César Salazar (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
pineapplesalmon) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
myicebox2016-06-09 03:09 pm
pineapplesalmon) wrote in myicebox2016-06-09 03:09 pm
Zaknafein Do'Urden and Caesar Salazar Meet. And are immediate bros!
When Caesar wasn't at work doing science, he was at home doing science. There were limits to how many of his ideas that he wanted to hand over to his workplace. Not only were there so many rules and procedures that simply got in the way, but he wanted to retain ownership of the more interesting ideas at his disposal. So that took them to the here and now.
Caesar wanted to play with viewing other universes, and he was pretty sure he wasn't going to get approval to do it from his boss. He also didn't want a corporation to take the technology and use it for financial gain. No, this was a purely scientific endeavor. It was important that it remained so. Mind you, he knew there was a risk of his company being angry enough to put him out of a job after he published the paper on this, but he'd be able to find another job easily, considering his skill set. They'd likely pay him even more.
Not that he wasn't paid well now--he was, judging by how his apartment was furnished fairly nicely. It was all mostly normal furniture, chosen for utility (how comfy, multipurpose) over design. It geared mostly towards the modern, but the couch was definitely a big green monstrosity of a thing with poofy seats, backs, and armrests.
Two bedrooms. One bedroom was his, and the other was being used as his lab. He'd at least covered the floor with a protective covering so that it wouldn't get ruined (too much). This was where he was now. Nice hardwoods and crown molding in a bedroom where a Murphy bed was up against the wall in case he had guests. (Mostly so he could sleep in this room instead.)
It was pretty high up, on the eighth floor of an apartment building overlooking a still somewhat busy street. It was Friday evening, and it meant Caesar could work out the bugs on his new toy all weekend instead of go out and be social like normal people. Which his therapist probably would have preferred, really. But Caesar was happy now. Maybe a little lonely, but he chatted with Rex regularly, and both visited at least a few times a year.
But that was an aside that Caesar was not even thinking about at the moment, and would probably be snippy with the narrator if he had any idea about her existence. Right now, he was focused on peering into other universes, mostly because he could, partially because he wanted to prove some of his theories, and a very slight, but more pressing than he would like, need to prove one of his coworkers wrong.
The system was fairly simple: a console hooked up to a server rack, both hooked up to the a metal doorway with various doohickeys on the inside of it to create and maintain the gateway to another world. I also had some more equipment in the front of the doorway to create a force field that would block anything trying to come through. It was all along one wall of the room, opposite the bed.
He was finally ready to switch it on. It was either going to work or cause their part of the universe to implode if he got his calculations wrong. Oh well, c'est la vie.
It was a simple boot sequence, all started by a big red button that Caesar had installed in the console because he found it funny. Everything hummed to life at once, and Caesar tried to keep a grin off his face. Each check and test passed one by one as the sequence went through all of them, and then the portal itself fired up, followed by the blue force field a second later.
Suddenly, Caesar was peering into darkness through the portal as it stabilized. He frowned a bit. It was theoretically working, but... It was pitch black. Nothing. No light at all.
And that's when his machine finally caused the power to dip for a moment, and the UPS for the force field failed, causing it to hum and fizzle out of existence. Caesar stared at the portal, dumbstruck.
"... That wasn't supposed to happen."
Caesar wanted to play with viewing other universes, and he was pretty sure he wasn't going to get approval to do it from his boss. He also didn't want a corporation to take the technology and use it for financial gain. No, this was a purely scientific endeavor. It was important that it remained so. Mind you, he knew there was a risk of his company being angry enough to put him out of a job after he published the paper on this, but he'd be able to find another job easily, considering his skill set. They'd likely pay him even more.
Not that he wasn't paid well now--he was, judging by how his apartment was furnished fairly nicely. It was all mostly normal furniture, chosen for utility (how comfy, multipurpose) over design. It geared mostly towards the modern, but the couch was definitely a big green monstrosity of a thing with poofy seats, backs, and armrests.
Two bedrooms. One bedroom was his, and the other was being used as his lab. He'd at least covered the floor with a protective covering so that it wouldn't get ruined (too much). This was where he was now. Nice hardwoods and crown molding in a bedroom where a Murphy bed was up against the wall in case he had guests. (Mostly so he could sleep in this room instead.)
It was pretty high up, on the eighth floor of an apartment building overlooking a still somewhat busy street. It was Friday evening, and it meant Caesar could work out the bugs on his new toy all weekend instead of go out and be social like normal people. Which his therapist probably would have preferred, really. But Caesar was happy now. Maybe a little lonely, but he chatted with Rex regularly, and both visited at least a few times a year.
But that was an aside that Caesar was not even thinking about at the moment, and would probably be snippy with the narrator if he had any idea about her existence. Right now, he was focused on peering into other universes, mostly because he could, partially because he wanted to prove some of his theories, and a very slight, but more pressing than he would like, need to prove one of his coworkers wrong.
The system was fairly simple: a console hooked up to a server rack, both hooked up to the a metal doorway with various doohickeys on the inside of it to create and maintain the gateway to another world. I also had some more equipment in the front of the doorway to create a force field that would block anything trying to come through. It was all along one wall of the room, opposite the bed.
He was finally ready to switch it on. It was either going to work or cause their part of the universe to implode if he got his calculations wrong. Oh well, c'est la vie.
It was a simple boot sequence, all started by a big red button that Caesar had installed in the console because he found it funny. Everything hummed to life at once, and Caesar tried to keep a grin off his face. Each check and test passed one by one as the sequence went through all of them, and then the portal itself fired up, followed by the blue force field a second later.
Suddenly, Caesar was peering into darkness through the portal as it stabilized. He frowned a bit. It was theoretically working, but... It was pitch black. Nothing. No light at all.
And that's when his machine finally caused the power to dip for a moment, and the UPS for the force field failed, causing it to hum and fizzle out of existence. Caesar stared at the portal, dumbstruck.
"... That wasn't supposed to happen."
no subject
"A powerful companion indeed." He says with a small smile. "Your cat will be fine. I know that beings summoned from other planes recuperate when they return, though I have never known one to be called with a statue."
Still, there is something far more important to speak of.
"But I believe we have already found a way out." The grip of his hand becomes more firm over Drizzt's. "Unintentionally, but I believe we have found he-"
Then he hitches in a sharp cry as he moves to sit next to his son on the bed, the bending of his body making the shard of wood wedged in his side shift and become too sharp a pain to ignore.
no subject
Drizzt looks up at his father with wide eyes as he continues to speak, realizing quickly that his father had the same thoughts. He had been worried that Zaknafein wouldn't agree to leave, and Drizzt didn't know what he would do then! But now he has no reason to worry--Zaknafein even says they've already found a way out? Are they... free?
All of the hopes starting to rise up in Drizzt's chest are suddenly forgotten when Zak lets out a cry of pain. Drizzt doesn't care about his own pain then, forcing himself to sit up fast, lavender eyes fighting to slide to the infrared spectrum as he turns away from the light source to better detect where Zaknafein is bleeding. The sudden movement leaves his head spinning, and he has to brace himself with an arm behind him, the figurine tumbling from his fingers and onto the bed. Before his eyes even adjust, Drizzt sees the injury, and he looks at his father in growing alarm.
"You're injured!" Drizzt cries out, more in alarm than outright disappear--it doesn't appear fatal, as far as he can see.
no subject
"It's okay!" Caesar's voice rises for a moment to attempt to get their attention, but then he lowers it to something more calming. "I can help with that, too. Just try not to move, Zaknafein. You'll hurt yourself worse."
Caesar knows they can't understand him, and that Drizzt probably hasn't even seen him yet, but he hopes that the tone gets things across as he approaches the two of them again. He's betting that Zaknafein will keep the other elf from attacking him, because the tone he had heard from Zak until a moment ago sounded very promising for trust being gained.
no subject
"If this is the extent of what I must pay to ensure your safety I'd endure it a thousand times over."
His attention snaps back to the wizard as he speaks, understanding naught but his name. He glances to the box, then back up to the human's face, the hand on Drizzt's shoulder holding him steady. "His name is Caesar, I believe. He is the one that took us from the Underdark. He is..." Zak is hesitant to call him trustworthy, not knowing enough to say for sure. "Different."
Looking back up to Caesar again, he regards the man a long moment before finally nodding. They are both injured, but they are both Drow. Should the human try something he won't live to speak of it.
no subject
Drizzt seems to calm as his father is still able to smile and laugh despite being impaled by this object. It does not appear to be a mortal wound, and his father is actively seeking to sooth his nerves. All of this is so sudden and confusing, but Drizzt knows better to look around the room in his current dizzy state.
When the stranger speaks, none of the words make sense, but the tone of the words is something so far out of the ordinary that Drizzt is left breathless. They're full of concern. Genuine concern, and it's written in the human's face as well. Drizzt has seen human slaves before, but not often, yet this human seems... free. And that's only more confusing. The name is certainly foreign to him.
"He's concerned about your current state," Drizzt stated in awe, as if to confirm what his father said. "Where are we? Is what is contained within that box meant to help with your wounds?"
no subject
When Zaknafein nods to him, he steps forward and opens the box to face them, slowly putting it onto the bed so that they can see the supplies clearly. He then leaves the bed for a moment, pulling his office chair off the floor where it had been thrown, and slowly wheeling it towards the two drow. He tries to ignore the smell of it and hopes he's not breathing in too many toxic fumes.
Then, he sits down in front of them, gives them both a reassuring smile, and gestures to Zak before miming taking off a shirt. "I'm going to need you to take that all off."
Keywords sorry
you are not even remotely sorry
And smart mouth.
He gives Drizzt a mostly gently shove with the hand still on the boy's shoulder and looks into the box. A number of the things contained within are unknown to him, but he understands bandages well enough.
"I have no idea where he are." He finally answers as he begins to unlatch his own armor, begrudgingly allowing Drizzt to help him when he can't turn enough without risking more pain and blood. "But we are no longer in Menzoberranzan, that is all that matters. We can survive anything."
It actually takes a bit of effort to remove the armor without upsetting whatever is stabbing him, and Zak winces a bit when he's finally able to pull his shirt up over his head. The blood itself is difficult to see against his skin, but the shard of some splintery brown substance is clearly visible. It's about the size of a small dagger, four or five inches long though most of it buried inside of him.
The wound hurts a whole hell of a lot more now that he knows it's there, but it's not going to be fatal.
no subject
"If we are truly out of Menzoberranzan, then that is all that matters," Drizzt still smiled, not a hint of a joke behind his words.
The levity doesn't last for long, though--not for Drizzt. He helps his father with his armor and, if necessary, his shirt. It isn't long before he's grown grim, looking increasingly worried as he notices the blood. He's still dizzy himself, but it is his father that is the one in danger. The wound does not seem to be mortal from the way Zaknafein acts, but Drizzt stares at it for a long moment before looking up at Caesar with a pleading expression.
He's still scared, only able to control it because of his father's calm.
no subject
Caesar gives them both a reassuring smile, putting the first aid kit on the bed in front of Zaknafein before sitting next to his injured side. He's trying to act like he knows what he's doing, but he's a little nervous himself. He knows the general knowledge necessary for closing up a wound like this, as long as the thing hasn't managed to pierce anything critical. By Caesar's estimation, and a quick few calculations in his head to judge the angle, it likely hasn't. If the human comparison holds, anyway.
He gets a disinfectant wipe and cleans his hands quickly, then puts on some gloves. Caesar gets a large package of gaze and rips it open. With a nod to Zaknafein, looking into his eyes, Caesar reaches over and starts wiping up some of the blood.
"Just be glad you're not a vampire," Caesar jokes weakly, knowing neither of them will understand a single word. "You'd be dead."
no subject
"It will take far more than this to end me. Unfortunately, you are stuck with me for centuries more I fear."
He lets his hand slide back down to Drizzt's shoulder, letting it remain there as he turns back to Caesar, watching everything the other man is doing. There's part of him that is wondering if this is some sort of dream, that his mind finally crumbled under the weight of his own hatred and fabricated an escape for he and his son that couldn't possibly be happening.
The pain is a good indicator of reality though, the corners of his eyes tight as Caesar starts cleaning the area. His attention turns to the human's face when the other speaks, and the whole situation almost seems absurd. "I do wish we could understand each other."
/quietly destroys you
It was more than just a touch, but the most tender of touches that the young drow has never known. Full of emotion, so blatantly showing him affection in a way that Zaknafein had never had before. In a way that Zaknafein, and Drizzt, had never felt safe enough to express before. Even the hug in the gym, when Zak had realized Drizzt had survived the Academy, had been short and intense.
The touch had been more tender than anything Drizzt has experienced in his young life and that Zak had ever dared showed. That, more than any words Zaknafein had said, drove home the fact that they were at last free from that wretched place. It was overwhelming, and for the first time in years, Drizzt not only saw his vision blurring but felt the hot wetness of tears rolling down his cheeks. He had thought the ability to cry had been beaten out of him many years ago by snake-headed whips, but it suddenly came back with force and without any control. In this place, in this new place, Drizzt knows that, as with showing affection, that it is safe to cry.
Even as a lump welled in his throat, Drizzt's heart soared free with a rare and often fleeting emotion--hope.
Drizzt's expression only crumples when Zak isn't looking at him, the tears, silent, only streak across his cheeks when the other elf is looking at the human, but he can't hide the sounds of it forever. He certainly can't hide it from the human, whom is now staring at him with softened eyes. Drizzt's breath hitches and he shudders a gasp for a moment of breath, trying to control the swirl of emotions within him. The young drow brings a hand over his father's, gripping it tightly with trembling fingers.
His father's wounds need to be dealt with, first and foremost, and this Drizzt knows, but one thought overrules everything, striking like a bell at the very core of Drizzt's being; he chokes on a whisper, managing to wrench back some control: "We're free."
quietly destroys own character as well
Caesar keeps focused on his work, cleaning the area around the wound so that it is free of blood and he can get a better view of it. The wound is deep and nasty, but not likely fatal unless it gets infected. If his memories about anatomy serve him right--which they do--then no major blood vessels are present in that area.
He knows what is next and necessary, although he doesn't want to think of it quite yet. When he removes the wood, the wound will have to be immediately packed to stop the flow of blood. Thankfully, he's got a toy for that, but that will only be good for the sort term. Long term, it will need to be properly treated.
Caesar looks up to Zaknafein to see how he's handling it, but his attention immediately turns to Drizzt. The drow seems to have been affected greatly, emotion overwhelming him to tears. It's intensity is enough to pull away Caesar from his current task, no small feat, and his eyes soften as he watches the emotional elf try to keep his emotions controlled as much as he can.
His eyes slowly slide over to Zak, jerking his head and gaze towards Drizzt to indicate the crying elf, his voice as gentle as the expression on his face. "Drizzt is crying."
Caesar stands, pulling the medical kit aside so that there is room for a shuffle of positions; he will work on the wound from Zaknafein's side if Zak chooses to face Drizzt, which Caesar expects he will. Perhaps he will not, but if not for Caesar's task that currently occupies his mind, he knows what that expression across Drizzt's face would do to him. He's never seen a face so mixed with pain and hope, not since after the time he was shot and reunited with the Hamadas so many years ago.
No matter what, he needs to keep these two elves safe--and he knows that the Hamadas, and everyone else close to him--will agree.
cruel and unusual you are
Drizzt is so much like himself, yet so much more than he could have ever hoped to be.
Zak had only turned away because of the business with his wound, knowing that while it's not going to be fatal on it's own, it still needs to be cared for. He trusts Caesar, but he's only capable of so much, especially when it comes to a stranger. The human has proved himself, but he views the world through a thick layer if ingrained paranoia that he's not even aware of because it's such a normal, natural thing.
The older drow's keen ears alert him to his son's apparent distress before Caesar makes mention of it, and he snaps himself around while giving little thought to his injury.
He's seen drow cry before, but not like this. Drow cry out of frustration and anger, or fear and desperation. He's never known a drow that could feel sadness enough to cry, let alone spill tears filled with such hope and emotions so seldom seen he can hardly recognize them. It makes his heart swell and his own eyes start to burn, but he keeps himself in control.
Again, there's his natural instinct to try and help the boy hide his tears. Weakness is dangerous and it could end him in even worse pain, but when he hears those two, sweet but heavy words, he lets it all fall away. Instead he lifts a hand to cup the boy's cheek, wiping a tear away with his thumb and leaning in close to rest their foreheads together, repeating the words to make them seem more solid and real.
"We are free."
:] I take pride in my cruelity.
Zaknafein returning his words shake him to his core, but also build it back up. There's a future for them, quite suddenly, that isn't simply surviving together through a horrible, crazy world. But what sort of world is this? It cannot be worse than the one that they just left, and Drizzt knows that from the short time on the surface, much of what he was told about the other races are likely lies.
He wrestles back his ability to breathe, although the tears would still blur his vision if his eyes were open. Drizzt lets himself be comforted by his father. It's not the first time Zak has touched him in such a way, and Drizzt already knows that it will not be the last. He swallows past the lump in his throat to speak again.
"I shall be fine," Drizzt reassures him. "Your wound must be tended."
*cruelty, because I'm too lazy to log back into his journal to fix it
Since Zak isn't in any danger of dying immediately, he'll give them a minute or two before interrupting again. They need whatever they're talking about right now. It's too important to interrupt, and even Caesar can see that.