"You did get shot again. Stop doing that!" He groaned, she was right, he had a habit of getting shot and it wasn't healthy. He apologized but sat up. Head spinning a little but he could focus well enough. Reaching up to the blood on his chest, the large man's right pointer and middle fingers tore into the hole. "What the fuck are you doing!" with some difficulty, the vagrant grabbed the bullet; pulling it back out. "You're fucking kidding me" He grinned, shivering at the sting of the air rushing into the wound. Motioning to Annwn, the large man stretched as he felt the muscles around the wound be psychically pulled together and seared together by the small stick of fire. Chuey grumbled, her green hair catching his eyes. With one arm he grabbed her collar, pulling her quickly to him to a moments kiss.
1,2,3,4,8,12... He stopped counting, getting off the ground properly. "We should get going, they don't look friendly" Sitting in the surrounding trees were, from the vagrants estimation, at least 20, perhaps more, foot tall black birds. Crow in appearance, with large hooked beaks. They all seemed to be watching intently and the vagrant did not much feel like being carrion. It took him a moment to realize where he was. Halfway along Brun way, the road heading east from Laverre. "I think the Brun-lit hotel's suppose to be nearby. Lets head there" He didn't stagger, he didn't feel dizzy, despite everything that had just happened to him, the large man felt fine. Chuey was beside him, both had apparently forgotten about the other man, who remained kneeling by the rock watching them leave. It was a beautiful area, even with constantly checking behind to see if those birds were following them. Ryan's attention was on the ground, the air, and the water, noting and following with his eyes every creature he could. So distracted he was that that the large man didn't really hear what it was Chuey was talking about, or at first feel her hand brush his again. It wasn't until they reached the bridge that he noticed Annwn to his left several paces, in no position to be the one holding his hand to the right. But the teacher felt no need in calling attention to this. Ahead was the "Brun-lit hotel", in all its cascaded and ruinous beauty. A once magnificent mansion, boasting 300 quite luxurious bedrooms, a large kitchen and library, now sat in ruin. The roof was collapsing and the majority of legible text was large font tags, or phrases too vulgar for Ryan to spend much time looking at. Before his time at the battle barracks, this place was beautiful. It was only at a couple feet from the door that Ryan noticed the people; pale and thin, ribs showing and teeth falling out as they tried desperately to paw at him.
Chuey seemed confused as she looked among the gaunt and haunted people, unsure what was wrong with them, why they looked so destroyed. Drugs he suspected, At this point it seems this is where drug addicts come to die. As much as he would have loved to help them, it was past nightfall, and there were creatures on Brun way that even he wouldn't challenge in the dead of night. "Ayuadame" One of the men, little better off than those around him, grabbed weakly at Ryan's pants. "Ayuadame. Sácame de aquí" The man pleaded. Ryan knelt down and patted the mans shoulder, apologizing that he did not know what he was saying and that he had no food to spare. "Correr. No se una a nosotros." Ryan shook his head, apologizing again as he stepped away. he couldn't help this man. "La luz hambres!" the man cried weakly after the vagrant, who gently guided his companions up the crumbling grand staircase and into a set of private rooms. Annwn, Embeee, Blargg and Leveyr had a room of their own. The fluffy red pup would not leave Ryan's side willingly, and was brought with into the adults private room. Once he was asleep by the wardroom, Ryan and Chuey were free to enjoy the night.
The large man was awoken only an hour after he fell asleep, and 5 hours after they'd gone to bed. Gently sliding himself out of her grasp, the vagrant sat on the side of the bed, looking over his shoulder to smile at her sleeping form. What would break other peoples bones would apparently give these two a pleasant rest. It was very late, a couple of holes in the roof, that he was certain were there before they went to bed, showed the moon at its peak above them. And under the door flickered a faint light. As he watched the flickering, the large man knew it to be moving away from the door slowly. Inching in silence through the halls. Gathering his clothes from about the room, and tucking his companion in better to avoid the cold air on her smooth skin, Ryan opened the door and looked out into the hallway. To his right the light moved around the banister, obscuring the source from his vision unless he were to approach. As was typical for him, the large man strolled down the hall and turned the corner, easily moving faster than the silent source of light. His eyes fell on an empty hall save for a single candle flickering in the middle of the floor. As he approached his bad began to ache, but no more than Chuey usually inflicted. Picking up the little candle he turned it around, watching as the wax seemed to melt down from its tip and solidify again at its base; always shrinking, always growing. A small face seemed to appear in the dripping wax, it smiled at him. The rare look of shock quickly dissipated from his face before he smiled back at it. "Hello little one, are you lost?" Its flame turned green in response. "Would you like to hang out with me for a little bit?" The flame stayed green.
"I'm so sorry" The voice was faint and youthful, talking sweetly in the floor below. Looking over the balcony, Ryan could see a familiar young lass. Shauna knelt beside some of the pained addicts, giving each a small hug. "I'm so sorry this happened to you." The large man proceeded down, his heavy footfalls announcing his presence for him. "Mr. Cabberin! I'm surprised to see you." He smiled, carrying his own personal light source as his back continued to throb, this is a dangerous place. "I know, I needed somewhere to stay for the night and-" tears were welling in her eyes "look at these poor people, I can't believe people don't help them. Get them out of here. Something." They did it to themselves, and this place is known for gangs, its not safe to even come out here, and she knew it. "Mr. Cabberin? Why are you holding a litwick?" her volume was increasing. "Put it down! Please!" The vagrant had heard of litwicks, but didn't know why she was so concerned. "They eat your soul! Please Mr. Cabberin, I don't want you like these people! Please get rid of it! It will drain you soon." He raised an eyebrow, looking down at the little thing that smiled up at him. Its light flickered red for a moment and his back throbbed harder, but nothing else really happened. "It- it should-" She collapsed onto the bench, confused and terrified.