[RL with Birkin and Adachi]

[screwloose]

Stein's wing of the dungeon he used to share with Birkin had become, if anything, darker and more terrifying since Birkin left. The lower floors were thick with shadows that were creepy, stitched monstrosities or tottering, jittering clockwork robots. The walls crawled with cracked mirrors and stitching, and were marked at intervals by terrifying three-eyed faces with wide, snaggle-toothed mouths. Yet arrows pointed the way accurately from the entrance of each level to the next elevator that would take Birkin and Adachi to the next floor - almost as if Stein wanted them to penetrate to the centre of his laboratory.

At the apex of the tower was a single room, lit by a single naked bulb high in the ceiling. Stein sat in a rolling office chair, his arms draped over the back of the chair. On either side of him were two operating tables, stainless steel and bearing channels to collect the blood. Thick leather straps lay open, ready to receive prisoners for experimentation.

He hadn't been idle while he waited. Several people sat in small cages against one wall, whimpering or muttering to themselves. Some had been turned into shadows on Stein's operating table, and then released to block Birkin and Adachi's way, but these were the failed experiments. One woman sobbed piteously, clutching at her arm which had turned inky black and dripped a noxious substance onto the floor that was slowly converting her feet and legs to shadow as well.

"Glad you could make it," Stein greeted them. "Now if you'll each take off your clothes and lie down, we can begin the operation."

Comments

[touchofgenius.livejournal.com]

Birkin gave Adachi a single nod. He had no idea how he was going to 'keep his attention' but making it up as he went along was always one of his specialties. And with that other lightning bolt coming toward Adachi, he had a bit of a distraction in mind... It was insane and stupid, but he really had no choice.

He broke out into a sprint, running straight at the detective and shoved him out of the way, taking the hit. It was like a million burning syringes being shoved into his flesh all at once. He felt lightheaded, tingly - but at least he could tell he was alive.

"Why do you go after Adachi so much?" Birkin asked, raising his voice to make sure stein heard. "Afraid you're going to hurt me and make me run off? This is really just between us. So, c'mon you ugly son of a bitch; hit me." He grimaced slightly. Adachi so owed him for this.

[det-goofball.livejournal.com]

Adachi hadn't known what to expect for the distraction but he certainly wasn't particularly impressed by finding himself tumbling to the floor again. He bit back an angry yell and sprung back to his feet, ignoring the fact that no doubt he'd be covered in bruises later.

If they were going to get an opening, it was now. Adachi attacked, similar to Stein's earlier assault, with his persona lashing out with blades. "How d'you like me now?" he asked with a cocky smirk, rather impressed with himself. Because he was pretty sure if that didn't do any damage, nothing would.

[screwloose]

Stein had turned to slash Birkin, his face contorting with wild, maniacal glee in response to the taunt, when Adachi's attack came out of nowhere and cut him down. He roared, pushing himself up on multiple legs, dripping blood on the floor and staggering a little.

They traded blows and taunts, back and forth, Stein only able to go after one of them at a time, but his attacks hitting hard when they connected.

Finally he slumped to the floor and shimmered, the real Stein slipping from inside the monster like some kind of bizarre birthing. He slumped to the floor, panting, while the shadow - looking like a yellow-eyed Stein again - lay spreadeagled on the floor, giggling.

Stein held his own head in both hands. "No...I'm better than that. It's not just because of Senpai that I'm not just doing anything I want," he muttered.

[touchofgenius.livejournal.com]

With Stein's monster not attacking them anymore, Birkin took the opportunity to fall to his knees and cast another healing spell on him and Adachi. Damn that was rough. Once his cuts and gashes had disappeared, he walked forward slightly.

"Stein...?" The last thing they needed was that Shadow freaking out again. "It's okay. We all have things about ourselves that we don't like, you know..."

[det-goofball.livejournal.com]

Adachi didn't quite collapse but it was a close-run thing. He took a couple of deep breaths, trying to steady himself - god, he was trembling - as Birkin tried playing psychologist. How had the kids done this anyway? It was such a chore.

"Yep, you just gotta suck it up," Adachi added, trying to interject some cheerfulness into the situation.

[screwloose]

Stein shot a faint glare at Adachi, then reached up and curled his fingers in Birkin's bloodstained lab coat. "I know," he said.

His shadow gave an especially loud giggle, and he flinched. He was afraid, afraid to accept that part of himself - afraid of what he'd become.

"You're such a terrible influence on me," he murmured.

[touchofgenius.livejournal.com]

Birkin looked over his shoulder at Adachi and raised his middle finger. He really had the worst way of putting things when he wasn't pretending to be a complete idiot.

He sat down on the floor and put a hand on Stein's shoulder. "Yeah, I know," Birkin said forcing himself to smile. "You're not exactly the best influence on me either, to be fair. But it could be a lot worse. I mean, we could be crazy and alone."

After glancing over at the Shadow, Birkin sighed. "There's only one way to shut it up, you know."

[det-goofball.livejournal.com]

Adachi shrugged in response to the other two and folded his arms, just about resisting the urge to start tapping his foot. This was boring and he didn't want to spend another minute in here, listening to that Shadow giggling away and listening to these two have their little heart-to-heart.

He glanced over at Stein. "You'll have to accept it one way or another. Or it'll just freak out again."

[screwloose]

Stein sighed and leaned his forehead for a second against Birkin's shoulder. "Yes, yes, I know. Fine."

He straightened up and got to his feet, wobbling a little. He couldn't remember ever being so exhausted, and he could see why. The shadow was using his own power, the power of his soul, to exist. Every one of those attacks had come from his own strength, and the shadow continued to sap it even now.

"All right, yes, I know you're in there," he said. "You can come back. I won't push you away anymore."

The shadow stopped giggling and looked up at Stein, looking somehow innocent and vulnerable, like a child. "Can I come out and play sometimes?"

Stein pushed his glasses upwards and smirked. "Definitely."

The two shared grins as the shadow shimmered and transformed into a person that looked more like a demonic faun blacksmith, complete with curling horns and goat's legs, but carrying a scythe in both hands. The persona shone in the air for a moment, then sank back into Stein's body, and he accepted it with a look of relief on his face.

Then he staggered and had to grab Birkin's shoulder to stay upright.

[touchofgenius.livejournal.com]

Birkin slowly stood, making sure he remained steady enough to continue holding Stein up. "You okay? Other than the exhaustion, at least?" He wrapped his arms around him, and smiled slightly before smacking Stein on the back of the head and frowning. "Don't you dare ever pull that shit again! Do you know how close I came to having a stress-related heart attack? Jackass."

He glanced over at Adachi. "You can get us out of here right? I seriously need a drink after all that." Birkin sighed. He'd be happy once all this dumb fog went away.

[det-goofball.livejournal.com]

Adachi averted his eyes as Birkin got all lovey-dovey. Not the sort of rubbish he liked to see, thanks. At least he wasn't pretending to retch at the sweetness of it all.

"'Course I can get us out," he said confidently. "A drink sounds like a great idea. So let's get the hell out."

[screwloose]

"Hey- ow," Stein exclaimed. "You did the same thing! It's not my fault."

And he grinned. "I'm better than okay. I've got a persona." He was eager to study it.

He gave Birkin's arm a squeeze and started forward, though he kept a light hold on the older man. "If you can get us out, then do it," he said. "A drink is only the beginning of what I need right now."

[touchofgenius.livejournal.com]

"But you never had to worry about me being a Shadow because you were stuck like this the whole time!" Birkin sighed reluctantly. It wasn't his fault, he knew that but... Damn if he didn't want to blame someone for this. Well, blame someone a bit more concrete than a god or whoever supposedly cause the fog to spread.

Birkin smiled slightly, staying in-step with Stein. "Then it's settled. Drinks on me!" He lowered his voice and smirked. "We'll focus on what else you might need once Adachi isn't around." Birkin let out an airy chuckle. "So don't get too drunk and pass out, okay?"