gay-thic lit anyone? (o/o)

She sighed. Would he be much help if all he cared about was a second chance? This place certainly caught him at the most opportune time, it seemed. He must’ve been very vulnerable and desperate when he came here. No surprise he got caught up in all of it so easily.
Her sigh turned into a mischievous giggle. “Well, clearly it’s because he doesn’t love me,” she grinned.

“Right, you always mean to tease.” He rolled his eyes. Then he glanced down at thighs, unsure if he should share. The creature not believing him was one thing, but Anna was Esme’s mother. She deserved to know, but at the same time, from her perspective it must seem just as crazy. He brought his hand up to his mouth, biting his fingers. He stopped only to say, “I’m starting to wonder if Esme was right. She told me that Victor was in danger.”

“I doubt he loves me either, he was never like this before… before I…” Victor’s facial expression hardened, then softened, then despaired. “I killed him. It was my fault, I created the thing that ended his life and now… now he’s dead, but alive again, and I don’t know how or why but I want to fix him, make him whole. And I can’t even do that. And then my wife, my more than sister, my dearest Elizabeth, I destroyed her too by being so foolish as to not even look in front of me. But that’s all in the past. I doubt I can help you as I am now, but I’ll certainly try. What do you need?” he asked, standing up.

“Hmm?” Anna said, a worried look crossing her face. “When Esme says something is going to happen, she’s usually right. What else did she say?”

(I agree Victor, Henry was Sunshine Boi before you killed him and now he's just Creepy Lover Boi and that's a serious downgrade)

His words only reinforced her conclusions. Not only was he vulnerable and desperate, but had an incredible sense of guilt as well. Even if it was just in the past, as he said, clearly he wouldn't be here if he'd moved on.
"Oh…" her grin faded quickly. "I'm so sorry. No wonder you want a second chance."
Then she sighed, looking past him and at the sunlight streaming in behind him, then back to his face again.
"Nothing, darling, just…" she bit her lip, unsure of how she should phrase it. "I want to know the truth."

"Yes, it's just that I was really hoping she'd be wrong this time," Robert groaned. He closed his eyes, going over what had been spoken the night before.
"She made it sound like he was ambushed a few minutes before the creature arrived with Ishtar last night," he began, holding out his pointer finger. "And whoever ambushed him took him to a bad place-" he held out his middle finger. "but he won't leave because they have Clerval too, somehow." He brought out his ring finger.

Victor broke down at that. “The truth? You want the truth? Well then, may god damn me to hell for saying it, but I’m a monster, alright? I’m a monster, I made a monster out of a man and now I’ve created something far worse. And now I’m trapped here in this nightmare of my own making with nobody to save me, nobody who would want to save me. And… and I’m useless, alright? I can’t help anyone and I’ll never make things right again, and everything is my fucking fault!” his voice broke. “I tried, I tried to make things better, but I’ve only succeeded in making them worse. I gave my Adam an Eve, and now they’re probably plotting my downfall.”

“Alright. Alright, fine. So, if we can trust Hyde, then we’ll break Victor out of wherever he’s being held, find out why he’s being held wherever instead of in a prison or proper asylum, and then get out of there.” Anna said. “As for the Clerval comment, could it be a metaphor? Esme isn’t always direct, you know.”

(Due to unfortunate circumstances, I may be responding less often, just fyi ^^)

Robert opened his eyes as she spoke. “I mean, perhaps, but I was more surprised that she knew about Clerval in the first place,” he said, starting to bite his fingers again. “Did you tell her about him?”

Mina panicked for a second. That was not the sort of truth she meant. For a few moments she could only stare as he broke down, but at some point she found the presence of mind to set down the books and place her hands on his shoulders in an attempt to still him.
“Shhh.” Her gaze was stern, but she felt her eyes watering. “You’re not a monster. Surely there is someone out there who cares about you, even if you’ve made mistakes. And I want to save you. I want to save everyone. And you can only stop being useless if you stop wallowing in self pity. Also… that’s not what I meant by truth. But it’s alright, it’s truth nonetheless, I suppose.”
She didn’t know how she didn’t realize it sooner, but she finally remembered who he was. There was an article about him in the paper sometime before she was admitted here, and the staff’s gossip finally clicked in her mind. She took her hands away, then quickly wiped away her tears.

"Hmm. No. I didn't even tell her about the letters, beyond what I could reasonably tell her about Victor's family that didn't come off as wholly messed-up." she shrugged. "But that's not really relevant is it? No, I didn't tell her his name, even. But she's awfully perceptive, she could have picked it up in casual conversation. I can think of a few alternatives though, and I don't like them…"

"Right. Sorry. I'm a bit self-centered and I don't always pay attention to context clues. It's how my wife got murdered, actually." he shrugged, seeming quite nonchalant for what he'd just said. "I'll ask around. You can hide in here for the time being, nobody searches over here."

"Well, can you think of a time where we casually conversed about the people the creature killed?" Robert said, brow raised. "Because I can't. What are the alternatives? I keep that letter shut away all the time, and even if she was perceptive enough to know where it is, she knows not to go through my things. She wouldn't have found it on her own."

She blinked, rather taken aback by his shift in attitude. "I can see that," she said slowly. "And thank you. I suppose I could hide here, but…"
She wondered if she could trust him to "ask around." Plus, she wanted to search the rest of the building.
Well then, let this be a test, she answered herself. If he doesn't help her, if something goes wrong, then he's out. She'll find another place to hide.
"Just be careful of what you ask," she said hesitantly.

“Well. We should probably just wait for now, at least until the sun goes down and we can sneak out of here without suspicion. For now though, we watch the murderer. Carew was a good friend of mine, if by proxy of Jekyll, and I don’t take kindly to people who harm my friends, however distant they may be. I don’t take kindly to anyone who harms anyone without reason.” Anna growled.

(Should we just skip to when Anna and Robert have found the place? And when Victor has received new information?)

(Yeah let’s do that)

(Okay.)

(do you want me to skip? I'm a little unsure how to tackle it)

(If you'd like, or I can.)

(ah, is it alright if you do it?)

(Yeah, but I'm busy tonight and tomorrow so it might be late.)

(That’s totally fine my dude)

It was late, and Hyde had managed to sneak the two out through the roof, leaping from rooftop to rooftop with ease, Anna easily keeping up with her more wolfish side allowing her to easily traverse across the shingles. The two frequently had to stop for Robert, they were just infinitely more powerful and maneuverable that an average person, even if strong, wouldn't be able to keep up easily. Eventually, they got to the outside of the city, where a carriage was waiting for them. Two pitch-dark stallions saddled up front snorted with such fierceness it felt like it shook the earth. Horses are just like that, man. "In." Edward said simply, ushering the two in and paying the driver a hefty sum of what was probably Jekyll's money.

Meanwhile, Victor had found little information. He wasn't allowed to wander much outside of the facility, and certainly not into new arrival wards. He shook his head and decided to walk in there anyways. It wouldn't hurt much now, would it? Or would it?

Elizabeth was searching for the recent escaped convict. Mina would fall into her grasp soon enough, and she would have so much fun skinning her flesh from her bones. Or, more like the Father was puppeting her in such a way, the real Elizabeth would be abhorred by such thoughts. "Mina, Mina, Mina, where are you~?" she purred, drawing a small revolver from her pocket and stalking towards Victor's room, the only place she hadn't searched.

(“Skinning the flesh from her bones”)
(Me: retreats to wholesome creature and Esme drawing)

(But anyway thanks dude)

If sprinting through the city on the ground was invigorating, then leaping from roof to roof was an absolute wild ride. The night air filled his lungs and fueled his muscles as he leaped and traversed the roofs of the city. He had done this a few times before on his travels, and now he reminded himself that he should do it more often. He found himself feeling rather jealous and embarrassed though, seeing how Anna, who he was pretty sure had never done this before as far as he knew, and the raisin could be faster and more agile than he. But still, at least something as enjoyable as this was part of their mission. He just hoped he wasn’t slowing them down.
When at last they came to the carriage, Robert almost didn’t want to get in and just run across the roofs forever. But of course, there was the urgent matter that made them run across the roofs in the first place that they had to attend to. As he sat in seat, finally still, he started thinking about Margaret, Esme, and Victor’s creations, as well as Victor himself. It felt like he was on another one of his travels, and he should write to them. His eyes searched the carriage rather unconsciously for something to write with and write on, but in vain.

In the time that Victor had been gone, Mina had found a piece of parchment and a pencil. It seemed he was allowed to have those things, the lucky dog, and she had used them to write down her observations of her exploration of the asylum. Thankfully, she remembered most of what she saw, and even attempted a crude sketch of the layout of the building on the back. It was only a partial depiction, as she hadn’t explored every part, but it would do.
Whenever she heard someone coming down the hall, she would stop whatever she was doing and go completely still, pressing herself against the wall so she wouldn’t be immediately seen if that someone opened the door. But no one did, only passing by or dropping off meals through the slits in the doors. Mina only ate small portions of the meals, wanting to leave the rest for Victor when he came back.
She was just nearing the end of La Morte d’Aurther when she heard faint footsteps again, this time accompanying a low moan she couldn’t quite make out, except for her name. The voice itself sounded familiar too. A panic seized Mina’s heart, and she pressed herself against the wall and going still, putting a hand over her mouth to quiet her breathing just in case.

“Mina, dear, I only want to help. Just come along, dear, and join the union!” Elizabeth, or the shell of her at least, burst through the door, revolver held right in front of her as she scanned the room, soon finding Mina. “The final event will be happening, and soon! The first two of a new race, the first to enter a world of light, and light, and light!” she trained the revolver on Mina, stepping closer and backing her against the wall.

Victor had gotten caught. Foolish, he should have never agreed to helping that damned woman in the first place! but still, there was no going back now. “Hello there, Doctor, Nurse. Are you looking for someone?”

The carriage ride was long. Anna couldn’t help but pass the time by asking some questions.

“So, why did you kill him?”

“Who?”

“Carew. Don’t tell me you’ve murdered more than just one?”

“Sorry, just a little joke. Yeh, no, he’s the only one I killed. He… found out my secret. Jekyll’s Truth, as I call it. Blacker’n the Earl of Hell’s waistcoat and more sinister too, I’d reckon. Anyways, he threatened to tell, so I did what I had to do to protect us.”

A strangled gasp came from Mina's throat as Elizabeth entered, and she backed away as the shell stepped closer. She didn't understand what Elizabeth was talking about, but she figured it would be useful later on. If she made it out of this alive, that is. She went into hysterical woman mode, which wasn't difficult. Tears sprang in her eyes.
"W-what? I just want my husband back. He left– he left, and I don't where he went. Do you know where he went? Why… why are you pointing that at me?"
She could only hope that she could keep Elizabeth talking before she got a bullet to the chest. Or maybe, by some crazy luck, the revolver was unloaded. Besides, they wouldn't bring a loaded weapon into a mental institution, right? Wasn't this just psychological manipulation?

The conversation drew Robert from his thoughts. A flash of confusion and annoyance came over him.
"What's with the two of you anyway? You say you want to get away from him, and yet you killed someone to protect you both. I mean, if it has something to do with the secret, you don't have to tell me, but do you hate him or not?"

“Come now, Mina, we both know you aren’t really insane.” A smooth, calm voice emitted from Elizabeth’s mouth, much unlike the manic, deranged one earlier. It sounded like a different person entirely. “Now, all I want is to talk, but I don’t trust you not to ruin everything so I’m going to kill you when this is done. Understand me?”

“Oh, I see where ye’d be confused. Yeah, I sound like I wantae strangle the man at times, but truth be told I’d rather someone else did the deed. Jekyll was and… still is, awful generous to a wee bastard like me. I hate him, but I need him, understand? That’s where the duality lies. The two sides to the thing. But when I leave this place I won’t need him anymore, a that’s where he’ll be floundering.”

Mina scowled, dropping the act. No point in keeping it up. She was trapped. Had Frankenstein been the one to tell Elizabeth where she was? Perhaps she could ask, but he didn't show up with her, and if he really didn't betray her, then she didn't want him to die after her.
She narrowed her eyes. Could she trust Elizabeth to not just kill her here and now?
"Fine. Talk."

Some of the annoyance faded. "Ah, I see," Robert said. "And how does leaving free you from being dependant on him, exactly?"

“All I wanted was an understanding with you. But you went and ran away, and took with you one of our most valuable assets. Only he can tell us where the Pure Ones are, unless by some stroke of luck he told you and then I’ll have to extract that information out of you. Oh, Mina, you really don’t see the big picture yet, do you?” ‘Elizabeth’ said, polishing the gun with a corner of the white robes nearly everyone here but the staff wore. “Mina, darling, you know that I have eyes everywhere. Victor has been captured, and is currently being held for questioning. These puppets won’t be useful for long, he’ll soon see his Henry and Elizabeth are not what he thinks they are. Now, tell me everything you know. It’ll make this less painful.”

“Well, that’s a complicated question with an even more complicated answer. I’ll have to find a way to kill him first, but when that’s done all that will be left to do is find my own life, and that isn’t too hard when you’re me, ye ken?” Hyde said, kicking his feet up on the seats opposite him. Anna glared, but said nothing.

"Kill him?" Robert cried in alarm. Then he remembered the raisin was a murderer. "Oh."
He sighed, feeling his lip curl as the raisin kicked his feet up. "Are we there yet? Apologies for my impatience."

Oh, so he was captured. That made much more sense. Mina took a breath to calm herself.
"Pure Ones? I know nothing, much less the big picture, thank you very much. Now if you'll excuse me."
While Elizabeth's shell was still polishing the gun, Mina threw La Morte d'Aurthur at her, aiming for her head. She attempted to dash around her.

“Well yes, kill him. And we should be there in just about… now.” Hyde sniffed the air, Robert wouldn’t have noticed anything wrong but both Edward and Anna noticed it instantly. It was foul, and crackled in your lungs and stayed. There was something tainted about this place, and even Robert would have been able to sense that.

The carriage door opened, all by itself; Hyde stepped out to find the driver dead with a metal rod through his skull and a bit of brain and blood leaking around the edges. “This normally happens. Wouldn’t want it to be me, now haul yer asses over to the creepy looking chapel ahead.” It was strange, architecture unlike any you’d find anywhere on earth, it looked more like a hive than anything. There were a few people standing outside, and a few more standing by the doors who seemed to have been chatting- at least, until they had spotted the group.

Elizabeth caught Mina in a strong, bony hand, pressing the gun to her head. The book had hit her and had made a massive dent in the flesh, but Elizabeth, or whatever was puppeting her, wasn’t fazed. “Mina, you know more than you think. Now, tell me what that little self-obsessed dandy told you, all of it, and I may just let you go.” an obvious lie, but if Mina could stall for time there might just be someone coming for her…

She made a sharp intake of breath as she felt bone against her arm. “Don’t touch me!” she hissed, but didn’t dare to try and pull away. Well, it was worth a shot.
She was breathing hard now with the adrenaline from her attempted escape, and with the gun pressed to her temple.
“Sure you would,” she gasped. “And give me a nice warm dinner and bath to go along with it. Believe me, he knew about as much as I did. You said it yourself, he was self obsessed; he mostly talked about himself. Just- just please get off of me.”

“Oh.” Robert glanced out the window, and even before his eyes beheld the almost alien structure before him a nagging sense of warped wrongness invaded his mind. Hesitantly stepping out of the carriage, he saw the dead driver and that’s when the alarm bells really started going off. Nothing like this has ever happened before on his travels.
“Anna,” he murmured nauseously, “what have we gotten ourselves into?”

Anna shook her head. "I don't know. I don't know, and I don't like it, but we'd better follow this short weasel before we get shot through the skull, too." she didn't like the look of the people in the distance, even from here she could see that most of them were basically emaciated, beyond what should be humanly survivable.

"Tell me what he said, anyways. It may prove useful, in the long run." The shell said, gripping tighter around her arm and grinning with the half of her face still on.

(I thought it would be cool if Mina was a sort of psychic like Esme so…)
Mina’s expression twisted into a wild snarl as she gripped tighter. She absolutely did not want to give the shell what she wanted, but at the same time she absolutely did not want to be touched by her. Being touched by a sort of living corpse was bad enough, but she was starting to get faint flashes of what had happened to it, how it got this way, and that just made it all the worse.
She shut her eyes tight, looking away from Elizabeth. “He said something about you, that body, I think. How it was his fault that someone he loved had died. And he said that… oh- oh no-“ tears began streaming down her cheeks. One of the flashbacks had shown Elizabeth when she was alive. “Please get off of me, please, just this one mercy before I meet my end.”

Robert nodded, trying not think about the dead driver, or the mutilated people ahead of them, or what might have happened to Victor if this was the type of place they were dealing with, trying not to think in general.
He followed after Hyde, but stayed close to Anna.