[IC] The Two Sides

[Hawksnest565]

The guard (Tomithy) places a hand on Ptelea's head to soothe her. "Mate, you're scaring the little girl," he says to Ambrose. His words were not supposed to come across as cruel. His concern for the moment simply lay with Ptelea over the boy. "I don't think she's really ready for this, you know? Why don't you two try again a little while later?" He pulls some handcuffs out from his jacket pocket.

[Hawksnest565]

The Boss is in his room. Not the room of comfort and rest that lies by the poolside where he can hear the joy of his Family, but the room in the cavernous depths of the facility with eerie distinction between office and laboratory like a visible representation of the Jekyll and Hyde story. He is typing.

The Boss types all manner of things. Notes to foreign correspondents and long distant friends. Birthday cards to his family, for his skill with a pen is long gone. Glowing reports to Servals who went elsewhere to continue the search for their answers. Papers for the academic community. He liked to think that every sentence to escape his fingers was carefully articulated, well thought out and given with a calm and passive voice. That was no truth this day. Even with his hands shaking, he types with utter ferocity and speed. The white glare of the computer screen filters onto his face and the objects of the room. The photo album is open. The little boy with the peacock and flamingo is smiling.

The instructions are to all leaders of the Servals in close range to the target. He's already examined the forest from a map. He's read the reports. He's found the camps. He knows how this will go. The instructions dictate the plans clearly - the forest area is too thick and unfamiliar to the Servals to directly attack the camps. Burning down the woods would provide the shifters with too much of a clue as to their presence. Too much time to escape. No, they would have to drive the shifters of both camps to the only clear location that was still hidden away from the nearby town.

It would begin with Servals shooting both of the camps to scare the shifters out simultaneously. Next, Servals would be scattered throughout the forest, subliminally affecting their retreat to head in the direction of the river. The attack was timed so that both camps would which the river together. Running into their enemies whilst escaping gunfire... The result would be catastrophic for any formation either of the groups were keeping. Servals would push in from the sides. Some shifters might fall into the river. The location in mind was of swift current. The weak would drown. The strong would fight back. Some might need to be shot down. Necessary sacrifices. These shifters would be it.

"No more death, mother. No more killing, father. My family will be free. We will be like you." The Boss didn't know if his parents could hear the whispered words. Nor did he really care. Everything was about to be as it should. His future was about to begin.

[Fionraella]

The guard (Tomithy) places a hand on Ptelea's head to soothe her. "Mate, you're scaring the little girl," he says to Ambrose. His words were not supposed to come across as cruel. His concern for the moment simply lay with Ptelea over the boy. "I don't think she's really ready for this, you know? Why don't you two try again a little while later?" He pulls some handcuffs out from his jacket pocket.

@Hawksnest565

Ptelea sniffles and looks up at the guard and hugs his arm slightly, glad she didn't have to talk to Ambrose at that moment. She didn't know how to feel. He let that man hurt her. And this guard brought her back...that meant he was a good guy right? He had to be a nice person if he helped her! But as soon as she sees the handcuffs, he begins crying, confused more than ever. She buries her face back in his shirt, shaking. She wishes she were back at the foster house...at least that made sense! "Please don't..." She sobs softly, trembling violently. She looks at her hands and cries a bit, seeing the giant wound caused from the scalpel. She buries her face back in his shirt, squeezing her eyes shut. Her head hurt and her brain still was fuzzy. She couldn't really make sense of everything. Something bad had happened and she had been asleep...right? Something like that...but it hurt a lot waking up...which was super weird.

Ambrose looks down and scoots a bit away from the two, feeling guilty for causing his sister so much pain. He felt so confused. Had coming for her not been enough? She was alive, and that's what counted...
Now it seemed to him that she hated him...but he hadn't directly hurt her, couldn't she see that? He felt overwhelming guilt. If only he hadn't hesitated and just had answered the Boss's questions maybe his sister wouldn't have been hurt as bad as she had been... He looks at the guard warily. "You're not seriously going to handcuff her? She's traumatized and injured..." He clenches his hands into fists.

[Hawksnest565]

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ptelea sniffles and looks up at the guard and hugs his arm slightly, glad she didn't have to talk to Ambrose at that moment. She didn't know how to feel. He let that man hurt her. And this guard brought her back...that meant he was a good guy right? He had to be a nice person if he helped her! But as soon as she sees the handcuffs, he begins crying, confused more than ever. She buries her face back in his shirt, shaking. She wishes she were back at the foster house...at least that made sense! "Please don't..." She sobs softly, trembling violently. She looks at her hands and cries a bit, seeing the giant wound caused from the scalpel. She buries her face back in his shirt, squeezing her eyes shut. Her head hurt and her brain still was fuzzy. She couldn't really make sense of everything. Something bad had happened and she had been asleep...right? Something like that...but it hurt a lot waking up...which was super weird.

Ambrose looks down and scoots a bit away from the two, feeling guilty for causing his sister so much pain. He felt so confused. Had coming for her not been enough? She was alive, and that's what counted...
Now it seemed to him that she hated him...but he hadn't directly hurt her, couldn't she see that? He felt overwhelming guilt. If only he hadn't hesitated and just had answered the Boss's questions maybe his sister wouldn't have been hurt as bad as she had been... He looks at the guard warily. "You're not seriously going to handcuff her? She's traumatized and injured..." He clenches his hands into fists.

@Fionraella

Tomithy looks surprised at the reaction from both of them. His eyes turn to the cuffs in his hands. "Oh, you thought...?" He shakes his head. "No! You misunderstand me!" He goes to tap Ptelea's injured wrist but, thinking better of it, gestures towards it instead. "Do you really think it's even possible to put a pair of cuffs on her right now? Mate, these cuffs are for you." He holds them out towards Ambrose. "Now, don't go making this difficult for me. You don't want to scare your sister anymore than you already have."

[Fionraella]

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Tomithy looks surprised at the reaction from both of them. His eyes turn to the cuffs in his hands. "Oh, you thought...?" He shakes his head. "No! You misunderstand me!" He goes to tap Ptelea's injured wrist but, thinking better of it, gestures towards it instead. "Do you really think it's even possible to put a pair of cuffs on her right now? Mate, these cuffs are for you." He holds them out towards Ambrose. "Now, don't go making this difficult for me. You don't want to scare your sister anymore than you already have."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose's face lights with temporary relief before a bit of wariness sets in. He sighs slightly and holds his hands out, glancing at Ptelea sadly. "Just please don't separate us again." He whispers, looking at the guard pleadingly. He bites his lip, trying to figure out how he could make things right with his sister.

Ptelea looks up at the guard and sniffles softly. "Thank you." She says softly, snuggling up to him again. She glances at Ambrose and whimpers softly before burying her face back in the guard's shirt.

[Hawksnest565]

Tomithy knew how to do a job right and stand by while a little girl was tortured, but he wasn't made of ice. He hesitantly gives Ptelea's head a slight pat. "Righto." He steps away from her and clips the handcuffs around Ambrose's wrists. "Alright you two, let's get going." He looks at Ptelea's ankles, the lines from where the wire had wrapped around them still visible. "You need a lift, little one?" He asks her unsurely. He justifies the offer to himself with the need to ensure fast progress and that the girl not harm herself anymore.

[Fionraella]

Tomithy knew how to do a job right and stand by while a little girl was tortured, but he wasn't made of ice. He hesitantly gives Ptelea's head a slight pat. "Righto." He steps away from her and clips the handcuffs around Ambrose's wrists. "Alright you two, let's get going." He looks at Ptelea's ankles, the lines from where the wire had wrapped around them still visible. "You need a lift, little one?" He asks her unsurely. He justifies the offer to himself with the need to ensure fast progress and that the girl not harm herself anymore.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose looks down at the handcuffs and suddenly feels super vulnerable. He sighs, letting his hands fall in front of him as he slowly gets to his feet. He frowns slightly. "Just...be careful with her, alright?" He says hesitantly.

Ptelea blinks at the man and then nods a bit. "Yes please..." She says, looking down at her ankles as well. She sniffles softly, rubbing a hand across her eyes.

[Hawksnest565]

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Ambrose looks down at the handcuffs and suddenly feels super vulnerable. He sighs, letting his hands fall in front of him as he slowly gets to his feet. He frowns slightly. "Just...be careful with her, alright?" He says hesitantly.

Ptelea blinks at the man and then nods a bit. "Yes please..." She says, looking down at her ankles as well. She sniffles softly, rubbing a hand across her eyes.

@Fionraella

Tomithy scoops Ptelea into his arms, careful to avoid the scalpel which still remained stuck in the middle of her hand, and hoists her up. He opens the door the door slowly and steps out, finally allowing Ptelea to escape the Dark Room. She leaves behind only drops of blood. The hallway they enter is bland. Whilst the area was familiar to him, Tomithy was certain the children would think it quite terrifying. "Our medical centre is in a much nicer place than this." He tells them with a note of encouragement in his voice.

[Fionraella]

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Tomithy scoops Ptelea into his arms, careful to avoid the scalpel which still remained stuck in the middle of her hand, and hoists her up. He opens the door the door slowly and steps out, finally allowing Ptelea to escape the Dark Room. She leaves behind only drops of blood. The hallway they enter is bland. Whilst the area was familiar to him, Tomithy was certain the children would think it quite terrifying. "Our medical centre is in a much nicer place than this." He tells them with a note of encouragement in his voice.

@Hawksnest565

Ptelea sets her head on Tomithy's shoulder, yawning slightly. She looks at the walls and shivers slightly. "That room was mean." She says quietly, glancing back at it. She then smiles. "Are there nice doctors?" she asks curiously.

Ambrose follows silently, just listening to them as he walks. He had a bad feeling about this, but Ptelea definitely need to be checked.

[Hawksnest565]

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Ptelea sets her head on Tomithy's shoulder, yawning slightly. She looks at the walls and shivers slightly. "That room was mean." She says quietly, glancing back at it. She then smiles. "Are there nice doctors?" she asks curiously.

Ambrose follows silently, just listening to them as he walks. He had a bad feeling about this, but Ptelea definitely need to be checked.

@Fionraella

"You bet!" Tomity says cheerfully, walking to the elevator and scanning his pass. "Everyone there's a part of the family. They know how to treat all manner of injuries. It's just as equipped as a hospital, because nobody really wants to leave the facility without a reason. There's just too much for us all to do." He steps aside so that Ambrose may enter the elevator.

[Fionraella]

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"You bet!" Tomity says cheerfully, walking to the elevator and scanning his pass. "Everyone there's a part of the family. They know how to treat all manner of injuries. It's just as equipped as a hospital, because nobody really wants to leave the facility without a reason. There's just too much for us all to do." He steps aside so that Ambrose may enter the elevator.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose walks into the elevator and stands in the corner. He glances around warily. After all the tricks that had already been pulled on him, he wasn't quick to trust even the simplest of things anymore. He watches his sister sadly. He just wanted to hug and hold her, but that man had caused her to pretty much hate him...

Ptelea nods, smiling slightly at his reassurances. "You seem nice. I wish that man was nice. but he was so mean." She shakes her head sadly. "Are the doctors like you?"

[Hawksnest565]

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Ambrose walks into the elevator and stands in the corner. He glances around warily. After all the tricks that had already been pulled on him, he wasn't quick to trust even the simplest of things anymore. He watches his sister sadly. He just wanted to hug and hold her, but that man had caused her to pretty much hate him...

Ptelea nods, smiling slightly at his reassurances. "You seem nice. I wish that man was nice. but he was so mean." She shakes her head sadly. "Are the doctors like you?"

@Fionraella

Tomithy opens his mouth to correct her stance on The Boss, he stops himself just in time. There was no point trying to explain it to a member not of the family, especially a child as young as her. Especially somebody who was already a shifter. He decided it was wiser to answer her question. "Oh, much smarter than me! But if you mean to ask if they're nice, of course they are! Being a doctor is just as much about your personality as it being intelligent, you know." He hesitates. "But that doesn't mean that fixing you up won't hurt, you know? Things have got to hurt before they heal."

[Fionraella]

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

Tomithy opens his mouth to correct her stance on The Boss, he stops himself just in time. There was no point trying to explain it to a member not of the family, especially a child as young as her. Especially somebody who was already a shifter. He decided it was wiser to answer her question. "Oh, much smarter than me! But if you mean to ask if they're nice, of course they are! Being a doctor is just as much about your personality as it being intelligent, you know." He hesitates. "But that doesn't mean that fixing you up won't hurt, you know? Things have got to hurt before they heal."

@Hawksnest565

Ptelea nods. "I knew nice doctors at the hospital where Dem is! He hurt his arm, and his doctors are super nice! There are very nice nurses too. Do you have nurses here?" She asks, smiling at him. "Oh yes! My eye hurt a lot after that mean boy punched me.." She frowns, shaking her head. "People are mean."

Ambrose listens, groaning softly as she talks about Dem. Wish she would learn when not to speak about certain things... He thinks, shaking his head.

[Hawksnest565]

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Ptelea nods. "I knew nice doctors at the hospital where Dem is! He hurt his arm, and his doctors are super nice! There are very nice nurses too. Do you have nurses here?" She asks, smiling at him. "Oh yes! My eye hurt a lot after that mean boy punched me.." She frowns, shaking her head. "People are mean."

Ambrose listens, groaning softly as she talks about Dem. Wish she would learn when not to speak about certain things... He thinks, shaking his head.

@Fionraella

Tomithy couldn't help but be curious at Ptelea's words. Besides, who knew what he may discover to help The Boss? "Hm? Who's Dem? A friend of yours?" He laughs at her cute questions comments. "Indeed we do! My brother is a nurse. Don't worry, I promise none of the nurses or doctors will punch you." The elevator opens and he walks out. "People are mean, little one. Just make sure you're never mean, hm? That means there's one less mean person in the world."

[Fionraella]

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Tomithy couldn't help but be curious at Ptelea's words. Besides, who knew what he may discover to help The Boss? "Hm? Who's Dem? A friend of yours?" He laughs at her cute questions comments. "Indeed we do! My brother is a nurse. Don't worry, I promise none of the nurses or doctors will punch you." The elevator opens and he walks out. "People are mean, little one. Just make sure you're never mean, hm? That means there's one less mean person in the world."

@Hawksnest565

Ptelea nods. "He was Rosey's best friend before Rosey left home..." Her smile fades slightly before smiling as he laughs. "That's good! I hope your brother is nice!" She looks out the elevator curiously, then nods. "I'm working real hard to be nice...mean people are really mean." she sets her head back on his shoulder, feeling better.

Ambrose, feeling self-conscious now, follows them out of the elvator.

[Hawksnest565]

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Ptelea nods. "He was Rosey's best friend before Rosey left home..." Her smile fades slightly before smiling as he laughs. "That's good! I hope your brother is nice!" She looks out the elevator curiously, then nods. "I'm working real hard to be nice...mean people are really mean." she sets her head back on his shoulder, feeling better.

Ambrose, feeling self-conscious now, follows them out of the elvator.

@Fionraella

Tomithy senses that perhaps Ambrose was not a topic Ptelea wanted to talk about. The mentioning of his brother for her brought a smile to his face and a fog of pleasant memories. "Yeah, my brother is great. He's my little brother but he's still so much brighter than me, you know? But I always tell him that even if he can talk his way out of a situation, I'm just one phonecall away should he need me to beat someone up!" He walks along another hallway. A door to the outside is visible at the end. "You just keep it up, okay kiddo? I believe in you."

[Fionraella]

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Tomithy senses that perhaps Ambrose was not a topic Ptelea wanted to talk about. The mentioning of his brother for her brought a smile to his face and a fog of pleasant memories. "Yeah, my brother is great. He's my little brother but he's still so much brighter than me, you know? But I always tell him that even if he can talk his way out of a situation, I'm just one phonecall away should he need me to beat someone up!" He walks along another hallway. A door to the outside is visible at the end. "You just keep it up, okay kiddo? I believe in you."

@Hawksnest565

Ptelea giggles and nods. "You sound like a good big brother!" She then looks at the door curiously and smiles at him. "Thank you!"

Ambrose glances around, half-expecting to be ambushed at any moment.

[Hawksnest565]

"Thanks, kiddo." Tomithy smiles happily and stops as they get to the door. "Aww... This is terrible!" He sighs in response to what he sees through the small window of the door.

[Fionraella]

"Thanks, kiddo." Tomithy smiles happily and stops as they get to the door. "Aww... This is terrible!" He sighs in response to what he sees through the small window of the door.

@Hawksnest565

Ptelea whimpers slightly. "What's terrible?" She asks quietly, beginning to fidget slightly.

Ambrose frowns and curses the handcuffs on his wrists, knowing it would be much harder to protect his sister should anything bad be beyond the door.

[Hawksnest565]

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Ptelea whimpers slightly. "What's terrible?" She asks quietly, beginning to fidget slightly.

Ambrose frowns and curses the handcuffs on his wrists, knowing it would be much harder to protect his sister should anything bad be beyond the door.

@Fionraella

Timothy sighs, "Can you believe this? It's raining! Mate, I thought we lived in the middle of a desert for a reason. Gimme just a moment..." He puts Ptelea down for a second to take off his jacket. He then throws it over her and picks her back up again. "They're you go! Snug as a bug in a rug." He glances at Ambrose in a half-apologetic manner. "Sorry, mate. Not going to give up my shirt for you."