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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 7:27 pm
Ever would bounce back, eventually, but for a bit, he just needed some quiet. So when he got back to Deus he opted to wind his way back to his room instead of anywhere else and to collapse down onto the bed still fully dressed in the same clothes: smoke-filled as they were. He'd wanted a shower, but once he was there the desired faded away. Instead he passed out, comfortably, thoughtlessly. The door cracked open a bit but Ever clueless, apparently unbothered by the noise of passing traffic in favor of taking a good long nap.
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 7:58 pm
As far as Zeke knew Ever was still out saving the world, or fighting monsters, or whatever the objective happened to be on this newest mission. He'd returned from the last, a little pink from the sun, and almost immediately shipped right back out. It hadn't even been twenty four hours yet. The Mist hadn't expected him back on base until at least morning. So it was a little surprising to see Ever's door cracked opened. Curious, half expecting to find an unfamiliar back digging around through drawers, Zeke pushed the door open a little wider. There was no thief, but the strong scent of burning asphalt seemed to have permeated the room, replacing the far milder, and almost pleasant, cigarette smoke that was the usual. Nose wrinkling, he let himself in, closing the door behind him, "Ever?" He was covered in ash, and perhaps a touch paler than his usual milky complexion. He also appeared to be sleeping. Or merely unconscious. A close cousin, but notably different. Concerned, he sank down on the edge of the bed to lay the back of his hand against Ever's brow.
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 8:16 pm
He was a bit battered now, but Ever still lacked those razor reflexes -- good, in this case. It meant that Zeke didn't get slammed into the blankets or attacked for coming out of nowhere. Instead, Ever just blinked fuzzily awake, still limp, to peer up Zeke's arm. He looked, more than anything else, confused. Took a moment to click where he was. And then he made a face. His mouth tasted terrible. Smoke and ash, cigarettes and sick. He worked his mouth, and gestured vaguely, to see if he still had OJ near the bed. Of course, if he did, it was probably gone bad... "Ugh."
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 8:37 pm
He'd never seen the other man so out of it. If not for the ash, the pallor, he'd have assumed Ever was hung over. Whatever this was though, he didn't think drinking had much to do with it. Thankfully it didn't seem like the Lifer had a fever. He was a touch warm, but there was still a faint pinkish spread over the bridge of his nose and cheeks that suggested the burn hadn't healed up all the way yet. The gesture had a brow raising, and he looked down towards the empty orange juice jug before that grunt of a sound made him chuckle. "You're out of juice." However there was half a bottle of water there from the last time Zeke had slept over. "Lucky for you, I like to stay hydrated." The bottle was handed over, cap already removed. "You kind of look like hell," he paused, thinking about what he said, then amended appropriately. "Or like you walked pi]through hell." A smudge of ash was brushed off his forehead with a tanned thumb, absently. "Are you hurt?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 8:53 pm
"I dunno." He was foggy, still, half asleep: taking a long swallow of water to wash the worst of the taste out of his mouth, Ever struggled to sit up, and then grimaced. His clothing was gross, was a mess, and he held out the water to Zeke so that he could drag his way out of his shirts, at least. His hat was on the pillow, too, and it all went into a pile on the floor. He was a bit battered beneath, but not badly. Bruised, here and there, but the worst of it was all in his head, remembering the sensation of burning organs. "Jesus. I'm okay..."
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 9:02 pm
Zeke took the water without question, holding it as Ever tugged the dirty shirts over his head to toss them aside. Pale eyes twitched down to the bruises, and he remembered the DMs he'd sent him after he'd left for Cee's promo mission. They didn't seem quite as funny now. Outwardly he didn't look all that banged up, but he was moving slow, and there was a tightness around those dark eyes hinted that there was more wrong than a few bruises. With a frown he shrugged out of his jacket then bent to loosen the straps on his boots so he could toe them off. Then he was turning, kicking feet up on the bed, and resting his back against the wall. The water was offered back, keen eyes watching the Lifer carefully. "So what happened?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 9:23 pm
"Some monster out of the ground." He shook his head, though, shrugging it off, because what else ever happened in missions? There was always a monster, and they always had to fight it, and he'd be fine, soon. He just wasn't right now, apparently. Ever drank the water, slowly, and then set it aside to properly take off his boots, too. "City in Pennsylvania, I think? Hallucinatory smoke..." One boot hit the floor, and he paused on the other, squinting up at Zeke. Suspicious, almost, or unsure, or..."I don't know. It was unpleasant." And the second boot came off, too.
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:31 am
The look Ever directed at him was met with a question twitch of brow, but he didn't comment. The blonde was stressed, rough, and Zeke wash going to poke at him, he wasn't heartless. He leaned against his little slice of wall, legs stretched out and ankles crossed. There, perhaps a little obtrusive in his apparent settling in, but not crowding him either. A familiar presence.
But Zeke was still Zeke, and as considerate as he acted, that ever present curiosity nagged at him. He had to ask, but he made sure his tone was mild, and devoid of any demand. "What did you see?" Ever could answer, or not. This would be the only time he asked, at least for now.
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 1:45 pm
He shrugged, jerky, as he pried off his socks too. The gesture was probably meant to imply that it didn't matter, but Ever was rattled, and Ever was never rattled, so it must have been a big deal to some degree. He tossed them into the pile and then paused to squint at Zeke. "It was like a dog? But not a dog? I'm not sure. The sensation of burning and melting organs was distracting." And, even now, meant that Ever had to swallow a few times and pinch at the bridge of his nose.
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 2:23 pm
Concern was turning into worry, and it was a little startling to realize how much he actually did care. Not that he hadn't already realized Ever, like Paige, had been elevated above every other hunter on the island, it was just surprising how quickly it had happened. Zeke frowned at that jerky shrug, eyes widening just a touch as the Lifer gave a clipped explanation. "Melting organs..." That, at least, didn't really need further clarification. Distracting seemed a very mild word for any hallucination involving something of that nature. Ever's throat worked, swallowing, as he reached up to pinch at the bridge of his nose. Zeke knew Ever when he was fine, and this wasn't it. A thoughtful look crossed tanned features, as he watched the other man, not quite sure what to do in this situation. He wasn't exactly great at giving comfort or reassurance, and would Ever even take it if it was offered? Drawing in a breath, the Mist sat up, moving over the bed until he could reach the other man's arm. A gentler touch than he'd ever given him before, he curled his fingers around Ever's elbow, and if the Life didn't come to him with the soft tug, he'd close the distance himself.
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 2:43 pm
Poor Zeke: he was trying, but at that brush of fingers around his elbow, the look that passed across Ever's face was blank with befuddlement, like maybe he didn't know what to do with that kind of comfort. Or maybe he just didn't know what to do with it from Zeke. He took one step in that direction and then hesitate, trying to blink back into focus. Instead, though, he just looked distant as Zeke closed the distance, trying to figure out what was going on. "I should take a shower. I meant to, I slept all filthy in my bed.."
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 2:54 pm
At least they were both equally at a lose. If Ever had just fallen into his arms it would have been... He wasn't sure. It was sort of relief when he didn't, though that blank vacancy was far from reassuring. Ever was filthy, and a slight grimace flickered across tanned features before he'd schooled it. He stayed close though, hand a comforting(hopefully) weight against his arm as Zeke glanced down at the blankets they were sitting on, the pillow. There was ash everywhere, and the pale skin beneath his fingers was slightly gritty. To his credit he held on. "You're shits all going to need to get washed before you can sleep on it again." Another thoughtful pause, then he released a long breath and rolled off the bed, hand sliding down Ever's arm to circle his wrist, so, when he was ready, he could draw the blonde to his feet. "You shower, I'll make sure it all get's cleaned, you can camp in my room til it's dried and back in place." He wouldn't be doing the actual washing. Someone owed him a favor he could collect on.
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:04 pm
Another of those pauses, like he had to process, and he blinked at Zeke. Expression lost, like he couldn't quite remember who he was or -- it clicked, and he shrugged, scraping at his hair and then leaning out to grab a towel. He'd try to hold it without touching it to his body, just in his filthy jeans now. Ever would keep that on. Had enough sense not to march down to the shower naked, at least. "It won't take me long." That, at least, was more like normal: Ever rolling his shoulders in a quick shrug. But he didn't step out into the hall, not just yet.
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:20 pm
He really didn't like the look in those dark eyes. It made him wonder if maybe he'd hit his head as well, but just didn't remember it. The shrug wasn't comforting, but he let his hand fall away. Bending, he grabbed the pillow and pulled the case off, then set it on the bedside table. "I'll get your smokes and lighter, phone." He glanced towards the dresser, then the iron maiden that was currently serving as closet. "Clothes," he'd add, almost absently, as if he were making a mental list. When Ever didn't actually move towards the door on his own Zeke frowned at him. Out of his depth, he just wasn't sure what to do, and it showed in the slight pinch of brows. Lips pressing into a line, he came back around, cupping a palm against the nape of Ever's neck. "Go. Get clean." A gentle squeeze, and he'd nudge him at the door. "I've got this.
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:23 pm
There was a moment, brief, in which Ever almost kissed him for it: old instincts kissing in, when they were this close, face to face. The hand on his neck. But then he remembered just how awful his mouth still tasted, how filthy he was, and instead he bobbed his head in a nod -- ducking and going to take his shower. It really would help, head under the stream and eyes closed. He'd be there long enough to get a little lost in it. Instead of his quick ten minute shower, it was more like twenty, half an hour, before he came out wrapped in the towel. Clean, a bit bruised, and far more focused. He went to his room then remembered what Zeke had said and continued all the way down the hall to 189.
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