The War of Each Against All

[Mikhael Nadyezhda (Mischa)]

I giggle.

"Oh come on, how are the mario brothers not profound? It's almost Shakespearean, except it reaches a broader base of people. And not as tragic." I say, wrapping my arms around his waist. "And you're right, I'm the green overalls to your red overalls."

[Valodya Bassarov]

"Ah, whatever. You're such a goofball. But I love you."

Bassarov gets into bed and turns out the light when both are settled in.

[Cynthia]

The explanation Steve gives Cynthia makes her hold her groin. Ugh.

"Yeah thanks... I think I can leave now." Cynthia gets out of bed, still a little sore, but capable of moving around. "I have a few things I'd like to take care of, how about I meet you at the feminist base in a couple of hours?"

Cynthia begins to get dressed.

[Sophia]

The new house is very nice, and I feel glad now that Antero seems to be somewhat normal.

I lay on top of the roof of the house and count the stars.

[Josef Stalin]

Stalin was still in that same chair, reading a book. He heard Violet's door open and he looked up - she was in nothing but a robe and he did his best not to look(or at least not look like he was).

"Insomnia?" he asked, closing the book after inserting his bookmark.

[Freak Boy]

Freak Boy watched as Bassarov and Mischa walked into their room. Thankfully, he did not hear any noises coming from it late at night. This was probably the first time he actually witnessed Bassarov and Mischa being affectionate in more than just teasing each other.

Truth be told, it kind of wierded Freak Boy out when they kissed... Not that he opposed it or anything, he was just uncomfortable with male intimacy.

[Steve Fox]

Steve shakes his index finger back and forth, "No happenin' love. Y'e got y'e'rself grabbed and bagged once already, an' I am not leavin' y'e on y'er own." Steve stands up, putting his hands into his pockets. "Do what it is that y'e need to but I be goin' with y'e."

[Noe "Ghost" Carlson]

Noe paces in his office. His plans had all turned inwards, his carefully thought out traps had been avoided and now he was the one who was being worked in the corner.

Between Violet and Mary he was running out of playable options. If things continued as they did, his cost would begin to out pace his results. And to a high ranking member of the LIF, that was not good.

He wouldn't be "purged" of course, or whatever Infinity called it, he would simply he reassigned, his rank lowered. But he had become used to his role as Director and he did not intend to let that slip away from him.

Pausing in his pacing Noe hits a button on his desk. "Mary, this is Noe. I'd like a update on your projects. I need to know something..."

[Kaieka]

I traipse down to the dungeons after talking to Kith. Although I have heard that he is a top operative here, I haven't ever had any contact with him before. I suppose this is due for the most part to the fact that I don't really talk to anyone.

I reach the cells and peek through the doors at the prisoners hanging on the walls. There are many holding on to the last threads of life, bloodied and bruised so much that their own mothers would find it hard to recognize them. I finally find the cell of Bjork and look in at her, she also looks as though she has been tortured many times before. Kith told me to kill her, which shouldn't be too much of a problem. She looks as though she is knocking on the door of death as it is.

I suddenly sense someone very familiar... I can't place it, the acrid smell of someone's blood that I have experienced before. I look through the slats in the door next to the Ursarian and see bright red hair... HIM!

Lions and Tigers and Bears... oh my.

The bear-woman will have to wait just a few minutes longer, I need to teach this little catman a lesson.

I open the door and slip inside, walk over to where he sits on the floor against the wall and grab him by the throat, slightly pressing my nails into the skin of his neck.

"Wake up, red, I'd like to spend some quality time with you."

[Zinn]

Zinn can feel Freak Boy's discomfort. She only considers saying something, but instead, she stares at her shoes. She feels very alone. She stares out the window, and looks at the sky. She will remove Mikhael's stitches in the morning. There is something to be said for insomnia. She hasn't slept in three days. Right now, she appreciates it. It's so quiet this late at night. The streets are empty, and she tries not to think of Red Infinity curfews. The city lights block most of the stars, but the moon is clearly visible. Zinn hugs her oversized sweater closer to her body, and thinks of Petra, her best friend. Petra never loved her, but Zinn loved Petra, so it was enough. Or at least she tells herself that.

She tries not to think of Petra's when she had died, pale, and covered in clotted blood.

I'm 19 years old, but I feel as though I have lived a thousand years, Zinn thinks. I have lived a thousand lives.

Her emotional guard goes down, and instead of that flat or irritated expression she usually has, she looks hopeful. She lets out a puff of hot air on the window, and draws an anarchy symbol.

Perhaps things will get better from here.

[Sephos]

I see that Mischa is back, which is good. He is probably the person that I like the most around here, minus Zero, that is. I have just moved into the room with Zero. It has been interesting the last few nights, always being near her, seeing her from across the room.

I need to get out and go for a walk. When one is sexually frustrated, it is often good to get away and take walks. I need to get some cigarettes. I have a half used butt in my pocket, so I take that out once outside and light it up. The harsh smoke fills my lungs and I hold it in a moment before exhaling, willing myself to get every ounce of nicotine possible out of it before letting it go.

d**n it!

It F-ing stinks sitting around watching someone that you desire but cannot have. I need to do something to take my mind off of this. My writing has been lacking lately, as I have come up with maybe one or two bad poems in the time since I have been back from Hitola. I need to focus. This is F-ing hard.

My half of a cigarette burns its way down the the filter and finally stops, as do I. I sit down on the ground and look up toward the sky, just sitting and staring for awhile, letting the cold air bite at my skin and my thoughts roam freely.

[Elisabeth "BB" Wolfe]

"Hey Nova, I'm goin' out to get Bjork. Wanna come?" she asks as she walks towards the door.

[Freak Boy]

"Uh, Zinn... you feeling ok?" Freak Boy asked, seeing that her normally emotionless face had become almost, dare I say it, Hopeful?

Freak Boy is scrolling through the disk version of The Red Beast, scanning it for spelling or grammatical errors he may have missed in the version he handed to Bassarov.

[Mary Warren]

Mary reports to Noe's office with four rather innocent looking manilla folders.

[Virgil- The Prophet]

"Lonely?..." A voice bubbles up from the ground near Sephos. A pool of green slime lays on the ground near her, looking like a discusting pool of contaminated water. "Sad?..."