Characters: Edward (spoofed by Isabella) and Merick
Location: LVC: Infirmary / Sauna

Having an interesting talk with Edward, Merick finds himself out of control for once! What will happen, concidering what he does when he -IS- in control?!?

**********************************************

Merick smiles a bit as he talks to a recently met rat, Edward. Chuckling a bit, he brings up an interesting topic. "So, what do you think of perfection? You know... What is it to you? I mean, if you look at the world as it is, it's perfect. It's just... it's very flawed as well. Perfect in design, flawed in nature and behavior... A cancer cell, made perfectly except for one, single odd attribute that makes it lethal to the body... One flaw, destroying everything..."

Edward shrugs a bit, though it pulls at his shoulder and he winces. "I suppose there's something in what you say, Merick...though I don't know if we mortals can truly achieve perfection. Seems more like a divine sort of thing to me, you know?"

Merick smiles a bit and nods, though he disagreed. He had seen perfection. Perfect eyes, strength, knowledge... If one could put all of those parts into one, perfection could be obtained! "True, but it's natures design to be perfect... Why is it that us mortals can't achieve such a thing we were created by?" He then notices Edward pulling at his shoulder, tilting his head a bit. "Hey, you're shoulder alright there? I am a doctor you know. I can help a bit. A gentle massage should have that good as new in no time."

Edward nods this time. "That's a question for the ages," he agrees. Looking up at Merick, he nods once more. "Pulled it doing some heavy lifting--didn't want to bother the medstaff with it. A massage sounds like just the thing, though."

Merick nods his head a bit as he chuckles. "Sure thing. Just follow me over here... Hehe, maybe a bit of time in that one sauna will do you some good too, eh?" He starts to head there, stretching a bit. His eyes had a bit of an odd look. He started to mutter to himself, though one might have not been able to hear it. "Flawed... all of you... You don't question what's wrong until it destroys you from the inside out... Well... If you don't see the question, I'll make you one.. yes.. heheh... Why... That's all they'll say when they see you.. Why.... You'll be the best question ever.."

Edward nods, and lets Merick lead the way. As he's behind the doctor, he doesn't see the strange look in Merick's yellow eyes. He only vaguely hears some muttering. "Everything okay, doc?" he ventures politely. Though he doesn't think it /that/ strange--he himself had entire conversations on his own.

Merick's ears perk up as he glances at Edward, smiling happily. "Oh, yes.... I was just thinking to myself." He looks once they get to the sauna, chuckling a bit. "Well, let's see... There should be a place you could either lay down or sit against... I'll just start when you're ready." He thinks a bit as he stops. "Hey, be back right back.. I know some stuff that will help out a lot." He quickly darts off, then returns holding a small bag. "Heh, ok... Shall we?"

Edward nods, and strips down to the waist. As he only had on a sleeveless tunic, it wasn't a huge effort. He lays down on one of the nearby massage tables. "Sure thing, doc. Ready when you are."

Merick grumbles under his breath, his yellow eyes a seeming bit mad as his sanity slowly stripped away. "Ok, I am ready." He reaches into the bag as he pulls out a bit of, olive oil?!? "Here's just a bit of oil to help my paws run through your fur a bit easier.. It's also very relaxing and good for it too...." He grins a bit, slowly and gently working his firm paws over Edward's shoulders as he starts to massage. "Heh, I may have to do more than I thought... It seems you haven't had a massage in quite a while!"

Edward chuckles a bit, resting his head on top of his folded arms. "Hmm, smells good," he replies. "Actually, I've never had a massage in my life." He closes his eyes, relaxing....

Merick grins a bit as he nods, though if one could see, his grin was not pleasant at all. "Oh yes... I can tell, that's for sure... Just a little bit of this to soften that fur and skin of yours.." He... takes a bit of salt in his paws, rubbing it in as he soon does the same with pepper... Was he mad?!?! Well, we knew that... Either way, he continues for a moment till it's all worked in nicely, then grins as he starts to finish. "Ah, well... lets see.. Done.. See? It didn't even take too long..." He smiles a bit, "Did I get your shoulder feeling better? Hehe..." He glances up at the sauna and grins. "I recommend you go into the sauna too.. It will keep it feeling that way for quite some time... That and it's absolutely heavenly in there.."

Edward, obviously, doesn't see any of this. All he knows is that his shoulder feels a lot better. "Oh, yeah--thanks, doc! Well, I dunno if I have time for a sauna break...doesn't that take awhile?" He moves as if to get up from the table.

Merick smiles a bit as he shakes his head. "Oh no, it won't take long at all. Trust me.. hehe... In fact, a small amount of time will feel like forever." He grins as he leads the way, placing a paw on Edward's shoulder. "I insist. I'll even join you. I just need a few seconds to pick up though, so go ahead with out me, ok?"

Edward shrugs, pleased to note that it doesn't hurt at all now. "Well...okay, then. See you," he replies, going into the sauna. He stretches out on the bench, dozing off...

Merick's actions seemed to change in a blink of an eye. From calm motions to quick and powerful jerks, he grabbed the massage table and slammed it against the door, blocking it. The rat's strength seemed to be showing as he moved the table with little to no effort what-so-ever! He then looked around as he turned the heat up on the highest setting. Snickering and laughing, he glared through the small window.

Edward opens his eyes at the sound of the bang. "Merick?" he asks. He's now dripping with sweat...it's hot as hell in here! He can't even breathe...and all he sees are Merick's yellow eyes, glaring at him. "HELP ME!" he screams, rising from the bench. "Please, Merick!"

Merick forced a worried look, "Oh no... It fell! I'm so sorry! It's... just too heavy for me to lift!" Almost giving a genuine look of sorry, he speaks softly. "I'm sorry... I... I don't want to do this... You're not a bad person.... I shouldn't do this, I re-" As his mind was cracking, he busted out into laughter, regardless of the tears in his eyes. Was he for real?!? "NOW.... don't you understand?!? You're one mistake... lead you to your death... As you're life is coming to an end, can you answer my question now? If everything depends on your answer, will you answer perfectly?" He makes a sad face again, "Because it truly be a shame if you couldn't.. Time's running short..." Thrusting a paw in a burst of anger at the door, he shouts. "ANSWER ME! Why are you flawed?!?"

It's getting even harder to breathe as Edward pounds and claws at the door, screaming for help. "No! Merick, let me out! You can't, this isn't you...please..." As Merick shouts his final question, Edward looks up, tears streaming down his face to mingle with the sweat. "I'm flawed...because that's how living creatures are. We're all flawed, Merick--especially YOU!"

Merick's eyes widen as he listens. He? Flawed?!? Shouting at the top of his lungs, he pounds his paw into the door! "I'm not flawed!! How can I, the Sword of God, be flawed? I see every imperfection in this world, I fix them... I take what makes this world ugly and wipe it off the face of the earth!!! How DARE you call me flawed?!?" He breaths heavily, glaring into the window as, a sob escapes him? "You... you always... thought you were better! All of you!!! N-none of you thought I would be anything!" He starts to shake his eyes gaze of at something unseen. "Benjamin... I know he hates me... I can feel it... He also thinks I'm a flaw... but he could never know how wrong he is... I'll show him... hehe.... I'll show him, just as I'm showing you..." He laughs and grins, "In your time of death, you'll see all your flaws... I was always generous to remove the eyes.. so that no one would see that.. but you... and Ben... I want you to see..."

dward stares at Merick in horror..."You're insane. THAT is your flaw!" he roars. "You ARE something, Merick. You're a murderer!" He hears Merick's words, and realizes...*Oh God.../he's/ the killer! It was HIM!* How could they have been so blind? "HELP ME!" he screams, beating desperately at the door...until the heat drains his strength, and he collapses to the floor.

Merick's eyes widen at being called insane. He was about ready to either cry or scream angrily at the door, but a soft smile appeared on his face. Edward's distress, seeing him beating on the door, screaming for help... It made him smile. He laughed, "Yes.. scream.. Maybe God will help you..." He laughed a bit more, chuckling like a little child, torturing a small creature. When Edward collapsed though, he stopped. With a simple stare, he looked in, his smile slowly starting to fade. Slowly, he fell silent and still, a shocked look on his face as his paws covered his eyes. "D.. damn it you.. What's.... what's the answer? You didn't tell me!!" He backs away from the door, shaking his head as his eyes flooded with tears. "You didn't tell me! Damn it, you can't... can't escape like this! You can't!!! Tell me!!! Wh-why? Why?" The question burned into his mind... What a twist of words. The words that came through his own mouth haunted him... 'That's all they'll say when they see you.. Why.... You'll be the best question ever..'