[center] [h1][color=c1196b]ꍏꌗƬꍟꋪꀤꂦꈤ ꀘꍏꀤꋪꂦ[/color][/h1] & [h2]Gang[/h2] [/center] [hr] [color=808080] His head was aching terribly. Everything was beginning to ache and he wondered if it was because his body was trying to reject and kick Asterion out of it or if Asterion was fighting to take over his body in an extremely weak state. “[color=ffffff]Asterion, you are not taking off this blindfold,[/color]” Erik spoke out, trying to sound confident towards his boss, but he was uncertain if he should be like that or not. Asterion tolerated a lot from him and he would be lying if he didn’t say the man sharing his body was nerve wracking. His statement, however, seemed to change something in the instance. His head was not hurting as much nor was his body continuing to ache. This was caused by Asterion. For the past two hours, Asterion had not dared answer anything that Erik had said to him though he was beginning to catch onto what the older man felt like being inside his body. [i][color=white]I wonder if this is how parasites —[/color][/i] [color=c1196b][i]I am not a parasite,[/i][/color] Asterion’s voice interrupted Erik’s thoughts about parasites and sounded so loud in his head. Erik was startled and stood up, “[color=white][b]Oh![/b][/color]” The vocalization showed his surprise though at the end of the elongated sound, he sounded pleased, “[color=white]You are there! I didn’t think you were going to ever say anything.[/color]” A few, too many, seconds that made Erik believe that Asterion went quiet again happened. Then in a tired sounding thought, he heard him reply, [color=c1196b][i]I am tired, Erik. I just want to be back in my body,[/i][/color] which was the only thing Asterion wanted at the moment. “[color=white]You can’t go back into your body, Asterion. It’s healing,[/color]” Erik spoke with his hands a little bit while he stood there. Asterion’s body was in rough shape, along with his natural healing, he put the body into a hyperbaric chamber like thing except it was water based. He was hoping that it would help Asterion’s body heal more efficiently. A sigh could be heard in his head, not his own, [color=c1196b]I do not care what condition it is in. I [i]want[/i] to be in my body, Erik,[/color] the man was beginning to show he had his mind on one thing and one thing only; his body. Erik grumbled a little, “[color=white]You don’t understand. Your body needs time to heal,[/color]” Erik was not understanding the emotional turmoil that Asterion was finding himself in. A reason he was staying quiet for so long. He didn’t want to speak in case he got angry and he knew no one deserved such explosive behavior especially Erik. [color=c1196b]Erik…[/color] Asterion’s voice echoed out in the young man’s head. [color=c1196b]I am not debating this. Return me to my body. Please. You do not understand and I know that. You are thinking logically…[/color] the words paused with a frustrated noise. [color=c1196b]This is not logical. I know. I just want to be in my body. I want to be comforted by being in my body even if it is in a horrible state.[/color] Erik’s face seemed to twist at the explanation and his face formed a little frown. “[color=white]Okay… I guess I can let you go back into your body. It’s just not safe.[/color]” [color=c1196b]I do not care if it is safe or not. I should be dead. I just want the comfort of my body. I do not want to be in yours or anyones at all,[/color] Asterion added. That was when Erik had Eden call Krish and Zarek. Those two were going to freak out when they figured out what he did — he was going to be scolded. [color=white]How mad is Asterion going to be!?[/color] [color=c1196b]How mad am I going to be at what?[/color] [color=white][b]NOTHING![/b] Nothing at all![/color] [hr] Aches and pains were inevitable in a lifestyle like this, no one could escape such a thing in Nocturnia, but he found that the pain was soothing to him. Somehow it was reassuring to him that everything was alright. He could still feel pain. By this time, his body was out of the chamber and not fully healed, it was dressed in more casual attire — a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Something that was loose and baggy so it wasn’t restricting in any way or causing more pain than reasonable. His movements were barely movements as his hand tried moving and flopped onto his chest with the inability for finesse. That made him cough a little bit and he looked in pain. Krish seemed concerned and was already reaching out for his hand to correct it though Asterion weakly waved him off. “[color=c1196b]I am fine,[/color]” his voice was soft and had no ability to be any higher at the moment because of how dry his mouth and nasal passages felt. That same hand came up his chest, lazily feeling the softer fabric, and the hand landed on his neck. Gently rubbing at it. “[color=c1196b]Water?[/color]” his voice sounded so hoarse for that singular word. “[color=white]Yeah. Zarek. Can you get him some water?[/color]” Krish asked politely with a smile and looking at Zarek. Zarek rolled his eyes, “[color=white]Sure. I’ll be the maid,[/color]” he spat those words out before leaving the room to go get Asterion water. Asterion knew of everything that happened with Bella, since he was in Erik’s head, and Erik wasn’t able to hide it very well from him. However, he didn’t know how he should feel about such a thing. On the other hand, he stopped Krish and Zarek from bitching at the young scientist, and told them that they needed to cut it out for now. For now. He would have to give Bella a call one of these days to thank her and something else but he wasn’t in the proper mindset to make bigger decisions like that. He was too grumpy to tolerate anyone, even Krish at the moment. And it wasn’t because he didn’t want to. Everything hurt him — incoming sound, incoming light, absolutely everything was bothersome, painful, or intolerable for the moment. This was going to be a longer healing journey than he wanted. “[color=white]At least your body is staying stable! I was worried it wouldn’t but you aren’t on anything! This is so impressive. I didn’t know your healing could go to this extent![/color]” Erik began to move around Asterion and go on and on about it. Asterion lifted a hand to cover his ear that was closest to Erik, “[color=c1196b]Erik…[/color]” he groaned with a little bit of annoyance. “[color=c1196b]Quiet your voice…[/color]” he added with some pain showing on his face. Erik seemed shocked then realized he was talking a little too loud and a little too excitedly, an embarrassed smile went on his face, and he began to rub the back of his neck. “[color=white]I’m sorry. I’ll try to keep my voice down for you sir,[/color]” he kept his voice quieter knowing that Asterion couldn’t handle the volume. “[color=c1196b]I feel like I am going to fall asleep. Krish, I want to go back to my room, and while we are going there. Update me on everything,[/color]” the man wanted to hear what was happening outside of the tower. Did they get Elara? Was Elara still captive and did his little brother not tell anyone about Elara? He wasn’t able to because he was out. This was going to be a complete mess… [hr] Asterion had been fully informed and up-to-date with everything that was happening. The confession that everyone knew Elara was entrapped and taken hostage but no one did anything about it was the most upsetting information he heard. He did not care about the war that was happening in the slightest when he was told that [i]everyone[/i] knew and no one did [i]anything[/i]. Krish was telling him to keep his composure and settle down before he accidentally caused his heart to blow out or something. Erik was worried about how red Asterion got in the face when he heard that information. Zarek finally showed up with a bottle of water and opened it for the man before handing it to him. Taking a drink of water helped his throat, “[color=c1196b]You are all idiots… absolute fucking idiots. None of you did [i]anything[/i] at all to negotiate her safety? None of you thought to attempt finding her and breaking her out?[/color]” The man sounded disappointed, similar to a disappointed father, and he felt like one at the moment. “[color=white]You were out of it, Aster! I needed to make sure you were stable and no one was catching on so nothing bad happened,[/color]” Krish tried pleading his case. Asterion shook his head in the negative, lying in his bed, and propped up. “[color=c1196b]That is not an excuse that I want to hear. Normal people would be dead in my situation, I should be dead, so what would you have done if I died? What was your plans to save Elara if I did not make it, Krish?[/color]” the man plainly asked as if there was poison on his tongue. Krish looked like a deer in headlights. Erik was looking wide-eyed at Krish because he wasn’t in many of the situations where Asterion sounded like this or was asking such questions. That was when Zarek interrupted, “[color=white]I was listening to Krish, Asterion, but you have to understand where he is coming from. You were critical but alive. You are alive. I would have started investigations sometime today or tomorrow for Elara and we would have gone from there. Do not be angry with Krish because you are his top priority and he wasn’t the only one making decisions on not to save Elara right away. We were busy with you and then a war broke out this morning,[/color]” Zarek plainly got those words out while crossing his arms. Asterion sighed and covered his face with his hand even though the only light coming into the room was from the cracks in the curtains. “[color=c1196b]Fine. I am sorry. I did not mean to yell at you guys. I just…[/color]” he was trying to speak but his voice sounded so weak and raspy. “[color=white]You are in pain and can’t think, we know. Just get some rest okay?[/color]” “[color=c1196b]Start looking for Elara and see if she is at least alive. Also, I want 24-7 in-person armed and guarded surveillance on the border of Nickel and Heavycross guard,[/color]” the man explained. “[color=white]We will get to it,[/color]” Krish explained before shooing everyone out but Erik stayed. He wanted to make sure Asterion would be okay so he stood there and was going to watch the man. [/color] [hr] [center][code] 0.5 personnel is spent on 24-7 hour armed surveillance shifts of the border of heavy cross guard and Nickel. Another 0.5 personnel have been sent out to unearth information about Elara [/code] [/center]