[ closed ] let us wipe away those tears

[finethanks]

who: Eichi Tenshouin (finethanks), Gladiolus Amicitia (leatherdaddy), Leonard McCoy (legendary_hands), Yuuri Katsuki (yokunaru), & possibly more as I go!
what: Catch-all for April, hit me up if you want a thread and I'll make us a starter!
when: Throughout April
where: Various places
warnings: Eichi talking about death a lot probably, that's about it

[As I plan out threads I'll keep them all here, but I'm super open to adding new ones! My CR meme comment is over here if anyone wants to plot something, or reach me at my contacts to figure something out. Even if you have no ideas, I'll probably be able to come up with something. ♪

Thread starters will be below!]

Comments

[leatherdaddy]

[ It's a good thing Eichi's back is to him as he pours, otherwise that tremor would not have gone unnoticed and Gladio would have told him to take it easy, departing without him.

He knows exhaustion when he sees it, but for Eichi this is par for the course - he's accustomed to concealing his weakness. He escapes notice today. ]

Do I get a backstage pass?

[ Of course Gladio will support a friend, but he can't not ask for an upgrade. He's half kidding in that hopeful way a buddy does when he knows he's asking for too much but with the confidence that no harm's done when it's refused. Besides, if it can fluster Eichi even a little more to wakefulness, it'll be hilarious and hopefully effective. ]

[finethanks]

[With a teacup for each of them, Eichi is able to sit down and relax for this short moment. It's not enough to ease his heart, but very little is when he's like this. He's relying entirely on the thought of fresh air, right now. Both of his hands wrap around his own teacup for warmth, but one pulls back shortly after to scrub lightly at his eyes, trying to wake himself up. It comes with a surprised laugh at Gladio's comment.]

A backstage pass? What are you hoping to be able to do backstage? [He tries to tease back, dropping his second hand back to his tea and bringing the cup close to his lips. Yes, tea always makes him feel better.] What we're doing now is already like that.

[Gladio gets to see a side of him that his fans don't.]

[leatherdaddy]

[ It's true, being immediate neighbors means a level of intimacy an idol might not have with many of their fans. ]

Really? You mean you're not some kind of hot shot celebrity yet?

[ With his own staff and production team and manager all lined up waiting to do the so-called emperor's bidding? Yeah, Gladio's teasing just a little bit and smirks as he lifts his own steaming cup, letting the scent and warmth drift up to his face. The scent is... actually really good and draws the Shield's attention down to the cup. ]

Hm? Hey, what's in this? Smells nice.

[finethanks]

Fufu, I won't be satisfied until my face is on every sign. [Just to tease right back. He won't consider himself a hot shot until he's reached the very top that he can reach, here. This isn't like school.

But he appreciates the interest in the tea, and as he sips his, he explains.]

It's a special type of Chinese tea called Dianhong. This particular variety is Yunnan gold. It's sweet, isn't it? [It smells flowery, but the taste is certainly sweet with fruity undertones. It's smooth and not bitter at all.] I thought a tea like this would wake me up a little. ♪

[leatherdaddy]

Maybe by the time you've completed your tour in Quarantine, your adoring fans won't let you go. Ever think of that?

[ He's joking of course. A joke to take the edge off the daunting duration of their stay here as advertised to each newcomer during their orientation. Gladio himself is still on the fence about that. ]

Hmm. Guess I'll have a taste. [ Lifting the cup - improperly, of course, with his fingers gripping the lip of the cup itself and drinking from the gap between thumb and forefinger. None of this trying to fit his fingers through some dainty handle. ] ...!

[ Holy shit, that actually tastes good. Good enough that Gladio stares into the liquid as he pulls away and swallows. ]

[finethanks]

[He simply chuckles at Gladio's teasing, too tired to follow it up with anything else. He has to save his energy, he knows, or this little outing won't turn out so nice. But still, he's foolish and holds back from revealing any of that.]

How do you like it? [Since he did notice that amazed look at it, and his own cheeks heat up a little in his amusement. Or, is that actually a fever? Unclear right now, but Eichi is going to drink his tea super fast.]

[leatherdaddy]

It's freakin' delicious!

[ He never knew water steeped in a variety of dried vegetation could taste so good! Like most people from his world, his beverages come pre-packaged and with a label describing the consumable and touting it's benefits. This is the real deal, and tastes better than anything else, even better than what Jared made when he was alive. ]

You seriously know your stuff. [ So far Gladio has failed to notice the fluster, chalks up Eichi's hurried drinking as enthusiasm inspired by the great taste and hoist his own cup to toss down the rest. ] Bottom's up! Day's wastin'

[finethanks]

Fufu, we can have some more afterwards, as well.

[ Yay, Gladio likes it! He decides to leave their teacups on the table for now, since he'll just deal with it after, and pushes himself up now that he's finished it. Toying with the edges of his jacket, he looks to Gladio. ]

I'm ready, then. Where will we be heading today? [ Wherever it is, he's finally ready to be awake and follow Gladio wherever he wants to lead them. Jogging, he can do this, right?? ]

[leatherdaddy]

Let's just take it easy. [ 'Easy' being a totally subjective term. Gladio claps his hands on his knees just before hauling himself up out of the chair. Pushes it back into place because these apartments aren't exactly large and he is so the extra space to get by is an absolute necessity. ]

We can loop around the apartment block a few times.

[ Which is kind of... a lot of jogging. This building is enormous, but at least it's not a jog up and down the riverbank, right? ]

[finethanks]

[Fucking "easy" he says. E a s y. Eichi smiles politely and lets silence soak in for a moment or two before he moves to get the door.]

I'm feeling exhausted already. Fufu, you won't leave me behind in the dust, will you?

[But alright, they're doing this. He can do this, maybe. Probably. Out he goes with Gladio, and as soon as the man starts, he will start very slowly himself!!]

[leatherdaddy]

[ After some stretching and warming up, Gladio's ready to go - clearly revitalized by the cold morning air. It... probably feels like icy fingers digging their way into Eichi's frail lungs and limbs though. ]

Look, I'll jog backwards so you can keep up - it's a good workout anyway, and I'll look a little less stupid if I'm with a partner.

[ See? Your weakling status is a huge help to him! Be grateful! ]

[finethanks]

[The cold air hitting his lungs should be the first warning. It stings and aches, a slow throbbing that comes with every breath and uneven heartbeat, and he brings his hands up to his mouth to breath into them with a quick little sigh. Gladio must be so warm. If he thinks about catching up to him, it might help...

But that comment...]

Running backwards, won't you crash into something? [He laughs, reaching out despite the ache crawling through his bones to playfully slap Gladio's arm.] However you'd like to run, let's get started.

[His thoughts are if he doesn't start now, he never will. So, they jog!! And Eichi immediately shows just how out of shape he is, struggling with his speed and his pace and even with breathing. He's breathing heavily even after a short amount of time...]

You know, I'm really not made for this sort of thing like you are, Gladio-kun... [He manages those words as an excuse for his falling behind.]

[leatherdaddy]

You won't let me, right? [ Gladio laughs, casting a quick glance over his shoulder. Apparently he's not ashamed of looking like a complete ass this early in the morning if it means Eichi looks a little less...

Gladio slows a little as he realizes the self-proclaimed emperor looking even paler than usual. Is he okay like this? ]

What, this? You probably work harder during your performances, right?

[finethanks]

I don't hold back, of course...

[ It is getting harder to speak while jogging, even as Gladio slows. They've gotten pretty for for Eichi, haven't they? But they haven't even circled half of this building yet. His steps slow even more in his jog, and his eyes dim a little as he stares at Gladio and past him. He can't even do this, of course... ]

[leatherdaddy]

[ Gladiolus slows and slows until he's going in reverse, walking straight towards Eichi until he's close enough to put his hands on his shoulders to stop him. Stares straight into his face too, because that look just now? He looks like he's about to faint. ]

Hey. Are you alright?

[ Surely he's not this weak, right? ]

[finethanks]

[This is a nightmare.

Everything slows down because Eichi is beginning to panic. He can't breathe properly, and even as his steps slow and Gladio's solid hands grip him, the motion with which he grinds to a halt is sickening. All color is absent from his face now, and he lifts a hand to cover his mouth as he coughs.

That alone is enough to have him falling forward into Gladio's hold a bit more, legs wobbling at this sudden strain overwhelming him. His whole body is crying out over this simple thing. This easy thing. He can't do even this, so what use is this body?

He doesn't want to die yet. He's not ready to die yet. Not here, not now, not here... His mind races, and he coughs again, his free hand resting against Gladio's chest for support.]

I'm... fine, I just need a moment— [But there's blood in that hand, and all of that racing Eichi's mind is going through stops suddenly when it gets to be too much. His legs give out entirely, his eyes flutter closed and he slumps against his poor friend.]

[leatherdaddy]

[ In the state Eichi's in, the sudden sense of vertigo seems like the new normal. In reality, Gladio saw the red staining that parchment-pale skin and the dark purple smudges under each eye that stand out as the color drains from his face and hauls him up. Eichi's head lolls to the side, murmuring something like fine and moment before Gladio makes a hissing sound through his clenched teeth and holds his chin upright in his hand.

He's so light, even when he goes limp he barely weighs a thing. Or maybe that's just the adrenaline that his heart dumps into the rest of his body as he realizes this is bad and he hasn't any curatives on him. ]

Eichi! Oi!

[finethanks]

[For the moment, Eichi is unresponsive. His bloodied hand stays curled near his collarbone as the other arm slips limply to hang to the side, and his head leans against whatever support Gladio can offer him. It's clear that he's alive, at least, because his breaths are steady now, and if checked for a heartbeat, it'll still be unsteadily there.

It's all black, and it likely will be until he's had a couple of minutes for his body to "reset" like this. Gladio's warmth helps a little, at least, since it seems that even with his own jacket he's ice cold to the touch.]

[leatherdaddy]

[ This is a nightmare. ]

Eichi... Eichi!

[ Jogging's not in the stars today, not when he needs to break into a run in the direction of the hospital. Gladiolus pulls him closer to his chest, letting his own body absorb the shock of his full on run, shoes pounding asphalt in the hopes that he doesn't jostle him too much. It can't really be helped, so it's speed he relies on the most to carry him and Eichi to the aid he needs.

As Eichi's awareness swims in and out of consciousness, he can hear the way air thuds out of Gladio's lungs as he races forward, the violence of doors being kicked inwards. Hurried voices, accustomed and trained to deal with these sorts of emergencies with an urgent kind of calm unique to front-line medical workers.

And then the steady beep of some monitor tracking his heart. ]

[finethanks]

[He hears voices and that all-too-familiar sound of the heart monitor, and his eyes blink slowly to a white ceiling. These lights are always too bright, so he knows exactly where he is, and that's what makes panic grip him.

But even when he tries to shift, he doesn't have the energy yet. His hand barely moves an inch, trembling against the hospital sheets as he blinks a few more times. Gladio... Where did Gladio go?]

Gladio-kun? [His strained voice interrupts whatever conversation might be going on between the nurse in the room and Gladio right now.]

I couldn't help it... I'm genuinely embarrassed at this tag

[leatherdaddy]

Sir, I just need you to --

[ That's not Gladio's voice, not one of the nurses. There's two of them, with a third joining out of curiosity because for a place filled with patients with open backed smocks on, Gladio's shirtlessness is a problem. Gladio straight up ignores them, cuts their protests off by pushing gently past when he hears Eichi speak. The nurse winds up with a face full of tattooed man tiddy and looks ready to faint at the scandal of it all. ]

Hey, you're awake!

I'm still laughing

[finethanks]

[Yep, that sure is Gladio. All of Gladio, right there... He sort of blinks at the nurses for a moment in silent understanding before he looks back to Gladio, and it's clear he's still coming to, but he's definitely awake now.

He needs a few seconds to put his smile back up.]

Did you carry me all the way here, Gladio-kun? I'm glad to have someone like you who cares for me like that. Thank you. [Thanks for not abandoning him and his uncool running in the middle of the street!!]

[leatherdaddy]

[ Not... all of Gladio, I mean he's still wearing pants and boots and shut up okay. ]

You sure have a weird sense of humor. [ His mouth turns up at the corners in amusement, but worry keeps the crease between his brows. He strides up to the side of the hospital bed and looks down at Eichi, his voice lowering. ]

What kind of man would I be if I just left you like that? [ He's only half serious, because just what kind of question is that? Surely Eichi isn't serious, right? ]

How are you feeling?

[finethanks]

[Embarrassed. Ashamed. Like he wants to fade away into darkness and restart all of this, everything, go back to where he can push himself for better reason and higher stakes. These thoughts come along with a longer silence than normal as Eichi blinks at Gladio, and then a shaky hand reaches to brush some hair from his own face.]

I'm fine, Gladio-kun. Just a little tired, that's all. My body will often shut down on me like that, even if I'm doing something as simple as walking, so I'm sorry that I inconvenienced you.

[leatherdaddy]

Hey, knock that off.

[ Gladio frowns, uses the back of his hand to tap at one of Eichi's feet beneath the blanket. Even now he's trying to say 'sorry' when it's him who needs to apologize. He makes a small tsk sound between his teeth before he continues. ]

Don't you start trying to relieving me from being responsible for what happened. That pisses me off.

[ He's just glad he was able to get Eichi to the hospital in time before... well, who knows what could have happened. ]

There was blood. You wanna tell me how bad this condition of yours is?