ten | the silent types

[strike_you_out]

 [ action |  The steps outside 726 Anderson Lane

Following this... ]

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[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Pulling on his coat, Slugger gives a backward glance to the closed door behind them, then nods in answer to Ai's question.]

He's on the police force. Be careful what you say around him.

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

Does he work for the town?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

Yes. For Grady.

[He takes a seat on one of the steps to put on his skates, not that he's planning to go anywhere with them; he's just keeping his feet warm.]

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[She'll glance over at the house.]

He has betrayed us?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger shakes his head.]

No. But anyone who works for Grady could be a spy, even if they aren't aware of it.

[Paranoid? Maybe. Or just realistically cynical.]

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[Looks thoughtful. Then nods.

She once had someone spy on her by seeing through her eyes without realizing what they were doing.]

That is true.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Otherwise, Eddie's not so bad if a little irritating. And while they're on the subject of the Mayfield police force...]

Do you know who the others are?

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

My father here.

Scout.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

Yours too? [He looks up at her.]

Does he talk about it?

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

Yes.

A little. He said he'd tell me all about the training.

But then Christmas happened.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger nods and stares forward again in thoughtful silence, his bat resting beside him. Christmas, no doubt, is a subject they'd rather both avoid.]

...Sorry about my "father". He acts strange sometimes.

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[Slight pause.]

Does he normally dress like that?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

I hope not...

[Hiding beneath the bill of his cap just a bit. Secondhand embarrassment is uncomfortable.]

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[It's alright.]

Do you have any other non-drones in the house?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

Susan, my assigned mother. We tie up our drones in the basement.

[Inhumane? So what?]

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[She nods.]

It's only Scout in my house.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

Was it always that way?

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

No.

[She looks thoughtful.]

....he's been here for a while. But I've been here longer.

....I don't remember how many people have come and gone in my house.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[This does not bode well...]

How long have you been here?

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

A year and six months.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Silence.]






Has it changed you?

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[That question surprises her but after a long pause.]

Yes.

It has.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger considers asking her how and in what way, but no such question leaves his mouth and the following moment is spent, once again, in thoughtful silence.]

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[Thoughtful silence is good.]

.....Do you want to return home?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[He nods.]

Do you?

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[She nods as well.]

Yes.

.....I have to be the Hell Girl forever now.

But I don't mind any more.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

You didn't like being the Hell Girl?

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

It was my punishment.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Sitting up a bit taller, he turns to her.]

Punishment...?

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

For seeking vengeance for myself.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Morbid curiosity is simply overwhelming.]

What happened?

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[There is a pause as she looks at him.

Then she continues.]

I was chosen to be the sacrifice for my village. I hid for years but was betrayed. They buried me alive.

...I returned and burned the village. Killing everyone in it.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[As Ai reveals her past, Slugger listens intently. The green of his eyes glints briefly with a predatory light.

This one knows misery, pain, and hatred.

He recalls a street paved in flames.]

...Did the village burn?

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[With actual fire. Not just illusions.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[The way he sees it, her vengeance seems entirely justified.]

I would have done the same. Or worse...

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

I regret nothing.

And I do not mind being the Hell Girl any more.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[He gives her an approving nod.]

Did the town give something back to you?

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[She nods and holds out a hand. A blue flame appears.]

My fire.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Momentarily awestruck, he watches as the flame burns in Ai's hand. Whether or not this is an illusion, he means to find out and tentatively reaches toward it with the back of his hand, feeling for heat in the air.]

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[This fire is real. The heat is there and quite warm.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger finds this out straightaway upon getting a bit too close. He draws back his hand with a sudden jerk and hastily brings it to his mouth to suck the back of one knuckle.

Despite the minor burn, he'll continue to watch the flame with rapt interest as though it were a manifestation of Ai's inner wrath.]

[miss-enma-ai.livejournal.com]

[That's actually a wonderful way to describe it. And like her wrath, it burns strong, fierce and long.]