Jack clicked his tongue, annoyed for a half second before the exhaustion dominated. "Yes, own it, asshole. That's the way this place works. It's hard to explain. Tomorrow, okay?"
The annoyance twinged again at the hardness of Kyrios's voice, his unrelentingness. Smug and stubborn– gross. Even someone as alien as he seemed somehow distinctly human, and Jack was sure that in his state every emotion was showing clearly on his face.
Jack tried to focus on the road despite Kyrios fidgeting beside him, swerving a bit too much sometimes, trying to listen to Kyrios's mysterious description. Shattered Lands, he noted. More on that later hopefully. "And if you're from there, how are you here?"
Jack's feet were relaxing slightly, pressing harder than meant to on the gas, blurring all the lights and buildings outside to streaks in the night.
“Oh, I’ve heard people believe themselves to be oh-so-powerful. They typically change their mind after meeting me.” But Kyrios let the topic drop for the time being, not wanting to completely annoy the only person he’d met. Which..he was already probably doing, he realized with a quick glance to the other man in the car.
His attention moved to the outside of the contraption, taking note of the buildings, and how bright they seemed as they moved by. And how fast this contraption was. Kyrios could swear he could feel the power of this machine as it moved. Again - it was like no carriage he had ever seen.
“Well,” Kyrios said, matter-of-factly, “I was teleported, of course.”
He genuinely couldn’t lie about that, unable to make up a good excuse. What, his friends dropped him off in the middle of nowhere? Kyrios didn’t have that sort of relationship with people. not anymore.
A faint headache began to form in the back of his head, and Kyrios leaned his head against the window. It probably wasn’t very comfortable, helmet and all.
Aeth overuse? Kyrios questioned in his mind. That was the only reason he could think of for a sudden headache. But he couldn’t comprehend why - he usually took in enough Aeth from his environment to counter any possible chances of it happening.
Unless, of course, there was no Aeth in his environment.
That was a problem.
And Kyrios remembered it, when he first came here, that he sensed practically no Aeth, save for himself, in the surrounding area. Kyrios remained silent as he put things together in his mind.
Jack's frown deepened, but out of curiosity or irritation it was impossible to tell. "I'm gonna have so much to say to you tomorrow…" he muttered.
He could feel his consciousness flickering again. The gentle rocking of the car was soothing and the exhaustion, the terror, the violence, the crash, the pain, it was all catching up to him. He gripped the wheel tighter, focusing on the presence beside him.
"Teleported? Why did you want to come here?" Kyrios's armour creaked as he shifted and Jack allowed himself a glance. If he truly was from a different universe, and if he was discovering a lot, adjusting… he must also be exhausted. Maybe they were both worth a checkup when they got to the hospital. Although Kyrios's getup posed a problem, even just to get into the hospital and find a change of clothes. He was sure that if he found the right people it wouldn't be a problem, but already he was possessive of this strange man, this wonder that might catapult him to respect, riches, fame. He shook his head, hanging on to what little bit of attention to the road he could muster.
(maybe we can extend jack's power to also reacting to things that aren't true without the person knowing they aren't true? like if someone was missing, and someone says "they're alive, i know it," and jack's power would be triggered by that because they are in fact dead?)
((Of course! That would make sense - that’s technically a lie, even if it’s not one done on purpose))
The headache hadn’t ceased, or gotten any better. In fact, it felt worse, although it wasn’t extremely bad at the moment. Kyrios knew that hiding his axe was constantly seeping Aeth from him, and that he’d eventually have to find a place to take it out safely before his own Aeth decided to take it out for him.
Kyrios’s eyes moved towards Jack for a moment, although his head barely moved. “I didn’t.” He answered. “I was…” Tricked? No, no. Can’t admit that. “…Scratch that, I did intend on coming here. All things happen for a reason,” he attempted to reason, perhaps to himself.
((Since he just lied - here’s a piece of information: Kyrios once stopped a rampaging serpent with just his hands - had he been a human, he certainly would have died.))
Jack winced, so exhausted that his power being triggered was almost painful. "Right. Like I said, I'm gonna have so many questions tomorrow."
Jack thought about the scene he'd just received, and quickly came to the conclusion that no man could physically wrestle a serpent… no human man. Okay. He tried not to bristle at the idea of a now-kind-of-confirmed-alien feet away from him. Not alien, but something new and terrifying and very strong. He was going in circles in his mind. He drove in silence, now in a more central place that required attention not to run into the sidewalks and bins.
"Listen, Kyrios, I'd like to pull over soon in an alley or something. There's a change of clothes in my trunk that you definitely won't like but that will at least get you safely into the hospital where we can both get checked up discretely, and then we can go back to mine and, whatever, sleep, food, and then talk tomorrow. Okay?"
Kyrios lifted his head away from the window, turning to look at Jack - then back at the surrounding environment.
The streets were unfamiliar to him, and he appeared to straighten up a bit, getting a better look at his surroundings. So…odd. He questioned how far Istrad had teleported him. Far, very far. Of that, he was certain.
Jack was right - Kyrios wasn’t too fond of the idea of having to change clothes, but it also wouldn’t be the first time he went in disguise. It was a more begrudging thing if anything, usually not something he did out of his own desire.
But Kyrios did answer, after some thought. “Fine, fine. I’ll change so we can get into this ‘hospital’ of yours.” He appeared to slightly nod.
The alleyway would at least provide him a change to recover some of his Aeth, or at the very least stop it from draining.
Jack nodded to himself and drove around some more until he slowed in front of a small ramen place, backing into the alley on the corner and into darkness. He stopped the car, steeled himself and slowly, gently, peeled himself off the seat he was bleeding onto. He stumbled to the back and, popping open the trunk, pulled out a pretty small pair of black cycling shorts and a sweaty grey t-shirt.
He came around to Kyrios and apologetically handed them to him. "It's all I have, from my way to work this morning. My friend left his bicycle at mine and wanted me to take it– anyway. Sorry."
He handed him the clothes and backed away out into the light of the street to give him some privacy. He was feeling more and more faint, more and more nauseous. Not too long to hang on, now, not too long. Just another fifteen minute drive. He just had to hang on.
Kyrios stared at the clothing, truly questioning at this point where he was. He had never really seen clothing of this design. So unprotecting. What kind of casual life was lived around here? Nobles? But it didn’t seem to look like a noble clothing style.
Kyrios would drop most of his armour, if it meant ‘going into disguise’. Begrudgingly.
Aeth crackled around his forearms. In solitude, Kyrios was able to change clothing with relative ease - he could do it manually, the normal way, but taking off armour was a bit of a pain. He was relatively silent in doing so. The only noises heard from the dark alleyway might have been the quiet crackle of his Aeth being activated, and the slight clatter of his armour set down into the trunk.
The clothing was definitely not Kyrios’s typical style. Or comfort. Kyrios would make a note to change as soon as he could.
Carefully, Kyrios removed his helmet, and set it down with the rest of his armour. He ran a hand through his hair - then bent down to the pile, picking up a piece of blue cloth - the same shade as his cloak, which he had opted to keep on.
He tied the cloth around his lower face, keeping it as a mask to cover it. He felt slightly better in that aspect.
Additionally, he had kept his boots. He lifted the hood of his cloak over his head.
In the dark of the night, his eyes carried a soft, yet unnatural (by human standards) glow to them. Kyrios’s attention moved to his axe - which he opted to stop the spell that was hiding the axe. Now that he wasn’t using any Aeth, he was certain it would regenerate on its own.
I’m certain he won’t mind. Kyrios put the axe in the trunk - which he had slight trouble in doing, due to the size of his axe, but in the end, managed it.
When he was done, he glanced in the direction of where Jack had gone, to the light of the street.
He quietly moved, uninhibited by most of his armour.
“I’m ready,” he said, once he caught sight of Jack.
Trying to ignore the weird crackling sounds from out of sight behind his car he got his phone and pulled up Yuna's contact.
Emergency drop-in please be ready. Car accident.
He stared it his screen until she began typing.
do you have ur id theyll be more ok with me ditching my patients if its for a journalist
I do
k see u soon
He began typing a goodbye when Kyrios's silent approach was broken by his voice. He jumped slightly, immersed in the conversation, and turned around to face Kyrios. He looked a lot softer now, in all fabrics. And yet somehow the lack of armour and his visibly athletic body gave him an ease that was almost… predatory. Always ready to attack.
Jack hovered slightly, unsettled by this new appearance. "What's with the, uh, mask?" he asked carefully, gesturing vaguely at his own face.
Kyrios stared at him, with the only time he broke contact was to blink. He glanced at the device that Jack had held - he had noticed he seemed to be using it prior to him approaching. What the device was, he didn’t know.
“Not fond of people seeing my face.” He explained. “What’s that thing you’re holding?”
Jack resisted the urge to roll his eyes, not in the mood to humour the melodramatic habits of whoever this guy was. "Cool. And it's my phone. It's a thing I use to contact people from all over, namely my friend at the hospital who can help us. Ready to go?" he asked, already starting towards the car. The prospect of the hospital was encouraging enough that he thought he could just about get them there in one piece.
“Your phone,” he repeated, taking in the information. The concept seemed a little familiar - Aeth could be used as a form of long distance communication, provided the user had the knowledge and understanding required to do so. He had just never heard of a phone.
“Hm.” Kyrios nodded. “And yes, I’m ready to leave.” He moved towards the car again, already starting to get seated. He was curious of this hospital - typically, people were there, and people had information. Information which could be used.
Jack nodded, putting phone away, and slid into the driver's seat. He backed out of the alley and went on his way, driving the route almost automatically, hopeful to see Yuna. She was always a reassuring presence and lord knew he needed her right now.
Finally, finally, the huge white building came into view, emergency vehicles milling about. He parked and immediately hopped out, the last of his energy draining. He stood still for a moment, swaying, mustering the last of his will.
Come on. One step, another, another, another, feeling for his ID in his pocket, wandering the halls he'd found himself pretty often in. More than the average person.
Kyrios tried to keep the surprise out of his eyes when he saw the ‘hospital’. It was unlike any hospital he’d ever seen. Not what he had in mind. Not to mention the sight of more of the things, the carriages - what were they called again? These ones were different from the ones he’d ridden in, though.
He crinkled his noise briefly when he sniffed the air - Unfamiliar smells, so many - and shook his head, resuming and following after Jack. This was an unusual place he’d appeared in. Was it even the same one he’d come from? A dream?
“This…” Kyrios took a breath, steadying his voice. “This is the hospital? And you will be treated here?”
The stark white hallways stank of metal and chemicals, but were relatively quieter than usual. Jack pulled out his phone again and sent off a quick Here to Yuna, rounding corners he remembered vaguely from whatever injury had brought him here last.
"Mhmm, this is it, yeah, and so will you, who knows what teleportation does to a hum– to your body."
They finally rounded a corner and found a nurse's station where a young woman sat, legs dangling, idly reading over some paperwork.
"Yuna!" Jack called to her, relief flooding him.
She looked up, looking just as bad as Jack, exhausted and pretty down. But her face broke into a bright, wide smile and she jumped off the counter and towards them, staring at Kyrios as she walked over and past them, beckoning to follow her as she led them down a corridor and into a small hallway with a gurney and a plastic box of supplies.
She patted the gurney and Jack happily obeyed, seating himself and letting his head fall backwards onto the wall. "Broken nose, I think, I smashed my head real good. Maybe a couple ribs." She nodded and immediately started rifling through the box, pulling out bottles and bandages.
"This is Kyrios," Jack said with a wave. "It'd be good to get him just checked or something."
Kyrios glanced around at the walls, the structure of this place. Everything was so sleek, clean… His attention was more on what was around him for once, he was hardly listened to what anyone else was saying around him.
He only snapped back into reality when the two began to follow Yuna, to the gurney and hallway, where Jack would presumably get treatment. He watched from his spot, eyeing the medical tools - again, so clean. He must be very far from the Sanctum…
“Mmh?” He grunted, glancing up, exiting his thoughts. “No, I’m fine.” Kyrios quickly said. He wasn’t - his Aeth was lower than he’d usually let it get, resulting in mild dizziness and a faint headache, although it was slightly improving, given his decision to storing his axe in the trunk of the vehicle. If he let it get any lower - well, even Kyrios dreaded those symptoms.
In addition, his fight through the Sanctum was not to be forgotten. Although he had armour, he could certainly feel a bite from a Lesser Aeth Beast on his left shoulder; the pain was faint - the only thing that stopped him from feeling it was his unique physiology. The same physiology that allowed him to heal a little faster than normal. So even though Kyrios knew he was slightly injured, he declined help. He folded his arms again, looking between the two.
((As a lie was told, a new piece of information arises - Kyrios is awful at riding horses. They just don’t seem to like him very much, and Kyrios has never been very skilled with them.))
As Yuna's gentle hands wiped away the blood and bandaged the cuts on his face, the image of Kyrios's unfortunate horse riding experience got a snort and a subsequent wince out of Jack. Yuna glanced sternly at Kyrios.
"He's lying," Jack told them both. "Check on him when you're done."
"I was planning on it," she murmured to Jack. She stepped away after a few more minutes of stitching him up. "Your nose doesn't look displaced. Here," she said, rifling for and handing him a pill and an ice pack, "that should take care of it."
Jack gratefully swallowed the pill and gingerly placed the icepack on his swollen face. "As for the ribs, just fractured, you know the drill, don't be stupid, whatever."
"Thanks, Yuna, you're the best," Jack murmured.
She chuckled. "I know."
Jack got a flash of her dinner from the previous night, leftover pizza. "No, really. It's good I can always count on someone," he insisted, looking over at her and nodding at Kyrios. "Especially when these madmen keep finding their way into my life."
She chuckled again but the smile lingered. She looked over at Kyrios and nodded to the gurney. "Hop on."
Kyrios watched the scene, and indeed - could feel adrenaline wearing off, the discomfort in his shoulder taking place. Undoubtedly, he’d already started healing, but it would take days before it completely healed up to normal. How many - Kyrios didn’t really pay attention to that sort of stuff. He had worse wounds previously, though. This? This, he could handle for sure.
Kyrios glanced at Jack, wondering what had made him laugh for that brief moment. He didn’t linger too much however.
He was more in his head, only faintly listening to whatever was around him. He decided he would only hang around here a minimum amount of time before he started to make his way back to the Sanctum. Perhaps until his Aeth levels recovered enough. Then he’d leave, injuries fully healed or not. It wouldn’t be long before Istrad began to hunt him again, either way. One of her Aeth beasts could be on its way now, he remembered, lifting a hand to his chin in thought.
He stiffened, still not used to not being clad in armour.
..Especially when those madmen keep finding their way into my life. He blinked, looking up almost immediately. Had either of them encountered Aeth users before, then? It wouldn’t explain the lack of Aeth in this area, but madmen - an Aeth user certainly would seem mad to a non-aeth user, he figured. He dropped his hands to his sides, and began to search for the right words, a question to ask that would get him some information…
Kyrios looked to Yuna when she told him to get onto the gurney. He looked at it, then took a step forwards - taking a moment to adjust to his mild dizziness.
In careful steps; yet also trying to keep his injuries invisible; Kyrios made his way to the gurney, and sat on it, having to adjust his cloak to sit comfortably on it. “Like I said, I’m..” He held his tongue, quickly recalling how Jack seemed capable of pointing out his lies with ease. Instead, he drifted off, deciding on not to finish whatever he was going to say.
Jack slid off the gurney and onto his feet, wobbling slightly but finding his balance. People were flowing in and out of the hospital doors and Jack glanced over, making sure he recognised none of them. He walked to the other side of the gurney, next to Kyrios… back to the cameras.
"Get on the gurney, Kyrios. Yuna, I'm going to need a second to talk to you at some point, please," he told them. Yuna looked over at him evaluatingly and nodded.
Jack shrugged, feeling for the internal injuries. He gently pulled off his shirt, sticky with blood and sweat, top surgery scars on display, and investigated the bruise spreading near his ribs. I didn't look swollen and he'd just have to let it heal. It did mean he'd have to be careful not to be cornered; he didn't think he'd be able to run particularly fast or without putting himself in more danger in these conditions.
Jack saw Kyrios jump to attention and made a mental note to really question him tomorrow. Who knew what was going on his mind? Jack squinted at the floor, trying to search for a question that Kyrios would have no choice but to lie about.
"So," he started, "you showed up in armour, like a knight or something. You must be really good at riding horses, then? Seems logical." Jack stared at him with wide eyes.
Yuna carefully eyed Kyrios's careful steps towards the gurney. "Dizzy?" she asked him once he was seated. "You're what?" she prodded, flashing light in his eyes, trying to find some obvious injury she was missing. "Drop the act… Kyrios, is it? You're better off getting yourself taken care of before it's more serious, okay?" Her voice was firm but well-intentioned, her gaze searching.
Kyrios glanced between the two, before settling on staring at a wall instead. It was unusual for him - he typically preferred to hold eye contact.
“Dizzy?” He repeated. “I..yes, but it’ll pass soon.” His Aeth levels were recovering. But not as fast as he liked. He put more of his focus into answering the ‘now’ questions, pushing aside his goal to ask one for now.
“I’ll be fine,” he carefully said. He wasn’t sure when, but it was true - as long as nothing else happened to him, he would heal as normal. “It’s just a bite.” Kyrios admitted. Which, where he was from, was not an unusual injury. He gestured to his left shoulder. “It’ll be gone in a few days.” Again, he kept on repeating those terms - I’ll be fine, or It’ll be gone soon.
His eyes flicked towards Jack briefly. “I’m not a knight.” He quickly said. It was true. He’d never had any association with knights, having not led a life that would put him on that path. But then came the question - and Kyrios really didn’t want to admit weakness. He hesitated - before answering.
“But..Of course I am,” Kyrios responded. “Good at riding horses.” No, he wasn’t. Most animals, save for a few, avoided Kyrios - he had a bit of a theory, his scent was dangerous due to his Aeth beast heritage. And if there was anything he knew about most animals, they preferred to stay away from dangerous scents.
Of course, saying he was good at that was a lie. But Kyrios didn’t like to admit weakness. Or show it, for that matter.
((A piece of information - Kyrios was once involved in a massive prison breakout; he owed a favour to someone, who needed someone out of the prison.))
Yuna pulled away, sensing… she wasn't sure. Some kind of barrier. She frowned to herself, then finally nodded. "Well, alright. As long as you," she said pointedly in Jack's direction, who looked up from prodding the bruise on his chest, "take yourselves both home and rest before whatever you're getting up to tomorrow. And don't mess with it," she told Jack clearly, nodding at the bruise. "It'll heal faster."
Jack pouted petulantly and dropped his hands at his side.
Jack glanced back towards Kyrios as soon as he addressed the question, not looking away as he hesitated, thought – a small swell of pride bubbled up in Jack and he suppressed a smile. It was so fun trapping people in their lies.
"Right, right," Jack mused. He wanted so badly to ask Kyrios about the exploit that now flooded Jack's mind but figured it'd be too easy to fully reveal his cards now. If Kyrios was still willing to lie, then he hadn't fully caught on yet– and that was to Jack's advantage.
Yuna pulled the gloves off her hands and chucked them into the supply box before wandering a little ways off, Jack following.
"Who is he?" she asked immediately.
Jack stared at the floor, used to this tone of voice and not liking it. "I'm not sure," he muttered. "Genuinely think some sort of alien, he talks about places and languages I've ever heard of, and I've seen a couple things that a normal guy would definitely not have survived."
Yuna shut her eyes, her frown deepening as he went. "Where the hell did you find him?"
As Jack thought back to the circumstances his heart sank. "I was driving away from Cellier's house."
At this Yuna's eyes flew open. "What?"
Jack looked down at the floor. "I got an anonymous tip. I was just following it." He couldn't bring himself to tell her the rest, although the look on his face must be telling.
Yuna fixed him with a glare that did not relent as he met her stare. "You stupid motherfucker. I'm not going to ask what happened because you're injured and need to get home. But the second it's safe to drag you out of your godforsaken apartment I'm coming over there and interrogating you. Okay?" she said in one breath, arms crossed so tightly her shoulders were hunched over.
Jack nodded silently before breaking away from her, feeling her stare on his back. He pulled his shirt back on and walked up to Kyrios. "We're leaving," he told him shamefully.
Kyrios watched the two, a bit more keen to stay silent and observe. Even as forward as he could be, he knew how to stay quiet, and occasionally, when.
“Thank you,” he said quietly - to Yuna. He was just used to thanking healers, even if he didn’t use their services much. Odd. Most of the time, visiting healers, was not for himself, but whoever he was with.
He watched the two walk away. For a few moments, he listened, seeing if he could pick up anything. Upon being unable to, Kyrios moved to inspect his bite, the one he’d spoken so firmly on. He didn’t really care if anyone saw - or did he - but briefly glanced around, seeing if there was anyone else around. There was no one. He turned his head to face his shoulder, and pulled back the shirt sleeve he was wearing to look at it.
Yeah, that was a bite for sure.
It wasn’t freakishly large, but wasn’t small, either. The teeth were all uneven, of different sizes, but appeared to have originated off of a creature that ate meat. And it was already healing. Good.
If his Aeth levels were a bit higher, he could heal even faster. Unfortunately, they weren’t, which Kyrios hated to admit, stressed him out a bit. But not enough to show.
He pulled the sleeve back up and pulled his cloak back over it.
Kyrios glanced at his hand, allowing bits of Aeth to flow over it for a few moments. He stared at his hand, flexing it - then quickly pulling it back and putting it out upon hearing footsteps.
Jack was back, and it seemed him and Yuna had an exchange, but as to what, he wasn’t sure. Maybe he’d ask. But not now.
He slid off of the gurney, slowly approaching Jack.
“Hm. And where is our next destination, then?” He questioned.
"Back to my apartment," Jack told him. "I need to sleep it off and probably so do you. No questions for tonight, just rest. We'll deal with it all tomorrow."
Now that he'd been treated and some of the pain was beginning to recede, the panic was easier to focus on. He had no idea what to do. He had no idea where to go from here. He pressed the heel of his hands into his eyes and exhaled forcefully.
"Okay. God, I wish you could drive," he muttered to Kyrios, before righting himself and taking off at a march towards the hospital doors. "Thank you, Yuna!" he called behind him, forcing some brightness into his voice, before focusing entirely on getting himself to the car and back home.
Yuna watched them go, her expression unreadable, before giving Kyrios a brief wave. Muttering to herself, she picked up the supplies and walked back around the corner they'd first come from.
Jack was sat in the car, hunched over the wheel, forcing himself to breathe slowly.
“..Apartment,” he repeated - assuming it was some type of living space. And sleep..When was the last time he’d slept? He wasn’t sure the last time he had a proper sleep. Kyrios glanced behind them briefly, spotting Yuna, and returning her wave with a slight nod.
He turned back and followed Jack back out to the car. “I could probably drive, if you want me to…” He drawled. “It doesn’t seem hard.”
Stepping back out of the hospital, he stopped moving for a few seconds, if only to give time for his eyes to adjust to the night. Kyrios blinked a couple of times, then began moving again. The lighting in that place - the hospital - was different.
When he sat in the car, he stared forwards for a little bit, then looked over to Jack. “Well. Are you doing any better, then?”
