mayfield_rpg

Entry tags:

c: firo prochainezo

seven

[Firo doesn't like believing anything Mayfield says, but when he hears the information some of the others got from Zemekis, he has trouble not believing it. Everyone else seems to accept it as truth, and from what little he can understand in all the talk about copies and simulations, the gaping glitch holes and the way Mayfield could really mess with their heads seems to back it up.

And he finds knowing he's just a copy oddly comforting. If there's a "real" him back home, then that means Ennis will stay alive no matter what happens to him in Mayfield and that business with his Family keep running as normal. Of course, that also means he's basically superfluous.

He doesn't know what he'll do now, since it seems his survival suddenly isn't as big of a priority as it once was and whatever he does probably won't mean anything. He's ready to postpone answering that question until he can fully grasp what's been going on these past months, but it suddenly doesn't matter.

Because now someone else is deciding for him.

Controlled by Mrs. Johnson, Firo's out roaming the Mayfield streets, knife in hand and ready to kill. It's one of his worst nightmares; as much as he struggles to regain control, he just can't. He thought it would come from Szilard's memories, but who's doing it doesn't matter--what matters is what they'll make him do. If he sees anyone he'll call out a warning to them:]

Don't come near me! I can't stop-!

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... Firo?

[Czeslaw looks unarmed when he happens across Firo's path. He was wandering too, wondering where Mrs. Johnson was taking his body and not really caring too much; he hadn't run into anybody up until now, and he's not too worried when he realizes it's Firo. The capo can probably fight him off if this body tried anything. What good can little kid bodies do, anyway?

He takes some steps forward, not in control of them.]

What's wrong?

Czes?

[His heart plummets when he hears that voice. He's only recently started getting to know Czes, but he's grown fond of the kid and the last thing he wants to do is hurt him. Firo should be protecting him at a time like this!

Out of his control, his hand adjusts its grip on his knife and he advances toward Czes.]

Czes, you need to get away! I don't know- I can't control myself!

[Czes' eyes widen a fraction when he notices what Firo's holding, but he take a step closer anyway. He looks calmer about this than Firo, but that's rather easy for him.]

That's easier said than done. [He looks sheepish even.] Because I'm not moving on my own, either.

[Czes looks so comparatively calm that it takes a moment for his words to register.]

...What? You...

[He stops talking suddenly, using every fiber of his strength to fight back as he's urged forward faster and his arm suddenly raises to bring the knife down at Czes.]

[It seems that Mrs. Johnson is willing to let him try to survive, at least. Czes' eyes widen a fraction when he sees the knife come down, but his body steps away to avoid the attack. It wasn't a complete dodge and the knife slices into arm. He winces.]

... Yeah. [He sounds pained for only a moment before he shakes his arm out. The dark stain on his shirt is gone and all that's left is a tear in the sleeve, now.] It's that lady's fault, isn't it?

[Firo's face mirrors Czes's as he winces, not from a strike but from regret and helplessness. It's all wrong, he can't be doing this to Czes.]

Czes, I'm so-

[His body is preparing itself for another strike even as he tries to apologize. And, really, he knows that what he's doing is something that goes beyond an apology. He tries not to think about how much worse it would be if Czes wasn't immortal.]

I-I think it is. The crazy one on the phone? But how can she..?

[Though if they're all data in a simulation, it makes sense. It's just that the thought of being forced to kill a friend is so terrible that Firo doesn't want to accept it.]

[As Firo comes in, Czes moves too. That earlier cut tore the cloth he used to tie his scalpel to his arm so it's easier to take out -- something he is doing now, opposite hand reaching into his sleeve. He steps in enough to avoid any of Firo's swings and takes a swipe of his own at Firo's arm.]

I don't really understand data or simulations, but it just means they could've controlled us at any time they wanted, right?

[Firo's almost relieved to see Czes has a weapon; now maybe the kid can at least fight back... just like he's doing now. In response to the attack, Firo finds himself reaching across with his free hand and grabbing for Czes's attacking arm. It's too late to stop the attack, though, and he flinches as the scalpel hits.]

I-I think so. Like when they'd drone us? Only... Only we weren't awake like this, then.

[He used to wish he could fight the droning and stay conscious, but not like this.]

... The city's breaking down, Firo, if you let yourself get hurt now you might not come back. [Czes does not stop advancing, although he doesn't attack just yet.]

I... I know.

[He sort of realized it in the back of his mind, but now that Czes put it out there he has to actually admit it.

Suddenly his knife swings out again, aiming for Czes's arm.]

D-damn it! Czes, I don't wanna hurt you! You... You need to stop me!

By what? Killing you? Are you kidding?!

[Czes backsteps to avoid the strike, then kicks off the ground again to jump at Firo. This time, his knife is aiming for his leg. His small body can't finish him off without knocking him down first, after all.]

Wha-? Why would I be kidding? That seems to be the only way to stop this!

[Firo desperately wants to stop in place and just let Czes hit him, but Mrs. Johnson's control doesn't allow that. He kicks out at Czes's chest, trying to stop Czes before he can attack.]

[The foot collides with his small chest and sends him stumbling back, falling on his rear end with a grunt. He coughs to catch his breath but the pained expression he had upon impact goes away quickly and he's back on his feet again, readjusting the hold on his knife.]

That's not fair. How can someone my size, with no real training in combat, beat up a camorrista like you?

[But Mrs. Johnson doesn't care about that and makes him charge again anyway.]

[He winces as he watches Czes fall, but that doesn't stop him from rushing to slash at Czes's face when he rises.]

I-I don't know!

[Superior strategy? Czes does bring up a good point, and Firo has no real answer for it.]

I'm sorry... If I could stop myself, I would.

[And he's still trying, but it's not working.]

[This time, Czes isn't permitted to dodge. Firo's knife cuts right across his cheek as the boy keeps moving forward, bringing up the knife to Firo's leg again. He swings down, aiming for the knee.]

It's easier if you stop me. Just finish me off and move on -- I'll come back anyway, because of this body. If you die you might be gone forever!

What? Czes, I-I can't do that to you1 It doesn't matter if I-

[He flinches as the scalpel hits his knee, and he falls down to kneel on his uninjured one. His knife remains in his hand, though, and he swings it blindly at Czes's body.

Firo couldn't forgive himself if he killed Czes; he doesn't want to be responsible for traumatizing the poor kid like that! ~~If only he knew...~~]

Why? [Czes is standing really close. He raises his arm to shield himself from Firo's swing; his movements stop for just the moment as he grits his teeth agains the pain. But then he's looking at Firo again and he's glaring; a knife cut like that is nothing compared to what he's experienced before, and it cannot scare him, and Firo cannot scare him.]

What doesn't matter, Firo? Why doesn't it matter?

[His short arm swings the scalpel at Firo's right arm this time.]

I'll be fine. I can heal from this.

They... They don't need me back home anymore. My Family's fine, Ennis'll be fine..!

[He's forced to his feet, keeping most of his weight off of his injured leg but unable to stop moving. Czes's blow hits, and as the pain temporarily weakens his right arm, Firo's left hand snatches the knife. It swings right at Czes's face.]

So you're saying it won't matter if you die here?

[This is an attack Czeslaw backs away from, but only far enough to avoid something fatal. A red line shows up across the bridge of his nose for seconds before it fades again. This time, Czes raises his free hand to his face to feel it; immortal or not, it hurts, and it's scary. He remembered what happened on the train... it was too close.]

... That hurt, you know?

And your arm hurts too, doesn't it? And your leg.

[No, it won't matter. He knows that, but for some reason he can't say it out loud so explicitly.]

I told you, they don't need me.

[It's basically the same thing to him.

Firo can't stop himself from advancing, and he watches, pained, as Czes examines his wound. Of course it hurts, immortal or not Czes is a kid. And of course Firo's wounds hurt, but he won't admit it. It shows enough in how he limps.]

...I'm sorry.

Shut up! [Czes has never raised his voice like this against Firo since they met here. He's been scared of it and not comfortable enough around the capo, here or in his memories of New York. But he can't help it as he thinks about the things he remembers. He isn't really real. He's a copy, or maybe he's not even a copy -- how does a copy know about its original if he's never met it? He could be the original, but a completely fictional one that these people thought up of for the hell of it. But if he was just a copy, or even fictional... then why?

Why did he have to remember all the suffering that never happened to this body? Was he still allowed to smile? Miria had said yes, but did that even apply to him when all it was was just that -- a memory? She wasn't even here to tell him again. And now Firo... Firo's saying that they don't matter just because they're not real.

Then what was all his suffering for?!]

I don't want to hear it! We're not just copies -- we are but that doesn't make us irrelevant!

[He shuts his eyes tightly as he feels his body rush forward, raising the knife and stabbing blindly; he doesn't know where he's aiming for, or if it hits.]

[Firo's stunned into silence. He'd thought he was being completely reasonable; if he's important as a person, it must be in how he's connected to his family. Out here, he can't really do anything for them, and if Czes doesn't kill him, then Firo will be forced to kill the kid. He just couldn't bear to do that, and the big reasons for him to put his life instead of anyone else's are gone now.

Of course he doesn't want to die. He just suddenly isn't so concerned about it.]

Czes, I- That's not what I meant! It's just-

[He stops talking as he just barely parries the blade that was going straight for his torso. Even if he did want to die, it looks like Mrs. Johnson isn't too keen on letting him. His own knife moves to slide down Czes's and slash at his fingers.]

[Czeslaw can deal with cuts. Cuts and gashes aren't worth crying over because he's gone through enough of those that it's hardly anything at all. But fingers are different; fingers are small, and his are especially, and Firo's body knows what it is doing when it slices at them.

He sucks in his breath and lets it out in a silent scream as he drops his knife. It hurts and he's not sure if he prefers the Rail Tracer's teeth over knives for hurting himself with. He stumbles on his feet in his shock and falls forward onto the ground. He's shaking and trying not to cry until the wound closes.]

It's... that's exactly what you meant. [It's almost a whisper, his words still shaky.]

[Firo's used to hurting people until they cry. It's part of his job, and, honestly, it can be a bit enjoyable if the person's obnoxious enough. But Czes isn't an enemy in any way to Firo, so seeing him like that (and knowing he caused it) is enough to make him feel like he's being torn apart inside. The fact that Czes is just a kid makes it even worse.]

N-no, Czes, I...

[What can he say? He has no idea how to reply to Czes's accusations--there's some truth in them--and seeing the kid in such pain has him practically speechless.

With the "enemy" weakened, if temporarily, Firo's pushed in to strike again. But he's not at his best. He's not immortal here; the cut on his knee is still troubling him even if his body is used to pushing past pain. He's not as fast to close in as he normally would be, and he basically falls to his knees to get at a better angle for striking Czes. He doesn't even have time to wince; his eyes widen in horror as his knife goes for Czes's neck.]

Czes, move!

Huh-- !! [His own fast recovery saves him; Czes looks up and scrambles away just in time to avoid the blow. He rolls a couple of times until he can get to his feet, his healed hand gripping his knife again.]

Who cares if we're just copies, Firo? [He frowns at Firo sadly, shaking his head.

With Firo injured, Czes can now move a little faster than him on his feet. His body moves forward as soon as his words end, and he's tackling Firo to the ground.]

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