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Post by ianharris on Nov 8, 2009 20:53:03 GMT -5
Ian's first thought was of darkness. His head spun, and his temples ached. He suddenly realized that he was in a bed. Had his family taken him to the hospital? Had he had another seizure? Ian's mind buzzed with questions, but his first priority was to find out where he was. He opened his eyes and was greeted by the strangest sight he had ever seen.
Instead of the hospital, Ian was lying in the infirmary of Dunehelden University. He blinked, and his jaw quiet literally dropped. What was he doing back here? Had he reentered the illusion?
No. Ian had never had the same hallucination twice. Even his most intense hallucinations had been one time events. Which meant...
Tears appeared in the corners of Ian's eyes. He did nothing to restrain them, and they trickled down his face. So it was all real, then. All of it. Ian had never been so happy before in his life. After a few minutes of crying, he managed to prop himself up on his elbows and look around.
"Hello?" He called. "Is anyone here?"
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Nov 8, 2009 22:38:40 GMT -5
Aramis looked at him, smiling. "Hey Ian. Feeling alright?"
He walked over, kneeling beside him. Ian was crying... Aramis' face grew concerned and he put a hand on the older boy's shoulder.
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Post by ianharris on Nov 8, 2009 22:45:03 GMT -5
Ian was so happy, he did a very un-Ian-like thing. He grabbed Aramis and pulled him into the strongest hug he could manage in his malnourished state. "Better than ever." He said through a fresh wave of tears. "Better than ever. This is real. Thank goodness this is real."
Over Aramis' shoulder, Ian caught a glimpse of someone else lying a few beds down from him. He couldn't seen the other person's face, but he recognized the back of the person's head.
What was Jonathan doing here?
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Nov 8, 2009 23:17:43 GMT -5
Aramis blinked, then hugged Ian back. He patted him on the back awkwardly. "Um... yeah it's real..."
He looked at what Ian was looking at and smirked. "He's going to be pissed when he wakes up. I put him to sleep the same way I did you. The kid looks like hell... Neither one of you have been eating very well..."
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Liam Farrell
Ireth
University Freshman: Not a Sin-Eater, Because We Don't Have Those
Those who are dead, are not dead, they're just living in my head...
Posts: 200
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Post by Liam Farrell on Nov 8, 2009 23:31:31 GMT -5
Liam poked his head into the room, glancing around. He knew Ian and Jonathan had been brought here last night... ah, there they were still. Ian was sitting up and smiling, embracing Aramis. Jonathan still appeared to be asleep. Liam stepped forward, smiling as he spoke to Ian.
"Hey... good to see you back. We've missed you. How are you feeling?"
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Post by ianharris on Nov 9, 2009 0:19:08 GMT -5
Ian looked up at Liam, his enthusiasm growing. "I'm doing great... I'm not really sure what happened but..." He let go of Aramis and slumped back onto the bed. "All I know is that I was in the gym, and then I was back at home for a while, and then I was here, and Aramis was here, and Jonathan's asleep over there..." He looked expectantly at the two, hoping someone could fill in the blanks for him.
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Liam Farrell
Ireth
University Freshman: Not a Sin-Eater, Because We Don't Have Those
Those who are dead, are not dead, they're just living in my head...
Posts: 200
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Post by Liam Farrell on Nov 9, 2009 0:32:06 GMT -5
Liam laughed nervously. "Yeah, you were really out of it when I met you in the gym... you thought I was some guy named Grant. I kept trying to find out what you kept babbling about, and then you got angry and punched me in the face. Aramis took care of the bruising and swelling, though." He kept his tone light, showing neither blame nor hard feelings toward Ian.
He glanced over at Jonathan, who, for lack of a better term, looked like death warmed over. "So what's his story?"
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Nov 9, 2009 1:20:38 GMT -5
"All I know about that is Jonathan woke me up at 4 AM ish and told me you, Ian, were hallucinating. He led me to you... he said he was worried you might get yourself killed... Wandering out of a window or something, I guess... After I made you go to sleep, he carried you here... none too gently but he didn't hurt you so I guess no harm done. Once I was sure you were okay, I tapped him on the head and he was out. Magic comes in handy sometimes. He really needed the sleep and I know he wasn't planning on getting it."
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Post by ianharris on Nov 9, 2009 2:45:37 GMT -5
Ian smiled meekly at Liam. "I'm... really sorry... Grant went to my school. He always treated me like I was mentally retarded. I really hated him... I'm so sorry... can you forgive me?"
He looked over at Jonathan. Questions buzzed around in his brain. Where had Jonathan been? And, more importantly, why had he helped Ian? Jonathan helping Ian... something must have happened to Jonathan if he decided to help Ian... Ian didn't want to think what. He pointed over at Jonathan. "I'm with Liam. Anybody know what happened to him?"
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Liam Farrell
Ireth
University Freshman: Not a Sin-Eater, Because We Don't Have Those
Those who are dead, are not dead, they're just living in my head...
Posts: 200
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Post by Liam Farrell on Nov 9, 2009 11:22:04 GMT -5
Liam grinned. "Of course. No hard feelings."
He looked over at Jonathan again, and a rush of pity coursed through him. The boy looked awful... he was pale and thin, and looked like he hadn't slept or eaten in a week. Or bathed, for that matter. But he had apparently gone out of his way to help Ian, despite making it perfectly clear just how much he hated his creator... What did that mean? Was Jonathan slowly coming to care for Ian, or was there some kind of ulterior motive for Jonathan's benefit?
He looked over at Aramis again, wondering if he knew anything more about Jonathan's current state and what had brought him there.
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Nov 9, 2009 12:07:32 GMT -5
Aramis shook his head, glancing over his shoulder at the taller boy. "I personally think the main reason he helped you, Ian, is because he would rather that only he gets to hurt you somehow. While you were thinking you were home, you could have gone out a window or something... and while I was able to help Jason, Zeph had slowed his fault..."
Where were those two, anyway? ...Probably separately looking for a chaperone. Sometimes that made it really awkward to get anything done. Like help Ian reconnect with the real world.
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Post by jonathanharris on Nov 9, 2009 17:49:13 GMT -5
Jonathan opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. In the sick bay. What was he doing staring at the ceiling in the sick bay? Last thing he remembered, he was turning to kick Aramis out and-
-oh.
His mind suddenly shot into overdrive. If Aramis had moved him into the bed, then... he might not have it. It might be lost. Jonathan's hand shoved into his pocket with more force than probably necessary. The moment he felt paper touch his fingers, his entire body relaxed. Good. He still had it, and to his knowledge, no one had read it. If anyone else discovered it... that could end badly...
Sitting up, he looked over at Ian's bed. Liam and Aramis were there, and Ian seemed to be awake. Good. Jonathan thought to himself. Ian has to stay alive. Can't have him walking out of windows. Jonathan cleared his throat loudly and glared at Aramis.
"Aramis, you bastard." He snapped. "You used your little hocus-pocus on me, didn't you?"
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Nov 9, 2009 18:19:40 GMT -5
"You're welcome," Aramis responded shortly. "You were about to pass out on your own. My way involved less possibility of getting hurt. Next time I'll let you fall down the stairs and break your fool neck."
He hadn't even turned to look at Jonathan, more concerned about Ian. Jonathan needed food and a bath, yes, but he hadn't been hallucinating for nearly a week. Ian had all the same problems as Jonathan and more. And was his friend. Jonathan he didn't even know.
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Post by jonathanharris on Nov 9, 2009 18:32:50 GMT -5
Jonathan snorted with disdain but said nothing to Aramis. Instead, he simply stood and brushed himself off. Without so much as looking at Aramis and Liam, he strode towards the door.
"Glad to see you're better, asshole." He threw back in Ian's general direction. "Can't have you running around like a crazy person. That's no fun." Then, without waiting for a response which would probably just be pathetic anyway, he swept out of the room.
As he walked down the hallway towards his room, his hand slipped unconsciously into his pocket. At the feel of paper on his fingertips, Jonathan relaxed. And, for the first time in a long time, he smiled.
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Liam Farrell
Ireth
University Freshman: Not a Sin-Eater, Because We Don't Have Those
Those who are dead, are not dead, they're just living in my head...
Posts: 200
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Post by Liam Farrell on Nov 9, 2009 18:34:57 GMT -5
Liam watched Jonathan leave, his nose wrinkled slightly in disdain. "Huh. So much for gratitude and compassion."
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Post by ianharris on Nov 9, 2009 18:40:43 GMT -5
Ian sighed. Some things never change...
"That is his gratitude and compassion." Ian said, lying back on the bed. "You should see him when he isn't grateful. That's just who he is, I suppose... one of these days, I'm really going to try to teach him some basic human emotions..."
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Nov 9, 2009 18:44:56 GMT -5
Aramis bit his lip. "Well, since you're okay... I've been missing a lot of class recently... I'll come check on you between classes alright? And make sure I know where you are in case something like this happens again."
He stood, nodding slightly at Liam, "Thanks for coming..." he said awkwardly. Without really waiting for a response, he grabbed his things and left. At least he'd gotten a chance to change into real clothing before this. It meant he might make it to class for once.
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