November 25, Part II: Senkha and Ludovick

Senkha is muttering something under her breath; it almost sounds like the words to a song. Her voice is shaky and breathless. Her right hand clutches at the bed, trying to pull herself over to the side, but she can't quite manage it. This sucks.

Ludovick knocks on the door, hood pulled well over his face.

Ziichi sets her gauntlets aside as well, leaning her hip against the table as she watches Senkha. When Ludovick approaches, she glances towards him. "Hi."

Ludovick gives Ziichi a dead stare, pale as a ghost, making his bruises stand out further. "I do not have much time for talking," he says flatly.

Senkha 's panic attack actually steadies slightly at the sound of Ludo's voice. "Lu-- Ludo?" she asks in less than a whisper.

Ziichi moves over and pulls Ludovick's hand softly. "C'mon an' see 'er, Ludo."

Ludovick just found out his wife is fucking around. He is a robot. He steps into the room, looking Senkha over with a blank expression. The hand that holds Ziichi's is limp.

Senkha is all jacked up to hell, left hand swollen and unable to close. She's also halfway between a panic attack and trying to be normal. She gives a half-sob and sounds insane. "H-hi, Ludo. I'm gl-glad...glad you're alive."

Ludovick simply tosses his stave aside where it clatters to the ground. He's banged up, but not nearly as bad as Senkha. He looks very close to saying something, but keeps his lips pursed, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Ziichi watches each of them, then steps back and heads into the front of the ship to check on Dizzy, chewing away at her lip as always.

Senkha has no idea what's going on with Ludo, but as he doesn't freak out at her appearance or ask what happened to her, she looks very happy to see him. She tries to push herself towards him, but it hurts too much. "Ludo. Ludo, y-you're alright. I'm so glad."

Ludovick simply stares down at Senkha, as if she's no more interesting than a bug on the sidewalk. "You do not seem to be," he says flatly.

Senkha frowns at his tone more than his words, finally managing to get herself into a sitting position with some pain. "...what's wrong?" she asks in a low voice. She's calmed significantly, though she still lets out small hiccups every now and again.

Ludovick shakes his head, keeping his hollow eyes on her. "Nothing."

Senkha says: Ludo, you look like you're dead. -Tell- me...we've known each other our whole lives, don't shut me out.
Senkha says: Is Faronne alright? She didn't get hurt, did she?
Senkha tries very hard to make it sound like Faronne getting hurt would be a bad thing.

Ludovick, at the mention of Faronne, looks away and to the floor. His posture is that of someone who is wholly defeated, and wouldn't fight off death for anything if it came to them.

Macglynn holds up a finger to Dizzy as if to say he'll be back in a moment, and walks briskly to the back room.
Macglynn says: What th' shit are you wearin'.

Senkha tries to push away from the headboard and towards Ludovick. This doesn't work, so she just reaches out towards him...and drops her hand when she sees Oliver, her concern fading into a deadened expression that matches that of Ludo's.

Ludovick ignores MacGlynn, keeping his eyes on the floor. He's also ignoring Senkha, and, well, everything.

Senkha 's expression remains flat and dead; the gash on her head, however, reopens. A tiny trickle of blood starts down the side of her head.

Macglynn stares you down.
Macglynn says: Senkha.

Senkha looks at Oliver, looking not at all unlike a crazed rabbit about to be caught by a snake.

Macglynn also looks at her. He doesn't say anything, though, and eventually just leaves.

Ludovick continues to be a dead robot.

Senkha sags in relief as Oliver leaves. It's only then that she touches her hand to her head and sees the blood on her fingers. "--fuck."

Ludovick 's eyes lazily drift over to Senkha. "You are bleeding," he observes.

Senkha swallows hard several times and closes her eyes, her hand still over the gash. It slowly seals itself, though she glances to the door warily. "...I can't...I...fuck." She drops her hands to her lap, defeated. "Ludo."

Ludovick is now staring at Senkha, unblinking. "I am here to be used. Do what you need with me," he says in monotone, as if he's a vending machine that dispenses only deadpan stares and bad advice.

Senkha looks at Ludovick. "Tell me what happened. That's what I want from you right now. I need to think about something other than how I feel right now."

Ludovick takes this as his cue to look away, pulling his hood back. He looks like his world has pretty much just ended. "My efforts were in vain."

Senkha 's expression becomes sympathetic, no longer panicked. "...not Urien, I hope?"

Ludovick shakes his head.

Senkha says: But someone.

Ludovick shrugs, resting two fingers against his temple.

Senkha nods and pushes herself forward with an enormous amount of effort. She tries to rest her right cheek against Ludo's shoulder, but her lack of left hand results in it being just her forehead against his shoulder, like a shoulderpalm or something.

Ludovick doesn't respond to this at all, despite Senkha's obvious physical pain. "I should go," he says flatly. "I have work to do tonight. The Light's justice will see this through."

Senkha doesn't move from this position, despite its awkwardness. "Ludo...I need you to stay alive for me tonight."

Ludovick 's head slowly turns to regard Senkha. "My heart has been taken from me. I have one no longer. With no heart, I do not live."

Senkha looks up at Ludo from his shoulder, her eyes filled with tears. "Ludo...please don't do this. -Please-. I...I can't do this. My daughter's out there. We just found her alive, she was missing for three days."
Senkha says: And I'm so -angry- with her, she broke my heart. And I'm afraid to see her because I don't want to break hers.
Senkha says: She -hurt- me. And I can't do this alone. Oliver doesn't understand it at all. But I know...I know that -you- do.

Ludovick 's eyes are clearly watching Senkha, but they are glazed over. "What do you wish me to do," he says in monotone. "I am but a tool now." Yes, he is a tool.

Senkha finally manages to lift her right arm to go around Ludo's waist, holding herself close against his side. "I need you to stay alive for me, until I've come back to myself more, until I'm less broken. When I'm not in pieces anymore, when I'm whole again..."
Senkha says: ...if you still want to die then, if you still want to kill yourself then, I won't stop you. Light knows I've wanted to kill myself more times than I can count.

Ludovick shows the first hint of emotion he has during the entire conversation, huffing through his nose. "I can make no promises," he sighs. "You are my friend, and I care for you."
Ludovick looks away, and back to the floor.

To Mariius: Her mental voice is very tightly controlled, as if she's holding a LOT back. "Ludovick is going to kill Faronne and himself. I'm trying to talk him out of it. I'll let you know if I need help."

Mariius whispers: "Just tell me. I'll disable him."

Senkha looks up at Ludo again, swallowing hard and letting out a quiet sob. "Ludo...I care for you, too. You're all I have of my past anymore that made me happy. I...can't lose you now, too. Not after losing Riley."
To Mariius: "I will."
To Macglynn: If Oliver is paying attention at all, he'd notice that her thoughts are about six billion times calmer...and not at all on her family. They're also about six billion times sadder. The saddest thoughts.

Ludovick shifts slightly, leaning back and pulling Senkha's head into his lap to rest. He has yet to smile or even frown. "I have never wanted to die. However, lessons must be taught to those who would seek to toy with my very dreams."

Macglynn whispers: If Senkha is paying attention, Oliver is discreetly discussing with Marius that his daughter was encased in shadow magic when he found her and wtf is dis.

Senkha turns her head in his lap so that she's looking up at him. "What will your death teach her?" she asks in a thick voice.

Ludovick has one arm wrapped around Senkha's side, the other hand resting on his knee. "That she has broken my heart. She wanted it, after all. I will simply deliver it to her personally."

Senkha grimaces at this statement and shakes her head. "Ludo...I think that by her actions, she's shown that she's unrepentant. If she -is- unrepentant...what's to make her so punished by your death?"
Senkha says: If she's cruel enough to break her heart, why would she be soft-hearted enough to have her heart broken by you?

Ludovick shakes his head. "She flogged herself...the night before. I suppose after she...," he trails off, choosing not to finish that sentence. "She is the only woman I have ever given my love to, or my fidelity." He gulps, reaching into his robes to ferret about for a cigarette, lighting up and taking a long drag. "I have a dead heart in a dead world, Senkha. There is nothing for me here."

Senkha resists the urge to facepalm at this emoness and pushes herself up from Ludovick's lap. She cringes in pain as she does so, a pain that's not only outward but inward as well. "And what of those who haven't hurt you? Why would you punish us?"

Ludovick slides his hand from Senkha, simply leaving it to rest by his side. "Life moves on," he says with a shrug. "I may survive this, after all. It depends on if my hand is steady enough, and my mind is quick. The removal of my heart may go smoothly."

To Mariius: "...he wants to remove his own heart. Does that even work?" Again, she's holding back a torrent, but she's reaching out for him quite a bit more than usual. Healing Senkhas = bad idea, Marius.

Mariius whispers: ~He'd die before he actually managed it, I'd imagine."

To Mariius: "Then you may want to knock him out shortly. I don't know that I'm getting through to him."

Mariius whispers: "Alright."

Senkha says: ...you'd die before you even reached your heart, Ludo.

Ludovick shakes his head. "Not with the proper mending and will. The Light will see that the woman I thought I would be atoning for every misdeed with together will suffer just as I have."

To Mariius: "...yeah, he's a loss. How do I knock him out?"

Senkha just sort of stares at Ludo as if he's speaking a different language. The language of the even crazier than Senkha.

Mariius fits at his gloves. -And then whips around like a two-ton truck to SLAM Ludovick in the back of the head-- knuckles crooked-- and aim to knock him straight out.

Ludovick is cracked in the back of the head, falling to the floor and crumbling into a heap. He seems shocked, and even more betrayed than before, still just a bit conscious. -

Mariius says: -This is so you don't kill yourself. Stop making the 'woe is me' eyes.

Senkha peers over the side of the bed, looking very apologetic. "...I'm sorry. You're not thinking clearly. We'll talk about it more when you wake up."

Ludovick taps the wedding ring on his finger, disappearing with a loud crack.

Senkha says: --No!
Senkha is staring at the spot where Ludo was on the floor, face aghast. "--no, no-- LUDO!"
Senkha yells: LUDO!

Senkha & Ludovick: October 29

Ludovick knocks on the door, holding a package wrapped in plain, brown paper in the crook of his right arm.

Senkha is sitting quietly by the fireplace, reading. Every so often, her eyes dart back to Dizzy's room and then to the door. When she hears the knock on the door, she stiffens warily and stands, calling out quietly, "Who is it?"

Ludovick replies in his usual monotone voice, rubbing idly at his left eye with a balled fist. "Ludovick."

Senkha exhales slowly and undoes the locks on the door. She opens it just enough for Ludo to get inside and beckons him in, the wards around the door thrumming. "I'm glad to see you, Ludo. Come on in."

Ludovick steps inside with a bow of his head, cradling the package with care. "It is good to see you, Senkha."

Senkha gives Ludo a soft smile as she closes and relocks the door, once again causing the wards to hum. "You'll have to excuse my caution...the -thing- that seeks to take my daughter was in these parts earlier. I cannot afford to be at all uncautious."

Ludovick quirks a brow at this, standing with his typical rigid posture, as if a rod has been shoved up his back. "Excuse me?" He asks, frowning. "Did I hear you correctly? What sort of creature would wish to abduct a child?"

Senkha wrinkles her nose and gestures to the seats by the fireplace, indicating that they should sit. "A madman. He's convinced that Dizzy is -his- daughter, not ours. He's caused more trouble than I care to think of." She turns slightly so that the silvery scar on her cheek shows more obviously. "He's like the thing that won't die."

Ludovick makes quite the face at this, working his jaw in displeasure. "How odd," he comments, instead stepping towards her to hand the package over. It feels like it has cloth, or something of the sort inside. "Do you require my aid in ridding yourself of him?" He gestures towards the package. "Ziichi mentioned your daughter liked to wear 'pretty dresses', so I thought I would perhaps give a long overdue gift of thanks for your friendship."

Senkha hugs the package to her chest and smiles at Ludo. "I appreciate it, and I know Dizzy will as well. As to Bordros...to be frank, we can use all the help we can get. Oliver and I have handily dispatched with several of his incarnations, but unfortunately actually destroying him is proving more of a hassle than I typically care to admit." As she talks, she walks over to the door to her daughter's room and places the package on the floor there so that Dizzy will see it when she wakes up.

Ludovick returns to his deadpan expression, watching Senkha go and return. He makes a sweeping motion with his right hand towards the chairs. "Ladies first," he says flatly, bowing his head.

Senkha nods her gratitude and goes to take a seat in the corner, in one of the chairs that's tilted towards the others, ideally suited for conversation.

Ludovick walks with a slight limp, seating himself after she does with care. He sits with a straight-backed posture, hands clasped together in his lap. "I apologize that our last efforts in arranging tea did not go well," he says in reference to the 'Faronne incident'.

Senkha wrinkles her nose almost delicately, crossing her legs. She runs her hands lightly over the new scars on her abdomen, humming thoughtfully. "Nothing that weekend really went as I would have hoped. Much of it thanks to that...Price woman." Though she says woman, it's pretty clear she's thinking of far less ladylike terms.

Ludovick makes a slight face at this, though he quickly composes himself back to his blank look of apathy. "Yes, I believe she has caused all of us quite a bit of trouble," he comments, patting at his jacket with his right hand. "Do you mind if I smoke?"

Senkha shakes her head. "Not at all," she answers and sighs, resting her hands on her knees. "My apologies if the subject is delicate for you. She somehow managed to concoct a drug made of -souls- that she forced on my husband, creating an addiction for him within the first dosage. It's affected my every waking thought since." She tucks her hair behind her ears nervously, glancing up the stairs to her bedroom and then back down at her hands in her lap.

Ludovick visibly winces at all of the Faronne talk, busying himself with taking a cigarette out and lighting it, puffing away as if to occupy himself. However, he can't stay busy with it forever, and does speak, frowning. "Senkha, may I request your confidence in a delicate matter? I apologize for already ruining our evening with such heavy subjects, but I am afraid you have already got my mind started on such."

Senkha nods quickly, lowering her voice. "Naturally, I'm happy to keep any confidence of an old friend. I fear that these days, heavy subjects are simply to be expected; you needn't apologize."

Ludovick bows his head in a nod, lowering his voice as well as he regards her with an even gaze. "I seek to redeem Lady Price," he says bluntly, watching her to gauge her reaction, as if she may throw him out of the house for the very idea.

Senkha 's eyebrows shoot way up, almost into her hairline. She doesn't speak for a moment, and before she does speak, she vaguely touches her hand to the whip scars on her exposed back. "...that is quite a heavy task," she murmurs, finally. "Is she -willing- to be redeemed or is she still stubborn in her..." She screws up her mouth as if all the words she's thinking of taste bad. "...maliciousness?"

Ludovick purses his lips for a moment, then takes a drag off his cigarette. "A little of this and a little of that," he says with a bit of a scowl. "There is good in her, Senkha. She needn't die because no one is willing to understand," he says flatly.

Senkha looks skeptical but nods, glancing at the stairs once again. "You're as good-hearted as Oliver in that sense," she comments dryly. Now her hand touches the ugly scar down her abdomen. "...just be careful, my dear friend. So much care can often cost lives."

Ludovick almost mimes her, except he goes to pat at the area where his left shoulder meets his chest idly. "I am doing my best. I simply do not want her slaughtered whe-," he cuts himself off, looking down at the ring on his right index finger. -
Ludovick shoots Senkha an apologetic glance, mouthing 'Ziichi' before muttering into the ring.

Senkha looks mildly alarmed at this, though she keeps her mouth shut, touching her hand to her own signet ring.

Ludovick continues to mutter into the ring, looking concerned and suddenly very, very tired.
Ludovick mutters something that sounds a lot like 'Mariius', sighing.

Senkha raises an eyebrow at Ludo, very curious but reluctant to ask for clarification. After a moment, she settles for a logical question: "Is Ziichi alright? Dizzy was very worried about her earlier today."

Ludovick looks up from his muttering to open his mouth as he looks at Senkha before closing it. Jerking his head in a 'so-so' sort of manner before turning his attention back to the ring.
Ludovick is taking quite a few drags from his cigarette now, looking flustered.

Senkha continues to watch Ludo with concern, waiting until he's finished talking to his hand to speak again. Occasionally, she manages a sad sort of smile at him, trying to be some help without interrupting the ring conversation.

Ludovick slaps the palm of his hand against his forehead as he mutters.
Ludovick covers his face with his palm.

Senkha says: ...does she need you, Ludo?

Ludovick shoots Senkha the most dead tired look, holding up a finger as if to say 'one moment'. Talk faster, Ziichi.

Senkha nods and folds her hands in her lap, looking infinitely patient. Woman must deal with a dead husband who has the guiltiest guilt complex of all time or something.

Ludovick mutters something about being 'concerned', head now buried in his hands as his cigarette pokes out from between two fingers.

Senkha looks as if she may want a cigarette herself. Without really thinking much about it, she reaches over and pats Ludo on the head, gently and comfortingly. Yay frands.

Ludovick turns his head a little to look at Senkha, smiling sadly as he flat out speaks in his normal tone into the ring. "Would you talk to Senkha?"

Senkha raises an eyebrow at Ludo, looking surprised at his suggestion. "--eh?"

Ludovick sighs, pushing himself to lean back against the chair, shaking his head at her with a shrug. "Will you promise to be safe at least?"
Ludovick is still talking into the ring of wonder.
Ludovick lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.

Senkha still looks surprised but folds her hands in her lap just the same and looks at the rug. Intently.

Ludovick rubs at his temple with his thumb and forefinger. "Remember that I love you, lamb," he says quietly, letting out another sigh.

Senkha glances uncertainly at Ludo, pursing her lips.

Ludovick smacks the back of his head against the wall as if suffering with this conversation. "I love you very much, and I will. Please, call on me should you require anything," he says into the ring, eyes going wide a moment later at what is probably response.
Ludovick mutters a very sad sounding "Goodnight, lamb," into the ring before laying his hand in his lap, looking over at Senkha. Suddenly, he looks a hell of a lot older, and a hell of a lot more tired. "Ziichi says hello," he says flatly.

Senkha looks up again, frowning. "Dizzy said she was threatening to kill herself today. Was that more of...that?"

Ludovick shakes his head. "She said she is going to Darkshore, and that she does not wish to see anyone. I told her Marius would not approve, though she seemed to think that he finds her a burden."
Ludovick nearly spits Marius's name.

Senkha grimaces and shakes her head. "He doesn't. He's...well. The trouble with Marius being a stand-in for your father is that he is a stand-in for everyone's father. You don't have the exclusivity...well."
Senkha says: But he never thinks of people as a burden.

Ludovick nods at this, taking a much needed drag off his cigarette. "I may not like the man, but I do know that he cares for her, as do I, and many others. I almost wish to meet her in Darkshore and drag her back to that damned ship, but what good would it even do, Senkha?" He asks with an exasperated sigh, propping his head up in his right hand, elbow resting on his knee.

Senkha sighs and reaches over, resting her hand on Ludo's forearm, comfortingly. "The trouble is that I think Ziichi...well. She's been very fifteen lately. I tend to see her as older because of the hell she's been through, but at the end of the day, she's very fifteen. I know how abysmally I behaved when I was that age, and all I had to bear were the wounds from my parents' unkindness. I can't imagine...well." She shakes her head as if clearing some image from her mind.

Ludovick lids his eyes at this, nodding lazily as he pats the hand on his forearm, withdrawing his own hand afterwards to take another drag from his cigarette. At the thought of what Ziichi has been through, Ludovick shudders somewhat, having seen insider her mind. "I wrote to Marius," he says quietly, "About helping her." He looks over at Senkha, almost as if saying 'yes, I have even done that'.

Senkha 's eyebrows shoot up again. "Helping her how?" she asks after a moment's quiet, bringing her hand back to rest in her lap. Vaguely, she glances towards the book she left by the fireplace.

Ludovick sits back up, letting his hands fall into his lap once again. "Ziichi told me that she wishes to rid of her mind of," he pauses, searching for the right words, "certain things. I believe I can help, with of course, assistance from Marius and perhaps others."

Senkha actually sits straight up at this, staring at Ludo as if he's just said something unbelievable. "She-- you're going to do what? Remove...but. That...is that--" Any composure she may have had is diminishing rapidly. Her brane is borked :(

Ludovick doesn't seem all too shocked by this, as if he's some sort of scientist with an odd theory about kobolds that no one will accept. "It is the only option I can think of other than letting the girl waste away and die, which I am not going to sit by and do," he spits, not angry at Senkha, perhaps just bitter over the whole subject. "I wish to understand more about what is going on in her mind. Perhaps preform...," he pauses, tapping at his bearded chin.
Ludovick says: A mental exorcism, if you will.

Senkha stares straight ahead as if puzzling through the problem herself. "...would work if it was an imprint that Borgen left there causing the nightmares but can physical torture leave imprints without mental invasion?" She stands, walking over to her book and flipping through, dazedly. "I...huh. Are you going to remove her memories or try to find the source of the nightmares?" She sounds somewhat flustered still and somewhat scientific.

Ludovick puffs away on his cigarette, which is nearly down to the end of itself. "Never remove her memories, Senkha. Never," he says flatly. "I only wish to find the source of her nightmares and ferret it out like the demon it is." He watches her flip through the book with a lazy sort of interest, as if too tired to give details away when she can simply spout them out for him.

Senkha trails her fingers down the page and visibly blanches at what she reads. "So a simple physical act can leave an imprint. The invasion doesn't have to be mental. But is it better to remove the imprint for her or to teach her to fight back?"

Ludovick 's brow raises at this, and he folds his left leg, resting his ankle atop his right knee. "That, my friend, is a matter of time. How much time do you think she has? If it is decided she can last long enough, then training her to fight it herself would be ideal. If not, we must kill it before it kills her," he says bluntly.

Senkha gives a wry smile, leaning backwards. Her concern seems to have diminished significantly. "Marius trained my Guardian to destroy an imprint in the course of a few hours. Granted, he's called me a bit of a prodigy, but I think that if the three of us worked together on Ziichi, she could manage it, too. If she doesn't seem to be making progress, we can destroy it."
Senkha sounds more than a little proud when she talks about being a prodigy, like a child talking about the only thing she's good at. Because, well. Yeah.

Ludovick bows his head at this, producing a small metal case from the inside of his jacket as he snuffs his cigarette out inside it, closing the lid and stowing it away again. "Did he now?" Ludovick asks, eyes always on hers if possible. "At any rate, I simply want Ziichi to sleep in peace, and not the sleep of the dead." At even admitting this, Ludovick sighs, swiping his now free hand back to rub at the back of his neck.

Senkha nods her understanding. "Dreamless Sleep potions occasionally help me...admittedly, when my nightmares were the worst, I was either not in a place where I could afford them or was too physically injured to take them." She continues to meet Ludo's eyes her gaze honest and open. "Have you taught her meditation techniques at all? When I was afraid to sleep, Stehl taught me to meditate so my mind could rest."

Ludovick shakes his head, looking guilty all of a sudden. "No, I am afraid we simply never had the time." At this, Ludovick begins to dig around inside his jacket for another cigarette, as if distraught.

Senkha nods her understanding, shifting the blame from Ludo. "And I know Ziichi isn't very patient. She wants immediate relief for her pain...I...nngh." She grimaces, looking away quickly and suddenly giving a funny sounding laugh. "I remember how it works. Trying to fill that Lightdamned hole and nothing's big enough. Not sleeping for weeks on end because you're afraid of what you'll see when you close your eyes. Feeling like the rest of the world is moving on when you're stuck in one place." She seems unaware that she's rambling on about ~feelings~ and simply gives another short laugh.

Ludovick listens to her, eyes on her at all times as he lights up his fresh cigarette and draws from it every now and then. "I know exactly what you mean," he says, voice a dead monotone. "It pains me to know that, well, I do know how the girl feels in a way, and yet I cannot help her. I tried every idea short of flage-," he breaks off, as is remembering himself, taking in a deep breath and exhaling. "I failed her, forgive me."

Senkha sighs and shakes her head, her hand once more going to the scars on her back. "I can't wish the whip's lash on any one I love, especially not on one who's done nothing to deserve it," she murmurs. "Ultimately, the only thing that can heal those wounds is time, but Ziichi...she hurts too much to allow for it. So there really is no other option."

Ludovick lids his eyes as he nods in agreement with her, though he slowly opens them brow knitting as he studies her like some odd sort of bug he's never seen before. "You do understand that flagellation is a joyous occasion, and not one to despair at, do you not? I apologize if I am overstepping my bounds, Senkha, but your comment has me curious."

Senkha nods, brushing her hands at the air in Ludo's general direction as if to dismiss any offense in his comment. "It's a release...an escape. I've stopped doing it because it causes pain to the ones I love, but I do understand."

Ludovick doesn't seem too happy with this at all, lips pursing tightly as he looks away from her. "Those who love you should understand. I go through the same thing with Ziichi," he admits.

Senkha says: ...it's not that. It's...well.
Senkha closes her eyes and turns her head towards the stairs. "--Oliver and I are bonded. What I feel, he feels. I wouldn't cause him pain he doesn't want, as...mm. Well."
Senkha can't really put it into words, but she assumes Ludo knows what she means.

Ludovick 's eyes glance back to her, though his head is still turned away. "I see," he says flatly. "At any rate, I am glad to know I am not alone in my wish for self-purification. So few truly do understand, and I am sure you know this."

Senkha laughs dryly and nods. "It's not something most people understand, no. I'm...I'm glad that you do."

Ludovick lips curve into a smile as he finally looks all the way back to her, cigarette resting in his mouth, bouncing as he speaks. "It is all I have, and it is all I need, friend," he says, expression that of someone thinking fondly of an old friend.

Senkha reaches over and squeezes Ludo's wrist again, lightly, sharing a similar smile with him. "My confessor is the same way. He...well. Used to be part of the Scarlet Crusade. He's a good man, though."

Ludovick nearly laughs at this, and does in fact, barely stifle a snicker. Oh, the irony. "Oh? May I ask who this man was? Perhaps I know him through the, er, church?"

Senkha says: Miles Campion.
Senkha smiles very fondly at the thought of Mr. Campion, eyeing her whelp curled up by the fireplace and snoring. "Strangest confessor ever."

Ludovick seems quite intrigued by all this, even lifting his chair a little to scoot closer and listen. "I have not heard the name, but he sounds to be a most interesting man. What was so strange about him?"

Senkha laughs at this. Where to begin! "Well, he smokes like a chimney and curses like a sailor, for starters. He has a whelp whom he's raising as a daughter and was involved in a crime ring. He was also married to a man." Senkha blinks after saying this and adds, "...in confidence, of course."

Ludovick makes a bit of a face at all of this, more of shock than disgust. "One out of five isn't bad," he mumbles to himself, turning his attention back to Senkha after a drag from his cigarette. "He sounds like quite the character, Senkha. And of course, I will not breathe a word."

Senkha smiles her appreciation and touches Ludo's hand lightly again. "Thanks, Ludo. It's been wonderful seeing you again, even though things are far from the way they were."

Ludovick smiles in return, genuine, placing a hand over hers. "It has been wonderful seeing you as well. I must confess that I do not make, well, friends that easily, so it is quite the pleasure to have someone to speak to about things other than faith, not to say that faith is not important," he adds, as if catching himself, clearing his throat. "Also, if I may bring up a heavy subject yet again...," he trails off, smile fading into a thin line.

Senkha simply nods her encouragement, sitting back in her chair.

Ludovick removes the cigarette from his mouth, blowing a cloud of smoke away from her. "If you find a way for your husband to combat his addiction to the drug, Zeal, please inform me," he says bluntly.

Senkha exhales slowly and looks back at the stairs. "...from what we understand of the drug, it binds itself to the soul. Short of removal of those souls from the soul to which they've bonded..." She looks worriedly at Ludo, putting two and two together.

Ludovick leans his head down to smack the palm of his hand against his forehead, resting his head there as his elbow props his arm up against his knee. "I was afraid of that," he says with a sigh.

Senkha slips off the chair and moves closer to Ludo, resting her hand lightly on his knee. "...how long have you been using it?" she asks in a barely audible voice.

Ludovick doesn't look at her, as if painfully ashamed of the fact that this conversation is even happening. "Perhaps a week, maybe longer," he says quietly, staring down at his boots as his cigarette hangs precariously in-between the middle and index finger of his right hand. "It was forced on me at first, I will have you know," he adds.

Senkha squeezes his knee lightly. "It was forced on Oliver as well. It...it made him -alive-." Her voice drops to a hoarse whisper at the last word, and she takes a shaking breath.

Ludovick gulps at this, not having known the effects of Zeal on an undead man until now. "It -what-?" He asks her far more sharply than intended, head turning to stare at her in disbelief.

Senkha grimaces at this. Despite the obvious implications of such a situation, the memory obviously isn't entirely pleasant for her. She nods. "He was alive. Blood, heartbeat, warm skin. I've never seen him so happy. But..." She trails off, not sure how to explain herself further, because really, how do you explain that you prefer your husband as a zombie?

Ludovick shudders at this, turning his gaze back to the floor. He bites back quite a few choice words on the subject, not very cozy with the undead being given anything but a sword to the skull. "It does not do that to the living," he says, toying with the cigarette in-between his fingers before taking a much needed drag.

Senkha gives a short, wry laugh, shaking her head. "Obviously. What -does- it do to you, if you don't mind my asking?"

Ludovick doesn't seem to find the subject too humorous, shooting her a surly glare before going back to pretending the rug on the floor is very interesting. "Euphoric pleasure," he spits. "Followed by nightmares."

Senkha says: ...that sounds about right. When it wore off, Oliver...he decayed before my eyes. And all the work I'd done for him was undone.

Ludovick huffs through his nose, shoulders hunched. "Lady Price must be stopped," he says flatly, "but not with the threat of death. She is a good woman, Senkha. That woman is just simply lost for the time being."

Senkha nods reluctantly, not quite agreeing but more acquiescing. "She -must- be stopped. Ludo...Marius and I want to test a sample of Zeal to see what it's really made of. If we did that, we could possibly break your addiction without ripping the souls from where they're bound to your own."

Ludovick grunts, moving to lean back in his chair. "I could bring you a sample, though to be honest I do not know how long I could keep it in my possession without succumbing to temptation."

Senkha looks at Ludo hesitantly. "What if you had help? If, perhaps, someone helped to turn your mind from the craving?" She looks down quickly. "I understand if not. There are other ways of obtaining a sample."

Ludovick puts out his cigarette, already starting on yet another. Chain-smoking is go. "Forgive me for being so foolish, but I am afraid I do not follow you, friend. When it comes to Lady Price, I work alone. She trusts me, and I her...to an extent."

Senkha hesitates a moment longer, then closes her eyes and furrows her brow. A moment later, Ludo would feel a sense of someone pushing at his mind--gently, not unkindly, but definitely wanting to come in.

Ludovick glares at Senkha for a moment, though his gaze softens to more of a miserable frown. "My mind is not the most hospitable place, Senkha, I will warn you," he says with a tinge of humor. "I am ashamed to say my want for this Zeal has grown quite strong. At first, I thought myself able to resist it through sheer force of will. However, the want for it, combined with," he purses his lips tightly for a moment, "other forces makes such resistance difficult. I will accept your offer of assistance, if you accept my request for silence."

Senkha gently retreats from his mind, less as a sign of fear and more out of respect. "I never share any secrets I discover when I delve into someone's mind. And...I've been into the worst minds this world has to offer. Believe me." She gives him a small smile.

Ludovick bows his head, cigarette resting in his mouth as he presses his hands together almost as if in prayer, tips of his fingers resting at the bridge of his nose. "I will put my trust in you, as an old friend," he says, returning her smile. "I apologize in advance for what you will find there. I assure you I have atoned for every transgression."

Senkha raises her hand to her heart, inclining her head in respect and understanding. "If you were to delve into my mind deeply enough, you'd find that I am in no position to judge you in any way, my friend. Our sins are likely of equal weight."

Ludovick smirks, staring at nowhere in particular across the room. "It pains me to think that I almost wish to challenge you on such. Perhaps it is a childish impulse brought out by our meeting once again."

Senkha 's smile turns devilish. She leans back in her chair. "For several years after leaving Andorhal, I was a contract thief and assassin and I relished in the killing." Gauntlet thrown.

Ludovick quirks a brow, parting his hands from their position of prayer to sit up in his chair, fingers stroking his beard as he plucks the cigarette from his mouth. "After Lordaeron fell I joined the Scarlet Crusade and tortured dozens of men and undead alike," he says with a wolfish grin, almost as if delighting in horrible secret telling.

Senkha presses her lips together a moment, pausing as if to think. "I lost myself to anger and tortured my husband, forcing him to relive his death again and again...all because of a miscommunication."

Ludovick smirks at this, probably a bit too happy at the thought of zombie-husbot getting his due. "I strangled a woman simply because the service I paid for was not preformed in a timely manner."
Ludovick shoots Senkha a 'your go' look.

Senkha gives a wry smile, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "I slept with more men than I can count to make extra money while I was a barmaid."

Ludovick flat out bursts into laughter at this, slapping his knee. "Dear friend, I slept with the whole of Lordaeron before I was seventeen!"

Senkha also laughs, shaking her head. "Not -all- of Lordaeron, unless something happened while I was sleeping that I didn't know about." To this she adds, "The reason the pirates captured me was because I betrayed my friends to them...and that was the reason no one rescued me either."

Ludovick looks about ready to make a joke at Senkha's expense, though he thinks better of it and instead focuses on making this friendship as awkward as possible. "I impersonated a dead man tonight. A dead man I killed while in service to the Crusade. I used every bit of information I learned about him from our torture session. That is, before he expired."

Senkha 's laughter seems to be dying down significantly; we're getting into unhappy stuff here. "I killed children once. Once. It was a contract job, and I didn't cause them pain. I...stopped contracting after that. Fucking goblins."

Ludovick notices her pace changing, and his expression molds to fit it. He becomes deadpan, like he is with most company, taking drags from his cigarette after nearly every sentence. "I gave information that sent an innocent man to his death, simply because I was feeling impotent at the time."

Senkha, Ludo, Ziichi & Faronne: October 24

Senkha makes her way towards the house bearing a mug of hot tea and two small cups. She stares at the door and looks around, half-expecting to see Marius somewhere nearby. When she doesn't, she walks forward to knock.

Ziichi wrinkles her nose at this. "Mar ain' jus' m'friend... tha's... he's like..." She just sighs. "Sure."

Senkha says: --Light, I hope this is the right place.

Ludovick pats her hair, running his fingers through it. "That is all I wanted to-" He breaks off, staring at the door. What. Now.
Ludovick slowly begins to push Ziichi away from him, holding a finger to his lips as he slides off the bed.

Ziichi slides over and out of his way. "Maybe Mar fergot t'give y'somethin' t'take?" She quiets after this, however..

Senkha knocks again, lightly, trying to balance the thermos and cups in one arm. "Ludo? It's Senkha," she calls out, a note of uncertainty in her voice.

Ludovick looks back to her, whispering. "If it is Lady Price, I want you to go to the balcony and climb down. Do not come back." And with that, he makes his way over to the door with a bit of a groggy limp, unlocking it and flinging it open. -
Ludovick, at the sound of Senkha's voice, and the sight of her, visibly softens, his expression still deadpan, but no longer tinged with anger or fear. He doesn't look all to well, but better after Marius has gotten a hold of him, his torso covered in bandages underneath his thin shirt. "Senkha," he says flatly.

Ziichi doesn't listen, as always, getting up and grabbing her sword. She approaches behind him, carrying it with her, then pauses and peers around his arm. "Senkha?"

Senkha smiles to see Ludo, not looking too wonderful herself. There are dark circles under her eyes, as if she hasn't slept in a couple of days, and on her cheek and abdomen are two new scars...though these scars are kind of silvery compared to the others for some reason. She blinks to see Ziichi. "Oh! I...is this a bad time? I brought...tea?"

Ludovick slowly turns his head to look at Ziichi, as if disappointed that she disobeyed him, but not all that surprised. He looks back at Senkha, shoulders slumping. "Everyone has felt themselves free to barge into my house today. You are no exception," he sighs, though steps back for her to enter.

Ziichi offers Senkha a wan smile. She, too, looks exhausted. The kid hasn't slept yet, and the night before included waking Ludovick up with nightmares, so she's been better. "Tha' means c'mon in, nice t'see yeh."

Senkha chuckles and makes her way through the door, settling her tea down on the nearby table. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to barge in or anything. Has it been an insane weekend for you lot too?" She doesn't bother to question why Ziichi is there because who is she to judge?

Ludovick follows Senkha over to the chairs with a limp, gesturing for her to sit. He grabs Ziichi's hand as he goes, attempting for force her, if gently, to lay down on the rug, pulling the blankets Marius had laid out earlier over her.

Ziichi glances up at Ludovick, then sighs and looks down at the rug. She grumbles, "Y'better be sittin' wi'me," before flopping down on her ass, accepting the blankets onto her lap.

Senkha looks at Ziichi and Ludo both on the rug and decides that sitting in a chair would be impolite. She takes a seat on the rug in a more ladylike manner than she usually would.

Ludovick deadpans, though he sits with Ziichi anyhow, letting out a grunt. Looking over at Senkha he inclines his head, staring at her. "How did you know where to find me?"

Senkha looks more than a little embarrassed, taking the thermos of tea from the table and smiling with relief that she brought four cups. "I, um. Followed Marius. He'd mentioned he wanted to speak with you last night and I felt horrible about missing our tea."

Ziichi gives Ludovick no chance at all. She moves over and settles herself behind him, wrapping her arms around his chest and then leaning her cheek against his shoulder. Apparently Senkha being there doesn't bother her at all when it comes to affection.

Ludovick gives Ziichi's face a quick nuzzle with his cheek before composing himself, looking across at Senkha with his usual blank expression. "I am sorry I missed it as well, Senkha. Things came up. Are you well?"

Senkha unscrews the top of the thermos of tea and pours three cups, distributing them with all of the proper Lordaeronian pinky-extensions she can. "Mm, I'm getting better. Things came up for me as well."

Ziichi doesn't move, still hugging Ludovick tightly. She rests her feet on the rug on either side of his legs, pretty much like a human sweater right now. She looks to Ludo and then at the tea, clearly expecting him to pass her some.

Ludovick takes his tea, and Ziichi's as well, handing it over to her as he sips his politely. "Thank you kindly," he says flatly, keeping the cup by his face. "I see neither of were destined to have peace, hrm?" He says so with the slightest hint of humor, face still completely blank.

Senkha allows a wry smile to come to her face, sipping at her tea. She reaches up a hand to touch the scar on her face self-consciously. "Unfortunately, I am beginning to believe that you are entirely correct. Admittedly, I'd hoped things were beginning to calm down recently, but...well." She sips her tea again, making the kind of face that indicates they haven't calmed down.

Ziichi sighs and then kisses the back of Ludovick's head, taking the tea. She sits back a bit to drink some, then sighs. "Needs more sugar. Do we gots sugar?"

Ludovick rolls his eyes back towards Ziichi. "Upstairs, lamb," he says flatly, rising to get it. He isn't letting Ziichi run errands in her sleepy state. Or, perhaps, he doesn't want her rummaging through his things. He continues to speak to Senkha as he attempts to get up. "You have my deepest sympathy, Senkha." He sounds like he means it.

Ziichi sits back and lets him go, looking rather regretful about this. "Sinka, why'd y'bring tea?"

Senkha give Ziichi a slanted grin. "It's sort of a -thing- in Lordaeron. Or...well. Was. Every afternoon at four, right Ludo?"

Ziichi peers up at Ludovic, fascinated with this. "Were y'guys rich growin' up or somethin', havin' all've these fancy things?" Her nerves from SUDDENLY MARIUS have her much better at the acting thing, now that she's more alert and not trying to stop POSSIBLE FITE.

Ludovick nods his head at this, making his way up the stairs and taking quite a strained effort to do so. "Quite right, Senkha. It is a shame some traditions have died."

Senkha actually wrinkles her nose at the thought of being rich. "My parents had quite a bit of money, yes. Ludo's father used to stay with us when he was in town, and my parents treated him a bit like royalty because he had money."

Ziichi stares at Senkha in amazement at this. "So y'really are a laydee."

Ludovick digs around through the stacked crates upstairs, still rather unpacked. He eventually finds his sugardish, which looks so neglected, having not even been used in probably ages, the sugar inside clumped together in a near brick.

Senkha speaks more into her cup than to Ziichi, her voice intentionally low to keep Ludo from hearing. "Don't let it get around."

Ziichi snorts and shakes her head. "Did y'take milk baths?"

Senkha says: Light, no.

Ludovick begins to hobble his way down the stairs with the sugar, a spoon sticking out of the bowl as his heavy boots thump against the stone steps.

Senkha amends, "...or at least I didn't. I've no idea what Selvie did."

Ziichi turns a bit and looks up at Ludovick, looking emotionless again as she relaxes in the house. She holds her hand out towards him, clearly hoping for the sugar.

Ludovick finishes his descent, leaning heavily on the banister before pushing off and handing the clumped, old sugar to Ziichi. "Apologies, lamb, but I fear I have never been one for sweets." He sits with as much dignity as possible back onto the rug, staring at Senkha. He reaches over and grabs his blood-encrusted robe from the floor, producing a cigarette from its pockets. "Do you mind such?" He asks, tilting his head down to the cigarette.

Senkha seems more startled by the robe than by the cigarettes. She shakes her head. "Of course not. I only smoke when I'm with my confessor, but I don't mind it."
Senkha says: ...are you a confessor as well?

Ziichi cocks her head to the side, regarding the sugar with utter confusion. After a moment, she puts it onto the ground, stands up, and then steps into it. Once she's crushed it, she scoops a great deal up and puts it into her cup. As an afterthought, she brushes the remainer under the rug, before resealing the container with what's left.

Senkha asks this with a slanted sort of grin that turns into a look of surprise when she sees Ziichi stomping on sugar like grapes. What.

Ludovick opens his mouth to reply to Senkha, then slowly turns his head upwards to stare at Ziichi. "Lamb...," he trails off, blank. "Just ask for me to help you next time, please." With a shudder, he turns his attention on Senkha. "And yes, I am."

Ziichi drinks some of her tea, scooting over on her butt to sit behind Ludovick again, cuddling up against him. Setting the mug down, she rests her head against his own and smiles, nodding.

Senkha sips at her tea again, her smile genuine despite the what-the-fuck going on around her. "I believe it. I think you'd make an excellent confessor...you're just peculiar enough to make it work."

Ludovick actually smiles at this. Hey, a compliment that isn't from a crazy woman shoving drugs down his throat. He cuddles back against Ziichi, lighting his cigarette up and taking a long drag from it before returning to his tea. "You flatter me."

Ziichi is pretty much just being a human sweater, draping her limbs around the priest and leaning on him. Clingy and possessive. Yay. Enjoy that, Ludo.

Senkha smirks, pouring a bit more tea into her cup and cooling it with a soft breath. "Less flattery, more honesty. How did you come to join the Church? The last I saw you was..." She exhales, her eyes widening. "...a long time ago."

Ludovick sets his tea aside, focusing on just smoking his cigarette now, resting it in between his lips as he rolls his shoulders with a wince. "A long story," he says flatly in response to her question. "I am blessed to have come into my work."
Ludovick pauses.
Ludovick corrects himself, looking back at Ziichi. "My joy," he says with a raised brow. Gotta make kids learn.

Ziichi sighs softly and relaxes, closing her eyes and curling up against him like this. Eventually her eyes close and she smiles a bit. "Y'calllin' me wha'?" Such a pain.

Senkha smiles at the two of them, not remarking on their snuggling. "I imagine it would be a joy to work in the Church. Unfortunately, my own past is checkered enough that it isn't an option for me, but I'm happy for you."

Ludovick deadpans at Ziichi, instead patting one of her hands around his middle. That'll do, pig. That'll do. -
Ludovick focuses on Senkha, smiling as well. "Thank you. Though, I must admit that my past is not washed in ivory. If you wish to help, I am sure I could pull some strings...?"

Senkha gives a wry smile and shakes her head, holding up her right hand to show her wedding ring. "I have an obligation to my family...they need me. And, well..." She flushes somewhat as she murmurs, "...-they- are my joy."

Ziichi quiets as she listens to them talk, intertwining her fingers with his own. She murmurs nonsense to him, her weight increasing against his back as she starts to drift off.

Ludovick exhales, blowing smoke away from the group. "I am glad to hear that you have found such joy," he says flatly. "I have my own," he says with a soft smile, eyes slowly turning to look at the sleepy Ziichi.

Senkha 's smile softens as she looks at the two of them. Once again, she can't really judge because she's married to a dead guy, hey. "She's lucky to have you," she remarks quietly, sipping her tea again.

Ludovick fidgets at this, his lips a thin line. Just to be polite, he nods his head a little, slowly wriggling from Ziichi's arms as he stands to snuff his cigarette out into a nearby ashtray. "I believe I will put her to bed. We may converse upstairs, if you wish."

Senkha nods, scooping up the thermos and cups as she stands. "That's fine. Will she be alright here?" She glances to the door nervously, not sure how warded the place is.

Ziichi doesn't seem that bothered, curling up once Ludovick settles her down.

Ludovick purses his lips at this, considering. "I believe she will be tired enough to not be awoken by our conversation. We will remain here. Please, have a seat," he says, gesturing to one of the chairs as he makes his way over to Ziichi, scooping her up in his arms. At the quake he grits his teeth, but does his very best to not drop her, hobbling over to the bed with a stiff limp, trying his very best to not use his left arm much.

Senkha takes a moment to get settled in the chair, largely because it's so huge. Why do Dwarves have such big chairs, anyway? She settles the tea and teacups on the table. "Do you need any assistance?" she asks, noticing Ludo's limp.

Ludovick shakes his head at this, going about his work as he lays the girl atop the bed, pulling the loose covers around her before placing a soft kiss to her forehead. Limping back to Senkha, he takes a seat, still staring over at the sleeping Ziichi. "She had a long day," he comments, as if this is enough.

Senkha nods her understanding and takes her cup of tea again, sipping it. Her shoulders sag some at the mention of long days. "Mm. Marius and Kyrita brought her to my house last night after the ball...apparently, there was a lot of excitement there and both she and my daughter were sound asleep by the time they came home."

Ludovick leans back in his chair, smoothening out one of his pant legs, which are a little bloody, but not near to the level of the robe near his feet. At the mention of the Hallow's End party, Ludovick frowns. "Yes, excitement," he says flatly. "I did not see you in attendance, though I was rather...busy," he stresses the last word.

Senkha shakes her head, smoothing down her robe and touching the scar on her face again, self-consciously. "Oliver and I were resting...both of us spent the better part of the weekend trying to destroy the man who kidnapped our daughter, and though he was temporarily neutralized, we both came away worse for the wear. He's still recovering." She brings her hand to cover the scars on her abdomen at this, strangely embarrassed about them for some reason.

Ludovick quirks a brow at this, taking his cup of tea from the table and sipping politely. "Your daughter? You have a daughter?" He asks, his voice showing a tinge of emotion as he looks over at her, not even commenting on the kidnapping until he is answered.

Senkha nods, smiling fondly. She keeps her hand over her abdomen still. "Dizzy. She was a war orphan in Stormwind...we adopted her a few weeks ago."

Ludovick smiles, albeit wobbily, remembering that Oliver, is, well, undead. "That is quite noble of you." He reaches a hand to scratch at the bandages underneath his clothing as subtly at he can. "Children are a joy, are they not?" -
Ludovick 's eyes drift over towards the bed with the sleeping Ziichi, who is probably snoring loudly.

Senkha follows Ludo's gaze and smiles fondly. "Ziichi's a sweet girl. Like I said, she's lucky to have someone like you. I can see that you're very close." And she leaves it at that.

Ludovick places a hand to his forehead, rubbing his temple. "I do not think your friend Marius is fond of her and I's situation," he says, speaking freely in a rare turn of events.

Senkha leans back in her chair some, chewing on her lower lip. "Marius sees Ziichi as a daughter...he worries for her. I don't know enough about your situation to comment about whether this worry is warranted, but rest assured that he only ever has her best interests in mind."

Ludovick huffs through his nose at this, grunting a little. "I am doing my best to keep the girl happy. I am not pleased with the company I have seen her in. It disgusts me."

Senkha frowns contemplatively, setting her teacup down and turning to face Ludo more directly. "What sorts of company? We know many of the same people; perhaps I can alleviate some of your fears."

Ludovick 's eyes drift over towards her, though he doesn't turn his head, still massaging his forehead in a tired manner. "Drunken draenei, self-pleasuring device toting riff raff, and not to mention just about every one of them swearing up a storm in front of the poor dear. How does anyone expect her to grow into a lovely young lady with these influences?"

Senkha sneers at the mention of the drunken draenei. "I don't suppose that draenei is the...-creature- named Kialthos, is he? He disgusts me. He -sent- my daughter into a -bar- to pick up his -drugs-."

Ludovick coughs at this, jerking his head to stare at Ziichi as if almost afraid she's got Zeal hidden in her boots. "I would love to end him," he says through grit teeth, grumbling a little to himself before settling down. "And yes, I believe that is the one I am speaking of."

Senkha looks more than a little disgusted. "He somehow was there when Dizzy was kidnapped...whenever he is around, she gets hurt. I don't like him in the least and would be very happy to throw him off of a dock with a pair of lead shoes."

Ludovick leans forward at this, his expression that of pure distaste. "I sometimes wish I was allowed to indulge in such hated," he says, a mix of humor and wistfulness in his voice.

There's a loud crack of arcane energy; teleportation. And then, an unceremonious thud of a body landing on the floor. Shit's going down upstairs!

Senkha smiles wryly, reaching across to give Ludo's wrist a squeeze...and frowns at the crack of energy. "...what was that?"

Ludovick jerks his head to stare at the ceiling, throwing a hand out towards Senkha. He doesn't know how capable she is, so he simply spits out a "Run!", clambering up the stairs with quite the effort.

Senkha says: --wha-
Senkha doesn't run, instead hitching up her skirt and grabbing for the dagger she keeps for just such an occasion. She steps back into the shadows.

There's a body on the floor. It's a heap of ghastly pale skin and a mane of black hair. She's got a sheet haphazardly wrapped around her, and otherwise, no clothing. Her left hand is still smashed, and she's got drawings all on her chest, and left arm. She's traced the blood vessels coming from her heart, extending down her arm with ink. Her right hand is completely stained with black from the ink.

Ludovick doesn't notice Senkha, hobbling as quickly as he can up the stairs until the body of Faronne comes into view. "Get out!" He bellows, already beginning to chant a prayer, hand outstretched towards her form on the floor.

Senkha presses her back against the wall, slowly creeping up the stairs. She remains silent as she takes in the scene, though she mouths 'what the fuck.'

Faronne groans, and turns over onto her back. Her bare, inked chest is showing, and her crippled leg is contorted at a painful angle. "..." She -stares- at Ludovick.

Ludovick throws a shield of Light over himself, releasing the spell with a flourish of his right arm. Unable to strike her now, or her him, he is content to scream at her, his voice nearly breaking from being so loud. "I will not be your pet!"

Senkha just sort of stares and then makes a funny squawking sound, coming out of the shadows, when she recognizes the body on the floor. "Ms. Price?!"

Faronne reaches the ink-covered hand over her face and begins sobbing near-uncontrollably. Nervous breakdown is now. "Didn't-- didn't WANT to-- d-don't have any--"

Ludovick balks at this, though is still quite wary, given Faronne's, er, history, He pushes the Light shield away with a wave of his hand, turning to Senkha, his expression tinged with fear. "Get Ziichi and leave. Now."

Senkha is stupid. "--she gave Oliver something that made him -alive- again," she says in a choked voice, not leaving.

Faronne chokes back another sob, and pushes her hair from her face. She gets a big black ink smear on her face, and her fingers tangled in her beyond messy hair. "I don't know why I'm here."

Ludovick snarls at Senkha, as if through with playing nice with 'idiots' for the day. He screams at her, livid. "You are to take Ziichi and leave, now!" With this, he turns, tearing the shirt from his torso, revealing the bandage around his upper left arm around his shoulder, along with the hideous scars on his back, which are now joined by four long, deep rivets of carved out flesh. He steps over to Faronne, as if disgusted by her, tossing the shirt to her with a sneer.

Senkha stares at Ludo's scarred up chest, startled by his screaming, but doesn't disobey any longer. She hurries down the stairs to gather Ziichi...but leaves the tea. TEA FOR LUDO AND FARO :D