lt_safe_house | (no subject)

Date/Time: 20 May, early evening
Location: Lobby, and wherever this takes us
Summary: Let the new plot commence

A taxi came to a halt in front of the manor. The driver looked at his passenger with concern. “Sir, are you sure you don’t want me to take you to a--?” he started to ask.
The man in his back seat interrupted him hoarsely. “Yes!” he snapped. “Here.” He dug some folded bills from his pocket and shoved them into the driver’s hand before he pushed open the door and got out of the car.
The driver stared at the money, both because of the bloody fingerprints left on it and because the man had much overpaid him.

The nameless stranger he had brought here was already moving towards the building. His gait was lurching, and he kept his right arm pressed close to his side, covering a spot where blood seeped steadily through his tightly buttoned jacket with his hand.
He barely made it up the few steps that led to the door, and stumbled into the lobby. For a moment, he stood at the door and looked around, his breath rattling and labored. Anyone looking at him had to see that he was in pain and at the limits of his strength, hardly able to remain upright. The traces of a recent beating were livid in his face. Judging by the scraped knuckles of his hands, he had at least managed to get in a few good punches of his own.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Following Rose, Atlan entered the lobby and took in the situation with a glance. Raphael was kneeling on the floor with two other men. One was obviously helping him help the third.

"Looks like you have everything under control here," he said as he walked over to them. "What happened?"

Rose made sure she wouldn't be in the way of the others and kept watching the scene. She would have loved to help but didn't know what to do at the moment...

"I don't know, he stumbled in and collapsed. He said something about needing our help but I didn't catch anything beyond that."

Raphael turned to face Rose. "Can you bring me some fresh water and towels? There's so much blood..."

There's blood oozing from his skull

There's blood on the floor and handprints and gashes...

There's blood staining dying feathers as they are cut away...

So much blood...

"Of course"

Rose nodded and sprinted to the storage room. There she grabbed a clean bucket and filled it to two thirds with clear water before she took several clean towels out of a cupboard.

Bucket in one hand, towels under the other arm she walked back to Raphael as quickly as she could.

Raphael took the towels and bowl with a grateful nod, turning to do what he can to stop the terrible bleeding.

"Sir, can you hear me...? Please talk to us if you can, you need to stay conscious." He knew it was futile but he was determined to keel trying. He shook him carefully by the shoulder, just in case.

The stranger stirred, bit back a painful moan and fell heavily back against Raphael. His hand moved weakly as if to signal something, but he let it drop limply back at his side after a moment.

Raphael shot a desperate look to those around him. "Please... I can't help him... I've done what I can, but I cannot do more for him..."

Kneeling down beside Raphael, Atlan looked over the injured man. "Call an ambulance," he suggested. He thought he knew what Raphael expeted him to do, but he hesitated.

Did he really want to trust even more people with the secret of his cell activator?

Fool! His extra-sense scolded. It stopped being a secret the moment you had the great idea of using it to save that red-head.

Instead of giving an answer, he suppressed a sigh and fished the pendant out from under his shirt.

At the sight of another man moving closer, and fumbling with some device, the man panicked.

Actually, it might also have been the mention of "ambulance" that sent him down that road.

Somewhere he suddenly foudn the energy to shake his h ead and push himself back on the floor, away from the two.

"No," he gasped. "Stay 'way from me. No--"

Rose knelt down next to the stranger, trying to pull him gently into her arms to hold him and keep him still.

"Sshhh, it's alright, we're trying to help you, sir. Please calm down, you're injured. Just relax..."

Raphael blinked at the man's sudden panic. "It won't hurt, not really, he's used it to help me before." He looked over at Atlan. "We can't call an ambulance, the police would get involved and if they investigate this place..." He didn't go on, only shaking his head.

"Can you knock him out or something?" Atlan asked, making a face at the man's panicked reaction.

"He's likely to hurt himself worse if he's panicking like that."

Whatever had gottne him to leave his room without some more equipment on his person?

What were you going to tell her? Was the snide comment he got for that thought. Wait a moment, I first need to put on my mind control equipment?