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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 10:37 pm
Leon Court This time, Leon tried not to watch at all. He didn't want to see Grigori's death or Nikolai's capture. He didn't want to watch the man he loved as he was changed from a human to the Sin that ruined countless lives. To him, the Nikolai he was with now was a whole different person, but he still didn't want to see. However, his eyes couldn't look away when Nikolai's tattoo appeared. He'd only ever seen one Sin transformation, and she hadn't changed that much. But Leon could see it, could see the power that would bring about an age of Nikolai breaking hearts in an attempt to soothe his own. Turning to follow Sloth once more, Leon was very quiet. He was tired, exhausted from this searching and from witnessing what horror Nikolai had lived through. He spoke finally when they reached the end of the hallway. " Please tell me I don't have to see him ruining innocent lives," he asked, not sure he could bear it. " He's come so far, I couldn't handle seeing it all again." He'd already had to watch it when he died.
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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 10:45 pm
 " No, I don't think so. There aren't any relationships Nikolai liked enough to want to dream about. Especially for a coma. Unless..." Sloth drifted off, perking up. He looked over his shoulder to grin at Leon and grabbed his arm. He moved swiftly, maneuvering his way through the darkness until he could see it. Yes, this was the right memory. It was a hallway. A familiar hallway. It was the hallway of Black Rose's dorms. One of the doors opened and out stepped Nikolai, his old grin on his face as he buttoned his shirt. " I'll break up with her in the morning." he thought to himself with a smug smirk. He paused when he heard noises down the hallway and looked over to see Leon talking to a student. " My, my. How nostalgic." purred Sloth.
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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 10:58 pm
Leon Court The man rolled his eyes as they walked, yelping as he was suddenly grabbed. He was about to gripe at Sloth until he heard a very familiar voice. His own. It took a few seconds, but Leon easily recognized himself from all that time ago, still wearing glasses with combed hair and a pressed suit on. He hadn't thought of this conversation in some time, but he remembered it like it was yesterday. The man chuckled at his old stutter when he talked to Nikolai, blushing and looking down for fear of seeming like a hapless moron. It didn't help, but he was cuter than he initially let on. It was strange to watch this from afar, but Leon wasn't complaining. " He still dreams about this?" asked Leon as he realized what Sloth had said. " About the first time we met? I didn't know he realized that was me. I'd always thought he'd forgotten me immediately after, only to find me again later."
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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 11:16 pm
 Nikolai grinned at old Leon stumbled over both his things and his words. " What a shy, nervous man." " Oh no, he remembered you quite well." Sloth said with a knowing grin. " I hate him." " But not for the reason you think." As Nikolai teased and flirting with the blushing man, his thoughts went over what he really felt. " He's so innocent and naive. I'll make him love me then rip his heart out right in front him. He'll hate everything like I do." The scenes went by. From the moment Nikolai took Leon's virginity to when Ivan showed up from nowhere. It was an interesting thing to watch, seeing years old events compressed into minutes. Nikolai's dark thoughts and mental schemes about how he'd break Leon's hearts gradually lightened. " I'm supposed to hate you. This shouldn't feel good." " Look at the way you smile. It's so cute... to... to think of how it'll never show again when I'm done with you." " You're just like him... and that's why I can't let you get any closer. I won't go through that again." It was clear to Sloth that Nikolai was getting feelings for Leon as their time together progressed. It was obvious whether he heard the thoughts or not, anyway. Then they got to that one dreadful scene. The log cabin in the snow burned as a stabbed Leon carried Nikolai out.
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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 11:24 pm
Leon Court Unlike Sloth, Leon had never known that Nikolai had felt this way for that long. By the time Ivan showed up, he'd believed that they were in love. " We were together for about a year by the time Ivan came into our lives. He spent all that time trying to find the right moment to break my heart?" He thought out loud. Was this the moment that Nikolai realized that what they had was real? Had it really taken his death to cement his loss in Nikolai's heart? He shut his mouth, taking several steps closer to the two bodies in the snow, watching himself fall as the blood loss became too great to simply ignore. He barely remembered this moment, having been so weak that he was only half-conscious.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 12:42 am
 " E-everything will b-b-be okay...I pro-promise." " Don't go, dearie... Don't go... Don't leave me!" Nikolai cried as he shakily held Leon's bloody hand against his cheek. His mind was in shambles. " Please, not again! Not you too!" "I can't do it. I can't go through this twice. Why couldn't it have been me! Why did you waste your life on me?! Don't make me feel this pain again. This is so much worse." " Don't go, dearie!" Nikolai whimpered, desperate to keep Leon awake. This fire was sure to attract attention, wasn't it? Someone would help, they had to! " Y-You promised you wouldn't leave! Please don't leave me, Leon! I-I need you! I-I... I-" " I love you. I love you! Let me say it! Don't let him die not hearing it! I love you!! Please!" But Nikolai couldn't say it. Whether it was fear of his own mortality or the inexperience from ever saying it, but he couldn't utter those words. And he watched helplessly as Leon passed away in his arms. The Sin was still for a moment, as if expecting Leon to wake up and tell him that everything would be okay. But he didn't, and it wasn't. So Nikolai tilted his head back and let out a cry of agony. This pain was worse than everything he had felt in the past. He had thought that for a split second he might be able to move on and stop his facade with the world, but now it was ruthlessly ripped away from him. And by someone he had tricked into loving him. He wanted to be bitter, to laugh as though it were some joke, to curse all of Heaven for watching his misery like some comedy show. But he had no energy for that. He just wanted to sit here and mourn the man he had fallen in love with. As Nikolai cried for what seemed like ages, a hand waved passed his head. " Hmm." Sloth pulled his hand up, flexing the fingers before giving Leon (the living one) a perplexed look. " I don't understand. I thought for sure he would be here."
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 12:55 am
Leon Court Leon reached out, wanting desperately to place his hand on Nikolai's shoulder, but it passed right through. He sighed through his nose, looking down at his body in the man's arms. It was surreal, seeing himself like this. If he remembered correctly, his spirit was at that moment already waking up in an office. They'd immediately put him to work. He didn't even have time to mourn the loss of the man he loved. " Does he ever dream of something happy?" asked Leon as he stood upright, looking over to Sloth. " Or is it only his worst memories that he can think about when he sleeps?" He pressed.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 1:04 am
 " These are his happiest memories." Sloth said. " Falling in love with you and the likes. Unfortunately, if he remembers that then he has to remember your death, as well. But it's beginning to change." As he said that countless scenes passed behind him. All of them being the moments Nikolai and Leon shared together. Sloth turned to see what passed him. " Lately he dreams more about being with you. I suppose that explains why he sleeps more." The scenes passed faster and faster until they were back in the darkness, only there was nothing waiting for them. They had just gone through all of Nikolai's memories and he wasn't in any of them. Where could he be? As if answering him, something glimmered ways away from them. Sloth turned slowly to see what it was. It was a door. A simple, brown door. The Sin approached it with hesitation. He couldn't say he remembered this, but it wasn't like he paid attention to every door he'd ever encountered. " Erm... Age before beauty, dearie." smiled Sloth as he stood aside for Leon to open the door first.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 1:09 am
Leon Court " He loves me," stated Leon as the memories raced past them. " And I love him. We've been together three years, but it feels as though we've been through enough to fill ninety years. Sometimes I wonder if it's all been worth it, or if we're just fighting fate." He shook his head, then looked up at the new door. Sloth didn't seem to know what it was. That was enough to cause hesitation. But still, he wouldn't give up. With a small nod, Leon reached out and grabbed the handle, turning and opening the door wide enough for them both to see inside.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:43 pm
 Darkness greeted them. It was as if they had opened a door just for the sake of opening a door. There were, however, two peculiar objects in the darkness. One was a full length, oval mirror with a mahogany frame. Across from it, just a few feet away, was a twin sized bed with a soft green blanket. It was like looking into a cozy inn room, but the walls and the floor were still pitch black and gave off the impression that the bed and the mirror were floating. Among those two, though, there was one more object that was even more interesting. It was Nikolai. And at the same time it wasn't him. It was the man from the early memories, the one who had not yet been touched by the darkness of reality and hell. His hair was a soft brown and lacked their frilly curls, his lazy attired of a black suit had been replaced by a dark olive cardigan and faded jeans, and his glinting lime green eyes were once again tired and hazel. He sat at the edge of the bed, staring forward at the mirror. What stared back at him was the Nikolai that had been changed and altered to fit Sloth's requirements, though even he had no grin. Nikolai suddenly paused and turned his head to look at the person that opened the door. "Leon." he said in a soft voice that lacked the tease and hidden messages his voice usually had. He turned to look at his doppelganger. "Sloth." He was still for a moment then smiled lightly at the two. "You found me." "Yes, but it wasn't easy, mind you." scoffed Sloth as he crossed his arms. He moved in and looked around. "This is not your memory. You can't cheat like that, dearie." he told Nikolai then looked at the mirror. "Oh, and what is this?" he griped as he waved a hand at the Sin reflection. "It's a mirror." replied Nikolai gently as he returned to staring at himself. "Sorry about tricking you, but you're not the only one that knows a few tricks here. I wanted to think about something and I didn't need you chirping in my ear every second." He looked at Leon. "I didn't think you'd make you're way here."
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:54 pm
Leon Court It wasn't so much Nikolai's appearance as it was his voice that took Leon aback. He fought his desire to run over and pull the slender male into his waiting arms, remaining by the door. He didn't even glance to the mirror, keeping his eyes on Nikolai. He started to move whenever he was spoken to, taking two steps into the room and remaining a short distance from the Russian. " You know me. I forced my way out of Heaven to get back to you, I'll brave your memories to return to your side." He looked around, taking another step before glancing into the mirror. " What was so important that you retreated here?" he asked, looking back to the now-brunette.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 11:06 pm
 Nikolai dropped his gaze. "Oh. I wish you didn't see those." he muttered before looking back at the mirror. "Myself, for the most part." he answered. There was silence for a moment, then suddenly he spoke again. "Who do you love, Leon? Is it me, or is it him?" he asked while motioning to his Sin reflection. "That Nikolai, is that even me? That man was created out of my hatred and bitterness. If I had never been a Sin, if I stayed like this, would you have loved me?" "Dear me, but you are a prepubescent girl." sighed Sloth as he ran a hand over his face. "Enough heartfelt questions, dearie. It's time to wake up now, don't you think?" But Nikolai didn't react to the man, making him sigh once more.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 11:21 pm
Leon Court What a loaded question, thought Leon, needing a moment to think. Would he have loved Nikolai if he hadn't been a Sin? They probably wouldn't have even met, to be honest, but in a different world, would he have fallen in love with Nikolai? It took a bit of thought, but Leon finally came up with an answer. " Nikolai, fate has been fighting us since the moment we met," he started, looking at the reflection of they two. " Ever since we fell in love, it's been one trial after the other. We have both died, both been brought back, both tortured for our crimes. My ex-wife has tried to kill you and make you afraid of me, your former lover murdered me. Even if you were never a Sin, it's very likely that we would still be fighting destiny. In perfect truthfulness, there's absolutely no reason why we should even still be alive, much less together." He turned back to the brunette, raising his hand to touch Nikolai's cheek. " But even if you'd never been a Sin, I'd love you. I'd still live for you." He motioned to the reflection. " To me, this isn't who you are." He gestured to Nikolai's brunette form. " Neither is this." He reached into his pocket, pulling out the engagement ring that he'd yanked off of Nikolai's finger when he first discovered him with Miranda. " You are, in my eyes, the best of the two. You are strong, cunning, and powerful like the man in the mirror, but sweet, loving, and kind like the man you were. That's who I love." It probably wasn't the answer Nikolai was looking for, but at least it was the truth.
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:09 pm
 "Hmm." replied Nikolai. There was nothing that peaked from his tired expression that could give away how he felt about Leon's answer. He just smiled dreamily. "And what about you?" he then asked. Placing his thin hand over Leon's, Nikolai looked back at the mirror. The reflection wavered as if it were water, then it showed the monstrous form Leon had taken when he mercilessly attacked Miranda. "I've never seen you so vicious before. It was honestly scary." He looked at the real Leon. "Is that who you've always been? Or have you changed too?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 10:37 pm
Leon Court Lean stared at his reflection, his breath hitching as he saw the form that had murmured Miranda. He took a moment to answer the second question, fear taking hold of him as he struggled to remember how his mind was when he killed the woman. " Everyone has darkness," he finally said, raising one hand to touch his own cheek. " Had I never become a Neutralisa, I would never have known what my darkness could become. I would've remained weak and timid, most likely, until the day I died. But my darkness saved you, Nikolai." He looked back to the real Nikolai. " I never meant to frighten you, but yes, that monster that remains inside me is the mutated form of my darkness. He came out to protect you and Aysun. It will return to protect you again if need be. Does that make you love me any less?" he asked.
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