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Virion's tongue is thick in his mouth as he wakes up. Something- something is wrong and he needs to get out. His claws scrape against metal as his mind races a hunder kilometers a hour and he realises he's somewhere. Moving. Something jostles under his skin and jostles his teeth and someone's yelling at him-
He can't tell what they're saying. The words go one ear out the other and it doesn't make sense- someone in a black uniform looks at him with- fearworryhungerconfusion-
"Stop-"
Virion doesn't know what that means. The word feels like static in his ears and he- the person doesn't look like him. Their hands are dull, there's no tail and they stand freakishly straight- Virion can't move his hands any further apart so-
There's been a itch in his skull for a while. It's that same feeling of needing something out- and once he lets his hands spread apart there's a fucking chorus in his brain. Voices he knows- voices he knows and loves and cares about and-
He pulls a gun out of thin air and doesn't know what happens next. The pressure in his skull spikes and the air fills with light and the next thing he knows he's…
Virion's in a cold room. It's small; barely big enough to pace, and his feet dig into the cold floor. Someone stares at him. Says weird words at him. There's pity. They're not the person from before- they're more gentle and don't prod at him and- they're wearing something weird. It's skintight and blue in places and if it was armour it doesn't look like armour and he holds out a bandage roll.
Oh. He's hurt- right? There's blood somewhere. He doesn't know if he should take it. What if it's a trap? It doesn't look like a trap and it can't be a trap because that doesn't make sense-
But this man also has Virion stuck here. In this tiny. cold room. So he doesn't know if he should take it. The man stares him down- waiting with the bandages in hand and there's a moment where he tenses- he does to- before he throws his hand back and the bandages lay at his feet with a thump.
He grabs it faster then he should, clutching it to his chest. It's surrounded by a weird film but he has it and it's his now.
"Huh. You're…not from around here, are you?"
The words don't make sense. He knows you- the man is looking at him and talks at him so he's talking to him- but he doesn't make sense.
Virion says something back that gets a reaction. It's not a good reaction. Like flinching- like Virion's voice hurts him. He doesn't think that- the screech and gurgle and scratching from his throat is good. He sounds like home.
"I'll- leave you alone now." You. The man gets up before there's the noise of a door clicking. The little box where the bandages came from is left there and he lets himself uncoil from the corner of the room. He doesn't even realise he's pacing. There's blood on his face and he realises he's torn his arms up too- so he inhales and begins to tend to them. He- he hears his mothers voice as she walks him through it.
Start at the wrist, Virion.
That's- that's not his mother's voice. It's gruff- and he realises that he can hear that.
It's Min. I'm- sorry about this but…would you like to explain why I'm in your head right now?
"I-I- Min- oh my gods Min-" He's sure his throat hitches on the gurgles
Shh. What happened?
He can't even feel the wounds dug into his arms right now but he's not alone.
"I- don't remember. It's- the Lich. That's all and now I'm here and where am I Min?"
…I don't know, Virion. I remember that too- maybe five hours ago Strider disappeared in here and-
There's a slam as the door opens again. The man's back- and he holds a gnarled piece of metal inbetween his fingers. It looks wrong. Unnatural. It's sleek metal but metal shouldn't bend like that- it shouldn't be so clean. Virion doesn't want to know where that goes, so he gives one look and shuffles back again. The fabric of his torn sleeves rubs against the wounds and he doesn't let up. Not this time. He took the bandages, he won't take anything else.
Who's that?
He pulses back, I don't know. He didn't think he could do that but she silences. Something shifts a bit- I can't hold this for long.
He doesn't know what she means before the man speaks again and it makes sense. It actually makes sense and Virion feels like he can cry-
Nothing actually changes when he speaks, "You- okay- this might feel weird but…you don't know what I'm saying, do you?"
Don't move. He doesn't. He doesn't like what that thing in the man's hands are but if he can get Min to stop wasting energy on him- well-
"It's just- here, I'll show you. It doesn't hurt, it just…pinches. And you can hear me and I can hear you." He gestures as he does this. It's- awkward. Like he's searching for words constantly. He winces a bit as it's just…one motion to slip this piece of metal into his ear, looping around a clear piece around the flesh.
Virion hears the metal clatter against the floor before he feels it slide against his boot. The man in front of him has- sat down, and looks at him expectingly. The magic hold of Tongues is loosening- faster then it should. Thats bad. So he fumbles with the tiny metal contraption and lets his fingers do the work.
Min sighs out- shakily, and the moment he clicks whatever this is into place he can feel the magic fade out of him, replaced by…faint static.
The man sighs, "What's your name- I know this isn't the most pleasant of introductions but- hey, we're getting somewhere. I'm Tide."
Tide. Tide. A part of water? Water. He remembers lakes and rivers of his hometown-
"I'm-" he pauses, letting his tongue find the word for this, "Vyncent."
"Well, nice to meet you, Vyncent. I'm gonna get you out of here, okay?"
Virion- Vyncent- nods- and suddenly gets very, very dizzy. His knees shake and the man in front of him, Tide, gets a look of panic as he feels himself fall to the ground.
Information overflow, Virion. Be safe- for me.
And then he doesn't see anything.