network; video

[kyley_b]

((Post event. CW: discussions of violence, body horror, injury and loss of limb in comments.))


[The feed shows a skinny redhead who is somehow even paler than usual - his skin is parchment white, with deep dark pouches under his eyes. His curls are matted.

Yeah, he looks like shit.]

Uhm. Hi. Hi, uh. It's Kyle. Uhm.

I. Uh. Is. Is everybody okay? I hope you're all okay. Uhm. I'm...

[His face crumples.] I'm not. I'm not okay, I'm SO not okay.

Comments

[kyley_b]

Nope. It's mine, too.

[Kyle shudders.] I nearly hurt him really badly, I think. I was... there was something wrong with me. I was sick and filthy and... there were things in me. I wanted to do it to him, too, and to scare him. It was horrible.

[He stays wrapped in his blanket, looking down.]

He stopped me. I'm glad he stopped me. But I'm also not.

[deal_me_in]

[Cayde slowly stoops down to set his bundle on the floor as he listens. It takes him a moment, the silence slipping back in, a heavy presence before he forces himself to disturb it with his own response.]

Whatever happened... it affected how we were thinking. I don't think some of the ones I hurt out there were real but it doesn't make me feel any better knowing what I did. ...but there were also others I knew, friends even- and all I wanted to do was hunt them down...

[He glances over at Kyle again.]

...what'd he do?

CW: medical body horror

[kyley_b]

[Kyle looks relieved.] You understand. It was so awful, feeling so compelled. I don't understand what happened exactly, but I remember all of it.

[Kyle's lips thin and he pulls his left arm out of his blanket, shaking badly. He doesn't look at it as he holds it out.

His arm terminates at the wrist. It's been bandaged heavily, so it's impossible to see how bad the tissue damage is, but it's clear the hand is gone.]

[deal_me_in]

Yeah...

[The Exo gives a grim nod. He can remember the sensation, the hunger and darkly relishing that fear that was spawned from whatever actions he took.

His optics widen as he sees the bandaged limb. That there's something wrong with it is more than obvious, bandaging aside.]

...oh hell.

[kyley_b]

[Kyle keeps not looking at it, but his voice is relatively steady.]

Kaz cut it off. I ran away, and I cauterized it. Poorly, I'm guessing, but I didn't bleed to death so I'm not too mad at myself.

I think it's getting infected. So. Please tell me the replicator can make penicillin.

[deal_me_in]

[Cayde winces again, though he can't say he's surprised Kaz would be able to do such a thing, especially if under threat.]

Quick thinking. Good thing you decided to retreat.

[He's not sure how far their affected minds would have pushed them otherwise, but then even he had moments of lucidity through his haze of bloodlust.

He hates feeling helpless. Being around people here had reminded him of how fragile lives are, and even though he has no stomach he can't dismiss the knotting sensation as the familiar revelation sets in. Even an immortal Hunter has limitations.]

I'm...not sure what the call is on replicator limitations aside from possible weapons. Hospital might have what you need- might be better to get you over there, call our medicine specialists. Can you move?

[kyley_b]

I'm a smart guy. [He sounds tiredly amused.

Kyle is, for the citizens of Agra-10, especially fragile. He has no powers, no natural genetic or technological advantages. But he's still here, stubbornly alive.]

I can move. I got here, didn't I? And we can, sure. Probably a good idea. Uhm. I'm a little scared of doctors.

[deal_me_in]

[Given how pale Kyle looks Cayde still wanted to check. He's relieved to hear it, nodding as he straightens up, and when he responds he at least manages to sound a little more like his usual self.]

Well, lucky for you that there aren't any actual doctors. ...wait, that probably doesn't sound very reassuring now that I think about it.

[kyley_b]

Totally not reassuring, no. [He wobbles to his feet.]

I don't know what can really be done, but I'd like to have it cleaned and redressed, and someone with training to see if it's infected. I think it is because it's quite red. It hurts like hell, obviously.

Will you get me home again after? Tommy's going to want to see me.

[deal_me_in]

Never know. Sometimes people'll surprise you. But yeah, getting things cleaned off and treated and all that won't be impossible. I could probably even handle that much.

[He moves closer to offer Kyle an arm in support.]

Sure will. Feels better keeping busy with something, and if I can be useful that's a plus.

[kyley_b]

I did the best I could but I'm working, well. One handed. [He holds onto Cayde, crying a little.]

Thank you.

Are you okay? Mentally.

[deal_me_in]

[He slips his arm under Kyle's for better support, if not half a hug.]

You did good, kid.

[He's sure there wouldn't be a whole lot of people who would have reacted rationally in time, under such circumstances.]

Working on it. I figure being in my right mind's good at the very least.

[kyley_b]

Thanks. I tried.

Yeah. Yeah, that's a good start. [He's totally crying, but he doesn't think Cayde will tell on him.]

[deal_me_in]

[As someone who could no longer cry tears, he was hardly one to poke fun at it, especially not with what's happened. Kyle has a right to everyone one of those tears that fall.]

Come on, let's get going.

[kyley_b]

Okay.

[His legs work just fine, but he does move slowly because he's exhausted and in pain.]

[deal_me_in]

[The Exo matches Kyle's pace, once again considering putting sparrows at the top of his wishlist. Having some quick transportation around the city would be useful, especially in cases of emergency, and not everyone could leap around between buildings to cut across places like him.]

Lemmee know if you need to rest or something. If I end up having to carry you I promise I won't tell a soul.

[kyley_b]

[Kyle nods, really hoping it won't come to that, but knowing realistically that it very well might.]

Thanks.

[He makes it, but just barely. As soon as they're indoors he has to sit down.]

Did you hurt anybody we know? When you weren't yourself.

[deal_me_in]

[Cayde helps ease Kyle down to sit before stepping away to look for whatever meds are on-hand. He knows Jon and Billy had stocked some up at least.]

Possibly. I... I don't think it was anyone actually here. I hope it wasn't anyone actually here.

[He pauses, his grip tightening on a cupboard door before he forces it to relax.]

I know I was chasing Tony at one point. Not sure I wanna know what would've happened if he hadn't kept setting up traps.

[kyley_b]

Good. I hope so, too. I'm not sure how the fuck I'm going to be able to look Kaz in the eye.

[Kyle furrows his brow.] Oh, shit. Yeah. I hope he's okay. God, this is so scary.

[deal_me_in]

One step at a time. Let's see what we can do about this in the meanwhile.

[He holds up a bottle of pain killers.]

Found these. I can see what I can do about cleaning and redressing, then go hu- go find one of our more medically-inclined people.

...yeah. I should check on people.

[If they'd be happy to see him. He'd been avoiding it, easier talking to the new faces that he's just glad hadn't been pulled into whatever hell Temba had become at the time.]

[kyley_b]

Yeah.

[Kyle nods gratefully.] Fuck, yes, please, thank you. Uhm. We'll want disinfectant and gauze I think.

Yeah. God, I hope everyone is okay.

[He chews his lip after he swallows some pills.] Cayde? I'm not gonna die, am I?

[deal_me_in]

[The Exo fishes out some gauze and a bottle of antiseptic, and whatever else he finds that looks useful.]

Wh- no, you're not- no one's dying! Not on my watch.

[He'd promised himself that he'd protect these people, but a whole lot of good he's been doing so far. The ones pulling the strings weren't playing fair at all.

He drags another chair over to set the things down and then looks at Kyle.]

Whenever you're ready.

[kyley_b]

[Kyle nods, eyes wet. He knows logically that Cayde can't promise him anything - he could get blood poisoning or something - but he still lets it make him feel a little better.

He starts unwrapping his bandages, wincing when they stick a little. His face is carefully set, nearly prissy.]

When I was little I got sick a lot. And I've had some medical stuff done to me against my will. So hospitals creep me out.

[deal_me_in]

Sundance, gonna need you to keep an eye on this.

[Cayde holds his hand out to the side to let his Ghost unfold out of thin air above his palm. Her shell spins and she gives the slightest of bobs before floating over to the side.

Cayde reaches over to help with the bandaging, telling himself he's seen likely seen worse.]

Under those circumstances I can see why. Can't think of many who actually like hospital visits. Seems like if you're there, chances are it's not for anything good.

[kyley_b]

[Kyle pauses to look at Sundance, having never seen her before. He nods his head, then finishes peeling off the bandages.

And there it is: a stump that is at least not mangled because Kaz had cut so cleanly. But it is an angry red. Looking at it, Kyle hiccups a short sobbing noise but falls silent.]