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 Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:04 pm
Strays, huh? Well, if Candace was a stray then she'd be a stray. She had decided to just wander the compound since she really hard nothing else to do what with being ordered to stay there because of how their last mission ended. She hummed along with the music blaring from her headphones as she walked down the halls, eventually finding herself in the 'hospital wing'. Wait..the hospital wing. Hadn't Benjamin said Caelius was bedridden? Where was he then? The woman narrowed her eyes and pulled her headphones away from her ears. Bedridden, huh? But obviously well enough to somehow chew them out. She was going to give that a*****e a piece of her mind. She just had to find him first.
Candace turned off her music so he wouldn't hear her coming. Not that it really helped much considering she didn't even..
Wait. What was that humming? It was so familiar! Candace blinked, walking in a particular direction and noticing the humming grew quieter. Okay. Then she wanted the other way. Turning on her heel, Candace continued down the hallway. The humming grew louder and louder and Candace's heart raced with excitement. This humming! She knew this humming! It took everything the woman had not to grin as she stopped at an open doorway, pressing her back against the wall beside the door and slowly leaning over just enough to peek into the room.
Caelius.
Candace's heart stopped. She found him. She found Caelius! Fighting the urge to squeal she pushed off the wall and stood in the doorway, keeping one hand on the frame and hanging from it ever so slightly. "Sir?" She asked quietly, pretending to be worried about disturbing him. "It's Candace. How're you feeling?" Yes, Candace. Play the part of the concerned trainee. He'll totally fall for it.
He totally wasn't going to fall for it.
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:26 pm
"Bedridden" was pretty much the ailment the Death Hunter was assertively offering to anyone who passed by and so much as stuttered a question to him about the Haunted House fiasco. Caelius did not want to hear a single if, when, and no ******** why's or hows until the dispatched team came back with Aria. The second anyone even looked at him with a question, he was more than happy to inform them of his injuries in the most polite and disdainful attitude possible. Which was rather an incredible feat for someone lying on the bed, being stared down upon.
The Life Hunters had finally wheeled Caelius into a more clinical sort of room. Most likely some of them had gotten tired of the Death Hunter's ego, though ninety-nine percent of the Hunter population just did not want to be anywhere closer than ten feet of him, which really helped simplify matters on the move.
A whole stack of notebooks and binders lay next to his bed, the Death Hunter had the bed half-propped up as he compared two reports and made a few notes himself with a small frown. His hand made a motion to grab the next report-
-"Sir?"-
- That had better not be the damn cleaning lady again.
Caelius looked up. It was worse than the damn cleaning lady. Was a trainee seriously here to ask him how he was doing? What the hell did it look like?
"Candace." He began, taking a moment to try and remain as calm and reasonable as a half-sane person who had been strapped to a bed for almost five days could be. Granted, he had made a couple of excursions out for obvious reasons, but had almost immediately regretted just simply walking afterwards. "While I appreciate you taking the time to visit me," - he absolutely did not and the tone showed - " I am sure you have better things to do in your time. I believe there are more than enough missions for someone of your.... standing."
While Caelius was talking, there was something hovering around the room. It stopped, and seemed to perch, legless, on the counter next to the rather impressive pile of medication and clean bandages, one slitted blue eye staring right at Candace, translucent wings folded to each side, making a strange high-pitched humming noise. It didn't blink at all.
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:58 pm
An eyebrow twitched up a bit as Caelius addressed her so happily. Oh yes. He was absolutely delighted to see her and have her asking how he was doing. She was mildly curious about the paperwork he was looking at but she doubted he'd let her in on that even if she asked as nicely as she could. Oh well. She chuckled and let go of the doorframe to instead lean against it, folding her arms across her chest and rolling her eyes at his words. "Oh yes, I'm sure you're just thrilled to see a lowly little trainee stop by and ask you stupid questions. How're you doing? Does it hurt? Are you feeling better? Do you need me to call for someone? Do you need help? Aw, Caelius. You poor baby." She spoke as cheerfully as if she were talking about a happy topic like...puppies. Or rainbows. Or sparkles. Things like that. Her tone didn't match her words. But she was interested by what he said next. Missions? But..had that not been him? She actually looked confused now. "But...you said we were under probation...what is there for us to do aside from idle tasks and sparring each other until we collapse?" This man was so strange.
That humming was still going! But from where? Lavender eyes darted around the room in search of the tell-tale scythe. It wasn't there. It wasn't anywhere in this...room..? A single blue eye was staring at her, and she stared right back.
..Was that...?
Candace? What are you doing? Ignore it. Candace blinked. But it's staring at me. I can't ignore something staring right at me.
"So the truth is revealed. That chick from that room wasn't Harry Potter, you are. It all makes sense now. But we never did figure out who the traitor was. Every now and then I still get curious..." Only sometimes. "Does the humming ever get annoying?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:48 pm
The Death Hunter calmly put the papers down, folded his notebook back in place, and stared right at Candace with his million dollar stare. It was the stare that sent most Hunters screaming in the opposite direction.
"Get out."
No ifs buts whys what's or hows. Granted, the thought probably crossed Candace's mind of how exactly the Death Hunter could be threatening when he was sitting on a bed pretty much handicapped. The Hunter on 'Caelius duty' who got suckered into changing the bandages froze at the door and went fleeing the other direction, dropping the entire tray on the floor with a noisy clang.
The distraction was enough for the eye to hover in the air slightly before landing on Candace's head with a resolute thud. Though the trainee most likely did not have mind reading abilities, the conversation probably went something like this in the next few moments of slightly intense silence between Caelius and the levitating eye.
'Circe, you don't know what is on this pathetic, disgusting, piece of worm's head, please get off and stand next to my imposing, awesome and highly intelligent figure.'
'I would love to master, but you are highly disabled, and for some reason I like the smell of Candace's shampoo.'
The Death Hunter gave an audible frustrated sigh. "God, just take her with you too. Apparently she's attached to you ever since you killed all those people back in that damn room. Incorrigible." The Death Hunter turned away, and it seemed that was that.
Wait a second, wasn't the object currently on Candace's head the weapon of the leader of the Death Hunter division?
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:24 pm
Candace. We need to get out of here. Now. Atropos barked in Candace's head, but the woman merely waved her hand near her head like she was trying to bat something away from the side of her head. It was stupid looking when one couldn't hear the voice in her head but she didn't care. Atropos was getting annoying trying to tell her what to do. ******** that. She wanted to stay. See? He's even telling you to leave. Out. Now. But the clatter of a tray hitting the floor made Candace look back and grin. It wasn't me he was talking to. There came a growl in the back of her head, a loud angry one.
Candace watched as the eye moved to come closer to her, eyes following it until it landed on her head. Hard. ********! What the hell?! Atropos growled louder. She winced and nearly swat it away before she realized it and Caelius were now having their own little staring match. This...this was..? No way. No ******** way.
Oh. But it was. Candace's eyes widened, and there was something akin to glee on her face that she tried desperately to reign in. "Really? Well isn't that fantastic. Aren't you just the sweetest?" Candace grinned, eyes turned up toward Circe. He was seriously letting her take his weapon? Just letting her? Damn! That sounded amazing! Maybe Caelius wasn't so bad after all!
"Alrighty then. Let's go, Circe. Aren't you a pretty thing. Oh, I have my cell phone on me if you need anything from me, sir. I promise I'll take good care of her." Oh yes.
Candace. Don't. You. Dare. Candace ignored Atropos and instead reached up to guide Circe from her head to let her hover in her hands. Candace...CANDACE! The weapon shrieked angrily, screeching with rage as the trainee carried Circe out of the room. Candace was grinning from ear to ear.
This was going to be so much fun.
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:56 pm
The Death Hunter's eyes were fixated on Candace, and to an extent, his own weapon, as he watched them exit left. It wasn't until he left that he returned to his work, pausing for a second to take out his cell phone.
Another pause as he looked at said phone, and then flipped it close again. There was the barest hints of a not-so-nice smile playing on his face.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 4:42 pm
It was several hours before Candace returned. She had sent a text to Caelius informing him of it, even. She was done. She was so done. She stormed into the Life hunter labs in clear fury, ignoring any protest and slapping off hands that tried to grab her. No! ******** them! She and Caelius needed to have a talk. Circe was held tightly in her fist, she was covered in mud, bruises were forming, there were cuts on her body as well. All of these were marks from the fights she had gotten into because of this scythe. This. Damn. Scythe. It had been so much fun until she came across ******** snarling in her head was at full volume now, and her head had cleared enough to realize that was Atropos. Atropos was furious and it was all her fault. She should have listened. But it was too late to turn back, she had to work at fixing her goddamn mess now...starting with having a talk with their leader. She stopped at the door with his name on the placard, throwing it open and glaring darkly at the man sitting on the bed.
"You. b*****d." She started, throwing Circe away from her with little care for the floating eye's well-being. Candace walked away from it to stand beside Caelius' bed. "You knew what was going to happen."
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:02 pm
The Death Hunter folded the large three-by-three foot map back onto his lap before apprehending Candice with his usual expression, which was rather surprising considering the trainee's choice in words. Caelius's eyes abruptly slid to the huge tracks of mud on the ground and then at the de-summoned Circe, who had landed back to its original perch back on the desk.
"Candace." The voice was calm, reasonable. "I have seen a lot of Hunters like you: young, arrogant. Do you know what you are, trainee?"
The Death Hunter shifted, making eye contact. "You are the weakest link in your group. You were given power, and instead of taking responsible action, you acted on your own whims, you fed off your power, and you injured several of your teammates in the process. Can you imagine if the same teammates were fighting with you in a real mission and trusted you with the greatest responsibility?" A pause as he let the words really sink in. "Do not blame others for your own lapse in judgment on others: you impaired yourself. A mere weapon does not have the power to betray its friends and allies, only human weakness does. Congratulations Candace, you just disappointed yourself and all your so-called friends."
Silence followed. Even Circe did not seem to hum, or buzz, or move. Perhaps it never had talked to Candace in the first place. Perhaps deep down inside, the trainee knew that all she had been talking to was herself.
And it had been weak.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:25 pm
Candace's fists clenched tightly at her sides, gripping the edge of her coat in an effort not to just punch him in the face. That a*****e. He knew exactly what would happen. He knew she would lose her mind again and go on another..rampage! He knew! He knew, and Dr. H knew! They both knew what she did last time! That a*****e! That b*****d! That ********> was..? Candace suddenly looked like she'd been punched in the gut. Hearing those words made her sick to her stomach, so much so she actually lifted a hand to press it against her mouth as if that alone would stop her from throwing up right then and there. Her eyes, already glassy from rage and hurt, brimmed with tears that she did her best to blink away. She was looking back on what she'd done now. At the time she had thought it was fun. It was all just...practice! She thought she was perfect! Invincible! No..she'd...almost killed Jordan. She just left him out there on that field. Was he dead? Did she kill him?! And Harrison..was he angry? Before? He was probably more scared of her now than he had been before. What about Ariane? She had asked from the very start if she was even still sane. And...and Jerry. Her eyes were turned down, just staring at the blanket of the bed Caelius was occupying. His words did reach her, oh did they reach her. A responsibility? Now? "Oh..oh god..." Her voice was barely audible, muffled by her own hand. Her hands shook and her legs felt weak supporting her. The congratulations from Caelius finally did it. They buckled underneath her and she landed in the chair conveniently placed beside Caelius' bed, those tears she had been trying to force back finally falling and rolling down the back of her hands as her other hand came up to join the one pressed over her mouth.
The silence was unnerving. She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't cry. Not in front of Caelius. Oh god, no please. "Wh..what have I done...oh god.." Even the snarling in her head had stopped. She couldn't hear Atropos even slightly. She was still there! But..but she couldn't hear her! Oh god. Atropos..? Nothing. A...Atropos please... There was no answer. Her eyes widened as she lowered her hands to look down at her rings. The gems that resembled the eyes on her boots usually glowed a faint purple, but there wasn't even a glimmer or a shine. The stones were flat. Dull. Almost colorless. "Oh god I..." She ******** up. Bad.
She was weak. Caelius was right. That..that b*****d.
"Please...please I..." She swallowed hard and rubbed her lips together as she tried to form words without sobbing, coughing and rubbing her hands together while trying to keep some kind of composure. "Idon'twanttobeweak. I..I'm so sorry...please, Caelius. I'm so sorry.." She got down off the chair to sit on her knees. ******** dignity right now. She didn't deserve it. The woman put her elbows on the bed and clasped her hands together, putting her head against her bent arms.
"P-please, Caelius. Pleasehelpme." She had no division leader to turn to, and there was no way in hell she was going to Dr. H. She needed his help.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:47 pm
"You are dismissed, trainee." Not even a name as Caelius simply lost interest and folded his map half-open, tracing it with one finger.
Despite the sobbing, the pleas, the crying for help, everything else carried as normal. A couple of Hunters peered into the room, whispers erupting amidst them. The fan continued to buzz nosily above, the crinkle of slightly-aged paper as the other occupant in the room perused their map. Seconds carried on, and then what seemed like minutes and then painful eons.
Nothing would change. Candace would get no help here.
She would have to face herself alone.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 9:01 pm
He dismissed her. No, he dismissed the trainee. She didn't even have a name anymore..he'd been saying it earlier. Why did he stop calling her by her name? Her hands fell to turn wide, tear-filled eyes up to the man who was now blatantly ignoring her. Candace couldn't believe what she was hearing. He was dismissing her! She was asking for her leader's help as a weak trainee and he...he was refusing her! There were even more tears as she tried desperately not to break down into pathetic sobs, the occasional hiccuped breath escaping despite her best efforts. She heard the whispers, she felt the stares, but she didn't pay them any mind. Candace just sat there, dumbfounded. The seconds felt like hours.
He wasn't going to help her...
"Y..ye..es, Sir.." Candace managed to choke out as she shakily rose to her feet, wasting a few seconds wiping at her eyes and cheeks despite knowing there was really no point to it, turned on her heel and stiffly walked out of the room. She was really feeling the blows from earlier on. The woman stepped past the hunters that parted away from each other to let her by, ignoring how they watched her walk down the hall. Candace was used to walks of shame, but never because she was actually ashamed. She had a lot of fixing to do...
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