No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow.

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

July 3rd, Friday night
Stumbling homewards along the bank of the river

I am not sure who is helping who to walk; Iago helping me or me helping Iago. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to grab him and take him over to La Fee Verte ... but he was mopey and it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Admittedly, I don't have the best track record with good ideas. We got drunk on absinthe. Then I thought it would cheer him up ever more, so we went to see the show at The Grindhouse. Then Daiyu happened. Before I could say 'boo', we were back in her trailer, chasing the dragon. What happened next is still rather fuzzy. I am pretty sure we didn't have sex, with either her or each other, but I am pretty sure we got a private viewing of her contortion act.

But now my head just hurts, and Iago's giggling madly and stumbling over his own feet, and I may just need to sleep this off.  Maybe I just want to get back inside....

Shake my head to make that crawling feeling go away.  I'm being silly, it's not like I am out alone, after all.  Iago is babbling something about his cousins, and I can't follow any of it.  "You are an absolute mess, do you know that?" I say, half sighing, half laughing. "Granted, I am an absolute mess too." We both stumble and barely keep each other from going down face first into the river.

"We are never telling Glass about this, right?"

(open to Iago and Marbas and Kaeli)

Comments

[iago-excolo.livejournal.com]

Underhill's finally stopped fighting but he's still breathing so I don't give him another thought as I stagger back to Lucien. I drop to my knees, horrified as I look first to his wound and then to his face. He's pale and there's blood on his mouth. Fuckfuckfuck. What am I going to do?

I fight the rising tide of panic while wracking my muddled brain for the right thing to do. Shedding my jacket, I remove my shirt, folding it quickly before pressing it to his wound. Perhaps I can staunch it in time but I'm far out of my depth. He's coughing, choking and there's a frightening amount of blood on his hands and mine. His eyes are beginning to lose focus and I cry out, trying to regain his attention.

"Lucien! Look at me!" This is bad, truly terrible and I do my best to ignore any echoes of the past in the here and now. "You have to hang on." Please don't die! "I need to get some help but since you're the doctor..." Fuck me. "I need to get someone else."

But who? I could get Verdandi. She could handle this ...unless she comes up with that 'it's his time' bullshit. She does like him though... There's the Abbey as well. Perhaps they could help but the wound's ugly. ...I don't know. He's ashen with a faraway stare. He's barely breathing as well and whatever I'm going to do has to happen immediately. A crazy thought occurs to me.

"Lucien! Don't you fucking die on me! I'll be right back!"

I pick myself up and run as fast as I can, hoping that I'm not already too late.

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

Iago's yelling and pressing his shirt against me, but I barely feel it...

so far, he's so far away...

"I need to get some help but since you're the doctor... I need to get someone else." That's funny... I think I am laughing, but it's more a gurgle... doesn't hurt that much, anymore... colder, it got colder out...

Iago's babbling again, and he's threatening me not to die... whats he gonna do if I die... kill me...? Ha ha hahahaha

"'ll... wait... here..." I try to call out to his retreating back... cough up more blood...

Alone...

[marbasthefallen.livejournal.com]

Iago does exactly as I thought he would. Soon enough he runs off, and I manage to crawl my way over to Lucien. I am hurting rather badly, but it is lessening by the moment.

Lucien's eyes are glazed but they still move about, and his lips move, but there's no words, just gurgling and a wheeze. The dagger's right there, I can finish it off...

but instead I take his hand. "I am sorry Lucien. I am... I tried to keep you safe... He knew that. That you were my weakness..." I know it makes no matter to him. "You're a good man, Lucien Constantine. The Light knows that, and will welcome you." His lead lolls and he looks at me. I swear he almost smiles. I smile back. I shall stay, until the end.

It's not more than two minutes, if that... The death rattle comes, the body gives one long violent shudder...

And then it's over. He's still. He's gone. I sigh, and reach out to coax his eyes closed. "Rrrrrrruhe in Frrrrrieden mein Frrrrrreund" Oh... ohhhh....... yessssssssssss......

I had wondered, would I have to grovel, would He make me wait? No... oh, like a fire sweeping a dead forest, my powers come washing back over me. Like a cloak, I shake off this broken, bloodied, human form, my demonoid form aflame, my wings unfurled behind me.

I throw back my head and trumpet my return to myself, a roar that echoes up the river, to the Town, to the Tower, to my Lady and babe in our garden....

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

And when the day comes, I'll become the sky, and I'll become the sea... and the sea is coming to kiss me, for I am going home..."

I understand that Marbas is talking, but it's Wanda's voice I hear, from somewhere far off, whispering melodically, calling me away from this, away from the pain, and the cold... and I follow her voice, for it's warm, and it's familiar and it's...

home.

The night has turned to day, the breeze soft and cool, the scent of flower and fern and far off snow. The path leads to a small village, one I know well, and remember. I was happy here, once... and I could be again, I already am...

I'm home! I'm going home..."