[Commentlog] Twelve Hours In (Open)

[allthesame2me]

[It's been twelve hours of slipping in and out of consciousness, his back alternating between numb and burning at regular intervals. He's blacked out a few times, but the searing at his wrists and neck would bring him 'round rather quickly

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[drinkuntilidie]

[It's really no surprise that Kevas ends up here again, standing over the spot he saw Nel fall. There's a lot of emotions swirling inside him, sorrow and anger being the most prevalent.

When he looks up he spots Alex still in the stocks. For some reason Kevas finds himself moving towards the mon. He's not sure what he's planning on doing once he gets. Beat him maybe? That might draw out the Headsman. It might even make him feel a little better. After all this is the guy that killed Nepeta.

Before Kevas can figure it out he's already there, kneeling down to get eye level with him.]

[allthesame2me]

[Alex hears the approaching footfalls, heavy and almost wooden, as they near him, but he hasn't the strength or willpower to lift his head. The scent is familiar, though, and when the heavy figure stops in front of him and kneels there is no mistaking the hulking troll that has made an appearance.

He licks his lips, but it does little enough good with his tongue being as dry as it is. He rolls his gaze upward and sites on Kevas, blue-green eyes unfocused for a moment as he looks at the troll. There is a dangerous quality to not only the trolls' approach, but in the silence he stares at Alex with, and even locked into place as he is he recognizes that.

He swallows thickly and makes himself hold up his head, neck no longer smoking as it presses against the metal ring of his stocks, but burning all the while. He has to wrack his mind for why the troll is so mad at him, but he knows him to be friends with Sollux .. and he'd defended Nepeta with his own life.]

I'm .. I'm sorry ..

[It's all he can manage.]

[drinkuntilidie]

[Kevas just continues to burn his eyes into Alex. There's not a hint of emotion on his face. It's a complete opposite of what's going on inside. There are thoughts of running his swords through the Headsman's chest, of beating Alex's face until it resembles hamburger meat, and even of twisting the head off of Isabel like a damn chicken.

But, he does nothing.]

Joo killed her. She was just a girliemon and joo killed her.

[allthesame2me]

[Alex grimaces as the trolls words fall as heavily on him as any physical strike might have. Hell, he'd likely prefer a physical beating to an emotional one just now.

He meant Nepeta, the same girl that Sollux told him about.]

I know .. I .. I did .. I couldn't .. help it .. can't control .. on full moon .. I'm sorry .. So .. So .. sorry .. Thought .. I'd get out .. in time .. didn't want .. to change in .. the Keep.

About an hour or so after the punishment has ended...

[brynkitten]

[ Bryn had waited until at least all of the staff had left before approaching the stocks. It gave her the time she needed to get her emotions mostly under control before heading to the stocks. After all, it wouldn't do any of them any good for her to be a wreck while trying to help.

Once she was close enough, it didn't take Bryn long to see that there was nothing she could do for Sollux, and that between Alex and Joe, Alex needed attention first. She bent over so he could see her face and offered him a smile that was full of the very deepest sympathy. Her eyes teared up despite her best efforts, but she blinked it away. ]

When I heard what was going to happen to you, I went to the infirmary to get some salves and bandages. I saw they washed the cuts off already but hopefully some of this should take the sting out and keep them clean while you're here.

[ She paused, and in a much softer voice continued. ]

I'm so sorry I can't do more to help you.

[allthesame2me]

[Alex had gotten rather used to Sollux's swearing and the constant jabs the troll was throwing his way. There was nothing he could say to countermand them, and the damage he'd done had been true enough, so who was he to argue

[brynkitten]

[ Oh don't cry, Alex, she won't be able to hold in her own tears if you cry. It's hard enough as it is. She leans in on impulse and presses a kiss to his forehead. She lingers there, hoping that it gives him a measure of comfort. ]

I know it is, but...it wasn't your fault was it? What happened?

[ Perhaps it's a question she asks, but everything in her tone implies that she already knows the answer.

Bryn has suspicions as to what lead to this punishment. She has full control of herself when she shifts, but most stories Bryn had heard about werewolves and the like were painted in a different way entirely. Even if her suspicions were incorrect...there had to be a reason for what he'd done. There had to be, she felt it in her gut. ]

[allthesame2me]

[Alex can smells the shift in her emotions and knows she's reacting to his own. His breath hitches as her lips press against his forehead, yearning for that contact more than almost anything right now. He lets her scent surround him, momentarily drowning out the metallic scent of silver and blood.

He swallows almost convulsively and rolls his eyes up to her face at her questions. His gaze lingers on her face for several moments, his brows knitting together sharply before he looks down at the ground. The shift causes a new section on his neck to burn, but he pays it no mind.]

I .. I shift .. on the full moon .. can't control .. the shift .. Can't control .. myself .. during it. Didn't get .. to the forest.. in time. Attacked .. anyone I saw .. Don't remember who .. never remember what .. happens on the moon .. everything is just .. empty ..

Woke up .. in the cold room .. in the kitchens .. had been .. locked in ..

[He chokes off and shudders, gasping as the twinge causes his back to tense and stretch.]Didn't .. didn't mean .. to

[3wayforjustice]

[Just as he'd told Hawke... he'd waited. Maybe a bit too long. But he'd had to be certain the wraith was completely gone. Only then, did he dare approach.]

[He should be sickened by what he sees. But there's the advantage to working in the Darktown slums. To fighting with Grey Wardens. Nothing much bothered you after a while. All the beatings, all the wounds, start to blend together, and you stopped seeing anything but the damage. It made it easier to bear.]

[Anders doesn't speak until he's near the imprisoned man. Then he's kneeling, into Alex's range of vision. He forces his voice to be calm.]

Hold still. I'll do what all I can.

[allthesame2me]

[Footfalls once again .. a familiar scent .. Alex was surprised that so many showed any form of interest in even approaching him.

He lifts his head slightly, hair stuck to the side of his face and sticking to the wound that circles his neck. He sights on Anders as the man comes into his range of vision, finally connecting scent, face and name. God, he hurts so much..

His brows knit slightly as the man tells him calmly to remain still, not knowing what exactly he has planned.]

What .. [He tries to lick his lips, but it does little good; his mouth is terribly dry.] Wha're you .. gonna do?

[Does he sound scared? Does he sound terribly young? He is .. and he is feeling very unprepared for .. everything.]

[3wayforjustice]

Did I ever mention I was a mage?

[His tone is dry. He had to have mentioned it. Anders mentions it to everyone.]

[He moves around to the other's back, focusing on his magic. On the spells he knows better than he knows anything else. When he speaks again, he sounds distracted.]

A healer... to be precise. I'm going to do what I can for your injuries. Just hold still.

[It's going to take a lot of concentration, and some of Justice's help. But before long, tendrils of blue power flicker around his hands, ready to knit together the cuts and damage.]

You'll be fine.

[allthesame2me]

You might've .. can't remember just now.

[His tone is apologetic and he follows Anders with his eyes until the Mage disappears from his line of sight. He grimaces as his wrists and neck twinge painfully against the burning metal, his heart rate increasing as he's unable to see what's coming.

He's scared. He can't see what Anders is doing and the last guy that stood behind him decided skin was way overrated. Buy Anders had said healer .. that was a good thing. Calm down, Alex.. breathe.

Even trying to deliberately calm himself comes up flat, his chest heaving and the salve only doing so much to combat the hurt. When the blue glow kicks in, unable to see the cause or anything specific, Alex trembles. His pupils are huge, a reaction to the fear and pain, but he really does try to stay still.. and calm. He's failing a bit, but he really is trying.]

Right. Right. Fine.

[He gives over to the Mage, not knowing what good it will do or what shape he'll be in afterwards. Beneath the fear, he's given up hope that it'll do any good at all.]

[dontgiveafock]

[Two stocks along is Joe, head down and silent as he has been for the bulk of the past 12 hours. When the boy cries out and starts to sob, Joe looks across to him.]

You alright, Alex? Hang in there, lad.

[allthesame2me]

[Alex is trying to be brave. He's trying desperately to be strong. However, there is no discounting every twinge of pain that goes beyond anything he's ever felt in his short life. He sucks back another sob, biting the inside of his cheek hard enough to draw blood. Shakily, he exhales, pupils huge as he opens his yes and stares a the ground.

He sags, trying his best to ignore the burn around wrists and neck .. ignore the rock digging into his left knee.]

No .. not okay .. not okay ..

[His voice breaks on the last and he hitches, eyes closing as memories of better places fill his mind.]

Hurts, Joe .. God, it hurts..

[He feels foolish and sounds so much like a child when he speaks. Joe had been lashed, after all, and was takin this so much better than he. Alex was a wereleopard .. Shouldn't he be able to take all of this better than he is?? Isn't that expected

[doctoral_bird]

[The doctor thought he could just leave things as they were, but he remembers how Alex was one of the first people to help him when Malkus first arrived and he'll be damned if he doesn't somehow return the favor! Even if he didn't know what Alex was truly responsible for, seeing him in shreds like this has to be MORE than enough punishment. Worry not, friend, for you have the comforting sight of a plague doctor walking towards you! The ghostly white, emotionless mask will surely put Alex's mind at ease, right?]

Greetings. Remember me? Mr. Iverwelling? I'm sorry... I can't imagine how you must be feeling-...But...Perhaps I can be of assistance?

[He drops his bag in front of Alex, opening it to reveal an assortment of herbs and vegetables he must have just recently gathered up from the kitchen. A clay bowl and pestle can also be seen, obviously tools to grind together some ingredients.]

[allthesame2me]

[Alex hears and smells Malkus before he sees him, his head sagging in the stocks. He'd given up holding his head up after Bryn had treated his back. Now he just wished himself dead to put an end to the pain. No big deal, right?

Still when Malkus comes to a halt before him, Alex makes himself listen and finally rolls his gaze up to look at him.]

Malkus, right? Spiders .. Remember you.

[As the bag is dropped and opened, the were tries to sort scents as he closes his eyes again.]

[doctoral_bird]

Hm! Yes! You helped me there, friend. Now let me show you why they named me... Worlds Best-... Doctor back where I'm from.

[Could you tell that was a lie, Alex? Don't worry, you can trust this man.]

Did they feed you? Anything I may get you?

[Malkus doesn't look up at him as he speaks, he's busy pulling various herbs from his bag. They may be cooking herbs like parsley and mint but they still look healthy! He begins to crush together a horribly strong minty mixture with his bowl. Yes, this is what potions smell like, right? Medicine?]

[allthesame2me]

[Alex eyes the man dubiously as he sits and begins smashing various herbs and plant leaves together, having no idea why Malkus is using parsley or mint.

Yeah .. he could pick up on that slight exaggeration, buddy. :| It was a tiny bit disconcerting, to be honest. However, the question of hunger gets the good doctor a intense stare.]

Not .. terribly hungry .. thirsty, though ..

[He couldn't remember the last drink he'd had.]