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Ceres. . . what has happened? Has he done this?

H-He isn't always himself. I told you he sees men who aren't there . . . and in the beginning if I startled him too badly . . . He doesn't always recognize me anymore.

[You can see the color drain from his face]

Has he bit you?

[a-aahhh that is not comforting ;; clutches nervously at the skirt of her dress]

No. He's bitten himself a few times, but not me.

[aaaa nooo touches both sides of her face, trying to put a mask up]

I am here now, and I will do everything in my power for him.

Before I see him, what are his symptoms now, other than his madness? How have they progressed?

[Her breath hitches at the touch and she covers her eyes, shaking her head more to collect herself than anything else.]

H-He—eight days ago is when he began to see people. He . . . He told me that he struck a worker. He did most of the damage to the apartment in the two days after. Until I came . . . He had all the symptoms I told you about then, and since—s-since then . . . it's just been getting worse! Th-the delusions got stronger and more frequent. He knew me at first, but now . . . s-sometimes . . . He got weaker too. He's been in bed for three days and hasn't been able to get out for the last day . . . day and a half, a-and he won't take water—he hasn't swallowed any in a day. And even as weak as he is he still—he gets fits. From fear or pain—it's like he hurts all over. Sometimes—s-sometimes he just cries—

[Her voice has been coming more and more tight with the strain to keep her composure, tears welling at the corners of her eyes, but here she can't manage any longer and a sob breaks through]

. . .

[There is a very strong urge to pull her into his arms, but as she describes his state, he fears that. . .

Instead he removes his hands from her and nods]

Thank you. I will see him for myself.

It may take some time to come to a conclusion, so I want you to do something for me. Please go see a doctor yourself to assure your own health.

What? C-Can't I wait until you've finished?

I need to know for certain that you won't need treatment too, and I need to know as soon as possible. Please do this quickly.

. . . Okay . . . He's in his room now.

Thank you. Please hurry.

[going over to Chrys' room.]

* most of the flat has been cleaned up since Ceres came, though there's little to be done for the damaged furniture save pushing it aside, and the marks on the walls and doors remain. *

* there's a figure on the bed, facing the wall, a rumpled sheet pulled below the waist; curled on his side in a near fetal position, arms held stiff and bent in front of his face, as though shielding it from a blow. And as the door to his room clicks open the body jerks, breathing hoarse and uneven in the silence. *

. . .

Chrysos Kenni, it's Allen Feramis. Do you hear me?

* at the voice he flinches again and curls further, the cords of his neck muscles tight to the very limit under damp skin. *

...I won't-- ....go away, go....

[Swallows hard. He pulls close enough to see him clearly, and as he scans his physical state, he takes out a long stem and a vial from his belt, taking a deep breath and shifting as silently as he can]

I'm here to help you, Chrysos. Please look at me. Let me touch you. I want to help.

* he's thinner than you ever remember him being-- the outlines of his ribs easily visible even in the dim-- but not emaciated, not yet. Where the lines of light from the shuttered windows fall on his bare upper body you can see his skin flushed from constant exertion of the muscles beneath; the minute trembling that seizes him seems to subside now and again, more due to exhaustion than anything else. *

* he doesn't respond. But his fingers, held in stiff claws, close into fists, and his breathing grows shorter and quicker. *

Chrysos, I'm going to take your temperature. I'm not going to hurt you. You're safe here.

[presses the end of the stem to Chrysos' skin, and also spreads a cool, liquid salve from the vial against his arm. It is a fast-acting sedative, powerful enough to kill the adrenaline in a rampaging Orvi - though if this is what he fears... all it will do is calm Chrysos down.]

* like a switch flipped-- the moment stem and salve make contact-- *

---no!!

* --in a flash of movement his body twists the other way and one arm lashes out wildly at the voice. *

[jolts back and the vial and stem clatter to the floor, both spinning-- his breath catches and thanks Surgeon that he thought to press both quick and simultaneously. He lashes his vines at him in an attempt to secure him]

Chrysos please calm down.

* he's already lunging right off the bed--- but the vines lash against his hands just before they reach Allen's neck, and the cry that escapes him is more pain than rage. *

[for a second he's so shocked by the fact that he's caused him enough pain to scream just by touching him that he hesitates and unravels, despite the direct attack, stumbling backwards instead]

* --a thump and another choked cry as his chest slams onto Allen's knees-- and his hands grab at the front of the boy's clothes, pulling at them, body trembling violently with the effort. *

[Allen can feel the heat through his clothes-- that's the very first thought, how hot Chrysos' body is, but the rest of him is wide-eyed and terrified, freezing up as all of his careful training, knowledge, ability to understand -- symptoms of hysteria, delusions, violence, increased strength, tremors, pain, unbelievable heat -- the conclusion he's reaching is only causing his heart to pound too fast, his stomach in his throat. He weakly, slowly tries to escape from him as if tranquilized himself, unable to compose himself as Chrys claws at him.]

C-chrysos. Chrysos, please stop. You're hurting yourself.

* he pauses, still clutching Allen's collar-- and whether it's the words, or the sedatives kicking in, or just sheer exhaustion... *

* letting go, he collapses to one side, shivering and whimpering. *

[Frozen in place.

He turns his head to stare at him, then stares at where the temperature stick had clattered to the ground. It's just a line of red, half ash, like incense half-burned. That temperature and alive. Beyond human, this disease transforms the sick to something that accommodates great rage of the mind and body. But this is no Berserker state.]