Where: Garden, Infirmary mostly.
When: June 7th, 2001
He didn't even say a single word when he got back. A single item in hand, the instructor left Citan in Jesse's care, moving up to the third floor of the building itself. Comments are studiously ignored, questions unanswered as he pushes the button to call the elevator down -- a twist of a special key allows it to go up to the third floor. Pity if Squall has anyone in the office right now, for they're greeted to the man being covered in filth, the rotting parts of the infected and ill that have been slowly trudging about Balamb Isle. Instead, the man heads into the bathroom, shutting the room of the small chamber for a long time, though water can be heard flowing inside not too much longer after the door is shut.
It takes a while, really, for the man to come back out -- it wasn't so much of washing filth away from the body but from the mind and soul. Those used to be people. People that were in pain and wanting release, even though a part of them craved the flesh of their noninfected counterparts. Head resting against the shower's tiles for a moment, Sigurd merely tries to take away the memories of it, of those so dieased they couldn't be considered human, and the ones recently infected that seemed to make their deaths all the more tragic. Most of all he wants to forget the tortured looks in their eyes... but it will take some time for that. All Adel brings is pain, and this is no more than another example.
It's only afterwards, the door opened and his clothes washed in the tub that Sigurd comes out to say anything to Squall... a dull report at best. They found and rescued Citan. Saw the effects of the infection that was going around... and that Adel has control of them all. It seems, even when she parts, her last command is followed by all... but she left a surprise. Or a plant. One that sits in Garden's brig, taken there by Em. Sigurd even shows the teen what seems to open the collars... a tuning fork. It might not do the same with Bart... in fact, it might kill him. He really hasn't seen his brother to know if Adel has done anything strange to him, so the issue of instructions, beyond what he mentioned, aren't even brought up. Instead, the tuning fork is handed over, even as the instructor rubs at wet hair -- he knows what he wants to do... if it's the best thing is the question.
Sitting at his desk, going through reports with Xu, Squall has an elbow to the desk and his chin in a hand when Sigurd enters. The two drop deathly silent and watch the silver haired man walk across the room and into the private quarters of the commander. Squall frowns as he straightens from his seat, for if Sigurd didn't say anything... this means trouble. Quite bruskly the teen tells his second to get out even as he rises from his chair. There is no hurry to his actions as he can already tell where Sigurd is going if he's that messy. So instead of rushing off he turns off the computer and sends a burst of love through the link the share. Squall isn't good with what emotions he sends, and so it's a jumble of the things, but on the whole it's a good jumble. Love, worry, a bit of ew as he encounters some of the smell of what Sigurd all unwantingly brought with him. Hey, I'm here and I care about you.
Otherwise the teen just gets his husband something clean to wear. Sweats and a warm shirt. After a moments thought he switches out one of Sigurd's shirts for his own so that the man can have something he seems to like to smell. n.n He listens to the dull report, frowning darkly over what he hears, but instead of saying much of anything about it he takes the tuning fork and looks it over. Squall doesn't think much on whether or not it will explode Bart. Better dead than this drugged abuse he goes through now. "We should try it, Sigurd. We've nothing else to try. I know he's your brother and all, but..." Trailing off the teen shrugs and leaves it to Sigurd, holding out the tuning fork. Your call, honey.
Nope. Didn't even say a word upon seeing Squall and Xu there. He just wants to get out of these clothes, and burn them. Yes, he's burning that favorite outfit, right down to the coat and boots, as soon as he gets a chance. The smell of human remains is hard to get out of such things... and he isn't about to try. It's just better to get rid of it, and start again. Good thing he got those outfits from Konan, eh? He's going to be wearing those for a while. He's nearly in the shower when the burst of love comes through, and even jumbled, he gets the message rather easily. It was something needed, after all that mess, after mucking through the slime that were Adel's emotions. Nevermind the physical sludge... it was just nasty. He's trying to wash that away, though it's a hard thing to just forget. He's trying his best though, even if he does look a touch surprised when seeing that there are things already laid out for him. He should've known... just wasn't thinking.
The shirt takes the longest for Sigurd to get on, the scent of his lover upon it bringing him pause, to calm even further. Still, that report is given, as well about Gaimyn, below. Most likely he's a plant, to see what happens here at Garden, but... it was either that, or let him go. And he wasn't about to do the latter, no matter the risk. That tuning fork is held out after Squall's words, before he finally, if slowly, nods. "Hai. Adel knows I'm here." He waits for the look for that, before adding, "She knew before then... otherwise, she wouldn't have had Citan with her. So, Bart seeing me now won't be a big deal. Besides... I have to strike the collar. Going to need more than one person there to keep him still, if he pulls something like Citan did." Hey... he was trying his best to get rid of Jesse... and Adel's nuts. Can't hurt, even as he gets to his feet. "Well... we have to try it... I can't leave him like this anymore."
There is a tilting of the brown head as Sigurd speaks of freeing Bart from the collar. "Uh... what are you talking about?" He asks, rubbing at his nose with a finger. "Bart is drugged to the gills and sleeping. How much harm is he going to be able to do like that?" The reason he made sure Bart stayed drugged was so that Adel couldn't make the blonde hurt himself. Squall wasn't worried about him hurting others as there is so much damn magic in Garden that the people could be brought back if necessary. SeeDs are trained to accept their own losses and move on. He just knew that Sigurd wouldn't be able to deal with the loss of his brother.. again. So no owies this time! "All we have to do is use this on the collar right? Let's go down and do it." Sometimes his world is a very simple thing. Go out and kill. Go down stairs and smack a cute guy with a tuning fork.. why do adults seek to make things so complicated? Sheesh
Not really wanting to give Sigurd much more chance to waffle over it, Squall grabs for the man's arm and drags him to the elevator. Come on, we're going down stairs. If Sigurd fights.. well, then Squall will go down on his own, but...
"Yes, and Citan fully had his mental capacities.... yet still went and attacked Jesse." There's a faint sigh at that, before he shakes his head. "Nevermind. It's been a long night, and the last mind I wanted to touch was Adel's." It was a gross and digusting thing, and something he never wants to, willingly, do again. But he isn't given much of a choice in taking off the collar -- Squall grabs his arm, it's all he can give is a sputtering "Mou!" before he's dragged to the elevator. Well, dragged isn't a good term, for he does follow, but more surprisingly pulled along might be better. Oddly, he doesn't go about his usual bout of worrying here, silenced by the fact that Squall's close. Instead, he leans against the teen for a minute, weariness filtering through his thoughts and projected to Garden's commander... as well as the soothing touch that is finally alleiving him of it. Squall's here. He's going to be able to free his brother. Things are going to be alright, right? Let's hope so.
It's only in the infirmary that he gets apprehensive. To see the blond there, sleeping away, drugged out of his mind... as well as the thin silver band about his throat. He never got to see the teen since the night before he ran off -- even Andvari has to be abandoned, for Sigurd really couldn't send anyone else to drive it back. All that gives is a nasty death, and well... he and Bart can only drive it. So, this is all he has left, the one person in the world that, despite SeeD's nature, he'd do anything to protect. Wandering in, with only a quick glance to Squall, he stops where Bart is being kept, attempting to lean the teen's head to the side, so he can tap that collar with the tuning fork in his other hand.
They didn't only drug Bart, they tied him down just in case he could be controlled while in a drugged state. Squall had not one clue about what the collar could do, and so took no chances with Sigurd's brother. Sorry, Bart, but in the teen's mind you are Sigurd's Brother. In time you might come to be a real person in your own right, but such things always take time and effort with Squall. Time and effort that neither Squall nor Bart seem to be taking. Not that either one means to be this way, but just the way things stand. n.n
Squall moves into the room with Sigurd, and takes the other side of Bart, wrapping delicate seeming fingers around one of Bart's wrists even as he places the other hand on the blonde's chest. Leaning forward he uses his weight as a little extra leverage in keeping Bart prone in case something happens during the removal process. As Sigurd seeks to hit the collar, the young commander sends another burst of love and support. Hey, baka.. you are not alone here.
It's been a very strange time for Bart. Shackled and drugged to high heaven. Sometimes he would start to wake up, groggily reaching for conciousness like a drowning man would grasp at a lifepreserver floating on the waves above him. But these times never came to fruition. Someone would always come in with another handy sleep spell or an injection that would pull him under again, darkness there and nothing more. At least he wasn't dreaming, nightmares would have been horridly torturous under such conditions... he'd never be able to wake from them. But the nice thing about drugged sleep is that it doesn't stick you in real REM sleep, meaning it's all lost time, and no dreams.
So, still drifting through that hazy sleep, the boy is sprawled out on a bed in the infirmary, just as he had been since Squall had him subdued. Those collars are nasty things, you know, Sigurd would at least, having seen Citan forced to fight with Jesse just because it told him to and... left him utterly no choice in the matter. He actually looks rather peaceful, almost angelic like this and far younger than his actual eighteen years, how the heck he and Squall manage that is anyone's guess. Ironic really, considering the amount of trouble he tends to get into.
When the tuning fork strikes the collar, there is that same odd trembling of the slender bit of silver around the boy's throat. Blue eyes pop open immediately, staring straight ahead as if he were startled and not quite awake at the same time. There is a warmish glow over his body, but the collar doesn't snap away the way that Citan's did. No, Adel is not stupid at all, just damned crazy... and she hoped Sigurd would try this. Instead, the silver quivers slightly, tenatiously holding on, thinning significantly, but it won't actually fall off until its last command is carried out. Looking straight at Squall, the teen doesn't even seem to notice Sigurd there. Since he's rather prone and can't physically attack, well... Sigurd would probaly feel the ether being reached for and channeled rather suddenly in a burst of elemental fire. It's far more than Bart is really able to handle, forced through by the Sorceress on the other end who has feverishly waited for this moment, using the boy as a conduit for her ultimate revenge on her wayward knight, to burn out both the brother and the lover in one firey moment.
It's gonna get hot in here pretty soon. o_o
Oh.... shit. It's the first thought that comes to Sigurd's mind when his brother's eyes open rather than the collar sliding from the teen's throat. He does see it thin, but instead of falling off, that bit of silver remains.... and it sends his emotions cold. She did plan this. She set that man here, left him to open one collar and figured they'd try it on another... only to get this result. But this was a chance he'd have to take, regardless of the aftermath of hitting that collar with the tuning fork... but he hadn't really expected this. She said she'd take away his lover and family... and they're both right here. That sudden shift of ether energy is felt, and before he can think better of it, he reaches, trying to move Squall's hand away from Bart's, a push attempted to shove the teen toward the door. "Get out.... get out now!" Probably sounds odd to those who might be listening outside, but the instructor is rather adamant in this. He doesn't want to lose either of you, but if he can take the chance to save one... he will. He doesn't know if Bart is going to survive this himself... but there's a chance. Perhaps to absorb the flame that the other Fatima might shoot out. Probably won't work.... but it's a chance he's willing to take.
Being so close to Bart means that Squall has no chance at all of avoiding this assault. None whatso ever. Not even with Sigurd pushing him. It all comes too fast. The fire hits him like a freight train -a slam to the check that knocks all of the air out of his lungs, and only makes it all the worse when he tries to inhale and gets.. fire. The poor boy doesn't even have the time to scream as he's all but thrown from the bed, slamming into the wall with enough force to crack the drywall there. Not enough to indent it mind you, but crack it. All he knows is that there is pain, as his hair is consumed, his skin split with the heat, and.. we shouldn't really describe the rest. c.c; It isn't remotely pleasant at all, and the teen is soon sliding down to the floor, a ruin of the near pretty he used to be. Poor Sigurd. He can't stop you from feeling all of this. Not at all.
Now this isn't to say Squall can't do anything at all. His GF allows him several boons and those are what enable him to survive this. Doesn't mean he's alright by any stretch of the imagination, but laying there on the floor he manages one act before passing out. He casts Curaga on himself. The green and gold lights lift from his body, swirl about mending and healing flesh, and then fade away. Squall passes out even before the spell finishes taking effect. Looks damn nasty too, but he will at least live through it all, and will be alright thanks to his regeneration ability. Good thing he was junctioned for this, eh?
The ether chars the channel that Bart has always grasped in order to use such a strange and wild energy. He has -never- ever attempted to take on that much all at once, and it scalds as it goes, the boy gritting his teeth in an attempt to survive it, a precarious thing, and guilt laden all the way because Bart knows what's going on. And even worse, he is utterly helpless to stop it. Adel has complete control over him and that includes whatever special powers he possesses. The result? Burnout, quite literally. The blonde collapses back against the bed, a sigh escaping his lips as his entire body tingles with the aftereffects of ether, smelling of smoke and cinders and brimstone. The silver collar doesn't snap back the way Citan's did, it quite literally melts, dripping off the teen's throat to pool on the bed there and begin to quietly cool. He'll never be able to touch fire ether after this... Adel didn't care a whit for such things while she forced the blast. Of the four elements that Bart has always been able to use, fire is forever sealed to him now, burnout. He's damned lucky he's alive though, most who burn out on ether... usually die about the same time. Instead those blue eyes snap shut and he is simply unconcious. Adel's plan didn't really work the way she wanted it to.
But, at long last Badb can rejunction without the restrictions chasing her off, and as she does so, there is a blast of air around the boy, cooling his body as his skin is very hot to the touch. She frets inside, even though he's not awake to get annoyed at her at the moment.
There was no chance to even put up a spell, though the only one he has at his disposal only lessens physical attacks. Eyes widening at the fact that even getting Squall back wasn't enough, he can only watch as that burst of flame hits, to nearly consume the teen, pushing Squall so hard against the wall that he can feel it crack. But it's nothing compared to the emotions that he feels from the teen, the mental scream of pain from within; it all but makes the man's eyes roll into the back of his head. It doesn't help that the echo is only mimiced within the only family he has here, of the guilt and pain that comes from causing the deed, and being unable to stop it.
At least Adel didn't get what she wished. On any quarter.
Both of them are alive.... though one is just so, and the other one forever stunted in one os his natural abilities. The noise enough to bring in the doctor, and after taking one look, she brings one of SeeDs that had been used to guard the area to help Sigurd place Squall within the other room. It's there the woman can see the damage done to Bart's throat, a cure or two placed... but unless there's a miracle, that's going to leave a mark. The same is done for Garden's commander, and as for the instrcutor, the doses that she had been given Bart is used on him... if in a smaller dose. Something about Sigurd 'wanting to kill the bastard in the brig' was what brought it on. At least the Doctor, once done, has a the presence of mind to tell the SeeD who came in to keep quiet on the matter... no use in letting something like this spread around.
He's out for a number of days thanks to that fire and the time it takes his body to deal. Sure cures are cast on him and it helps loads, but that doesn't mean the teen is going to wake up right away. Sadly, magic cures can't handle everything and his eyes are going to be the last to heal. Yes, his eyes. He will regain the use of them in time thanks to his GF, but having them boil and pop inside of your skull, well, Squall isn't much happy with that all right now. He wakes in a bed, happily pain free thanks to some pain killers wandering through his blood stream, but the teen doesn't move right away for speaking with Madeen a little. She's worried sick, and with good reason. They talk, she tells him about some things that went on and things he's stuck with, but then Squall turns his attention to the room he's in. Anything going on? Aw, screw the whole listening thing.. c.c He lifts his hands to touch the bandaging over his eyes. This really, really, really sucks. -.- Really. Going to have to grow his hair back too. There is already a bit of hair there thanks to the regen, but... Squall's sporting quite the look now let me tell you. -.-;
Don't kill Bart, please. o_o He didn't -want- to do that. The prince wakes up rather easily, and in only a day's time. Seems the two both have some kind of damage that will take time to heal, for when Bart tries to speak, he finds that he can't. It hurts too damned much to do so. There is a scar around his throat, now, just as permanent as the ones that criss cross his back, a reminder of what Adel did to him, and a painful one at that. His vocal chords and even some of his windpipe were damaged both as the ether tingled through him and the collar melted off his throat. Curative spells that were cast healed most of it, but the rest will take a little while. There is no desire to even remotely touch ether, not at all, even the thought of it makes him shudder. He's only burnt out in one element, but it may be a very long time (if ever) before he touches any element ever again.
Of course, the first thing he wants to know is if Squall is all right. He remembers rather clearly that he blasted the other teen across the room before he passed out into sweet oblivion. But he has no idea what became of him and if he killed Squall... let's not think about that. Ahem. So, through gestures, he tries to communicate what he means and... -.- they're not getting it. Frustrated, he gives up on that finds a pad of paper somewhere, even if he has to push his way out to the counter to write, in Balambese, 'How is Squall. Where is my brother.' u.u This so sucks.
Kill Bart? No, but there is a want to kill that fat man in the brig. It's why the Doctor put him out, see. That and the man looked utterly distraught in the aftermath of getting that collar off. It leaves Ra to worry about his prophet, but the man wakes up with a clear enough head that first day. Where he heads is simply evident in the doctor's mind -- she just points him toward Squall's room. By the time he wakes, Sigurd will be there fretting over him, but this first day, he's quite out, and burned to boot. He didn't even have time to put himself in front of the teen. Fingers brush the beginnings of roan strands, spending a little time there before Kadowaki taps him on the shoulder. Seems someone is looking for him... and well, she'd only disturb the man for one person. He didn't expect Bart to wake up so soon, but he isn't complaining.
For Bart, there is no characteristic white and purple on Sigurd as he comes in. No, he's dressed in Konanese fashion, hair wrapped within a dark blue ribbon, and allow to fall down his back. "Oi... you gave us quite the scare." Us as in him and Squall, for all the other isn't awake. "The doctor says it's going to be awhile before your throat heals." Just small talk, really. Such that is repeated everyday, even as he checks on reports as far as what is gained from Gaimyn, and a studious promise that he'll be very lucky to come out of this ordeal alive.
Waking to find himself alone was a bit of a surprise, but then the teen reminded himself that Sigurd also had Bart to worry about and so didn't think on it much more. So it's when Sigurd is out to speak to Bart that Squall wakes and touches at his bandaged eyes. Well, that is going to be that way for a while, and since he's feeling pretty good in spite of his somewhat nasty appearance, the teen sits himself up carefully, makes sure he's not going to fall apart at the seams and then risks standing. Nope, can't see a damn thing, but that doesn't much matter. Okay he can stand. Phew. Madeen chides him inside of his head for moving around like this, but he doesn't listen. Wouldn't be a good teen-ager if he did. Besides, he has to use the bathroom. Finding one is the question here. c.c Stepping forward carefully, hands out stretched, Squall finds the wall and uses that to guide himself to the door. There is a moment where he bangs his shin on a chair, and has to clench his teeth to keep from swearing, but his getting there is uneventful.
However, it starts being anything but peaceful the moment he gets to the door and the nurse spots him. Sigurd and Bart are going to be able to hear her exclaim something and then some arguing as she and Squall exchange words.
Unable to speak, Bart just gives his brother a dejected look most of the time when he visits. He feels utterly horrid inside and really wants to know how Squall is. Someone would have told him if he'd killed the other teen, he's just sure of that, but that still leaves him wondering what happened to him, anyway and thus far they all keep refusing to tell him. Just assuring him blandly that the Commander is ok. Great. Fingers idly touch at his throat, the scar there still a bit tender, but he can't quite help it. Badb has been fretting over him a lot lately and so his hair is left unbraided for now, so the crow can play with it idly and occupy herself in ways that don't involve annoying her Chosen. But, he does approach his brother to point to the outfit as if asking him about it. So where'd that come from, aniki?
When Squall starts to get into that argument, Bart doesn't sit still much longer, nope. Doesn't matter if he's supposed to stay in bed and rest and all that garbage, just like Squall he wouldn't be a good teenger (or a good Fatima) if he sat still and did what he was told. Now he wants to go see what's up and see how Squall's fairing. At least he's awake, and he's talking and that makes the prince's heart soar. Nothing like realizing you -didn't- kill someone to make your day go smoother.
After the first day, Sigurd brings in something that will, most likely, shock Bart, but it's something that comes none the less. It's on the day that Squall decides to get out of bed, but first, this. Should his brother look up when he comes in, in Sigurd's hands is a much-loved toy, a bit yellowed despite washing, but the little X mouth and red and blue tie can't be missed upon the rabbit's throat. It's Mr. Bun. What? Didn't think the bunny was left behind during that last visit to Aveh, did you? Of course not. And it's here for a visit, even as Sigurd takes a seat bedside. When approached about that outfit, Sigurd shrugs, slightly. "My other got ruined in saving Citan." Yes, they did manage to do that, though where Jesse has the man is anyone's guess. Ahem. Hopefully he won't be in too much trouble by the time he gets back to his wife in Konan. The places Jesse can think about taking people are wild indeed. As it is, Sigurd just wants a vacation. Well, he wants everyone well, to kill Adel with his bare hands, and then take a vacation. But that's for a while yet... who knows what info is being gotten out of Gaimyn.
It's only when Squall and the doctor start yelling at one another that Sigurd looks back... he's awake? And irritated. His empathy had been tender after that first day, but it's steadily healed, despite the worry that permeated the air here. Sighing as Bart rushes out, Sigurd does as well, moving to settle an arm on Squall's shoulder. "You okay?" Worried? You bet, as it shows in his expression... but it has been ever since the incident.
The nurse doesn't get much of a chance to complain at Squall when there is this blonde and the instructor rushing out to join the mess. Squall looks towards the sounds of rapid steps, but the whole upper portion of his face is covered in bandages so his looking is rather pointless. His skin looks very tender and very red, and there is an extreme lack of hair, but for someone who should have just died during that assault.. he's looking marvelous. The teen isn't a burned out hush of a smoking corpse, and that is a good thing. Lips thin as he frowns at first, but that is about all you can see of the expression before it smoothes out a little with the touch of that arm and the sound of a familiar voice. Wearing only a medial dressing gown he ain't exactly a fashion plate here either. "No, I'm not okay." Comes the somewhat harsh response, sounding even worse than he normally does for the damage. "But I'll heal. Madeen says she can fix my eyes. Just means I get to miss out on the fighting until they do." Which pisses him off royally. "What about Bart?" Can't see you, mister, so he doesn't know. "Is he alright? Did the collar come off?" Get the idea he's not much worried about the being burned thing? Why should he blame Bart when he knows Adel is responsible.
Mr. Bun! Those Fatima blues widen as he sees that familiar toy. It's been years since he saw it and he has never forgotten that bunny he had years ago and dropped during the usurpation. You'd think he would have... but he didn't. He laughs silently as it's handed over and holds it in the crook of his arm, just like he did when he was barely a year old. Back then he drooled on the poor rabbit, luckily now he's outgrown such things. Sigurd gets a hug for that, since Bart can't thank him verbally. And it really does soothe the boy's emotions, smoothing them out to something far happier. Honestly, he's nearly in tears over it, though he brushes at his eyes quietly as he backs off from his brother, swiping at the wetness there with the back of a hand. He is surprised again to hear that Citan was saved. Relieved, his shoulders slump and he inhales deeply before exhaling again. Adel told him she would kill Citan painfully if he did not return to her, and to know that the doctor was alive and well was a great relief to him.
But... seeing Squall brought back a lot of bad memories. Bart took Mr. Bun with him, of course, still holding on that stuffed rabbit as if it were a security blanket. Paling considerably, he swallows as he sees the damage the teen endured... he did that? Oh sure, Adel did it, but she used -him- against his brother in law. And now he can't speak while Squall can't see. Looks like you get to play interpreter, Sigurd.