albinomilksnake | OPEN RP PART II: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

[He doesn't answer her right away -- has to compose himself, get his head in order. He still wants to go see her...maybe apologize for being such a worthless, useless fuck up despite not being able to hear him.

But first, he has to get out of here and get his head to stop swimming. Other than the crippling weight of despair, he actually feels pretty good. His blood is practically humming, his wounds have all but disappeared, and his broken leg appears to have mended.

No wonder Lazarevic wanted this shit so bad.]

I had to.

[Its not defensive -- a bit resigned.]

I was too late. He already drank it, and one of them -- [He gestures awkwardly to the dead bodies.] -- got a good shot on me.

[He finally pulls himself out of the glowing well and presses a hand to his head.]

He would've gotten away -- gone after you and...

[He can't say her name. It makes him sick.]

[Better that he doesn't say it. Better that they say nothing, really, because there's nothing to be found in words that would ease the hard knot wound up in either his stomach or hers.

Chloe stays at his back, less out of courtesy than it is a chance to watch him without the obligation of managing her movements. No need to hide how the .45 is no longer in its holster, even if her finger's far from the trigger.]

Right, well...you did fine. [A shallow lie; he needs the comfort. Their lives for hers: what a bloody waste.] Put an end to him - that's all that matters.

[He rubs his head as he gets to his feet, leaning against the tree for support. His vision is swimming with the sap pulsing through his veins like steroids, making his heart race.]

That's not why I did it.

[But she knows that. Why would he care about the rest of the world? He doesn't. Didn't is probably more accurate. Who would care about the world now, with Elena gone?

He can't linger on that. He has to see her. When he turns to Chloe, he ignores the gun. She wouldn't shoot him -- no way. Even if she did, he doubts it would do anything to him now.

Nate starts to walk back the way Chloe had come, pressing his hand against any surface he can find to keep him steady.]

Come on. We can't leave her there.

No, we can't. [He has time enough for that, doesn't he? ignoring the wounds that knit themselves up neatly, the blue resin stuck to his skin, he's not looking like one of those...things just yet.

So the trek back up is made without discussion, without more than the sound of her breath in her lungs and the crunch of jungle leaves beneath their feet, to the spot where Elena lies still and bloody exactly where they'd been nearly half an hour before.

Chloe respectfully keeps her distance.]

[Nate keeps his distance at first too, like he doesn't deserve to be within five feet of her. Eventually, though, he drags himself over and drops very heavily to his sap- soaked knees to sit over her, shoulders sagging in defeat. No sound comes from him, no tears fall -- just the sad, defeated stare that he allows himself, and a tentative hand to run through her hair.

That's about the point where he notices how swollen the muscles in his palm had become, the slight tearing of seams on his shirt. He pulls his hand away and mutters something completely inaudible.

The sap was taking hold. What was it Lazarevic had said? You don't have the will.

Well, he could at least carry Elena out of here and get Chloe to safety. The platforms were no longer steady after the firefight. There was no telling how long everything would stay standing. So, with no straining at all, Nate picks Elena's body up bridal style and steps over to hover beside Chloe. He's a little out of proportion now, but his skin remains as human as ever.

At least he managed to keep someone alive. They would have to pass Flynn on the way out.]

Ready?

When you are.

[It's a slow, somber sort of procession as they make their way out. There's plenty she ought to say. Plenty more she wants to before they reach the end of this grotesquely magnificent tomb. But the words-- all tangled up in themselves-- don't come. It's not until they reach the Cintamani stone that she starts to go tense: sharp edges of her nails digging into the soft skin of her palm.]

[Nate is perfectly fine with the silence. Despite being a hulk-in-progress, he's still clutching Elena's form like its taking physical effort to carry her. The weight in his arms is heavy for a different reason, but he presses on.

When they round up to the Cintamani stone, he can't help but stopping to glance over at the smear of ash and blood on the wall. He can't help but feel just a little sorry for him, despite the fact that the body in his hands was a direct result from his selfishness. And its that reason alone that he doesn't linger.

Harry Flynn didn't deserve everything he got, but that was one thing he couldn't forgive him for. He does, however, glance back to Chloe to make sure she is alright to continue.]

I'm fine. [She's not, but on the scale of being all right-- out of everyone that set foot in this place-- she's certainly made out like a bloody bandit, hasn't she? Besides, (Chloe doesn't look towards the wall, doesn't spare a glance at the blood soaked stone) they've got a job that needs doing. One more important than dwelling on what's already been done.

Facts over emotion.]

Yeah.

[Regardless of her words, he hovers until she moves next to him, and only then will he start to walk again. Not just because he wants to make sure she's really ok (because he knows she isn't -- this had been a disaster in every way imaginable), but because he wants to ensure they make it out of this hole without any further casualties.

Nate pauses and glances behind them warily, narrowing his eyes. Awkwardly, he adjusts Elena's body and unfastens the harness holding his gun -- it barely fits around his chest anymore as is, and he's sure that there are still guardians lurking about. Guardians that won't want him on the surface, having tasted Shambhala's bounty.

He thinks he might hear them coming but -- its probably just paranoia.]

Might wanna pick up the pace a bit.

OPEN RP PART II: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

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