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 Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 2:28 am
WHO: Lazarus and Xiu
WHEN: Late morning of Nov 10th.
WHERE: Infirmary of the Lab
WEATHER: Slightly overcast with a chance of sunshine
Four days had passed since Lazarus was rescued from the mausoleum. Even if his condition is stable now, and blood had returned to his face, the Raevan had not waken up yet. Jeremy had started to worry that this might be another coma nightmare like what happened with Kyou.
Word had slowly spread out about what happened, and some of Lazarus's friends and other Lab members had came to visit. Including Zeke of course, and Xiu.
Kyou had spent most of his days staying by the Raevan's side, softly talking to him, like how one would to a coma patient. How ironic, just a few days ago the role was reversed. Jeremy would come in everyday to help change the bandages, and make sure Kyou had some healthy meals to slowly acclimate him back to normal foods again.
On this day, Jeremy had scheduled a meeting with a physiotherapist for Kyou. So he stayed back himself to look after Lazarus and the Lab when Kyou was gone. He will go and pick the wheelchair bound man when the meeting is over. Which won't be for a few more hours. Seated in the reception, the man looked over the bills of the month as he arranged them and settling them online. He is expecting more visitors to come today.
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 3:59 am
Xiu knew the Doctor would not be in today. Or rather…he knew that the Doctor had an appointment. He had seen it written down on a memo on the desk the other day. Which was exactly why he had chosen to arrive at this particular moment in time.
He would like to have a quiet moment with Lazarus. And only Lazarus.
It was not that he was denied entry from seeing the fiery Sigel but rather… because everyone else who had more “claim” to the fiery Sigel had been present. And as such, he had to stay in the background and watch as Lazarus was fussed over by Jeremy, the wheelchair bound Dr. Kyou and…others. And when the Raevan was not attended to by his guardian and the healthcare staff, Lazarus’s unconscious attention had to be divided amongst the scores of concerned visitors.
Part of him knew that it was wrong to feel that way. That he should be grateful that proper care and attention was paid to his fallen lov-….friend. It was just that Xiu would like to be alone with Lazarus, to share a quiet moment together as they had always done.
Which was why he had arrived at the lab precisely when he did. The good Doctor was not in, the well-meaning visitors had yet to arrive and…Jeremy could be trusted upon to busy himself with the running of the lab.
Floating through the Lab’s silent front door, Xiu noticed Jeremy at the reception counter and bade him a good morning. Which was quickly followed by a: “Is…has there been any changes? With Lazarus”
Just in case Jeremy had thought that he was asking after Dr. Kyou.
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 7:24 am
Jeremy looked up from the reception desk as Xiu entered, his face brighten up with a wrinkly smile as he got up to greet the visiting Raevan. His smile faded ever so subtly when the question was posed though. "Unfortunately, nothing has changed yet. I just changed his bandages this morning, the healing looks like it's well on his way, his vitals are good, but he's just not awake yet." His smile looked more apologetic now.
"You can go right in. I still have some more bills to settle, but afterwards I can make us some tea? You seemed to enjoy the silver needle tea I made the other day." Jeremy offered the Raevan.
Inside the infirmary, Lazarus's unconscious body was laying on a soft comfortable airy mattress, so that it would make little impact on the back wounds and promote healing. His head was propped up on soft pillows to accommodate the longer horns. He looked peaceful, with the window curtains slightly apart and a little bit of sunshine breaking in, shining on his face. The vase of tuberose is sitting in his room now, just above his head rest, now in full bloom with the sweet scent filling the room.
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 6:04 pm
Xiu noted the fall in the other’s expression at the mention of Lazarus’s condition and felt a pang of sympathy for the old man. Jeremy looked tired and it was no wonder. He had shifted from looking after a comatosed Dr. Kyou to an unconscious Lazarus after all.
Jeremy had also insisted that he could handle the Lab’s paperwork.
Turning his gaze away from the old man, Xiu directed his attention towards the vicinity of the infirmary. In it lay the fiery raevan and the reason for his visit.
“I would like that very much,” said Xiu with a polite nod at the offer of tea. The silver needle tea that Jeremey had brought in the other day was exquisite. Mild yet fragrant with a comforting floral scent, Xiu had been impressed by the delicateness of the tea; and was duly surprised when Dr. Kyou, after sipping the brew, insisted that the addition of sugar would enhance the tea’s flavour. But to each his own and it was a known fact that the Doctor had a notorious sweet tooth.
Taking his leave from Jeremy, Xiu proceeded to the infirmary. The infirmary was a modest, comfortable and well ventilated room with lots of warm sunlight coming in from eastern window. As he approached the lying figure on the bed, Xiu noted the half finished chess game he had been playing with Dr. Kyou the previous evening. Despite his frail state, the Doctor had beaten him at chess twice. They had to leave the third unfinished as Jeremy had insisted that that was quite enough excitement for one day.
Approaching Lazarus, Xiu took a seat beside the unconscious raevan. Placing his hand over Lazarus’s, Xiu noted the peaceful expression on Lazarus’s face. Perhaps, somehow, the other knew that his endeavours had been successful and that Dr. Kyou was safe. Xiu wondered what had happened that night. What had caused Lazarus to lose his wings and instead....gained his legs.
Of course, he had an inkling of what had taken placed. It did not take a scientist to figure out the connection between a book containing various methods of summoning entities, the cryptic circle in which Lazarus was found in and of course the graveyard in which Lazarus had chosen to do it...
The outcome could not have differed much had it been any other raevans and their guardians in Lazarus’s place. It was...a shocking realization.
“Lazarus...,” murmured Xiu softly as he stroked the other’s forehead.
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 1:00 am
Lazarus felt like he was floating. It was dark everywhere, but if he squint his eyes, he could see little white dots in the far far distant. Stars from light years away maybe? However, he don't feel like he was floating in space. There was no sense of direction here, he don't know where was up or down. He would put his arms up and wouldn't feel any force pulling them down again. He was truly floating. Oddly enough, he has legs in this weird dimension. Initially, he had a lot of fun doing things with them. Bending them up to his body, kicking them out, tickling his own foot, imitating motions of walking and running. But of course, when there is no actual surface or gravity to adhere his weight to, he didn't know if he was doing it correctly or not.
He didn't know how he got here. To tell the truth, his memories were not all there either. He just remember who he was, how he used to be, just a general sense of self awareness of knowing who he is, with all other the details a vague blur. He felt like he had forgotten something, or someone important, but he just can't recall who.
The Raevan had long lost sense of time in here. He didn't know how long had it been. Hours? Days? Weeks? Months even? No, surely not so long. It was quiet in here, not a sound was heard, and oddly enough his ears aren't ringing. On the rare occasion, he thought he could almost hear a soft breath, a sound not from himself. A soft whisper coming from a non-specific direction. He would train his ears, but he couldn't hear what was being said.
Finally, realizing that he have to get out of here someway somehow, he tried to move. But how? He wasn't sure walking or running would work due to the weightlessness. Swimming perhaps? Well, the Raevan haven't swam before, but there is no harm trying. Experimentally, he tried to imitate the movements of swimming like how he had seen on TV before. Breaststroke style, front crawl, butterfly stroke. However, he felt like he was getting nowhere at all, like he was swimming in place. He has to try though, maybe the little white dots in the distance was just very very far away. If he swam long enough, maybe he could reach it eventually.
It felt like forever as he swam, the little white dots were not getting any closer, and even if he didn't feel tiredness in here physically, he was mentally getting tired of this.
Then he heard it. A soft whisper.
“Lazarus...,”
"Xiu..?" He heard it, clearly this time. It was soft, but he heard it! Xiu's voice! Suddenly filled with a strong desire to see Xiu again, he began to swim once more frantically, waving his arms in the weightlessness. This is working, he is getting somewhere! Then one of the stars began to glow bigger, the glow was so intense and so sudden that Lazarus had to shield himself from the bright light...
A soft groan escaped Lazarus's lips as he slowly awoken. His eyebrows frowned into a knot as he stirred. The dull throbbing pain in his back hit him like a freight train as his brain finally started to register all his senses. Sweat began to form on his forehead as he groaned some more from the pain. It was evident that he was not given painkillers when he was in the coma.
His eyelids fluttered open as the sun rays shone through the window, blinding him temporarily. "Ungh..." He shut his eyes and turned his head away. When he opened them again though, it was a welcoming sight. "Xiu..." He smiled weakly as he whispered.
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 5:56 am
Xiu felt Lazarus stirring and with a thudding heart watched as Lazarus seemed to emerge from his stupor. The fiery raevan’s movements were initially sluggish but gradually strengthened as Lazarus shook off the remnants of his lethargy and offered the Xiu a small smile.
For a moment the white Sigel sat stunned. Could it be? Was Lazarus really…?
With a cry Xiu threw himself into Lazarus’s arms; quite unaware of the pain Lazarus was feeling from his wounds. Wrapping his arms tightly around the other as though afraid that Lazarus would just slip back into oblivion if he were to let go for an instant, Xiu buried his face into the crook of Lazarus’s neck.
“I…we…everyone was so worried!” exclaimed Xiu in a hoarse (if rather muffled voice). “When Cesc found you like that…and Doctor Kyou insisting that no one was to come near you until you had stabilized…,”
A second tight hug followed the first. And this time Xiu was silent but it was the silence of companionship and contentment as white Sigel held Lazarus close. There were so many questions to be asked and so many things that were important but for now…this was enough.
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 3:18 am
The sudden tight hug combined with the stinging pain on his back, expelled the air from the Raevan's lungs with a soft wheeze. His eyes widen for a moment as his body stiffen. Lazarus is a hundred percent wide awake now.
When Xiu spoke from the crook of his neck though, he relaxed a little bit. The worry was evident in the Sigel's voice, it was shaky at best, and Lazarus felt terrible for making so many people worry. Yeah he remembered clearly what happened now, what he had done. Summoned Sarat, made a deal, had his wings torn out. He remembered every detail clearly up till the point when he blacked out from the crushing pain. Glancing around, he recognized the place as the infirmary at the Lab. An odd feeling of relief washed over him as he realized that he's back home now, and furthermore... Kyou had awaken?
Lazarus was about to speak but a tighter hug drew a soft wheeze from him again. It was getting a little bit difficult to breathe with Xiu's arms pressing on his back wounds. He wanted to protest, but he also realized that Xiu needed this, needed to feel that he's alive, his heart beating strong in his chest. Truth to be told, even if this was painful, he really appreciated it. He missed the smell of the white Sigel's hair.
The Valsaros let Xiu hug him quietly for a moment longer, till he felt that it was enough and he gently tapped Xiu's shoulder. "Xiu...?" His voice was soft as he whispered a little bit breathlessly. "Let me go..."
He drew in a deep breath and gasped softly for air when Xiu released his grip. Gently he laid back down into the soft mattress, his body still stiff and from the pain on his back. "Kyou is awake?" He asked tentatively. Xiu did mentioned about Kyou just now, but he just want to be sure. "Where is he?"
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 8:57 pm
"Let me go..."
For a moment Xiu was stunned. Let him go? But they had only just…
Then realization dawned.
“O-Oh! I’m sorry!” exclaimed Xiu, quickly releasing his grip on Lazarus. In his joy he had completely forgotten about the wound on Lazarus’s back. Backing off sheepishly, Xiu returned to his seat by the bed.
“Yes…the Doctor has awoken,” said Xiu with an affirmative nod. “He woke up the night you were found and Jeremy has been looking after the both of you…ah! I should call him! He would be delighted to see you up!” said Xiu as he pressed a nearby call button. “Everyone would be, I know,”
A short silence followed before Xiu grinned awkwardly at Lazarus “And umm…may I congratulate you on your growth?”
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 3:31 am
"Oh..." He just said simply when Xiu told him what had happened. It was a simple answer, said like it didn't mean much, but a heavy weight had lifted from his heart as he sighed softly. Kyou is alive, Sarat's deal was good, his sacrifices were worth it.
When Xiu mentioned about the growth though, Lazarus could only stare at him with wide eyes. What was he talking about? Then the same red eyes looked down his own body on the slightly raised bed. He has... legs? His eyes were even wider and his jaws slightly ajar as he moved his right leg, lifting up his knee. Then he tried to wiggle his toes on the left foot. There wasn't a hint of the rune or the smoke there anymore, nor the ribbon. Those were all... gone. Now he has a set of finely shaped and fairly proportionate legs from his waist down.
He is a Valsaros now.
"When did... how..?" There were so many questions. Confusion, surprised, awed, delighted were some of the emotions that were going through him at that moment. If his whole body didn't hurt so much, he would have jumped off the bed and tried to run around. So instead he opted for quiet contemplation as he laid his head back down on the pillow and tries to relax.
Jeremy's voice came around the corner of the door then. "Do you need som-" The word was caught in his throat as he stood in the doorway of the infirmary, his eye staring at the Raevan that is now awake, and turning over to look at him. "Lazarus..."
"Hey Jeremy..." The Valsaros greeted weakly, then followed with a soft groan as he agitated his wound as he tried to turn towards the man.
"Oh, I'm sorry... ah, maybe some painkillers would help." The man fretted as he goes to the medicine cabinet. "Xiu can you help me get a glass of water please?" He requested as he looks for the painkiller pills.
"Thanks." Lazarus nodded at Xiu. "I'm feeling parched too."
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 8:10 am
Despite his nonchalant response, Xiu could see that the fiery raevan was relieved. Lazarus had been through a lot for his guardian and Xiu could only hope that life, from now on, would proceed smoothly for the both of them.
Following Lazarus’s gaze, Xiu chuckled as the other flexed his legs and wriggled his toes. It was a magical moment. Almost akin to watching a child opening his or her birthday presents in awe as the contents were taken out and examined for the first time. Xiu would have liked to place his hand over Lazarus’s but Jeremy’s arrival broke the spell.
“Oh course,” said Xiu as he floated up. “I’ll just get the water here,”
Floating over to small coffee table (where the half-finished chess game lay), Xiu poured out a glass of water from the nearby pitcher. The Sigel wondered briefly if drinking now had become a necessity for Lazarus. The raevan had mentioned feeling parched. Do freis and sigels feel parched?
…probably not in the same sense as humans.
What about Lazarus?
…
Best to get those thoughts out of one’s mind. What mattered was that Lazarus was safe and awake. Well, so was Doctor Kyou so that’s a good thing too.
“Here’s the water” said Xiu as he handed Lazarus the glass. “Do you require anything else?”
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 9:15 am
"Here." Jeremy offered Lazarus the painkillers as Xiu arrived with the glass of water. "It should work pretty quickly." Despite the obvious pain the Raevan is in, the man can't help but smile. The coma nightmare is finally over, everyone is on their own road to recovery. That was when he remembered.. "Oh! I should let Kyou know of this good news! He's in his first physiotherapy session right now, but I'm sure he would be more relaxed knowing you're finally awake." With that, Jeremy rushed off back to the front of the office to retrieve his cellphone.
The Raevans are left alone once more. Lazarus smiled weakly too as he gulped down the pills with help from the water. He drained the entire glass before settling it down. Knowing that Kyou is moving forwards with his recovery set him at ease as he tries to get comfortable on the bed. It's difficult when he has two gaping holes in his back, and his horns are always going to be in the way of him laying sideways. Lazarus shifted uncomfortably for a bit before settling down back in his original laying position.
Red eyes glanced over at the quiet Xiu, and he smiled softly. "How are you?" He felt it was only appropriate to ask, he don't want Xiu to fret so much about him. And then there was also something else on his mind... "I'm sorry for worrying you so much." The Raevan remembered their last meeting, how it went. It was... an unpleasant experience for him, and he had hated himself for how it ended. He could only imagine how Xiu felt.
"I'm... really sorry." He apologized once more.
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 9:14 pm
Xiu watched as Jeremy excitedly left the room. The Sigel was pretty sure that once the Doctor knew that his raevan was awake, he’d want to get back in a hurry. Therapy or no therapy. For the moment though, the two raevans were left in companionable silence. It was Lazarus who spoke first and Xiu turned his attention to the fire Raevan.
“I have been...alri- worried,” said Xiu, deciding not to sugar-coat the truth. Lazarus needed to know the gravity of his actions. “What you did was reckless,” continued the white Sigel gravely but despite this, the white raevan placed his hand above Lazarus’s own and gave it a squeeze. “But when it boils down to it, your intentions were sincere and no one would think any less of you for it,” said Xiu quietly. Then with a touch of admiration, the white Sigel added. “I think you were rather brave,”
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