Can Fix!

[bashfulshifter]

Characters: Rick, Waver, anyone else from the clear fluid research team and the Lancer Brigade.
Setting: September 16th, night, Floor 27 (laboratory)
Format: Should probably stick to action-spam on this one, but can match!
Summary: Rick decides that he's going to "help" his team by making sure that nobody stays in the lab after dark and gets killed again. Surprise, surprise, he falls asleep and ends up by himself with the beasties to keep him company.
Warnings: No character death in this one (hopefully), but there will likely be violence and injury and monsters 'n junk. You know, the standard Tower fare.

[It took more than a week of planning, lingering, and mental speeches for Rick to get up the nerve to finally try this. But it was necessary, he'd convinced himself--Edgeworth had died and Diarmuid was scarce, probably beating himself up over something that wasn't his fault, and Waver certainly wasn't in the best mood either, because he hadn't done a good enough job checking in on his teammates before retiring for the evening, making sure that they went somewhere safe before the unpleasant creatures of the night found them first...obviously this was something Rick could have prevented.]

[Well tonight he would not be so negligent! He'd park himself in a chair after dinner and wait until some hours after dark, just in case Waver sneaked in to take some last-minute measurements and lost track of time, or the like, and he'd make sure they all left with him, and he'd clean the place up and close the doors. There would be no mess, no deaths, no more pointless suffering and misery. Everything was going to go according to plan.]

[Things were going well enough when he arrived in the evening to the empty room and busied himself with cleaning used equipment. They were still going well when he sat down to copy and organize the newest batch of notes.]

[Still going well at the first yawn. Only a couple hours in--he really needed to get used to staying up this late. Still fine thirty minutes later when he began to nod off. Still fine...]

[...The lights are still on when he wakes up--it makes it difficult to tell what time it is, or how long he's been sleeping. All Rick knows is that he's been startled awake by some noise, a scuffling in what he expected to be an empty room. Did someone sneak in when he wasn't looking?]

...H-Hello?

Comments

[fionnuisce]

...tch. Everyone just calm down and shut up. None of us are even thinking straight anymore.

[Waver dismissed Volumen Hydragyrum, silver liquid called back into its glass vial which was then closed and replaced in his pocket.]

Rick's probably right, but at least let me finish this first. [Withdrawing a pen from the same pocket, Waver quickly drew some arcane geometric shape on the table itself, combining everything the familiar had gathered into one glass container. Placing a hand on the symbol caused it to glow with the same pale green light Waver seemed to be associated with, the magus muttering under his breath in what sounded like some form of Latin.]

[Once that had faded, Waver paused to lean on the table itself for support; after taking a second to catch his breath, he turned back with his best attempt at appearing as though nothing was wrong, holding the glass out to Diarmuid.] It's an elementary antidote; I doubt anything your average monster would use could re...[Faltering, his other hand went to his head for a moment as though trying to force back a sudden case of lightheadedness. Needless to say, despite his efforts he didn't look particularly well.] ...c-could require more than that. Just drink it and let's get out of here.

[puppy_lancer]

I'll help Waver by helping you!

[Lancer rushes over to support Diarmuid, temporarily leaving Rick by himself. He relaxes a little when he sees Waver alchemize the antidote]

Come on, Bro, drink that up.

[If it hadn't been so long since Diarmuid first received the cut, he would suggest sucking the poison out. By now, however, it was safer to take the antidote.]

And if you're still feeling woozy, then I'll carry you.

[He squints at the other two people.]

...And...I think I can manage three...

[oathshackledbird]

You're not carrying me!

[The words are out of Diarmuid's mouth before he really has a chance to think about them or the fact that such a strong denial might hurt his brother's feelings. He then sighs and opens his eyes just slightly so he can see to take the glass from Waver. He really hopes the antidote works as he drinks it, because the last thing he wants is for Waver to have wasted the effort that so exhausted him.]

If anyone should be carried at the moment, it's Waver because he's exhausted or Rick because he's hurt.

[Diarmuid shuts his eyes for a moment, giving the antidote time to work. It obviously must be doing something because the next time he speaks, it's about something very important that they all are forgetting with everything that has been going on.]

Someone should stay back and take care of the fluid and materials. We can't just leave them laying out. I'm going to need a moment for the antidote to do its work. If you want to go, I will join you once that's done.

[bashfulshifter]

[The only thing keeping Rick from literally face-palming is the fact that the palm he needs is covered in his own blood. He settles for groaning in self-anguish.]

O-Oh no...oh I--I was s-s-supposed to c-clean that up b-before--b-but I f-fell a-a-asleep and--

[He drops his head to his chest, defeated.]

...Th--This is all m-my fault.

[The finer points of who-carries-who do not concern the languishing blonde man at this juncture.]

[fionnuisce]

Calm down. Everyone makes stupid mistakes, just don't beat the shit out of yourself for it. [Waver leaned back against a wall, hand going to his shoulder like it might have been injured somehow.]

We're not dead, so it's not as though this was as bad as it could have been. You're lucky I came by, and all of us were lucky this idiot showed up.

['This idiot' being Cu Chulainn, who he addressed next.]

You and Rick go on ahead. Diarmuid and I will take care of this and be behind you shortly. [He'd have preferred they left for a number of reasons; while Rick's condition was the most pressing, Waver wasn't eager to have either of them see his legs give out like they were threatening to.]

[puppy_lancer]

...You sure?

[He gives a worried look at his brother.]

I can have Diarmuid on my back and both of you in my arms. And then I can get back up here once you're all in a safe place.

[His expression softens as he turns to look at Rick.]

And it's not your fault. Nobody's blaming you or anyone else.

[oathshackledbird]

Yes, please don't blame yourself. Blame changes nothing.

[Diarmuid opens his eyes a bit more. The dizziness is passing, though, his eyes are a little sensitive to the light at the moment. That he can deal with. It's just when the world is moving in ways it shouldn't that he has trouble dealing.]

Go on, brother. Take him to the infirmary and use your runes and the supplies to get him patched up. Waver and I will follow shortly.

[His eyes drift to Waver, noticing the man's movement. While it worries him, he says nothing knowing Waver will just deny anything until they are alone. Diarmuid does move, cautiously since he's still unsteady, closer to Waver.

Just in case...]

[bashfulshifter]

[Their reassurances are nice and at least marginally comforting. At least he can attempt to make up for this after he's been patched up, that should make him feel better.]

[That is, assuming Rick can move at all in the next few days--separate from the pain flaring down his side, there's already a distinct, fatigued soreness clamping at his joints, making his attempts to stand clumsy and unbalanced. Rick's legs shiver precariously when he finally manages to pull himself upright and the effort leaves him drained of energy.]

[He is, thankfully, too tired to argue. Rick intends to turn himself over to Lancer, assuming he's not intercepted first, but he does leave a parting remark at the two remaining: ]

...I'm...s-sorry. Be c-c-careful.

[puppy_lancer]

...Alright.

[He goes to intercept Rick, scooping the man over his shoulder in a fireman's carry.]

The two of you stay safe. I'm going.

[He gives Rick a poke.]

You comfortable? If not, I can just give you a piggyback.

[fionnuisce]

[Waver waited just long enough to be sure they were gone before he finally gave up and sank to the floor, clutching his shoulder.]

Are you alright? I can probably spare about enough energy to finish healing that, but any more would be a hell of a risk.

[oathshackledbird]

You're not healing anything else.

[Diarmuid moves carefully to sit next to Waver since he's still unsteady though that is rapidly fading now that he has taken the antidote. He wants to put an arm around his friend's shoulders to offer himself as support, but is worried about how Waver keeps rubbing at his shoulder.]

Were you hurt? Or is it your crest since you used so much magic?

[fionnuisce]

I'm not injured. [He took a breath to steady himself, lowering his hand.] Magic Circuits can just hurt like hell to activate, it'll stop soon enough. [There was frustration in his voice; that would have been nothing to a normal magus. A simple fight and some alchemy would hardly have been a drop in the metaphorical bucket, but for Waver it was like running a marathon.]

You didn't answer me. Are you alright?

[oathshackledbird]

Is there anything I can do?

[Diarmuid's not purposely ignoring Waver's questions. It's just that right now, his health is a low priority. However, since he knows that Waver will press the issue, he takes a moment to evaluate his condition before finally answering.]

The antidote seems to have done it's job. On that front, I am feeling much better. My wound is probably going to need a few stitches, but that is something I can take care of once we go to the infirmary.

[fionnuisce]

No, I'll be fine. I just need to rest for a while after we get everything taken care of. [Shakily, Waver stood up again and held out his hand.]

Then let's put all this somewhere safe and get to the infirmary.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid starts to reach out to stop Waver from standing, but because he's still recovering from the poison, he's not fast enough. Instead, he slowly follows suit and climbs to his feet, only taking Waver's hand and giving it a squeeze once he is on his feet. The last thing Diarmuid wants to do is accidentally pull his exhausted friend over.]

It won't take me long, even slowed by my wound. Why don't you just rest a little longer?

[fionnuisce]

If anything else decides to wander by, I'm basically defenseless right now. I'd be lucky if I could even manage hand-to-hand for very long. Even with me slowing you down, we'd stand better chances together.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head, glad when the motion doesn't make him dizzy.]

I have no intention of letting you out of my sight, but that doesn't mean you can't sit while I gather things up. With the mess, it might take me a few minutes to get everything together.

Mega Split Action Go!

[bashfulshifter]

[Lancer's arms close around Rick's midriff with alarming gusto. He has just enough time to falter: ]

--A-A-Ah--w-w-wait, n-not--

[Suddenly he's over Cu's shoulder.]

--Ow! Augh! D-Down!

[The fellow's squirming should be a concise enough answer to Lancer's question.]

Re: Mega Split Action Go!

[puppy_lancer]

[Oops. Lancer quickly shifts Rick into a bridal carry.]

Ah...this is better, right?

[bashfulshifter]

[Yes this is better. Deep breaths. Rick gives a quick nod.]

...S-Sorry...s-s-side hurts.

[Not that the gesture wasn't appreciated; he can barely lift his arm, let alone swing it over Lancer's shoulder. Said arm is now much more comfortably cradled against his chest, and despite the blood still soaking through his shirt, the man seems substantially calmer. I mean, relatively speaking.]

...Are you o-okay?

[Because he can't ask enough, let's be honest.]

[puppy_lancer]

Me? I'm fine. I didn't get scratched up like everyone else.

[Probably because he came in late and wasn't exhausted.]

I'm gonna go a bit fast now.

[And he takes off running.]

[bashfulshifter]

...G-Good. Good. I-I'm j-just--eh--!

[The rest of that sentence gets trapped in Rick's throat as Lancer takes off. He's startled, yes, but at least Cu gave him some warning beforehand so he's not terrified.]

[When he manages to get his voice back: ] --Y-You s-sure you c-can k-keep up l-like this?

[Rick has no delusions about his figure; he's a fairly heavy guy.]

[puppy_lancer]

Yeah, I'm pretty strong.

[Rick is heavier than the people he's used to carrying, but not too heavy that it would tire him out]

[bashfulshifter]

I...I d-don't d-d-doubt it.

[He thinks about continuing but doesn't; the pain pulsing down his side is proving to be a worthy distraction, along with the fog starting to collect in his mind. Rick settles for resting his head on Lancer's shoulder and trying not to think of how much blood he's lost.]

...G-Getting...a bit dizzy...

[puppy_lancer]

Don't.

[Lancer's voice is firm.]

Stay awake.