Round 208

Halie moves to intercept, positioning herself between Silra and Jeane. Her voice is calm but firm as she addresses both women. The building groans around them, a living structure straining against its own limits. Dust continues to sift from the ceiling, settling on furniture and skin alike.

Silra's grip doesn't loosen despite Halie's intervention. "You don't understand," she hisses. "This thing is dangerous—it needs to be put down before it kills us all." Her eyes flick to Hera. "And you—you knew what she was and kept it secret? That's a betrayal."

Halie shakes her head, maintaining eye contact with Silra. "I understand the threat better than anyone here. But murder isn't the answer—not yet, at least. We've got other options." She glances at Jeane, whose eyes still flicker crimson. "There has to be a way to channel that energy without violence."

The building's demands intensify, a low thrumming vibration running through the floorboards. Something groans deep within the walls—a sound like metal protesting, or wood splitting under immense pressure. The air grows thicker, harder to breathe.

Hera steps forward, her voice tight with barely contained panic. "Fine—no killing for now. But what's the plan? We're running out of time, and I'm not sure how much more this building can take." She looks around at the straining walls and ceiling. "Unless someone wants to try explaining 'structural failure due to excess sexual energy' to the insurance company?"

Halie doesn't flinch from Hera's sarcasm. She knows they're out of time—the forty-minute estimate Halie gave them has long since expired, the building's demands intensifying to a critical threshold. Her gaze shifts between Jeane and Silra, resentment simmering beneath her fear. Why hadn't she acted sooner? Why was Silra so coldly practical about this? And where the fuck was Halie when they needed her most?

The cleric takes a deep breath, centering herself despite the rising panic in her chest. "We use what we have," she says firmly. "The toys, the sybian—anything that can drain off some of this energy without direct conflict." She meets Jeane's crimson gaze steadily. "And if that doesn't work, then yes—I'll find a way to contain you non-lethally. But we're not giving up yet."

Silra scoffs but loosens her grip slightly. "Fine—you want to play savior, be my guest. But the moment she tries to hurt anyone, I'm ending this." She glares at Hera. "And you—we'll talk later about your judgment calls."

The building shudders around them, a loud crack echoing through the room as something structural gives way just a little more. Dust explodes from a ceiling joint, raining down on the group. The thrumming vibration becomes a steady pulse, like a heartbeat counting down to collapse.

Halie doesn't have time to respond to Silra's threat or Hera's sarcasm. She spins on her heel, already moving toward the pile of sex toys and supplies they'd gathered earlier. Her mind races through possibilities—could they really use these items to channel Jeane's energy safely? Was she deluding herself about non-lethal options?

The cleric grabs a handful of toys, along with a bottle of lube, her movements frantic but purposeful. She has to try something—anything—that doesn't involve Silra putting a bullet in Jeane's head or the entire building collapsing around them all.