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Post by Loki Odinsson on Feb 15, 2012 20:54:43 GMT -5
"I truly didn't mean to go," the girl protested. "I just was there one minute and waking up at home the next, like it had been a dream all along-"
The shadow of Veidt looked away solemnly.
"I know that now."
Loki looked at Teja.
"His ward?"
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Post by Teja on Feb 15, 2012 20:58:00 GMT -5
"-that's - that's Micaela. Megan was friends with her. She disappeared... they thought it was Geneco."
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Post by Loki Odinsson on Feb 15, 2012 20:59:54 GMT -5
"His adopted child-" Loki said, sounding like the very idea pained him.
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Post by Teja on Feb 15, 2012 21:01:22 GMT -5
"He didn't adopt her. But... yes... she was like a daughter to him..."
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Post by Loki Odinsson on Feb 15, 2012 21:05:53 GMT -5
"...Micaela?" the Veidt-wraith said.
The Micaela-wraith turned to look at him, and the Veidt-wraith's shoulders slumped.
"...I need to speak with you in private."
He made a miserable-looking gesture for Micaela to follow him into the next room, and Loki hurried after them, pulling Teja with him.
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Post by Teja on Feb 15, 2012 21:07:25 GMT -5
Teja scurried, sick to her stomach but awed all the same. The broken-looking shadow they were watching did not look like a depraved man at all.
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Post by Loki Odinsson on Feb 15, 2012 21:37:50 GMT -5
"Sit."
The Micaela wraith sat down, inquisitive and uneasy-looking.
"Adrian? What's going-" "I'm afraid I was never entirely honest about my intentions regarding you," Veidt interrupted, standing with his back to her, staring toward the floor.
Micaela frowned.
"Intentions? Adrian, I don't understand-" "From the moment I saw you, Micaela, I knew you were special. I knew you could help me change the world."
He finally turned around.
"Your powers could have bought humanity a lasting peace, had you stayed."
Micaela was starting to look noticeably frightened.
"What do you mean-" "I mean that I had a very specific plan in mind for you from the start-" "A plan?"
Micaela stood and backed away from him warily.
"It doesn't matter now," Veidt said with a sigh. "I've found another way of fulfilling the same purpose."
Micaela blinked, and then mixed hurt and anger washed over her face.
"You mean I was your pawn," she said softly. "All along, I was just something you could use to get what you wanted-" "What I wanted- what I want- is peace," Adrian insisted.
Micaela shook her head, tears beginning to well in her eyes.
"You were using me all along-" "And I have loved you like a daughter, Micaela-" "I'm not your daughter!"
Loki's grip on Teja's arm tightened. He looked as shattered and tearful as Micaela herself.
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Post by Teja on Feb 15, 2012 21:41:49 GMT -5
Teja was already clinging to Loki, afraid of the truth. She couldn't tell at this moment how devastated he was by all of this.
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Post by Loki Odinsson on Feb 15, 2012 21:59:11 GMT -5
"Micaela, I'm sorry-" "What were you using me for?"
Veidt looked at her hollowly.
"...I needed someone who could produce enough destructive energy to convincingly fake an attack by Dr. Manhattan."
There was a moment in which Micaela just stared at him.
"...no. No, no, no-" "I'm sorry-" "Did you ever really love me? Or was I just some ultimate weapon you were saving up-"
The wraiths vanished like smoke, Veidt's reply drowned out by the sound of Loki's cry of utter anguish as he crumpled to the floor.
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Post by Teja on Feb 15, 2012 22:03:05 GMT -5
Teja shrieked and wrapped her arms around him. "Loki? Loki?"
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Post by Loki Odinsson on Feb 16, 2012 1:41:04 GMT -5
He wrenched off his helm as though it would crush his skull if he didn't and threw it across the floor before doubling over, totally silent, with his face in his hands.
It was like waiting for a grenade to go off.
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Post by Teja on Feb 16, 2012 1:44:12 GMT -5
She rubbed his back with a trembling hand, touching his forehead and temple, trying to pull him up towards her, sick with fear that he might break, leaving her trapped in this haunted, horrible place.
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Post by Loki Odinsson on Feb 16, 2012 1:47:10 GMT -5
-but instead of a scream, all that came from him was a thin, whining wail.
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Post by Teja on Feb 16, 2012 1:48:11 GMT -5
"Loki, please..."
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Post by Loki Odinsson on Feb 16, 2012 1:56:50 GMT -5
He abruptly pulled his hands away and clung to her lap.
"Liar," he groaned. "And to think they called me Lie-smith-"
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