TC Script ep 243

243

farrah in her lab, looking through boxes, a hummingbird assistant next to her. assistant signs something as she opens a box.

f: you’re right, everything’s here. thanks, for saving it all. …Madam Paylette really is missing? (assistant signs) right after i left, huh? shit, i could really use her guidance right now. (assistant puts hand on her shoulder comfortingly. she smiles at him. he hands her a book and her eyes widen). she…left this here? and you managed to keep this from the Council? Thank Icarus. ive got a few projects in mind, adapting them to what we have available here will be tricky, but… (assistant: you’re gonna be the one to bring us out of the dark ages finally, huh?) (farrah laughs) that’s the plan, anyway. the Council have said that’s what they want from me, not in quite so many words, but that’s the general gist. 

ree, arriving: I’d murder for a cell phone right about now, that’s for sure. 

(assistant rolls eyes and leaves)

F: (looks away, at rudimentary tech on shelves) that’s first on the to-do list. i need a way of communicating with the people i left on kooup.

r: im sure they’re surviving without you - you’re not over there anymore, quit trying to micromanage everything. 

F: i need to make sure my plans are coming to fruition. i cant just give up on something before it’s completed. 

R looks away, cheeks red.

R: is that book what I think it is?

F: Madam Paylette’s research. Everything she knows and discovered is in here. 

Scra arriving, leaving bodyguard by door: that’s not that book you were talking about when imping my feathers, is it? talking about a plant species only native to another continent?

F smiles: Bamboo. They have whole forests of it here.I used to read through this book any chance i got when Madam Paylette wasn’t looking, although now i’m wondering if she used to leave it out on purpose. the fact that she left this here is a bit…worrying…(to ree) how’s being Councelor Demoiselle’s lackey treating you?

R: (groans) she is the hardest hard-ass i’ve ever met. yesterday i was 3 mins late and she chewed my ear off. today i was 3 mins early and she ripped me a new one. like, im sorry i dont have a phone alarm to wake me up -

f: they have alarm clocks -

r: (waves hand) shes a flockin’ nightmare, but it IS pretty fun when she’s yelling at someone other than me, poor things almost shit themselves.

s; have you found out anything useful to tell Philo yet? since the whole mess was his doing?

R: philo can suck it, if he thinks im gonna report to him hes got another thing coming. how’s HOUSE ARREST going for ya?

S: (guestures to guard) as you can see, i am allowed out of the house. if you think Councelor Demoiselle is terrifying, she’s got nothing on Lord Eldwode, he’s got everyone grovelling left right and centre. 

r: any news on Ky?

S:...no. it’s been days since I asked Lord Eldwode to help rescue him, i’ve barely seen him since and when I do he cuts me off mid-sentence and walks away, claiming he’s going to dinner, or to the club, or -

f: it’s probably been a while since a Crow was last seen here, im sure he’s up to the neck in social engagements. 

S: yeah, well, speaking of - I’m expected for lunch. you’ll come by for dinner?

r: if im not required to attend anything last-minute. icarus, i could do with a fish burger and fries, all this rich food is fucking with my intestines.

f: ill put that on my to-do list: invent fish burgers here.

r: would you plleeaaseeeeeee i’ll worship you forever -

(both blush and look away. scra raises eyebrow)

s: weeelllll see you too later. I’ll just be in an extravagant townhouse on house arrest, definitely not allowed out. 

scra leaves and his guard follows him out. ree spies a crate half-covered by a tarp.

R: what’s that?

F: (glances at guards, lowers voice)...my father dropped it off. 

R: let me guess, a new little project of his to work on?

F:...something like that.

R: you know you don’t have to be their lackey anymore, right? we may be…(looks away) but you’re still a Vermilioss now. that was the whole point of it, right? to escape them.

F: that wasnt he whole point of being with you and you know that. 

r: (turns to go, cheeks blazing) …see you at dinner?

F: (turned away) maybe. if i get things sorted out here.

ree leaves. farrah doesnt watch her go, looking at crate.

scra at townhouse, picking at lunch at a fancy table. lord eldwode sweeps in, doesnt look at scra.

LE: follow me.

leaves. scra, confused, gets up to follow. is taken to a guest room, LE steps aside to reveal Ky standing int he middle of the room. he’s haggard, dirty, covered in injuries. scra feels his breath taken away.

S:...ky…

s rushes to him and ky collapses into him. they end up in a head on the floor.

LE: get him cleaned up (walks away)

s: ky ky ky ky what happened, what have they done to you -

kys head on his shoulder, his fingers twitch and he inhales, turns his face into scars neck.

K: s-cra…

s: im here. im here. 

valet enters room: ive been instructed to make our guest presentable -

s: you’re not gonna fucking touch him. get the fuck out.

valet, startled, leaves.

s: c’mon. let’s get you in the tub.

runs water, lifts shirt over head. takes trousers off (decides to leave pants on, blushing) somehow gets his hulking mass over the rim of the tub. rests head on the back of it. spreads out wings on either side. washes his skin, looking at all the bruising and cuts

s: what the fuck did they do to you. how dare they - (tears up. runs cloth over arm where bullet scar is) why does this shit keep happening to you when youre with me.

K: s’not you. i jus’ keep…fkin’ up -

s: it’s because you keep trying to help people

K: not gna - stop -

s: i know. i know you won’t.

(washes his hair like he did for scra back at school. helps him get out tub)

S: how’re you this heavy?

k: s’all muscle -

s: (get to room) do you think youre able to - ah - change?

K: (looks down, confused) why’re m’ pants still on -

s: here’re some pj’s, do you think you -

K: (slumps against wall) no. help m’.

s: (cheeks red) ok. here. (pulls down waistband) just step out - oh come on you can lift your leg i just saw you - and the other one - (pulls up pj pants, gaze averted, cheeks flaming) there, done -

(cuts off as ky’s hand brushes his hair. he looks up at him and ky looks down softly, eyes clearer.)

K: are you actually here?

s: (enraptured. snaps out of it.) im here. and you’re here, too. now get in the bed before you keel over. 

gets him in bed. ky pulls him in with him. 

K: nothing’s changed …huh…

s: (looks at him tenderly) nothing.

morning light streams in, scra wakes to knocking at the door.

s: who the - come in -

lord e and valet appears, carrying egg. scra jumps up, ky grumbling behind, asleep.

LE: acquiring this was somehow more difficult than getting your friend here released. do you know how many favors i had to pull - how much blackmail -

S: why? it’s just an egg -

LE: it is not just an egg. this is a Raven’s egg. and the Council are very interested in how you got it, when Raven’s havent been seen in over a century. 

this ep is so soft im gagging to draw it