thebastion | Day 161 - Something's nasty...something's foul...

Who: Raile and whoever wants to stumble over this sick kid.
When: Day 161
Where: The Monument, and perhaps other places in the Bastion.
What: Raile is really, really sick and needs help badly.
Format: Any you can think of is fine with me.
Warnings: Body squickiness, sickness, serious discussions most likely.

[There was something incredibly off, Raile could tell the minute he opened his eyes that things weren't normal about him; the right side of his face felt like it was being crushed and stabbed at the same time...like someone had covered a hammer head in zulwood oil. As well, his entire body was hot to the point where he was sweating profusely and that same crushing feeling extended down to his chest, making his breathing nothing short of a labored chore; everything part of him ached and his insides felt like they were on fire. Simply keeping his eyes open hurt and caused his world to spin right along with his stomach. Against his better judgement, Raile stood up from his bed roll--only to fall flat on his face without any help from the Skyway; it took him a few tries, but he eventually got to his carbine which he used as a crutch as he began to walk towards the center of the Bastion.

If anything, his mind was so wracked with pain and the urge to be sick that he could hardly have come up with any solid plan on where he was going; but his body sure as heck knew where it needed to go...at best, he was heading in the general direction of Zulf's tent, not that his body would be able to carry him that far. Every step his took made his world spin harder and sent an ache that pierced right through his bones; Raile was a tough kid, but even the strongest man alive had his limits...he only got as far as the monument before he collapsed once again, his rifle clattering off to the side. He could no longer keep his eyes open out of the pain the light of the sun sent through his head, so he shut his eyes and used the last of his strength to prop his back against the metal construct that rested in the center of the Bastion.

It's hum was somewhat comforting, but it did little to ease his pain as he sat against it and did his best just to breath deep, ragged breaths. He'd never felt like this in his life...and if someone didn't find him here soon, this might very well be the last time he felt like this...or felt anything at all.]

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[ Rucks returns the curious look that Colin gives him. He'd seen him lead, before - interesting guy, he'd heard, but hadn't spoken to him proper. He'd do it when he got the chance.

He'd barely let on anything to Ryu - just coming in and settling in, since the Kid'd helped him out, and all that. ]

Ain't sure if he's awake or not, but if he is, tellin' us how Raile is is probably as good a plan as any. He ain't spoke a word since I came in.

[ He figures Zulf's worried about him. Ain't like he'd have any reason to blame himself, would he. ]

Edited 2014-02-23 07:25 (UTC)

[He's with you, Colin.]

[It might be hard to tell that, however. Zulf certainly isn't moving like someone who's conscious. Just very still, eyes barely open while hidden beneath some of his hair and against the pillow.]

[There's only so much panic one can do before eventually everything shuts down and now he just doesn't want to move.]

He's gonna be all right. Gonna be sore for a while. Gonna be smarting from the lectures I'm gonna give him if he tries to go out with another injury.

[Colin rolls his eyes.]

Soldiers, never do account for the limits of their own bodies, I swear.

[Colin walks right on over to Zulf and peers down at him.]

You know, you're gonna have to get up sooner or later.

It may be a good idea to let him rest for awhile. He took your friend being sick really hard. Kept saying it was all his fault.

[Ryu slowly raises to his feet, bundling his scarf to hold Floette up naturally even while he walks around.]

Not to mention I don't know how strong that tea was. It's hard to say how long he could be out for.

[He lets out a soft sigh, relieved at the good news, if nothing else.]

That's good. I was worried my magic might have made things worse when he took a turn like that.

Good to hear Raile'll be alright. Was worried.

'n that seems t' be in his nature t' blame himself for things that he ain't got any right to blame himself for.

[ And some things he does. ]

He's right, Zulf. Plus, it'd probably do some good for the Kid to see you when you ain't mopin', wouldn't it.

[ Oh yes he is totally prodding that nerve. Manipulative old man go. ]

[While it might not be particularly surprising that Colin doesn't get a response, well, normally Rucks most certainly does. It's just the way they've been from the start, really. Even when they had first met and things had been all politeness and relief to see other survivors, there'd probably still been just a trace of friction beginning... And then things had gotten worse, of course.]

[He'll never say it, but when they'd been trying to figure out how to stop the Calamity back when Caelondia was whole... Rucks being his stupid infuriating self had almost been a good thing. Because Zulf had a lot of hatred and anger and misery stored up in him. More than was healthy, really. Yet there was no way he could let any of it out. Zia didn't deserve even dust of it. All the friends he had made in Caelondia didn't even know anything had happened and... he still cared for them, even when he sometimes felt like he wanted to scream until his throat was raw because they were still part of Caelondia, still part of the city that had betrayed him so painfully despite how much he had adored it before.]

[Yet Rucks had remembered, and Acobi only knew that he deserved more than his fair share of vitriol. It had been far too easy to be angry and hate him. The only thing that had ever stood in their way from really going at one another was Zia's presence, and even then she wasn't always there. For all their guise of civility, their exchanges could be downright vicious when every word and sentence was properly looked at.]

[With Rucks, there was a target, there was something to throw every bit of his twisted mix of feelings at. Perhaps just as importantly, maybe moreso, the old man had always been able to stand his ground and give as good as he got. Every argument hammered another shattered part of him back into place, even if it was just small sometimes.]

[Like puncturing a wound to drain out the pus- getting hurt so that all the bad could leak out and let the rest of you recover.]

[Now, it's not quite as vicious and hatefilled anymore. He might even say he likes the old man, although he'd rather go face Pyth's bull again than ever admit it. Now, it's like falling into a habit with the annoying old Mancer. It's practically obligation to bristle or narrow his eyes at anything that comes out of Rucks' mouth. Prodding like that should bring about an aggravated huff and a straightening of his shoulders, something snide snapped out.]

[Just not this time.]

[There's no response to Colin, and no response to Rucks. There's not much of anything for a good moment before he shifts his head to hide his face completely from view in the pillow.]

[Maybe he'll have to get up sooner or later indeed, but he's certainly not doing it of his own volition.]

[Is that how it's gonna be? Well, you're about to get Colin'd like you've never been Colin'd before.]

Oh, Zulf...

[With that, Colin moves to lay on the bed behind Zulf, and he puts an arm over him and pulls him closer in a makeshift hug.]

You're not alone here, you know. And in spite of what you may believe, it's not all your fault.

[Don't make him burrow under there to get his other arm around you, Zulf. He'll do it. Just you wait and see.]

[Colin, why do you have to be so... you.]

[Maybe it's just an automatic reaction instead of anything willful, but Zulf does seem to curl up a bit at the contact. Because the small-to-begin-with bed isn't really meant for two occupants, this does mean curling up against Colin. He's still doing his best to keep his face hidden.]

[Just a shake of his head, nothing more than a one-two jerk of movements.]

[He's going to disagree with you there, Colin.]

[ Rucks kind of, well, watches.

In spite of what he knows about Zulf and his fiance, well... He really can't NOT think there's something going on here. ]

'm inclined to agree with your friend, Zulf. 'sides, the Kid is gonna be fine, ain't nothin' to blame yourself for or fret about.

[ For now, he holds his tongue on the barb about how that's just how Zulf is. For now. ]

Day 161 - Something's nasty...something's foul...

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