The Plague Doctor's Growth

Yet Another Snap

Having snuck into his own apartment using his window and the fire escape, he honestly just let Rae sit on his bed or do whatever they wish. He'd then gaze over at Cartyr, ".. Do either of you need anything?" He'd say this, shutting the door to the side room with a bit of aggression. There was a strong metallic smell that came from that room.* "Drinks, food, etc. I still have to get those damned herbs." He'd mutter under his breath the last part. He seemed to be entirely different now that he stood in this building. He would turn his gaze between the two before he then walked to the kitchen, a small, cramped kitchen, and opened the fridge.
Rae sat on the bed, tucking their knees to their chest as they quietly stared at their feet. They kept their hood up, looking more embarrassed now that they had calmed down. Shaking their head a little, they hugged their legs a little closer to their chest. Cartyr promptly pulled a chair from across the room over to the other side. Sitting at the window hesitantly... Keeping watch as they did, merely looking back to the two from time to time. "No.. Thank you Doctor, but I am okay.." He responded.
Eri closed the fridge, and seemed to pause for a moment. Gently running a finger over his bandaged hand. He then groaned annoyedly and began to unwrap it to change the bandages. He went and sat on the edge of the bed. Making a frustrated noise as they couldn't get the bandage started. He just sighed, and turned his head towards Cartyr, "Can you help me with this..?" He said, annoyed at the fact he had to ask for help from his closest friend. "Well, Of course Doctor." *Cartyr walked over and began helping him with the bandages, getting them opened and set out for him in an appropriate manner. "You forget, I used to be a Doctor too. I know the work around, no need to be annoyed when to ask for help."
He tilted his head back, annoyed, "A doctor that came running to me to get away from the authorities." He hummed in response, a bit of a tease and maybe a low blow.* "Thank you, anyway." He said, bandaging his own hand. He paused for a second before looking up, he felt someone watching again and gazed towards the door silently. 'It's an officer.'
There was a knocking on the door, and Eri quickly stood, and silently approached. He paused, knowing full well that a camera of some kind must've seen them. He knew better than to answer in a plague doctor mask, and paused, Freaking out quite a bit. He then gazed over at Cartyr before slowly reaching for his mask, to take it off... "Just a moment." His British accent suddenly becoming thick. He motioned for Rae and Cartyr to hide in the kitchen as he went for the door.
Rae silently got up and slipped into the kitchen. Even in chucky combat boots they somehow managed to never make noise as Cartyr soon continued after. Composing himself, he took his hat off and then his mask, ever so slowly taking it off. He then brought his neck cover down to appear as a scarf. He wiped his hands on his pants for a moment before then unlocking and opening the door. The officer paused at first, he stood at about 5'10, and probably weighed about 200 pounds give or take. Fit, but heavier set, like a bull. "May I help you?" He'd ask, his eyes gazing at the officer almost cheerfully, his blind eye offset a bit. Scars coming down it and meeting with a Glasglow (chelsea) smile along his cheeks. He was wearing a dark flannel button up, his usual brown dress pants, and a belt. Wearing his usual large rain boots. He didn't seem to be bothered by the officer's attempt not to stare. "Sorry to bother you, sir. But we have witness reports of someone breaking into this apartment.."
Eri smiled a bit, "..Ah.. That may be my neighbor. They are always calling the good men in blue because they think I'm satanic for my scars." 'That's a lie. They've never seen your face.' The officer paused, he didn't want to be rude, but was genuinely curious. "I don't want to be rude.." The Doctor interrupted him to answer to question before he could ask it. "I got these back in my home country." He gestured plainly at his face. "For loving someone I shouldn't have." 'You didn't lie...there for once.' The officer was taken aback slightly by the thick accent and words and apologized before saying, "If you see or hear anything, let us know." Eri nodded and said. "Of course."
'Liar.' The voice spoke harshly.
Rae didn't look towards Dr. Eri, quietly staring at their feet as they fiddled their thumbs. They listened to the conversation, shifting their weight back and forth. Occasionally she would hear what sounded like a whisper or an off sound but they ignored them, focusing on just staying completely silent. Cartyr put the blind fold away, leaning out from the door stealthily as he peered quietly to Eri. Waiting for the signal to be told that the Coast was indeed clear. Keeping his katana at the ready.
Eri waved the officer off, and calmly shut the door before then locking it. He then kept his back to the other two as he grabbed his mask and put it back on after pulling his neck cover up over his chin and ears. He then stuck his hat back on. "It's.. it's clear." He would say, his voice shaking a bit. He didn't notice how much his hands had been shaking. Or how his breathing instantly got faster when he closed the door. His heart was pounding in his ears. He felt like the walls were caving in, he saw red pooling on the ground, something at the window. The walls kept getting closer and closer to him, he backed up, bumping into the door.
Knocking his hat off. He pressed himself against the door. His boots covered in blood, hands reaching for him. He shut his eyes and grabbed the sides of his head. He felt the pain of the knife working against the muscle of his mouth, slowly climbing higher against his face. The sensation of being unable to close his mouth or open it. He felt helpless. He felt like his arms were restrained, he felt a rope around his neck. He grasped at his mask, shaking. His breathing was raspy.
"It's not real. It's not real. It's not real." He'd repeat over and over under his breath. Voices screaming and pounding in his head. 'YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF.' 'MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO GET THE RIFLE. POINT IT AT THAT COP, AND GET SHOT. YOU MONSTER.' 'Eri...' 'CAN'T EVEN LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR, YOU MONSTROSITY.' He began to hit his head pretty hard with his hands, shaking quite violently with frustration.
Cartyr quickly stood up, dashing over to Eri and wrapping his arm around him. As the other arm did the same.
"Eri, hey! Hey hey... you need to breathe... Listen to my voice... not the other voices, my voice, you know what I sound like... just.. listen... and breathe...  Most of those voices are liars... The aren't true.. They may be there forever... However, they.. not once, nor ever.. control you... This is your body. Your life, your soul. Those lies that they spew aren't the truth... What you make, is your truth... Breath bud.."
Eri was trying to listen to Cartyr's voice over the other voices. His eyes searching Cartyr's own. He felt like everything was caving in.. until it stopped. He felt everything stop right where it was. No voices, just ringing. His eyes shut tightly before opening again, hearing Cartyr clearly again.
"...They're.. I..." He gently brought his bandaged hand up to press against Cartyr's face, "I'm not...a monster... right..?" He sounded and looked so weak within the span of a few seconds. His eyes were watering up quite a bit, Eri never cried, not since having his face quite literally split open. "..Cartyr.. If I s... I snap.. Please use my.. tranq..uilizer on me.." Eri fumbled for the needle in his pocket, he also slid his switch blade across the floor. Holding the needle out to Cartyr to hold on to.
"Eri. You are not a monster. Nor will you ever be. You are man of many talents. The only difference is... You've been through... so much. More then a human should bare... You need to remember, the voices... The bad ones? They are the monsters.... not you... They want to bring you down but I promise you... You are not one of them..."
Cartyr takes note of the tranquilize request. Only keeping eye contact with the doctor.
Eri was crying at this point, shaking his mind was calming but he knew what was happening. His mind would lure him into a false sense of security. His uninjured hand came up, and grabbed Cartyr's shirt collar. "You don't know me. Cartyr." His eyes almost seemed blank, his good one full of pure rage and adrenaline.* "You." He put so much venom in that one word. 'You don't know what's good for you, Eri... It's not them.. It's us. We're you..'
"Don't know what's. Good. For. Me." He'd shove Cartyr off of him as he stood.
'Did you forget your last fight, Eri? He was going to kill you, love. Perhaps, he should refer to you as Dear. Dear little patient Eri... Not knowing what's good or bad anymore.' "Did you forget our last little fight?" He'd put a lot of emphasis on the next word. "Cartyr." Noticing the sudden shift in Eri's behavior, Rae quietly stood up and walked in. Peering out from the doorway like a small child, they asked in a quiet voice, "Doc? Is soemthing wrong?"
"Rae. Stay in that room." Cartyr stood up, getting back onto his feet as he put his hands up, palms out.
"Eri... listen to me... You're letting them control you. I've known you long enough to  know and absolutely understand where this can possibly lead too. The voices Eri, they're liars... Just... let's all.. calm down...." Eri just glowered at Cartyr, "They aren't liars, dear. They're telling me only the truth.. Cartyr~ Don't you want to fight me anyway? To see who'd win in a fight? I've always been curious if you've learned over the years." He stepped to the side, his eye watching Cartyr closely as he side stepped. He was grinning a bit wildly behind his mask, "You want me to just Calm down? I'll show you CALM, Cartyr!" He dove for the switch blade he had slid, landing on his back so he could defend himself.
Cartyr dropped his katana, still keeping his hands up. "No, I don't want to fight you Eri... That is not what I wish. You're currently being snappy and we all know what's that's a sign off. Let's put the knife down. And let's just sit down, have a calming chat. You and I... I don't want to fight you..."  Eri grinned behind his mask, flipping the switch up on his switch blade to make it come out. He then got into a stance as though to lunge,* "Cartyr, that won't work right now, love." He suddenly launched forward, tackling Cartyr to the ground, pinning him under himself. Trying to stab him with quite a lot of force. 'it's alright Eri.. It'll be over quick for both of you.' 'COME ON... Just a little bit more.'...Stop... Stop it..'Eri grabbed onto the side of his head with one hand. Grabbing his Mask's beak in one hand and just pulling it up off his head. His good eye full of confusion and rage, his eyes were watering al lot though...
Cartyr quickly rolled out of the way, grabbing his katana when rolling and putting it on his shoulder as he back hand sprung to get some distance. "Eri. Okay, look. I know you're in your snappy snap phase, but this is a poor way of handling it. I don't want to unsheathe this blade and you know that! Come on now. Put the blade down..."  *Eri gritted his teeth, "It has always pissed me off when you try to pity me. DO I LOOK PITIFUL NOW?" He snapped pure venom in his words at Cartyr.
"Go ahead, take your fucking sword out, then! Fight me, Cartyr. I know you want to. Deep down, you know you want to.." He said, practically snarling the words. His knife now behind held back, he got up and stepped forward, trying to slice at Cartyr with the knife. "When I'm done with you, I'm going for that fucking COWARD hiding." His words were slurring together, pure rage. Look how strong you are, Eri!'  You can kill him.' 'Eri...Please don't.. We like Cartyr...'
"So be it..."  Cartyr unclips the lock on his blade, unsheathing it as he person bounces around the room, almost improbable to keep track off, left side, behind Eri, below him, beside him, to the fight of him, behind him, below him, behind him, left side, behind, right side. Cartyr's moves were unpredictable, and quite quick. *Eri was swinging wildly while backing up, trying to slice at the air. He put his back against a wall, leaving Cartyr only a few openings then. His good eye was trying to track where Cartyr was. He sliced when he thought Cartyr was next to him, his blade lodging in the wall.
He yanked it out, he slashed at the air, his breathing was harsh and raspy, he was crying.*"You... YOU DID THIS TO ME." He screamed, something not of Eri to do. His voice breaking, he swung his knife towards where he thought Cartyr was. Cartyr sped up even more, now Eri was merely slicing at after images of Cartyr.
That was until everything stopped and Cartyr was now leaning on a wall, across the room, blade was sheathed, he was whistling, and looking at Eri. Just picking at his finger nails, Cartyr just looked down to his hand as he did so and simply stated.
"Remember, you requested this part." Cartyr had shown the empty syringe, filled with tranquilizing fluid that had just been injected into Eri's neck during Cartyr's speed mirage. *Eri gazed at Cartyr, already stumbling a bit. He then fell down onto his knees, holding his head in his hand, his other hand still having the open switch blade in it.* "Yo..you did this to me.."
He stabbed his own leg in an attempt to stay awake, practically snarling like an injured animal, he took the knife out and made one last ditch effort to throw the knife at Cartyr before slumping to the floor. Blood running down his left leg, but he was mostly fine. Now and then his body would move, or his breathing would get raspy or aggressive but otherwise he seemed to sleep peacefully.
Cartyr simply stepped to the side, the knife hitting the wall and then the floor. As he then walked over to Eri and lightly picked him up and set him on the bed. Before sitting back to the chair, and keeping watch. Occasionally looking back to the two individuals around him. Checking up on them from time to time. During some time, Rae had slipped away. They had found a small space to hide, curling up to where it was easy to miss them. Hugging their knees to their chest, they buried their face in their arms. They were gripping their butterfly knife, knuckles almost white from clenching it so tightly.