[text/action]

[bashfulshifter]

[It's too quiet.]

[Rick's been wandering the Tower since Thursday, trying to help whoever he can with their shadows, checking up on them every few hours when he can catch his breath. But after yesterday, he's lost track of nearly all of them...and earlier today, he watched yet another die. After making a full circuit of all the safer floors and the stairwell, he's only now beginning to realize that perhaps Sertoria's death was just a continuation on a pattern that he's somehow missed.]

[It's evening, now, and around him the Tower has become eerily silent. Rick's staggered his way to the top floor dorms; his collar is almost as clear as it was Wednesday. He knows that the network hasn't been working well, but he's so alone, so terrified that he's failed all the people that he's tried so hard to help, and this is the only other way he can think of to try and contact them. The message he sends is short...]

Is anyone still up and around? There's so few people left...if you're still alive, I'm on the first floor of the dorms. We should stick together. Don't let the shadows win this.

[...but the message that comes out is glitched, nearly unreadable in spots. Rick paces between terminals, reloading his post to see if the problem fixes itself--and then, appropriately enough, he gives one of the computers a solid, frustrated kick, and collapses on the opposite side of the hall.]

[It's doubtful that anyone will be lucky or persistent enough to decipher Rick's message. If they do, though, he'll be curled up by the wall where he left himself. A shadow rubs his back.]

[You tried, honey...but you can't save everyone, you know. I told you it wasn't worth the effort and you just didn't listen...]

Comments

[fionnuisce]

Believe me, I've noticed. Don't worry so much about it. There's not a whole lot else that requires my immediate attention.

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick nods and visibly relaxes.] I'll um...I'll t-try n-not to...Thank you.

[fionnuisce]

You don't need to thank me. Which room are you in?

[bashfulshifter]

[The pleasant smile on Rick's face says otherwise, but he doesn't argue with him.]

S-Sixteen. [He twists his head in its general direction.] ...I d-don't know if...i-if a-a-anyone else...

[Rick's face falls. He knows Raven is dead--the man died while he was carrying him up the stairs. There was a new name on their door, but Rick hadn't seen him at all. And Ion...the image of the kindhearted child dying alone and miserable in some dark Tower corner puts a knot in Rick's stomach, and the fact that he hasn't run into him lately worries him greatly.]

[fionnuisce]

[Waver sighed, expression annoyed despite what might have passed for a sympathetic tone.]

Worry about yourself for the moment. It won't help anyone if you just drop dead. Can you walk at all?

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick flinches slightly at Waver's blunt demands and judgmental expression, but if anything he's more worried about annoying the person helping him than he is about the demands themselves. His eyes drift to the floor and he nods in understanding.]

...I-I think s-so. I j-just...n-need some s-sleep.

[fionnuisce]

[Even if he was a little more blunt than most, Waver was genuinely concerned. The last thing he wanted was for people to die unnecessarily.]

Just do me a favor and try to stay conscious until we get there. Alright?

[bashfulshifter]

I'll...I-I'll d-do what I c-can.

[He's focused, at least, and seems to be keeping his footing okay. No promises though.]

[fionnuisce]

If you can't, I'll just have to carry you.

[Was that supposed to be a joke? Waver seemed awfully deadpan when he said it. Either way, he turned and started walking under the assumption that Rick would follow him. If he fell over, Waver would probably regret having made that remark at all.]

[bashfulshifter]

[Unfortunately Rick might have to take him up on that offer; within Waver's first few steps, the unsteady blonde lost his balance and came stumbling forward, instinctively reaching out to catch the other fellow's shoulder again. His legs feel numb and heavy and weird, and he has to drag them awkwardly to cover any ground. Walking without assistance is going to be difficult, if not impossible.]

[His mun humbly apologizes for rolling low...again.]

[fionnuisce]

[Waver stopped at that, glancing over his shoulder and raising an eyebrow.]

I was joking, but if you're that bad it probably wouldn't be that hard to carry you.

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick blushes sheepishly, still holding onto Waver's shoulder with a trembling hand.]

...A-Ah...S-Sorry... [The apology shouldn't come as a surprise by this point.] You c-could...t-try?

[Malnourished or not, that's about 170 pounds of pudgy blonde man Waver is offering to pick up right now. He could be stronger than he looks, though.]

[fionnuisce]

[at least he's used to compulsive apologizers.]

[Waver was admittedly stronger than what looked like a scrawny frame would imply, and while he did give it a decent try he was geared more towards speed than strength. So picking anyone up was a little difficult.]

Goddammit...hang on, I've got a better idea. [He took a glass vial of mercury from his coat pocket, pouring it out onto the floor.] Fervor mei sanguis.

[Remember the weird mostly featureless maid, Rick? She's back at that and picking you up bridal style.]

Right then, shall we?

[bashfulshifter]

[Yeah, Rick isn't too surprised that didn't work. He makes a mental note to get in shape soon...after a nap, of course. Maybe next week. Definitely within the month. Sure.]

[He's looking very embarrassed about this when Waver reveals his "better idea." Rick remembers the maid, vaguely--right, he was going to ask what it was next time he ran into the man, wasn't he? Now seemed like a much more suitable time for such discussion.]

[Rick curls up awkwardly in the construct's arms, expression a combination of confusion and slight anxiety.]

...Thank you. [Gotta get that out of the way first.] Um...i-if you d-don't m-mind me a-asking...what is...?

[fionnuisce]

It's called Volumen Hydragyrum. Don't worry, it's not going to hurt you. To phrase it simply, it's a weapon made of mercury controlled by incantations, magical energy, and a little willpower.

[bashfulshifter]

[...Right. Rick nods blankly and decides not to ask any more questions.]

[For the moment, that is. He thinks over a few key words and squints, befuddled.]

...Magic?

[The concept probably shouldn't seem as strange to him as it does--he's seen enough uncanny things in the Tower, and even seen "spells" used first-hand, but the term is so nebulous that he's not sure how to define it. One person's magic could be another universe's...aspect of life that goes without explanation. Or something of the sort.]

[...Whatever, he's confused.]