The Story, Chapter 10
2010-04-29 22:26![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aguuChapter 10 - Chloroform
_____________________
A/N: The moment I get this novel published is the day I can finally tell my mother, "Writing is so not a worthless job." and I can rub it in my brother's face. He sorely believes, 100% that I do not have talent for this, and that I should give up.
...I want to prove him wrong.
Also, staying true to my word--I usually read back on the chapter I post on Facebook. ;D Now it wouldn't be fun if I didn't have some kind of incentive to keep you guys coming back. :3
_____________________
September 31, year 20xx (as a rough placeholder)
During the six weeks that followed, Adrian Nagant grew more aware of the whispers in his class, that there were dark shadows underneath his eyes, and his skin had taken on a paler tinge than usual. He could literally hear them murmuring about various activities, rumours mostly.
"I bet he goes clubbing..." he heard one girl whisper to the other. "No, I heard that he sings karaoke with the other officers!"
"Ma'am Browning sure keeps him busy, doesn't she?" a boy muttered darkly, which made him yawn and glare at the same time.
Nightly training with Noahn and concentrating during the day made it all the more stressful, and Elizabeth's silence, although once pleasant was now just irritating.
He had even stooped to asking Noahn where the jacket was hidden, but all he recieved was more information and the blueprints to the department store.
"Stop wondering about her and focus. Now, where are you going to plant it in?" Noahn's voice was gentle and commanding at the same time, a paradox that while Adrian found highly amusing, was now just strongly mocking in his sleep-deprived, coffee-cake induced stupor.
"I'll place it in the septic tank. The methane and other combustibles can make it explode."
"It'll be one hell of a party, that's for sure. Make sure you aren't seen?"
"The Black Captain has never been seen...well, not by anyone alive, that's for certain." Nagant scoffed. He knew that he could act differently once deprived of sleep and high on caffeine, but he would never be crude and careless.
He's just insulting me now, Nagant thought darkly, wanting to shoot him in the head as Noahn berated him for mixing the components wrong. "It'll never explode in time, you'd get blown up before you could get out. Too much. Do it again."
At the end of their final night, Noahn pushed something small into Nagant's palm. His green eyes managed to work out that it was silver and made of steel, his fingers gripping around it. It took awhile to discern that it was, in fact a key.
There was a rose embossed on the key's handle.
"You've done better than most I've tutored. That opens a little something in your apartment. We'll talk once you've finished your current mission."
Somehow, Nagant dragged himself from Avalon Park into a cab, and opened the door to his apartment, looking at the green digital clock in the corner.
3:33 AM.
He almost fell into his bed, but a medium-sized wooden chest made it near-impossible to do without almost bruising his legs.
Holding into the key, he tried to see if it fit the lock, and (unsurprisingly) it did.
Inside was a white jacket and a note. Unfolding it, a reciept for a dry-cleaner and a tailor fell out.
"Peace of mind doesn't come without its' consequences."
"Lovely penmanship, though," Nagant murmured. He couldn't help noticing how elegant the hand was; the ink was heavy on the back of the page, and the words were reminiscent of a younger era. It had always been Godfather's trademark: subtle elegance, in a world of fast-paced technology. Following in his footsteps, Nagant had ensured that all of his...targets received a certain, special parting gift.
He raised his eyebrows when he got to the bottom. Instead of a formal signature, or even a name, there was a stamped panda, with the words "4th Division; Branch 101." underneath.
Noahn, you son of a--urgh, so this is that jacket, isn't it...? He gingerly lifted it from the chest, and placed it on the bed while the chest was placed onto the floor. He could always move it later.
The jacket had those same cat-ears sewn onto the hood, and it looked about the same. But it smelled strongly of some scent he couldn't identify, but somehow seemed vaguely familiar.
Putting the jacket to his nose, he sniffed and his head spun.
"Screw you, No...ah...nn..." were his final words as he slumped down on his bed, on top of the chloroform-soaked jacket.
Meanwhile, a man with dark hair laughed while seated in front of a computer screen, the image of a sleeping Adrian Nagant flashing before him.
"You'll be ready soon...a few more missions...and you'll be my perfect soldier."
~~
There were few things in Nagant's life that truly annoyed him, including perky women over their 40's that still thought they could snag a man just under his 20's, bitter vegetables, and spontaneous actions.
Now he added 'girls who depend on jackets to stabilize their sanity' to the very top of that list.
"Here, Elizabeth. Found your jacket." He threw it at her and she put it on with glee, and latched onto his arm.
"Thanks so much, Naggie~ I've been looking for it eve-ry-where~!" She looked up at him, her wine-red eyes glittering. "I can't go out in the sun without it."
Doesn't that kind of kill the point of wearing a jacket? He thought idly, grunting. "Why not? Oh, and what happened yesterday while I was...sick?"
Elizabeth put a finger to her lips as she thought, walking with him towards the field. "Well, I got some notes from your classmates to pass onto you...they wouldn't believe me when I said I didn't know where you lived...punished a few students for being rude, and oh, you have a quiz today."
"What subject?"
"History."
"Ah," Nagant nodded. It was an enjoyable subject, especially when they got to the parts about wars and guns.
"And about why I can't go out in the sun--well, my skin starts to hurt when I stay outside for longer than an hour."
"Like a vampire?"
"Nah, more like how you need to cover your head in the desert..." She suddenly gave a yawn and murmured softly, almost looking harmless, "Hey, Naggie...? C-can we go back? I feel sleepy..."
He wondered if he remembered to wash all the chloroform out of the jacket, but Browning's grip on his arm seemed to get a little bit looser. By the looks of it, she would fully pass out before they crossed the center of the field, towards the covered courts, before finally moving into the main building where the classrooms were.
Oops. I better...get you to the Nurse's office... Not bothering to wait until Browning literally became "dead weight", he scooped her up much like a groom would do to a bride.
He was only vaguely aware that people were staring, and was approached by a large amount of people, asking if the girl was fine.
"Yes, she's fine, no, I don't need any help with carrying her, I can manage...she's pretty light..." Nagant explained impatiently. He somehow made it out of the field to the covered court, until he managed to get into the main lobby of the Senior's wing.
He found both his and whom he presumed to be Browning's advisor, talking and walking together.
Putting on what he supposed was a charming facade, he walked up to them and explained, "I think she's sick, sirs...may I take her to the nurse's office?"
"Of course, but you know that it's..technically PDA if you carry her like tha--is she conscious?"
"No, sir."
The other advisor, a middle-aged man with light brown hair asked, "How did this happen?"
Adrian answered, "Well, she and I were walking together when she inhaled some vapor...I think it was leftover from her Chemistry class, sir."
"John," Nagant's advisor, Sir Garcia spoke. "we can figure this out later...I can give Adrian permission, but what about for your student?" Browning was still cradled in Nagant's arms, sleeping soundly. Her jacket's hood had slipped off during the run and her white hair spilled out like water.
"A--all right then. I can excuse Browning for this, as well. You have to get her to the office and back. Fast. Wouldn't want to be late for a quiz, wouldn't you?"
Adrian Nagant gave both teachers a small, wry smile.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
~~
Darling, it's a life of surprises. xD Ah, I enjoy adding bits here and there...please read and review, as per usual~
_____________________
A/N: The moment I get this novel published is the day I can finally tell my mother, "Writing is so not a worthless job." and I can rub it in my brother's face. He sorely believes, 100% that I do not have talent for this, and that I should give up.
...I want to prove him wrong.
Also, staying true to my word--I usually read back on the chapter I post on Facebook. ;D Now it wouldn't be fun if I didn't have some kind of incentive to keep you guys coming back. :3
_____________________
September 31, year 20xx (as a rough placeholder)
During the six weeks that followed, Adrian Nagant grew more aware of the whispers in his class, that there were dark shadows underneath his eyes, and his skin had taken on a paler tinge than usual. He could literally hear them murmuring about various activities, rumours mostly.
"I bet he goes clubbing..." he heard one girl whisper to the other. "No, I heard that he sings karaoke with the other officers!"
"Ma'am Browning sure keeps him busy, doesn't she?" a boy muttered darkly, which made him yawn and glare at the same time.
Nightly training with Noahn and concentrating during the day made it all the more stressful, and Elizabeth's silence, although once pleasant was now just irritating.
He had even stooped to asking Noahn where the jacket was hidden, but all he recieved was more information and the blueprints to the department store.
"Stop wondering about her and focus. Now, where are you going to plant it in?" Noahn's voice was gentle and commanding at the same time, a paradox that while Adrian found highly amusing, was now just strongly mocking in his sleep-deprived, coffee-cake induced stupor.
"I'll place it in the septic tank. The methane and other combustibles can make it explode."
"It'll be one hell of a party, that's for sure. Make sure you aren't seen?"
"The Black Captain has never been seen...well, not by anyone alive, that's for certain." Nagant scoffed. He knew that he could act differently once deprived of sleep and high on caffeine, but he would never be crude and careless.
He's just insulting me now, Nagant thought darkly, wanting to shoot him in the head as Noahn berated him for mixing the components wrong. "It'll never explode in time, you'd get blown up before you could get out. Too much. Do it again."
At the end of their final night, Noahn pushed something small into Nagant's palm. His green eyes managed to work out that it was silver and made of steel, his fingers gripping around it. It took awhile to discern that it was, in fact a key.
There was a rose embossed on the key's handle.
"You've done better than most I've tutored. That opens a little something in your apartment. We'll talk once you've finished your current mission."
Somehow, Nagant dragged himself from Avalon Park into a cab, and opened the door to his apartment, looking at the green digital clock in the corner.
3:33 AM.
He almost fell into his bed, but a medium-sized wooden chest made it near-impossible to do without almost bruising his legs.
Holding into the key, he tried to see if it fit the lock, and (unsurprisingly) it did.
Inside was a white jacket and a note. Unfolding it, a reciept for a dry-cleaner and a tailor fell out.
"Peace of mind doesn't come without its' consequences."
"Lovely penmanship, though," Nagant murmured. He couldn't help noticing how elegant the hand was; the ink was heavy on the back of the page, and the words were reminiscent of a younger era. It had always been Godfather's trademark: subtle elegance, in a world of fast-paced technology. Following in his footsteps, Nagant had ensured that all of his...targets received a certain, special parting gift.
He raised his eyebrows when he got to the bottom. Instead of a formal signature, or even a name, there was a stamped panda, with the words "4th Division; Branch 101." underneath.
Noahn, you son of a--urgh, so this is that jacket, isn't it...? He gingerly lifted it from the chest, and placed it on the bed while the chest was placed onto the floor. He could always move it later.
The jacket had those same cat-ears sewn onto the hood, and it looked about the same. But it smelled strongly of some scent he couldn't identify, but somehow seemed vaguely familiar.
Putting the jacket to his nose, he sniffed and his head spun.
"Screw you, No...ah...nn..." were his final words as he slumped down on his bed, on top of the chloroform-soaked jacket.
Meanwhile, a man with dark hair laughed while seated in front of a computer screen, the image of a sleeping Adrian Nagant flashing before him.
"Sorry, Adrian...but since I can't get to your Godfather, my...harmless...tricks will have to do." With a few clicks the screen flashed to a girl, white-haired and lovely, wearing a white nightdress as she tucked herself into bed, a young butler watching her every move.
The man's green eyes glittered."You'll be ready soon...a few more missions...and you'll be my perfect soldier."
~~
There were few things in Nagant's life that truly annoyed him, including perky women over their 40's that still thought they could snag a man just under his 20's, bitter vegetables, and spontaneous actions.
Now he added 'girls who depend on jackets to stabilize their sanity' to the very top of that list.
"Here, Elizabeth. Found your jacket." He threw it at her and she put it on with glee, and latched onto his arm.
"Thanks so much, Naggie~ I've been looking for it eve-ry-where~!" She looked up at him, her wine-red eyes glittering. "I can't go out in the sun without it."
Doesn't that kind of kill the point of wearing a jacket? He thought idly, grunting. "Why not? Oh, and what happened yesterday while I was...sick?"
Elizabeth put a finger to her lips as she thought, walking with him towards the field. "Well, I got some notes from your classmates to pass onto you...they wouldn't believe me when I said I didn't know where you lived...punished a few students for being rude, and oh, you have a quiz today."
"What subject?"
"History."
"Ah," Nagant nodded. It was an enjoyable subject, especially when they got to the parts about wars and guns.
"And about why I can't go out in the sun--well, my skin starts to hurt when I stay outside for longer than an hour."
"Like a vampire?"
"Nah, more like how you need to cover your head in the desert..." She suddenly gave a yawn and murmured softly, almost looking harmless, "Hey, Naggie...? C-can we go back? I feel sleepy..."
He wondered if he remembered to wash all the chloroform out of the jacket, but Browning's grip on his arm seemed to get a little bit looser. By the looks of it, she would fully pass out before they crossed the center of the field, towards the covered courts, before finally moving into the main building where the classrooms were.
Oops. I better...get you to the Nurse's office... Not bothering to wait until Browning literally became "dead weight", he scooped her up much like a groom would do to a bride.
He was only vaguely aware that people were staring, and was approached by a large amount of people, asking if the girl was fine.
"Yes, she's fine, no, I don't need any help with carrying her, I can manage...she's pretty light..." Nagant explained impatiently. He somehow made it out of the field to the covered court, until he managed to get into the main lobby of the Senior's wing.
He found both his and whom he presumed to be Browning's advisor, talking and walking together.
Putting on what he supposed was a charming facade, he walked up to them and explained, "I think she's sick, sirs...may I take her to the nurse's office?"
"Of course, but you know that it's..technically PDA if you carry her like tha--is she conscious?"
"No, sir."
The other advisor, a middle-aged man with light brown hair asked, "How did this happen?"
Adrian answered, "Well, she and I were walking together when she inhaled some vapor...I think it was leftover from her Chemistry class, sir."
"John," Nagant's advisor, Sir Garcia spoke. "we can figure this out later...I can give Adrian permission, but what about for your student?" Browning was still cradled in Nagant's arms, sleeping soundly. Her jacket's hood had slipped off during the run and her white hair spilled out like water.
"A--all right then. I can excuse Browning for this, as well. You have to get her to the office and back. Fast. Wouldn't want to be late for a quiz, wouldn't you?"
Adrian Nagant gave both teachers a small, wry smile.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
~~
Darling, it's a life of surprises. xD Ah, I enjoy adding bits here and there...please read and review, as per usual~
