endlessdel | Telling Tales

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Telling Tales

Delirium didn't know where to go anymore, everywhere was wrong and it had gone so quiet. She preferred the screaming, she knew all about screaming but the silence was killing her. Delirium stumbled through the trees towards her home, the asylum. "Barnabas," Delirium called out, the german shepherd following her swiftly. He wouldn't let her out of her sight, not until it was safe.

She couldn't find Samara, John, Abby and oh god... her pirates. "Ragetti?" Delirium called out, approaching their home. "Pintel? Roshaun!"

Delirium turned at the sound of a crack, a twig breaking behind her. She was dead, she was dead, oh gods it would hurt. It would..."Wha-" Barnabas barked a warning at the man as Delirium stared at him confused. He wasn't her pirate. "What are you doing here?"

[[Timed to Post Halloween Plot]]

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“Delirium.” He corrected himself as she informed him of his mistake. He did not know this woman at all, but apparently she knew of him and he looked rather apologetic, though it was more to do with what he actually had to say, rather than having made a mistake with her name, and he nodded slowly. “Quite right, my apologies.” He said quietly.

He kept a vague eye on the dog, that wasn’t the one that had jumped up on him, was it? He felt a pang of guilt as she apologised to him, and he dismissed with a small shake of his head. “No need. This evening has been a difficult one for many.” He imagined there as not a single person on the Island whom had not been affected by what happened.

The truth was, he couldn’t help. He could only tell her what he had done, and he had no idea how she would respond. Was she his friend? His significant other? How close were they? He had told Elizabeth that he was going to tell the woman that shared the tree house when she had told him of her; and that he would stay with her, or escort her to be somewhere safe with people she knew depending on how she reacted to the news. He just didn’t know. James wanted to take her indoors, have her sit down. But he was sure he wouldn't have convinced her to to so, such was her need to know what happened as soon as possible.

He looked quite exhausted, and there were signs he had been in a fight. A slash in his coat gaped at his shoulder; there was a cut under his jaw that had been lucky to miss a more vital point. Where to begin. “There’s been an accident.” He began, voice strained, the entire day’s events were a weight on his shoulders, and he might have slumped if he did not force himself to stand tall. He felt as though he was speaking without really comprehending his own words “I have not heard news of your sister.” He didn’t know she had a sister.“But I’m afraid I must inform you that Ragetti and Pintel were affected by something beyond their control this evening; the Island’s strange behaviour manifested itself upon them by means of a curse.” He wasn’t sure what this woman knew of their Pirate past concerning Aztec gold, but he wasn’t sure he should pause for too long. “Unfortunately it caused them to behave in such a way that required ..defence, to ensure the safety of others. There was nothing else that could be done.” It’d been the first word to surface in his mind defense, when already he was having trouble stringing anything together at all. “The curse lifted, at what I believe was midnight.” He let a breath out and was determined to keep the woman’s gaze as steadily as he could. “I am sorry.. but Mister Pintel disappeared from the Island as the curse was removed, and did not return to his normal state.” He doesn’t understand why, his tone is weary and there’s not much he can explain. “Most regrettably, whilst under the curse ..Mister Ragetti was wounded. I’m afraid, unfortunately it was fatal.” He looked sorry, genuinely as he felt it. Guilt flooded his insides, cold and gripping and he tried to swallow it back. “I’m truly ...very sorry Delirium. And if there is anything that may be done to help you, you must tell me.”

"But I’m afraid I must inform you that Ragetti and Pintel were affected...by means of a curse."

Delirium stopped pacing and turned to stare at the man. She knew that curse, she'd lived in their heads the entire time whilst they were slowly driven mad by it. "But he's okay?" Delirium asked, quietly more to herself than to anyone as he continued to break the new from her. Delirium's breath quickened, she placed her hands on her chest where her heart was fluttering around uncomfortably. "Fatal?"

She couldn't hear him, noise rushing in her ears and she dropped suddenly to her knees. She couldn't hear him, all she could hear was the sound of wings. "Fatal?" Delirium repeated unbelievingly, tears welling up. They were gone, they were both gone and Roshaun wasn't coming back. Barnabas padded over to her licking her face softly.

"DoN'T." Delirium said, sharply gripping Barnabas's muzzle and pusheing him away from her. Barnabas backed away growling at her. Delirium got up from her knees and moved swiftly towards him gripping the bloodstained jacket. "wHo diD it? i wAnT to kNOw! tELL me!"

He wasn’t okay. James had to let in sink in, there was nothing more he could say, or do. He just had to stay where he was, and hope that she was able to ask him for the help she would need to get through this. Despite the fact he didn’t quite get along with the dogs that had greeted him rather exuberantly last time he had come here, James was rather glad the animal was here.
Until she refused it’s comfort and there’s another wrench of guilt at his stomach.

“Delirium.” He said quietly, knowing perhaps he should remain there in silence. But he wanted her to know ..though they were practically strangers, she could ask to be accompanied somewhere if she had friends to go to, or if he could bring something to her, if she wanted to return to the tree house.

But before he could continue to his shock Delirium had launched at him and grabbed a hold of his coat to which he winced, stumbling a step in surprise; still stiff and sore from the fight. But he didn’t back away, and he didn’t try to move her. If she needed a way to vent what this news had done to her, then he couldn’t force her away. Especially not with the weight of the guilt in his stomach. Still, of all things he had not expected she would ask that.

What was worse, he couldn’t tell her. He couldn’t tell her the truth. Elizabeth had arrived shortly before midnight, and she had seen what he had done. There was no longer a weapon and Elizabeth had stopped him from confessing the truth of what had happened on the spot to the doctor who had seen to Ragetti and confirmed his death. There were police on this Island and James knew, before he spoke to anyone else on the events exactly, he would have to talk to them, first. Word could travel fast in such a place, if he spoke of it, even to Delirium it could in some form get to the IPD before he had spoken to them personally and it would only make matters worse.

“I ..didn’t see.” He blurted quickly, insides practically chilled as well as twisted now by the fact he was lying. Lying to this woman, whom had meant something to the pirate he’d run through. Though James’ expression was stoic, steady he felt instantly like she knew it too. “I was caught in battle, with Pintel.” That wasn’t so much of a lie, he had actually done so. “I didn’t see how it happened. I’m so sorry.” Already he knew he was going to have to correct this. When he had confessed to the Island’s police, he would confess to her too.

Delirium's grip slackened on his jacket. "It's not your fault," Delirium said, quietly. Pintel had disappeared and someone had m...taken her Roshaun away from her. And when she found that someone she was going to keep him alive, the mind was so easy to break and she knew all the neatest ways to do it. He'd suffer as she suffered.

"i nEED to sEE hiM, i nEED...." Delirium said, her breath catching. Her heart felt heavy and trapped, confined in a human chest. She could feel the barbed pierce of metal inside it, Despair had her hook in her and she could feel her sister twisting it. "Oh goDs, i nEEd... whERe's mY TwinKLe? haVE yOU SEEn him? i nEED to be thERe, hE's so aLOne anD spARKLy."

Delirium gripped his jacket tighter, her vision was swimming and she could feel her legs going. "I need to see him, please?"

Jaw clenching tight, James swallowed. It was his fault. He drove the blade into the pirate’s chest, and he had seen him slump against the tree, as he had returned to human form. His gaze shifts a fraction, and he can only hope she can’t see his guilt, he thinks it must be impossible because he feels like it’s practically radiating off of him.

His heart was wrenched as her voice suddenly pitched unevenly, and she pleaded to see Ragetti. He had been taken to the clinic, he thought. “.. –the clinic. The doctor, took him away...-“ He wasn’t sure how to put it, surely there would be some examining, or something. Funerals. That’s what funerals were for. Her words were quickly becoming nonsensical and James didn’t understand. Sparkly? What did she mean. He wanted to tell her to calm down, but found her couldn’t.

For the second time his coat was pulled on tightly and though he didn’t yet touch her, James's hands hovered as though he was going to put them on her shoulders to steady her. “Delirium. You can’t see him. I’m so sorry.” He said quietly, firmly, feeling absolutely wretched as he spoke, eyes downcast.

"nO, i waNT to sEE hiM!" Delirium said, pushing him hard in the chest as she let go of his jacket. She looked furious, unsteady and unstable in both mind and body. She couldn't collect herself, all she could think about was Ragetti bloodied and alone. She couldn't let him be alone, she had to be with him. "TakE me to hiM now!"

Delirium moved forward again to push the stronger man. She didn't care anymore, she didn't care about social nicities or politeness or rules. She was Chaos, she was Insanity and she wanted her pirate back.

Already exhausted, added to the writhing guilt in his stomach that made him feel slightly ill; the first hard shove took him by surprise and made him stumble back a step or two, it left a slight sting where he had been shoved. “Delirium.” He began once again his voice firm, his best attempt to calm her down. “I know you wish to see him now. But there's..just- There’s isn’t any way, right now.” She was becoming quite frantic, and focusing on trying to settle was better than focusing solely on his own guilt.

She shoved him roughly again but this time he was somewhat more prepared; shoulders squared. Perhaps were he not constantly thinking about ..what he knew to be true. He wasn’t sure what else to say, and now part of him was ..glad he didn’t have to tell her whom had killed Ragetti, he wasn’t sure if he could stand it. However, it also rendered him rather speechless. All he could think to do, was apologise, of course she didn’t know the extent as to why; but the least of all was that she couldn’t take her to see Ragetti now. He didn’t think it would be right. “I’m sorry.” He said, quietly. Though it almost felt useless he'd said it so often to the poor girl, he meant it.

He kept appologising, she wanted to sew his lips up and make him shut up. Sorry wouldn't bring him back to her, Sorry wouldn't make her sister come for her either but why did he kept saying it over and over again. The more rational side of her was calm but the insane and paranoid side of her stared at him in anger.

"You'RE soRRY? SOrry," Delirium repeated, her face tightening with fury. He'd done it, he'd done it and couldn't tell her. She'd felt sorry for him, she'd liked him and he had done it. He'd killed her pirate or was she just...imagining it. No, he'd done it. She knew it. "You. You. You!"

Delirium launched herself at him, shrieking in frustration and anger. Her hand caught his face, her nails scratching the soft flesh of his cheeks. She hit out at him blindly, tears in her eyes. She didn't care anymore, she didn't care.

James knew he would have more to say when he not plagued by guilt, that he'd be far more eloquent then too. But, all he could hear ..and subsequently all he could then say for that matter was sorry. He was truly sorry, but all that would help her, would be to take responsibility, to admit what this woman deserved to hear. It wasn't right to keep it from her. But, he wouldn't forever and he knew, without using it as an excuse his confession, without doubt would first have to be to the law.

He watched, with a stirring of dread as her expression changed, as though she'd managed to pull the thoughts from his mind, his guilt out into the open. "No- I." He retorted weakly, he couldn't admit it to her yet. Yet, he wanted to remind himself over and over. Not yet, but he would. He had to. But her assurance was only more certain.

So certain she lunged at him with a speed he hadn't expected, and at once she's ..grasping at his face then scratching,it stings and he has no clue just how deeply her nails could possibly claw as he’s more intent on trying to get hold of her thin wrists and pull her hands away from his face and back toward her. “Delirium please!” he blurted at once, he had no idea how to calm her in such a state, she had an unexpected strength and all he could do was feed her more lies ..if he said it was an accident, that would imply he had guilt to explain. “You must calm down, please.” His voice was slightly uneven, both from the shock of her actions, and that he did not know what he could offer her, until he could tell her the truth.

His voice was like acid to her, every word he said just enraged her even more. How dare he be indignant, how dare he try and tell her what to do when he'd murdered her pirate. Delirium shrieked something uncomprehensible as he pulled her hands away from his face, holding on to her wrists tightly.

"Get oFf mE!" Delirium screeched, trying to pull away from him. Delirium kicked out with her legs, trying to hurt him. She wanted him dead, her life didn't matter anymore- she just wanted him dead.

She had every right to be angry. She had every right to hate him with all she could, and whilst already felt a writhing guilt for what he had done, restraining her seemed even worse. Lying to her, and when, though her own accord Delirium had discovered the truth he was forced to restrain her, clutching her wrists though firmly, though he could not find it within himself to be too forceful with the distressed girl.

He couldn’t apologise again. She didn’t want to hear any of that, he’d already apologised so often it seemed useless now, all he could do was to was stop her from actually hurting herself in her thrashing anger. Her kicks caught his shin on the left and he winced. “Delirium ..you must calm down.” He felt utterly useless in the situation, everything he said was useless at least, and he was sure all he could do would be to restrain her until her hysteria had faded enough that she could be taken to her home.

"nO! nO! muRDERer, i'LL kiLL yoU! TuRN Your skiN insiDe OUT, kEEP yOU ALivE AND iN paiN." Delirium said, wrenching one arm loose and punching Norrington hard in the face. She hit out at him, limbs flailing in anger and rage. She no longer cared anymore, all she could see was the hate and pain. Delirium kicked out as hard as she could. "GeT OFF mE!"

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