snowtourn

Albanes and Madeline neared the entrance to the hospital, where Astrid was standing guard. "Albanes!" She called out as the dedicant neared. "There you are! We've been looking everywhere- is that Madeline?" "I managed to take her prisoner." Albanes explained- her voice harsh and cold. "I need to go speak with my father, now." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Madeline was struggling against Albanes, growling and kicking her feet out. "Yeah, let me speak to him too!" Madeline yelled, glaring over at Astrid. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh- yeah, of course." Astrid said, and stepped out of the way. "Do you want us to take her off your hands?" "No!" Albanes shot the suggestion down, too quickly, too harshly. "I mean.... my father will want to see her, too." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Ohhhh, what, you scared I'll hurt Astrid too? You worried about what I'll do when you let me out?" Madeline said, trying to correct for Albanes' quick response. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"It'll be best to let my father deal with her, and end this once and for all." Albanes said. "Yeah- couldn't agree with you more." Astrid scoffed as Albanes brought Madeline into the hospital. "Good luck." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Deal with me? Hah!" Madeline laughed. "I've already got everyone else on my side, it's only a matter of time!" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Albanes didn't reply to Madeline as she brought the girl into the hospital. The inside of the building was bright and bustling- it seemed like every person who hadn't yet left the church was here. It didn't take long for Albanes to locate her father, working in a small alcove by himself. He turned to face the two as they entered. "Albanes?" "Father, I have managed to take the traitor prisoner." Albanes reported. "I thought you would want to keep her in your custody." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Madeline glared up at Yeonaixho. It was intense, probably at least a little genuine. "The traitor? As far as I'm concerned, all of you are the traitors!" Madeline huffed. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

As Madeline began to speak, something subtle changed in Yeonaixho's expression. "Really? You caught her, all by yourself...?" He ran a hand through his hair. "Well, I'm impressed. Good job, Albanes." He waved his hand vaguely in Madeline's direction, and her body would go numb. She'd still be able to feel, and think, and talk, but she couldn't move. "Rest her in that bed over there." Yeonaixho instructed, and Albanes did as she was told. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Madeline didn't have any time to protest before she went numb. Yeah, she figured this would happen. It seemed to be Yeonaixho's go-to move... she hated this feeling. "I'll break out of this, I know I can!" Madeline still managed to huff. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Yeonaixho sat Albanes down next to the bed, then joined her. He put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm so happy to see you safe, Albanes. You don't know how worried I was about you." "I'm just glad to see you again, Father." Albanes replied. It could've been her acting, but she sounded genuine. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Why are you so happy to see him? You're not worried he'll steal another vital organ of yours?!" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) (edited)

Albanes visibly stilled at Madeline's accusation. "I should've just shut her up-" Yeonaixho grumbled, but was soon interrupted. "I- actually wanted to ask about that." Albanes interjected. "You said- over the intercom-" "Oh. I suppose I did." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Madeline tried to shift herself, but it just didn't work. "Yeah, what's your explanation for that one, huh? Did it just disappear in to thin air, like all my memories too?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Albanes, you have to understand," Yeonaixho kept his hands over Albanes's shoulders. "You were very sick, and I had to heal you. If I hadn't, you would've ended up just like the rest of your village." "I- I know, Father-" Albanes choked out, "But couldn't you have grown me a new heart?" "Maybe I could've," Yeonaixho admitted, "But you were running out of time, and I didn't have time for 'maybes'. I needed to save you in a way I would know would work. And so I imparted onto you a piece of my very soul. You're my living blessing, Albanes. Don't take it for granted." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Awwww, that's just so sweet, so convenient that it also means that you hold her life in your hands at all times." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Yeonaixho didn't address Madeline. He answered all her statements, though. He just directed them to Albanes. "But isn't it a blessing, to be held? I'll always be there, to support and protect you." He patted her shoulder. "I would never hurt you, Albanes." "I know you wouldn't." Albanes nodded along. She leaned into Yeonaixho. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

This was not going as planned. Unless this was still part of Albanes plan..? She didn't want to be too quick to assume and end up ruining the whole thing.. "Wow. That's so great that you have someone who loves you unconditionally." Madeline said, staring over at them. "But do you really believe that? It's been how many years and he never bothered to tell you that you didn't have a heart, or even offer you the choice to get a new one?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"There has always been the risk of your heart growing back defected," Yeonaixho said. "The body wishes to return to form, remember? That was our earliest lesson." "I know, I know-" Albanes said, "But you're God. Can't you fix me?" "Do you truly believe this is something that needs to be fixed?" Yeonaixho's tone shifted. "You don't need a heart, Albanes. You have me." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Yeah, Yeonaixho wasn't going to acknowledge her at all. She just huffed, and decided to stay silent. She'd only speak up again if it seems Albanes was getting too deep in the manipulation. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Father, I want you to fix my heart." Albanes said, suddenly stern. "I want to be normal- human- again." Yeonaixho's brow furrowed. "Are you certain? With such humanity comes fragility. I would not be able to protect you like I can now." "Then let me go!" Albanes stood. "Let me be your construct, your puppet, your extension no longer! I want to live outside my service to you. Please, Father-" Her tears were apparent in her voice, even if she was facing away from Madeline, and Yeonaixho couldn't see them. "Please, let me live." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Okay, good, good.. She was standing up for herself more than expected. Madeline still refrained from comment, but she wished she could say something to support Albanes. Allying herself too closely with her was still too risky for tanking Albanes' chances. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Albanes..." Yeonaixho's brow furrowed. He remained seated. "Where is all this coming from?" "My heart." Albanes said. "If you would only permit me to have one." Yeonaixho sighed, and leaned back in his chair. "I really didn't want to have to pull this card, but I can't let you go. You still owe me a debt." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

A debt? What, he was holding Albanes responsible for being saved when she was a child? "You're fucking evil!" Madeline spat, not able to hold it in anymore. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Well, that's a bit extreme!" Yeonaixho was so startled by the comment, he actually addressed Madeline. Albanes didn't say anything. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"You want your daughter to pay you back for her LIFE?!" Madeline glared. "Just because you saved her, doesn't mean she owes the rest of her life to you!" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"I want her to not take my efforts for granted or ask for things she cannot have." Yeonaixho grumbled. "I know what you're trying to play here, little worm. I'm honestly offended you'd try to turn Albanes against me." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Don't call me that." Madeline said. "And I didn't try anything. I said Albanes could join me, or stay out of the way. And she made her choice. What would you even want her to do to 'repay' you?? Die for your cause?"

12:52 AM

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

It was clear Yeonaixho's temper was growing short. "And I'm supposed to believe that? That she willingly joined you? She's loyal to me. She's tied to me. Albanes would not so easily betray me." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"I gave Albanes a choice, unlike you." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"No. You didn't. Because if you had Albanes wouldn't have turned against me." Albanes, meanwhile, looked sick. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Madeline wished she could comfort Albanes but.. She didn't want to close her in any tighter. Madeline shifted her finger, which made her whole arm twitch. She pushed herself up to a sitting position, which seemed to break the rest of her body out of the slumber. "I can't control Albanes. I don't want to. She makes her own decisions." Madeline glared at Yeonaixho. "We're both just experiments to you, aren't we? You can't have your test subjects realizing what's wrong, can you?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Yeonaixho stepped back as Madeline rose. "I love Albanes. She's my daughter." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"I'm not hearing an actual argument." Madeline said. "You can say you love something, and really mean it, but you're known for experimenting on those people too. Like Jymaiyri. Her corpse has been on a table for who knows how long! And you're- you're doing all this as an experiment in to necromancy! How am I supposed to trust that you're not going to sacrifice Albanes for it or something, and that's that debt she owes you? Her life?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Everything I do- I do for her-" Yeonaixho abruptly accused. It was clear the 'her' didn't refer to Albanes. "I would give up everything for her. And it'd be worth it. It would always be worth it!" "To you!" Albanes interjected before he could continue. "It'd be worth it, to you! I never even knew Jymaiyri! I'm supposed to just... be okay with being 'given up?' With being killed, all for someone else?" @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Madeline pushed herself up from the bed as Albanes spoke back. She positioned herself in front of the other woman, holding her arm out to the side protectively. "You can't kill someone who's still alive for a chance of bringing someone back! She doesn't even want to be back! I've spoken to her ghost, and I know Ryunoske has too! Even Petrai believes me more than you!" Madeline said. "You need to let this go! If you don't-.. You know you're outnumbered by guests. Your people will defect when they see its a losing battle. You need to drop this, give Albanes back her heart, and let. Us. Leave." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) (edited)

Yeonaixho took in a breath. "You're really in no position to be making demands of me." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"I'm not going to be the perfect victim to your tyranny anymore. Even if you don't care about what I have to say, I'm going to say it." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Say it all you want. I don't care." He scoffed. "Between us, I think we can drop that little 'benevolent God' thing.' There's only one thing I care about here, and I'm going to get it." "You're a liar. Albanes spat. "I hate you." Yeonaixho's expression softened, just a moment. If anything, that seemed to touch him. "I'll make you a deal. I'll fix Albanes's heart, if you two leave this little 'rebellion'. You don't have to join me, but you can't join them." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Deal." Madeline said, without even taking a moment to consider it. If it meant Albanes would get to live, she'd take it. Plus, who would be stopping them from going back on that deal later..? They could simply sneak out when Yeonaixho wasn't paying attention. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Deal." Albanes echoed. More than anything, now, she wanted to live. She could forsake loyalty for that. She already had. "Alright. Seems we've got ourselves and agreement." Yeonaixho nodded. He led Albanes over to another bed. "Lay down here. It'll be easier with you laid down." To Madeline, he instructed, "And you, stay right there." Albanes laid down on her back, and closed her eyes, not flinching even as her father placed his hand over her chest. The healing ached, in a way it had much before. The sensation was familiar, too familiar. Almost too familiar to be real. It was a quick process- over in seconds. After her father had moved away his hand, Albanes put her hand back over her chest. She could feel it- the rhythmic thumping of her heart. It was real. At least, she could pretend so. "He did it, Madeline." She said, "We can leave now." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Madeline didn't budge from her spot, just in case it would distract Yeonaixho and mess it up, somehow. Man, that was quick. All that for a few seconds of healing. He really could have done this at any point. She wanted to ask if he could make bring her arm and eye back, but he didn't even feign love for her, so.. Unlikely he'd agree to that. Madeline ran up to Albanes' side, grabbing on to her hand. "That's great." Madeline smiled. "Let's get going." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Albanes intertwined her hand with Madeline's, and nodded. She didn't say any more. "I really hope you two will make it out of this." Yeonaixho said before they left. "I just want you to know that." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"You have a really funny way of showing it." Madeline said as they walked out. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Albanes followed wordlessly. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline