forum The Strangers in the Palace (Closed)(Fantasy)

Started October 31, 2021 by Deleted user

tune

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Arquis smiled despite the situation. Using the hand that was still positioned against their stomach, he gently nudged him so that they were pressed further into the pillow. He then gave a featherlight kiss to each of their eyelids. That was all he did. Maybe if they felt better in the next day or so, he’d do more, but at the moment he could tell he was in misery.

“Let me know if you require a wastebasket, alright?” He gave their hand a soft squeeze, hoping that the words wouldn’t embarrass him. He wouldn’t be upset if they needed to be sick. He’d seen Honey throw up the previous day while hungover, and he himself had almost done so during his asthma attack. It did not disgust him in the way that it repulsed some, but even if it did, he still would take care of them.

Rin nodded a little bit, grimacing at the thought. He hated throwing up, even though he knew that they couldn't help it when they were sick. They still absolutely detested it, and he didn't want to throw up, even if Arquis didn't seem to mind all that much.

He noticed their grimace and made a soothing sound, giving his hand another squeeze. Their palm was hot and slick with sweat. “I know, I know. It is not an enjoyable experience, my love, and I would rather that you did not. Especially not after having just finished eating. Your body needs the energy. But if it is necessary, then it is necessary.”

He’d had quite of bit of experience with nausea due to his past. Hangovers had a variety of symptoms depending on the individual, but getting sick was a common one for him. That and light sensitivity. He was somewhat lucky in that he’d never had vertigo or exhaustion after a night of drinking. Still, he’d always felt incredibly unrefined whenever he’d been on his knees in the bathroom, shaking and sweating and heaving. Those memories weren’t fond.

They stayed curled close to Arquis, a faint sound leaving his mouth. "I'm just…I'm just tired." he whispered. "And…and everything hurts." in different ways, but everything hurt, and he hated it. They just wanted to feel better, especially since Ari could visit and they hadn't seen him in forever.

Arquis nodded and ran his thumb along their knuckles. “Perhaps you could rest some more? Though we should probably check your temperature again before you do. I need to know whether or not to keep an overnight watch.”

He didn’t want to continue that thought—not while they were distressed—but it was likely that he’d have to send for a doctor if the fever was high enough. The doctor would provide medicine, which Rin wouldn’t want. Perhaps he would send for Ari first, like they’d asked. That was an interesting idea. From what he’d gathered, it sounded as if they trusted Ari. Maybe if he brought medicine to The Cecilia Rouge, they would consider taking it.

Arquis decided to keep this plan a secret. It was an emergency plan, only to be used if things were dangerous. He shook himself out of his thoughts and swept his partner further into an embrace.

They nodded faintly, leaning their cheek on Arquis's shoulder. "M'kay." they whispered, closing their eyes and staying pressed up close to Arquis. He eventually drifted off, though it was less of true sleep and more just a light doze as he drifted in and out of wakefulness.

Arquis groaned quietly. They apparently hadn’t heard the part about waiting for the thermometer. He kissed him on the bridge of their nose before wiggling out from under them. It hopefully wasn’t enough movement to startle him. There was no real reason, he supposed, that they shouldn’t rest while he was out. He swaddled him lovingly in blankets before stepping outside of the room. With any luck, they wouldn’t wake until he returned. He hadn’t left a note. It wouldn’t have taken long to write one, but then again, he didn’t really think he’d be gone for more than five or ten minutes.

The hallways of the inn were even darker than before. Quietly, so as to not disturb anyone still awake, he crept through them. He arrived at Honey’s door faster than he would’ve expected. It was possible that he’d gone faster due to worry.

Lovey was the one to let him in. She took one look at his pinched expression and immediately gave him a hug. He returned it with one arm. The other was soon occupied by Honey, who smelled intensely of vanilla.

“Hey, lover boy. Didn’t think you’d be back today. What’s up? Something wrong with our bard?”

“Ah, yes, he is still quite sick. I am here for the thermometer.”

Lovey snatched it from where it’d been set earlier and passed it over. Arquis carefully slipped it into his pocket.

“Take a message to them for me? It’ll make him feel better.” There was a hint of mischief in Honey’s eyes. When Arquis nodded, the handsome blonde leaned in and briefly kissed his cheek. Arquis let out a strangled wheeze of a laugh and staggered to the door. Honey grinned. “Give them that and tell him to get better.”

“I will do exactly that. I am sure they will appreciate it,” he said, smiling in response. The kiss hadn’t meant anything, and Honey had hesitated before he’d done it, giving Arquis enough time to back away. It was kind of sweet, actually.

He gave the siblings his goodbyes and began on his way back to his room, the thermometer safely stored away.

Rin shifted faintly when Arquis left, a faint noise of protest leaving his mouth, but he soon settled back into sleep, curled up on the bed. They continued drifting in and out of a light sleep, time passing unmarked by them.

When Arquis returned, he settled on the bed beside them. He combed a gentle hand through their sleep-mussed hair. It felt like a heinous crime to wake him, but he supposed it had to be done. Otherwise, that small trip would’ve been for nothing.

In the softest, most adoring voice he could muster, he whispered, “Oh, come here, my love.” He slowly shifted them into his arms, which he wrapped loosely around their stomach. One of his hands eventually moved to pull the thermometer from his pocket. “I am sorry to disturb you, but I really must check your temperature. You can rest more in a moment. As for right now, however, I insist that you open wide.”

Well, that could certainly be taken in a number of ways. He’d make a joke about it or get flustered if they were in a better state, but his heart told him that it wasn’t the time or place. He held the thermometer up after uncapping it and waited patiently.

Rin whined faintly when he was shifted, their eyes flickering open to look up at Arquis. "Okay." he said faintly, complying with Arquis's request. They just wanted to rest, but he knew that letting Arquis take his temperature was important. Arquis was just trying to take care of him.

“Someone is in a bad mood,” Arquis teased, though there was no bite to it. Before they could answer, he slipped the thermometer in between their lips, then waited. After about a minute or two, he took it out and looked it over. His breath stuttered.

“It is worse than before,” he admitted quietly. That lighthearted quality to his voice had faded. He cleared his throat and tried not to betray his panic. They still weren’t at a high enough temperature to seize, thankfully, but the number was climbing steadily upward. “Over a full degree higher. I do not think what we have been doing is working, my dear. You have only gotten more ill.”

Everything he’d hoped to avoid was happening. That fever could very well be life threatening if left untreated, especially if it continued to grow overnight. He felt dizzy with the realization. What had started that morning as a minor concern was rapidly becoming a real issue. They could actually die.

He had to write that letter to Ari. There was no other choice. The stranger likely wouldn’t read it until morning, unless he was an insomniac. But perhaps he could be convinced to stray from his path and come to the inn early. Perhaps he’d even bring much needed medicine. Arquis could only hope.

“Love, where did you put the envelope?” he asked in an almost eerily calm tone.

Rin didn't, at first, register Arquis's tone, and when he did, he frowned a little bit, worried. "'s on the bedside table." he replied, snuggling back down into the blankets and letting out a soft, tired sigh. He just wanted to go back to drifting in sleep again, let it claim them so he could rest for a while and hopefully start to feel better. He hated how sick he felt, hated that this had completely stopped anything else that they could have been doing.

Arquis gathered the envelope, drawing pad, and a pencil as smoothly and quickly as possible. Before he began writing, however, he leaned over to wrap the sheet around his partner and fluff his pillow again. Fear clawed at his heart. Sleep was coming for them far too easily. That mental image of him from earlier battled its way to the front of his mind, and the nobleman winced, picturing them as emaciated and lifeless.

He had to get rid of that image or he wouldn’t be able to focus. Someone’s words surfaced in his thoughts. They dripped with a charming, lazy accent. A familiar accent. Honey had given him a task, and he needed to fulfill it. He very gently cupped and kissed his lover’s cheek.

“That was from Honey,” he whispered in explanation. “He told me to tell you to get better. And you will, of course. You will.”

Rin yawned softly, nodding at Arquis's words. "I will." they agreed in a soft, sleepy mumble. His eyes flickered open for a moment, and they looked up at Arquis, and then their eyes slid shut again as they tried to drift back to sleep. He was so tired, he really was. They just wanted to sleep.

Arquis finally began to compose the letter to Ari. His hand was shaking from nerves, though he was used to the feeling, so it didn’t mess up his handwriting. He wasn’t sure how much he should actually write. On the one hand, he wanted to give him enough information to understand the urgency of the situation. On the other, he didn’t want to write so much that the stranger felt swamped. He’d settle for about a page and a half of writing at a decent size.

The first paragraph was brief. It told Ari who Arquis was and why he was writing. He kept it short because Rin had supposedly already informed him of their relationship. What Ari really needed to know, after all, was not his identity but the dire nature of the scenario. That was what he worked on next. He described the rapid onset of his partner’s condition and their refusal to take any medicine. He listed all of the natural methods he’d tried—bathing them in lukewarm water, keeping him in thin sheets, letting them get plenty of rest, encouraging them to drink fluids, and ensuring that he ate—and was honest about none of them working. Rin was getting worse. They needed someone else there to help and comfort him, and there was no one better for that job than a best friend.

By the time he was finished, Arquis realized that his one and a half pages had turned into two. That wasn’t a major problem. What was a problem, however, was the fact that they were written in his native language. Not Kevran. He hoped that Ari either knew his language or had someone that could translate.

He signed off the letter, folded the papers, and slipped them into the envelope.

Rin kept drifting, buried beneath the blankets with them pulled up to their chin, bundled close around him in an attempt to keep himself warm. The fever was wreaking havoc with them, making it hard for them to tell if they were really cold or not, and they hated it. But they drifted through sleep anyway, though not deep enough to dream. Maybe it would have been better if he could dream, but he couldn't get deep enough into sleep to be able to.

Eventually, Arquis crashed as well. He couldn’t help it. All of the stress of the day had taken a lot out of him, and he’d barely eaten. He was running on fumes. While he gave staying up his very best effort, he inevitably began to dip closer and closer towards the mattress until he was fully gone. At least it had happened after the letter had already been sent. They couldn’t afford to waste any time; the sooner Ari read the letter, the better.

He unconsciously began to move closer to the biggest source of heat in the bed: his partner. His head rested against that space between their shoulder and neck. One arm slipped around midsection like earlier, making sure that the two of them stayed close together.

(timeskip?)

Eventually, Rin did fall into a deeper sleep, curling close to Arquis and snuggling up as close as they possibly could to him. They did it mostly unconnsciously, just seeking that warmth that Arquis provided.

(okie dokie that works!)

[Day Ten]

It took Arquis longer than normal to wake, but when he finally did, he felt in an oddly bad mood. His eyes felt sticky and blurry, which annoyed him, and his mouth was too dry. There was nothing wrong with him; he wasn’t sick at all, just irritated. He pushed himself up and checked the time. It was a little after nine. That made him even angrier. He hadn’t been away from his schedule for long, and he was already getting lazy.

He was about to get to his feet when the memories of the previous night flooded back. The fever, the letter. All of that initial grumpiness disappeared in a flash. He rolled over to check on his partner, worried at what he might find.

Rin was curled up in a ball on the bed, breathing a bit labored and slower than it usually was. He was sweaty and shivering, and he didn't look good. He wasn't awake, but that was probably a good thing. They didn't look like they had gotten better; in fact, they looked worse than they had been. The fever had risen, and when they awoke, they would likely feel even worse than they had before falling asleep. Ari had written back, and his reply was in the envelope on the nightstand.

Arquis considered waking them, but it looked as if it would be a mercy not to. He placed the back of his hand on their forehead as lightly as possible. Even before their skin made contact, he could feel the heat radiating off of him. This was bad. This was very, very bad. His stomach lurched as he grasped for the envelope. It took him a minute to calm down, but when he did, he quickly ran through emergency options in his mind. Sending someone for a healer was possible, but it could very well take over a day. There likely weren’t any strong enough medicines at the inn. Even if he could convince Rin to take them, he doubted they’d do much at all. Ari was their best option.

With shaky hands, he opened the flap of the envelope, pulled out the contents, and began to read.

The replying note was not very long, but was clear. Luckily enough for Arquis, Ari spoke Anvillean, and could read and write it well enough to communicate in it.

Arquis,
It's nice to "meet" you, though the circumstances are less than desired. Your news of Rin is not good, though I am not quite sure what I can do to help. I will give any assistance that I can, though with the snow and weather conditions, that may be difficult to accomplish. In any case, let me know if there is something that I can do.
Also, you said that they were not willing to take any medication. They almost never will, because of bad history with medication and lies told about the medication. It is not my place to tell you what that history is, and I will not share it without Rin's permission (unless there is some emergency that necessitates your knowledge). But you may have to force-feed him the medication, or feed it to him without his knowledge by putting it in their tea or food. He will not be happy with you, but it may be your only option if they need to take medication.
Ari Montalbano

Arquis was shaking even harder by the end of the note. Forcing them to do anything was a horrible thought, though he supposed it was like the gloves. Rin had forcibly removed them days prior because his health was at risk. If it was necessary, then he would have to go behind his back to save their life.

He pulled a new piece of paper from the drawing pad and flattened it so that he could write. His writing was slightly less legible than it had been the previous day, and he couldn’t quite work up the energy to be polite.

‘Ari,

Over the course of the night, Rin has gotten much worse. I fear for his safety. I do wish I could take your advice and convince them to take medicine, but I strongly doubt that there is anything here that is potent enough to help. It would be the equivalent of putting ointment on a severed limb. Apologies for the graphic imagery, but I do hope the metaphor conveyed the gravity of the situation.

I will not ask about their history. What I will ask, however, is that you consider joining them here. If their health continues to decline at so rapid a pace…’

He couldn’t write the rest of the sentence. He just couldn’t do it. A tear slipped from his eye and stained the page. He inhaled unsteadily and kept writing.

‘I am aware that this is not an opportune situation. The weather is dreadful. But this is no mere cold. If you do not wish to come, I will not blame you. Please do let me know, however, so I can send for a healer.

Arquis de Vey’

He put the letter into the envelope, hoping his tired mind had been coherent, and then set it aside. He placed a hand on his lover’s chest for just a moment to feel their heart. His eyes closed, but that didn’t stop stray tears from spilling out.

Rin was thankfully still asleep, still curled deep in the blankets, face flushed and breathing still a bit strained. Their condition had certainly deteriorated rapidly, which was not at all a good thing.

Ari wrote back relatively quickly; the man must have been waiting for a response.

Arquis,
I am afraid I do not quite understand what you are asking me to do. Are you saying I should come because he hasn't much time and is going to die, or simply because you/they want me there? Either way, I shall do my best to come, though I must know why precisely you need me there, and if there is anything you want me to bring, as I am quite confused. I am working on packing, so I shall hopefully be able to set out before the day is out. For that reason, please give a speedy response as to what, if anything, I should be bringing with me.
Ari Montalbano

Arquis swallowed hard and set the letter aside after reading it. He picked up the pencil again to write a response.

‘Ari,

I do not know their fate as of this moment. Their fever is extremely high. I plan to try and ensure that he is hydrated, though I am not sure if they will be able to keep anything down.

You should be here for them. That is all I know. They will need you, one way or another.

If you have the chance, please purchase some strong medication. Fever medicine would be best, though if it is available you might consider buying something for their chest as well. They are breathing quite heavily. Perhaps some anti nausea medication? I am not sure.

I apologize for my lack of knowledge and clarity. This has been quite a sudden situation. Thank you for your timely response.

Arquis’

He didn’t bother putting his last name. His eyes were so blurry that he could barely see the paper. All he knew was that his words were still legible. He’d been trained in handwriting and cursive for many years; he could write neatly even if he was in a hurricane. That didn’t stop tears from staining the paper, however. He hoped Ari wouldn’t mind as he shoved the letter into the envelope.

Ari's response was fast again.

Arquis,
I will grab some medicine and head out as soon as I am done packing. I will hopefully be there within the next day or so, though the weather may cause delays. Keep them hydrated and try to get food in their system. A little bit is better than nothing, and they will need energy and strength. Also, cold baths will help bring the fever down, though he will likely try and fight you about them, since he probably already thinks he's cold.
Ari

Rin still didn't wake up, still sleeping.

Arquis did not respond to that last letter, though he did read it. There was simply no time. He roughly wiped his tears away and hurried into the bathroom. This time, the water he filled the bath with was colder, though it still wasn’t freezing. He’d heard rumors of extremely cold water doing more harm to fever patients than good.

Once the tub was about three quarters full, he went to his partner’s side. He didn’t bother sitting down. They could cuddle another morning, but staying in bed would only encourage them not to get up.

“Rin, it is time to wake,” he said. It wasn’t loud, but it wasn’t a whisper, either. He gently shook their shoulder. “We need to get that fever down, love.”

Rin stirred faintly, eyes cracking open as he looked hazily up at Arquis. "Don't feel good." He whispered, curling into himself further. They let out a faint, pained whimper, then sat upright. "I don't–" he half fell out of the bed, grabbing at the trash can, and was bent over it, dry heaving, before they could get another word out. They weren't quite throwing up, but they certainly felt like they were going to.