Thirteenth Message [Video | Sheet of Paper]

[scramasax]

[This is Anthony appearing on the feed.

And this is Anthony looking worse than he's ever looked for anyone who last saw him before this evening. His skin's gone from gray to very dead off-white; his face is riddled with bloody holes, teeth exposed by a missing portion of lip and the corners of his mouth eaten away to something like a ragged, sloppy Glasgow grin; eyes are sunken and bruised brown, thickly-glazed over, and wide.

He's leaning slumped against the wall. His voice is still perfectly recognizable - and for its hush and its hoarseness is hysterical.]

-- I'm sorry... [Painfully, cringingly suppressed.] -- I'm sorry... it's - come off, my - arm's come off, my right arm -- [His right arm is in fact visible in the frame, and not only does it appear to be attached, it's working he's moving as if he doesn't expect he has a right arm and yet it isn't unresponsive. He's not only leaning his right shoulder against a wall, he'sbracing the arm against it.] -- I didn't think it - was actually - going - to come off -- I -- I don't know what -- I -- ...I need --

[Low, wavering voiced groan.] -- Someone -- please, someone help -- ...! Help -- help -- ...

[Breaks off suddenly - with another groan.

Thicker. Partly heaved through the nose - still pained, with a component of exasperation, or offense, or confusion. Not panicked. Something with more outright force or fight. Drops his forehead into - both hands, brought up to meet it.]

This isn't -- really happening -- ...!

[Drags off - again into a profoundly... mortified groan. It lasts between one and two seconds and thins to hoarse, shallow breaths to a stability. That too quiets down further - and Anthony cuts the connection. Takes enough care to keep it off him as he does so. Any replies he makes will come at least half an hour later.]

Comments

[Action]

[shiromadoushi]

Because you think it's because of you? [[a small nod of understanding]] I'd say you shouldn't feel guilty about it but I know it won't stop you from feeling it.

[Action]

[scramasax]

I, uh -- ... [His next breath in feels rather excessively audible - he gives himself a mental knock for it.] -- thought you -- had the right to know -- ...and --

..I am -- appreciative that you care -- as much about - this -- as you do. -- I know everyone does... [Another clumsy trail-off. He actively combats the desire to follow it with another "but" - that'd defeat the purpose; he really does appreciate Bakura's prior reassurance, wants it clearly affirmed.]

[Action]

[shiromadoushi]

[[Bakura patted Anthony's shoulder in a hopefully reassuring way.]] It's not that I have a right to know, but that I'd like to. And besides. It's far more reassuring to hear what you're actually thinking than the smoke screen. [[a smile]] Smoke screens are for when you're trying to push people away. And you shouldn't have to do that.