It's a crime you let it happen to me (OTA)

[stealyoursoul]

Who: Leo and anyone else!
What: Leo killed Abigail and is facing the consequences.
Where: Anywhere that is quiet and away from the water.
When: Some time after Abigail's network post
Warnings: Some stuff to his history might be mentioned. All the possible cw are listed in his permissions.

So he'd finally done it. He'd killed someone here. Honestly, considering his track record, he'd expected it to happen a lot sooner, and to someone a lot more unwilling. There were so many sinners here that were completely unrepentant and it chafed him to have to let them all wander around free. Eventually, he thought he'd kill someone who didn't feel bad for their sins. Instead, he took the soul of someone who repented wholeheartedly for what she'd done. That's why he didn't feel bad. It had been a righteous act designed to help her.

Why had he done it? He was sure that was the question on everyone's minds. Well, for one, she'd asked him to. Abigail was a girl tormented by the demons in her own mind and he felt he could help her by removing the tainted part of her soul. She'd get a second chance when she came back to do better, cleansed by what he'd done. Of course, at the time, he hadn't known for certain she'd come back, and therein lay the darker reason he would reveal to no one.

With Hope's presence gone that week, unable to get the soul-sustenance he'd been providing, he'd been getting hungrier and hungrier. Starved Sunai didn't die. They lost control and went on a killing spree in their true forms, taking any soul they came across, good or bad. So he had a choice. Take one sinful soul or starve himself until he killed both Abigail and Angus. Not a choice he would have wished on anyone. It was times like these he could almost sympathize with his brother's desire to be human. Almost, but not quite.

So now he was a little quieter and a little more moody. He'd been avoiding the network for the most part. He was sure all he would get is yelled at if he went on there. Instead, he found quiet spots, abandoned buildings, piles of rubber, and the many tree stumps that now littered the island. He would take his guitar or iPod with him, listening to music until everything in his mind faded away.

Comments

[stupid_monkey]

Goku didn't handle being stuck inside well. He'd gone out as often as he could during the week long storm, but it wasn't nearly enough for someone with his level of energy. Even he had started to get depressed by the constant darkness and pouring water by the end of the week. The second it seemed over he was outside stretching his muscles and running around.

The need to run took him to the orchard. Climbing those trees and eating the fruit was familiar. It reminded him of the time before the never-ending journey west. There were fewer trees to climb now, but more room to run. It was only a matter of time before a puddle hid a tree root and caused him to trip. He managed to stay upright for a few steps, before succumbing to gravity right next to Leo.

[stealyoursoul]

Some people might jump up when what looks like some bouncy kid just plops right down into the muck next to them. Leo just pulls his earbuds out and idly looks at Goku with an expression like maybe he's going to poke him with a stick. "I hope you're alright because I'm not in the mood to deal with anything more serious than a bruise."

This is the extent of his giving a fuck right now.

[stupid_monkey]

Goku laughed at the curt reply. It was so familiar, the same words could have come from Sanzo or Gojyo. He flipped himself over, and made himself more comfortable on the ground. He was already dirty, he might as well just lean back on his hands and enjoy the sun and new company for a while.

He smiled largely at Leo, seeming genuinely pleased by his lack of caring. "I'm fine. You don't need to worry. Didn't think I'd trip over anyone out here."

[stealyoursoul]

"Thought this place would be far off enough for most people not to bother me." Yep, he'd already put Goku into the category of a bother. It was nothing personal. This just tended to be the way Leo is most of the time.

"Do you like music?" He asked.

[stupid_monkey]

Goku missed the hint, that he might rather be alone. He had every intention of making a new friend until he was expressly told to leave.

"Yeah. Doesn't everybody?"

[stealyoursoul]

"You'd be surprised. Some people are uncultured swine. Do you want to listen to some?" While Leo might not be thrilled with the company, he's always going to take every opportunity to give someone a musical education. After all, what were they here, barbarians?

He takes one of the earbuds looped around his neck and holds it out to Goku to see if he wants to take him up on the offer.

[outofthefire]

[Laura's spent her time during the storm going between the Bakery in the morning and the Speakeasy in the evenings. she usually doesn't bother paying much attention to who she sees along the way, but after Abigail's post and what she heard from the other girl, she can't help looking for one person in particular.

lucky for Leo that she left her bow and arrows back home. as it is, she'll have to settle for marching on up to him, hand drawn back to give one hell of a slap]

[stealyoursoul]

[Slapping a Sunai monster is an exercise in futility considering how invulnerable they are. Laura might as well be slapping a brick wall. Still, Leo's got enough conscience left to know that he's got this coming, so he doesn't fight it. All he does afterwards is look at her impassively. He doesn't need to be able to read minds in order to know why she did that]

Are you done? 'Cause you're only getting that one free.

[He's not above hitting a girl if she presses this.]

[outofthefire]

[she really doesn't care about that, it's the action that counts. she's really angry at him for what he did to Abigail and she's glaring daggers. you know the old saying, if looks could kill...]

I'm done with that. Not done with you, though. What the fuck were you thinking? Abigail's father fucked with her mind and made her do things. Doesn't that count for anything?

[she's getting soaked to the bone in this rain, but she barely feels it, she's so mad]

[stealyoursoul]

Did she tell you that she asked me to do it?

[Granted, she wasn't in the best state of mind to be making that request, but Leo wanted it to be made clear he hadn't done this against her will, not like he always used to do back home. She knew what she was getting herself into.]

[outofthefire]

Yeah, but she gets in these moods where she can't be talked out of feeling bad about herself. Then, she's not exactly in a good place to be making decisions about whether or not she should be killed out of a sense of guilt.

[she's of the opinion that Abigail couldn't have known fully what she was getting herself into because of her crippling sense of guilt]

[hellosirs]

[ He hadn't been looking for him, is the thing. Angus had just needed to get out of the house for a while, and had heard the guitar music coming from an abandoned building nearby. Once he sees who's playing the guitar, he darts into an alleyway and tries to remember how to breathe properly.

Angus is the best detective in the world back home, and he has the case files and work history to back up his reputation. The... Abigail Incident was far from the first time he's seen a crime scene or a corpse, but the sight of her body, burned out eyes and all, has been haunting his dreams ever since he ran away from the campsite. The fact that she was alive again a few days later doesn't help.

Part of him definitely wants to run back home, but the detective in Angus needs to get the full story. He already heard Abigail's side of things, and a thorough murder investigation requires as much information as possible. He needs to know what happened, and if it's likely to happen again. Besides, he can defend himself with his magic, he has his phone, and most importantly, he has people that he can call for help if things go south.

Angus takes a deep breath, then steps out from around the corner, wand drawn and aimed at Leo. ]

Sir, I'm going to need you to put the guitar down and stick your hands up.

[stealyoursoul]

[He's been waiting and hoping that Angus would find him, though he wouldn't have blamed the boy detective if he never wanted to see him again. After all, he'd left him to find a dead body with burnt-out eyes. Leo didn't get a chance to explain himself before the kid had wisely taken off with his mutant weasel pet-thing.

Leo's playing a tune that starts off slowly and gradually builds into 25 or 6 to 4 when Angus shows up. He lets the music fade out and then turns to him.]

You do realize that wouldn't do you much good if I really wanted to do something, right?

[Leo needs to work on his reassurance skills. Still, he'll humor Angus, and put his hands up. He owes the kid this much.]

[hellosirs]

[ ... Ohboy. Okay, maybe he could have thought his approach through a little bit more. Angus gulps, squares his shoulders, and takes another step forward, trying not to look as unsettled as he feels. The tip of his wand lights up and lets off a few sparks, as if it's charging up for a bigger spell.

(It isn't, this is just some simple Prestidigitation, but Leo doesn't need to know that!) ]

There would be two upset wizards, a fighter, a necromancer, a rogue, and a literal Grim Reaper after you if anything happened to me, sir. I'd like to think that you have more self-preservation instincts than that. What'd you do to Abigail?

[stealyoursoul]

[Leo's eyes, that peculiar dark blue shade no human has ever possessed, seem to hold a bit of hidden amusement.]

My, my, aren't we the popular one.

[He seems completely unfazed by that list or the sparking wand. It's arrogance that drives him, the thought of being invulnerable, but it really would take quite a few of them to take down a Sunai monster.]

She asked me to kill her. She's done terrible things in her past and they weighed down heavily on her. I can take a sinful soul, but the price is death. It seemed worth it to be able to purify her's.

[hellosirs]

... What are you?

[ Some kind of Grim Reaper, like Kravitz? Except, no, from what he understands, Kravitz mostly deals with necromancers and people who try to escape from ghost jail. This sounds different, less bureaucratic. ]

[demonsional]

[Hayden should probably be leaving Leo alone to brood in his bad decisions. He should probably also know of or remember Abigail's post to the Network. But he, uh, has a selective and hard-to-predict memory. He also feels bad interrupting anyone when he has the good sense to not throw himself into the space of others in a manic frenzy. It seems Hayden's energy is a bit more pensive today.

Slowly, cautiously, he circles in closer to where Leo's set himself up, hopping from one tree stump to the next, sometimes falling off and then climbing back up like it never happened. He's about as subtle as a train.]

[stealyoursoul]

[Leo's favorite types of music come in three varities: classic rock that was old even before his time, very loud metal that makes you want to hit something, and pop songs that sound happy until you actual listen to the lyrics. He's currently listening to the third, eyes closed, but occasionally opening them to see how much progress Hayden has made.

He removes one of his earbuds when the demon gets close, a faint tune going full blast coming from it. He has indestructible eardrums so it's not like the noise is going to damage his hearing anytime soon. Hayden's got a good soul, so Leo's slightly warmer to him than he otherwise tends to come off.]

Do you like music?

[He asks.]

[demonsional]

[Hayden freezes, smiling slowly and nervously as if he's been caught stealing a cookie before dinnertime, but then settles himself down, arms looping around his knees.]

Yes! Music...music makes people happy, doesn't it? Because there's a song for everybody?

[stealyoursoul]

[Leo looks pleased by the answer.]

That's a wonderful way of looking at.

[He used to think things like that too, before cynicism from living in a cruel world turned his thoughts dark. He offers the free earbud.]

Would you like to listen to one of my favorite songs?

[Stranger danger? Pft, who needs that?]

[demonsional]

[An outdated concept, honestly. Especially for non-humans.]

I would! Yes, please!

[Hopping back to his feet, he stares curiously at the offered earbud as if he isn't sure what it is--but gathers enough from the other one still in Leo's other ear and comes over to take it and place it in his own.]

[traitory]

[ The sound of Starscream's footsteps will give him away before anything else. He takes note of Leo sitting there before he pauses in his own wanderings. He's been looking around the islands for anything remotely Cybertronian the last couple of days, but his luck has been abysmal at best.

It's when he's roaming the abandoned buildings that he spots the other, pausing before looking him over with red eyes. ]

And here I thought I would be the only one here. What exactly are you doing out here?

[stealyoursoul]

[He looks towards the area where he can hear the thumping of Starscream's feet until the giant robot appears. He's got his guitar with him, idly plucking to create different chords. He looks up at the robot he's so recently met.]

I might ask you the same question since I was here first.

[traitory]

Looking for something.

[ Said in curt grumbled reply. ] But there doesn't seem to be anything here either. Another waste of valuable time and energy.

[ He's just looking for energon, no big deal. ]

[stealyoursoul]

I doubt you'll find what you're looking for either. Supplies in this place are terribly limited.

[Hence why he takes such good care of his guitar. If he loses a string, it's going to be hard to replace.]

Tell me, do robots like you have souls?