lucetilogs | Post-Event Blues

Entry tags:

Post-Event Blues

Who: Everybody, everybody!
What: The battle is won. Now what?
When: The eleventh, twelfth, and onward
Where: Luceti
Summary: With Zompano dead and the cultists routed, Luceti is restored. Kind of.
Rating: F for Feels

On the eleventh, things were slowly breaking down. Memories of their true lives were breaking through. The village, scarred by the battle with the cultists, began to rebuild itself. Community buildings that had vanished were returned to their rightful places. The battle dome was uncovered from the earth that had covered it. Hundreds and hundreds of fake homes slowly faded away. Paved roads gave way to trees and grass. It was an incredible sight for anyone who was willing to sit aroun and watch it happen.

Things wouldn't be easy for the villagers, though. The memories perpetuated by the last ten days would not be easily removed. The feelings and hatreds it had created would take time to conquer and remove. Perhaps, in a way, that was Zompano's nastiest trick of all. The village itself may heal from his invasion, but it would take far more than a few Shifts to fix the people left behind.

Towards the end of the day, their wings returned. Much like some of the buildings, they seemed to just reappear, as if they had never been gone. Their barcodes became visible again as a singular reminder that they were, ultimately, just the property of another entity who as a whole were not much better than Count Zompano.

By the twelfth, the village looked as though nothing had ever happened. Sure, the contents of buildings might have been messed up or destroyed during the battles, but things were otherwise as they were supposed to be. The night before, people would have had to find their old beds to go sleep in, as they no longer possessed the old ones granted to them in another life.

The village was peaceful.

Modly Note: That wraps up the event. As noted in the prose above, you have the option to play up the after effects of the event more than in other ones. While it won't have the same impact universally, the Shift was constructed in such a way that people may have difficulty shaking off the emotions they developed during the event. In effect, it was a cruel send off to Luceti so they would have to deal with the loathing and hatred that came with the less desirable parts of it. Of course, that means the feelings of familial bonds will also persist for awhile as well. It's up to you, as players, to decide how much or little to play with it!

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[It isn't the return of his real memories that bothers Gai the most for the simple fact that he isn't going to let it. That's not to say that the memories aren't traumatic - he'll probably feel uncomfortable going into small, enclosed rooms lacking windows for a while, and any dogs that make the mistake of approaching him might well get shot - but rather that he has more important things to be focusing on at the moment.

Or, more precisely, one very important thing by the name of Elizabeth. They'd gotten separated in the midst of the fighting, and while he has enough faith in her abilities to trust that she managed to make it through safely, that doesn't mean he isn't still worried.

But she isn't the only one left in a bad state after all of this; as Gai has learned by now, any sort of intense physical exertion triggers a flare-up of the Apocalypse Virus, and on a scale of 1-10 this particular one probably rates a 15 if he's being generous. He's exhausted, every single part of his body hurts, and he wants nothing more than to just curl up in bed and not move (not even breathe) until it stops hurting. Clearly the best thing to do in a situation like this is to attempt to haul himself over to Elizabeth's apartment to check on her.

It's slow and painful going, and he likely won't be able to do anything besides just lie down once he gets there, but that isn't going to stop him. He has to know that she's all right. Once he makes it to her door, he raises his stiff and aching right arm to tap gingerly against the wood-- a far cry from his normal firm knock.]

[Generally speaking, Elizabeth was supposed to stay in bed. But even if her head swam a little when she stood up, she had to take care of certain... things, on her own. And while she was up, well, just getting a glass of water couldn't hurt.]

[But she's in her apartment and still technically bedridden. Which means that when she hears the tap, Elizabeth has a moment of panic because she's in her pajamas.]

[Elizabeth goes to the door and opens it just an inch or so, to see who it is and tell them to come back when she wasn't so ill. But compared to the person on the other side of the door, Elizabeth was in good enough shape to march in a parade.]

Gai! Oh my God... [She pulls the door open wider and reaches to bring him inside.] What are you doing here? You look close to death!

[And she knows what close to death looks like. Elizabeth looks Gai up and down, reaching up to feel his cheeks and forehead.]

[She won't even need to reach for him-- he practically collapses on her the moment she gets the door open, though he's careful to keep from dumping too much of his weight on her. The trip here pushed him to his limits, and it's going to be a while before he's able to stand back up again. As it is, it takes him a moment just to be able to respond to her.]

Don't worry... I'm not going to die. It's just... the virus acting up.

[Although honestly, "close to death" is a fairly apt description. He's feverish, sweating and shivering at the same time, and probably just about as pale as Elizabeth herself. At least he's moderately more decent in a t-shirt and sweatpants, though taking a shower or bath is far more effort than he's been able to expend for the past couple of days.

Despite all of this, he still reaches an arm around her in the best impression of a hug that he can manage for the time being.]

Then why are you here?! [Elizabeth brushes Gai's hair back from his face, winces when she feels that he's practically burning up. He's sick, so sick, and he lives alone doesn't he? But what about his doctor? Why hadn't he just called her over the journals?]

[Truth be told, though... she's so glad to see him. The past few days were rough, at best, and Elizabeth knew she was overjoyed to remember that her relationship with Gai was so much stronger than it had felt in that alternate reality. Being close to him solidifies that, and Elizabeth wraps her arms tightly around Gai and holds him up as best she can.]

I would have come to you. Come on... [Elizabeth shifts herself until she's tucked under his arm.] Come rest in my bed, you lunatic.

... I had to make sure you were all right.

[That, to him, is more important than getting any sort of treatment for himself. No matter how much pain he's in, he can ignore it in favor of her. After all, if there's one thing he's an expert at by now, it's tolerating pain. But that doesn't mean he can hide it-- the expression on his face makes clear just how much he's hurting right now, even in spite of his attempt to smile at her.]

You aren't injured... are you?

[And he pulls away just slightly to look her over, not even seeming to notice just how sheer that nightgown of hers is.

... this is probably a good thing.]

No, cuts and scrapes. The worst I'm dealing with is the blood loss. [And recovering from sleepless nights as her memories returned...]

[She persists in getting Gai to her room, because she doesn't want to talk about herself at all when Gai is wincing in pain. Elizabeth wants him in bed and laying down before he collapses and she's unable to move him.]

Is this the worst you're dealing with, or do you need me to take a look at anything?

[Gai doesn't reply for a few moments, not until they get to Elizabeth's room. Putting one foot in front of the other requires all of his focus right now; adding in carrying on a conversation would just be too much for him to handle. He's vaguely aware of just how heavily he's leaning on her, and while he feels guilty about it, he doesn't have the strength to straighten up any more than he already is.]

It's just this.

[Which is fortunate, given that 'this' is all he can really cope with at one time.]

[That's a relief at least. Elizabeth isn't certain she's at all medically equipped right this second to deal with anything larger than fatigue. She keeps propping Gai up until they get to the bed, and she awkwardly turns until he can sit and lie down.]

[She takes a moment to lean against her desk, cluttered with books and postcards and sketches, and catch her breath. Gai was heavy and tall, it had taken quite a bit out of her to even let him lean on her.]

Can you stomach anything? Juice?

[It takes Gai a moment to find a comfortable position that isn't putting too much pressure on the crystals. But then he comes to the conclusion that the shirt he's wearing is just irritating them further, so he struggles back up into a semi-sitting position and tries to start wriggling out of it.

... it's not very successful.]

Just water for now, and painkillers if you have any.

[Elizabeth pushes off of the desk when she sees Gai is having trouble, and easily straddles his legs to help him out of his shirt. He was practically sweating through it anyway.]

I don't know if I have any heroin. Or morphine. But I may have some acetaminophen, if that's enough. Maybe Robert has morphine...

[How ironic that just a few short weeks ago they'd been in a similar position for reasons that were almost the exact opposite of this. There's nothing sexy about this moment, though, and once he gets the shirt off Gai is sagging right back down onto the pillows again, just enjoying the feeling of the cool air on his heated skin.]

I'll take anything at this point, as long as it works. Just to make it more bearable.

[Elizabeth holds his shirt, looking over Gai's flushed face and torso, the crystal structures she had purposefully not touched when they were together... and she feels overwhelmed. She should call Gai's doctor, she didn't know the first thing about this condition. She didn't know if she could make it more bearable.]

[But she nods and climbs off of him, the room swimming a little again.] Alright, let me find you something, I'll be right back.

[She weaves out of the room and into the bathroom. There's the acetaminophen, and a few tiny white pills marked as morphine. Probably for Booker's wounds or Robert's burns. She takes both bottles, plus a washcloth, into the kitchenette and gets a glass and a bowl full of water. Somehow, she manages to juggle all of it back to her room.]

We should start with the morphine. [Elizabeth sets it all down on her desk and starts reading the label on the bottle. Two tablets, easy enough. She holds the glass and the medicine out to Gai.] You should drink the whole glass of water, too.

Don't push yourself too hard. You need rest too.

[Yes, he's noticed just how pale she is, how she seems somewhat wobbly. Even the virus symptoms haven't dulled his powers of observation, it would seem. Had he more strength left, he probably would've tried to go get the pills for himself, but as it is, maneuvering himself up into a sitting position is the best he can do.

He'll just sit there waiting until she brings the pills and the water back.]

Should I ask why you have morphine lying around?

[At least he's trying to lighten the mood somewhat. She's worried, he knows she is, and who wouldn't be? He's got crystals growing out of his body and he's pretty sure that isn't normal in any world.

When she holds out the morphine and the glass, he doesn't need any further urging to down both, almost chugging the water in the process. Looks like he was more than a little dehydrated, not that it should come as a surprise.]

But, unlike you, I am able to stand up. So I think if anyone is going to push themselves, it's going to be me.

[She tries to smile as she watches Gai take the pills and down the water... and he nearly finishes off the glass in the process. She was smiling when he started, she knows that. And now she's looking concerned, almost scared.]

Robert and Booker didn't come out unscathed either. [Elizabeth directs her attention to the bowl and washcloth, and carries both with her onto the bed. Once she's settled, she dips the washcloth and starts trying to wipe away the sweat and flush that's covering Gai's skin. He's dehydrated, exhausted, who knows when he ate last...]

I'm sorry... I should have come to see you sooner. Maybe if I had, you wouldn't have had to crawl here.

I already told you, I'm the one who came here to check on you. There's nothing to apologize for.

[He's in no mood to argue, not when he doesn't have the energy for it. The wet washcloth prompts a hiss from him when it first touches his skin, but it quickly changes into a more pleased sound as the water begins to cool his fevered body down.]

This is just temporary... it'll go away after a treatment. I can contact Law for one tomorrow. I'm more than overdue for a transfusion as it is.

[Given that she's currently seeing the extent of what this mysterious virus does to him, there's really no need to hide anything else about it any longer. She'd find out eventually, anyway, given that he needs the transfusions just about every week by this point.]

I could have thought to check on you, too. [Even if Gai insisted she not apologize, Elizabeth can't help but feel as though she's had some hand in this. She was supposed to be in love with him, and she'd waited until he was gulping water like a man dying of thirst? She had just assumed that with Gai's strength he wouldn't have felt as fatigued as she had. What a stupid, stupid assumption.]

What sort of transfusion?

A blood transfusion, to help control the symptoms.

[He finishes off the last of the water, then settles back down against the pillows, shutting his eyes. Already he can feel a little of his strength returning... or maybe that's just the morphine starting to kick in. Either way, he's not complaining.]

I need them on a weekly basis to keep this from getting any worse.

And you didn't get one last week, obviously... [Elizabeth finishes sponging Gai's torso, then moves on to the inside of his right wrist. She's scared for him, hates this disease and the Malnosso all at once. This man had lifted her up out of the ocean, carried her to his apartment, fought next to her in the battle. And the one thing she couldn't stop was killing him.]

Whose blood are you using?

[It couldn't be Law's. Every week? The man would die from blood loss, even over a long period of time.]

Don't know. Whatever blood the Malnosso decide to give us. It doesn't seem to matter whose it is.

[He owes them thanks for that, at least. Back in his world, only Inori's blood would've worked to slow the spread of the virus. Here, for whatever reason, any blood seems to do. It's the only reason he's still alive here.]

But these experiments always end up interfering with the schedule.

[Elizabeth looks shocked and horrified by the thought of Gai putting whatever blood the Malnosso gave him into his body.] They could be making you worse! Giving you something strange or experimental without you knowing.

What if you had a transfusion every three days? Wouldn't that make you stronger and act as a, a safety net? Just in case you can't have one for more than a week?

...and what if you used my blood once a month? It has to be better than whatever they're giving you.

Law screens all of the blood before he uses it. If there's anyone I trust to keep strange things out of my body, it's him. He's the reason I'm not in worse shape than I am so far.

[Now his expression softens, and he tries to lift his hand up enough to rest it against Elizabeth's cheek. But despite his best efforts, he can't manage to get it more than about halfway there, arm shaking the entire time.]

I've lived with this for years, Elizabeth. It's a miracle that I've managed to make it this long as it is.

Don't say that...

[Elizabeth takes Gai's hand and holds it in both of hers. Tightly. As though that would pull the virus straight out of him. Her voice is quiet, but her grip is trying to make up for the fact that she doesn't feel verbally strong at all. She's lost, and there's cotton in her skull that's keeping her from sound thought.]

[Which is why her next thought seems entirely rational.]

I can fix this. I can change this. [She knits her brow and bites her lip, struggling. Struggling to open a tear. Open one, not just manifest it. There's a blue flickering sliver over their hands.]

You'll be fine, after your mind reconciles the new reality. No more transfusions-- [She grits her teeth and the hole opens up to the size of a small melon. But it hurts, dear God it hurts. The siphon is no doubt back in place and it's discouraging her, heavily, from using her ability.]

[It takes Gai a moment to realize what she's trying to do-- to remember that she'd told him she could open tears to other worlds and step through them. It's a moment more before he realizes that she's trying to open one to take him through with her in the hopes of curing the virus.

But he also recalls what he'd said to her when she'd told him about that ability, about how she hadn't been happy in any of those worlds. Not that he thinks she'll even be able to open a tear here - he's pretty damn sure the Malnosso have suppressed a power like that - but the last thing he wants is for her to make an impulsive and possibly dangerous decision out of a desire to ease his pain.

It takes all of his remaining strength to surge up from the bed enough to get his arms around her and envelop her in a hug. His goal is twofold: one, to distract her enough to get her to stop trying to open the tear, and two, to show her that he's all right, that he doesn't need her to do that for him, even if he appreciates the sentiment behind it.

He's all right. He'll survive this, no matter what.]

['Pavlov made a dog salivate.']

['We'll make this one weep.']

[Elizabeth holds onto the tear with such fierce determination, her shoulders are shaking from the effort. It hurts, it hurts, no tear has hurt as much as this one. It was hard to see the outcome, foggy and insubstantial, but she bites her lip until it's white while she works. No more, she couldn't let anything else be taken from her. This pain was nothing compared to what Gai went through with this illness, she just had to keep telling herself that and she could keep going.]

[Gai moving wasn't something she'd banked on though, and it does distract her. The little porthole-sized tear snaps shut and Elizabeth shakes in Gai's arms.]

It's alright, it's just the siphon, I can work against it. [She reaches around Gai's back, hands shaking as they rest on him. As much as she could pretend Gai stopped her because he thought she couldn't do it, Elizabeth knew he wouldn't like seeing her in pain. But she can't, she can't leave him like this.] Just let me try again. I can do it...!

Elizabeth.

[It's just a single word, yet it speaks volumes. There's no fear there, no anger, nothing but calm acceptance underlying a gentle command. She doesn't need to risk herself for his sake; he's already accepted his fate. Whatever the Malnosso choose to do with the virus here, he'll bear it, and if he dies, then so be it. He'll come back again. He won't let them win.

He's a survivor, the same way he always has been. He's already lost enough people in his name, and he'll be damned if he loses the one person who means more to him than anything in this world or his own.]

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