( clarke only gets so far as nodding aggressively in regard to that double. the baby hairs on the back of her neck have been stood on end for well over a day at this point, and she's far too focused on her quarry being similarly 5'5" and blonde to even consider there may be a different predator luring in its prey, dressed brightly and leaning forward with well feigned concern. not until it's too late. the proximity raises no alarm, and she's opened her mouth to try and recount her double's steps, just in case natsuno would have any better idea of where to pick up the trail. then there are two hands biting fingerprint bruises through her shirt and into her skin; she doesn't have time to say ow or try to shrink back, barely gets the chance to inhale sharply before being jerked forward.
and — did he just bite her?
what's actually happening here doesn't even fully register until clarke feels two sharp pinpricks on the side of her neck, and her eyes go wide. adrenaline floods from head to toe, and she's instinctually got her hands up to try and shove him away without even registering the futility. all too quickly, the haze of the venom is settling in and her arms are heavy, too weak to even push. don't make it out in time to catch her when natsuno sends her into the shadows of the incomplete alleyway.
don't move, he says next. and it's amazing how two simple words undercut every single course of action she could try in order to get out of this. can't stand, can't run, can't even leverage herself onto her elbows to scramble backwards; can't reach for her knife to defend herself, can't lash out to kick at him, can't raise a hand to apply pressure to the sluggish trickle of wet blood sliding down her throat. can't even tilt her head to subtly brush her communication device against her shoulder and access the HUD display — couldn't do that even if she was allowed to move, because that would probably count as calling for help. it's amazing how the suggestibility that comes with the venom means she doesn't even try to fight against the orders, though in the back of her mind clarke still rages.
quietly rages, as she's allowed. she's on her back and can only use her eyes to track the advance of the glowing outlines of red in the darkness of shadow and sclera. )
What are you... you...
( confusion evaporates in rapid time, replaced by that sudden, chillingly bone deep realization he'd wanted so badly to see. her eyes go wide, pupils blow out as another wave of fear washes over her. stupid, stupid; ignorant — so much time chasing her own double, and not a second spared to consider she might not be alone just because clarke had never seen this natsuno hovering at her shoulder. this is awful, this is halloween all over again, when someone wearing her best friend's face had knelt down to comfort her as she lay dying. except different, because at least in that moment she'd understood the motivation. )
Oh. You. ( she sets her teeth to practically hiss out the last word. the gears can practically be seen churning inside her skull, battling through the brain fog. ) Whatever you're trying to do here, it isn't going to help your cause. Whatever that might be.
no subject
and — did he just bite her?
what's actually happening here doesn't even fully register until clarke feels two sharp pinpricks on the side of her neck, and her eyes go wide. adrenaline floods from head to toe, and she's instinctually got her hands up to try and shove him away without even registering the futility. all too quickly, the haze of the venom is settling in and her arms are heavy, too weak to even push. don't make it out in time to catch her when natsuno sends her into the shadows of the incomplete alleyway.
don't move, he says next. and it's amazing how two simple words undercut every single course of action she could try in order to get out of this. can't stand, can't run, can't even leverage herself onto her elbows to scramble backwards; can't reach for her knife to defend herself, can't lash out to kick at him, can't raise a hand to apply pressure to the sluggish trickle of wet blood sliding down her throat. can't even tilt her head to subtly brush her communication device against her shoulder and access the HUD display — couldn't do that even if she was allowed to move, because that would probably count as calling for help. it's amazing how the suggestibility that comes with the venom means she doesn't even try to fight against the orders, though in the back of her mind clarke still rages.
quietly rages, as she's allowed. she's on her back and can only use her eyes to track the advance of the glowing outlines of red in the darkness of shadow and sclera. )
What are you... you...
( confusion evaporates in rapid time, replaced by that sudden, chillingly bone deep realization he'd wanted so badly to see. her eyes go wide, pupils blow out as another wave of fear washes over her. stupid, stupid; ignorant — so much time chasing her own double, and not a second spared to consider she might not be alone just because clarke had never seen this natsuno hovering at her shoulder. this is awful, this is halloween all over again, when someone wearing her best friend's face had knelt down to comfort her as she lay dying. except different, because at least in that moment she'd understood the motivation. )
Oh. You. ( she sets her teeth to practically hiss out the last word. the gears can practically be seen churning inside her skull, battling through the brain fog. ) Whatever you're trying to do here, it isn't going to help your cause. Whatever that might be.