first incision ෴ open

[aboutwhynot]

[Stein's sitting on the floor leaning up against a wall, putting pressure on the join of his neck and shoulder, which has a lovely set of dental records marked in it that one might be able to see through his fingers and the blood slowly leaking out between them, though he seems to be completely unperturbed about the significantly higher amount of blood coming out of his midsection. But really he looks pretty good for someone who should probably be either passed out or dead based on the amount of blood all over him!

He glances around a few times, like he's looking for someone.]

I'll say this much, senpai, Asura certainly works quickly. I'm almost impressed by his work ethic. [Oh and now he's talking to himself, that's always such a good sign.] It's a little shameful that the worst I can come up with is a gigantic castle, though. Maybe the hallucinations start off slow... Spirit? [He pauses, like he's waiting for an answer, and then sighs.] Alright, I guess I can't hear you while I'm stuck in this, so just grab me when my students come back this way if I haven't snapped out of it by then.

[...Maybe someone should be the barer of bad news.]

Comments

[angsts]

[Well, Dynos is fairly unconcerned about the whole bleeding bit, because he's a jerk like that.

The babbling catches his attention, however.]

... What are you even talking about?

[aboutwhynot]

[Blinkblink. Stein just stares for a little bit, and then turns like he's talking to someone else again.]

And now one of my hallucinations is talking to me. He looks a bit like that cat you're so infatuated with; I'll tell him you said hello.

[Looking back at Dynos now.] My weapon says 'hi'.

[angsts]

A cat?

[He. Doesn't even know what to say to that.

Instead, he'll just sigh, running a hand through his hair.]

I see we have a lunatic here...

[aboutwhynot]

[Stein cackles briefly before hitting the back of his head against the wall]

A lunatic... Even my own hallucinations think I'm crazy. That must be some kind of new record.

[angsts]

[Well, now might be a good time—]

And I'm not a hallucination, so stop calling me that.

[aboutwhynot]

Really now? So you're here in front of me in flesh and blood and you're not here to taunt me and make me go crazier? I feel so much better already.

[angsts]

Is that sarcasm...?

[sob he feels like punching something already.]

In any case, you seem plenty crazy already. How long do you intend to lie there?

[aboutwhynot]

[Stein's got a knack for that.]

How long...? Until my students come back and Spirit tells me to get up. Or if I still can hear him, until he picks me back up off the floor, I suppose.

[angsts]

... Fool. If that'll even happen, you'll bleed to death before that.

[He doesn't sound particularly worried, though—it's just a statement.]

[aboutwhynot]

Unless you have a needle and some string handy, there's not a whole lot else I can do about that.

[angsts]

Why not simply use magic?

... Unless you're incapable of it.

[aboutwhynot]

It's less that I'm incapable and more that it's illegal. I imagine I could probably learn, but the fact that I'm usually trying to kill people who use magic makes it a less-than-tempting prospect.

[angsts]

... What?

[Well, that's comforting to hear.]

Why would you—

[aboutwhynot]

Usually they're trying to kill me too.