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Aldaras doesn't bring up the knife with Annie again, nor his sister, or various ways she could be hurt. Annie has homework, so she doesn't stay at his apartment too long. He goes back to having nothing to do - there's some more pacing, some quiet freaking out over Annie and her safety, and then he distracts himself with obsessive preparation for taking care of the knife.
He'll - pack with the assumption that he can save his sister. There's lots of non-perishable food, packing as much as possible with the least amount of weight. Water, too, but that one's a bit harder. It's always heavy. Whatever, that's fine, he'll just - obsessively pack some more things. Pack, pack, pack.
Predictably, he runs out of things to do. Except think. Which has become something of a minefield, lately. To keep him from doing something stupid. He can't think about Zevaia, can't think about the knife, can't think about the Dean and how insanely long it's taking him to get the smallest tidbits of information out of him. He can't think too much about obsessive ways to make sure Annie's safe, for fear of becoming some kind of psychotic, controlling stalker or something.
But trying to not think about Annie is a recipe for failure or insanity, so he distracts himself with - what ifs. What would have happened if he'd met her without the necklace's and tracker's side effects combination, what he would have done if she'd asked him to kiss her...
That helps the time pass by faster.
touchedinthehead
He gets a phone call the next time there's information from the dean, of course. They called Annie first, cleverly enough, and she's already on her way.
touchedinthehead
How clever of them. Well, no point in waiting - Aldaras heads off to learn whatever new fact about the necklace has been discovered.
keep_busy
Annie is there first.
When Aldaras shows up, the secretary says, in a trembling voice, "The dean says that touching the necklace can rescue the cut."
When Aldaras shows up, the secretary says, in a trembling voice, "The dean says that touching the necklace can rescue the cut."
touchedinthehead
Aldaras stares. "... I'd like to request you return the necklace, please, I'm going to need it really soon."
keep_busy
"Of course," says the secretary, and she produces a box, which jingles to tracker hearing.
Annie scoots a couple inches away.
Annie scoots a couple inches away.
touchedinthehead
It's the correct chiming, too. Definitely his necklace. He takes it. "Thank you."
One quick glance at Annie tells him she's - understandably nervous. He tries very hard not to let her fear of him hurt. It doesn't quite work. He changes his grip on the box to be reasonably away from Annie, hard to get to open easily, and attempt to look non threatening. He will not be forcibly poking her with the creepy nonconsent love necklace. That would be wrong.
He smiles, just a bit. He can get his sister back.
One quick glance at Annie tells him she's - understandably nervous. He tries very hard not to let her fear of him hurt. It doesn't quite work. He changes his grip on the box to be reasonably away from Annie, hard to get to open easily, and attempt to look non threatening. He will not be forcibly poking her with the creepy nonconsent love necklace. That would be wrong.
He smiles, just a bit. He can get his sister back.
touchedinthehead
"Time to revise my ad," he agrees. "And then go - be heroic."
keep_busy
"I'll try to be near the phone so you can call me when you've found somebody and not delay more than you have to," says Annie.
touchedinthehead
"Thank you," he says, genuinely. "I - need to go, but - really, thanks."
There are other things he wants to say, but - he really doesn't want to pressure her. 'In case I die, I love you,' isn't really salient information, she already knows he loves her.
There are other things he wants to say, but - he really doesn't want to pressure her. 'In case I die, I love you,' isn't really salient information, she already knows he loves her.
touchedinthehead
"I will."
He goes and revises the ad, and then he prints up flyers and starts trying to persuade people personally.
He goes and revises the ad, and then he prints up flyers and starts trying to persuade people personally.
He gets a lot of people who write him off as a panhandler or a petition-filler before hearing him out, mostly.
There's one guy who is quite white-faced and miserable-looking, carrying a bag, rushing through campus with his lips pursed tight and looking like he's about to cry.
There's one guy who is quite white-faced and miserable-looking, carrying a bag, rushing through campus with his lips pursed tight and looking like he's about to cry.
touchedinthehead
Yeah, that's why Aldaras wasn't doing this earlier. But now he knows for sure that he can save his sister, and everyone else that's been cut.
He notices the - miserable looking person. His mind's currently got blinders on, so his first assumption is 'The knife did it.' "... Are you okay?"
He notices the - miserable looking person. His mind's currently got blinders on, so his first assumption is 'The knife did it.' "... Are you okay?"
The man blanches when Aldaras addresses him and says, "I'm t- you'll never succeed, the knife will get her just like it got your sister, and you're too useless to do anything about it -"
"- I am so fucking sorry I'm touched it's this god damn cup I didn't even think Grandma liked it that much I don't think it makes me say true things I don't even know who you are -"
touchedinthehead
Aldaras is - not really thinking about the man's explanation right now. He just - is trying to process why anyone in the world would ever say that, and how it will not happen ever.
He has a blank expression on his face.
He has a blank expression on his face.
"Oh my god I'm sure whoever she is she'll be fine - please, I'm so sorry, the cup made me, I don't think it's true."
touchedinthehead
He blinks, and takes a deep breath, and he processes the words he's hearing.
"... Saying - that is a side-effect?" he asks, softly.
"... Saying - that is a side-effect?" he asks, softly.
The man winces. "I didn't even think Grandma liked the fucking thing but yes it seems to be, I just - first time I see somebody whatever makes them want to crack my skull open comes out of my mouth, I tried gagging myself but - I'm so sorry!"
touchedinthehead
"I am," says Aldaras dryly, "sort of empathetic to people suffering from an unknown artifact's strange side-effects. I do not want to crack your skull open."
But he does sort of want to maybe cry in a corner somewhere.
But he does sort of want to maybe cry in a corner somewhere.
"I'm giving the fucking thing to the university, I don't even want to see it again but maybe they can tell me what the upside's supposed to be - which way is -?"
"Thanks. I'm so sorry. I'm sure whoever she is will be fine and I'm sorry about your sister and - and I'll just go." He scurries off.