#parasite plot

MAVRIK: -There is hardly anyone left walking about, and as the slow trickle of employees from the Silvah dollar exits the building there is a deep quiet. But before the owner has had the time to leave or lock the doors, a figure is melting out of the shadows and slipping into the restaurant.- 

MAVRIK: -The hood of his sweatshirt is drawn but there is no disguising his horns or the cracks running along one of them. Mavrik might look rather sinister with his eye patch and his hands stuffed into his pockets if it wasn't for his twitchy appearance and the way it seemed like it was impossible for him to focus in one area of space. This whole place reeked of troll and disgusting cooked food. But focus, he had to focus. He's here to see silvah.-

SILVAH: -Silvah's not hard to find on such a small station, especially since Mavrik ought to be aware of the troll's fairly predictable routine of being the last one out the door, closing up shop and making the lazy walk to either the transportalizer pad back to Skaia or the shuttle depending on his mood and the convenience of either option. It's the end of a pretty busy day, so he's sweaty and dirt tired. All the lights have been turned off but just as he's going to lock up, he rounds the corner and is momentarily startled by Mavrik's sudden appearance. After days and days of hearing nothing but rumor of the ugly fight, and after all the tension his conversations with Ryan and Jack have been building up in his mind....it's almost surreal. But he relaxes slightly and at least puts on a welcoming face.-

SILVAH: Didn't expect t' be seein ya back here

SILVAH: -He scratches the back of his neck thoughtfully.- Thought ya'd be planet-hoppin by now. MAVRIK: -His eye is locked on Silvah, intense and cold. Not like the usual grumpy look he wore before, Mavrik looks like his mind is distant.-

MAVRIK: Mhm.

MAVRIK: I came by to get my last paycheck.

SILVAH: -Lets out a big sigh....- Alright. Yer entitled t' it.

SILVAH: I'm....mighty fuckin sorry things turned out this way. I wouldn't a let him hurt ya if I'd been there.

SILVAH: An' he's not allowed around here no more, y'know. MAVRIK: -Grunts and shrugs rather sharply, his whole body is stiff and tense.- Shit happens. 

MAVRIK: This was always going to end up a limited gig. All my jobs always do. 

MAVRIK: I just need the money and I'll be out-- -Suddenly looks to his left and jolts at nothing visible. There are a lot of smells in here, a lot of lingering essences of people who have been through the building today. Its like a constant assault on his nose and eyes. Too much really. He has slept in a few days, hasn't eaten in longer. Hes becoming delirious.- SILVAH: -Gives him a long, searching look. While he's looking, he investigates Mavrik's emotions and feels the odd intensity and desperation and hunger coming off him in waves. It doesn't bode well. He turns to walk away towards his office where he keeps the payroll....but hesitates.- Y' aren't lookin' too good, man.

SILVAH: Do ya need help? Money?  I mean besides yer paycheck, that is. Place t' stay?

SILVAH: -The things Jack said about Mavrik, what he's capable of keep cycling through his mind. He can't help but think there has to be something he can say or do stop it.-

MAVRIK: -He watches Silvah move across the room, as if he's anticipating some sort of sudden movement from him.-

MAVRIK: No, I just want what I haven't been paid yet. I don't need your money just mine. 

MAVRIK: I'm fine. Perfectly fine. SILVAH: Look, ....I know a fucked up situation when I see it. I ain't blind. Just got one functionin' peeper. Like yerself currently.

SILVAH: I can tell yer scared and ya ain't firin' all cylinders. Apt to do somethin' regrettable.

SILVAH: But it don't have t' be that way.

MAVRIK: -He is listening to silvah talk, and seemingly still neutral up until he mentions mavrik doing something "regrettable"  then all bets are off, and Mavrik goes entirely rigid. Hardly even breathing for a short time.- ...........

MAVRIK: "Regrettable." -Repeats it with a rumbling growl in the back of his throat.   And odd choice of words. Jack had attacked him for something he hadn't done, would he have told silvah? What if silvah also believed him capable of those things was he being paranoid? How much did Silvah know about him?? Jack knew plenty what if he told.-

MAVRIK: What am I doing that's regrettable? What doesn't have to be what way?? Hm?? HM??! 

MAVRIK: I'm doing fuck all, I'm not scared of anything I'm FINE!! -Steps suddenly towards Silvah, hissing loudly, before he comes back to his senses again and backs down.- ..... SILVAH: -Uh oh. Silvah doesn't need complex math equations to know he made a bad call by trying to appeal to Mavrik. For a moment all he can do is blink in surprise at Mavriks sudden spike in paranoia and  hostility, and for the first time he feels the madness too- which comes in a cocktail of potent emotions that make his head spin. The situation  obviously isn't as manageable as he first thought. He has to be careful. Very careful. He makes his voice sound worried, but still relaxed and soothing.- Now I don't know nothin about any a that. I was just sorta speakin in general terms . Relax would ya? I'm gonna go get your pay check an then if ya still wanna talk about this yer welcome t it. -He just casually as can be starts walking to his office.- MAVRIK: -Relax.... he could do that, he could relax... maybe.-

MAVRIK: -He takes a few deep breaths, picking up on that forced calm Silvah has and trying to do the same for himself.- Okay... y-yeah okay. 

MAVRIK: -His eyes follow silvah as he shuffles over to the counter to wait. This just felt dangerous to him, going to a less populated area, no where to hide, and silvah might very well know what he is.-

SILVAH: -He does go and grab Mavrk's paycheck as he said, his mind racing the whole time while his body leisurely strolls....but while in the sanctity of his office, he makes sure to equip his armkind . One twist of the wrist and he'll have his weapon at the ready- literally at hand. Just a little insurance policy. In case Mavrik actually is as crazy as Silvah thinks he is. Text from his conversation with Jack is scrolling over and over again in his head, especially the end bit.  He's too far gone. Silvah still doesn't know if that's true....Not for sure. But he has a bad feeling about all this now. The sooner he has Mavrik out of his resturaunt, the sooner he can actually do something about it. He approaches the counter and slides the paycheck over to him wordlessly, along with a few extra hundred dollar bills. Maybe all he really needs is money.  It's possible right? That's what most people need.-

SILVAH: ...Well I was closin up when ya came. Think I'm gonna head out now.

SILVAH: Take care a yourself. MAVRIK: -When Silvah comes back out Mavrik snaps back to attention, having previously been hunched over the counter top staring at nothing. He looks up at Silvah, then down at the check and money before snatching it up checking to be sure it was signed and then tucking it away for safety. Suddenly he felt some relief wash over him, just these few hundred dollars extra meant maybe he could keep further in reality, further from daily feeling like he was dying. Mavrik lets out a sigh.- .............. Thank you. 

MAVRIK: And. 

MAVRIK: I............ I never wanted it to go that way. With Ryan's friend. That guy. 

MAVRIK: I wasnt what he said I was. SILVAH: -It's impossible for Silvah not to keep feeling sympathy for Mavrik, despite all the evidence piling up against him. Silvah in that moment genuinley hopes the poor guy will take the money and run. Find somewhere to be happy- or at least less miserable. Not hurt anyone or be hurt by anyone. Silvah just nods and strides slowly towards the door.- not trusting himself to say much more without upsetting him again- ...I  know. -He wants to believe it. But he's not sure.-

MAVRIK: Mhm. 

MAVRIK: But I'm running out of options. And chances. If he said anything to you, if Ryan said anything to you...

MAVRIK: Silvah I've always hated every single troll with a burning rage you cannot even fathom... -Turns his head and stares at Silvah as he starts moving towards the door.- But you cut me some slack when I needed it so I'll give you a heads up. 

MAVRIK: Stay off of Lauctis. And if I ever see your face again there wont be a second time. -He needs to protect himself, and if that means pulling intimidation tactics so be it.

SILVAH: -Silvah's been doing a pretty good job of keeping his cool this whole time....but the blatant threat startles him and gives him pause,. His skin prickles like the temperature in the room dropped several degrees. It's kind of ridiculous in a way- the giant military trained troll that he is, being intimidated by a tiny thing like Mavrik. But it's not really Mavrik himself that gives him this creepy feeling but the malice in his voice. Once Silvah hears that, feels the intensity of that hatred...towards all trolls, .all the doubts in his mind are swept away. He has to get out of here  and find a way to help. Even trying to postpone the music festival would be a start. Instead of turning around and talking to him again...he just keeps walking. But faster than before.- MAVRIK: -Ah. There it is. That spike of fear clear as day and absorbing Silvah in a whole new shade. He knew it. Mavrik fucking knew it. Any other person would be confused, maybe a little nervous from the death threat but look at him Silvah was a tank? Why would he be this nervous of a guy half his size. Silvah knows something is up.- 

MAVRIK: -When Silvah doesnt even so much as respond and starts walking, Mavrik shoves off from the counter top and swiftly follows at his heels.- I thought you were interested in talking before. What suddenly happened to change that. SILVAH: -FUCKIN HELL, he's on to me. Silvah wonders whether it would be be better to stop and try to stall him or just make a break for it. Silvah's not the fastest person in the world, that's for damn sure....But maybe intimidation can go both ways? Just relying on instinct, he whirls around, clicking his arm into place as he turns and suddenly there's a sort of strange looking gun  where his arm would be, pointing at Mavrik point blank.- Death threats don't tend t' make me too conversational, my friend.

SILVAH: Go on. Take the money 'n go on t' Lauctis and we needn't trouble eachother no more. MAVRIK: -GUN ARM!!-

MAVRIK: ................. -He stares down the barrel of where Silvah's hand used to be and internally sweats. His outward expression straining to not look fearful while a good two thirds of his own instincts tell him to flee the scene. But what use is running for self preservation if Silvah can go and tell some sort of lawful official that could start a manhunt for his ass?- 

MAVRIK: -His hands twitch at his sides.-  You... You dont have the nerve to fire that weapon. -steps closer just to test it.- SILVAH: -Growls when he steps closer. It's a VERY LOUD growl, like a motor revving.- Wrong. I don't wanna fire this weapon. But I will if I have to so mind your p's and q's. -He starts backing off towards the door, just interested in getting more space between he and Mavrik.- MAVRIK: -He jumps at the growl backing up again several paces, but rather then the growl completely scaring him off it just makes Mavrik raise his metaphorical hackles.- 

MAVRIK: -He hisses back at him.- NO YOU WONT!!! -His gaze suddenly darts to the table next to him, Mavrik may not have super strength, but he does have enough muscle to lift and flip it towards Silvah. Get wrecked.- SILVAH: -The table never makes contact, but it does surprise Silvah into firing the gun- which turns out to actually be some kind of plasma-based blaster that basically melts the table away into pieces and dust, grinding out a stream of filthy curses under breath as he stumbles a bit, while also trying making a dive to dart out the door.- MAVRIK: -J E S U S- 

MAVRIK: -He is very glad that table wasn't him, but in the time it took Silvah to demolish the table, Mavrik has skittered off and jumped onto one of the booth tables. What he might not have in size or muscle he makes up for in agility, which he demonstrates by jumping off the surface to launch himself onto Silvah's back before he can get out the door.-  

MAVRIK: -Hes snarling and wide eyed, practically feral and giving into his natural urge to defend himself combined with his dangerous above average aggression. Silvah can try to throw him off but unfortunately before he can get the chance something even worse takes place. The smell of Silvah's skin so close to him... Mavrik can practically taste the sweet metallic taste of blood from memory alone and never before has it been so overwhelming that Mavrik felt as though he was practically blacking out from the scent alone.- 

MAVRIK: -He doesnt even remember thinking about it first, doesn't remember doing it, but quite suddenly Mavrik opens up his mouth and sinks razor sharp fangs through Silvah's clothes and into the back of the trolls Shoulder.- SILVAH: -He doesn't yell, or scream, but let's out a furious roar of pain once he feels that swift, vicious bite that seems to cut so easily into his naturally tough seadweller hide- like the sharpest knife ever.  Even if he knew that Mavrik had already gotten what he wanted, at this point he wouldn't care- his blood is up now. Since he can't reach Mavrik to shoot him, instead he rolls,  slinging the creature pretending to be a troll to the floor and tying to slam his entire massive weight down on top of him.- MAVRIK: -Its like spooking a horse or any large animal, they try to crush you. Mavrik is too caught up in the rewarding buzzing through his skull from having started chewing on Silvah back, he wouldn't say each blood caste had their own unique flavor but it does taste just a little bit sweeter knowing how high up on the spectrum Silvah is.-

MAVRIK: -Not that he gets much time to savor it, Mavrik is brought back to his frazzled senses when quite suddenly his body hits the floor and there is a tremendous weight on him thats threatening to crush his already still damaged ribs to dust, he is certain one of them just completely broke given the sudden pain in his right side. Mavrik shrieks and tries thrashing and clawing to get his way out, he cant breathe with Silvah on top of him and the pain from his ribcage is growing.- SILVAH:   Filthy. Cuntin'. Traitor! -He spits at the impact- the shrieks from Mavrik only intensifies his rage. His eyes are blood-shot and rimmed with purple. Here comes the gun, directly following it, the steel barrel aimed right at Mavrik's mouth which is currently stained purple with his blood. Silvah doesn't dare fire it since the plasma splash would hit him too at this range, but it makes a decent blundgeoning weapon in a pinch.- MAVRIK: -For a brief and terrifying moment Mavrik actually thinks Silvah might just shoot him in the head, but getting slugged in the mouth with the gun hand hardly feels better in the moment. He takes the shot right to his jaw and feels the crack resulting from it.-

MAVRIK: -He chokes on a yelp and wrestles to get his hands up to try and grab hold of the blunt weapon being waved in his face, all while turning to spit out a combination of Silvah's blood, his own, and bits of crushed molar.- SILVAH: -Given that it's his arm, Silvah has a much better grip on it and easily yanks it out of Mavrik's flailing hands, breathing heavily as blood spills from his shoulder in a hot gush. But instead of hitting him again, he twists at the base of his wrists again, and suddenly in place of the blaster is a blade- some kind of cutlass.- MAVRIK: -This was quickly becoming a bad fight for Mavrik, as the hands change he cant decide which attachment is worse. Gun or sword.- 

MAVRIK: -It doesnt matter though because he wont willingly stick around to find out. Mavrik brings up his knees and attempts to drive his heels into Silvah's stomach as hard as he can.- GET!!! OFF!!! SILVAH: -The kick makes impact and while it doesn't manage to push Silvah completely off, it does stun him for a moment, causing him to rear back. If Mavrik is quick he might be able to squirm away before Silvah savagely brings the cutlass slashing down for a killing blow.-

MAVRIK: -Mavrik was in agony. He had kept himself hidden in shadowy corners of this space station, hiding among trash  bags and dumpsters, until his nose and the cuts on his face from the broken glass smashed over his head had stopped bleeding their weird rainbow of colors. Now it was all mostly dirty looking scabs, asides from the cracks in his horn which were still oozing. Oh well, it was close enough to the base that maybe no one would notice...-

MAVRIK: -His bruised and battered rib cage made it hard to breathe, and the headache and waves of dizziness caused by his horn fracture wasnt helping to improve his thinking ability. Which was bad, because he needed to figure out a way off this damn station and to get back to lauctis without drawing any attention to himself. And currently using one hand to cover up his exposed glowing eye and looking beat to hell and back was not the best way to go about being inconspicuous.-

MAVRIK: -He was behind some other restaurant, leaning against the wall and just taking deep breaths to try and tune out the throbbing in his skull when he smells it. A weird, familiar musk that he only knows in the deepest part of his cognitive memory. There is a instinctual tug in his stomach, and Mavrik knows what it is hes detecting before his brain can even muster the sheer near impossible odds that there is another mimic here.-

MAVRIK:  -Either way though he isn't wasting too much time trying to sort out just how or why another member of his species is here. He needs help, and he can only hope that whoever it is they are willing to give it...-

-As Yulala continues walking she might feel like something is following her, perhaps she might even smell him too. But after a few minutes of tracking her down, and confirming with his nose what she is, Mavrik will grab Yulala by the wrist and forcefully yank her out of view of the public eye and into a corridor where he promptly covers her mouth with a hand and speaks into her ear through gritted teeth.-

MAVRIK: (Dont scream, please dont scream, I need help Im alone and need to get out of here, please help me.)

YULALA: -Music may be a relief to her, but apart of the reason she likes it so much is that it swallows all her sensory information and directs it to one place. She has minimal hope of noticing him before the assailant snatches her. For the first few seconds, all she can think about is how terrified and horrified she is. Nothing like this has ever happened to her, and she never imagined she'd be caught so off guard when it did. However, he might be surprised by how strong she is, when she lashes against him like a viper, threatening to knock him back into the wall of the alley and tear herself out of his grip. Not screaming, but a shrieky animalisitc snarl that he ought to be familiar with.-

YULALA: Get aaaaaawaaaaay from me!

MAVRIK: -When she sharply moves to throw him off her Mavrik chokes on the wince he makes from her knocking into his battered body. He lets go of her wrist in favor of wrapping both his arms around his sides and leaning forward as he tries to outlast the sharp radiating pain.- (Fuck!!)

MAVRIK: Pl-Please Im not trying to do anything, I need your help someone attacked me and I think they know we need to get out of here! -He hisses and then looks up at her pleadingly, both eyes open, one seemingly troll like with an indigo iris, and the other bare and neon. A look Yulala might find very familiar.-

YULALA: -Yulala could smell the blood the whole time....Among other confusing...(and exciting?) scents and colors coming off him in waves. It's making both her eyes and nose very confused. She hisses again, but it's slower, like she's thinking it over for a second, although she's still bolt straight and clearly about to attack him again to make her escape. But then she gets a good look at him, and sees the ugly hurt aura of colors that's radiating from his wounds, and that cools her hostility into instantaneous pity. She's not stupid though, she's still guarded. And angry.-

YULALA: Why did you pull me aaawaaaaay like that? It reaaallly scaaaarred me!!

YULALA: ...but you cleaaarly need aaaa hospital....I could caaalll you a caaab? Is thaat what you need?

YULALA: You....-She does notice his neon eye. It stuns her. She's never seen another eye that looked like hers before, except...In a mirror.-

MAVRIK: NO! -He hisses again, but then regrets it and tries to be as seemingly non-aggressive as possible through his body language.- No hospitals!! Are you crazy???

MAVRIK: And I pulled you in here so no one would see us! I can't believe you are walking around like that, look at your eyes what are you thinking!?? -He wheezes and points a finger at her face.- Sunglasses or contacts or something you cant go bare eyed thats so fucking dangerous! I know most of the worlds and stations near here are musclebeast shit backwards without culling laws but for fucks sake...

YULALA: -At first she's confused....and then incredibly offended....and then confused some more.- Aaa.....Aaare you from aaaa plaaaanet with culling laaaws? -She clumsily lets her voice fall into a not-as-agressive tone, a little startled by all these sudden developments.-

YULALA: I...I know you might be scaaaared, but it's saaaaaafe, I promise. My faaamily haaas lived here for aaaaaaaa long time aaaand most of them are offspec.

YULALA: I could...go with you...If you're reaaaaaallly aaaafraaaaid! -She doesn't really want to, despite the offer. Something about him just....unnerves her. His sudden presence in her life is scary and she wants him gone as fast as possible. But she can't abandon a hurt, confused person.-

MAVRIK: -Yes, pity him he is indeed hurt and confused. But mostly confused at her. Mavrik looks at her like Yulala has two heads.- Wh-?? Yes! I came from a damn planet with culling laws, the odds of existing on one of those flimsy "Beforean" minded hell holes is so rare they keep too close of a track on their caverns. -Or so hes been told.-

MAVRIK: I'm from a colony world controlled by Alternian government, or I was. I had to defect to lauctis which is where I'm trying to get to but at this point I'm willing to go anywhere, seriously ANYWHERE.

MAVRIK: -He reaches out and takes her arm again.- But you said your family right?? "Family??" There are more? Please take me to them, take me with you I promise I'm no threat rogue, I lost my group sweeps ago I've been on my own since I just want to meet them, to see others like us again!!!(edited)

YULALA: -None of the trains of thought her racing mind was pursuing seem to be related in any way to this strange troll's babbling. She feels herself kind of withdrawing inward as he talks, noticing the way the splatter of his blood shines. Just like hers. She backs off from him more although the alleyway is cramped and there's not much space to work with. She's just overhwelmed with way he's assaulting her sights and senses. For instance the prisma of his aura of misery and loathing is so bright in comparison to other people she's met that it almost burns to be too close to it.  And he can see her fear rising, probably assume that at any moment she wants to bolt without replying to any of his increasingly alarming statements.-

YULALA: ...

MAVRIK: -He can see her fear, plain as day, even if it comes muddled through the one contact lens. Shit he didnt want to scare her off, but why was she even so frightened?? He was like her! He was one of them! Even with his confusion though Mavrik lets her back up again and holds his hands out in front of himself fingers splayed in a peaceful gesture, and he tries to appear as non threatening as he can despite his heart thudding in his chest and all his senses going crazy.- Please, please just...

MAVRIK: Just get me to lauctis. Thats all I need, and I can explain myself more but we cant stay here. Neither of us.

YULALA: -There's a tense silence....and then she speaks up again.- Whaaaats the point of getting aaaanywhere if your injuries get infected aaaand you die? You don't trust the hospitaaal on Laaauctis either, I guess?

YULALA: You're confused. Aaabout aaa lot. I don't know whaaat you think we haaave in common, but we don't.

MAVRIK: No! I have medical supplies I can't treat myself there- Wh-??? -He frowns at her. He's the confused one?? She's the one trying to get him to go to a hospital where he could easily be exposed and found out! It's like she doesn't even know the first rules of mimic survival!-

MAVRIK: -Then his frown turns more squinty, like he's inspecting her. And then again Mavrik is suddenly invading her personal space again, taking hold of her arms and sniffing at her collar bone, her shoulder.- Holy shit I thought I was seeing things because of a concussion but it's not here. You don't have it. -There is a sudden twisting in his gut, and the strong urge to correct her lack of internal parasite.-

MAVRIK: -Lets go of her wrists and jumps back.- What are you??

YULALA: -It's safe to say that everything he's said thus far has her taken aback, but he doesn't need to see her aura to know how it makes her feel, her eyes squint with surprised hurt as though he slapped her. Its not the first time she's heard those words. All she can do is give him a flabbergasted blurt back.-...No. What aaarre you?

YULALA: -She fiercely yanks herself away from him again.- Stop it! I didn't saaay you could touch me!

MAVRIK: I'm like you! If you need to put a word to it trolls have called us "mihmiks" for centuries. -Says the name with so much distaste and malice it might as well be acid on his tongue.-

MAVRIK: You are parasite free something is wrong with you, where is the rest of your group?? Where are their parasites?

YULALA: Mihmiks. -Her stomach is twisting around inside her painfully. She doesn't understand all of what he's saying- still-  but somehow...she knows what he's saying is true. And it's the worst thing that's happened to her....So far. There's another layer on top of the colors both she and Mavrik can see- an even fainter and more subtle aura of intuition that's for her alone. This person is going to set off an unavoidable chain of events....It's hard not to get lost in that train of thought- it's already trying to unfocus her from the situation and yank her away from reality.-

YULALA: I don't know whaaat you mean by paraaasites....I don't know why you'd waaant to ....haaaave paraaaasites. I waaaas raised by my daaad. An indigoblood!  On a ship. With lots of other offspec trolls.

MAVRIK: -Stares at Yulala like shes gone and grown a third head. Seriously this lady keeps getting stranger and stranger.- .... The lack of parasite is no longer the strangest thing, you were raised by trolls???

MAVRIK: The murderous species that would literally rather have you, me and everyone else like us dead raised you???

MAVRIK: -He cant even compute that.-

MAVRIK: Did they not know what you are!? Well I guess obviously so because why would a troll keep someone that feeds off their kind alive it doesnt make sense!

YULALA: You- we- You're saying Mihmiks feed on trolls? -HORRIFIED.-

YULALA: Ugh! I caaaan't deaaal with aaalll this. I don't waaannna deaaaal with aaaaaaall this!

YULALA: Look, just put a hoodie on, sneak onto a traaansportaaaalizer paaad. I don't caaaare where aaas long aaas it's faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar aaaway from me! -

YULALA: -With that she turns and starts to run.-

MAVRIK: Not really trolls themselves, its an option if you can manage it but mostly its the eggs and grubs. You havent lived until you-- WAIT STOP!! -He tries to sprint forward after her but before he even reaches the end of the ally way he has to stop, he cant run, he cant keep up. Mavrik just places a hand against the wall to support his weight and pathetically wheezes...-