Meta Runner (RP)

@Checkmate
(exactly lol)

Kaine's energy was beginning to fade again, but he kept a firm hold on Tari's shoulder. He saw touches of Skye in the way she cowered beneath him.

"I win," he hissed in a low tone, amber eyes blazing. "Understand me? I... win."

He really didn't care that they were about to tase him, he could really care less. He'd earned this victory, and he was satisfied with the outcome.

@Checkmate

Kaine winced, and managed to fall mostly unconscious. He collapsed beside her, growling in pain and looking up at the officers with only his eyes.

(smol skip perhaps? i could bring in some characters like belle / luce / sof .,.)

@Checkmate

( belle gon show up and tell her
yo tari
prison sucks
i gotchu
imma be here for support )

Skye of course had seen the coverage, because the nurse left the television on when he left the room not long after the events.

She found herself crying almost as much as Tari was. The footage they showed only made it worse.

She clutched one of the pillows they gave her, and she tried calling Tari, but it didn't work. The prison literally removed meta arms, or means of communication. So, since she couldn't be there in person, she called Belle, and asked her to visit. She trusted the woman enough to get the job done, and be safe while doing it.

So, half a day later, Belle showed up to the prison, much graver and serious than she normally would be.

After asking about where Tari was, they directed her to an isolated cell, far removed from the other ones.

Poor thing... she thought. All alone down here... I get that you lashed out, but... this is horrible.

She heard her friend sobbing, and felt her heart break even more.

So, she slowly approached the cell, in a calm, unoffensive manner, then knelt down to seem less imposing.

"Hey, Tari..." she murmured. "It's me... it's Belle."

@Checkmate

"You look like you've been through hell," Belle sighed, finding it hard to look at Tari without getting emotional.

Is this the same blue-haired chick that I pinned to the wall at the Hive?

The same chick Lucks hired to game for TAS Corp?

Unfortunately, she realized, yes.. poor thing. She doesn't deserve this..

"Tari.. I'm... here on a mission from a certain person. Wears glasses... super genius.. I think you may know her. May or may not be the love of your life," Belle explained. "She.. saw the coverage on the news, and... wanted me to come check on you. You seemed... hella shook up. And.. honestly, seeing you here and now.. god, I wanna choke that absolute-" she sighed, clenching her fists. "Aaaanyway. We.. haven't told Theo or anything, I.. think Skye's calling Lamar to check.."

@Checkmate

"Well considering the fact you seem to be targeted by every evil punk in Silica City.. I'd say yeah," Belle shrugged sadly.

She could tell that Tari wasn't in an agreeable mood. Getting through to her was gonna be difficult.

"Tari... listen. I know you're in a helluva bad headspace right now.." she said calmly, trying to be as reassuring as possible. "I.. I'm gonna tell you what you need to hear. Okay?"

"Skye was... really, really shook up when she saw the story. The news.. showed a bit more than the mugshots..." she stated, looking Tari in the face the best she could. "She kept saying things like.. 'she doesn't deserve this'.. or.. 'that's what Kaine did to me'. She... told me that he treated you a lot.. like how he treated her. And.. that kinda messed me up inside.. if I'm honest. I... I can't imagine what she's going through right now. She loves you, kid," Belle said. "And.. she went through all that trauma again because of what Kaine did. It's not.. your fault, obviously, I.. goddamnit, I'm screwing this up.." She put her face in her hands.

@Checkmate

Belle's heart broke, hearing those final words.

Tari was so damaged, she was pushing the help away. It made Belle feel sick.

She stood up slowly. "Hey.. tell you what.. I could call her over my arm.. the doctors let her keep hers," she offered, keeping her tone as gentle as possible.

"Or.. would that be too painful..?"

@Checkmate

That made Belle feel a bit better, and she felt a spark of hope at the sound of Tari's voice.

"Okay. Give me a second, alright?" she smiled, dialing Skye's number. A moment later, the latter answered.

"Belle, what happened, where- a-are you still down there?"

"Yep, and there's someone here who would love to talk to you."

Skye's expression changed significantly. "Lemme see her! Please?" she begged. Belle flipped the screen around so Tari could see Skye.

Skye took one look at her fiancée and almost burst into tears. "Tari..." she choked out, covering her mouth.

@Checkmate

"Oh my god..." Skye whispered, tears beginning to streak down her face. She put her face in her hands. "Ohhhh my god, Tari.. I-I'm so sorry.. I'm so so sorry.. I-I saw everything... I-I mean everything that was shown on the news, I.. th-they said the attack lasted for at least a few minutes and I.. they showed the first and last thirty seconds and I.."

She broke down again. "I'm going to murder him with my bare hands.. then again we saw how that turned out, when you tried... Tari, I.. he did that on purpose.. you're.. you're not the one in the wrong. Understand? Y-you fought back because he attacked you.."

@Checkmate

"Exactly my point, HE started it!" Skye spoke over her. "He stepped on your nerves and made you lash out, he-- HE did this!"

She paused, sniffing. "To both of us."

Belle wanted to interject, say her peace-- but this was their battle. Not hers.

"Tari... my precious, precious blue jay..." Skye whispered. "Kaine is a thief, and a liar... and you're.. beyond all of that. Kaine didn't have any reason to do what he did. He did it for the hell of it. You?" she continued. "You were defending me. Me, yourself, and Theo. And that alone.. that alone makes you innocent in my eyes. You are irreplaceable... and you're worth so, so much more than what the world says about you."

She blinked, biting her lip. "The world is cruel," she began to sing, shakily. "The world is wicked.. it's us alone whom you can trust in this whole city..."

Hm. Hunchback of Notre Dame? Weird choice.. Belle muttered internally. Appropriate lyrics though... Luce would be proud.

@Checkmate

( i'm not crying!! who's crying?? )

Skye's expression changed completely. The blood drained from her face, and she froze, staring at Tari in pure horror.

Kaine.. killed her. He killed her, and left Cardinal in her place.

"Tari..." Skye whispered. "Please... come back... I-I know you're still in there.." She began to break down over the camera. "Please... I'm begging you.. don't.. die on me."

@Checkmate

( me too ;-; )

"Tari.." Skye mumbled. "I don't.. want to lose you... think.. think of Theo.. think of.. this." She sort of half gestured to her abdomen. Belle was a bit confused, but thankfully the thing went over her head.

She'd figure it out later. Just give her enough time.

"Think of the things I promised you.. please..."

@Checkmate

"What're you talking about?" Belle finally interjected. "Who are we talking to right now?!"

She "set the camera aside" for a moment and gripped the bars of Tari's cell. "If this is some sort of split personality crap, you need to tell me. Right now," she hissed. "Am I talking to Tari right now...?"

Skye couldn't handle this anymore. She just wanted to hang up the phone..

@Checkmate
(belle finna punch cardinal in the kisser, helluva boss style)
(like LEAVE TARI ALONE U BENCH)
(skye: STOP ATTACKING MY WIFE)
(belle: SKYE ITS A DEMON)
(also help, speaking of which, helluva boss has owl demons in it and now i wanna watch it because of that eek)

Skye felt her stomach turn at the mention of Cardinal's name.

It was an entity other than Tari entirely, a new iteration of the AI Sheridan left behind.

Wait...

Uncle Sheridan.

Maybe...

"Belle, I'm.. gonna need to talk to you about this in a second.. I'm hanging up for now. Tari.. I love you.." Skye whimpered. "Please.. stay safe."

The screen went dark.

Belle gritted her teeth and slammed her full weight against the bars, snarling. "You. Leave Tari alone."