[ CLOSED ] when the river's running red

[gynvael]

Who: Geralt + a variety of close CR
When: End of June, post-event
Where: Cadens
What: Geralt nearly dies for real after nightmare shenanigans, and then somehow it's Sam who nearly dies. Things happen a lot.
Warnings: Blood, mentions of disturbing dreams, talk of death, medical stuff, etc.



(( starters below. ))

Comments

[assembles]

[ A healer. That's more than Steve knew two seconds ago, so he'll take it. It tells him more than one might think, which is that there's magic involved in this rather than circa-1800's medicine. If this healer knows what she's doing, then magic could very well be the better option here.

He does manage to scoot past the guy, and by that point the door is right there, within reach. He could burst in if he wanted. But as some of the immediate panic fades, Steve realizes that his presence could make things worse if the person in there is working to save Sam's life.

Is it that bad? His stomach bunches up on itself and he spins back toward the stranger, the one who was with Sam when whatever happened, happened. If he can't see Sam right now, then the least he can do is get some answers. ]

Then you need to tell me what happened out there.

[ For all that he's making demands, there is genuine concern weighing down his expression. This isn't a situation where he can just punch whoever was responsible for Sam's state, but the lack of having an actionable thing he can do has left him antsy.

Finally remembering himself, he heaves out a breath and sends the stranger an imploring look. ] Please.

[gynvael]

[ Another long pause. Then Geralt moves to the side, away from the door. Injuries in the Horizon don't carry into the real world. So how the fuck can they do so from their dreams, interconnected or not?

But then, those tiny scars on Jaskier after their memories rushed back exist. Small physical changes he's seen in others, apparently bestowed by the Singularity. ]

I was dying. From one of those dreams. Sam saved my life.

[ How so is the question. Sam does not possess healing magic of any kind—has very little by way of magic, in fact. Not in the entire time Geralt has known him since they arrived together. This, it came out of nowhere. Instinct, perhaps. Geralt can't tell if it's the magic itself that caused this or because the trip had worn Sam out already—that off sensation he had complained about but insisted was nothing major. Nothing that couldn't be taken care of once they were in the city.

He shifts his weight onto his good leg. There's a good amount of blood on him still and none of it belongs to Sam. ] I don't know what he did. When I awoke again, he'd already collapsed.

[assembles]

[ Those nightmares caused all this? Steve's head rears back in brief surprise when he hears that. Yes, he'd woken up from a few of his dreams with a scratch on one of his arms, or soreness in his legs, but that had been the extent of it. The idea that they could actually leave someone on death's door is almost impossible to believe.

Yet there's the proof all over this guy's body, with dried blood clotted into his hair and stains here and there on his clothing. Not to mention whatever is going on with Sam.

Which doesn't seem to have any sort of satisfying explanation, at least not yet. Steve's gaze shifts back to the door as he draws in another breath, as if he has to put real effort into stopping himself from shoving his way inside to see how it's going. But all that this guy seems to know is that Sam did something to help him, and now he's unconscious.

Of course Sam would have done whatever he could to help a friend who was in such dire straits. After losing Riley, the idea of going through something like that again would have been unbearable. And he's just that type of person, willing to do anything for those he cares about. ]

Then I'm guessing he's been out for hours already. [ Steve looks back to the stranger. While there's a tightness at the corners of his eyes, he does straighten his back with a newfound certainty. He's not losing Sam today, not when they didn't even get a proper reunion. ] He's tough. Whatever happened, I'm sure he's fighting his way through it.

[ And Steve plans to check in on him as soon as it's safe to do so.

After another pause, he steps closer to the man and holds out his hand. ] ... Sorry, I'm Steve. And I owe you for getting him all the way back here.

[gynvael]

[ Geralt is not, at this point, aware that he's one of the very few left near-dead from these dreams, but he won't be surprised to hear that's so. A common feature of his life. And yet somehow, he's still standing. Again. Death is a fickle mistress.

He doesn't answer. Steve is not wrong. Sam is tough. He's also only human. Not knowing what is afflicting Sam makes it worse. But there isn't anything to do except wait. Hope Nadine walks out that door with some good news. At least Sam is in good hands with her. There isn't anyone else he'd trust.

His gaze drifts to Steve's hand. After a second, he takes it. ] Geralt. [ They've met. He decides not to mention it. That's a complication he hasn't the energy to touch on right now. ] You owe me nothing. He's a friend.

[ The least he could do was bring Sam home. If they'd been further from the city—he doesn't know what he'd have done. He'd prefer not to think about it. ]

[assembles]

[ Steve grips Geralt's hand firmly, gives it a proper shake but doesn't linger too long. He has some awareness that the last thing Geralt probably wants to deal with right now is a string of people worried about Sam, but if nothing else, Steve will be able to field the questions of anyone else who catches wind of what's going on. It's the least he can do. ]

I figured. [ You didn't opt to go on a week-long trip into the desert with a stranger. Steve still doesn't know what they'd been after out there. ] Whatever your trip was about, I hope you found you were looking for.

[ He says it sincerely. What happened to Sam seems to be a result of bad timing rather than anything the desert did to them. If they'd just gotten to town a little bit sooner, Geralt's wounds could have been tended in a more controlled environment. Still, there's little point in dwelling on what-ifs.

Steve's hand drops back to his side and he lets out a breath through his nose, gaze straying to the closed door again. ] I'll, uhh, probably wait here until she comes out. You must be dead on your feet — I won't keep you any longer.

wrapping!

[gynvael]

[ Had they? Geralt thinks he found enough, but something tells him Sam won't feel the same. A conversation for another time, though. Sam's not going anywhere any time soon.

He nods. He gets the instinct to stand vigil. Geralt has the benefit of trusting Nadine and also half a dozen people he needs to speak to. Besides, fretting in one place won't help Sam, and no one needs a pile of bodies blocking the corridor. She'll let him know as soon as Sam wakes up.

Even before Steve offers him an out, Geralt is already stepping to the side to leave. He's too tired to give a shit about courtesy, and he grants little thought to Steve beyond whether or not the man's agreed to stay out of the way. Which he has, so. Problem solved. He slips past Steve, making his way downstairs without a glance back. ]