cradleproject | WEEK 6 - Investigation

Light protected her.

[Well. It doesn't sound like a guess - Frankenstein's not sure how else it would be even remotely possible for her to make it out of there with such nonfatal injuries otherwise. He's probably using his suit jacket for wrapping up her injuries, so literally RIP 3-piece suit.

That said, he'll be examining her palm, carefully holding onto her wrist. What's going on there?

And since Machias is here-]

Make yourself useful. See if she's received any head injuries - you'd know what that would look like, wouldn't you?

[LOW BLOW.]

On it.

[ ha ha very funny.

He'd yell otherwise but with Clover in critical condition, now's not really the time to holler at Frank. Instead he just nods at Frankenstein, moving to check her head. Let's have a look at the eyes too for good measure - are they dilated, constricted, normal? ]

There's some bruising on her head. Probably from when...

[ Machias trails off, falling silent and grim as he leans in to have a closer look. Is it on the back of her head? ]

[It's hard to tell under the blood, but it looks like there's some sort of rash on Clover's palm.

The bruising's towards the front of her head. Her eyes are at the dilation you'd expect from someone who's been shot and is currently unconscious.]

[At about the same time Machias moves in to look at her eyes, they flutter open on their own—and there isn't even a full second before she bolts upright, smashing her head against his in the process.

But it's not enough to keep her down—she gasps and, without any mind to her own injuries or anyone tending to them, tries to rip her wrist away from Frankenstein scramble back and away from them. She's whirling to look back and forth as she does, searching for something. Not that any of her flailing is a match for Frankenstein on her best day; she's mostly just a danger to herself and probably also Machias as collateral damage at this point.]

[Ah.]

... I hadn't meant to cause another head injury that way.

[He always knew that Clover could beat up Machias.

That said he's actually not going to let her go ahead and cause much more damage than that, immediately moving to tighten his hold on her wrist - not enough to hurt but firm enough to hold her in place - and then grabbing her other wrist in much of the same way before she smacks into anyone or anything.

Firmly:]

Clover.

Stay still. You're injured.

Gah!

[ That headbutt smacked Machias clear on the forehead and it unceremoniously knocks him back, with him clutching the place where it got hit and cursing under his breath. Fuck, it's cracked, she definitely cracked something there. ]

Goddess, that hurt. [ Aside from his confidence as a man, he's not too badly hurt aside from that, so he's going to get back to helping Frankenstein and... Clover. Who's probably making quite the racket. ] I-- Look, take it easy, all right? You're still hurt.

Stop! [Her voice is hoarse, given that she's in the middle of almost dying, but she's struggling no less viciously. When she tries again, she's louder:] Stop! No, no, no!

[Just the effort of screaming hurts enough to make her wince but she has to get out of here, she can't stay, they're holding her back but her brother is hurt and they are keeping her away from him—

But she can't articulate any of that, can't think past her panic, so she flails harder against Frankenstein's grip.]

Stop it! I'm fine! Let go, let go, stop it!

[WELL if this isn't breaking his heart, he doesn't know what would. It's not like he's unfamiliar with it - the wild need to be at someone's side, regardless of whatever personal injury might be sustained - and so he's going to respond as calmly as he can.]

Light would rather see you treated first, Clover.

[And it feels bad - it leaves a poor taste in his mouth, speaking for his deceased friend.

But he tries to remain serious, though his voice does take a slight tone of pleading. Don't let this child be in such a rush to join her brother.]

We wouldn't want to worry him.

[ Machias' expression falters for a moment while struggling to restrain Clover, looking at Frankenstein with his mouth slightly open as if he were about to speak. Then he stops, his eyebrows pulled down while trying to manage an equally calm, if unusually quiet tone. ]

... Right. For his sake, let's see to your injuries first. [ ... This was hard. He didn't like this, but the last thing they needed was to lose Clover to her own grief before they could properly treat her. ] Can you do that, Clover?

[She falters, but her eyes go wide and desperate as she stills—if they are tending to her first it means no one is watching Light, doesn't it, not just that they've taken her away from him to treat him elsewhere, but if she's first then that means Light has to be next and that means they're not taking care of him now.

She tries again to pull her wrists away, though less violently now.]

You have to take care of him first. You have to, someone has to—he's—someone needs to—I don't, I'm not— [She shakes her head hard, looks towards the medbay, desperate.] Light—Light—

Someone beat me to it.

[Which. Isn't wrong. Someone managed to find Light before Frankenstein did - before his champion quite managed to make it onto the scene, and now all he can do is care for Clover - who Light treasured more than anyone else.

How distinctly unfair.

Regardless, when he speaks again, it's firmer. This time something more scolding and solid, as if offering her foundation to stand on.]

People are seeing to him but now you are my responsibility - make this easier on us both.

...

[ Machias' expression tenses, remaining silent and trying not to look at either of them. Then he'll get up, his attention focused on the now unfrozen medical supplies. ]

... Those bandages won't hold for long; I'm going to get some proper ones. [ He pauses, looking pensive. ] I know you've got it all under control, so... I'll leave it to you--

[ Strangely, he cuts himself off. It seemed like he was about to say another word, but stopped himself before he could manage to say the rest of it.

It was more of an excuse to get away either way, and not let Frankenstein's white lie to Clover fall apart with him there. This really didn't sit well with him - it was a technical truth, but in a way it was still deception. Lying by omission, though one could hardly call it for malicious reasons given Clover's understandable grief and lack of composure. Let's just concentrate on getting some proper, clean bandages to stop the bleeding. ]

[At the very least, she stops trying to break away from Frankenstein, but she's still rapidly turning this way and that, focus lingering towards the medbay. Of course she is Frankenstein's responsibility, of course Light would send one of the people he trusted most here to take care of her instead. Her whole body is trembling, but she isn't fighting him anymore. Everything hurts too much for her to think her way through everything she doesn't know, but she's distracted from trying to find the words to ask any question at all when she watches Machias start to walk away.]

Wait—wait! The trap, the, the turret—you can't go in there! They—unless, unless they disabled it already, there's a turret, it m-might still fire...

[WELL. When Frankenstein picked up Clover at the very least he noticed that there sure were a lot of bullets - plus a melting ice wall. So in response to that, Frankenstein is going to go ahead and keep checking up on Clover's wounds now that she's not struggling so openly, trying to get her to open her palms so he can see if there's a rash only one one hand or both.]

I told you, people are in there already.

[looking after your already dead brother, sorry about that little detail that's apPARENTLY GONE MISSING WOW]

Focus, Clover. Tell me what you last remember.

[Her hands open easily enough, she hasn't got the fight in her to try stubbornly keeping them closed if she wanted to, and the rash is only on her right palm. She doesn't quite settle knowing Machias isn't about to walk into surprise bullet hell, but she's less actively panicky now.]

I—there was—the, the turret, it was in the cabinet and he...he got in the way... [She's still watching the entrance to the medbay as she stutters out something like an explanation, but she whips around to look at Frankenstein when she's done.] Who's there? Who's with him?

[ . . . at this point Frankenstein wonders if Clover thinks that Light is superhuman enough to survive getting blasted by a turret. Regardless, he'll be moving then, a hand moving to hold her head in place as he's also going to go ahead and finish the head examination that Machias didn't quite get to.]

I saw Fumi and Jack in the room. Dorian also arrived earlier, but he retrieved me to check on you.

[So. Not Light sending Frankenstein like Clover might've thought. The examination sure is drawing nearer to an end for the time being so he's actually going to start letting more of the truth come in.]

From what I could tell, Hancock was the one who was felled by the turret when the investigation began, unfortunately, but from what I understand it shouldn't pose a threat to Machias now.

[ . . . .

That said. Once the examination of her head is complete and all her wounds have been checked and at least haphazardly bandaged, he thinks he's about done keeping the truth from her. Normally he would keep up charades like this forever, but wiping her memory isn't an option when the trial still needs to be completed.]

Clover... From what I could tell, Light isn't with us anymore.

[She doesn't understand why Frankenstein was brought right to her, why they've decided to trust Jack with her brother's care, why Hancock was there or why it matters, and she starts to form the first few syllables of an objection but Frankenstein keeps talking, says Light isn't with them anymore, and Clover goes stone still.]

What— [And she stops, expression wide-eyed and icy and empty and wasting no time twisting into a snarl.] What the hell do you mean "from what you could tell"?! [She's thrashing away from him again, kicking and clawing and starting to scream so loudly it makes her head throb.] You said he was being taken care of! You said—said we couldn't worry him, that he was okay! Where is he?!

[ And true to Frankenstein's words, Machias emerges from the medical wing with a pack of fresh bandages. Just in time for Clover to not only strangle Frankenstein, seems like, but potentially bleed herself out via reopening her wounds. ... Looks like the truth came to light after all. There's hardly any small comforts with that, but avoiding the subject didn't feel any more right.

But yeah, Machias wastes no time getting over to their side, gripping her shoulder and other wrist and taking the side opposite of Frankenstein to help restrain her better. ]

Calm down! You'll-- I know this can't be easy for you, but you're going to reopen your wounds! [ He sounds and looks honestly frazzled, but otherwise tries to maintain a firm tone while attempting to hold her still. ] ... And I'm sure he wouldn't want that. [ He slows down, his tone falling quieter in turn while fighting back against her struggling. ] After... what happened.

[Ah yes, Machias. Coming in for the save. Maybe.

Regardless, Frankenstein knows for a fact that he deserves this and it's why he just barely manages to dodge out of the way before she just straight up claws him in the face. He'll still hold onto her carefully - if only to make sure that she doesn't strain herself too much or end up knocking into anything or anyone - even as his expression remains the same shade of morose.]

I don't intend to speak for Light anymore.

[Didn't feel comfortable about it even when he did - not that discomfort has ever stopped him before.]

But for what purpose would you continue to injure yourself further, Clover? You're hurt and that would worry anyone. You still need to recover.

[He doesn't bother to clarify that he never said that Light was okay.]

Let go! LET GO!

[Machias, Machias has her wrist and her shoulder and he's smaller than Frankenstein and she throws all of her weight into trying to shove him away from her—one less obstacle, one less restraint, and they're both speaking to her and even if part of her recognizes that she should be hearing words it all just sounds like noise when she can even hear them over her own screaming.]

Get off of me! Where's my brother?! Where's Light?!

[She's putting everything she has into breaking free, careless for their safety. Even if she heard them cautioning her about her injuries, she wouldn't care; she can't think past Light, Light, Light, her brother is hurt and they're keeping her away from him and they're lying to her and she can't trust them or anyone but her brother, she needs to see her brother.]

LET ME GO!

Stop! There's nothing we can do, so please! Calm down!

[ He can feel that familiar, unwanted heaviness weighing down inside him as she struggles - he knew this wasn't going to be easy and yet he'll maintain his grip as he tries to calm down himself and attempt to call out to her. ]

... For his sake, please. Calm down and listen to me, Clover. [ Machias pauses, the heaviness getting worse but still trying to hold it together and keep calm. ] I don't claim to know what happened, but what I can tell you was that Light was truly brave... and not only that, but clearly had faith you at least would pull through. … He did what any brother would do.

[ Machias maintains his grip, giving her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder and for once sounding unusually gentle. He doesn't know if Clover's in any condition to listen, but it's not going to stop him from trying to reach out. ]

The most we can do right this moment is tend to you. So… let’s not let him down. [ pauses, taking a deep breath in. ] All right? He wouldn’t want you hurt, or worse.

[> calm down
> Clover
you get to pick one, my man

and we are picking the latter, it looks like, because the screeching most certainly does not stop. She only yells louder when Machias raises his voice, but doesn't quiet when he does.]

Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! [His words may mean something later, may process into something significant when she isn't forcing the thought Light, Light, Light, Light past her pain, but right now it's nothing but in her way, Machias and Frankenstein are nothing but in her way, anything that isn't bringing her to her brother is keeping her from him and she has to get rid of it, she's already wasted so much time.]

I SAID LET ME GO!

[And she's wrenching her arm out of Machias's grip and punching him in the fucking face.]

[Well isn't that a little savage.

That said, Frankenstein again can't help but think that he understands. If he was kept away from the one person who meant the world to him, he certainly wouldn't be calm either. He's not able to stop the punch - not when he's trying to keep Clover restrained - and that's why he's choosing to stop that for now.]

Go to him.

Please, be careful with yourself. [A pause and - a little too late, but sincerely:] I'm sorry for keeping you.

[He'll let Clover go then, moving to examine Machias. He'll go back to Clover in a moment to make sure that she doesn't worsen her injuries and stays alive, probably sealing in the bad end while he's at it, but for now he doesn't think he has the right to intrude any longer.]

[ fucking hell clover that was his nose. that was his glasses too.

Needless to say Frankenstein was absolutely right in his earlier evaluation of how Clover would fare against Machias, because the force of her fist to the bridge of his nose is enough to knock him clear off her and also have him instinctively cover the spot as he lets loose a loud curse.

It's going to take him a few minutes to get himself together because goddess this actually hurts. Trails of blood is slowly trickling down from where he's holding a hand over the injury. ]

Ugh... [ Since these glasses are fucking broken, he's going to take them off now. And keep his chin down, but he'll flash a brief glance back at Frankenstein. ] ... Do you think we went a little too far?

[She's not listening, she's not going to listen; Frankenstein's apology is lost because the second their hands are off of her she sprints away, so focused that she only stumbles slightly as she goes, rounding the corner into the medbay—

She doesn't make it a full step through the doorway. All at once the fight drains from her, takes the fire from her expression and the color from her face because it's impossible to miss the sight of her brother's body from here.]

No.

[And she crumples to the floor like her strings have been cut, hands coming to cover her face, fingers clawing at her hair.]

No, no, no, no, no...

[She has lost track of how many times she has had this dream in the past week—the past month and a half, the past year and decade. This fear has followed her for as long as she can remember, she doesn't know a life lived without it, but she would wake up and it would be okay, she would find him again and it would be okay. He only ever told her that things were okay. Every nerve in her pulsates with pain and there are no broken bones this time, there's no promise of a way home, there's his body in front of her and no way to bring him back to her again like there always has been and everything in her, all at once, shuts down.

Light. Light, Light, Light, Light, Light.

There's no response. It has never been so quiet.]

WEEK 6 - Investigation

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