sirenspull | ♱ 5

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♱ 5 - video ♱

[ Despite looking far worse than she did the last time she appeared over the network, Integra looks, at the least, determined. She's sitting up in a chair this time around, not in bed, and she's dressed in her suit -- it's somewhat wrinkled, mind you, considering it took her every ounce of energy she had to get the stupid thing on.

With a shaky hand, the young heiress lifts a teacup from her nightstand; a dead give away that she's quarantined herself to her room, still. Using her other hand to steady it, she takes a small sip to wet her throat before speaking.

Her voice is gravely and hoarse, it's obvious she's having a hard time speaking. ]

I am in need of someone who can draw up a last will. If I am to die in this bloody place, I'm going to be legal. I don't have many things, I can assure you... so it will be quite simple. This is, naturally, assuming I die.

[ Because she sure as shit feels like it. ]

I don't want to do anything in person, naturally, I wouldn't want to infect anyone else. So if anyone knows of a good attorney or someone along those lines, if they would so kindly direct them my way... thank you.

[ The feed ends. ]

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[ There's a click as she disconnects the NV. It takes her a bit longer than a few moments; she has to take a few breathers on her way up, but she finally makes it.

Pausing, she lightly knocks at the attic door, just enough to get his attention. ] Walter...?

[Having been waiting on the other side of the door, Walter was quick to open it upon Integra's knock. Not a second following her spoken query, the knob turned, and with a click the door unlatched and swung open.]

Come in.

[ Well that was fast. Integra blinked, before nodding and tiredly trudging in, having to mentally remind herself to pick up her feet. ]

Thank you. Now, where were we, hm...?

[Shutting the door behind them, Walter made his way towards the bed and took a seat on top of the covers.]

Before you came back...

[He paused, the memory that she had no recollection from the prior time she had been in Sirens Port prompting him to amend his words.]

--came here. There was an incident. A pair of vampires went on a rampage. A killing spree. Your grandfather wanted them alive. I... didn't agree with him.

[ Sitting down next to him, she listened to him carefully, nodding her head. ]

...So you killed them? I cannot say as I blame you, especially if they were causing so much trouble.

No. I... followed orders. But the one we ran into got away.

[He took in a shaky breath, eyes squeezed shut as he fought back the pain that flared at the memory.]

And the bastard kept on killing.

...I see. I can see why you would feel guilty.

[ She paused, unsure of what to do. She wasn't a very touchy feely person, but this was Walter. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she sighed. ]

Things happen, though. This was not in your control; everything happens for a reason, even in this place. You have nothing to blame yourself for... you did your job. You followed orders, and you did all that you could do.

[Walter flinched from the touch, hunching over as his fingers dug into the bedspread.]

But I didn't do all that I could do! I could have killed him...! It would have been easy to kill him!

[Killing, after all, was much easier than capturing.]

You did do all that you could do, Walter. You were following orders... you were doing your job. What became of the one that did not get away?

...They both got away. And the second one seems to have vanished from the city entirely now.

...You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You are the one who taught me that no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes. Things happen... the most you can do is learn from your mistakes... because of that, you will push yourself to try harder next time, and more lives will be saved. Good things can come out of bad situations, sometimes, you know.

[At that, the butler grew still. And then, little by little, he straightened up, lifting his head to meet her gaze.

He didn't last long before he shifted, leaning his head against her arm.]

It seems like the only ones who aren't making excuses for that bastard are Alucard and me. Just because he has some sort of alternate personality... He knew something like that could happen, and he didn't have a proper plan in place. But it was like every bloody person on the network wanted to hold his hand over it. It didn't matter that dozens of people were dead...

[ Integra had to pause, straightening slightly when the poor young man leaned his head against her arm. With a soft sigh, the heiress merely wrapped the same arm around his shoulders, as he'd done with her when she was that age. ]

There is no excuse for what he did. He knows what he is, he should have asked for help if he needed to be tamed. That is no fault of yours; he made his decision. You followed orders and gave your all... if anyone should be feeling guilty, it is him.

[Again Walter's eyes squeezed shut, the young retainer taking in his future master's words and weighing them against his own emotions.

She was right. He knew she was right. He just... needed to stop being so hard on himself. He would be of no use to anyone if he allowed himself to be wrapped up in doubt.

Still, it was a little easier said than done. It would take him some time.]

...Yes, Sir.

If anything... it probably made you more protective, didn't it?

[ Shaking her head, she merely gave the young man a gentle squeeze, before using her free hand to lightly turn his face so that she could look directly at him, and not at the top of his head.

Finally, she offered him a small, tired smile. ]

...No one is perfect, Walter. You can't save everyone.

[Not flinching in the slightest at the touch afforded by the woman he would grow to raise, Walter allowed his face to be turned upward. He did not smile in return; instead, he held his gaze even with hers, responding to her words of consolation with an assertion of his own.]

I can save you.

[ Integra herself almost flinched at his words. The irony of that statement...

Shaking her head, she patted his cheek affectionately, before letting the young man go. ]

It's not that simple, I'm afraid.

[Walter's heart fluttered uneasily in his chest. He didn't like how cryptic Integra's words were, or how they seemed to hint at something unpleasant-- something he might not have the power to change.]

Why not?

Because.

[ She chuckled, but it was humorless; there was nothing funny about the situation at home, about the fate she'd bestowed onto the very man sitting beside her. ]

...It's like I stated earlier. You simply cannot save everyone, myself included.

[She was doing it again; acting like she was beyond his help. Walter couldn't understand why.]

Just because you say that doesn't mean I won't stop trying.

[ She merely shook her head again, rolling her right shoulder, listening to the sickening crack it gave. ]

I appreciate the offer, but you need to worry about yourself before you worry about me.

[At that, Walter tensed. He was getting rather tired of her telling him to worry about himself first. Even when people weren't sick, Walter wasn't one to be immensely concerned with his own well-being.]

I'll worry about people in whatever order I please. And however strongly I please. You're just going to have to deal with it.

[ She sighed, feeling her head starting to throb again. She didn't want to, or need to start an argument with Walter; honestly, he was so much different in her time... ]

You're just going to have to deal with the fact, then, that I am not a little girl anymore, and I am most certainly not as weak as I may have been when I was apparently here before. I do appreciate your concern, but just like you, I will also do what I like.

[ Turning her head away to once again muffle another coughing attack against her elbow, she frowns. ]

And right now, I feel that both of us need to rest.

[Her words cut as surely as they would have if they were from a child to its parent-- because, in some ways, Walter saw himself as an extra parental figure to Integra; as he knew, there would be no children born from his loins, so even though Integra was not related to him by blood she was still to him very much his child. And he had very nearly been told that she was too old to be cared for, and that he, perhaps, was not needed. Not as a parent. Not any more.]

...Yes, Sir.

[The words were stressed, his vocal chords strained with the tension of his body.]

I suppose we shall have to continue this some other time. Good night.

[ She knew that tone; she'd heard it on his older counterpart a few times at home.

Not bothering to give it much thought, the young woman suddenly stood up, leaned down, and pressed a kiss against the poor butler's forehead. She couldn't feel Alucard's presence; had the stupid vampire been in the room, affection would have been a no no. She'd never bloody hear the end of it. ]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap... I apologize. I need you to promise me something, though.

[ There's a pause as she lifts her hands to his shoulders. ]

...Promise me you'll never change.

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♱ 5 - video ♱

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