I12DT: The Bishop That Burneth

[John Hino]

The sky was beautifully blue as John accompanied his father on a stroll through the gardens. The man seemed far more himself in the serene surroundings. John was really going to have to press him for answers.

"So when are you going to tell me the real reason you're here?" John asked.

"I'm not dying if that's what you're thinking," Mr. Hino answered.

"Then what?"

"We'll talk about it later. I promise."

John huffed unhappily, "Fine..."

Mr. Hino turned his attention back to the flowers.

(Very Open)

[Marcie Tiboldt]

Mars had been napping in the gardens when she heard people coming by. Getting up and stretching a bit, she glanced over at John and his father curiously.

[John Hino]

Mr. Hino probably stood out, being dressed way too formally for this particular campus. That's right, the guy iin the expensive suit stands out more than the hulking lizardman. He seemed absorbed by the garden's white roses.

John looked to Mars. "Oh... sorry if we woke you."

[Marcie Tiboldt]

"Hey, no problem," Mars says, "That's what you get for sleeping in public."

[John Hino]

"Well the gardens certainly are a tempting place to take a nap," he said.

[Marcie Tiboldt]

"Is that your father?" Mars asks, looking at the old man.

[John Hino]

"Yeah. He dropped by to surprise me." He seemed mildly annoyed by this.

[Marcie Tiboldt]

"Never a good thing," Mars says, "I'd run, if I were you."

[John Hino]

"Yeah I'm thinking about it," he chuckled.

Mr. Hino still just stood there.

"Umm... dad? What's with the silent treatment?"

Mr. Hino just mumbled something. And was he... shaking?

"Dad?"

[Marcie Tiboldt]

"Is he okay?" Mars asks, "Should I go get a doctor?"

[John Hino]

That was when Mr. Hino's legs went out from under him.

"Dad!" John shouted as he rushed to catch his father.

[Marcie Tiboldt]

Yeah, that seemed like a bad sign.

"I'll be right back with help!" Mars says, rushing off to find a doctor.

[John Hino]

"Dad... can you hear me?" John asked with obvious fear.

The man managed to point at the white roses with one trembling hand. "Red... eyes... in... snow..." he said fearfully before passing out.

John looked at the flowers out of reflex. All he noticed were a few ladybugs. "What...? Dad you're not making sense. Dad? W-wake up... please..."

Not knowing what was wrong, John just kept his father's head elevated as he waited for help