Oh, right, that's the young man that Altius had taken in. The one he cares a lot about-- the one that was shot right before the businessman came to this world. And. That's probably not great, right? Okay, don't panic Summers, it's clear that he's just hallucinating-- mistaking him for Ferran because of his state. This is a result of the snakes, right...?
Because all the dead snakes around them is one solid clue. How did the man take all of these guys out? He doesn't see any visible injuries on them. Which. How do you kill something without leaving any trace of a wound? More thoughts for later...
He's still keeping a hand against Altius's neck, the other reaching up to press against his clammy forehead.]
[Altius's eyelids flutter in a flinch as he takes in a short breath of surprise. Scott will easily be able to tell he has a high fever, even if the other indications didn't make that obvious.
What is the young man saying? Something about dying, perhaps. There's worry there, maybe panic; he can imagine it well enough even though his senses are failing him. His eyes threaten to shut again as he mutters,]
Shut up, I'm not leaving you. Just hold on, I already called for help.
[Maybe he can at least start dragging Altius away from the entrance of the garden? Away from the dead snakes? Don't want more of those guys to come slithering about and try to attack the feverish man. Of course he could take them, but he'd rather not tempt fate.]
I'm going to move you. [It's about the only warning he gives before Scott slides his hands underneath the older man's shoulders. With a great pull (and grunting just slightly in the process), he starts dragging him away from the garden.]
[Despite his apparent aversion to being helped, something like instinct takes over when Scott tries to move him, and the heel of his boot digs into the undergrowth to push himself in the direction he's being pulled. Perhaps the subconscious thought of not being a burden has taken hold, if he can't get the other to let him go.
The strength in his legs isn't exactly great, though; there's only so much he can do to make the process easier, and only so long he can keep that minimal effort up. Eventually, his mind catches up again, and he mutters another attempt to dissuade the young man.]
[Good. He notices how Altius is pushing himself in his direction, the small bit of help more than welcome at a time like this. Definitely beats the older man trying to fight him off and making this more difficult or attract more attention to them. The snakes might be dead, but Scott is still keeping alert for anything that might come out. One can never be too safe or cautious in Aldrip.
He's learned that. Maybe since he first got here over two years ago.
Scott continues to pull him away though, not resting until he thinks they're a comfortable distance away from those gates.]
...What are you talking about? [There's a part of him that thinks he should just agree with Altius, that whatever he saw wasn't real. But. Best to make sure.]
[Shouldn't Ferran know what he means? He must have wondered in the moments he was lucid; he so clearly came to the wrong conclusion about it. The man's head slumps against Scott.]
Everything I did for you... what I said.
[There's a clear misery in the half-slurred confession, closer to the dark gravity that Scott has seen out of him more in the past few months, rather than the gentle regrets he's expressed in his "normal" moments.]
[...He's still confusing him with Ferran, isn't he? Maybe he should try and correct Altius right now, tell the man that he's not the boy he's been watching over, but maybe it's better if he just lets him speak. Whatever is ailing his mind he clearly wants to get off his chest.]
What do you mean?
[Plus, he's still focused on getting him to safety. Scott thinks he's pretty close in reaching that point as he pulls him back and across the ground, almost reaching the forest that surrounds the garden.]
[His frustration rises, and with it comes what feels like knives in his head and chest, and pins and needles in his extremities. Altius can't help with moving himself any longer.]
You know it was all fake, [he grits through his teeth, eyes wrenched shut as his body screams at him to—he doesn't know what. To stop; to stop everything. But he can't just give up.]
[At last, they make it a safe distance away from the garden, Scott releasing Altius near the base of a tree, but the mutant still continues to kneel down by him. Someone should be coming to help soon, but he's not leaving, not when he's still combatting that sickness. Worry continues to beat in his chest as Altius continues to mumble, saying things that don't entirely make sense to Scott.]
I don't know exactly what you're talking about, Altius, but just know that I'm not leaving you to die. I'm not letting you have that chance.
[Does this have anything to do with that 'wish' he had? Altius assured him that he was just at a low point, but he had his doubts. Some suspicions still. He's just been around so many people that feel this way to some degree, even for different reasons.]
[His ears ring; he only barely hears part of what the young man is saying, but it's enough. Zekarion can't fully comprehend what's happening through the sickness's effects on his mind, but what's clear to him right now is that at this moment he's helpless.
He has no choice but to accept it. He made a promise... and he can't die yet.]
Foolish boy...
[The remark is breathed out more than it's spoken, and then he's passed out once more, not for a short time. Whether Scott's help arrives as planned, or a certain black crystal panther comes across them in her patrol, the man will have to be taken somewhere with the proper equipment to recover.
He'll get worse before he gets better. It'll be a day or two before he's coherent enough for a conversation.]
[HE HAS SO MANY QUESTIONS ALTIUS. But luckily for him, perhaps, they're going to be saved for later.
Help does eventually come in the form of his friends and it's not too long before Altius is safely brought back to the clinic. No longer ran by Ethlyn, but it's fine. It's still operating and that's all that matters right now. Functional enough to give him the proper care he requires and most importantly, rest. So, when Altius finally starts opening his eyes once more, he'll find himself in one of the clinic's beds.
With a half sleepy teen sitting on a chair nearby.
...Yeah, he's been visiting every day. Almost like a reversal of their situations just a couple of months ago. Of course Scott had to visit; he's been worried. The older man has become someone important to him, especially with how many people are disappearing lately.]
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expiationlogs2025-05-13 12:07 pm
no subject
Oh, right, that's the young man that Altius had taken in. The one he cares a lot about-- the one that was shot right before the businessman came to this world. And. That's probably not great, right? Okay, don't panic Summers, it's clear that he's just hallucinating-- mistaking him for Ferran because of his state. This is a result of the snakes, right...?
Because all the dead snakes around them is one solid clue. How did the man take all of these guys out? He doesn't see any visible injuries on them. Which. How do you kill something without leaving any trace of a wound? More thoughts for later...
He's still keeping a hand against Altius's neck, the other reaching up to press against his clammy forehead.]
Come on, don't die now, okay?
no subject
What is the young man saying? Something about dying, perhaps. There's worry there, maybe panic; he can imagine it well enough even though his senses are failing him. His eyes threaten to shut again as he mutters,]
Leave me.
no subject
[Maybe he can at least start dragging Altius away from the entrance of the garden? Away from the dead snakes? Don't want more of those guys to come slithering about and try to attack the feverish man. Of course he could take them, but he'd rather not tempt fate.]
I'm going to move you. [It's about the only warning he gives before Scott slides his hands underneath the older man's shoulders. With a great pull (and grunting just slightly in the process), he starts dragging him away from the garden.]
no subject
The strength in his legs isn't exactly great, though; there's only so much he can do to make the process easier, and only so long he can keep that minimal effort up. Eventually, his mind catches up again, and he mutters another attempt to dissuade the young man.]
None of it was real...
no subject
He's learned that. Maybe since he first got here over two years ago.
Scott continues to pull him away though, not resting until he thinks they're a comfortable distance away from those gates.]
...What are you talking about? [There's a part of him that thinks he should just agree with Altius, that whatever he saw wasn't real. But. Best to make sure.]
no subject
Everything I did for you... what I said.
[There's a clear misery in the half-slurred confession, closer to the dark gravity that Scott has seen out of him more in the past few months, rather than the gentle regrets he's expressed in his "normal" moments.]
no subject
What do you mean?
[Plus, he's still focused on getting him to safety. Scott thinks he's pretty close in reaching that point as he pulls him back and across the ground, almost reaching the forest that surrounds the garden.]
no subject
You know it was all fake, [he grits through his teeth, eyes wrenched shut as his body screams at him to—he doesn't know what. To stop; to stop everything. But he can't just give up.]
So why...
no subject
I don't know exactly what you're talking about, Altius, but just know that I'm not leaving you to die. I'm not letting you have that chance.
[Does this have anything to do with that 'wish' he had? Altius assured him that he was just at a low point, but he had his doubts. Some suspicions still. He's just been around so many people that feel this way to some degree, even for different reasons.]
no subject
He has no choice but to accept it. He made a promise... and he can't die yet.]
Foolish boy...
[The remark is breathed out more than it's spoken, and then he's passed out once more, not for a short time. Whether Scott's help arrives as planned, or a certain black crystal panther comes across them in her patrol, the man will have to be taken somewhere with the proper equipment to recover.
He'll get worse before he gets better. It'll be a day or two before he's coherent enough for a conversation.]
time skip
Help does eventually come in the form of his friends and it's not too long before Altius is safely brought back to the clinic. No longer ran by Ethlyn, but it's fine. It's still operating and that's all that matters right now. Functional enough to give him the proper care he requires and most importantly, rest. So, when Altius finally starts opening his eyes once more, he'll find himself in one of the clinic's beds.
With a half sleepy teen sitting on a chair nearby.
...Yeah, he's been visiting every day. Almost like a reversal of their situations just a couple of months ago. Of course Scott had to visit; he's been worried. The older man has become someone important to him, especially with how many people are disappearing lately.]
Hey.