You'll Thank Me Later (open)

[david]

Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all

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David sighed, staring blandly at the body before him, staining the carpet. He raised his eyebrow slightly, cocking his head to the side as the limp form twitched from active nerves. Strange, how an already dead creature was killed again, showing the final, real stage of death.

Vampires were hideously ugly things. However, David never quite remembered how he got here, or why he had killed his "woman" in the fancy suite.

The hair on the back of David's neck rose at the sound of coiling in his mind, along with gentle whispers of encouragement. The feel of cold metal against his cheek made him remember.

You're sick of feeling numb
You're not the only one
I'll take you by the hand
And I'll show you a world that you can understand
This life is filled with hurt
When happiness doesn't work
Trust me and take my hand
When the lights go out you will understand

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*He was pressed back against the cushioned chair, her arms wrapped lazily around his neck as she purred affectionately. "You're a very interesting human, Mr. Regnard." Her dark, lavender hair fell in curls around her face as she nuzzled him, "Not many dare come with me anywhere, fearing their death."

"I have nothing to lose," the man said calmly, no sign of fear, or any emotion for that matter, showed on his face, nor in his voice. She tilted her head curiously, making herself comfortable on his lap.

"Is that so?" she pouted. That would make this less fun. Was he here to let himself be killed? She thought he was a hunter, one who would put up a good fight. "You really want to die, don't you?"

He said nothing, and she only furrowed her brows in contempt. "Fine, be no fun. I'll bring the fun to you." Her frown turned into a wide smile, the gleam of ivory flashing for a second to reveal her powerful fangs. She kept her hold on him, tiling his head back as she slowly moved her sharp fingers into his auburn curls.

The man knew what was coming, anticipating it, as the woman came closer to his life pulse. His otherwise empty expression turned into a deadly smirk as one very quick, silver, fluid movement came and interrupted the lovely lady.

She stared in confusion at what appeared to be a snake-like creature, but her perfect sight allowed her to take in that it was mechanical, huge, lithe, and pointed within it was a sharp needle point now pointed at her neck.

Where had it come from? She hadn't seen it before. Her eyes darted to the man's back, where the end of the mechanical snake-like entity slithered. "What are you?" she hissed.

"Death," he whispered, the metal beast sinking the sharp blade into her throat before she could let out a gargled scream. She slumped to the floor, her blood pouring out of her in huge spurts. Her once beautiful body began to shrivel as the life force was drained out of her.*

Such a shame, David thought, The carpet truly was nice.

A soft mechanical chirping sound came close to him, different from the noises in his head. David raised his hand and stroked the top of the upper right actuator which had done the deed. "Yes, I am pleased with this. Do not worry."

We exist to serve, Master. But may we ask of something?

David raised his brow again, watching as all four metal limbs curled around him. "Yes, what is it?"

We are not limited to just killing these...things, are we?

David watched as the upper right actuator motioned to the limp, mummified corpse on the floor. He grimaced. He could understand their disgust. They were linked to him, after all.

"There are more than just vampires," he explained. They didn't seem impressed. "What do you want, exactly?"

At first he thought they were ignoring him now, as if they thought him incompetent. And then all four voices rose in his mind again as each claw extended and snapped shut in earnest.

We must go, Master. They can smell the blood.

Before he could get a word in edge wise, the bottom actuators lifted him up as if they were his own legs, and the upper two crashed through the window, taking him with them. From this high up, he felt unnerved. But they kept locked onto the building, albeit clumsily. Although this wasn't the first time, they were still getting used to it as David was sent downward into a secluded area.

One of the actuators let out an alarmed chatter outside of his mind and in, the mechanical whirring causing him to flinch. "What?"

Something was picked up on our heat sensors. We do not know what it is. It feels animal, but the reading is confusing. It keeps changing.

David cursed, not wanting to run into anyone or anything right now. It was hard enough to handle one vampire under his mind's condition. The AI of these things were getting smarter, more independent. They wanted him to do what they wanted to do. He wondered how long until they would stop asking him permission to perform something.

Hide inside my coat. Stay in there.

There was a sound of disapproval and the feeling of disobedience, but eventually they obeyed, slipping back into the torn slips of his long, torn trench coat. Don't worry, you may come out if I am in any danger.

We will protect you, Master.

He had no doubt of that. He shuddered. No doubt in his mind that they would do anything to keep him safe. He had seen that in the laboratory in ZaneCorp. Had some of those people been human forced to work there without their will? Guilt began and made his stomach clench.

We did only what you wanted. To keep you alive.

Yes, yes, be quiet, David thought back irritably, brushing the guilt and frustration away. He wondered whatever their hat sensors picked up knew about hat happened in the hotel. He could already here the alarmed screams and shuts from those that found the mess. He couldn't help but chuckle slightly.

After all, they were making a fuss over something that had died long ago, now reduced to what it truly was inside. His amusement left, however, when he heard what his actuators had warned him about was coming near. He kept himself in the dark, wondering just what or who was coming his way.

Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all

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[emiko]

Poor Anari. It was obvious she was frustrated. She was nibbling on one of her long fingernails and her eyes were narrowed into an angry glare. What was she going to do? Her mother had come down for a visit, the bitch. Anari wouldn't dare say that to her mothers face. She would smile sweetly and fight back that screaming hatred that tried to force it's way out of her. That abusive whore. Anari lost her father because of that woman. He was so kind. He was the reason she was the innocent woman she was today. She loved her father more than anything but once her mother chased him off he never returned. Even after Anari left her mothers home. Now, Anari feared the woman that gave birth to her. She feared being around her, yet here she was. Her mother was here. In her home. Still drunk and as emotionally abusive as ever. Anari would take it, though, without a word. She would stay sweet and loving until her mother decided to get a bit more violent.

This wasn't going to be allowed, though. Anari decided to go for a walk, to find a place to stay for the night. To get away from the bitch that called herself a good mother. "If you will excuse me, I have some things to take care of," she said politely, taking her leave. So, she wandered the streets, a finger to her lips and her eyes narrowed into that glare that was mentioned before. What was she going to do? She couldn't stay around with her mother there. She wasn't going to endure that abuse like she did when she was a child. Her mother thought she was worthless and that she ruined her life. Like it was Anari's fault that her father had left. No, her mother was the one who chased him off. Anari thought if she moved far enough away she would be able to escape Nadia. She was such a whore, too. There was no telling how many guys she would be with while she was there.

Anari wanted to have nothing to do with it. She wanted to get away while her mother was around for the next couple of days. Her outfit was a simple strapless black shirt and a short skirt. This innocent girl dressed like her mother but had the personality of her father. Strange that she hadn't gotten herself into trouble over the way she dressed, but she was too innocent for anyone to think anything of it. If you knew her, you would laugh if someone called her a whore or something of the like. Her friend, the angel, knew how innocent she was. He gave her eternal beauty. She would remain this age for the rest of her life and she would never lose her beauty. Fighting was out of the question for her, she couldn't taint her body any more. The scar on her thigh was the only flaw. She didn't want anymore.

She knew there was hotel nearby and wondered if her mother would come looking for her if she stayed there for the night. There was no telling when it came to Nadia. That woman was already so drunk, it was a wonder she didn't keep Anari from leaving the house. It was a good thing Anari knew how to talk herself out of violent situations. She had to, seeing as she was raised by a violent woman. Anari wouldn't complain about her past life, that wasn't like her. The past was the past and she was going to leave it that way. It wasn't anyone elses problem, anyway. She feared having to see her mom but she would just have to be strong and make it through it. Her mother would be gone in a few days and Anari would have her home to herself again. If anything, she could drop down the bottom of her pool and sit in the quiet for a while. For a chance to be alone and to think.

She was coming upon the hotel now, though she was slightly put off. There was screaming coming from the inside. She could hear it clearly and couldn't understand why someone would be making so much noise in a hotel. She stood outside the hotel, looking at it now. Her grey eyes had no fear, only concern. She couldn't go in, for if there was an attacker she didn't want to be part of it. She felt the fear in one of her animal forms, the small chinchilla part of her. It wanted to escape, though it was the one that would talk it's way out of a situation. The other two were the fighters. She could use them if anything, though she didn't really want to have to do it. Clouds moved over the sky, obviously mirroring her emotions. There was confusion, mostly. She could smell a human nearby, but that was nothing new. The streets were full of humans on a daily basis. She wasn't concerned. She couldn't bring herself to enter this hotel, though.

She took a step back, finally recognizing the smell of blood in the air. 'Oh, dear,' she thought. So, an attack had happened. She couldn't stay here for the night. She would have to endure her mother after all. She took a step back, though she felt the urge to find the source of the blood come forth. Silly reptile. She couldn't eat a wounded person in a hotel. by the smell of it, it was a vampire, too. Well, that just made things a hell of a lot better, didn't it? She wasn't worried, though, so far she had not been seen.

[david]

David's eyes narrowed behind his special glasses, spotting the form of the young woman staring at the hotel. So this is what the actuators had meant? Why be afraid of her?

We are not afraid, Master. We do not carry emotional interface. We were only unsure of what she was.

The hunter had to chuckle softly at that. Of course. This girl must be a shapeshifter. A being he didn't care to meet with. As long as they both minded their own business, the creatures would not be on his hit list.

Why not? They are not human. Their readings tell us they are animals. Monsters, even.

David frowned, trying to block out those words. This one was only a girl. She posed no threat. He wasn't going to attack her, so long as she didn't attack him. Hell, she probably didn't even know he was practically behind her in the shadows. Shaking his head, he backed up himself, quietly.

We need to leave, now, he ordered. Climb up that wall.

Without a moments hesitation, the arms slipped out from the back of his coat, not even close to being stealthily as they grabbed the brick wall of the alley way and pulled him up. They could sense his displeasure. We did as you told us, Master.

He swore he heard confusion in the seemingly unemotional mechanical chatter. He shook his head. They said so moments before. No emotion. But what if their AI was learning? Would they comprehend human emotion? Would they eventually grow angry with his limiting of them? He suppressed a shudder, not wanting to think about it.

He, however, hoped the girl hadn't heard the disturbance and quickly turned around, allowing the actuators to grip onto a building to take him away before people grew suspicious and noticed him. The claws gripped, but had only successfully took hold of a window as the other actuators tried to grab onto something. Although one was strong enough to hold much more weight than this, it's grip on the window was weak, unstable.

Master, we cannot yet climb so well. Perhaps walking is best?

Shit. We're hanging on a building out in the open. We've been seen! David thought in frustration.

Do you want us to kill the witnesses, Master?

David felt slightly sick at the question. Why were they so willing to murder? He swallowed nervously, glancing back. How many have actually seen us?

He heard the actuators begin their calculation.

5.25 people have seen you, Master.

He wasn't going to bother asking what the .25 was about.

Just get me out of here, he thought bitterly, gritting his teeth. Was the girl now staring at him? He couldn't see anyone else's faces as clearly, and most seemed to be running away from shock. Telling the police of the freak they just spotted, probably, David thought disdainfully.

The upper left actuator let go of the wall and landed him, and then they began stomping their way through the alley way, not even bothering to let his own feet touch the ground. Some way of being discreet.

[emiko]

Oh, Anari knew he was there. She just didn't find him to be a threat at the moment. The most obvious threat in her mind was what was going on inside the building. She had to get away, of that she was sure. She couldn't be killed here. Though, she would almost rather be dead than go back to her mother. A tempting thought, to be sure, but not enough to make her going into the building. No, instead she turned to her right, her intention to go back the way she came. She would have been hurt to hear that something didn't think she was human. Anari was just as human as...well, humans. She could just change her form into something that wasn't human, though it was an animal. That was close enough to being human, right? They still had thoughts and feelings. She could understand what people said when she was in her animal form. She could hear a man chuckle and had she been in her chinchilla form, her ears would have perked at the sound. Instead, she simply turned her head.

The next thing that she heard brought about curiousity and a bit of worry. The sound of...well, she didn't know what it was the sound of, but it was quite disturbing, not in the least bit quiet. It was coming from the right, the same place the man's voice had come from. Interesting. What was he doing in the dark alley? She saw him now, noticing that she wasn't the only one. Perhaps he knew what was going on in the hotel. Maybe that's why he was getting away. Because he was afraid of benig hurt. Or perhaps it was his fault. She felt paranoid now. He was hanging on to the wall with something, she had no earthly idea what the hell it was. She turned her head to the side curiously, her eyes on him as he dropped down to the ground. She was a little fearful of what she saw as he walked away. She wouldn't let this show, though, in case he could pick up on it. Then again, he was only human.

She decided to follow, now, even though she feared him slightly. "Sir?" she asked softly, calling out to him. It was quiet, though she was sure he would be able to hear her. It seemed people were running from him and she could understand why. "You are scaring people," she whispered. She was sure he wouldn't be able to hear that. It was useless to follow him, though, so she stopped in her tracks. She was inside the alley, staring after him and wondering where it was he would be going now. Wondering if he would turn around and attack her. She didn't really have a reason to be speaking with him, though she did want to know what was going on inside the hotel. Her need to help people was strong at the moment. Such an innocent woman. It was no wonder she needed someone to protect her. She couldnt fight her own battles. She was too nice to do such a thing.

[david]

David was taken aback from the sudden confrontation, although the girl's voice was quiet and held little fear. The actuators hadn't stopped their movement, but he turned his head back to look at her. Scaring people? He had to smile. "Young lady, that happens all the time. It's a little hard to hide these," he motioned, suddenly commanding the metal limbs to stop, even though he was a bit farther away from the girl now.

How curious this shapeshifter seemed to be. The actuators seemed bristled, coiling around him as he ordered them to lower him to his feet. They were like snakes, protecting their young, or their prey - as David sometimes felt in the back of his mind; something they were only using.

He knew that the slightest sign of threatening movement from this young woman would set them off, so he kept his distance.

"Believe me, I've tried," he added calmly, crossing his arms. He still stayed in the shadows now, if anyone else was nosy enough to come towards them. This girl had followed him, and then stopped. David could only nod to himself; the actuators were fast. She wouldn't have been able to keep up. At lest, not in her human form.

He could tell she wanted something. Or to ask something. The voices of the actuators gave him their disapproval, in the fact that they would not help him now unless he was in true danger. How comforting.

David knew what they meant too. To kill, not to get away. Why were they so obsessed with killing? Would he eventually succumb to them? Let them do what they wanted? Or would they just slowly take control of his mind?

He closed his eyes then, pinching the brim of his nose. He didn't want to come off as being mean to the girl, but his gruff voice couldn't be helped as he strained to keep his thoughts straight. "What do you want? You aren't just staring at me because you think I look pretty," he added coyly, trying to force a smile, although he knew it was fake. Lightheartedness was not his thing. Not after all he'd been through.

[emiko]

Anari found her fingers at her throat, moving over the small cross necklace that sat there. Her long black hair was tied up with a purple ribbon. Her back was straight and she stood with a bit of a stance that made it seem like she had a bit of authority. She wasn't that type of person, though. Her skin was a milky white, almost too pale for her dark hair. Such a pretty girl she was. Yes, plenty of people could help but realize how much beauty this girl held. She didn't act as though she knew exactly how pretty she was, but she was vain without realizing it. She was always searching for compliments and accepted them quickly. Anari, the beautiful shapeshifter, was looking over her company now, eyes moving over him and the things with him. He was a bit chubby, not really cute in her eyes. That was too bad, then. She didn't move any closer, though, in case he decided to attack her.

"I'm sorry," she said, eyes lowering when he said they were hard to hide. She didn't really care about them, she only wanted to see what was going on in the hotel. But that thought was pushed to the back of her mind now as she thought about this new person she was meeting here. Was he dangerous? This might have not been the best idea Anari could have had. But she didn't think anyone was actually evil, though she did worry about them thinking bad things about her. She didn't like the thought that they could be thinking horrible things about her. About the way she dressed or how she looked. Some people were so cruel, it seemed. Her hands went down over her body, pulling down at the bottom of her skirt as if she thought it was up too high. That really wasn't the case, she just was worried that she looked bad in front of him. Not that she had to look good for him, though, she didn't think that at all.

The things he said were hard to hide were around him, seeming more like a predator than anything and she didn't want to be any closer to him than she already was. She didn't want them to hurt her. She was glad he wasn't moving closer to her as well. She could see him clearly from where she was, her eyes like that of the eagle she could change into. Her ears could hear him perfectly as well, like the eagle. As a human, perhaps she couldn't keep up with them. But she was faster than most humans, getting that from the chinchilla and she was also stronger than most humans, from the crocodile. Her skin was tougher than human skin from the reptile as well. She was human, but her body had changed to suit her better and to have better protection for when she was holding a human body. He spoke again and she nodded her head, bringing her eyes back up to him. They held a bit of concern, though mostly an unknowing look.

She watched him close his eyes and she turned her head to the side slightly. What on earth was he doing? His words, though, made her giggle. No, she didn't think he looked pretty. Besides, he was a man. Almost repulsive to her. She prefered women, nott o say she wouldn't be with a man. She would and she had. The angel, as a matter of fact. She knew that smile was fake as well, though she gave him a smile back just to be polite. "I was wondering," she began softly, a finger to her lips again. "Do you know what was going on in the hotel? I heard screaming..." she finished, her voice trailing off. It was better that she didn't tell him she smelled blood. He was a human and if he found out she was a shapeshifter she wasn't sure what he would do to her. She didn't know that he already knew she was a shapeshifter, though. She waited for an answer from him silently, her eyes looking off to the side now.

[david]

Although chubby, he had lost a considerable amount of weight recently. Escaping from ZaneCorp and in hiding for several days made it hard to keep up with eating habits; not that he truly had much to begin with. He was surprised when he heard her giggle, and he supposed that was a good thing. His lips couldn't help but curl into a real smile at the foreign sound. How often had he made anyone laugh?

David had forgotten. It had been so long. It seemed he had forgot a lot of things lately, and it worried him. It showed in his expression, but he slowly broke out of his concerned thoughts. When he was about to answer her question, the voices came back. Louder than before.

You cannot truly believe you can tell her this, Master? David stiffened, the way they said 'Master' wasn't all that convincing. They seemed to back off then, having struck a nerve. They could not bare to lose what little trust he had in them. Forgive us, Master...

David took a deep breath, trying to calm his unsteady nerves. He really needed a smoke right now. Reaching in his pocket to get a cigar, he had almost forgotten about the girl. As he found both cigar and lighter, he placed the wrapped tobacco between his teeth and started the flame.

"The screams you heard were simply those who found the body," he said calmly, although his hands were visibly shaking. He was far away enough, he hoped, that she didn't see his unsteady hands. "What died in there wasn't human," he put simply, taking out the cigar and blew out the smoke thoughtfully. "You have nothing to fear."

He sighed again, closing his eyes. The actuators weren't happy with him. Another sign that the AI in them was changing, growing, learning. How much longer until he lost himself completely? Would he go through another black out, and then never come out of it?

He winced, having left the cigar in his hand, tightening his grip on it as the burning ash fell on his gripping fingers. He dropped it and stomped on the now dead cigar, not bothering with it. It hadn't helped much anyway.

"Sorry if that isn't helpful for you. It's all I can tell you," he said quietly, his eyes distant behind his shades. He needed them to see, even when it was dark. He did not only have just bad sight anymore. The fusion to his spine, the combination of the actuators sight with his, made his pupils permanently dilated. He would never be able to take them off. Without the glasses, he was practically blind.

He slipped his none burned hand under his shades, rubbing at his eyes. "Is that all?" he asked tiredly, warily. If she asked anymore, he feared he would tell her everything. Even how he got the arms. He was so exhausted. These machines took all his energy.

The only way to replenish his energy was to sleep. Heh, David thought sadly, Another night in the streets. Might as well be a hobo.

[emiko]

She was almost glad to see him smiling, it almost made him seem a little less threatening. She noticed he hadn't answered her question yet and he seemed to be a bit out of it. She shifted her weight and waited patiently, wondering if he was thinking up a lie to tell her. Why would he lie to her unless he was the one who did it? She found herself taking a step back, not that she really needed it. She was already far enough away from him. He wouldn't be able to touch her from wehre he was. She could run if he came after her and since he was a human she was sure she would be faster than him. Right now, she was safe. For the time being, anyway. She heard him take a breath and watched him pull something from his clothing. She felt the urge to bolt, suddenly. What if it was a weapon? A gun, perhaps. But it wasn't and she relaxed slightly, watching him light the cigar. "That's not good for you," she said, wondering if he really cared about his health.

The body? So someone had a died. A vampire? That was what she had smelled with the blood. Her thoughts were confirmed when he said it wasn't human. So, a vampire had died up in the hotel. What had killed it? Werewolves? She was glad she was far away from the smoke. She knew it would make her gag and feel like she needed to puke. Damn good thing she was far away from it. Her father smoked as well, though he never did it around her. He knew how much it upset her and made her feel bad. He tried to quit but being around her mother...well, you almost needed to be a drunk or have a smoke to endure what that woman put you through. Anari remained calm when they were all together, never let her emotions get out of control. Her father didn't do anything about it so why should Anari? Her father was like her role model and she looked up to him. Too bad he was gone.

Well, he was saying she had nothing to fear and she wondered if that was the truth. "I'm not afraid," she said, which really wasn't a lie. If the vampire was dead then she wouldn't have to worry about being bitten by it. She hadn't noticed the shaking of his hands, but she did see when he burned himself. This made her forehead crease with worry. "Told you," she said softly, a bit of amusement in her voice. Yes, they were not good for him, but it wasn't like he was going to listen to a stranger anyway. He dropped it and she sighed softly. She could already smell the smoke from before and her nose wrinkled up in disgust. She was thinking about the dead vampire again. Who would have killed it and left it in the room? Was someone that stupid? She didn't turn to look towards the building though, seeing as she knew better than to turn her back on people.

All he could tell her? Well, perhaps that meant he knew more than he was saying. Well, she felt as though he did anyway. She wasn't quite satisfied with that though. He seemed tired and she wondered where his home was. Was that where he was headed? She frowned a bit, feeling as though he didn't want her around. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked as though she was feeling a bit self-conscious. "How did they die, I wonder?" she asked, though more to herself than to him. She was hoping he would answer the question, though. She made it seem like she wasn't sure if they were killed or if they simply died of natural causes. She had a feeling that the vampire had been killed, though, seeing as there was the smell of blood coming from there. "Something not human?" she added thoughtfully. She had a feeling he was done with her but she wasn't quite finished asking questions.

[david]

David glanced back over to her as he leaned against the brick wall behind him, careful not to press to hard on his back. With the weight of the actuators, and the ever painful feeling of having the metal fused into his spine gave little comfort. He had never been able to get a look at his back ever since the incident. He wasn’t so sure he wanted to. He hadn’t quite been paying attention to the girl’s words, and the comment of smoking had been otherwise ignored. However, when she spoke up again, his expression was unreadable.

“You really want to know what happened?” His voice felt heavy, and he closed his eyes again as he tried to straighten up to keep his back pain to a minimum. “She was murdered. The murderer was human. A hunter.” Again he felt the actuators hiss angrily in his mind, possibly outside as well. “But you see, this hunter wasn’t there to kill. Not originally. He was seeking her to end his life.”

David chuckled softly, finally getting the whole picture of what happened. The actuators thought they could fully manipulate his mind. Not yet. Not yet. “But, something went wrong. He wasn’t himself anymore, and she was later found dead, shriveled, on the floor.”

He looked even more tired now, drained, from everything that had happened, from the beginning of his loss, to slowly losing himself now. “Sorry, you probably didn’t need to hear all that.” This was the only person so far who hadn’t shown complete fear of him – and lived, to say the least. But what if this girl figured he was speaking about himself? He was more than obvious now. Would she run? Scream? Yell at him and call him a monster?

He sighed again. This was what he had become. Something he dreaded all his life as a hunter. Becoming something just as horrible as the undead, the killers of the night. He was no better now. But these things, the metal limbs that were now so much a part of him, wouldn’t let him end his life. They needed him to sustain their own.

Damn that bastard Erif…he did this to me… David thought bitterly as he slowly rested on the cement floor, pressing his head back, ignoring the needle like pain shooting through his back and into his mind. If he opened his eyes, he knew he’d only see colorful splotches and “stars”. The actuators spent their time easing the pain, making it seem it was only in the back of his mind, to forget. But they were making him forget more than most of his pain. They were trying to take away who he was…day by day- until he was just an empty shell ready to be used.

“You should leave,” he said quietly, opening his eyes slightly to keep himself awake. He didn’t want to know what they could do if he fell asleep and let them roam free, using his body as a puppet. “It’s not safe here.” Not when I’m around, he added to himself.

[emiko]

As he supported himself against the wall Anari turned her eyes away. She couldn't bring herself to put her pretty body against the nasty walls of this alley and she wondered why he seemed to be ok with it. It was so dirty, so disgusting. How did he handle that? Some people were not like her, though. They didn't feel the need to scrub their body after touching something nasty like the walls here. Or some of the people that roamed the streets at night. Perhaps like this man. She could already feel herself getting that small prickly feeling on her skin as if she was filthy and she couldn't stand it. She brushed her hand over her arm like she could brush away the filth. She didn't really have germ problems, she was just high maintenance. Anyone who saw her home would be able to see that clearly. She only bought the best things for her house, nothing cheap. She could afford to do so with the money she got from her father. Silly that he should send her money but not come and see her. Perhaps he still feared her mother.

She put her hands on her hips as he spoke now, understand what he meant. He was the one who killed the vampire. She should have known. She should have smelled it on his skin. Interesting how she could miss such a thing. She could hear a hiss and she could feel the reptile side of her want to make the same sound, only more fierce and animalistic. She held it back though. She didn't know if that would cause a fight she didn't want to be in. She laughed nervously when he said she didn't need to know that. "It was you," she accused, though she knew she was right. He had made it obvious enough, really. She felt an anger towards him, though by what he said things were not supposed to go that way. That would be no reason for Anari to forgive him, though. She was still angry that he could kill another person. She should have known before. Well, she kind of had. She was too paranoid not to assume it was him.

"So you are a hunter, then?" she asked, though she already knew the answer to this question. Would he hunt her if he knew she was a shapeshifter? Good thing she hadn't said a word about it. She knew she had to get away before he decided to kill her as well. He had just basically told her he was the one who had killed the vampire in the hotel room. Why had he wanted to end his own life, though? She figured he was lying about all that, trying to make her feel bad for him or make him think he hadn't meant to kill the vampire. Too bad for him she didn't believe it. She wasn't going to tell anyone, though, because she knew how things out here worked. Shit happened and you couldn't stop it from happening. Anari would just keep it to herself or perhaps tell her angel later. What could she do about it, anyway? It's not like she was going to kill him.

He told her she should leave and she took a step back. It was such a tempting idea. He was right, it wasn't safe here. Not around him. Of course, she didn't hear that thought of his but she was having the same one. "Yes, I shall take my leave," she said softly, backing away out of the alley and vanishing around the corner. She didn't leave though, she simply stood there wishing she had the nerve to lean against the wall. She took a moment to pull herself together, wanting nothing more than to go to sleep. But it seemed the hotel was not the right place to go, especially since he had come from there. She would have to go back home to her mother and sleep there. How was it she had let that bitch chase her from her own home anyway? Anari knew it was because she couldn't bring herself to be around her mother. She had no choice now, though.

[david]

David had only nodded when she accused him, seemingly too exhausted to care. But he had flinched slightly at her tone. What had he expected, really? He could feel her anger, and possible hatred towards him now. At the sound of her leaving, the actuators knew she hadn't gone far, their heart lights inside glowed and took in the area when they opened their claws.

Alone again, but never quite so. At least he didn't have to answer anymore of her questions. He ran his unharmed hand through his hair, his fingers brushing the curly, messy strands from his face. Where was he to go now? Did it really matter? He hadn't had food in days, no rest...the actuators wouldn't be able to stop him from killing himself through starvation, could they?

He smiled grimly, a forced, but bitter laugh escaping his lips. It was hoarse and he began coughing. This had little to do with his "smoking" problem, he was sure. Those were different kinds of coughs. Blood specks were found on his hand, dark blood.

Shit, he thought darkly. He had internal damage. Probably from the metal becoming one with him. Dead blood. He cringed. Did he really need to try, now? He was obviously dying without realizing it.

We will not let you die, Master, the actuators hummed in his head gently, their voices softer. With us, your life is extended, far more than any human. We have frozen your aging function as well. The blood is only a minor defect.

David felt nauseous again, and doubled over, even as he sat. Holding onto his stomach, he vomited more of the dark liquid and gasped. "You....you did this..." he hissed through his clenched teeth as his entire body shivered.

You are not happy? You are almost immortal now, Master. The upper left mechanical appendage came close to him and nuzzled his cheek before jerking back. They did not much like water. And apparently their human was leaking.

[emiko]

Her mind raced as she stood in the streets by the alley she had come from. Questions darted through her mind and she stared at the hotel wondering what they would do about the dead body inside. Only a few minutes had passed since the body had been found and Anari met with the man she didn't have a name for. Why hadn't she asked for a name? Well, it was too late for that now. She should have asked when she had a chance. She didn't want to go back in there to ask such a meaningless question. He seemed to have been tired of her anyway. She heard a laugh that turned into a cough and she sighed, feeling bad, though she had warned him that smoking was bad. Damn this kind heart of hers. She could smell blood and she winced a bit. Why couldn't she resist helping people? Even people she knew to be killers, it seemed. Her mind was in turmoil. Should she go make sure he was ok or should she run for her life?

It seemed her decision was made for her. The sound of vomiting and a stronger smell of blood. He was throwing it up. She began to feel her lunch crawling back up her throat. She gagged a bit but forced that nasty sick feeling away. She could hear him speaking and found it a little odd that he was talking to himself. Just something else to make her fear him. She paused, rethinking the idea of going back to him. Still, she couldn't leave him here alone. He was surely vulnerable and he seemed so weak now. So, she turned the corner back into the alley. "I'm sorry sir," she whispered, not moving closer yet. "I'm sorry, I think something is wrong. You are sick," she said, her eyes down on the ground before her. this did not mean she was not paying attention to what he was doing, that would be a false assumption. She was paying very close attention to the man.

She saw those things she disliked near his face and she longed to know what it was. She began moving forward, her body tense and ready to jump and run if he decided to attack her. "Do not hurt me," she whispered. Was that a demand or a request. It was hard to tell. "Perhaps I should help you home? Or a hospital?" she asked, her voice shaking. She could feel the nasea coming back as she looked down at the blood that had come from him. She wasn't very close, but she could still see just as clearly as she could before. He could probably move a few feet and be close enough to touch her, though she wasn't going to allow him to come to her. She would go to him. In this, she was like an animal. If he moved, she would run. He had to let her go to him. He was the predator here but she didn't want to be the prey. She didn't seem to be really afraid, more like worried. Poor Anari. What was she going to do?

[david]

David tried to breathe normally now, although his breathing came in hurried gasps. Calming himself after such a revelation wasn't easy. When he heard the young woman's voice again, he lifted his head up weakly, wiping his hand across his face. It was hard to tell if he was wet from sweat or tears. Not surprising if it was both.

"I wouldn't have guessed," he muttered dryly, sitting back up again, though his eyes didn't seem to be leaving her form. She was closer than before now. Why on earth was she worried about him? He could easily have the actuators snap out and grab her throat, the others tearing at her limbs.

His stomach turned again and he grimaced. Stop making me think like that, he ordered the metal limbs. She isn't a threat. The upper left actuator turned its attention to the girl, seeming to tilt its head to the side, opening its three metal, claw-like fingers as if opening a beak. A chirping, whirring noise came from it.

She isn't running, Master. Does she not fear us? they asked curiously.

David cleared his throat. "I thought I told you to leave, miss." Again, he sighed, rubbing his face with his burnt, and rather bleeding hand. "But something tells me you'd rather be here than somewhere else." He shook his head finally. "No...no hospitals. One look at these and the nurses would probably have a heart attack."

The actuators chattered noisily outside of his mind, watching the girl with more curiosity than ever now. Maybe they didn't believe her a threat anymore. Despite her not being completely human, they could feel the human nature flowing through her; it amused them.

David turned his eyes to the sky. Black as always. He would never quite be able to enjoy light anymore like he used to. Not with the eyes he had now. "My home no longer exists," he seemed to answer, although the comment of taking him home had almost been forgotten. "I don't bother staying anywhere for long."

[emiko]

She heard the sarcasm in his voice and she rolled her eyes a bit. Silly man. She was only being polite. She didn't understand why he had to be like that. She seemed to whine softly, not wanting him to be angry with her. She started to feel bad for bothering him and thought once more about leaving. She knew it would be cruel of her to just leave a sick man who needed help all on his own. Despite the human part of her being disgusted by the smell of blood she could also feel the animal part of her that longed to taste it. That reptile, that killer. No, they weren't really killers. They were misunderstood. Anari knew this because she was one of them. She also knew how protective they could be, especially over children. That part was strong in Anari. She was maturnal but that didn't mean she would be the first to fight for a child. She would still look for someone else to protect the child before even thinking about doing it herself.

Yes, she was afraid of the things coming from this mans back. She still had no name for them. The one on the left, well, the right to her, seemed to be...looking at her? Was that possible? There was a strange noise coming from it and she felt a bit threatened. Were they able to understand what she said? Machines did not have such abilities, did they? She took a step away from the man but kept her eyes on the metal thing. "It seems I did not obey that order," she said, slightly frustrated now. "You would be correct," she said when he stated she would rather be here than somewhere else. Of course, she wasn't going to tell him why or where she didn't want to be. It wasn't his problem or his business. 'Stupid,' she thought to herself when he spoke about the hospitals. Of course she couldn't take him there. They wouldn't want to see him. How could she be so stupid? Well, now she had no idea what to do with the man.

Her mind worked and my, my, they weren't very good thoughts. Anari was trying to think of a place to take him to and the one place she had in mind wasn't a place she figured he would want to be. Besides that, she couldn't really take him there anyway. What if he tried something? She wouldn't be safe. What if he didn't leave? What if he..well, there were several things he could do but Anari couldn't just leave him here. She held a small determined look appeared on her face and she listened to the noises from the things that seemed to grow from him. He had said his home was no longer around and she had an idea of where to take him. "Then come to my home?" she said quietly, a small question in her voice. If he would rather stay out here alone she would leave him but she couldn't resist offering a little bit of hospitality to this man. It was in her nature and she couldn't help being so sweet. She was so innocent though not stupid. If he came she would be sleeping with a weapon tonight.

[david]

David had to raise an eyebrow at her offer. He was a complete stranger, and not only that, he had confessed to murdering w woman. Even if she wasn't human. Was this girl at all right in the head? When he felt the actuators grow impatient with her presence, he lifted an arm and motioned for them to stay back. "Sorry, they don't like company," he muttered, his tone flat.

"I'm not sure you understand what is going on here. As kind of an offer as that is, I won't allow anyone to be involved with my problems. You're too young to be involved with anything dangerous anyway. I'm sure your parents wouldn't approve of you taking a stranger into their home."

He remembered a time when such hospitality seemed right. But with the monsters roaming the world now, it was a rare thing indeed. Unless the person was completely naive. "I'm sorry, I must decline." The actuators chirped their approval at last, lowering more to the ground now and lazily moving in a serpentine pattern. The upper right, however, stayed positioned as a look out, claws open to allow it to read the area more efficiently.

David wondered why this girl was so fixed on helping him. Was it a moral thing? OR was it that she could possibly be afraid of going home by herself? In these streets nowadays, he didn't blame her at all. Even with a dangerous man by her side, he'd be able to defend her if he wanted. He had to keep focus. This girl would only get hurt. He wouldn't be able to live with another horrible act on his belt of mistakes.

"Leave," he said weakly, his voice even quieter now. "Or I might just let them show you what they can do." The fear tactic. David didn't want her pity. If he had to, he would scare her away, as much as it would hurt him to do such a thing.

Really, Master? the actuators asked, almost happy to hear such words spoken.

David looked away from the young woman, as well as trying to ignore the machine's insistent chatter. Stop, he ordered. Just let me have some silence.