ResinHouse:  
The Himiko Project 16 : Adversities

Lysle's Visit 6:  Lights Out.

Part 2
Nigel:  I'm pleased, even if you're not.   Let's begin right away, then.  I did mention I have my own style of doing these things?
Cal:  What the--?    Wait -- The door's open.  Knowing you, I think I'd rather avoid witnesses--
Nigel:   I will take care of it.





Nigel:  Better?  Now, let's see how far....   (stifles a curse)  
Cal:  Seems to be confined to that arm.
Nigel:  Because you are fighting it.  But  as it consumes you, you will weaken, and it will spread faster.  
Cal:  --When it does....at the end...will there be anything left of this shell?
Nigel:  I doubt it.   Now,  let me work--



A while  later:



Cal:  (shivers)  Ick.  Why is it always lips with you?
Nigel:  Why is it always complaints with you?   Now hush....  This is going well....



Outside:
Lysle:  I can't believe this house practically shuts down after dark.   I can't even hear a television.  And I'm not tired now.
This sucks.    Hey--   There's a light in that room  --  somebody's up.  Great!  Maybe they have a radio -- or a game unit --




Lysle:  Hello?  Is someone in here?  Hello---
Nigel:  Uh-oh.
Cal:  Beat it, brat!  Get lost!   And shut that door!
Lysle:  Uhh--- (he freezes)
Cal:  I said GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!!  
Nigel:  Calciferbird!  No!



Cal:  And this is how you shut a door!
SLAM!
Nigel:  Still troublesome,  I see.
Cal:  Shut up.   This is embarrasing as it is ---  Mmnn.  I feel dizzy.
NIgel:  Of course.  You do not have much energy to spare yet.  The void is still working its way inside you.  We should check on the child--
Cal:  He'll be fine.  A concussion or two is no problem for a kid.  It's done wonders for Kyle--  
Nigel:  Not good for you, though.   Now I'll have to administer some replenishment energy--
Cal:  Crap.   You mean--
Nigel:  Exactly as you fear.  More lips....
Cal:    Eww.  Ick.
Nigel:  Be still.  You're ruining my enjoyment of the task.
Cal:  ICK!!



Later:
Cal:  Do I have to thank you each time you do this?
Nigel:  Internal injury  caused by forcing you to be grateful will only negate my work.
Cal:  Any idea how much extra time this will give me?
Nigel:  No.  But I'm in the vicinity now, so I can jump in quickly, if I need to.
Cal:  Hey.  Do you still do those absolutely-binding promises you were known for?
Nigel:  On occasion.  I never liked them, but....
Cal:  I want a pair of promises from you.  Top-grade, binding oaths.
Nigel:  Such as?
Cal:  First:  You don't put any moves on Himiko.  She's been through too much already with chaos-guy.
Nigel:  I have never forced anyone.  You know that.  
Cal:  Yeah, but, she's probably a lot more sensitive to "being forced" than most of your partners.
Nigel:  I will do nothing that would harm her.   And second?
Cal:  When -- it all falls apart -- when there's nothing more to be done, or I start going under --
Get me away from here.  I don't want anyone going hysterical all over me, or even just this shell.   Grabbing -- or --
I don't know.
Nigel:   You won't be sparing them anything.
Cal:  I'm sparing myself.  Just don't want it.   Whisk me away.    Completely.   Promise me.
Nigel:  If I must, then I promise.  Anything else?
Cal:  Yeah.   Try for less lips in the next treatment.
Nigel:  Now you've gone too far again....


To be continued....