[FRAG] Grieve in Blood

"So tell me a little more about yourself, please?"

The mortal across the table from him - presumably a Gladar, judging by the Magninium levels - tapped their hands together. They glanced, aside, to the near-identical person sitting next to them. 

"Okay," they said, after their companion didn't move. "My name is Curar, and uh, we were looking for m-medical help. We were recommended this place by a f-friend, who uh, said that they didn't, um, judge. Or anything like that."

Morning Star bit the end of his stylus, staring down at the tablet in his hands. He'd pulled up the information on their Timeline a little bit ago - a K-line. Not exactly unexpected; the Ks were notorious for how broken and messy they were. Of no fault to the Fragments commandeering them, of course. It was just something about K dwellers. 

This was an especially unusual case, though.

"Right, could you explain a little more about the problem your... friend is facing?" Morning Star tilted his head after glancing up, feeling the medical hat slip on his head slightly without his horn to catch it. He hated having to go into mortal disguise, but sometimes the job demanded it.

Curar shifted in his seat again, glancing at the other Gladar. They remained stone-cold, staring at the table in clear frustration. 

"Well, uh, he had an - accident, and - could you show them, please?" 

The other Gladar barely lifted their head in recognition. Curar motioned rolling up a sleeve, and they dully mimicked. Morning Star leaned forward, narrowing his eyes at the other's injuries.

Gruesome growths had formed on the Gladar's arm. They looked entirely inorganic and unnatural in origin, somewhere between obsidian and tar. They throbbed in a sickly wave, starting at the shoulder and travelling down the arm to the wrist. Morning Star leaned back, biting on the pen again. He'd seen this before. Once or twice.

"How extensive are the growths?" he inquired next, sketching out a picture of one of the crystals onto his tablet.

Curar stared at the other Gladar, who simply rolled their sleeve back down and returned to staring at the table. After a few awkward seconds, he coughed and turned back to Morning Star. "Ah, um, over the torso and back, too. Not on the other arm."

"Over the heart?"

"Yes, a few - do... do you, um, know what it is?"

Morning Star breathed in slowly. "I know of it. I couldn't give you a name, unfortunately."

Instantly, Curar lit up. His friend remained impassive even as he blurted out, "So you can help us?"

"I should be able to. If nothing else, we can slow their spread and the symptoms associated with it."

He turned to his friend, grabbing them by the thigh and shaking them somewhat excitedly. "See, I told you coming here was a good idea! They're going to help!"

The other Gladar shot Curar a glare and loudly shifted their chair away from him. Curar tensed, staring at the other, mouth in a fine line. 

Morning Star cleared his throat.  

"Oh!" Curar turned back to him, gaze still pleading and hopeful, "What should we do, treatment-wise?"

"I'm going to have to take this to my higher-ups," Morning star spoke, carefully, eyes glued to the screen. "But I promise we'll get you help. It's a serious condition and needs special care, we just need to get that care authorized." he cast a brilliant smile to the duo. "How does that sound?"

"Lovely! That sounds lovely! Thank you so much!" Curar's entire expression had returned to elation, eyes wide, hands nearly covering his mouth. The sparkle in his eyes was visible, a true reflection of the relief running through his system.

"May I have some method of contacting you to let you know when the treatment's been cleared?" 

Curar magicked in a pencil and paper, scribbling down a cellie number and sliding it across the table. "I'm available at that number all the time! And Sanarse isn't going anywhere, right?" the last line was spoken with a pointed stare at the other. They grunted what at least sounded like an affirmative. 

"Thanks so much," Morning Star picked up the paper and copied the number into his tablet. He shot another warm, comforting smile at Curar. "You're free to go now. Thank you for coming!"

"No, thank you!" all earlier anxiety had seemed to melt, and Curar nearly sprang to his feet. He gently nudged his companion, careful to avoid their arms or the supposed injured areas of the torso, until they stood up and followed him out the door of the small office. Curar waved over his shoulder before closing the door. 

Morning Star remained tense, sitting with a smile plastered on his face until he could sense the two teleporting away. Instantly, his shoulders sagged and a sigh escaped him as he stood. The dredges of his disguise melted as he paced around the desk, medical outfit returning to his norm of formal dress shirt and tie. His horn and wings flared, a familiar weight on his head and back. They were a comfort in the face of what he'd just witnessed.

With a wave of his hand, the fake medical facility disappeared. He'd have to thank Eclipson later for dropping hints to the duo to come see 'a professional'. This could have gone ridiculously unnoticed.

Such were his thoughts as he teleported to Magnotris' laboratory. 

His friend was sitting at the table at the far side again, holding up what appeared to be a test tube of pure Magninium. It sparkled in the light, glowing a soft orange. The other looked almost menacing in his concentration, but gave a polite nod to recognize that he took note of Morning Star.

"Is Jubilee busy right now?" 

Magnotris lowered the tube, turning to Morning Star and giving the other his full attention. "Uh, no idea. Why?"

He wordlessly held up the tablet, complete with the drawing of the growths. Magnotris leaned forward, the chair creaking as his weight shifted. He tapped a finger on his chin, squinting at the image.

Recognition blossomed. "Oh, for fuck's sake. That's what-"

"-Lodestar had," Morning Star confirmed, voice withdrawn. 

"You need to go to Jubilee right away, then-"

"-Can you please take it?"

Magnotris froze, blinking once or twice before his head lifted to stare Morning Star in the eyes. "What?"

He offered the tablet. "I get harassed enough, asking if I could join the Rescue and Recover division. You don't."

"You collected this report and data. I'm busy with the-" he gestured to the table of test tubes and liquids, "-doses! I don't have time to waste on...."

Morning Star's expression had fallen to pity and anxiety. The sight of the other's tear-filled eyes and tightly-clenched jaw was enough to make Magnotris' voice die in his throat, mouth slightly open. The two stood in silence for a mere few minutes before Magnotris reached forwards and sheepishly took the tablet. Morning Star sat down in a nearby chair, curling hands in his pants and staring at the floor. 

The lightbulbs hummed, above their heads. No other noise could breach the silence between them.

"Sorry," Magnotris spoke up. His voice was soft, quiet, subdued. It lacked the bite and exhaustion and temper he usually spoke with.

"It's fine," Morning Star intoned. "I know it's sort of an unreasonable thing to ask."

"It's not. I was just being a dick." 

He scuffed a foot on the floor. "If you say so."

Magnotris pursed his lips, staring down at the drawing. He closed his eyes, breathing in slowly, feeling the air in his lungs. "Morning Star, it's okay. I'll talk to Jubilee about this and we can get them some help. It was good of you to go out of your way to try to stop another disaster."

The other was quiet.

"We can go hang out afterwards, if you want?"

Morning Star lifted his head blearily.

Magnotris gestured to the table. "Just forget all of this for a while. Go out for drinks at some Frag-friendly backwater bar that the COR doesn't know about. Let loose a little."

"That does sound nice."

A soft, comforting smile was sent his way. "Good. I'll go talk to Jubilee. Be right back, okay?"

Morning Star stood, stepping the small distance to Magnotris' side. The other stood, blinking, still clutching the tablet.

Wordlessly, Morning Star pulled the other into a tight, warm hug, burying his face in Magnotris' shoulder. The other blinked rapidly before clutching back, fingers digging into Morning Star's back, eyes closing in brief relaxation. His breathing slowed, matching the other's inhale perfectly. He could feel Morning Star's heartbeat, pressed up against his own.

"Thanks for being there," came the hoarse whisper, and Morning Star pulling away.

Magnotris bit back the desire to cling, and let him go willingly. "Anytime. For my friend."

He was rewarded with a tired smile.