Post #2419216 in The Lion and the Snake, a roleplay on RPG

Madeleina gasped and moved forwards to put a hand on Gackt's shoulder as she saw him stumble. She looked around, checking no one had heard the noise as she tried to help Gackt up, before her gaze fell on the head of the dead snake that lolled floppily out of the sweater that Gackt had dropped. Madeleina felt bile in her throat, and choked it down. Its pale, dead scales had lost their shine, and its dead and cold eyes seemed to stare at her. Almost frozen with terror, Madeleina wrapped the creature up again, and gingerly picked it up. She carried it in to Gackt's tent, only to pause again as she saw what he was doing.

Gackt was stood, hunched over a small apothecary table just inside the doorway, and she flung the sweater aside just in time to catch him as he fell to his knees. She didn't think. Madeleina was well past all thought. She cradled his body against her chest, stroking his hair back. But then, almost as though she wasn't even there, he was pushing himself to his feet. She stepped back, and was surprised when he spoke to her.

"...D...Don't touch anything..."

Madeleina wordlessly nodded in reply, and watched him with concern as he turned away to shower.

Curiously, Madeleina looked around. She had never been here, an it was common knowledge that no others apart from Gackt ever had been either. The apothecary table had surprised her, but then after several moments of thought, she supposed it made sense. He had to be able to create antidotes to his snakes poisonous bites. She didn't go far, but took a step forwards to peer behind the glass to see the serpents that rested behind. They seemed agitated, and eyed her coolly as she peered back. It made her uncomfortable. It was as though they blamed her for Gackts hurts.

Madaleina stepped away, suddenly remembering how bad Gackt had looked. What had gone on? Why had he been at the church? None of it made the slightest bit of sense to her, but she was suddenly glad that she had gone looking for him. At least she had been able to get him home. Once more, Madeleina found herself looking at the snake that was wrapped in Gackt's bloody sweater. She shivered, and covered it up again.

It took her a very long time to calm down, and when she did, her arms were wrapped tightly around her body, and she shook as the shock of the evening descended upon her. But she didn't go anywhere, and she didn't touch anything. She stood exactly in the middle of the tent, and patiently waited for the Snakeman to return.

When he did, he looked almost as bad. The hot water of his shower had soaked his hair, and washed away the blood, and that revealed the dark bruises that contrasted with his skin. She bit her lip, and almost went forwards to touch him, before thinking. Madeleina didn't know what she could do. She didn't even know if touching him would be okay right then. The nerves were clear on her face as she watched him sit down on the bed. Madeleina kept very quiet, and her eyes down, silently regarding him through her lashes. Despite his obvious pain, he seemed to be more at ease. In fact, there was a slight twitch of his lips, which could have been the suggestion of a smile, but the dazed look in his eyes contradicted that.

Hesitantly, Madeleina walked towards the bed, and sat beside him so that there were a good few inches of space between them. She smiled, but the facial expression was strained and concerned still, flecked with the relief she felt that he was more or less okay. For a few moments more, she was silent, before she asked in a very soft tone, "How are you feeling?". As much as she wanted to, she also refused to touch him. She wanted to run her hands down his shoulders and arms, and his ribs and check nothing was broken, but she refrained.

Snippet #2419216

located in America, a part of The Lion and the Snake, one of the many universes on RPG.

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