#skype threads

[2015-10-04 2:51:12 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: The familiar sensation of being pulled into a fractured dimension was nothing to soothe his nerves. This world... it had fractures too? Just how far did this whole stupid Trial even go, he had to wonder? But the enormity of it all would have to wait, dwarfed by the fact that even here, he still had a job to do. Still, there was something bothersome about bringing along kids to help.

Elle was one thing. She was his partner, practically a younger sister to him, and someone he never went into dimensions without. Of course she was along for the ride. But Harry? Alright, fair, he was older than Jude technically, but Karol was... the same age as Elize. It just felt weird. These kids... they shouldn't have volunteered, and yet here they were, diving alongside him--

Well, not literally. Apparently he was the only one with the impressive rotten luck to fall into the ocean. Again. And flailing was, in addition to embarrassing, not helpful.

--- Karol leered out to the ocean where Ludger was subsequently attempting to stay afloat. How had that even...? They'd all been standing right next to each other, and though it was probably one of the most nauseating experiences ever, they had come into what the agent had called a 'fractured dimension' largely in the same manner that they had started. He was a bit unsteady on his feet, but... he wasn't drowning.

With a sigh, he shook his head. "Alright, who's gonna go get him?" The only fucking adult in the group being saved by a bunch of kids....

[2015-10-04 2:54:22 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry wasn’t used to this. He had volunteered because he knew that this was important, and he didn’t get out often enough, but to be deposited so near Dhangrest and the ocean… Well, it was a little ridiculous (at least to him). Still, as he steadied himself, the sounds of flailing and blubbering got him to look up and Karol’s words —

He looked out and blanched. Seriously? He’d heard Ludger couldn’t swim, but he figured he could at least float. Fucking really? “I’ll get ‘im.” Harry grunted, kicking off his boots and tossing his vest to the ground besides him before he dived in and swam after the currently drowning member of their group.

[2015-10-04 2:58:10 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: This was all very routine for Elle now, she didn't seem bothered at all. Another day, another fractured dimension, another possible chance of finding a waymarker ( Though how that would work in this strange world, the spirits knew how ).

Elle could only stare out at the water with an exasperated expression tinged with concern as they landed and their attention was very quickly drawn by the sounds of someone flailing and calling for help. Really, swimming was so easy and he wasn't even that far from shore...

[2015-10-04 3:03:57 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Okay swimming was literally never an issue for him until a) the Schism had fallen and boats became more popular (honestly, he'd never been on one before then), and b) he got here, and was surreptitiously thrown into the ocean at every opportunity fate was given. What was the big idea?! He had notoriously rotten luck (Karol had once compared him to Yuri even, and apparently that wasn't a good thing), but this was a little overboard!

It was thankful that the blonde came to his aid. He tried not to be too much of a burden but definitely was grateful when he could feel solid ground beneath his feet. When they reached the shore, Ludger laid down in the sand, breathing labored. "Okay we... will start... in a minute..." Just let him catch his breath... then he could thank Harry and they could get on with this.

-- It was pretty amusing though, watching Harry wrestling to bring Ludger back to shore. Good of him to be so thoughtful. It only crossed Karol's mind twice to hide his boots, but he graciously instead only opted to steal his jacket (he shot Elle a 'shhh' gesture as he slipped it on. No way would Harry miss it but... fun no less).

As Ludger crawled onto the shore and subsequently collapsed, Karol sighed. "We're supposed ta trust you t'get us through this right?" He crossed his arms. "Real vote 'f confidence there."

Ludger glared up at him for a moment. It wasn't worth it- if he retorted, he'd have all three of them down his throat in a second. So he just dropped his head again with a weak groan. "Right..."

[2015-10-04 3:09:16 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry was frustrated when he got there. His movements were a lot more difficult with the extra weight clinging to him with haphazardly kicking and attempts of keeping a head above water. Harry grunted in frustration as he pulled with his weight, forcing them forward until they reached the edge of the shore where one could begin to feel their feet underneath them again and Harry had to lean on his knees when he had time, coughing up whatever water had gotten in his mouth from the struggling he had to pull. (Seriously, Karol was right there.) He glanced around to his boots and walked forward, pulling his boots on over wet cloth.

Sure, it wasn’t comfortable, but at least it was better than if his boots had also been wet. Wringing out his shirt, he threw a glance around them, noticing a familiar hue he hadn’t noticed in a long time …

“Hey … ’s it just me, or is that a blastia barrier ‘round Dhangrest?”

[2015-10-04 3:16:24 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: Elle was right at the edge of the shore, not so keen on getting her shoes in the water but giving a ( albeit, weak ) helping hand to pull Ludger onto solid shore, making a face at the smell of briny water and the stickiness that now clung to her hands and sleeves as they slowly soaked through.

"Ludger, come on already! Do we have to save you every single time!" She huffed. C'mon Ludger, stop being such a scrub. As her partner worked on recovering, she turned back to see what had Harry so excited. Huh, the sky was real pretty here, what with the glowing symbols and a sunset that didn't seem to match the distant horizon.

"That's a spirit clime!" She offered helpfully, sure in her own knowledge. That's what Hamil or Lakutum looked like after all, minus the rings.

[2015-10-04 3:21:26 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Ludger pushed himself off the ground, panting slowing as he peered up to Elle. "If you want me alive, yeah," he joked, smiling. Wasn't his fault the universe kept throwing him into the ocean. He was very good about avoiding large bodies of water when left to his own devices.

Ludger looked to the off-colored barrier in confusion, but it was Karol that interjected. "Nu-uh. That's a barrier- there's a blastia there!" A working one! Ludger had warned them about the nature of time in these dimensions, but to think that they could even go back to a time where blastia were still there.... Karol wasn't really sure what he'd expected but it wasn't this.

Pushing to his feet, Ludger attempted to brush some of the sand off of him. "Blastia... that thing that doesn't work anymore?" Karol nodded. "So then that shouldn't be there?" He peered down to Elle. "Looks like we got a lead quick, huh?"

The youngest boy shook his head. "Well, nah, it oughta be there depending on when we are-- does that kinda sentence get normal?" Ludger shook his head, and the smaller one sighed. "Well anyway, if this is back before the Adephagos and all, that may be completely normal. So...."

Still was a safe place to start searching though.

[2015-10-04 3:31:03 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry nodded in agreement with Karol. “We should head there first, learn when ‘zactly we’re at, right?” Because, if this was before the adephagos, that meant it could be anytime from after Dhangrest’s construction to before the Adephagos was released. The likelihood of this was so … not. There should be no way to go back in time, but that apparently was wrong. Still … Harry made a gesture, “So, the adult gonna take th’ lead, or should one’a us? Karol probably knows the route best, but ‘m no slouch either.” Karol was good with directions and maps, after all.

[2015-10-04 3:36:01 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: She seemed a little peeved that her explanation was shot down entirely, and was less than reserved about offering another. "Or you know, the Bla-stia might just still be here. Why'd they disappear anyways? That's got to be the catalyst."

Besides, enough talking! Elle's already taking off ahead of them the moment Harry asked. They've been through here once already, and it's hard to miss the big glowing rings in the sky-- just head for that right? Easy! Hurry up slowpokes!

[2015-10-04 3:40:08 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Did Karol try to explain to her, or...? He just looked to Harry and Ludger, half smiling. "I know the way. Super easy from here- there's even 'n old shortcut we could take up the main road here."

Ludger had no real choice but to believe him. After all, wasn't Karol weird about maps? He and Alvin talked about them all the time so... authority figure much. He nodded, gesturing. "Lead the way." He put a hand on Elle's head, petting her hair for a second. "It was a good guess, though! C'mon, let's go check it out."

"Alright then, follow me!" With that, Karol adjusted the vest on his shoulders, then took off for the path he knew.

[2015-10-04 2:18:41 PM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry chuckled softly under his breath. Yep. That was Karol. Straightening, he hoped that, by the time they reached Dhangrest, that his clothes would be dry. Following along behind, his gaze didn’t flicker from the large, bright circles in the sky. It had been forever since he’d seen the barrier blastia … and it almost felt unreal. Hopefully, when they got there, all this could be found out and they could discover the differences in this world. Because that was what it was, right? Find the biggest variation and that was the key into making them return?

This was just another mission. Albeit a tough, difficult mission, but a mission none-the-less.

[2015-10-04 7:39:11 PM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: Elle batted Ludger's hand away with annoyance, looking up to fix her partner with a glare. He was being pa-tron-nizing wasn't he? She sped up, making sure to always be be at least a step or two ahead of Ludger but eventually she got distracted by other things. Like the stolen vest Karol was wearing-- did Harry not care? There was no way he hasn't noticed, he was barely wearing anything! She remembered their first trip out of the ocean here, the water was cold and it was freezing when they got out.

[2015-10-05 1:09:47 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Ludger didn't take it too personally when Elle waved off his hand. What had he expected? Elle was independent to an almost fault sometimes; he just thought headpats were a good way to convey affection. Maybe that just wasn't her experience. For him... well, it always made him feel better, but hey to each their own. She tottered off after them, and Ludger took up the end of the group, falling in step after them. Man... what a weird thing that blastia was. He hadn't actually seen any work so far, so to think that one was that intense.... maybe they all were.

Karol was completely content to lead the group. S'long as he didn't get jumped by anything nefarious from the bushes, he could even kinda look cool doing it. That was a win-win! But no, he just really loved navigating. Still, the visage of the blastia in the distance, the way the barrier reflected in an almost gradient in the setting sunlight... it was haunting almost. It'd been so long since he'd seen a blastia that he'd almost let himself forget what it was like having it there. And yet... "Man, it's weird, huh?" he said softly, not looking to Harry but knowing he'd hear. "When d'ya think we are?" He grinned, looking back to the blond. "Maybe I'll get ta see you as a little kid, since you're so stingy with pictures."

[2015-10-08 2:31:30 PM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry scoffed at Karol’s comment, “Yeah, i’s weird… feels unreal almost.” Because he’d thought … could have sworn that he would have never seen another barrier ever again. Which would have meant that sights such as this (as pretty as it was,) made his stomach feel uneasy and his chest clench up. However, at the suggestion, Harry looked around a tad more. “Tch, you wish. Even if we are that far back, ya better hope ’s the right season,” he smirked, glancing around them to take note of the colour the leaves took, “my mum an’ I would only visit up ’n the late fall an’ mid-summer times.” Walking a tad closer, he leaned more against Karol, “Why you so infatuated with seeing me as a li’l shit-head anyway?” He totally wasn’t doing this just to get Karol slightly wet, nope—

[2015-10-10 11:56:35 PM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: Elle was in pretty much the same boat as Ludger was, attention fixed on the glowing rings in the sky with curiosity and awe rather than the more mixed emotions of the natives to this world. She paid some attention to what the two were saying --after all, they'd know more about what's different in this world than her and Ludger-- but they were just asking the inane questions of amateurs to the trial before going off on an unrelated tangent. She's never seen a dimension go that far back, and it's not like the divergence or depth were that high anyways!

[2015-10-11 12:03:38 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Ludger kept close to Elle, listening idly as Harry and Karol spoke. They would know more of what was going on besides. It was strange, playing a background role in your own job, but there wasn't much Ludger would be able to do with rooting out the catalyst. He was perfectly content, for the time being, to sit back and let them lead him and Elle along. He could jump in and do his job when he had to. He peered down at Elle as he worked on wringing out his shirt, a sigh on his lips. "Your dad did you a favor teaching you how to swim," he said softly. Maybe a little chatter would make the time pass... strained as chatter was...

Karol nodded at Harry's words. Unreal was right..  blastia were so long gone.. okay not that long gone, but over a year was plenty of time to get an uneasy feeling toward seeing them there, especially knowing what they were... But still, Karol bristled at the seasons comment, glaring up at Harry. "The bush has flowers on it- it's summer. Ya'd totally be here." he snapped, pointing as they walked past what could have just as easily been a miscellaneous piece of foliage that bloomed at any time of year. But Karol seemed certain, adamant. It was his style even if he didn't know what he was talking about, but he was generally fairly good with flora, more so nowadays than before. And his defensiveness did not stop there. "I-I ain't infatuated but you got ta see me as a kid! That's not fair!" Harry'd always had that scar as long as Karol could remember- sue him, he wanted to see Harry without it! And as a kid that would be true! Not to mention that if they were in a much longer ago time, then Karol probably wouldn't need to worry about that 'catalyst' thing...

[2015-10-16 6:12:56 PM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: “Uh-huh,” Harry would point out that those plant bloomed about any time of the year, but didn’t, just because of how much Karol seemed interested in this. Though, at the next statement, his eyebrows rose in surprise, “What do ya mean it ain’t fair? ‘m just older than you.” He teased lightly. He wasn’t too worried about the whole situation with ‘catalysts’. After all, whoever they were, it couldn’t be that bad, could it? He knew his grandfather wouldn’t be it, even if he was alive (to be honest, he doubted that the catalyst would be anyone he knew,) so he was relaxed and leaning against Karol’s shoulder, grinning warmly...

[2015-10-16 6:53:54 PM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: A mischievous smirk crossed Elle's face at that. Daddy was the best at practically everything, but not this! "Daddy didn't teach me, he couldn't swim at all!" She never understood why. She'd known how to swim since as far back as she could remember. The lake had dominated her hours of play over her life. "He's almost as bad as you are Ludger." A pointed stare at his still-dripping clothes.

Her attention was taken back to the front by the growing intensity of the glowing rings and the stronger tinge of twilight in the sky. She stared upwards as they crossed the barrier with interest. Ever since she'd left daddy, she's been seeing a loooot of new strange things out in the world. "It's kinda pretty."

[2015-10-16 7:07:12 PM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Ludger quirked a brow. "Almost, huh?" So, her dad couldn't swim either... what an interesting coincidence. Then again, if she was from Elympios he supposed it wasn't that big of a surprise, all things considered. He smirked. "Well then, maybe you'll just have to teach me some time, if you're such a water baby."

He peered back up toward the barrier around Dahngrest. So this was what they'd meant when they'd said that the walls used to be so different... it was almost like a dream. He nodded. "It is." But a bit silly, given that they could really walk right through it. Maybe it was something in the programming...

But this place wasn't always so busy. Sure, the city had a life of it's own, but it wasn't usually so... frantic feeling. People darted around, whispering, shouting, carrying on about something. And sure, it was a huge place, so there was no way for Ludger to very well know everyone, but there were so many faces he didn't recognize, in clothes he'd never seen. Some kind of conflict? Or..

-- It took Karol less time to figure out when they were than he would have liked. First of all, where was the challenge? He'd wanted it to be a cool time (or at least when Harry was like, really really small...). But this was...

Ice ran through his veins as he shifted out from Harry's lean, peering around. The guilds were aflame, and Palestralle's men were here as well. Assuming that their venom was from what he thought it was from... The Don. With a knit brow, wide eyes, he looked back to Harry. His trepidation was clear. "This may be..." Should they avoid the square? Karol would be very much in favor of avoiding the square. It set his stomach to flipping just to think about the events that were likely about to take place, his neck twinging with reminiscent sympathetic pain. He'd...

Hell, where was he right now...?

[2015-10-16 7:19:41 PM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry was leaning against Karol for most of their way inside, however, once they were there, his breath caught in his throat. The sounds of people shouting, his gaze flickering around. Oh, of course fuck, fuck, fuck … Ducking his head, Harry lifted a hand over his eyes. Karol’s gaze being met awkwardly from the side. “An’ ya’ll just walked ’n with th’ hot spot guy.” He whispered it, his voice was quivering almost. Oh spirits, if he was found out right here? Where was he right then? Most likely looking for his grandpa. The familiar throb of his chest, his stomach wrenching in the most horrible of directions …

  “Shit…”

If he was seen and shoved to the center, what the fuck was going to happen? He needed something, anything to hide him from sight to keep other people from recognizing him in this time. He’d thought, maybe if it was after this point he’d get some cold reception, but for the most part be able to ask questions. But now? “Karol, please tell me we ain’t … there ‘gain.” He glanced back, between the small girl and Ludger before he swallowed awkwardly. “Keep away from th’ main square. Especially keep her away—“

                “I’m coming with you!”

The sound of his own voice made Harry flinch visibly. His stomach tightening in horrible knots. He waited for the next shout, the flabbergasted demand, but instead, all that came was scoffing laughter and the hair’s on the back of Harry’s next stood on end.

[2015-10-17 12:20:28 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: Everyone seemed angry, or scared. There was a tension in the air that made her shrink, gravitating more closely to Ludger as it washed away the awe over the barrier blastia. The shift in her reaction wasn't conscious, but she was much more on edge, flaring up when Harry mentioned keeping her away. It's not like she can't take care of herself, that boy had no idea of what she's seen in these fractures before. She was about to open her mouth to protest when a loud shout in the crowd took Harry's attention and Elle's head whipped over as well to the familiar voice, the voice she had just been listening to but somewhere else. So this world's Harry then.

"Why?" This was important. Anyone could see, except the kind of event catalysts like to latch on to. They need to find out what differences to find. "What's gonna happen?"

[2015-10-17 1:14:46 AM | Edited 1:14:57 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Ludger didn't like the way this looked. As Elle moved closer to him, he put an arm over her shoulder protectively. Harry didn't need to tell him twice- whatever was going on, those two clearly understood. Though there were still questions unanswered- why was Karol so nervous, why was Harry hiding, and why was this town so...on edge? But that cry, the way the blond flinched.

There was no way he was giving her a choice- getting swept up in this crowd was not an option. Ludger swept Elle into his arms, hoisting her up to rest against his hip as he moved over toward Harry. His eyes swept the surroundings. "What the hell's going on?" He whispered adamantly. "And is it..." Well, not normal but expected? "Did this happen before?"

--

Karol watched as Harry caved inward in all too familiar of a way- it was what Karol himself did when he was nervous, but that wasn't something he was accustomed to seeing from the Whitehorse boy. The younger let out a small sound of discomfort, peering around. Tell him they weren't going there again? But... that definitely seemed like where they needed to go. But Harry didn't have to. Karol swallowed his anxiety, peeking up at Harry.

          "I'm coming with you!"

"Stay here. I'll go check."

What difference would it make? Karol had seen the events pretty much first hand anyway- what... difference did it make to see it... again...? Karol didn't wait for the opportunity for Harry to cut him off- he ducked into the crowd, weaving his way forward. If he hurried he'd be just in time to see Raven knock Harry flat (which, granted, was not funny at the time but.... okay there was some comedic value to it in retrospect and out of context so maybe...). But as he shifted through the crowd, staring wide-eyed around, he... wasn't there? Where was Raven? And why was no one stopping Harry---?

Karol could see himself standing there. He was just watching. Watching like this didn't effect him, like it was scary, but necessary or something. Which yes, so say the laws and all that but this wasn't all that simple! It wasn't-- and Karol wasn't doing anything as Harry walked forward. Why wasn't anyone saying anything- why wasn't anyone interveneing-- where was Raven?

[2015-10-17 1:40:43 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry was cringing badly, not because he wanted to, but because he knew what was going on here. The quiet whisper of the hell’s going on here. He nodded slowly, insecurity licking over his expression. “Yeah … yeah, this is when my gramps died.” He swallowed thickly, staring off towards the center square. “That … what’cha just heard, was—“

Karol told him to stay there. “Karol, no!” He shouted in response, moving with him instinctually. None of them should go near the square. Karol had been there, Karol could see himself, and then what would happen? He didn’t like this, the ice in his stomach told him something was wrong, but he didn’t know what. Pushing through, Harry hid slightly behind Karol, his fingers wrapping around Karol’s arms. “Karol, don’t run off!” Harry hissed under his breath at him before his eyes lifted.

  “W-wait…where’s…?” Harry saw himself walking forward determined, his grandfather’s solum expression staring at him from where he knelt.

              “You’re punishing the wrong person. I am Altosk’s heir and following in the Union, It is my job to adhere and take the consequences for my actions. Allow me to take responsibility for my actions and let there be no more bloodshed on either side.”

Harry’s fingers tightened against Karol. He had been thinking about this the entire time on the way back from Pallestralla … he had come up with those words exactly, line-by-line, to give himself up, to stop this before it turned into a war. He might have been some things, but Harry was not a coward … and he had meant every word. “Karol, get back,” he whispered the words softly under his breath as that other Harry knelt down in front of the other guild.

This was different, but it felt … His stomach still felt like someone had shoved a pound of ice into it, but … but it also felt right. His fingers were tight around Karol’s sleeve, tugging him backwards, further into the crowd. Ignoring the other Karol’s face, the way he looked so unaffected, so non-commital towards all of this and focused on keeping his friend unseen.

[2015-10-17 2:05:07 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: Elle would normally protest at being picked up, but with the atmosphere of the crowd and the seriousness of everyone's expressions, she stayed silent and clung on for balance, listening to the tense exchanges. So this was when Harry's...grandpa died? Elle had never had grandparents before, but losing family must have been hard.

But then one of them ran off, the other followed, and Elle's grip tightening on Ludger's shirt, reflexively tugging him in that direction. "Hey! Don't run off!" There was no edge in her scolding-- she sounded worried, and there was a clear Ludger! Go after them! behind her voice.

[2015-10-17 2:24:18 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Ludger looked to Harry, viridescent eyes alight with partial recognition. He'd heard about his grandfather- the Dawn or something like that. He was supposedly a big shot, someone everyone knew and respected or something. The actual surroundings to his death were uncertain for Ludger but it was clearly not something that people really enjoyed discussing, much less his grandson. Karol running off did not surprise Ludger though- he was an active kid, and having a scout that could likely blend into the proceedings with relative ease was probably a good thing.

Well, not according to Harry at all. The other dove into the crowd after Karol, and Elle was quick with a follow-up call as well. Well he knew what that meant. Elle's tightened grip, the tugging, were more indication than he'd needed. Wrapping his free arm around Elle's shoulders, Ludger started manuevering the dense crowd. How the other two had managed to so seamlessly slide in was beyond him, given that he was having such issues. Maybe it was just him being from other places, but this was nothing like trying to muscle onto a sardine-packed train.

---- Karol's eyes scoured the crowd- Yuri, Estelle, Judith, okay great sure they were all there. He hadn't expected anything less (though it was seriously surreal to see them and himself among the attendants). But where...? He remembered it clear as everything else that day, Raven running forward, punching the boots off Harry, the snarl, "Like hell you are!"

But now... it never came. Karol didn't remember this part, didn't remember the words Harry was speaking- so formally, so resigned even. It took him a moment to notice the tight hold that his Harry had on his elbow in lieu of the other walking forward, speaking so...

           "Karol, get back."

Get back? Like hell! He wasn't doing anything- Karol wasn't, erhm, the other Karol wasn't- he was just standing there, standing like a coward, watching with wide eyes, with a stiff back and a leg bent and ready to bolt, but not involving himself. He didn't know Harry so much at the time, he reminded himself; it was the way of the laws. Everything the other Harry had said was true, and a few years back, Karol may have even believed it. But knowing what he knew now-- that was his friend, his best friend, and he couldn't just let him die like that! His eyes stung as he tried to pull away from Harry, to pull away from the backward tug. "L-like hell!" he seethed, fighting he hitch in his breath. "I-if we don't do something now, you'll-- I mean he--"

---- Well that was what Harry was on about then. Ludger moved his hand to hold Elle's head close to him- don't let her see. There was no doubt what that kneeling position was, especially with those words. But this world... they were willing to condone that sort of thing? It felt so brutish, and for someone his age-- no, this was clearly a few years back. Harry was near his age now, but someone even younger to be condemned to this? This was clearly not the correct proceedings- between the fact that Harry was alive and the fact that the Karol he knew was trying to fight away from their Harry to save him meant that much at least. But the Chromatus... wasn't reacting. To interfere now wouldn't help anything.

So he would do what he had to: protect Elle, pick up the pieces later. The catalyst would react once they found it, no matter how divergent the path.

[2015-10-17 3:00:41 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry’s grip was tight, grabbing the other and pulling him back, his head hidden in the other’s shirt. “Karol, that ain’t me.” He wished it was him…sometimes, he really wished. But it wasn’t. His head was hiding in the other’s shirt as he heard the motion of someone standing, the sound of Don, he knew it was him. He knew his grandfather’s footsteps. He knew what was going to happen next.

        “You sure about this?”         “Trying t’scare me, old man?”         “…nah…”

Harry’s fingers tightened, feeling the tears at his eyes. This should have been how it ended. “Look down …” he pleaded softly, “Don’t watch this.” Harry felt so mixed up about this, the feeling in his stomach as his grandfather took his blade, and offered that other Harry the knife. The resignation, the determination as it was leveled off at his stomach, and Harry made a simple movement.

One hand let go of Karol and the other wrapped around his eyes as he pulled both of them back. “We gotta go.” Raven wasn’t there … Raven wasn’t there … Raven had something to do with this. Raven would know what went wrong.

[2015-10-17 3:15:02 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: Elle seemed more concerned at first to find their missing party members. It wasn't good to be separated, especially not with so many people and so many upset people. What if they got lost, or hurt, or ran into the catalyst without Ludger to protect them? But it wasn't like the spectacle in the middle of the square didn't catch her attention either, especially with a fractured version of Harry. Unlike Ludger and everyone else around her, she didn't understand the significance of his position, but the sudden hushed solemnity won over her focus. Something important was happening, but she couldn't feel any signs of the odd wrongness of the catalyst as usual.

"H-hey!" She protested when Ludger pulled her in, hiding the events from view, but the protest was weak. Something was very, very, wrong, and just from the seriousness, the rigidity of Ludger's grip, the few words she caught from the crowd. A picture was beginning to form, the gaps filled with the imagination of a child that was no stranger to violence. She has never been exposed to such an idea, but she was smart and has seen her share of the meaningless tragedies life sometimes had. At the very first sound her eyes closed tight and she buried her face against Ludger's shirt, not knowing exactly what was going on, but the vagueness scaring her even more.

[2015-10-17 3:31:03 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime:           "Karol that ain't me."

Well it sure looked like him, sounded like him-- Ludger had warned them about how real everything was (because, well, it was real, just a different dimension), but he...he really hadn't been ready for it, had he? For all his boasting and pride, he was still completely suckered in. And this dimensions Karol still wasn't doing anything. Didn't he know? Couldn't he tell that he was just letting someone important die? Sure, the Don was important too- spirits knew Karol exalted Don more than he could express- but Harry was equally as important, right? He just didn't know it yet. He didn't know. He hadn't known--

And the Don wasn't stopping him.

That was his grandson damn it- they were family. Culpability was one thing, but why had anyone needed to die anyway? So say the laws... so say the laws.... Karol had always ascribed to that, even more blindly as a kid, but this had been an honest mistake! And he knew that even more so now looking back. So why wasn't anyone stopping him? Harry was a kid, disillusioned and manipulated who had made a bad choice. Did that mean he deserved to die? Don certainly hadn't, and understanding the utility of it didn't make it any easier for Karol to stomach. Just because it was necessary didn't make it right, but this was just bordering all Karol could stand.

      "You sure about this?"

No. Of course he wasn't. He was a sixteen year old boy trying to protect his family and oblige consequences for a mistake that should have been rectifiable by any other means. They hadn't even tried to look for another alternative- at the time Karol hadn't really considered it (everything had happened so fast, it all seemed so urgent) but now he had to wonder if it had all been actually needed- was it worth it? And he hadn't considered it much since, probably because of the tumultuous emotions it elicited. But-

Harry was clinging to him, hiding his face- whether out of utility or a desire not to watch, Karol couldn't tell, but he was certainly pleading for Karol to look away. Look away... yeah, he really should, huh- just turn his eyes down, stop looking on as the Don took up his sword, handed off the knife so nonchalantly.  "Don't watch this." He couldn't though- he wanted to look away, but he couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was that day again in more way than one. Was no one going to stop this- was no one really going to speak out--

He hadn't meant to make the sound he did as Harry's hand came to lift over his eyes just shy of perfect timing, just shy of quick enough to completely block him from seeing. His chest burned, and he stumbled a bit as Harry pulled him back, hard. Go? Go where? They had bigger problems! "H-Harry!" Which was he even calling out for anymore? He was-- but he was fine, right? This was fake, not fake but not real really, right? This was...

Horrible. Yes, go. Go anywhere. Karol clung to Harry's arm as he was pulled back from the crowd.

---- Ludger was not about to let Elle see this. He wasn't even sure that he wanted to see this. In fact, he assuredly didn't. He buried his face no differently than Elle did, whispering softly, "It's okay." and shushing the small girl. Scared, so scared- she had to be frightened of this. He wasn't convinced he wasn't. The society seemed more primitive technologically but this... for someone who had so easily accepted Rieze Maxia and its customs, it seemed this was where he drew his line in the sand of what was and was not acceptable. His hand on the back on her head was firm, unmoveable as he kept her still.

One sound, two sound, a whoop from the crowd as a flow of electric energy seemed to pump through part of the attendees. Whatever he settled, they were pleased. Ludger peered up, pointedly ignoring the sight he knew would be in the center of the square as he searched for-- There, a bobble of blond and a smaller auburn haired boy pulling already away from the crowd. Ludger shifted Elle carefully, dancing around a few bodies as he made his way over to Harry. Harry--

He snagged him by the elbow. "This way." Normally, he would have imagined Karol to be the one to lead them to a known, semi-deserted alley way to regroup, but he seemed... dazed. Understandable; Ludger felt a pang of sympathy through him as he looked at the younger boy. Had he seen it? No, surely he had looked away just as Ludger, just as Harry must have- no one would want to watch that. Much less a close friend. But at any rate, Ludger was in the lead, pulling Harry off and back toward the edge of town. Get him out of there, lest they have to explain how the recently deceased was now not only walking, but older and looking pretty healthy to boot...

[2015-10-17 3:59:08 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: There was a feeling of … he didn’t know. He wouldn’t admit it, but he didn’t look spooked by this. He didn’t look undone at all by what had just happened in the square, simply avoiding his own death in attempts to make it appear like he might feel queasy about it. No, what he felt queasy about was Karol. Karol wasn’t good. Karol was blindly stumbling after him, Harry slowly lowered his hand from his face as they were pulled, directed into a semi-deserted alley way to allow some down time. Harry pulled his elbow away from Ludger when they were safe, letting go of his friend as he leaned back against a wall, his head pressing into the cobblestone in silence as he stared at the sky.

  “…that was different…” he was oddly calm. His stomach clenched only because he didn’t know how much Karol had seen.

What could he say? Harry had planned all of that out. He knew his grandfather wouldn’t fight him for what he said, because if he fought, that would mean vocally going against the union rules. Raven only got away with it because he stopped Harry ahead of time, forced him down, made him look like the small child he was, unlike the steady sixteen year old he had been.

He had been so sure … He had wanted to save his grandfather. And here? He’d done it. Even if it made these other’s unhappy, what they didn’t know was that Harry was satisfied with how it ended, even if they weren’t. “Karol,” he now lifted himself up to focus on Karol, his gaze even. “Karol, c’mon … look’it me. I’m here.”

          “I’m alive an’ well. Ya’ll right?"

[2015-10-17 4:24:14 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: This world's Harry had died, that she was sure of. Whatever had just happened, however it had just happened-- her imagination supplied the details she hadn't seen. It was enough to rattle anyone, and she didn't say much as Ludger took her and the others away from the scene. Some part of her was trying to think through the implications ( this world's Harry died, but Harry wasn't dead, so that's a divergence but he wasn't the catalyst-- ) but mostly she was focused on Harry and Karol. When they stopped in an alleyway, she slipped back onto the ground on her own two feet, one hand clutching tightly at Ludger's still.

[2015-10-17 4:42:09 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Karol wasn't used to not navigating. Everyone had always just trusted him to take point on that kind of thing, even back in the Quoi Woods all that time ago. The fact that he was being lead blindly by the arm really was jarring itself, but not so jarring as what had just happened. So he didn't resist. He wasn't sure what combination of emotions he was feeling at present- another weird thing, he was usually so keen about feelings, less so his own but he wasn't usually this hopeless-, but they manifested in such a way that made him feel just sick. Weak, tired, nauseous, cold...

Oh yeah, he knew this alley. No one ever went here except to throw out junk; it was just behind a couple warehouses that no one really went into often. It was a good place to relax, to collect himself- or to just really crumple, more like. As soon as the contact from Harry was gone, Karol dropped to his knees, staring down at the concrete. That... was....

     "Karol. Karol c'mon... look'it me. I'm here."

Karol blinked, pulling himself back into the present and looking slowly up at Harry. Harry... don't think about it you barely even saw that stop thinking about it  He was... there... So calm, but there. Funny. If Karol had just bore even auditory witness to that with him in Harry's stead, he wouldn't have been calm. Then again, he'd been informed that his reaction to the idea of death was pretty volatile. "Healthy" Yuri had called it, but...

     "I'm alive an' well. Ya'll right?"

... well? No way. He couldn't be. And this degree of relaxation couldn't be normal. But if Harry was so calm then... then Karol needed to be calm too. So no protests, bite down the anxiety, fight back the questions and fears and tears stinging his eyes at the fact that something like that could have happened. (After all, Ludger had explained pretty well-- it was just a change, but still possible so...) So he gave a halting nod, swallowed the marble of fear in his throat. He didn't really trust himself to speak, so he gave more of a noncommital hum. Cinnamon eyes raced around, unsure where to rest, but something about looking at Harry was just upsetting. Then again so was looking at Ludger. Or Elle. Or the cobbles. Or the walls...

---- Ludger halted in the alleyway a bit ahead of the two boys. He didn't fight back as Elle slipped to the ground. Her grip on his hand was tight, but he carefully returned it. She was unsure, but he was still there; no matter what the catalyst was, no matter what happened, they were partners. He'd keep her safe.

At the same time, he didn't want to interrupt them. Somehow, it looked like Karol was taking it so much worse than Harry. He was a sensitive kid, and Ludger would have been blind not to have known that from when they first met, but kneeling where he was, Karol looked pale, almost sickly. His heart lurched at the thought that he may have actually seen. The idiot... he was too kind hearted to let himself be exposed to that sort of stuff. But what was it Gaius had told him? This required a sort of detachment, a sense of differentiation from the dimension. For Ludger, and possibly Elle, that was easy enough; they were outsiders. A sense of detachment was just second nature. But for Karol...

How Harry seemed to manage it was impressive. Impressive, if a bit disconcerting. It almost made him worry just as much for the older, who at present seemed to be trying to salvage Karol's nerves. His brow knit in worry, Ludger took a half step forward. It had to be done. The sooner they figured it out, the sooner they could go. "Not to be insensitive," he said softly, placing his free hand on Harry's shoulder. "But did you guys... recognize anything? Anything out of place? There that shouldn't have been or the like?" Expedite the process. Get them home. He hadn't meant for this- if he'd have known, he'd have brought others. Yuri, Raven even, who seemed to have been missing from that whole ordeal. Maybe it would have been easier for him...

[2015-10-17 4:59:10 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry was watching Karol. The look, the white skin, he felt clammy, he looked bad, he looked unhappy, what the hell did he do here? How did he get Karol to not … “Yer not fine, shuddap.” He hissed under his breath. Of course Karol wasn’t fine, he didn’t even know how much Karol had seen. His hands slid to try and grip Karols. He knew his hands were warm, the palms always felt warm, and he wanted Karol to feel them, see he was alive. He was okay. Spirits above, Karol just —

His head lowered a bit, bangs falling into his eyes as he nodded slowly at Ludger’s question. “A’sides th’ obvious? Yeah … Raven. Raven wasn’t there.” Whether that meant the old man was somewhere else or — oh creators, no. No … A soft shudder curled down Harry’s spine at the thought of Raven being dead and he swallowed that back. No. No, Raven wouldn’t die that easily. He refocused his look at Karol.

      “Karol, lookit me. What do ya need?” It was near pleading, he didn’t know what else he could do. Was there anything he could do? Did Karol need to be sick, did he need to hide, did he need to run? Harry was okay with this ending, this outcome, because that meant Don Whitehorse was still alive. A person with so much experience was still there, and he had done what he had felt was his responsibility.

                        “Please, Karol.”

[2015-10-17 5:07:16 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: Talk about the investigation and finding the catalyst grounded Elle. The mission, finding waymarkers and destroying fractured dimensions. That's what they were here for, and the sooner they left, the better for the others. "The old guy?" She asked at the given name. The guy in a gaudy purple coat. Had been nice enough. So he was supposed to be at whatever had just happened? Considering Harry's death wasn't the biggest divergence, then...

"Maybe we should do this ourselves," she murmured up to Ludger. Karol was doing really badly. As long as they get an idea of where Raven should be, they didn't need the other two.

[2015-10-17 5:20:17 AM | Edited 5:20:56 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Karol let out an exasperated sigh, rolling his eyes in frustration. No! Okay, no he was not fine! But this wasn't the time to worry himself with any of that- they had a job or something, right? He could deal with the whole... dying thing later. It was just a lot to take in, to grieve a loss that didn't need to be grieved because there were Harry's hands- damn kid was a space heater, but Karol wasn't really cold, but warm meant alive and that meant he hadn't died. Even though he had. There was no sense crying over this dead Harry, right...?

Thoughts raced as Harry addressed Ludger; ah good, so he had noticed that too. Raven had gone with the others, to the Manor of the Wicked. Why hadn't he ended up in the Square? Had he been hurt...? Or maybe he was elsewhere? But what else could have engaged him other than that? His mind felt like it was in overdrive, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened.

Harry's words drew him back yet again and he, this time, met Harry's gaze. Why was.. he worried about Karol at a time like this? He'd just died and he was upset about Karol... who was probably just distressing him further. Despite Harry's outward calm, there was no way that he was okay with this, right? Dying wasn't something someone was ever really okay with, right? What did he need...?

     "Please Karol."

     "Maybe we should do this ourselves."

He shouldn't have been pleading. Karol shook his head, using the hands Harry had wrapped around his own to push himself to a shaking standing position. "No, 'm going." He looked to Elle, half smiling before training a determined look up to Ludger. "Best first guess'd be Sagittarius. I can lead us there." Gently, he pulled his hands away from Harry. He looked to him, his own worry obvious in the crinkle of his brow. He wanted to convey that he would be okay. That it would improve. He just needed to keep moving for now- keep going. He wasn't trying to drown himself, but he could keep pushing until he couldn't swim anymore. That was fine.

"This way."

---- Harry was busy, didn't want the inquiry to interrupt, but he didn't really have an option. If he didn't ask, Ludger would never know. But the answer being Raven- he bit down a bitter laugh. And here he'd just been thinking that he should have brought him instead. Apparently that wouldn't have gone over well either. So they needed to find Raven... in a city like this, that wasn't going to necessarily be easy.

At Elle's inquiry, Ludger nodded. It was hard not to see him in the mind's eye- languid as a feline and draped in one of the most atrocious but comfortable looking coast Ludger had ever seen. So he was involved in this even in this dimension, perhaps more so in this dimension even. But where...?

     "Maybe we should do this ourselves."

Ludger had half a mind to agree- Karol looked truly awful (blameless, but it could get him hurt or worse if they had a fight ahead of them), and Harry could not be as composed as he seemed. Elle and he were more than capable of handling this (which was more to say that Ludger could handle it, given that the eight year old had no real fighting prowess to boast). But Karol wouldn't have it. Wobbling to his feet, he affixed Ludger with a familiar look. Where had he seen it before...? It was... Ahh, Jude... that determination, the desire to do something on behalf of those he cared for... Ludger couldn't turn it down. He nodded to Karol. "Lead on."

The turn around was quick. To go from crumpled and pale to standing and leading in such a short time was not unbelievable but concerning in its own right. But he knew where they were going, had an idea to get them there (surely unseen)... what other choice did he have but to allow it?... kids and their impressive plasticity. He tugged Elle gingerly into following as he fell into step behind Karol.

[2015-10-17 5:38:10 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry’s breath hitched and the look on Karol’s face was … not at all convincing. His fingers clenched a bit at his side before he nodded. He wouldn’t push. “Sagittarius, ‘m bettin’ his room there.” He commented dryly after Karol, following at the brunette’s heels, looking back over at Ludger. “Raven ne’er really moved inta Dhangrest since he’s always been on missions, so Altosk kin’a set ‘im up with a small place t’crash at and stay whenever he needed to at Sagittarius so he could get some privacy than th’ more open spaces we have fer others.”

He was explaining it simply, following behind Karol, his gaze flickering between the boy (his friend, now the age Harry had been … oh by the creators,) Ludger, and then Elle. “I dunno if we’ll find ‘im there, but that’s the most likely place fer it.” Normally he’d say ‘leave it to me’ because Harry could usually just say ‘hey, this is my guild member, let me in’ and be given a key, but now?

Oh dear, now was going to be … difficult.

[2015-10-17 5:51:57 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: She wasn't too sure if Karol should be coming, but he seemed to get back up okay. That's good. His Harry was still here after all, and he didn't seem too bad off. That was a little weird, but Erston hadn't been all that bothered when he heard about his own death either. Harry didn't seem that much like Erston though.

Saggitarius then. An inn? It sounded like a lot of trouble for the old guy, living in an inn. Who lives in an inn? Shady old guys apparently. "So Raven wasn't there. What was he supposed to do? Was it important?" Just because someone was absent from a big important event doesn't necessarily mean anything. They needed a significant divergence to top what they had seen in the square after all.

[2015-10-17 5:57:21 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry didn’t expect much from the coming conversation. Something small, maybe quick … but the coming question had him bristling. The hair stood on the back of his neck at the thought, at the question. What was he supposed to do? Well, there were two answers, one of which he had done in their time, and another he didn’t do in either.

A second was supposed to be their for the leader —     “Raven was th’ one who interrupted my speech,” he said it simply enough (or so he hoped,) “He knocked me on my ass fer even thinking of trying to interrupt Don’s plan.” His voice had a bit more bite there than he had meant to, but he wasn’t looking back at her.

Truthfully, he wasn’t mad Raven wasn’t there. He was mad that Raven hadn’t done his job as the Guild’s second. Not that he could fault him … nobody wanted that job. Nobody wanted to take the Don’s head at the end of his life, but … “So, yeah. Just kin’a important."

[2015-10-17 6:08:27 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: His room. Right. There was a way to get to it- a back entrance. And with everyone out in the streets today the way they were, it was likely that they'd be able to sneak in pretty easily. After all, Karol was distraught, but not so stupid as to think parading through the main roads were viable at present. So the group was left ducking through alleys that the youth had spent most of his childhood traversing. Mostly out of curiosity, but utility of knowing the city had become more and more apparent to Karol as he aged. This was one of those instances where he was pleased he had been so filled with blind wanderlust as a child. He knew just the route to get them from point A to point B.

"So Raven wasn't there. What was he supposed to do? Was it important?"

Was it important? Clearly. It was vital even. He was-- Harry answered before Karol could get the words out, before he could wrestle his tongue into cooperating. Interrupted his speech. That was what Harry was going with. Karol's hands tightened at his sides as he walked. "More like saved your life." he muttered harshly, ducking around another corner. Sagittarius wasn't far now, and the sooner they got there, the less he had to hear of the discussion that was... surprisingly angering for him. It almost sounded like Harry wanted this, and if that was the case... his stomach did a couple somersaults. He picked up his pace, scowling forward.

---- Ludger observed Harry's tensing, but it seemed he wanted to go against Karol's elasticity as much as he did. But apparently Sagittarius was a good first guess, as Harry immediately backed the youth on it. Ludger nodded, trying as best he could to keep account of all three of them around him. Elle was keeping pace at his side, still holding his hand. Harry was a couple paces ahead, trying to keep behind Karol, who was just a few paces beyond that. Just keep an eye on him, keep him on his feet, but the boy looked stable enough. Maybe the distraction had really been enough.

Elle question was viable, if a bit tactless. But it was a good question; just phrased in the way an 8 year old would phrase it. Still, Harry seemed to answer it with impressively little bite, compared to what it could have; the grimace it elicited from Ludger was more on behalf of the little girl, but he could, on some level, commiserate a bit... the tone in his voice. Interrupted his speech...

Karol said something, and from the tone it was nothing pleasant, but he'd kept the tone low enough that he hadn't caught it. Ludger squeezed Elle's hand, still following in silence. He didn't have anything to add, but... the sooner they got to Sagittarius, the sooner he could free the others from this...

[2015-10-17 6:21:05 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: Harry was replied immediately, but the way he'd phrased it confused her. She heard the edge in his words easily enough, but what did interrupting a stupid speech have to do with anything? What speech even? ( She'd missed that part anyways ) And the Don-- that was the really big guy right? What kind of plans did he have? She was about to ask for further clarification when Karol offered the straight answer.

"Oh." That made more sense. Harry hadn't died in the Prime-- or whatever Terca Lumireis was-- after all. So if Raven had stopped that, and if Harry wasn't the Catalyst, then it stood to reason the old man is. One step closer to getting out of this dimension. She glanced at Ludger, confirming the chain of her daddy's pocketwatch clipped to Ludger's belt. They might need it soon after all.

[2015-10-17 6:27:00 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: As they rounded closer to Sagittarius, Harry glanced at Karol. “Got another way in, I hope? I can’t get us ’n like I normally could.” He really couldn’t, and he did not want to see the look on some people’s faces once they saw an alive Harry walking around. Sure, he looked a tad different, (his hair was longer, he stood perhaps an inch taller, and his outfit was slowly changing to a more lax state,) but he was still recognizable.

He hoped Raven was alright … What had happened to Raven, even? Raven didn’t break easy, nor did he shy away from duties (normally,) so there had to be something big going on here.

[2015-10-17 6:38:03 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Karol had hoped the distance would keep dialogue to a minimum, but apparently he had been foolish. Though Harry's question was a fair one. "In through the back," Karol offered simply. The were approaching the back alley now, and he stopped, giving a point before peering back. "If I remember right-" He always did. "- nobody was back here, 'r really inside for a couple hours after." They should be able to sneak in easily while the rest of the town was abuzz from the evenings events- no one was really interested in an inn or tavern when there was a body to clean up and another country to shuffle out the damn barrier.

Careful as ever, Karol crept up to the back door and tried the knob. Of course, locked. He was prepared for this, though. "Cover me." he stage whispered to the others as he dug into his bag and retrieved a set of lock picking tools. It was okay- he was quick enough. It would juuuust take a few seconds...

----

It seemed Elle had made sense of what Karol had said; whatever it was, it was enough clarification for her, which was good enough for him not to press. His free hand went reflexively to his pocket, grippingly lightly at the chain to the pocketwatch sitting there. Close... they were close. Hopefully they could get in, get out, and be done with this place, not torment the boys any more than they already had. He was nervous- more on behalf of the others than for himself, but nervous no less. Toying with the chain, any kind of fidgeting, was just something to alleviate it.

The inn was apparently just ahead, and Karol hurried up to the door with a hiss for cover. Ludger perked up, looking around with intrigue. He was right- the place was pretty desolate. But if cover was what he wanted--

     "We're in. C'mon."

.... okay that was unreasonable.

----

A few seconds later, a click resonated through the alley. It brought a small grin to Karol's lips. What, he was proud of himself. "We're in. C'mon." He creaked the door opens slowly, peering in. Not totally desolate like he'd hoped, but if they were careful...

[2015-10-17 6:47:28 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: When the door finally clicked open ( that was a neat trick-- maybe she should ask karol about it later ), she followed along quietly, feeling the potential upcoming fight. She knew her role in these well enough-- get out of the way and hide. She didn't like it, but there was not much else she could do.

[2015-10-17 6:59:00 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry nodded and followed in, glancing back before in. Not abandoned (or people gone,) but so long as this weird collection of people didn't drum up too much attention. Harry this time took the lead, coming in ahead of Karol and Ludger, careful moving towards the room before trying at the handle quietly and cursing a bit under his breath.

Of course Raven would lock the door to his room. Then again ... Harry gently wrapped his knuckles along the door, taking a deep breath. "Oi, Raven," his voice was quieter than it probably should have been, "Raven, I ... we kin'a need t'talk right now. Can ya let me in?"

[2015-10-17 7:23:09 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: He had seen this coming before anyone else except the Don himself. When he'd seen Harry in Nordopolica, and they'd fought Belius, he'd seen the piece fall into place. It was well-orchestrated. What Yeager had to gain from this, he didn't know, but the Don had failed to get his revenge and-- well... Raven had heard the commotion outside, felt the tension settle over the entire city. There was only two possible outcomes for this-- no, three, but there was one the Don would not allow happen, not when the laws could be appeased by blood. Raven should be there. He was expected to, and if things came down to it, he knew what job would fall onto him. He wanted no part of it. A decade of his life given to this town, a good decade, and he was about to lose it all again. Hah. Once again stuck, helpless, unable to do anything but watch as others died to protect the people they cared about. Maybe it would be in vain again.

He was interrupted with a start by the knock at his door and he glanced up warily. The innskeeper? A messenger from Alexei? One of a dozen people that may be looking for him in the wake of a guild disaster? Where were you? We need you. The voice that came through the wood though, was not one he had expected.

Harry. The fool boy was-- what was he doing here? We kin'a need t'talk right now. There was no way Harry had missed what had happened. So that meant the old man--a hitch in his breathing, but he held it down. He was on his feet then, mechanically making his way across his room, to the door. What do he do? What could he do? Harry had just lost his grandpa, and Raven didn't know if he cared-- yes, yes, he very much did. It hurt, so much but he wished it didn't. The door opened, eyes burning but remained dry, a calmer demeanor settling with the need for a mask.

"Harry, what are you--" Something was wrong. Harry looked all wrong, unmistakably him but older. Taller, different. With him was Karol, similarly aged up. It was surreal, seeing them in what might be. A young man and a little girl accompanied them, but his attention did not last when he did not find familiarity. Two cautious steps back, but otherwise he did not seem capable of reacting to the odd sight.

[2015-10-17 7:33:48 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Karol let Harry have lead to Raven's room; after all, what was the point of taking, well, point on this? His idea for getting on with this was as good as anyone's at that point. He just knew they needed to get to Sagittarius. He stood a bit back from Harry as he tried the lock. Well, that was no trouble, his lock picks were still on hand--

     "Oi, Raven."

Was he frickin serious? Karol shot him an incredulous glance. After all that work to be quiet, he was just announcing their presence!? Beyond that... well no, Raven... wouldn't know about Harry's dea-... Karol fought down his queasiness at the memory, swallowing harshly as he gave a quick head shake. Forget it- no, don't forget it but put it out of your mind. Not now- keep pushing. Raven hadn't even been there, so Harry would probably be one of the best ways to get in. Raven was crafty- if Karol lockpicked the door and he was on edge about it, it could end pretty terribly... but Raven wouldn't hurt them, right...?

His answer came with the swift click of the lock, the door opening to reveal Raven there. So he was in his room! And..

     "Harry, what are you--"

HIs eyes, the way he looked at them. Ahh, so he definitely caught on to their age; of course he did. Raven was sharp as a rapier and... well, not prepared for this. It was almost reflexive, the desire to run over and just grab the older man. "Y'can call me that if you want." His... this was... and after what he'd just seen, having a dad-ish person to talk to about everything, to just unload on and cling to would be perfect, but.... but this wasn't him even... was it...?

"Raven..." He wanted to ask so many things- Where were you, you were supposed to be there, why didn't you stop Harry, why--  but nothing would leave him as he watched a quick wisp of black across his cheek. What....?

---- Ludger knew his job: get in, wait for the catalyst to show itself, and dispatch it in due time. The confirmation was unmistakable- it was just a matter of time. So he slipped in after the boys and Elle, who did her duty by hiding as best she could. Good; he didn't want the little girl hurt in the proceedings. He hung back a few feet from the two. Raven wouldn't know him here- he'd be suspicious. Further would be better.

But as the door opened, a heat flooded his left pocket, a gold light dimly emitted from within as a quick flare of black-- Ludger's chest tightened. Damn. He'd had half a prayer that Raven wouldn't be the catalyst. He hadn't been around for too long yet, but it was impossible to miss how close these two were to him, how much Raven meant to them. Having to do this... between Harry's disturbing calm and Karol's strange resolution, he doubted he could get them to flee either... But he knew what he needed to do...

.... he could give them a couple of minutes, though. He gestured to Elle, telling her to stay put where she was. Just a couple minutes...

[2015-10-17 7:44:34 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry’s breath was at a sharp inhale as he saw Raven’s face, heard him begin to speak, and automatically his back straightened a bit. Splaying a bit more of his height (he was now near as tall as Raven, just waiting for that final push to shove him over the edge,) blue eyes meeting his. “We … really need t’talk.” He didn’t know how he was going to tell him this, or any of it … His stomach twisted so harshly at that, he didn’t know if it was possible.

   “Er, well, I say we, but … I … I’m kin’a … dead, right now.” He made a face, it was weird saying that as looked away, breathed looked back up, “And i’s cuz of that we really need t’talk with you. ‘cuz you weren’t there … An’ shit I’m really bad at this.” Yes Harry, yes you were. He slid his fingers through his hair, making a bit of a weird noise in the back of his throat.

[2015-10-17 8:03:49 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: He was on edge. Really on edge. Something about this all was wrong, wrong wrong wrong-- this wasn't Harry, wasn't Karol. Something twisting in his chest, around a whirring heart that told him he was in danger. He took a shaky breath at the familiar feeling, not now, not here, not after so long, why now but he put another step between himself and the others.

              I’m kin’a … dead, right now.

That's not right. Harry can't-- but he could. He'd known it. Either Harry, or the Don. But he's right in front of you. No, this isn't right. That's not-- something was terribly, horribly, wrong.

              ‘cuz you weren’t there.

He was supposed to be there. And something terrible had happened because he hadn't done his duty. Breathe. His heart was overworking itself. Breathe, calm down, had to calm down, it hurt, he'd messed up, he'd lost the Don and Harry and what was left here for him anymore? His shoulders shook, his composure slipping, impossibly hard to hold onto, no, no, no--

"How...?" He sounded calm. How did he sound so calm? There were tears threatening, the enormity of the loss, of the foundation being pulled out from under his life, and he clung to that calm, that focus. The people before him right here, right now. This was important. Focus. " What do you mean?"

[2015-10-17 6:39:32 PM] Samee | stopkaroltime: .Karol watched Raven as her looked at them. He looked... well, not as distressed as he'd have expected, holed up in his room (wait, hadn't he just vanished for a few days or something when the Don died...? Still ended up on the ship, but Karol didn't remember seeing him in that time... didn't really remember seeing many people in that time, though- he was pretty... hidden himself...). But there was clearly something off. Maybe it was in the retreat his feet were putting him into, the slow but definite pull away from them. Could Karol really blame him? They were different- Karol and Harry, but most assuredly not his Karol and Harry. And with what Harry just said...

The momentary glare Karol shot at Harry was really only half-hearted. They shouldn't have even let him talk... Eloquent had never been a word to describe the blond, but this was just impressive. Leading with that he was dead? Yeah, that was a way to get their foot in the door. Maybe it was part of some tactic, but Harry had never really been the sort to think things through before so... he had a healthy doubt.

     "... An' shit I'm really bad at this."

Some things never changed. Karol sighed, mumbled, "No kidding..." and moved just into the threshold. Raven was... was he shaking? No, that wasn't like him. This looked more like something Karol did when he was scared, but not Raven. And besides, his head bows like that, he sounded so composed. It must have just been a trick of the light or something...

     "What do you mean?"

Karol peeked around the corner, trying to get a glimpse of Ludger. What did he say? How did he cover this? Ludger just shook his head succinctly. There was... nothing they could really say to adequately explain this, huh? Just... not anything that would make a difference really. So why not...? "The square." Karol said softly. His voice shook just a bit, more than he would have liked, but he crossed his arms over his chest, bowing his head. "Y-... you were there before 'n this time..." Wow, maybe he wasn't any better at this than Harry, but he wanted to at least answer. He took a deep breath through his nose, hurriedly saying, "You were s'posed to be there 'n that's why we're here, 'n why Harry's--" He wasn't making this any better, and he was just making himself feel sick again... Bowing his head, Karol set his jaw, grinding his teeth together as he tried to keep himself together. Raven... you were supposed to save him.

[2015-10-17 7:19:24 PM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry picked up on the shaking. Could see it and he had to bite back his worry and breathe as Karol moved forward to try and explain better, but … Harry shook his head, “I’s difficult to explain, but … we, Karol an’ I, we’re … about two years ’n the future, a li’l more, but that don’t matter.” He lifts his chin, trying to think of a way to put it easier, his hand touches at Karol’s shoulder, “What Karol’s try’na say is, you were there, fer me…i’s why I’m still here. Th’ fact you’re here, instead’a out there … that … other me …” He knew this was going to piss off Karol, but, “… saved gramps. T’settle the debt. An’, you not bein’ there …”

Was bad. He didn’t know how else to explain it. That divergence or whatever the fuck it was called, “… you gotta understand, Raven. I don’t blame ya for it,” Harry had, at the time, had planned it all out, had been dead set on it. If Raven hadn’t stumbled him, pushed forward Don’s plans. “I understand running away from it, I wanted to, too. Ya knew it was gonna happen, didn’t you? Just … didn’t wanna watch it all play out?”

Harry understood that feel so well. To not want to see something bad happen, especially when it affected those around you.

[2015-10-17 9:36:39 PM] Cherry | kokuunokamen:       You were s'posed to be there                      You were there, fer me…i’s why I’m still here                      …saved gramps

The Don or Harry. One or the other, and if he'd gone he'd what he could to have stopped Harry from offering himself. He was a kid, still just a kid, he didn't know what he was doing, what he was giving up, what the Don was giving his life for, would die not seeing all the nuances and players and why. He should have been there, because it was his duty, his job. He'd failed in that, he'd--

                       I don’t blame ya for it.

No....what was he saying? How could Harry be okay with this, with any of this? Raven should have been there, so many years, so much the Whitehorse family had offered him, had taken him in and he had owed them and he'd abandoned them through sheer cowardice. Running away from it, was right, he didn't-- he didn't want to hear the understanding, the acceptance, the--

"...I knew." Yes, he didn't want to see it happen. He couldn't stand there and just watch someone he cared so much for willingly die before his eyes. Not again. Helpless, useless, unable to do a damned thing-- except he could have, he could have saved Harry or condemned him and that wasn't a choice he could make. A sharp intake of breath, a sob cut off before it could escape, but his composure was slipping. It was too much and it hurt, it hurt, it hurt-- his heart was about to burst, his chest caving, heaving to release emotions he could never afford to reveal but what did it matter?

The tension hadn't left. The grief, the hopelessness was tinged with fear, that feeling of wrong wrong wrong, impending danger. A sudden aggressive edge took hold of his thoughts, to drive these people away, to stay away, to get far from here, from them-- but he couldn't act upon it. What did it matter?

"...so what have you come to do?" Somehow he felt like he knew. That little voice driving survival, yelling at him to run, to fight, to defend himself-- something was about to happen. But the panic was dying down. There was nothing to run from. Shoulder slumped, curling in on himself, eyes lowered from the others, the tears finally breaking free...

[2015-10-19 12:36:34 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Karol's teeth scraped together, sending shivers up and down his spine. Or was that just the entire situation? Just everything- the dialogue, the ginger touch at his shoulder...

     "... that ...other me... saved gramps."

Harry's hand on him physically burned. He ducked his shoulder away reflexively, feeling his heart constrict in his chest as if someone tightened a zip tie around it. That's not what had happened Harry had died. Saving Don was a side effect of that, sure, but it was not the final final result. He had died and Harry was acting as if it was as blasé as choosing left over right. And now he was trying to appeal to Raven for... for doing what Karol would have done. For running away. Raven was better than that- always had been. It was why he admired him so much. Raven did what had to be done, not what was easy or safe. Maybe it was more of a learned necessity than Karol had realized; maybe he was disillusioned to put the old man on the pedestal that way. Or maybe he just didn't know him as well as he thought. But this... This wasn't right...

And Raven didn't cry like this. Not like this. Karol swallowed, his throat constricting painfully, eyes itching to the point of burning. This was too much, too much. Between Harry and Raven, and with Karol's own turmoil, he just wasn't sure what to do. He pressed his back into the threshold, putting himself as far away from Raven while in the room as he could. Why... why was this...

     "... so what have you come to do?"

What had they come to do? Karol knew partially- the catalyst. Find the catalyst, destroy it, go home... that was easy enough, right? But leaving something like this behind them... it was a terrible thought. What kind of world would this be in the wake of all of this...? Karol straightened, licking his lips as he mustered the courage to speak. "We've... gotta destroy the catalyst. Then... then we can go, okay?" Go and not mess with them anymore, not mess up anything else, not think about all of the hardship and pain that they were leaving in their wake.

---- Ludger cringed internally. Karol really didn't get it, did he? That wasn't the case. Raven... That Raven at least... he was the catalyst, and when he was gone, so was this world. ... that was something he could explain at a later time. For now, it was looking dangerously close to time for him to duck in and intervene...

[2015-10-19 1:40:01 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Karol backing away from him near caused Harry to flinch but he ignored it, instead turning to focus on Raven. The pain, the obvious breaking… Harry’s breath caught in the back of his throat and he felt his knees going slightly weak. No … no, Raven don’t. “Raven,” his voice strained in worry, the thought that the other was … no, no, Raven wasn’t right. Raven needed to calm down.

   “Just … gotta destroy it.” He agreed quietly, though the flickers, the strange black whisp from earlier. His mind was racing, thoughts twisting horribly. “No, we—“ No, no, that wasn’t right. He knew that it was that simple, but … no, he could, could they change it? Couldn’t they change this persons fate? “—is there no other way?”

The look on Harry’s face told a story as he looked back at Ludger. The realization that had donned which was now tearing at his chest. “Ludger…” Tell him he was wrong. Tell him … that this was wrong.

[2015-10-19 1:57:26 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Ludger perked up at the sound of his name, retroactively digesting the question that had been posed. Was there no other way? Fact was that he honestly didn't know. If there was one, they certainly hadn't found it (in fact, the closest thing to it was probably what had landed them there). Another way... Ludger pushed off the wall where he was leaning, meeting Harry's eyes with a mournful countenance. There was... He shook his head slowly. "Not if we want to get back." And with Harry dead here... there were a multitude of reasons that they couldn't just fade into the background in this world and continue forever, not the least of which was his mission and promise to Elle, or his desire to return home. He did not approach from where he was standing, poised on the other side of the hall near the threshold, but he was more at attention that he had been moments before.

He looked now between Harry and Karol, brows pinched in sympathy. He shouldn't have brought them. He couldn't have figured this out without them, not with his limited knowledge of everything that happened in this world. But he shouldn't have... they were kids, and not like Elize and Jude. This wasn't something that they could have ever prepared themselves for, not with the state of Terca Lumeries. His viridescent eyes turned back to Harry as he swallowed his nerves. "I'm... sorry." It took far more for him to say that than he'd have expected, and not because he didn't mean it. He was afraid of the reception. How cheap would it sound coming from a by-stander? How weak would that sound coming from the man who had nothing to lose, no pain in the action he would take? He was on the outside looking in, and he'd inflicted this on these two... He resisted the wry scoff in his throat. 'What's another sin, now...?' This was his curse, he remembered Julius advising him. So then why was it always such a surprise that it hurt so much...?

[2015-10-19 2:24:23 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: He didn't understand what was being said, barely heard it. Gotta destroy the catalyst. Catalyst. Something that's the cause, of what, he didn't know. This whole mess? This impossible choice of who should live and die? Of fault, of who was to blame in a game of cause and effect that went on into traceless circles.

Karol backed away, and he tensed at the motion, breath hitching as a jolt of fear lanced through him, quickly drowned out once more by the deeper emotions that washed over him. He didn't want this, he didn't want them here, to do whatever it is they came to do. The realization in Harry's voice, the denial, plea, met with a negative.

He wasn't thinking clearly. Important details slipping by, just sand between his fingers. He was missing something, not connecting the dots. What were they doing here what did they want from him what was wrong with them? Karol backing away, the sudden horror on Harry's face, the resignation in the stranger, their words-- detail, detail, detail, details, but there was no focus when he was in the throes of grief.

He didn't even notice fingers wrapped around the hilt of his knife with a compulsively tight grip as a sob tore past his throat and shook his very being. Some part of him knew. Something in him knew.

[2015-10-19 2:40:17 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry's chest ached as he stared at Ludger. The plea in his voice, begging that there was something else, anything else. The hair stood on the edge of his neck as Harry had to bite back his frustration. The idea, the ... the whole situation. He turned away at the scoff and stared at Raven. There was only one thing he could think of doing, only one thing... but Raven wouldn't like it, would he? Raven never liked that prank of his...

Harry took a deep breath, closed his eyes, scrunched up his eyebrows, clears his throat. "Raven," his voice was stern, a direct tone of knowledge. He was the leader of Altosk, maybe not here, but he was still the leader of Altosk. "I need you ta stand down." He felt like he was going to die. He felt like someone was about to stab him through the throat, his head tipping upward, eyes opening, water beginning to glisten on the surface.

It wasn't Ludger's job here ... Raven was his responsibility. He felt a lump in his throat, but it was swallowed back. "Do you understand, that is an order."

[2015-10-19 3:01:01 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: The wall pressed against Karol's back, for all the world feeling like an active betrayal from the physical world. He just wanted to keep backing away- he wanted to leave, to be gone, to be away from this mess and forget that it happened. He couldn't forget that it happened. He would never.  But he wanted to. There was nothing he wanted more, but it felt as if someone had rooted him to the spot, like the wood of the floor had sprung new life and woven around his feet. He was just staring. Not even at Raven, though he could see him, could hear his broken sobs- no wait stop that not you please I'm sorry but please -, but he wasn't fully sure if he could register it. It was too much all at once- between Harry's earlier fiasco that sound, the way his arms moved even if he couldn't see the damage he knew, he knew what that looked like he could see the Don rearing back no not him that wasn't him it couldn't be that man would never not to Harry and what he was seeing now, he couldn't comprehend...

     "-- is there no other way? Ludger..."      "Not if we want to get back. ....... I'm sorry."

Sorry...? No other...

It felt like Karol had been physically suspended. It was a surreal feeling, one of being present and suddenly acute of everything while simultaneously feeling entirely like this was some sort of morbid fantasy. There was no other way. He was missing something, some little detail that they weren't speaking about, but he dared not look toward them and erase all doubt. Because they couldn't be saying what he was thinking. They couldn't be confirming his fear. It couldn't...

It was Raven.

Karol doubled over in an instant, one hand over his mouth as his other crossed over his chest. They had to-- no. No he couldn't- he wouldn't- he wouldn't let that happen-- he couldn't watch that, he couldn't, not again-- not when he could do something-- but he couldn't move, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't--

     "Do you understand, that is an order."

The moment of sickness, of doubt, was over. Like the snap of a rubber band, his feet were moving and he dropped to his knees beside Raven, throwing his arms around him protectively. "No!" he shouted, clutching as tightly as he could muster- that had to hurt, there was no way that was comfortable but he didn't care he wasn't letting go he wasn't letting this happen-- "No! There's gotta be somethin' we're missing! I- I can't--!" He buried his face in the man's shoulder, his grip's intensity setting him to shaking. No- no no no no no no no no no no no no--

[2015-10-19 3:32:25 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: He'd almost missed it, the sound of his own name. It was difficult to pay attention to them, to focus he was so scrambled, emotions and thoughts and somethings inbetween rattling around with no pattern, no connections, no time to settle. And then everything became perfectly clear.

          That is an order.

The maelstrom didn't matter. It was not his lot to pick out the pieces, to rebuild what had been destroyed, to find unity and purpose. He saw the eye of the storm, and he stepped inside. The winds abated. It did not matter that the storm still raged around them. Harry, giving him orders. An odd experience, coming from a child he had been in charge of babysitting not so long ago. But this one wasn't that Harry, was it? He was older, different, the authority in his voice undeniable.

Stand down.

Uneven breaths slipped sharply between gritted teeth, some attempt at regaining a shattered composure. Wide eyes rose to meet Harry's, filled with surprise, confusion-- acceptance. His fingers relaxed from its grip on the weapon, slipping down to hang at his side. What...what was going on? He was not himself. He knew and understood this grief, but there was an extra level of being undone that shook him to his core. That was not him. He didn't dare speak, didn't know if he could through the heaving breaths, the shaking, the residual tears, but he pleaded silently for an explanation.

The moment of clarity was short lived, the pressure in his chest, the push to action fading slowly before it all flared back up at once. Someone approached. Karol, but not Karol. The boy was getting close, too close, and the panic roared in his chest, setting senses and his thoughts aflame, stay away stay away go away and he lashed out, practised motions almost unimpeded by the state of his scrambled mind. An immediate shove to regain distance from the unwanted contact, and with Karol already on his knees Raven grabbed an arm, slamming the boy to the ground, reaching for his knife to finish the job--

[2015-10-19 3:54:10 AM] Herpsy | chaoticxtrust: Harry met his gaze and that acceptance had his shoulders tense slightly. He was going to be expected to give orders here, to be that thing that Raven had once asked him to be that he flat denied. But he would be it here, because that was how he could solve this problem with the least amount of resistence. Even as he felt his heart in his throat and his stomach twisting on it’s end. He opened his mouth to speak, begin to explain what would happen next and that Raven would accept it when Karol rushed forward.

Blue eyes stared at the reaction. He’d seen it before, not the entire move (the pushing to keep someone away, twisting them,) and his voice sprang to his throat in an angry shout. “NO!”

Not to Karol. No-one was allowed to do that to Karol. His body moved forward, weight following through as he grabbed Raven’s wrist. His hands were shaking as he clenched down on it, bearing his own weight and strength. The sickening snap twisted his stomach as Harry’s mouth went dry. Creators, had he just — No, no, don’t think about it. Don’t think about who this is, don’t think about the shenanigans that you got into with him when you were younger. “Don’t you ever fucking do that.” Never … never … Harry’s voice was cold, anger clinging to his throat.

Yes. Anger. Anger and frustration was easier to deal with than this shit.

[2015-10-19 4:24:34 AM] Samee | stopkaroltime: Ludger understood nothing of the context of the situation. The minute facets of their relationships, the significance of every action and speech- why Harry needed to specify that is an order rather than just speak plainly, why Raven responded so instantaneously; it was almost like watching someone be sedated, the way he just blindly dropped everything at Harry's beck. None of that made a bit of sense to him. He was not from this world, and while he had taken a shine to the three in front of him, he knew what he had to do to keep them all safe, to return them to the dimension that they originated in. It would be plenty easy now, with Raven's hand off his weapon, looking with resignation, defeat up to Harry.

Karol's spring to action was almost like witnessing a freak accident- Ludger had to watch, couldn't react quick enough, couldn't believe what he was seeing (the boy had just been debilitated, how the hell was he so quick on his feet now?) His nerves were duplicitously calm; this whole scenario was a live bomb, ready to blow at any moment, and his serenity was not born of apathy, but practiced understanding. Harry's actions could do so much, but it was Ludger who would have to put an end to this.

A familiar heat, like being wrapped in a desert breeze as the watch flared to life in his pocket, washed over him. The grip was familiar, home in his hand. It was just a quick thing- simple, plain, and with the way that Harry was tugging him back from where he was hunched over Karol, the aim couldn't have been more square. One thing Ludger could boast was speed, and it was this agility that lead to a quick jaunt across the room. He lunged, aiming precisely (hell, it was frightening at times how much better he was with his lance than even with the hammer he loved, the swords he trained so many years with) as the lance moved in. Like piercing the surface of a frosted lake, there was a moment of resistance (bone, the sternam was stronger than people gave it credit for-) before it gave way to an almost wet gliding through the rest of Raven's body. The lance sunk in a bit further than strictly necessary (his nerves were singing- perhaps he'd been less composed in the wake of the swiftly changing tides than he'd expected), and from behind him, he could hear the familiar tick, tick, tick.... tick......... tick......  of the catalyst winding down. There- safe. No more catalyst, no more danger and, moments later, the dimension shattered into momentary darkness.

---- Karol would fight this with everything he had. He couldn't just stand by again, couldn't run when he could help. Back then, he had just left him to die- at his beck, sure, but no less he had done it. This time, though, it would be different. He'd make them see- there had to be another way, something they hadn't thought of before! They could save this Raven- they couldn't save Harry, but this-

It was almost with blind abandon that he trusted Raven in that moment. He was helping, he could save him. So the vicious, calculated shove of a man with no intention for mercy was not something he had prepared himself for. He was shoved back in an instant, his head cracking against the floor before he could recognize he was on his back. Pain bloomed in the back of his head as his arm slammed into the ground over his head and suddenly Raven was looming over him, his hand on his dagger, lifting up-- Panic struck, his chest constricting painfully as he moved a hand to defend himself. "Raven!" Even to him, even with his pulse in his ears like a roaring tide, he could hear the screech in his voice, the panic that was unmistakable in the raw pitch to his voice. Wait- it wasn't supposed to be like this- he was helping him, saving him for once why couldn't he understand that why wouldn't he let him help why would he try to hurt him--

He knife stopped descending a second later, and a choked sound escaped Karol as he distantly heard the sound of a snap that he recognised clearly. But Harry was speaking, he couldn't hear him. He felt sick, like he'd just been dunked in a frigid bath and reemerged into winter chill as he heaved to breathe. Harry, what were you saying, what was happening, please help--

He heard that. A second crack, one again of bone, followed by a slippery sort of schlick that reminded Karol disturbingly of one he had heard on a day very similar to this a few years back, heard a short while ago under different circumstances. That weapon- he didn't know it. Gold, black- but the red was what drew his eyes. The weapon was through him, in one side of Raven and out the other. His breath caught in his throat as the wound weeped, pouring out of the man and down onto him- onto him, he was covered, this was Raven's blood, he was-- Raven---

"Ra-.. ven...?"

His free hand reached up for a moment, as though he could do something if he could just reach him, could just fix this but the blood was everywhere, his head throbbed, his chest ached, and his hand shook uselessly. This wasn't what he'd wanted and he couldn't--

The dimension shattered.

[2015-10-19 5:08:28 AM] Cherry | kokuunokamen: He wasn't thinking, not really. It was just pure action, reflex, familiar motions that didn't require him to know what he was doing, the consequences, just act. Something stopped him. Pressure around his wrist, halting the downwards motion. He didn't understand at first, tugging to finish what he began, but then an increase in weight, pressure building, building, slipping-- crack. He gasped, twisting back from the grating noise and unpleasant sensation, the pain oddly far away.

          Don’t you ever fucking do that.

Harry...? There was no time to grasp onto that point of focus, the anger, to have time to realize what he had done, or maybe fall back into that rage and aggression and retaliate, no time before he saw the point of a weapon coming his way. His broken wrist was still captive, holding him in place, nothing he could do, no dodging, no deflecting, simply watch helplessly--

Again. It was happening again,

A nightmare he thought he'd moved on from, one he hadn't faced in so long he couldn't remember the last time he had it. The setting was different ( his room, not the desert ), the monster deviated ( a man-shaped creature glowing yellow, rather than an indistinct cloud of darkness radiating spikes ) but it was the same. A strangled noise made it past his throat before he was robbed of all breath, an ache, a deep, broken ache that encompassed his entire being, unable to process the individual damages that was caused. Bones breaking, flesh tearing, blood, so much blood and he closed his eyes because he knew what came next.