unfinishedlibrary | There is no defense line, but defense territory.

"Apologies, it's a habit, but I won't do it again." SecUnit might notice that they tend to refer to pretty much everyone by a 'cute' nickname. 'Darling', 'dearheart', and 'treasure' are the most common, but unless asked to do otherwise, they're not a fan of using names.

"And, yes, he seemed not exactly playful? And I couldn't get a true read off him, but it didn't read as a threat."

(It was a SecUnit. SecUnits don't do 'cute'.

But if they insisted, they'd have to find a nickname that wasn't something that could be a romantic term of endearment. Because it would baulk at every single one, otherwise.)

SecUnit pauses. It looks, quite frankly, pissed off.

"He might not want to hurt you, but he's a fucking idiot," it says. Before it closes the door, it makes sure one of its drones is stationing it on the other side.

If Curze decides to make an appearance again, SecUnit is going to know about it.

"You're not wrong. It's easier to hunt the destitute, those that will be seen as 'less dead', and I'm sure I shouldn't be the one to judge worthiness, but ..." They shrug. "I suppose the rich are, ugh, too important to the Story."

What? Eat the rich can be literal, too.

"That's not even touching the risks of leaving leftovers."

Voices carry.

In stone and brickwork tunnels, it carries further.

The presence of SecUnit and Illumination is hardly a secret to anyone with senses sharp enough to hear it, were they capable of venturing close enough, but this particular route has been put on a regular patrol since discovering it was being used by fellow Editors, and anyone not recognized ... simply wouldn't get close enough to investigate under their own power.

But he might. And it's turned him from his own pursuits in the darkness to head for that door on silent footsteps.

Given Curze's current state of undeath, it may well be a second drone turning up that warns he's on the way; there's no body heat to warn he's there, no heartbeat, no biosigns that register living, moving thing.

Except the drone that keeps tabs on his seizures is getting closer at a sedate strolling pace.

They'll have company soon.

A quick gesture to Illumination, to be quiet. It's clear from the way that SecUnit has suddenly spun to face the door, on alert, that something is coming on the other side. Maybe Curze isn't registering any life signs, but the drone still sees movement. It can see that something is coming.

And then SecUnit recognises its own fucking drone. And it shifts from being and on guard, to being alert and on guard and pissed off.

"Get back," it tells Illumination. Then as Curze approaches, it wrenches the door open and stares out at him.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing," it snarls.

While Illumination doesn't truly expect SecUnit to protect them, they defer to its expertise and move back.

Probably not the easiest conversation that they're all going to have, but if they're going to be here for any significant length of time, it needs to be done. (And better still that someone else takes point.)

Most people's disguises here at least changed something. Curze looks almost exactly like he did in the library, including the dried dark stains of blood on his hands and body - but the smile that crosses his scarred face has fangs now, alongside the other jagged teeth. In anyone else it might almost be friendly.

Almost. "I heard rats," is the very mild response from the primarch, who draws to a stop just outside the easy range of torchlight. Dark didn't bother any of them, did it? "And thought I might investigate. Why?"

Illumination's there too, based on scent. That's not a surprise, it was their door after all.

"And when you investigate fauna," it says slowly, its voice tightly controlled with fury. "Do you always leave bits of dead humans behind?"

In fact, its drone - not Murder Monitor Drone, the other one, Patrol Drone 3, is going to circle around Curze, looking for evidence. Just in case he's gone and brought more to Illumination's doorstep.

For better or worse, there are no corpses being dragged in his wake. But there's plenty of evidence there probably, at some point, had been. Rats don't bleed that much. Nothing's been brought back with him this time, at least, aside from the drone.

But it is 'this time'. "Only when an inventory of what's down here has been explicitly requested, and I happen to come across something noteworthy stalking below." His head tilts slightly to one side; his voice never wavers from that almost-friendly tone. "I am told it helps them 'sleep better'."

There's not a trace of guilt.

Edited 2026-02-05 00:39 (UTC)

"Don't fucking obligate, say what you actually mean, asshole," it says. (Was that the word it meant to use? Whatever, it didn't care.) "You've been killing humans, and leaving bits of them at Illumination's door. Fucking stop it."

"I always say what I mean." Servitors. So driven by their purpose that they struggle to think beyond it. "Phrase your questions better. When the owner of that door changes their request, I will consider it. Until then you have very little to say in what I choose to do with leftovers."

With Illumination present, however, Curze is mindful of exactly one thing - not revealing SecUnit's nature. He did mind his oaths, when he bothers to give them. Secrets in return for secrets; if they knew what it was, then that wasn't up to him to reveal regardless.

Once addressed, Illumination steps forward, but pointedly does not get between the others - they'll stand a little to one side.

"I do appreciate that you're both being considerate in your own ways, but Night Haunter, Rin has a point. Eat whomever and whatever you please, but as the Story progresses, I do worry that bringing your leftovers home leaves a trail. That this trail forms a pattern, and as tensions rise, this might come to the attention of the locals and their Watch." They move just a little closer to rest their hand on Curze's arm. See? No hard feelings, but things do need to change. At least a little.

"Is that alright, dear?"

Illumination isn't touching SecUnit. But they come close enough that the potential is there, and it shifts away a little. Just enough that there's less risk of contact, but not so much that it isn't still blocking the door.

"I don't think he should eat whoever the hell he pleases, it says, scowling. On this, it and Illumination did not agree. Curze came from the murder planet, where they thought the solution to murder was even more murder. His judgement was, clearly, highly suspect.

“But on everything else, they’re right. You’re exposing them to unnecessary risk.”

Edited 2026-02-05 01:33 (UTC)

Rin. Not SecUnit. The 'human' name, for a second time. Illumination might not know what it is. That's not his business to clarify.

This was precisely why he suggested weaving it into a narrative before. Every insipid, pointless little story wanted villains to hate. "I have not brought you every target I have found, merely the more interesting ones. You no longer wish to know what is down here?"

It doesn't sound like it will be an inconvenience to him either way. Aside from a brief twitch of fingers, there's little reaction to being touched. He's not used to it, but he's also absolutely convinced Illumination couldn't harm him if they tried.

One day he's going to find out his assumptions about others' capabilities is flawed.

With eyes without noticeable difference between sclera, iris and pupil, it's not easy to tell when his attention shifts to SecUnit, save the way irony creeps into his tone. "Do you intend to find prey for me, Rin? Pick my targets for me, so they are deserving enough? It will keep you occupied, I think. A parasite your size requires one per meal." He's considerably larger.

Edited 2026-02-05 01:46 (UTC)

Could Lu hold their own against someone like Curze? Unlikely, but they should would do their best to be as damned difficult on the way down.

"You could come and tell me, if you'd like." They pause to consider what would be best to say, and settle on: "I would make tea and listen. I know that it does nothing for your thirst, but there's comfort in a warm ...well, I would need to find a much larger mug for you."

"I don't want you to feel alone down here, that's not right, but I am afraid of what might happen. I am ...I am one person. Rin has offered to help, and I want to trust that, but I am still often afraid."

(Could SecUnit take Curze? It didn’t know. But it could probably hold him off for long enough for Illumination to escape, which was all that mattered anyway.)

“You can eat fauna, asshole.” Then Illumination starts talking about other things humans and SOBs consume, and it makes a face. Ugh. Organic digestive processes were so disgusting.

Well used to a life of near complete solitude, Curze is a little baffled at what is, to most, a perfectly kind offer. A place to linger a while, socialize, enjoy a snack .. that's what people like. That's what most expect.

Their uneasiness about the situation is, he supposed, understandable. If a pack of mortals turned up looking for revenge, Curze would be fine, but Illumination might be another matter. "I have always lived alone. Your offer is ..." Peculiar. "Kind.." That sounded right. "But I have no need for such things. If you have no wish to have things brought here, then I will not."

Not everyone in the Library was a lethal fighter.

He raises bloodstained hands and applauds, a slow, deliberate staccato, expression twisted into sardonic amusement. "Congratulations on proving your ignorance, Rin. If eating beasts worked, I would be doing so. They are a tasty snack but provide nothing to stop the thirst. That idiotic 'recommended reading' and its equally idiotic 'vegetarian vampires' is utter nonsense, and you ... are just as idiotic for assuming without bothering to confirm if I matched that vapid little tale or not."

"Thank you, Night Haunter. Your consideration does you credit." Illumination smiles faintly, and there's a pale flutter of colour over their skin. All in all, a very formal way of saying 'thanks for not being a holy terror about this'.

They would like to defend SecUnit, but aren't sure how best to do so. What they'd like to do is gently rattle everyone and demand they offer a measure of grace, but that's not going to help. "And I can't speak for Rin, but tell me, honestly, with a whole city of people - good, bad, and otherwise - all at your disposal, would you truly have contented yourself with rats or stolen pigs? I don't know that I would be able to."

Is that true? Maybe.

"Except the vampires here don't go around murdering people to..." it makes an absolutely disgusted face, "...eat. They manage."

Did they manage by eating fauna? Or by...ugh...eating humans without killing them? It didn't know, and it didn't want to know. It didn't matter, anyway, because they point was they got by without murder, and Curze didn't.

"And humans notice, you know, when they start disappearing on masse. Sometimes it takes them a while to notice, because they're shit at that sort of thing. But they do notice, eventually. And the easiest ones to blame are all the new people. Which is us."

The flicker of changing color and scent is as interesting now as it had been when he'd first realized it matched with what they were saying, but he still can't quite actually translate it. It might not be language at all, merely emphasis, but the mystery is terribly distracting. "Ah, honesty. In the name of honesty ... contentment is not required. Survival is. A difference in flavor alone would not be worth the trouble."

He's capable of restraint! Sometimes, in specific areas.

"I rather think they would also notice were I to step onto the surface and wander about asking for handouts." Now that comes with a growl, a low rumble of displeasure he doesn't bother to hide. Curze doesn't blend in, not at his size. The Emperor hadn't wanted any of them to blend in. "Your concern for mortals is touching but please try to use some logical reasoning. Wasn't your point trying to avoid drawing attention?" There isn't much else to discuss as far as he's concerned, if the worry is leaving corpses, he won't. There won't be anything left to find.

There is no defense line, but defense territory.

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