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you turned the ones you love into the angriest mob; [Pidge]
[ Despite typically trying to keep himself distances from Strade's...'activities', Ren pretty much always knows what's going on in the house. Really, Strade is more than happy to regale him with the gruesome details when he has a new 'friend' over.
So once Strade's found Pidge in the basement, taking advantage of her unconscious state to get her tied to the pole, Ren's already aware that someone is here. Somehow, some way some unfortunate person has magically found themselves in Strade's basement.
Of course, Strade is kind enough to wait for Pidge to awaken on her own before he starts questioning her. After all, he wasn't in the habit of hurting kids, so Pidge presents...a problem. His basement is pretty damn obvious, what with the bloodstained floors and the excessive amounts of power tools. Sure he could just kill her but for her to be here, it meant she must have lived in the neighborhood and got in somehow. And if someone's kid went missing...
So with a frustrated sigh, he'd made his way back up the stairs, calling back that he'd talk with her more in the morning when he'd figured out what to do with her.
And so Pidge sits in silence for a few hours, only the occasional sounds of footsteps making it into the soundproofed basement.
But as the hours pass, something changes.
The basement door opens, but not with the enthusiastic force it normally does. It's slower, quiet. Like whoever is doing it doesn't want to draw attention to it. It's hard to see that area of the basement in the dark, but hearing the light footsteps on the stairs is much easier. Then the sound of bare feet on cement, cautiously approaching. Something about the movement sounds uneven like every other step is slightly difficult to make.
From the direction of the stairs, a pair of familiar eyes shine in the dark, focused entirely on Pidge. Once he's sure she's still restrained though, Ren approaches slowly, unsure if she's sleeping.
He looks far worse than he ever did in Duplicity, even dealing with the most ridiculous of the city's bullshit. Where Ren in Duplicity is cheerful and confident, this Ren looks...exhausted and terrified. He's covered in various shades of bruises, both on his face and across the parts of his chest and his arms that his tank top exposes. What isn't covered in bruises is marred by angry red knife wounds, some stitched up and some scabbing over. Even approaching Pidge, he looks timid and ready to bolt any second. There's something metal and bulky around his throat, like a collar. A red light shines faintly on the side of it.
In a word, he looks far worse than anything he could have ever actually described to her.
He turns briefly back to the basement door, biting his lip and ears twitching as if he's listening for something. ]
What is he even doing? Y-you look like you're just a kid...
So once Strade's found Pidge in the basement, taking advantage of her unconscious state to get her tied to the pole, Ren's already aware that someone is here. Somehow, some way some unfortunate person has magically found themselves in Strade's basement.
Of course, Strade is kind enough to wait for Pidge to awaken on her own before he starts questioning her. After all, he wasn't in the habit of hurting kids, so Pidge presents...a problem. His basement is pretty damn obvious, what with the bloodstained floors and the excessive amounts of power tools. Sure he could just kill her but for her to be here, it meant she must have lived in the neighborhood and got in somehow. And if someone's kid went missing...
So with a frustrated sigh, he'd made his way back up the stairs, calling back that he'd talk with her more in the morning when he'd figured out what to do with her.
And so Pidge sits in silence for a few hours, only the occasional sounds of footsteps making it into the soundproofed basement.
But as the hours pass, something changes.
The basement door opens, but not with the enthusiastic force it normally does. It's slower, quiet. Like whoever is doing it doesn't want to draw attention to it. It's hard to see that area of the basement in the dark, but hearing the light footsteps on the stairs is much easier. Then the sound of bare feet on cement, cautiously approaching. Something about the movement sounds uneven like every other step is slightly difficult to make.
From the direction of the stairs, a pair of familiar eyes shine in the dark, focused entirely on Pidge. Once he's sure she's still restrained though, Ren approaches slowly, unsure if she's sleeping.
He looks far worse than he ever did in Duplicity, even dealing with the most ridiculous of the city's bullshit. Where Ren in Duplicity is cheerful and confident, this Ren looks...exhausted and terrified. He's covered in various shades of bruises, both on his face and across the parts of his chest and his arms that his tank top exposes. What isn't covered in bruises is marred by angry red knife wounds, some stitched up and some scabbing over. Even approaching Pidge, he looks timid and ready to bolt any second. There's something metal and bulky around his throat, like a collar. A red light shines faintly on the side of it.
In a word, he looks far worse than anything he could have ever actually described to her.
He turns briefly back to the basement door, biting his lip and ears twitching as if he's listening for something. ]
What is he even doing? Y-you look like you're just a kid...
no subject
This place was just an unpleasant memory you told me about after the fact.
His expression isn't exactly hopeful. More the expression of someone who has hoped and been disappointed far too many times. It's not that Ren doubts there's the possibility of someone being from the future-- after all, he was a beastkin. Strade associated with demons and nagas. Time travel would be unsurprising. ]
After...?
[ She seems sure they're going to leave, but... This was Strade. Strade was impossible to escape. ]
That's... Y-you're just saying that so I'll let you out. There's no way... Y-you don't know what he's capable of. He brings people down here for fun.
no subject
[She's still trying to decide how much of the truth she should drop on him, because if he's having a hard time believing this part...]
I'm not asking you to let me out. [It doesn't take a genius to realize that he's terrified of what the other man might do to him.]
No offense, but you don't know what I'm capable of. He brings people down here because he thinks hurting someone is the only way to really know them. [He's wrong, obviously, but somehow she doubts trying to explain that now would be a good idea.]
You're not like him, though. I know you don't want to hurt people.
no subject
There was no way she could have just...know that. That Strade was just doing it for fun was something obvious, easily guessed. But for specific reason...
Why would he tell her something like that? ]
Who are you to me? Just...tell me.
no subject
[Cliff notes version? More like overly simplified version.
But, baby steps.]
And before you ask, I really don't know how I ended up here. This isn't the kind of thing that just happens all the time.
past ren is a mess
This Ren takes a second to look shocked before turning bright red, quickly bouncing to his feet and stepping back. ]
T-that's--!
[ Unable to stop himself, Ren hesitates, looking at her bound hands. What if she's telling the truth? If she was supposed to be his girlfriend in the future, it'd be wrong to leave her here, wouldn't it...? ]
Really?
shh no, he's adorable
Or, well, this old side of him.
If circumstances were different, she might be more amused.]
I know how it sounds, but it's the truth. The abridged version, anyway.
[That's putting it mildly, and she can't quite shake the feeling that they don't have a lot of time before old what's-his-face reappears.]
So uh... just between you and me, what are the odds of him deciding to let me go? Since you know... minor. And as far as he knows, I do live around here, and my parents are looking for me right now.
punches spam inbox
[ Ren's eyes drop to the ropes keeping her bound to the pole. ]
He'd make it quick and he wouldn't torture you, but--
[ Apparently Pidge's instincts are right because Ren's interrupted by loud, heavy footsteps from above them. They're quickly approaching the direction of the basement door.
Ren, still standing in front of Pidge whips around, going so tense his tail visibly fluffs in panic. He begins to back up as the footsteps begin at the top of the stairs, only hitting a pile of cardboard boxes, nothing he could hide behind.
His claws scrabble at the cardboard uselessly, and finally, Strade emerges, looking far less cheerful than he had before. His eyes scan over both of them, a smile that doesn't meet his eyes emerging as Ren cringes away, breathing quick with panic. ]
Did you get bored, fuchs? You know you're not supposed to be down here. I hope he's not bothering you too much, Fruend. He knows better.
no subject
[It's not comforting in the least, but at least she'd been expecting it.]
How kind of him.
[Before she can say much more, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupt the moment. So much for that.
She's quiet again as she watches Ren's panicked response. It really is odd, seeing him this way, when he's always seemed so confident.
It's not a sight she enjoys, to be quite honest. Strade's presence, while not unexpected, isn't really something she's in the mood for at the moment. But what can she do, honestly?
She has to fight the urge to roll her eyes when the man immediately starts in on Ren.]
He's not bothering me at all. In fact, I asked him to stay so I didn't have to be alone.