reanbeanmachine | gross au

gross au

[Once upon a time, perhaps, a man named Giliath Osborne had been a good man, a kind father, a loving husband, a good soldier. That was a long, long time ago, long forgotten. These days, there was merely the Blood and Iron Chancellor. A man hellbent on a goal, ready to use everything to achieve it.

Currently, the latest tool from his little workshop was standing in his office facing him with a familiar face, but an unfamiliarly blank expression.

"Siegried" was the name of the doll in front of him, a creature with uses. Already, standing in front of Osborne was plenty of proof that this boy was only a shell that resembled a person, an empty vessel whose memories were sealed away.

He ran his fingertips over the boy's cheek, watching for any reaction, any flinch or concealed disgust. Nothing. Obedience. Perfect.

There was more he could test for this, and if that proved successful, this doll could be useful in very many ways indeed. His fingers lifted a lock of white hair, let it slide over his knuckles as he pulled his hand away.]

Siegfried, I want you to kneel.

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[He's gone for about four hours. On the upside for Crow only three of those hours were absolute hell and the rest was shopping. He feels disgusting using money that was thrown at him this way (quite literally -- he had to pick the cash up off the floor as he tried to pick himself up off the floor) but it's all he has. The only things he was carrying when they ran were necessities -- bandages, medicine, that towel. He wasn't given spending money as Siegfried.

So he's using the money. Even though he's been extorted into selling himself for it, in more ways than one. Because he hasn't eaten in two days. Because neither has Rean. Because they were both wearing scraps. Because if he doesn't give in they'll be turned in, or Rean will be hurt -- and Rean's a crazy demon but as far as Crow knows his body isn't immortal. Crow's in a lot of pain, but he knows he won't die no matter how badly he's beaten or what illicit substances are forced into him. Not that Rean would go down easily, but letting him go on a murder spree would both get them caught and give Rean even more to hate himself for when he comes back, so that's off the table. And thus, Crow spends an hour flitting from shady shop to shady shop buying the cheapest possible supplies with coins that feel far heavier than they actually are.

He has to keep his head down and look normal. He doesn't want to get noticed, and collapsing would be pretty noticeable. So he stays hunkered in the ratty jacket they'd given him, thinking slightly hysterically that he never hit this kind of low even when he was a kid all alone with no home and that's just hilarious. Also hysterically, he's getting the rising sense that he's some kind of stranger in his own body. It's not really his. He's dead, so it doesn't matter how this empty corpse gets used--

About ten minutes of his time out is spent in an alleyway, laughing and crying at the same time until he pukes. But he's pulled himself together by the time he gets home, at least well enough not to look like he's sick with pain and also with some kind of shady experimental street drug that's got him feeling dizzy and anxious and out of sync with himself. It's better now than when he took it, though. He doesn't even remember the first hour. He was on another planet. Now he just feels generally shitty, but he manages to at least work up to being quietly dead inside by the time he lets Rean out. Can't do anything about smelling horrible though.

When he opens the door he's already braced for impact, but he's not remotely in the condition to actually take one.]

I'm back.

[He stopped throwing himself at the door when he felt Crow return but that's the first time he's gone silent or stopped since Crow left.

Which means technically he went silent about an hour ago when his vocal chords tore past use.

He's bloody again, and some bones are definitely cracked but it's not like Rean particularly cares? He cares only that Crow is here and smells and looks like shit and locked him away for hours and yet...

For all the fury howling in his mind drowning his personality in the madness he's tried his whole like to suppress, he doesn't attack or even step out of the basement once Crow opens the door, just glares at him balefully from the top step, mad eyes darting across him quickly, noting how he's in worse shape, not quite coherent enough to understand but hating it anyway.]

[Looking at Rean's face he almost cracks. Almost. But he's gone through plenty of hells without breaking down and he can deal with this one too. Still, there's not even a tiny bit of humor in the smile he's pasted on. He's counting on Rean being too crazy to pick it up, and hoping these memories will be fuzzy enough later that Rean won't remember the still-damp tracks down the dirt on Crow's face, or the shadows of fingers darkening his throat, or the way his hands shake as he weakly reaches out to try to give Rean a hug.]

I'm sorry, Rean.

[He's too crazy to know what to do in this situation, but he doesn't pull away from Crow, eyes narrowed sharply but letting Crow pull him into a hug.

Which feels so alien it nearly splits something in his mind, almost drags an awareness out of him, enough that one arm comes up in confusion, palm resting on Crow's back in a sort of return of the gesture in the only way his incoherent thoughts allow through his confusion.

But he decides it's not a bad thing, this touch, and soon both arms are around Crow, fingers curling into his back as he howls into his shoulder with undirected fury and anguish he doesn't understand.

Well tries to howl, no sound comes out but his mouth is open like he's trying to scream so it counts.]

[That's not the reaction he expected and Crow's not ready for it. It would have been better if Rean did pull away. Or if he just stood there, or something. Like this Crow feels like he should comfort Rean -- and he should, but he doesn't know how. It's not going to get better. He can't actually save Rean. He can only protect him from one thing at a time and there are so many things coming at them, including Rean's own loss of sanity.

Crow needs, badly, to rest. He needs comfort too, honestly, but he doesn't want to admit to that even though every bone in his body is screaming at him to cling to Rean and cry til he can't anymore. Rean's the one who's clearly already doing that. Crow's got to be the tough guy here. It's something he's used to being, so it would be fine if it weren't that everything hurts so much, and that he's alone. Rean's right here, yes, but he's not Rean and Crow feels utterly alone in a profound way. He's ditched a lot of groups of friends but he's always had friends. He's forged his own path but he's always been supported, and now he's got nobody to lean on at all.

And Rean's all hurt because he couldn't even protect him right-- Crow's burying his face against Rean's hair now, because it hides his crumpled expression, but that misery is still there in his voice, whispering that apology over and over like it'll actually fix something.]

[It's not like there isn't room for both of them to scream, not that Rean can say that, or anything, because he's nuts. So he just holds onto Crow for a bit and waits out Crow saying things he doesn't understand but instinctively knows he hates.

The calm that had maybe been creeping in before Crow left is just gone. It's so far gone. Somewhere he knows this is someone he's failing to protect from being hurt, again. And the rage is just blinding. He hates it. He's furious on such a deep level he can't get out of it, so he stands lost in emotions he's not even able to name because he can't make words, and lets Crow fail to cry.

At some point he pushes away, too restless to keep like this, fingers flexing like claws as he glances around the room and just, stalks away from Crow to flop in front of the door, pointedly leaning back against it as he slides to the floor, glaring into the room at Crow. No one can get in now. Crow can't get out now. He can't say anything and he can't really express himself meaningfully, but this communication should be clear enough. It's almost comically like a grumpy guard dog laying at the entrance.]

[Crow flinches when Rean pushes away, torn between reaching after him and just letting himself hit the floor. Ultimately he can't decide so he stands there watching Rean flop so aggressively.

It's definitely a clear communication, and it's definitely funny. But Crow has the feeling he'll get hysterical again if he starts to laugh so instead he just forces a smile and shrugs.]

Alright, I get it. I'm not going anywhere the rest of the day.

[Tomorrow it's probably going to be a fight, but for now there's food to eat. It's cheap tinned soup but it exists and Crow's going to unpack the bags and dig straight in with a spoon. He's coming over to offer Rean a can, too.]

Here. Eat.

[It... Doesn't smell like food. It just doesn't? Rean looks at it and looks at Crow and makes no moves to take it at all. Just no interest whatsoever.]

Man, I know it's not Sharon's cooking but at least try.

[Please Rean? Crow's concerned. It's been days!

He can't force him to eat though so he just sighs and sits down in front of Rean to eat his own. p

[He watches Crow but like, continues to... Show no interest....

Just none whatsoever it doesn't seem like what Crow is eating is edible.]

You'd think you'd be hungry enough to eat it even if it's bad...

[Crow sure is. It's horrible food but he's seriously hungry, so he finishes his can in no time, and even sticks his fingers in to catch anything the spoon missed. He'd just eat Rean's share but even if Rean won't eat now, they might need it later. One will have to be enough.

It takes serious effort to get up, but once he's done eating he does, to throw away the can and set Rean's aside, and to dig out the rest of what he bought today. There's a second towel, some soap, two bowls to go with the spoons, and a set of simple clothes for each of them. He grabs Rean's outfit and brings it over to him.]

Here. You can get dressed when you feel like it. I won't watch.

[He glares and makes an expression like a snarl, though no sound emerges. He's definitely not getting changed right now, and he's sure as hell not moving from this spot, so Crow can back off.]

[Okay, okay! He's backing away.]

Sorry.

[He's saying sorry a lot today but that's just how he feels so whatever. His emotions are pretty raw and he's doing as much as he can just to be functional.]

I'm not gonna make you do anything you don't want to, aside from stay here.

[Thanks he hates it.

He's not a very helpful and supportive boyfriend right now but he's the best dog so you know what, take it Crow.

Rean's just going to body block the door until Crow actually goes to sleep.]

[He has to take another miserable bath first, but he does eventually give up on trying to talk to Rean and climbs the stairs to the loft to sleep the sleep of the exhausted and really sad.

But y'know in the morning he has to leave again so that's gonna be fun.]

[Once Crow is asleep Rean will wander over to the loft and climb up to sit next to him and... Stare. At him. All night.

He doesn't bother with new clothes or a bath just. Watches Crow like a weird vampire creep.

He doesn't feel any better though, in fact if anything it's just ramping up his crazy this time instead of soothing it.]

[Waking up to being stared at is still startling and creepy the second time. But this time at least he doesn't scream! He just jumps and gasps.]

--Shit! Why do you do that?!

[He starts a bit but not as bad since, well, this is how Crow reacted before so at least it's not as surprising.

Obviously his answer is just to stare at Crow intensely and say nothing which is super helpful.]

Jeez. Like I need adrenaline for breakfast.

[Ugh. Time to get up, then! Gotta wash his face and put his fresh clothes on (cause he absolutely slept in the buff) and wolf down an orange, and then head for the door.]

[While Crow is moving around Rean slides back to standing in front of the door and watching him. He does not really look ready to move.]

[Frustrating but not surprising. Crow's got an eye on the time as he gets ready -- "work" isn't exactly far away (he's just down the block), but he reeeeally doesn't want to give anyone an excuse to be nasty to him when he can't fight back so he'd rather not be late.

He's giving himself about 10 minutes to deal with Rean.]

Hey. I have to go.

[Yeah that's not making him move. He stares unblinkingly. Obviously Crow needs to give up.]

[Ugggggghhhh okay.

He'll just have to try to pull him out of the way.]

Come on! We can't do this every day!

[Yeah that's like tugging on a wall. And he tries to snarl but his voice is still gone. He bares his teeth, threateningly.]

[Getting bitten would be less horrible than getting turned in so. He's just gonna change it into a shove, putting his full weight against Rean and trying to make him move.]

Just... move!

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