[Video/Voice] Backdated to late morning of the 13th

[fabrecation]

[The view is nothing but the sky. The rain that falls on it. Blood staining the entire side of the camera.

The voice is shrill. Frantic. Trembling and pained.]

Suh - Somebody – I n-need a healer by the back of the Battle Dome right now! Asch is - hkgh -

[Then there's quiet muttering, as if he's speaking in a whisper to someone else. A whisper that cuts off for a moment, then turns into a hurt sound.

And then nothing else.]


((ooc: Aftermath of this. Rapunzel is chronologically first, but anyone can reply whenever they like /o/))

Comments

[action]

[fourteen]

[ He's going to be angry at her for this. Probably very.

But after sitting for a moment, watching him blankly, she shifts and brings herself to his side again. Then she bodily takes hold of him and pulls him away from Asch. He's stronger than her, normally, but he's also heavily wounded. Her voice is steely and uncharacteristically dispassionate. ]

Luke. Stop.

[ She keeps hold of him, frankly expecting him to struggle and ready to try and stop him anyway. ]

It's not like I'm not healing him because I don't want to. I can't.

[action]

[fabrecation]

[Luke's too tired and out of touch to be angry. The only strong emotion is desperation, and it's the only thing he's clinging to.

He can't even move or feel his most dominant arm. But he still has to try; he grips at the ground and pulls, pulls with strength he doesn't have.]

I... don't c... care, I... [Something, something has to work. He can't lose him.

More healers are arriving, and of course, Luke asks them to heal Asch. Something, something, something has to go through, surely someone can do something.]

[action]

[fourteen]

[ She keeps holding him back. She's getting soaked in his blood and the feel of it on her skin through her clothes, warm and slick, is making her physically ill.

But it gets ignored. She focuses on his arm, the worst damage, calling on Nala and on everything she's ever learned. If Asch is dead, then she needs to keep Luke alive.

A small part of her mind whispers, it's going to happen anyway. And she chokes, maybe on bile, and shoves it back.

When she speaks again it's in a whisper, still level, but oh so quiet. ]

... I'm so sorry. Luke, I'm so ... so sorry.

[action]

[fabrecation]

[It's like he didn't hear her. He's still stretching his arm out and trying to heal Asch, and the only indication of his attention to her is how his head lowers, how his teeth clenches, and how the rain hides whatever tears that may be shedding.

But he can feel his energy running out, too. Soon enough, his arm is stretched, but there's no light at the end of his hand. Then his arm falls to the ground, and he seems to sag. His own vision is fading, only dark, rough shapes being the only indicator that he's still conscious.

Maybe it's better like this. Better to die and be with Asch when he returns, suffering from whatever penalty may come along with him. It was his fault that he showed up, after all. If he didn't call him...

He may not even be dying. It's probably just blood loss and pain finally getting to him. But maybe he can think this is it anyway.]

[action]

[fourteen]

[ Maybe it's that he lowers his hand. Maybe it's that he stops struggling. Maybe it's just the way he shifts in her arms, like the life has gone out of him.

Either way, all at once, she snaps completely, her calm demeanor shattering into a million pieces as she lets him go, only to grasp his face way too tight to be comfortable. She looks terrified and furious, her skin stark white and her eyes too wide, her hair trailing bedraggled into her face and-- ]

No! Luke, you listen to me, I am not letting you die! Not when I can do something about it!

[ To anyone listening, it might just sound like the desperate declaration of a lover.

But to him, if he even hears her, he might catch her real meaning.

I can't stop what's already happening to you. I can't stop you from dying later. But if I can do it now, darkness help me, I'm going to.

The burst of light between them is almost blinding. She pours everything she has into him, exerting herself far more in a single shot than is probably healthy. In fact, it's borne out not a moment later when the light fades, and she releases him and falls over onto her arm, weak, coughing, and abruptly vomits.

She doesn't care that he can't hear her. She doesn't care that he doesn't care. But in the name of all that is good and right, she isn't letting him die here. That's why, despite being violently ill, she simply wipes at her mouth with her sleeve and pushes herself back up to a seated position, shaking, and reaches out for him again. To keep trying, if necessary. ]

[action]

[fabrecation]

[For a moment, his entire body seemed a little luminescent. Those from Auldrant wouldn't know what that means, why that glow around him was a very terrifying indicator.

Someone's moving him and yelling something he doesn't understand, and it's all he can do to let his eyes flicker slightly. Then there's light that he barely sees, and -

That glow around him stops, and everything about him seems dark again. He's on the ground, on his back, and the pain that had originally been dull was flaring to life once more. It makes him cringe and let out a choked sound, but -

But he still -

He still reaches his one good hand. Not towards Asch this time, but to touch his fingers against Xion's. He's not sure what he's getting across with that action; he isn't sure if he's grateful, or if he's trying to comfort her, or if he's trying to hold on to something he loves.

But there's that touch, and then he relaxes again, the cringe disappearing, but the breaths in his chest still heavy. So, maybe he won't die. But being unconscious is a hell of a lot better than all the physical, emotional and even mental pain.]

[action]

[frost_jewel]

[For the moment she has done all she can for the other man; something is keeping him from recovering fully and it's not something she can fix.

She can come back over and help Xion sit up again, and Restore some of her energy. Even though Xion doesn't use Psynergy, it should help her. The way she's holding onto Luke, literally and figuratively, says a lot about why she just spent herself.]

If you want to help him now, you'll need to focus on specific things. [Not because the cause is lost otherwise. It's just safer for her, and better for him.]

[action]

[fourteen]

[ A small sigh of relief escapes her at the Restore, and she gives Mia a grateful look and a tiny, shaky smile. Really, it was just too much exertion in one effort - it made her dizzy and ill, but not in any truly serious way. The Restore helps her steady herself. ]

... I know. Thanks, Mia.

[ She focuses on Luke after that. Because she saw that glow. Watching him, hearing him -- it's ripping at her heart.

And that he reaches out to touch her hand despite everything--

Maybe the rain will hide it. Or maybe he's actually unconscious. Either way, she hopes he won't see her starting to cry as she moves once more, gathering him into her lap and focusing on treating each of his wounds, one at a time. ]