hadriel_logs | Event Log: Flu Season

Who: All characters
What: The event log for the Flu Season event
Where: All over the city
When: March 20th-March 30th
Warnings: Gross sneezing, sick people, and paranoia

It starts with a cough, a sneeze, a sore throat - something small and simple, easily ignored. But then your symptoms get worse. It's probably been awhile since you've been sick, that sort of thing doesn't usually happen here. You might be able to raid the shops for some tissues and tea before it gets too bad, and hopefully you've got a friend to help out until you get better. Surely it'll be over soon, right?

Until the fever sets in, and you start to understand why your friend is really there. They don't want to take care of you. They want to make sure this is the last anyone will ever see of you. They want to learn all your secrets. They want to steal your most precious possession. You know they're plotting against you, you know they're keeping something from you. What will you do to find out what it is?

Then, as the sickness fades, you realize it was all in your mind. Let's hope you didn't do or say anything too awful. But that friend of yours... they seem to have picked up your cough. Maybe you should help them out?

► This log covers March 20th-March 30th.
► Feel free to make your own logs, as well
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If your paranoia ends in murder, please let us know here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What Rhy feels immediately is defensiveness. What right does Alucard have to ask that question? Rhy's affairs are his own because Alucard decided they should be. He doesn't get to ask that. He doesn't get to care.

But he bites down on that, though it takes an effort. Alucard is not well. It's increasingly obvious that in addition to his illness, he's not thinking right. Not thinking clearly. Rhy hears the dishes rattle and that's another piece of proof, another reminder that he can't react rashly, no matter how much he wants to.

"There's no one." He can't keep his tone from becoming curt, but at least he mostly manages to keep his temper under control. "You need rest, and I don't want to get sick."

"No one..." Alucard echoes, and he supposes that's true, his magic settling for now as he recognizes as much. He supposes that he's not seen Rhy bring anyone home to their apartment, that he would have seen them if that were the case.

He swings his head to look into the other man's face, deep blue eyes searching deep. "Not even me." For he recognizes the truth in that as well. Rhy, pushing him away. Everyone always pushing him away. His father, his brother, Kell. Had Rhy ever truly wanted him or had he ever just been a prince's plaything? No one had come after him after he'd been sent away. Certainly not the first time, and definitely not the second. How long had it even taken Rhy to notice he was gone?

"Not even you." He says it quietly, because after all, he can't disagree. At home, he flirted, he found ways to amuse and distract himself without ever allowing his heart to be put in danger again. Here - here, there's really none of that. Oh, he can flirt easily enough, but with Alucard nearby he has no interest in anything further.

It's his own fault, for never quite being able to get over him.

But he knows better than to get involved with Alucard again, or so he tells himself. And Alucard - is as handsome as ever, as charming as ever, but Rhy can't tell where his heart lies.

Right now, none of that matters anyway.

"Especially not when you're sick. Now go rest."

A part of Alucard, a part of him that is not consumed by jealousy or fever, can feel his heart breaking at this particular admission from Rhy. It's a truth he knows deep down inside of himself. It has to be true, after all, for Rhy has shown no interest in him the whole time he has been back. A part of him regrets his return, for that reason. Regrets their proximity. Regrets being able to see and not touch, not love him as he had before. But only a part.

Unfortunately it's not the part of him that's in command of his abilities now. That jealous, angry, lonely piece of himself wants to grab and take and possess all of the other man that he can. But he feels so warm, his head spinning even as he sits in place where he is, and he doesn't think he could manage any of that even if he tried.

"I need you," he says, softly.

He knows that Alucard is not himself right now. That is obvious enough, even without those words that Rhy would never expect to hear from him. I need you.

It isn't true, of course. Alucard wanted him once, and even cared for him, but he never needed Rhy. Rhy knows this is true, and so he knows that Alucard is not himself. He's sick, he's affected by - whatever is happening in the city this time. Because it's clear there is something.

Still, that doesn't mean Rhy is unaffected by hearing those words. Even if he knows they're not true, even if he knows better than to allow himself to believe them, he can feel his heart clench.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here."

I'm not going anywhere. No, he supposes not. He had been the one to leave, after all. Hadn't he. Leave with his hands and feet hobbled together, one of his shoulders at a painful angle. Never to return to Arnesian shores again. At least, that's what he had supposed at the time. Until he'd found his way amongst the pirates. Until the privateers had brought him back. Had captured him. Tortured him.

He had had an audience with the king and queen then. Did Rhy know that? An audience at their behest, to order him onto a ship of their own making and send him back out to sea.

A part of him wonders whether they had kept it from him to spare him the pain. Or whether Rhy had abandoned him even then.

"Rhy..." It's about all he can get out before it becomes just a little too difficult to continue sitting upright and Alucard's head connects to the table with a sudden thumping crack.

He doesn't know what Alucard was about to say. He couldn't even begin to guess. But seeing that - seeing him crumple like that, like he can't even hold his head up anymore, is nearly too much for Rhy all on its own. Of course he still cares about Alucard, of course he wants him to be well. And this, whatever's happening, Rhy barely knows what to do.

He's at Alucard's side instantly, of course, taking his arm, checking his head to be sure he hasn't injured himself. What else can he do, except, well - drag him to bed? Make sure he rests and gets better?

At least Rhy is not weak. Alucard will be a rather heavy load, but he can manage.

"Luc?"

He has to at least know if Alucard is still conscious or not.

Alucard isn't really injured, though he'll have a nasty bump on his forehead come the next morning. His head already ached, from the fever, but now it is throbbing from the crack on the table as well, and he finds it's just. Difficult. Too difficult, to keep his eyes open, to try and think straight, to cold a coherent thought or sentence.

He lets the other man turn his head to check him over and blinks feverishly at Rhy as he does. He's too hot, everything is too hot, and he just wants Rhy to stay where he is. By his side. Rhy's hands on his face, soft and cool. Holding him steady.

His eyes flutter shut but he reaches for the other man's wrist, wrapping his own fingers around it to hold him there. Don't leave him. Please.

How can he move when Alucard is doing that? He wasn't going to leave anyway, though eventually he'll need to get up - to retrieve water, or juice, or something else that might help Alucard. But for now Rhy can't find it in himself to move.

He's worried, he doesn't know how long this will last or what will happen, but he thinks that Alucard is undoubtedly even more distressed than himself. The least he can do, all he can really promise, is that he'll stay.

"I'll be here when you wake."

It's a quiet promise, one he isn't sure Alucard hears, but he gives it anyway. More for himself than anything.

Alucard hears something, but he's slipping in and out of consciousness at this point and it's hard to concentrate on much of anything at this point. Save for Rhy's hand in his own, and the other man's presence at his side.

It doesn't take long for Alucard to slip off into fevered unconsciousness. He feels frankly terrible and he's exhausted. More exhausted than he has the presence of mind to be able to admit to Rhy aloud. But his grip stays on Rhy's wrist even so. If the other man wants to go anywhere, he's going to have to pry himself away. But Alucard isn't about to wake. He'll be out for a while yet, at this rate.

Event Log: Flu Season

no... he is amazing

if you say so ;; my inner alucard just feels so bad for this

its ok i like to be sad

so do i tbh makes it worse again

CRIES

TWISTS IT DEEPER i live for this

oh god my heart

;; <3

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