( loosed as they were into this barren, apocalyptic world of kenos, yima's manor was the first place john had thought to investigate further. for one, it was the insatiable need of the Archivist to know where all skeletons lie and where all secrets were hidden — he knew the lady of this manor held many and more, and so it was in his nature to want to uncover them, regardless of what it might cost him.
his other reason is that he himself keeps things more precious to him than his own life in his quarters in this building. this is what he's doing when claude and dimitri climb the stairs and begin to investigate individual rooms; stooped over his desk, he fumbles with the rusted mechanic of the hidden compartment within one of the drawers and sighs with relief when it finally gives way, revealing the shard within. and yet, he also feels guilt — guilt, because it now suffers the same type of impossible loneliness that john had once risked his life to save him from.
he hears a noise from down the hallway. immediately he snaps the compartment closed, locks it as best he can, and closes the drawer. they're footsteps, he's certain — and there are voices as well.
this puts him at a precarious junction. does he try to hide, or face them? they could very well be other Zenites, doing exactly what he's doing.
in the end, he decides to walk carefully to his door, stepping through it and into the hall to face the strangers. they are not fellow Zenites. of them, he only recognizes dimitri, though if they work together he must assume the other young man is also Meridian. standing some short distance down the hall they have entered, exiting from the door to his own room, he scowls at the two. he can't blame them for wanting to take a look around, all things considered... and, really, when he thinks about it, their goals might align for the second goal he had in mind — )
Gentlemen. Good day. ( he closes the door behind him, though a warping in its frame from the passage of time means it doesn't do so entirely. ) May I help you?
no subject
his other reason is that he himself keeps things more precious to him than his own life in his quarters in this building. this is what he's doing when claude and dimitri climb the stairs and begin to investigate individual rooms; stooped over his desk, he fumbles with the rusted mechanic of the hidden compartment within one of the drawers and sighs with relief when it finally gives way, revealing the shard within. and yet, he also feels guilt — guilt, because it now suffers the same type of impossible loneliness that john had once risked his life to save him from.
he hears a noise from down the hallway. immediately he snaps the compartment closed, locks it as best he can, and closes the drawer. they're footsteps, he's certain — and there are voices as well.
this puts him at a precarious junction. does he try to hide, or face them? they could very well be other Zenites, doing exactly what he's doing.
in the end, he decides to walk carefully to his door, stepping through it and into the hall to face the strangers. they are not fellow Zenites. of them, he only recognizes dimitri, though if they work together he must assume the other young man is also Meridian. standing some short distance down the hall they have entered, exiting from the door to his own room, he scowls at the two. he can't blame them for wanting to take a look around, all things considered... and, really, when he thinks about it, their goals might align for the second goal he had in mind — )
Gentlemen. Good day. ( he closes the door behind him, though a warping in its frame from the passage of time means it doesn't do so entirely. ) May I help you?