(no subject)

[samahl]

WHO: Cyril and OPEN.
WHAT: Merrick is suffering from the posion. This is the place for people to worry about him.
WHEN: During the Crow Plot
WHERE: Merrick and Cyril's room.
NOTES: Merrick has been poisoned, so there's that. Also; talk of grief and death as that brings back bad memories for Clan Ashara, and Cyril's inability to self-care.

Sam had brought Merrick in from the cold. The healers had done what they could. Now all that was left was to wait for the poison to make it's way through Merrick's body.

They knew by now that Zevran was missing. There was this strange ache in Cyril's chest when he thought about that, strong enough that he could notice it over the overpowering anxiety he felt about Merrick. He was aware they were coming up with a plan to get Zevran back, but most of that talk wasn't sticking when Cyril heard it.

It wasn't that he didn't care about the rescue. He cared a great deal about what happened to Zevran, it was that any new information just felt jumbled up in Cyril's head. He could only really focus on the way that Merrick looked. He was in pain, everyone could see that, but he couldn't wake or break free from it.

Cyril was stuck to the side of their shared bed. He sat in a chair with his legs folded up towards his body. He had reached out one of his hands clasped it over Merrick's. He wasn't planning on moving until his brother woke, not unless a healer needed the space by the bed. Nothing else really mattered to him. He didn't need to sleep, or eat, or do anything other than watch and wait.

Anyone who saw him could see that his body was very tense and stiff. He looked like someone who was just on the edge of a flight or fight reaction. His eyes were wide and staring down at the bed. Merrick's body was sweating and suffering. It reminded Cyril too much like how members of his Clan described the plague victims of past. He had no memories of that time, other than a dim impression of his mother's last moments, but it was enough to leave him feeling anxious and devastated.

Comments

MERRICK WAKES UP

[dalishious]

It's barely morning when Merrick finds his eyes flying open, a sudden gasp of air filling his lungs. It's quiet, his movement barely noticeable.

He realizes both his hands are being held.

Everything is surreal, from the sensation prickling through his body to the eerie stillness of the room, the barest hint of morning light filtering in-- And he's exhausted, like he's just fought a long and bloody battle, body chilled from sweat and aching. He needs--something.

Slowly, so slowly, he slips his hands free and sits up. It hurts. Where's his pipe? Better yet--where's his flask? He rummages around a bit, but finds he can barely move his body correctly. It's like dead weight, and he almost falls out of bed, groaning and mumbling unintelligibly.

[metaari]

He's actually managed to catch some sleep; it happens occasionally, not often, and the circles under his eyes are proof of all of the nights that he's stayed awake. But it's the sensation of warmth leaving his hand that causes him to jerk awake and he sits up in his chair, groaning a bit at the tightness in his muscles from his sleeping position.

And then he sees what woke him up, and his eyes go wide.

"Merrick!" There's joy in his voice, surprise and delight and he's just so happy to see him. He very nearly surges forward and wraps him up in a hug but he manages to hold himself back. Instead he leans in and helps him sit back up in the bed, his hands steadying him. "Don't move too much. You've-- You're awake."

[mythalenaste]

Pel hears that groan and quickly sets her sewing aside to sit at Merrick's feet and path his ankle gently, just letting him know she's here.

"Cyril, get him water." Cyril's closer to the water.

[samahl]

Cyril had passed out as well and is still groggy when he wakes. He pulls
himself up and looks over to see Merrick standing and looking for something.

"What do you need, Merrick?" he asks as he gets up to get the water as Pel directs. "How do you feel?"

[dalishious]

Merrick immediately finds himself surrounded on all sides, and he's overwhelmed. He registers Cyril and Pel easily enough, the two people that are always there when he's overtaken by pain, but... Metaari's there, too. How long has it been? What even happened?

His brain can't process this.

"I need a drink," he mumbles.

[metaari]

A smile softens his alarmed features and Metaari sits back in his seat. Unconsciously he reaches for Merrick's hand again and he takes a light hold of it, giving Merrick room to pull his back if he doesn't want that.

He wants to say things, to talk to him, but there are too many people in the room with them and Merrick is only just woken up. It will have to wait until later. "It's good to hear your voice," he finally says, his voice low, just for the two of them.

[mythalenaste]

"I'm going to get the healer." She leans up to press a kiss to Merrick's forehead before straightening and standing to go.

[samahl]

Cyril has the water and brings it to Merrick. "Drink this," he offers. He looks over at Pel.

"Hurry back," he says. He doesn't do well with emotional things without someone like her around.

[dalishious]

Merrick's mouth and throat feel painfully dry, so he takes a drink-- The moment the water touches his lips, he feels his stomach heave.

He lurches and starts to retch.

[metaari]

Metaari is there with a steadying hand and he leans off to the side for one of the rags they'd been using to wipe the sweat from Merrick's brow. He dips it in the small bowl of water next to it and brings it up. There's a moment where he moves to do it himself before he stops and holds it out.

"Here."

[samahl]

Cyril pushes the glass aside to try and comfort Merrick, but Metaari is there and a huge presence. It's better to let him handle it then crowd him.

"You've been out of it for a couple days. Your body still probably doesn't want anything in it."

[dalishious]

"A couple days?"

Merrick's eyes widen with alarm despite how nauseated he feels. He tries to get off the bed again, but his world spins.

"Zevran--"

[metaari]

"If you can't take a drink of water, what makes you think you're going to be getting up? Sit."

He leans back in his chair and glances up toward Cyril, lifting his chin a little in the elf's direction. It'd probably be best for Merrick to hear about it from him, considering Metaari himself had no connection to Zevran.

Bout time

[el_tybs]

It is much later that Sam hears news that Merrick has finally woken up. He doesn't show up immediately after hearing about it, figuring that he probably would be in the way or perhaps unwelcome what with Cyril probably flying off the walls that his brother was awake.

When he does show up he brings the usual basket of food and waits patiently at the entrance, knocking lightly to see if he would be able to visit.

[dalishious]

Cyril had told Merrick someone would be by to watch him, so he mumbles a "Come in" as loud as he can manage.

He still feels incredibly weak and sick, and no amount of rest seems to be helping. Needless to say, he isn't in the best mood.

[el_tybs]

He's honestly a bit surprised that he doesn't hear Cyril's voice telling him to enter, but since he was given permission, Sam heads in slowly. As per usual his eyes are quick to move towards the bed, but unlike the other times Merrick is actually awake.

At that Sam smiles though still moves slowly when goes to the bed, setting the basket on the floor. "You're finally up. How are you feeling?"

[dalishious]

Merrick frowns at Sam.

"Why are you here?"

[el_tybs]

Sam raises a brow in turn, though doesn't seem put off by the tone Merrick is giving him.

"Because I've been coming to check up on you since bringing you here. And Cyril asked me to keep you company for a bit."

[dalishious]

"I don't need it," Merrick replies moodily. He lies back down, and for emphasis he rolls onto his side, facing away from Sam.

[el_tybs]

"Suit yourself." Though saying that, Sam doesn't leave, but rather takes a seat in the chair a bit of ways from the bed. Pulling a book from his belt he leans back, flipping through the pages until he found his spot.

LATER ON.......after she gets back from antiva

[arlathvhen]

Almost as soon as they get back to Skyhold, Beleth makes for Merrick's room. She should probably wait until she's managed to sleep, or bathe, or look kind of like a person, and less like an elf-shaped pile of weariness, but they tell her that he's awake, and she has to go.

She bothers to knock on the door and wait exactly two seconds before she bursts in anyway, and stares at Merrick. There's a long pause, with her just staring at him. Then she crosses the distance to his bed and throws her arms around him. He is given first a hard kiss, then a tight hug, then she buries her face in his neck, sniffling.

"I was so scared I was going to lose you." She whispered to Merrick, holding onto him for dear life. "I can't do that. I can't lose you."

WEH,,,

[dalishious]

Just as soon as Merrick wakes from sleep he hears the knock, and he sits up only to find his arms suddenly full of Beleth. It's practically muscle memory, the way he instantly embraces her, accepting her kiss before tugging her into his lap.

"Bell," he mumbles as he feels her tears on his neck. "Don't cry."

[arlathvhen]

"S-Sorry." Is the muffled reply, but that doesn't actually stop the tears. She just sniffles a little harder, and pulls a few inches away, so she can dab at his neck with a sleeve. But then she's back to hugging him. Or, more accurately, clutching onto him, like she's afraid someone may try to take him away.

"I love you." It's said plainly, bluntly. She doesn't dance around things for him. "So--So don't go where I can't follow you. I'm not strong enough."

She paused, then after a few moments, "We killed them. Most of them, anyway."

[dalishious]

Merrick holds her tight, one hand moving up and down her back, fingers pressing against her spine. The other clutches the back of her neck, winding in her hair, turning her head so he can gently kiss her neck.

He loves her too. So fucking much.

When she mentions the fate of the Crows he pulls back slightly, examining her face. "Thanks," he says softly. "And Zevran...?"

[arlathvhen]

She gives a soft little sigh of contentment as he holds her, kisses her, gives her quiet affection. It soothes her, helps calm nerves that have been fraying since Cyril told her that he was found prone in the snow. Her fingers dig into his back, and when he pulls away, she presses a gentle kiss to his cheek, then his jaw. It's better than looking him in the eye.

"He's alive." She hesitates, because she knows that if Merrick ever finds out just what she saw, the little that she knows, it would just make him suffer. "He's...banged up. But he's alive. He's a tough guy."