[closed]

[implant]

WHO Lily, Kaidan, Ken
WHAT Mercy killing&subsequent fighting (violence gore theme warnings here)
WHERE P6 (tell me if this should change!)
WHEN backdated;Lily's death

Kaidan never planned on travelling with Lily. He finds the sign that Shepard left him a while ago; and now he's hoping she stuck to her plan, even with Ariadne and Amy... not around. He needs to find her. She's the last one here that Kaidan still really trusts. It's a shock, needless to say, to feel that way about Shepard, but it's true. There's not many people left, and maybe he and Shepard will be able to protect the ones who deserve it most. Lily, Lottie...

Kaidan cuts himself off. Walking is still a bit difficult with his healing injuries, but he manages well enough. They're keeping close to the mountain range to keep the elements off their backs. He knows there's more to Lily than she's letting on but he's not going to make trouble about it. If she doesn't want to tell him, that's her choice and liberty. Kaidan focuses on the path they're walking. They haven't run into anyone else yet, but he knows that soon? Soon they will.

Comments

[implant]

"You too, Lily." Kaidan smiles just a bit, lips twitching at the corners before he descends into the forest, steps quiet and muted to keep his presence hidden. No one has eaten right since entering the Arena, but at least Kaidan knows enough to get by.

[cried]

It was true that she had yet to eat right since the start of the Games, but she had kept herself somewhat full with the little things that she could find edible. But while waiting, she had decided to bring up her knees and wrap her arms around, her mind already wandering to as to why she did not just let herself die the first day at the cornucopia.

... In fact, it probably would have been a better thing for her to do.

[gamemakers]

The rock Lily chose to sit on was sun warm. And Lily wasn't the first person to choose to sit there.

The spider was small, and harmless looking, and horrifically deadly. Much like the young girl who had just disturbed it. It was almost the color of the rocks, and when Lily's hand rested next to it, it struck quickly, fangs sinking into her wrist and delivering more than enough of it's lethal venom right into her veins.

It burned, hot and painful, targeting her nerves and spreading up through her arm, paralyzing her as it went.

It spread slowly, agonizingly, and it would be hours before it worked it's way through her.

[cried]

It was just one quick second.

Just one quick moment, and Lily had immediately attempted to bring her hand up only to see that she had lost whatever control from the tips of her fingers and a little bit up her arm.

However, the burn was completely painful and had brought a sharp yell to slip past her lips. And while she'd rather not worry him, she could feel the tears beginning to fall as she shouted, "Kaidan! Kaidan!!"

[implant]

Kaidan has heard his named yelled like that too many times here. He rushes back to Lily as fast as he can-- a trap? Another tribute? Kaidan doesn't want to think about possibly losing yet another person he swore to protect. He can't. He makes it back to where Lily was to stay quickly, only slightly out of breath. Lily is still sitting on the rock she tried but her arm, God-- "Lily. I'm here." He rushes over to her, puts on hand on her neck to stablize her, to let her know he's there. The other hand, well... he doesn't want to couh her arm. It looks poisoned. How could something like that happen so rapidly? This isn't a good situation. Someone has probably heard them by now, and Lily is hurt--

[cried]

Lily had been biting her bottom lip to the point of drawing blood until she's realized that Kaidan was there. She didn't mean to yell, especially with the possibility of another tribute coming around and were more than willing to play this game.

"K-Kaidan," She's chocking back sobs, doing the best she can to hide away the pain that quickly ran through her body, "I-I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention, a-and..."

[implant]

"Hey, no, shh." Kaidan pushes the bangs off Lily's face, cupping her cheek gently and trying to figure out what he needs to do. What happened? He-- "What happened? Tell me what you can." He looks down at her hand again the pain obvious on her face.

[cried]

"I sat down... and then I felt something bit me, I think it was a spider." She's trying to keep herself from crying anymore, but it was obvious that wasn't going to happen any time soon.

"You have to run." With the arm that was yet to be paralyzed, she rose it up and gently placed it on his shoulder in attempts to push him away, "I'm sure someone heard me, so you have to run. I don't... I don't want you to get hurt because of me."

[implant]

"I'm not leaving you here, Lily. Come on, we have to get the poison out." Kaidan doesn't budge but he knows-- he doesn't have a blade of any kind, anything that would make it possible to cut open the infected flesh to drain the venom. It's travelling too fast. He knows that she's going to die.

[cried]

"You can't." She's continues to shake her head, tears coming to a halt as she was all too aware with her fate as well, "It's... It's already too late. I know that. Please."

[implant]

"I'm not leaving." Kaidan doesn't move, doesn't even move his gaze. He knows it's dangerous here, but he won't leave her. Maybe he could carry her somewhere else-- no, that'd draw even more attention to them.

[cried]

Lily isn't one to rise her voice, and this situation doesn't make an exception once she immediately rises her head to respond, "You have to. It will be better if you do. So please," And somehow, she was able to pull off a smile, "Run. Please. I don't want you to get hurt."

[implant]

"I'm not leaving you here alone so some tribute can pick you apart while you can't fight. I'm not doing it." Kaidan knows that Lily is telling the truth, that he should get away from her-- but his morals hold him firm, the oath he took to protect... it doesn't end just because someone is dying.

[cried]

Lily can't find the next set of words to say after Kaidan's response. That and the burning pain from the venom was already beginning to cause her to become weak.

However, after a moment had passed due to silence, she parted her lips, "Then..." She hesitates, blue eyes glancing towards the ground, "Kill me."

[implant]

Kaidan jaw tightens at her words and Kaidan steels his gaze. "Lily, I can't." But Kaidan knows that he will, because it's a quick death or one drawn out and painful. Kaidan knows what the humane option is.

[cried]

"You can." Biting her bottom lip, Lily grabs onto whatever courage left she has in order to continue her -- what seem to be -- final breathes.

"It's okay, it'll be okay. I'll be okay."

[implant]

Kaidan doesn't speak for a while, just stares at Lily before down at his feet. His jaw aches from how hard he's grinding his teeth together. He can't save Lily, but he can make this painless for her. "Are you sure, Lily? This is... this is what you want?"

[cried]

All she could do was nod. Pain or painless, it didn't matter to her. In her eyes, Lily thought that this was not only better for herself but for the others as well.

Especially since she's been pushing the monster far from her mind ever since the beginning of this situation.

"Please..."

[implant]

"Alright."

Kaidan rubs the back his hand against his forehead quickly. He's not... he's not unfamiliar with this situation, not as much as he'd like. Sometimes all there was left to do for someone was to either ease them as much as possible or finish it fast. This one is a situation for the latter. He puts his hand on the side of Lily's neck, gentle and non-threatening. With Sympathy and comfort. "I'm sorry, Lily."

[cried]

With his hand placed just above her collar, Lily took a deep breath before a painful shiver ran down her spine. She was scared, like any other child would be, but she kept the monster pushed away and locked into the back of her mind in order to still have some kind of control.

"It's okay." Once again, she's smiling, with whatever bit of strength she has left before, "I'm really... really glad that I got to meet someone like you."

"Thank you."

[implant]

"You're welcome, Lily." Kaidan's voice doesn't shake, neither do his hands, not even when the second one comes up. He feels out the back of her neck, finds where to hold-- and it's over in a second. It's the thing he never wanted to do here; to kill someone. But it's done now.

[selfcondemned]

But not over.

Lily's shouts haven't gone unnoticed. Ken's been doing his best not to get involved in things... but Lily's voice was almost impossible to ignore. A cute blonde girl too skittish to skin a rabbit. She doesn't belong in a place like this.

Ken pauses not to far away, taking in the scene. It's a clear enough picture. Easy prey turned into a helpless victim. Ken's fist tightens on the machete in his hand. His eyes are empty as he looks over Lily's still form, then slowly turn cold and determined as he looks to Kaidan's direction.

[implant]

Kaidan looks up after laying Lily down; the hairs on the back of his neck raising. They both knew that Lily's cries would have attracted other tributes and one is already here. Kaidan can't tell exactly where the other is; but he knows well enough that it's more likely than not he has a fight on his hands. Either the tribute was here to kill Lily, and now him-- or only saw what it looks like, not what it was. Kaidan won't try to justify what he's done. It doesn't matter in a place like this.

[selfcondemned]

Ken walks towards Kaidan, slow and steady. His anger isn't burning bright but, instead, resigned and smoldering. His footsteps full with a certain grim determination. He's seen enough death to know that sometimes it's the only answer.

Ken doesn't bother to say a word, just watches closely to make sure his target doesn't make any sudden movements. He'd rather not give chase but would be more than willing to if need be.

[implant]

Kaidan does nothing besides fall into a defensive stance. He eyes the machete before gauging the boy. He handles the blade well, better than Kaidan probably would under the circumstances. He looks up again, making sure to keep himself lax and ready. "I won't kill you." Kaidan says finally. He will protect himself-- but he won't kill whoever the kid is. He's done enough of that recently. He knows it will fall short, but... it has to be said.

[selfcondemned]

"But you'll kill her," Ken counters, gaze flickering over to Lily's body once again. He and Lily never should have split up. Not in a place like this.

He suspects Kaidan is telling the truth, not that it matters. Actions speak louder than words and besides, this isn't the first time Ken's killed in cold blood. (It's actually easier. The less known the better.)

He's almost upon him now, just a few meters between them.

[implant]

Kaidan throws up a barrier, a thick blue glow covering his body. He knows well enough not to underestimate anyone here. Getting an extra layer of defence up before the fight is exactly the right move to make. Kaidan's implant hums, but he ignores it. "That was different."

[selfcondemned]

Kaidan's words fall without making any visible reaction. No matter what the circumstances might have been, it's all the same in the end. Better just to admit that than play at explanations.

Ken eyes narrow at the blue light, but closes the distance between them without any hesitation. This might be more of a challenge than he first thought. He brings the machete up in a wide sweep, aiming for Kaidan's stomach and braces himself for the expected impact.

[implant]

Kaidan steps back, dodging the blow quickly and throwing out his own little biotic push, trying to at least disarm the kid. Hand to hand has never been Kaidan's strong point, but he'd rather that than going unarmed against a blade. Kaidan's heart is pounding in his chest but he easily falls into a solider's stance, open and ready for anything.

[selfcondemned]

Ken stumbles back, a sharp frustrated sound slipping past his lips. He's never really liked telekinesis, too many tricks, not enough openings, and he's never been fond of fighting at arms length. His eyes narrow and he takes a moment before charging in again.

He sucks in a breath and tightens his grip on the blade. He's done this dance long enough that he knows brute force isn't going to get him past Kaidan's defenses. But, he also realizes as he charges forward again, brute force is all he has.

[implant]

Kaidan has nothing to protect himself with and he refuses to use his biotics enough to drain him completely. Toning them down though... it decreases their effectiveness, their range. He won't kill Ken though. He refuses to. Kaidan's barrier crackles as the machete catches just the edge of Kaidan's forearm as he ducks back, skipping down and leading them into the forest, cramped quarters. He doesn't put on an offensive attack again though; just focuses on his defence. If no other option is provided, then... perhaps that would change, but for now, no.

[selfcondemned]

Ken knows that the smart thing to do is to not going chasing blindly after Kaidan, but it's never been in his nature to be cautious. Especially not when it seems like he's gaining ground.

He crashes into the woods after Kaidan only slowing to a stop when he loses sight of the other man. He looks about him then seemingly at random chooses a direction and starts walking again. He's not concerned a bit about ambushes. That would only make his job easier.

[implant]

Kaidan lets his barrier repair itself before he waits for a bit. He can hear the kid approaching; no need to give away his position. Kaidan prepares himself for another fight, quick biotic use even if his L2 is starting to act up, a buzzing in the back of his head that he knows will grow into a sharp, sharp pain. He tosses out a quick push; wide, only to hopefully throw Ken off, give Kaidan the opening he's looking for. Knowing his luck though, they'd do nothing to help him.

[selfcondemned]

Kaidan's trick does the job. Ken manages to get an arm up to block for all the good it does him, and falls back heavily against a tree. The machete falls to the ground next to him. Ken lets a snarl as he starts to push himself up from the ground.

[implant]

"Stand down." Kaidan's voice goes hard and he steps into Ken's line of site, looking very much the Alliance Commander he is. He doesn't approach and he makes sure to keep himself a safe distance-- the machete is still within reach if Ken was so determined to continue this fight.