shatterverse | (no subject)

In Metropolis....

Eden McCain has a table to herself at a coffee shop - notebook papers are spread over it with titles like 'Main Character' and 'Subplot 1'. The great post-apocalyptic novel isn't going to get written any other way! She felt like dressing like a cliche artist - and is wearing a navy blue beret.

Tom Therin is whistling cheerfully to himself as he walks down the street, idly looking for pockets to pick.

On the Cooper farm....

Bridgette Dubois has a stuffed pony, a lion, and a unicorn in a semi-circle on the lawn to the Cooper house. "Whoever wants me to sing Lion King at the talent show, say aye!"

The stuffed animals are silent, but Bridgette - after checking on Marie, who claps her hands in agreement an area to her left - nods as if they actually spoke. "All right - how about Sound of Music?"

Oliver Wycliffe, dressed in white and looking thoughtful, is riding his stallion Beauregard down the road to the farm.

Dana, an extremely tired-looking young woman in ratty jeans and a T-shirt, is waiting nervously in front of the hospital, gnawing on her lip.

[ooc: Tag one, tag all, but please let me know which one you're tagging!]

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Sylar would be shaking his head if he could, because the way this conversation is going is giving him serious misgivings.

Sylar would be breaking both their necks if he could, but all he can do is strain imperceptably against the order that has his muscles in a headlock.

Eden is silent, her jaw tightening, remembering the fading light as it left her stepmother's eyes.

Tersely, "Get rid of him." A quick glance behind her. "Keep walking, you."

She takes a slow breath.

"Eden..."

It trails off.

Shrug. She's dead; what the fuck does she care? No argument, says the face.

The expression Sylar's face is frozen into is already half a snarl, which makes it all the easier to glare.

But-- no matter how good he is at choosing which of his emotions people can and cannot see-- he can't hide the fear in his eyes as they burn black hatred at Eden. Because he has no doubt that, with that kind of power, she is perfectly capable of ending his life in a hundred unpleasant ways.

Eden shoots Anna a grateful look at the lack of the expected response, some of the tension disappearing from the set of her shoulders.

"If there were any other way--" she says after a while - after gesturing them in between two industrial warehouse-type buildings with no discernable activity.

Eden trails off, then shakes her head a moment later. "No. I'd still do this."

That's the type of person you're with, Anna.

Her hands find her pockets.

She can't say she likes it, but neither is she prepared to object.

Now that he's definitely being killed, rather than that prospect being a vehemently opposed possibility?

Sylar is struggling like he's never struggled before, like a wild-eyed rabbit caught in a snare. His muscles are still locked and rigid, held by Eden's command -- but if you look in his eyes, you can see it.

Eden looks back at Sylar. It's always been easier with eye-contact. She takes a breath in, swallows - and her face hardens. Eden's always had very thick armor, though she hoped never to have to use it again. Her "Keep moving," is brusque. Business-like. Thick with power.

They're behind the buildings now. Eden stops walking and turns fully to face him, moving more briskly to get a good deal of space in between them. "Stop," she tells him.

She hesitates. She wants to ask if he has any last words - what would someone like him say? But she doubts he let his victims speak. Giving him words gives him power.

Her eyes close. Flames flicker in her memory. Snow whirls, and a man much like Sylar but not gets up again. Deep breath in. All those people dead. Chandra dead. A chance to do what she couldn't do back in her universe.

"Die."

A thought strikes her, and she almost smiles.

Almost.

A last desperate thought dashes through his head -- he wasn't supposed to die like this --

And then, without dignity, or purpose, or anyone who cares --

Sylar stiffens convulsively, paling, his eyes popping at the sudden explosion of icy needles throughout his chest --

And his body lands awkwardly on the pavement.