Carol.
Now Sarah was rushing toward her, which would make everything worse. Sarah had a bit of height and reach on Gabriela and, if she recalled correctly, was more athletic to boot.
Gabriela’s finger met the trigger once again, but before she pressed down on it for a fourth time, moonlight shone upon Sarah’s face for the first time.
She panicked, and then Sarah was upon her.
As the other girl took hold of her wrist, Gabriela lost hold of the pistol and it clattered onto the deck.
Fear shot through her system and some cross between a grunt and a squeak shot from her throat. Gabriela’s right wrist bent sharply as she attempted to grab a hold on Sarah’s hand, her arm, anything, while her other hand grabbed a hold of other girl’s left shoulder, the nails of both hands digging in deep wherever they found purchase.
Gabriela just needed to get Sarah off of her, to get her away. She drove her knee upward at Sarah’s core, but she’d already been knocked off balance, and the move sent Gabriela tumbling back onto the deck, pulling Sarah along with her as her back connected with the hard surface.
They fell together, Sarah experiencing a sudden rush of vertigo as she was pulled off her feet in the dark, the ground rushing up to meet them as Gabriela fell on her back and Sarah crashed awkwardly on top of her a split second later. Landing on another person didn’t hurt as much as landing on the wooden boards would have, but her head hit something solid when she came to a stop; it could have been the deck or maybe even Gabriela’s skull, it was hard to tell. She let out a groan at the sharp pain.
Sarah pushed herself up, inadvertently pinning the other girl’s right hand down with her left as she did so. Her other hand had landed next to Gabriela’s head, still clenched into a fist around the hilt of her knife and as Sarah rose she found herself aiming the point of her weapon directly at her attacker’s exposed neck.
She froze.
In the dark she could make out the outline of her weapon, the edges of the blade glinting slightly in the dim light. She could make out Gabriela’s silhouette, the pale of her skin contrasting with the dark line of her collar across her throat. She could see how close the former was to the latter and how with only a small shift of her hand she could plunge the knife into Gabriela’s neck, remove her as a threat. Then she’d be safe.
She didn’t. There was no need to. The gun was gone from Gabriela’s hand so now they could talk, they could defuse this situation and then they could compromise. It was over, she was already safe. She just needed Elliot to help her bring Gabriela around.
Sarah pushed herself up, inadvertently pinning the other girl’s right hand down with her left as she did so. Her other hand had landed next to Gabriela’s head, still clenched into a fist around the hilt of her knife and as Sarah rose she found herself aiming the point of her weapon directly at her attacker’s exposed neck.
She froze.
In the dark she could make out the outline of her weapon, the edges of the blade glinting slightly in the dim light. She could make out Gabriela’s silhouette, the pale of her skin contrasting with the dark line of her collar across her throat. She could see how close the former was to the latter and how with only a small shift of her hand she could plunge the knife into Gabriela’s neck, remove her as a threat. Then she’d be safe.
She didn’t. There was no need to. The gun was gone from Gabriela’s hand so now they could talk, they could defuse this situation and then they could compromise. It was over, she was already safe. She just needed Elliot to help her bring Gabriela around.
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Sarah seemed reluctant to answer Elliott-Blair's question, but after a pause she informed him that she was on the Mariners.
Elliott-Blair tugged at his own bandana, stretching it out far enough so that he could see the M emblazoned on it. So they were on the same team. This put a dent on his notion of having two safety nets, certainly, but it was nice to know that he had a friend waiting for him on his own team. That is, if she still wanted to be his friend after Gabriela would try to shoot her.
To which Gabriela did. Three shots in succession, aimed right at the prow.
This...this was okay, this could still work. Though Gabriela just wasted some bullets, that should be enough of a warning to Sarah that she should run away.
Sarah did not run away.
Instead she ran up the ramp and threw herself onto Gabriela, Elliott-Blair stumbling out of the way in the process. The pistol was ripped free from Gabriela's hands in the ensuing struggle, clattering some distance away from the group. A bright glint in Sarah's right hand caught Elliott-Blair's eye; she was holding a knife.
Gabriela tried to knee Sarah in the stomach, but all that motion did was send the two crashing onto the deck. Sarah recovered first, pinning Gabriela down with her free hand.
And she had a knife.
And she had a knife, directly above Gabriela's throat.
Elliott-Blair took a few steps forward, then swung his spyglass as hard as he could.
Elliott-Blair tugged at his own bandana, stretching it out far enough so that he could see the M emblazoned on it. So they were on the same team. This put a dent on his notion of having two safety nets, certainly, but it was nice to know that he had a friend waiting for him on his own team. That is, if she still wanted to be his friend after Gabriela would try to shoot her.
To which Gabriela did. Three shots in succession, aimed right at the prow.
This...this was okay, this could still work. Though Gabriela just wasted some bullets, that should be enough of a warning to Sarah that she should run away.
Sarah did not run away.
Instead she ran up the ramp and threw herself onto Gabriela, Elliott-Blair stumbling out of the way in the process. The pistol was ripped free from Gabriela's hands in the ensuing struggle, clattering some distance away from the group. A bright glint in Sarah's right hand caught Elliott-Blair's eye; she was holding a knife.
Gabriela tried to knee Sarah in the stomach, but all that motion did was send the two crashing onto the deck. Sarah recovered first, pinning Gabriela down with her free hand.
And she had a knife.
And she had a knife, directly above Gabriela's throat.
Elliott-Blair took a few steps forward, then swung his spyglass as hard as he could.
avatar by pan, sprite by the wonderful Yugikun
Sarah did not see stars when the spyglass hit her; it wasn’t anything as poetic as that. She saw only darkness, the inside of her eyelids as her eyes snapped shut as pain exploding across the back of her skull. Her head lurched forward and she thought she heard something crack as her hands instinctively moved to the source of the agony, moving to cover her head against further attacks as she let go of Gabriela’s wrist and her knife at the same time.
She groaned. Someone had hit her. Had someone hit her? There was only one person on the boat other than them and he…
Elliot.
She groaned. Someone had hit her. Had someone hit her? There was only one person on the boat other than them and he…
Elliot.
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Gabriela had felt the crack of Sarah’s skull against her own as she pulled the other girl to the ground with her. The shock of the collision lost Gabriela any chance at an advantage and left her head splitting with pain.
Now Sarah was upon her, pinning her, and Gabriela could only stare up in horror as Sarah pointed a bladed weapon toward her throat. She’d fucked it all up so very badly, and SOTF wasn’t an environment that was particularly kind to mistakes.
Gabriela would die here in the dark, having accomplished so very little.
She felt the urge to beg, to call out to the classmate above her, only to realize that she hadn’t been breathing and that no words would come.
Suddenly, another silhouette rushed over and met Sarah. The grip on Gabriela’s wrist faltered and the knife fell to the ground. Gabriela didn’t think about what to do next.
Her right hand quickly took the blade from its place on the deck, before driving it upward in one swift motion. However, it did not stop there. Gabriela’s arm reeled back and drove the knife it held forward once more, repeating the motion over and over.
Panting through gritted teeth, eyes staring somewhere beyond Sarah and into the stars above.
Now Sarah was upon her, pinning her, and Gabriela could only stare up in horror as Sarah pointed a bladed weapon toward her throat. She’d fucked it all up so very badly, and SOTF wasn’t an environment that was particularly kind to mistakes.
Gabriela would die here in the dark, having accomplished so very little.
She felt the urge to beg, to call out to the classmate above her, only to realize that she hadn’t been breathing and that no words would come.
Suddenly, another silhouette rushed over and met Sarah. The grip on Gabriela’s wrist faltered and the knife fell to the ground. Gabriela didn’t think about what to do next.
Her right hand quickly took the blade from its place on the deck, before driving it upward in one swift motion. However, it did not stop there. Gabriela’s arm reeled back and drove the knife it held forward once more, repeating the motion over and over.
Panting through gritted teeth, eyes staring somewhere beyond Sarah and into the stars above.
Gabriela shifted under her, Sarah feeling more than seeing the other girl move as her body lurched with the motion. That didn’t provoke a reaction at first, only for her to realise a moment too late that the knife was no longer in her hands; she lunged for the weapon a second after Gabriela did and in the dark she wasn’t sure where the knife had gone. She couldn’t see it. Sarah scrabbled to grab Gabriela’s arm, to stop her, only for the hand to slip between her fingers as Gabriela suddenly twisted out of her grip and punched her in the chest.
That’s what it felt like; a punch. Sarah had never been in a fight before, not a physical one anyway, she’d never been punched or anything like that; it honestly didn’t hurt as much as she expected it to, probably because Gabriela hadn’t hit her very hard. Even so she didn’t want to be hit again and Sarah continued to try and wrestle with the other girl, trying to wrap her fingers around her wrist and stop her from taking her knife. She was proving slippery though and Gabriela managed to punch Sarah again in almost the same place.
It still didn’t hurt that much, though the pain was lingering longer than Sarah had expected it to; it was like pins and needles, like electricity running through her body. Gabriela punched her again; two times, three times, four. In the chest and in her ribs. The electric feeling spread, as did an unexpected warmth, like someone was pouring warm water over that side of her body.
She felt tired. Her breathing was laboured and she was starting to slow down, even though she wasn’t tired at all a moment ago; fear and panic had kept her awake before. Gabriela swung her hand at her again and this time Sarah put her arm in between them to block it. This time she saw the knife in the other girls hand, watched as the blade cut through her skin, her bandages, and stain it red.
It felt warm. It felt like electricity.
Sarah rolled off of Gabriela, suddenly exhausted, suddenly lightheaded. Her left hand, the one that felt cold instead of warm, reached over to feel the side of her body and came away feeling wet, feeling warm. She brought her palm up in front of her face and though she couldn’t see it in the dark, Sarah had a feeling it was covered in blood.
She let her hand drop. Her breathing was short, each inhale a sharp gasp that never quite filled her lungs. It was hard to tell if it was panic that was making it hard to catch her breath or something else, something vital. Probably the latter, since she didn’t feel particularly panicked right now; she couldn’t feel much of anything at the moment. She could feel nothing.
Not the warmth. Not the electricity.
She couldn’t feel her body at all.
No pain either.
Just tired.
She closed her eyes.
MM02: SARAH LILLIAN WHITLOCK – DECEASED
That’s what it felt like; a punch. Sarah had never been in a fight before, not a physical one anyway, she’d never been punched or anything like that; it honestly didn’t hurt as much as she expected it to, probably because Gabriela hadn’t hit her very hard. Even so she didn’t want to be hit again and Sarah continued to try and wrestle with the other girl, trying to wrap her fingers around her wrist and stop her from taking her knife. She was proving slippery though and Gabriela managed to punch Sarah again in almost the same place.
It still didn’t hurt that much, though the pain was lingering longer than Sarah had expected it to; it was like pins and needles, like electricity running through her body. Gabriela punched her again; two times, three times, four. In the chest and in her ribs. The electric feeling spread, as did an unexpected warmth, like someone was pouring warm water over that side of her body.
She felt tired. Her breathing was laboured and she was starting to slow down, even though she wasn’t tired at all a moment ago; fear and panic had kept her awake before. Gabriela swung her hand at her again and this time Sarah put her arm in between them to block it. This time she saw the knife in the other girls hand, watched as the blade cut through her skin, her bandages, and stain it red.
It felt warm. It felt like electricity.
Sarah rolled off of Gabriela, suddenly exhausted, suddenly lightheaded. Her left hand, the one that felt cold instead of warm, reached over to feel the side of her body and came away feeling wet, feeling warm. She brought her palm up in front of her face and though she couldn’t see it in the dark, Sarah had a feeling it was covered in blood.
She let her hand drop. Her breathing was short, each inhale a sharp gasp that never quite filled her lungs. It was hard to tell if it was panic that was making it hard to catch her breath or something else, something vital. Probably the latter, since she didn’t feel particularly panicked right now; she couldn’t feel much of anything at the moment. She could feel nothing.
Not the warmth. Not the electricity.
She couldn’t feel her body at all.
No pain either.
Just tired.
She closed her eyes.
MM02: SARAH LILLIAN WHITLOCK – DECEASED
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The knife cut into fabric and flesh again and again. Gabriela did not stop as the blade became coated with blood which ran down onto her hands and dripped down her forearms, the warmth of the fluid contrasting the chill of the night air, its first touch upon skin almost like a burning sensation.
Still, she did not cease, even with blood dripping down onto her own shirt, staining the white material with red.
As soon as Sarah rolled away, though, Gabriela propped herself up on her hands and quickly scrambled away from the other girl. Her quick, heavy breathing had yet to subside, and the pounding of her heart came so heavily that she could feel blood rush through her ears with each beating.
Gabriela was certain that Sarah would leap up from her position on the deck and strike once again, just as she had after Gabriela had fired her gun. She was certain that it wasn’t over, and yet Sarah’s form remained perfectly still.
Her gaze drifted upward, to the figure which stood over Sarah’s lifeless form. It was Elliott, she realized only now, though such an assumption should have been obvious.
After another moment spent staring at Sarah, Gabriela staggered to her feet and began to step forward, breathing and gait remaining unsteady as she approached Elliott, letting Sarah’s knife clatter to the ground.
She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight, eyes closed. Gabriela was shivering. She’d meant to say something to him before doing so, but had forgotten what it was meant to be.
Still, she did not cease, even with blood dripping down onto her own shirt, staining the white material with red.
As soon as Sarah rolled away, though, Gabriela propped herself up on her hands and quickly scrambled away from the other girl. Her quick, heavy breathing had yet to subside, and the pounding of her heart came so heavily that she could feel blood rush through her ears with each beating.
Gabriela was certain that Sarah would leap up from her position on the deck and strike once again, just as she had after Gabriela had fired her gun. She was certain that it wasn’t over, and yet Sarah’s form remained perfectly still.
Her gaze drifted upward, to the figure which stood over Sarah’s lifeless form. It was Elliott, she realized only now, though such an assumption should have been obvious.
After another moment spent staring at Sarah, Gabriela staggered to her feet and began to step forward, breathing and gait remaining unsteady as she approached Elliott, letting Sarah’s knife clatter to the ground.
She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight, eyes closed. Gabriela was shivering. She’d meant to say something to him before doing so, but had forgotten what it was meant to be.
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Elliott-Blair's little distraction worked, for Sarah dropped her knife in favor of clutching her head in pain. This gave Gabriela more than enough time to grab that damn knife and drive it into her would-be murderer.
It wasn't enough.
Sarah wrestled to get the knife out of Gabriela's hand, fingers once again clutching her wrist, but this effort proved fruitless as she thrust the blade into Sarah again.
It wasn't enough.
Blood was dripping down Gabriela's arms and onto her shirt, clouding the white with growing splotches of red. Sarah tried to block the assault with her arm, but it wasn't enough it wasn't enough it wasn't enough
Sarah rolled away from Elliott-Blair, from Gabriela, as she used the opportunity to scramble away. Sarah reached over to touch the wound, then brought the now blood soaked hand to her face. After a beat, she let the hand drop. Silence.
Elliott-Blair hesitantly made his way over to Sarah. Though it was hard to see, he could make out where the skin caved in, where fabric and flash merged.
Movement caught his eye, and he flinched. A moment later he figured that Gabriela had stood up, and so turned to face her.
Illuminated by the moon, Elliott-Blair saw what a mess Gabriela was. Blood ran down her right arm onto her hand, where it was so completely drenched that it was dripping. She was no longer holding the knife. A wild, incomprehensible look adorned her face.
And then she pulled him into a hug.
He loved the feeling of something being pressed tightly against him, but only when he was in control of it. So when Gabriela tightly wrapped her arms around him, pushing the textile of his sweater onto his skin, he felt tense. The blood she was covered in seeped onto his clothes, adding a certain stickiness to the hold.
He knew why she was hugging him, of course, and he wanted to comfort her. But all he did was stand there, focusing hard on the unwanted sensation.
It wasn't enough.
Sarah wrestled to get the knife out of Gabriela's hand, fingers once again clutching her wrist, but this effort proved fruitless as she thrust the blade into Sarah again.
It wasn't enough.
Blood was dripping down Gabriela's arms and onto her shirt, clouding the white with growing splotches of red. Sarah tried to block the assault with her arm, but it wasn't enough it wasn't enough it wasn't enough
Sarah rolled away from Elliott-Blair, from Gabriela, as she used the opportunity to scramble away. Sarah reached over to touch the wound, then brought the now blood soaked hand to her face. After a beat, she let the hand drop. Silence.
Elliott-Blair hesitantly made his way over to Sarah. Though it was hard to see, he could make out where the skin caved in, where fabric and flash merged.
Movement caught his eye, and he flinched. A moment later he figured that Gabriela had stood up, and so turned to face her.
Illuminated by the moon, Elliott-Blair saw what a mess Gabriela was. Blood ran down her right arm onto her hand, where it was so completely drenched that it was dripping. She was no longer holding the knife. A wild, incomprehensible look adorned her face.
And then she pulled him into a hug.
He loved the feeling of something being pressed tightly against him, but only when he was in control of it. So when Gabriela tightly wrapped her arms around him, pushing the textile of his sweater onto his skin, he felt tense. The blood she was covered in seeped onto his clothes, adding a certain stickiness to the hold.
He knew why she was hugging him, of course, and he wanted to comfort her. But all he did was stand there, focusing hard on the unwanted sensation.
avatar by pan, sprite by the wonderful Yugikun
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When Gabriela felt Elliott stiffen in her arms, her guts twisted up and she quickly backed away, head turned downward and arms fixed tightly to her side, still shaking slightly as she turned her back to him.
She was such a fucking child. She’d already killed Carol, she’d gone through the fucking steps and shot a fucking girl in real life and she’d moved on and she’d been fucking fine. What happened with Sarah wasn’t some new moral dimension for Gabriela, it wasn’t like some new fucking line had been crossed.
But the blood didn’t stop burning on her skin and her body wouldn’t stop shaking and she felt sick and now she’d fucking gone and made Elliott even more uncomfortable after already killing one of his friends and teammates in the name of fucking helping him and goddamn it she wasn’t going to cry on this fucking show.
Gabriela’s throat was burning and her forehead throbbed as she tried her damndest to swallow, but struggled to find even that strength.
“You… you should take the knife. Actually get a real weapon.” The words were quiet, but she hoped Elliott could hear her. Speaking any louder would’ve been too much.
She formed her lips into an “o” shape and tried to keep her breaths slow, deliberate. Were Elliott to try to step closer, to reach her face, she’d take another step away. She didn’t want him looking at her here, face scrunched up and struggling against itself.
Another breath, in and out. Her fingernails dug deeply into her palms, feeling like she might break the skin.
Finally, she made her way over to her pistol which still remained on the deck, squatting down to and taking it into her hand once more, a bit surprised at how cold it felt in her blood-coated hand.
“I’m… sorry. You know.” She spoke again, a bit louder now, a bit steadier.
She was such a fucking child. She’d already killed Carol, she’d gone through the fucking steps and shot a fucking girl in real life and she’d moved on and she’d been fucking fine. What happened with Sarah wasn’t some new moral dimension for Gabriela, it wasn’t like some new fucking line had been crossed.
But the blood didn’t stop burning on her skin and her body wouldn’t stop shaking and she felt sick and now she’d fucking gone and made Elliott even more uncomfortable after already killing one of his friends and teammates in the name of fucking helping him and goddamn it she wasn’t going to cry on this fucking show.
Gabriela’s throat was burning and her forehead throbbed as she tried her damndest to swallow, but struggled to find even that strength.
“You… you should take the knife. Actually get a real weapon.” The words were quiet, but she hoped Elliott could hear her. Speaking any louder would’ve been too much.
She formed her lips into an “o” shape and tried to keep her breaths slow, deliberate. Were Elliott to try to step closer, to reach her face, she’d take another step away. She didn’t want him looking at her here, face scrunched up and struggling against itself.
Another breath, in and out. Her fingernails dug deeply into her palms, feeling like she might break the skin.
Finally, she made her way over to her pistol which still remained on the deck, squatting down to and taking it into her hand once more, a bit surprised at how cold it felt in her blood-coated hand.
“I’m… sorry. You know.” She spoke again, a bit louder now, a bit steadier.
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The hug only lasted a few moments more, as Gabriela received Elliott-Blair's message that he was uncomfortable. Eyes fixated on the deck, she turned away from him, her arms firm by her side in an effort to appear calm.
It didn't work. She was still shaking, and the strangled noise she made when she told him the get the knife sealed it.
Elliott-Blair felt like a prick. Obviously Gabriela would want somebody to comfort her right after she nearly died. But here he was, making it about him and his need of wanting permission first before someone touches him.
He stepped forward, wanting a do-over of the whole thing, then sharply stepped back. The moment's past, there's no room for second chances. Best to just do as she says and grab the knife.
He walked over to where the knife lay and picked it up. There was...quite a lot of blood on it. The blade itself was coated in a thick layer of it, dripping down onto the handle. He swapped the knife onto his left hand, examining the soft and sticky substance smeared on his right.
This was Sarah's blood. A friend's blood? No, friends don't try to kill each other, like Sarah did with Gabriela. She was no longer a friend.
He looked over to Gabriela, who was retrieving her pistol, as she apologized to him. She was still facing away from him.
"No, it's fine!" Elliott-Blair said, a touch too brightly, "You don't need to—it's my fault that I—" he cut himself off. He was just making the situation more awkward.
It didn't work. She was still shaking, and the strangled noise she made when she told him the get the knife sealed it.
Elliott-Blair felt like a prick. Obviously Gabriela would want somebody to comfort her right after she nearly died. But here he was, making it about him and his need of wanting permission first before someone touches him.
He stepped forward, wanting a do-over of the whole thing, then sharply stepped back. The moment's past, there's no room for second chances. Best to just do as she says and grab the knife.
He walked over to where the knife lay and picked it up. There was...quite a lot of blood on it. The blade itself was coated in a thick layer of it, dripping down onto the handle. He swapped the knife onto his left hand, examining the soft and sticky substance smeared on his right.
This was Sarah's blood. A friend's blood? No, friends don't try to kill each other, like Sarah did with Gabriela. She was no longer a friend.
He looked over to Gabriela, who was retrieving her pistol, as she apologized to him. She was still facing away from him.
"No, it's fine!" Elliott-Blair said, a touch too brightly, "You don't need to—it's my fault that I—" he cut himself off. He was just making the situation more awkward.
avatar by pan, sprite by the wonderful Yugikun
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Gabriela cringed a bit as Elliott tried to speak up, to give some reassurances. She knew that, whatever he would’ve said , it would’ve come out hollow.
“It’s fine. I just- this is what happens. This is SOTF. People kill, people die, and people are obviously going to hold a knife to your neck.” Her voice was clearer now, but she still did not turn to look at Elliott.
“Particularly if you shot at them. So.” A slight pause and a deep breath.
“This is how things are here, the way the show is. So I need to get over it.”
Finally, Gabriela turned to look at Elliott and gave a slow nod, arms at her side more relaxed, yet she couldn’t seem to make eye contact, her vision instead seemingly fixed upon some point on his forehead. She took a step back towards him and cleared her throat.
“We still have eight more to go and we’re two behind Seo-yun. I say we rest a bit and then get moving as soon as possible. Sound good?”
((Gabriela continued elsewhere...))
“It’s fine. I just- this is what happens. This is SOTF. People kill, people die, and people are obviously going to hold a knife to your neck.” Her voice was clearer now, but she still did not turn to look at Elliott.
“Particularly if you shot at them. So.” A slight pause and a deep breath.
“This is how things are here, the way the show is. So I need to get over it.”
Finally, Gabriela turned to look at Elliott and gave a slow nod, arms at her side more relaxed, yet she couldn’t seem to make eye contact, her vision instead seemingly fixed upon some point on his forehead. She took a step back towards him and cleared her throat.
“We still have eight more to go and we’re two behind Seo-yun. I say we rest a bit and then get moving as soon as possible. Sound good?”
((Gabriela continued elsewhere...))
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RetroVenus
- Posts: 117
- Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2019 1:40 pm
- Location: isekai'd
- Team Affiliation: Malcolm's Mariners
Elliott-Blair could see the outline of Gabriela wince as his attempt at comforting her failed. At least he knew when to stop talking.
It was her turn to speak, and she spoke of the realities of being on SOTF. Of how the gore and the bloodshed left little room to give someone pity.
She still wasn't looking at him.
She was right, of course. The path they were going down was inevitably going to arouse some attention, particularly from those who object to the idea of killing your way out. Maybe they're right.
At any rate, having a knife to your throat was going to be an everyday occurrence for them, so the sooner she became numb to such an experience the better. Such a thing could also happen to him too, but, well. That's what Gabriela's around for. She takes the spotlight, while he remains in the background.
Just like with Rashmi.
Finishing up her little speech, she turned to face him. Though she was visibly more relaxed, her clouded eyes wouldn't make eye contact.
Gabriela reminded him that while they were two down, they were still two behind whoever this Seo-yun person was. As with the previous night, they would only rest for a short while before moving.
"Yeah?" Elliott-Blair answered uncertainly, before, "Yeah, sounds good."
This was fine. He knew he had his inhaler on him, so he could withstand another night of little sleep.
This could work.
((Elliott-Blair continued in The One Where You Are Crying And I Don't Do Anything At All))
It was her turn to speak, and she spoke of the realities of being on SOTF. Of how the gore and the bloodshed left little room to give someone pity.
She still wasn't looking at him.
She was right, of course. The path they were going down was inevitably going to arouse some attention, particularly from those who object to the idea of killing your way out. Maybe they're right.
At any rate, having a knife to your throat was going to be an everyday occurrence for them, so the sooner she became numb to such an experience the better. Such a thing could also happen to him too, but, well. That's what Gabriela's around for. She takes the spotlight, while he remains in the background.
Just like with Rashmi.
Finishing up her little speech, she turned to face him. Though she was visibly more relaxed, her clouded eyes wouldn't make eye contact.
Gabriela reminded him that while they were two down, they were still two behind whoever this Seo-yun person was. As with the previous night, they would only rest for a short while before moving.
"Yeah?" Elliott-Blair answered uncertainly, before, "Yeah, sounds good."
This was fine. He knew he had his inhaler on him, so he could withstand another night of little sleep.
This could work.
((Elliott-Blair continued in The One Where You Are Crying And I Don't Do Anything At All))
avatar by pan, sprite by the wonderful Yugikun