there is no god in heaven; you need to run for cover

[respired]

CHARACTERS: Koltira + a lot of you I am very sorry
DATE: Oct 10 - onwards
WARNINGS: violence; blood; gore; general depraved thoughts i can't believe y'all are threading this with me
SUMMARY: FRENZY.



[ CLOSED STARTERS BELOW.

QUICK NOTES FOR ALL THREADS (EXCEPT AFTERMATH, WHERE ONLY THE FIRST THING IS TRUE):

KOLTIRA IS: COVERED IN CHAINS AND INJURIES

LARGELY INCOHERENT

DEFINITELY GOING TO FIGHT YOU ]

Comments

[respired]

[ He's in his right mind now, but he still only barely recognizes the man in front of him. They've spoken briefly. About Belore. He's part of the team that Koltira hopes will care for her as he so obviously cannot.

Koltira shifts so that he's facing Shiro directly. His chains clink together as he adjusts position, high and metallic. ]

I remember everything.

[ Misery etches his face. Guilt and shame. But there's confusion in his voice, also: who are you, and what is it to you? He had not encountered any of Shiro's teammates. Thank the Light for small favors. ]

[racking]

[ Shiro rides out a moment of brief, bitter jealousy. At least you remember what you've done isn't a sentiment that will bring Koltira any peace. Maybe he'd prefer not to know. Shiro isn't cruel enough to press him to find out. ]

I'm sorry, [ is what Shiro musters, eyes dropping to the chains as he takes a careful step forward. ] Can you let me try to help you?

[ If there was anything Shiro was capable of doing to ease this for him. He wants to be pragmatic about this situation, but it's difficult when parts of it hit so close to home for him. He'd wanted very badly to help. This is what he's reduced to, and Shiro wonders again if it would have been better if he'd gone looking for Koltira. Maybe it would have been easier for Shiro to have been injured than any of the others Koltira had come across.

But he'd have to make due with this moment now. If he can help Koltira piece himself together, it will suffice. ]

[respired]

[ Koltira rubs the side of his face, smearing blood across his cheek as he does so. He lets out a low, aggravated groan. ]

Are you a healer?

[ He doesn't recognize this young man--hadn't met him when he was before, either. To Koltira's mind, Shiro is just a concerned stranger who got lost.

He catches the glance at his chains, and he rattles them. ]

These are enchanted. Difficult to remove.

[ Hence: fresh blood, oozing beneath the faintly glowing iron. ]

[racking]

[ There's relief in Koltira's lack of recognition. Shiro feels twinges of guilt each time he's confronted with an enthusiastic greeting he couldn't honestly return. He takes a few steps forward, crouching as he extends a metal palm towards Koltira. ]

I can try?

[ How exactly enchantments shaped up against Galra tech has yet to be seen, but Shiro's had decent luck melting through anything he's set his hands on since he arrived. ]

I'm not a healer, but I might be able to get those off.

[respired]

[ He holds out his wrists. If Shiro wants to give it a shot, Koltira won't deny him. ]

Do as you will.

[ Though he wonders now--if not a healer, what? A thief, a mage? Shiro, please slot yourself into a fantasy class. ]

[racking]

[ With that permission, Shiro settles in close, and closes his palm around the shackle circling Koltira's wrist. One at a time seems a better way. Shiro's leery of accidentally slicing into Koltira's skin. The last thing Koltira needs probably includes losing a hand. ]

Alright. Here goes nothing.

[ A purple glow lights both their faces as Shiro activates his prosthetic. Hope this doesn't end up scorching off your hand, Koltira. ]

[respired]

[ Koltira is still as stone while Shiro gets to work. The heat flares in his vision, and it's his instinct to draw away, but he quashes it. His manacles glow in response to the searing light, but it's as though they're absorbing whatever Shiro's putting out. Koltira winces as the seconds pass and the glow intensifies; the heat boils him, and it's starting to do more than hurt. ]

St -- ... stop--

[racking]

[ Shiro snatches his hands away, horrified at himself. The metal doesn't come apart in his hands. It absorbs and burns, and it's the opposite of what he'd meant to do for Koltira. ]

I'm so sorry.

[ And he's lacking any kind of first aid equipment. Some good Shiro is in this moment. ]

I've never seen that happen before.

[ Which is a foolish thing to say, and Shiro instantly realizes it. Ever since he arrived, he's been privy to things that are completely outside the realm of possibility. Surely this shouldn't come as a complete surprise. ]