During his time spent washing himself Donovan began to wonder how much the blood of other races differed from his own. Kerefel's blood didn't stand out in any major way, but it definitely seemed different. Was it the color? Maybe the consistency? Donovan supposed that might be something that varied on an individual level, blood types and all that.
He was thinking so hard about this that he was actually beginning to get concerned. He wasn't concerned about his fixation, he was fixated because of his growing concern, the sort of feedback loop that usually ended in him having to reconsider an entire facet of a plan. In this case, blood transfusion.
He wasn't particularly well versed in the subject, but he knew that blood transfusions were an incredibly important part of surgical practices. They were used to save lives, both in and out of the field of combat. However as far as he knew, someone who was given 'incompatible' blood would exhibit a negative response. Donovan didn't know what those side effects were, he imagined some form of tissue damage in the capillaries, but he could only imagine the extent of the damage that blood from an incompatible race could pose.
Nemo was obviously the catalyst for this, though the Velar as a whole appeared to be a bit of a special case. Their blood was toxic, apparently capable of manifesting a whole host of specific effects depending on the 'technique' used and aerosolizing them. The one that precipitated cardiac arrest, one of the supposed Heartbreaker toxins, had already been displayed to him. It was supposed to be one of the fastest and least painful at their disposal, which was part of the reason why Nemo opted to use it.
Donovan was still left questioning exactly what type of poison it was. It involved split, so the possibility of a new category of toxin was not off the table . . . but given how fast it was to manifest and the fact that CPR was a valid way to counteract its effects, Arc seemed convinced it would fall under the umbrella of neurotoxin if it was a traditional poison. They couldn't be certain at this point, they had no means to analyze it and they certainly weren't willing to test it, but it probably damaged the nerves elsewhere.
Donovan's reasoning came from how the Great Csillacra mentioned damage to her body, while Arc's hypothesis was based on the fact that there wasn't any recording of a neurotoxin that only attacked certain nerves. Split probably had a hand on that end, but it was generally more efficient to attack the entire system rather than just a specific part.
"How did I even get blood here. . ." Donovan had long since abandoned trying to wash only a portion of his body, he was nude and examining himself in the mirror for any remnants. ". . . I didn't fall on my back did I?" His contaminated clothing had already been taken away by Gretts
He could only imagine that some blood had been flung over him or that he had scratched the back of his neck at some point, because there was a red line running down his back. He rubbed it first, just to dislodge any scabbing that would have formed, before dumping some hot water over it to clean it off. Confident that his outside was free of blood, he washed himself as he normally would. If he left now it would feel like he was incongruously clean, like he wasn't done with the job.
Finally satisfied, he dried himself off with a towel as he headed towards the dry room. The clothes that were neatly folded on one of the benches did not approach the level of decorum that his previous outfit had, not that he thought anybody would give him shit for it. Donovan was more concerned with how comfortable they were, a worry that proved meritless.
"Alright, back to the show." He straightened his clothes out one more time before exiting into the hallway, where he was immediately run into by Titanyana.
- - - - -
It didn't feel quite like running into a wall, but Titanyana definitely felt it to be similar. If it wasn't because of his dense build, then it was because of his demeanor. He was surprised by her, but he didn't yell out when they fell over.
"Titanyana? Is something the matter?" Ever the gentleman, Donovan had cushioned her fall. Of course she wouldn't have fallen if he wasn't there to run in to, but that was beside the point.
"I-i-it's fine." She said that, but even as she struggled to her feet she could not contain her tears and sniffles. She had considered herself so lucky as of late, disregarding the unfortunate heart attack she had received a title and a guarantee that her people would live on, however it seemed like every effort she ever made to improve herself or her position was foiled in some way or another. "I just need t-to go to my room."
What would everybody think of her now? At this point she was certain that everybody had forgotten about that incident, how could the person who assaulted a Bulsarzian prince be accepted into a squad? But now that that event had been brought to the forefront once more she couldn't take it. So what if she had a title? If she had a reputation for assaulting royalty nobody would listen to her pleas, nobody who would be able to help her at least.
Not even bothering to fix her dress she bolted off, leaving a bewildered Donovan behind. She could deal with whatever admonishment he would give her later, for now the crushing emotions needed to be dealt with.
- - - - -
"Titanyana?" Donovan was left to drag himself up from the ground as Titanyana darted up the stairs. He wasn't mad, being knocked over by a clearly distraught Titanyana was not grounds for anger. If anything he was deeply concerned.
'What could possibly have made her break down and cry?'
There were plenty of potential answers to that question, she was a particularly vulnerable young woman given her history, however he didn't know of anything that would trigger her in the light hearted atmosphere he had left behind.
"Well, time to investigate." Donovan, despite proclaiming that he found the event entertaining, was not particularly fond of such social gatherings. They were hindrances, a waste of his time, even though he knew that this party couldn't be further from that. It was important that he be present and make an appearance alongside Diana, but the health and safety of his subordinates trumped that.
Titanyana was such an important asset to them that he didn't even need to feel guilty about abandoning the festivities.
Cautiously, he looked down the hallway. Fortunately there wasn't anybody around, most likely because everyone was congregating around the dining hall for food. He 'sneakily' walked over to the stairs, checking his surroundings once more before hurrying up, he very quickly realized he had a problem. He didn't remember which room was Titanyana's. He had taken her to it before, but he had always been in a bit of a panic when he did so.
"Hm? Sir Strauss?"
"Cherry?"
"I am she. Is something wrong?" The contents of the basket in her hands suggested that she had been given the task of cleaning his clothing and any other blood stained fabric. It was to be expected, she volunteered for any task she was capable of.
"Yes, actually. Titanyana seemed to be upset a moment ago and she ran up the stairs. Do you know where her room is?"
"Um, let me see . . ." Cherry shut her eyes closed reeeeaaaal hard and thought about it. She was basically Diana's personal servant at this point, so she hadn't visited Titanyana's abode in some time. "The third floor, somewhere under your room? So, right above us?"
"Thank you Cherry, don't tell anybody I asked."
"Okie-dokie." Cherry smiled and merrily continued on her way, leaving Donovan to ascend another flight without worrying about being seen.
Despite what he had been expecting, it was actually surprisingly easy to tell which room belonged to Titanyana. This wasn't because she was bawling her eyes out or making a racket, but because it was the only one that had a light coming out from underneath the door. Unsurprisingly, the servants had determined that it was a better idea to just ignore the majority of the rooms when they only had to deal with five in the entire barracks. It followed that they would turn off the lights in such rooms as well.
A little bit of light in the dark was easier to see than a little bit of dark in the light.
Taking care to not step on a creaky plank, Donovan approached her door, praying that the hinges were well oiled when he pushed it open a little. There weren't any locks on the doors for the rank and file, something Donovan had previously regarded with apprehension, however he was grateful for it now. Slowly, carefully, he poked his head through the opening.
It was at this point he was half expecting to be met with a blade at his throat. Those were the vestiges of thoughts he should have had, warnings about invading a woman's privacy. Fortunately, Titanyana had either knowingly ignored him and willingly let him pass or had genuinely not noticed his presence. He continued to open the door enough to let himself through, gently closing it behind him.
Her sword and belt had been unceremoniously tossed onto the floor. Her shoes were also near the door, her crown of flowers discarded to the side, just like . . . her dress.
Donovan very quickly became incredibly uncomfortable with his decision to forgo knocking. Donovan wasn't a betting man, but he would place some chips on 'only undergarments' this time around. He'd win the jackpot too!
He knew he had already seen her at the most vulnerable she could possibly be, naked and unconscious, but he couldn't help but feel like he would be in deep shit if he didn't handle this right.
"May I, uh," Titanyana's ears, poking above the sheets, twitched into an alert position, "take a seat?"
There was a chair in the corner of the room, but he had no plans to sit there. That was facing her direction, 'her' was basically naked. He would sit on the opposite side of her bed, facing away from her.
". . . mm."
It wasn't a no, but it wasn't a particularly encouraging yes either. Cautiously, making sure that Titanyana could hear his footsteps this time around, Donovan approached her bed.
- - - - -
Titanyana could not believe Donovan had followed her. Well she could believe it, Donovan was just that sort of person when it came to his subordinates' health. She was just shocked that he followed her now of all times.
"What happened?"
Each had been waiting for the other person to break the silence for a few minutes at this point. Donovan being the first to speak after he was confident Titanyana had collected herself.
"It's nothing."
"I'm not stupid enough to believe that." Titanyana's ears flattened, her attempt at avoiding conversation had failed on arrival. "I want to know if I can help you."
She curled up tighter under her sheets. She knew Donovan didn't intend to treat her like a child, but it hurt what little pride she had left at the moment.
"Just tell me what's wrong. I can't think of a way to help you fix your problem if I don't know what it is." She could faintly hear him tapping his heel on the ground.
"I told you, I'm fine."
"You are NOT FINE DAMMIT!" He raised his voice, not in anger but frustration, just to have it immediately fall to his normal level. "Look, I know you've lived a tough life. I know that your life under my employ has not been particularly easy either. I would go so far as to say that I am responsible, whether directly or indirectly, for most of your hardship here. I have no intent to harm you, it is actually in my best interest to help you."
Titanyana squeezed her eyes shut under the covers, the only reason she didn't cover her ears was because her hands were gripping her tail. She was afraid of what was coming next. She had lived long enough to know that after this part came the admonishment. Her father was particularly fond of this tactic, easing her into a comfort, telling her she was justified in thinking her actions were correct before chastising her for doing something wrong.
"Believe or not, you are the second most important person to me right now, right after Diana."
thump - Titanyana's eyes opened wide. This was not part of the script she had envisioned!
"I am willing to put most of what I've built up thus far on the line if it means keeping you safe."
thump - The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. He was supposed to be admonishing her, telling her to toughen up.
"We need you. I need you."
thump - Titanyana's tail stiffened, and her grip tightened as she twisted it. He was wrong! He didn't need her, she needed them. She needed him.
"I'm worried about you. I want to help, I can help."
thump - Titanyana could feel her cheeks getting redder. Her body's temperature skyrocketing further when Donovan reached a hand back to grab her ankle. Was she missing something? Why wasn't Donovan being harsh on her? Why was it making her feel this way?
"Let me help."
thump - Titanyana poked her head out of the covers, revealing skin down to her brassiere. It was suffocating in there, mostly because she suddenly found it very hot. Her ears were flat in shame and the tip of her tail was flicking around wildly now that her hands were holding the bedsheets.
"Can you give me a chance?"
thump - Titanyana made eye contact with Donovan, bringing her knees to her chest as she did so. She always had the feeling he could see through her, like he knew what she felt and thought, but now that feeling was more extreme as ever. Even with blankets to cover her, she felt naked. Shrinking away from his gaze, she nodded.
"Thank you, Titanyana. It means a lot."
thump - With that, Titanyana broke. She tried to hold back, but the waterworks were on full blast. Tears ran down her face as the tension left her body. Donovan was scary, but he wasn't threatening. If anything, he made her feel safe.
Safe.
thump - As her heart drowned out all of the other sounds and emotions, Titanyana had something of a revelation.
This moment, right here and now, was the first time she had ever felt safe. There was nothing that would harm her here, not even the encroaching death of a star. Here, next to Donovan, she could live without fear.
thump - Once more her heart beat, and once more she had a thought. 'Is this what Mom felt like with Dad?' Even when she was decaying, her mother always smiled when her father was in the room. It was strange really, even on her deathbed, struggling to breathe and without the energy to close her own eyelids, she could always muster up a smile.
It made sense to her on some level. Who else but Donovan rushed her to aid? Who else but Donovan had kept her alive when she was at risk of death? Who else but Donovan would abandon his duties to check on her? Not even her father fit the bill, and that didn't even take into account he was also the one arranging the evacuation of her people. Donovan was her beacon of hope in a world of dying light, and now she felt a desire to cling to him no matter what. A desire that had been explained to her, but one she had never been provided the luxury of experiencing.
thump - 'Is this . . . love???'
cakeonfrosting I'm starting Titanyana's romance line off a little bit earlier than I was planning (it was supposed to happen around this time next school year) but I felt it would be a bit late at that point, especially considering a certain series of events that are going to take place post-party. Just a little spoiler, more people are going to try to help her than you might think.
During his time spent washing himself Donovan began to wonder how much the blood of other races differed from his own. Kerefel's blood didn't stand out in any major way, but it definitely seemed different. Was it the color? Maybe the consistency? Donovan supposed that might be something that varied on an individual level, blood types and all that.
He was thinking so hard about this that he was actually beginning to get concerned. He wasn't concerned about his fixation, he was fixated because of his growing concern, the sort of feedback loop that usually ended in him having to reconsider an entire facet of a plan. In this case, blood transfusion.
He wasn't particularly well versed in the subject, but he knew that blood transfusions were an incredibly important part of surgical practices. They were used to save lives, both in and out of the field of combat. However as far as he knew, someone who was given 'incompatible' blood would exhibit a negative response. Donovan didn't know what those side effects were, he imagined some form of tissue damage in the capillaries, but he could only imagine the extent of the damage that blood from an incompatible race could pose.
Nemo was obviously the catalyst for this, though the Velar as a whole appeared to be a bit of a special case. Their blood was toxic, apparently capable of manifesting a whole host of specific effects depending on the 'technique' used and aerosolizing them. The one that precipitated cardiac arrest, one of the supposed Heartbreaker toxins, had already been displayed to him. It was supposed to be one of the fastest and least painful at their disposal, which was part of the reason why Nemo opted to use it.
Donovan was still left questioning exactly what type of poison it was. It involved split, so the possibility of a new category of toxin was not off the table . . . but given how fast it was to manifest and the fact that CPR was a valid way to counteract its effects, Arc seemed convinced it would fall under the umbrella of neurotoxin if it was a traditional poison. They couldn't be certain at this point, they had no means to analyze it and they certainly weren't willing to test it, but it probably damaged the nerves elsewhere.
Donovan's reasoning came from how the Great Csillacra mentioned damage to her body, while Arc's hypothesis was based on the fact that there wasn't any recording of a neurotoxin that only attacked certain nerves. Split probably had a hand on that end, but it was generally more efficient to attack the entire system rather than just a specific part.
"How did I even get blood here. . ." Donovan had long since abandoned trying to wash only a portion of his body, he was nude and examining himself in the mirror for any remnants. ". . . I didn't fall on my back did I?" His contaminated clothing had already been taken away by Gretts
He could only imagine that some blood had been flung over him or that he had scratched the back of his neck at some point, because there was a red line running down his back. He rubbed it first, just to dislodge any scabbing that would have formed, before dumping some hot water over it to clean it off. Confident that his outside was free of blood, he washed himself as he normally would. If he left now it would feel like he was incongruously clean, like he wasn't done with the job.
Finally satisfied, he dried himself off with a towel as he headed towards the dry room. The clothes that were neatly folded on one of the benches did not approach the level of decorum that his previous outfit had, not that he thought anybody would give him shit for it. Donovan was more concerned with how comfortable they were, a worry that proved meritless.
"Alright, back to the show." He straightened his clothes out one more time before exiting into the hallway, where he was immediately run into by Titanyana.
- - - - -
It didn't feel quite like running into a wall, but Titanyana definitely felt it to be similar. If it wasn't because of his dense build, then it was because of his demeanor. He was surprised by her, but he didn't yell out when they fell over.
"Titanyana? Is something the matter?" Ever the gentleman, Donovan had cushioned her fall. Of course she wouldn't have fallen if he wasn't there to run in to, but that was beside the point.
"I-i-it's fine." She said that, but even as she struggled to her feet she could not contain her tears and sniffles. She had considered herself so lucky as of late, disregarding the unfortunate heart attack she had received a title and a guarantee that her people would live on, however it seemed like every effort she ever made to improve herself or her position was foiled in some way or another. "I just need t-to go to my room."
What would everybody think of her now? At this point she was certain that everybody had forgotten about that incident, how could the person who assaulted a Bulsarzian prince be accepted into a squad? But now that that event had been brought to the forefront once more she couldn't take it. So what if she had a title? If she had a reputation for assaulting royalty nobody would listen to her pleas, nobody who would be able to help her at least.
Not even bothering to fix her dress she bolted off, leaving a bewildered Donovan behind. She could deal with whatever admonishment he would give her later, for now the crushing emotions needed to be dealt with.
- - - - -
"Titanyana?" Donovan was left to drag himself up from the ground as Titanyana darted up the stairs. He wasn't mad, being knocked over by a clearly distraught Titanyana was not grounds for anger. If anything he was deeply concerned.
'What could possibly have made her break down and cry?'
There were plenty of potential answers to that question, she was a particularly vulnerable young woman given her history, however he didn't know of anything that would trigger her in the light hearted atmosphere he had left behind.
"Well, time to investigate." Donovan, despite proclaiming that he found the event entertaining, was not particularly fond of such social gatherings. They were hindrances, a waste of his time, even though he knew that this party couldn't be further from that. It was important that he be present and make an appearance alongside Diana, but the health and safety of his subordinates trumped that.
Titanyana was such an important asset to them that he didn't even need to feel guilty about abandoning the festivities.
Cautiously, he looked down the hallway. Fortunately there wasn't anybody around, most likely because everyone was congregating around the dining hall for food. He 'sneakily' walked over to the stairs, checking his surroundings once more before hurrying up, he very quickly realized he had a problem. He didn't remember which room was Titanyana's. He had taken her to it before, but he had always been in a bit of a panic when he did so.
"Hm? Sir Strauss?"
"Cherry?"
"I am she. Is something wrong?" The contents of the basket in her hands suggested that she had been given the task of cleaning his clothing and any other blood stained fabric. It was to be expected, she volunteered for any task she was capable of.
"Yes, actually. Titanyana seemed to be upset a moment ago and she ran up the stairs. Do you know where her room is?"
"Um, let me see . . ." Cherry shut her eyes closed reeeeaaaal hard and thought about it. She was basically Diana's personal servant at this point, so she hadn't visited Titanyana's abode in some time. "The third floor, somewhere under your room? So, right above us?"
"Thank you Cherry, don't tell anybody I asked."
"Okie-dokie." Cherry smiled and merrily continued on her way, leaving Donovan to ascend another flight without worrying about being seen.
Despite what he had been expecting, it was actually surprisingly easy to tell which room belonged to Titanyana. This wasn't because she was bawling her eyes out or making a racket, but because it was the only one that had a light coming out from underneath the door. Unsurprisingly, the servants had determined that it was a better idea to just ignore the majority of the rooms when they only had to deal with five in the entire barracks. It followed that they would turn off the lights in such rooms as well.
A little bit of light in the dark was easier to see than a little bit of dark in the light.
Taking care to not step on a creaky plank, Donovan approached her door, praying that the hinges were well oiled when he pushed it open a little. There weren't any locks on the doors for the rank and file, something Donovan had previously regarded with apprehension, however he was grateful for it now. Slowly, carefully, he poked his head through the opening.
It was at this point he was half expecting to be met with a blade at his throat. Those were the vestiges of thoughts he should have had, warnings about invading a woman's privacy. Fortunately, Titanyana had either knowingly ignored him and willingly let him pass or had genuinely not noticed his presence. He continued to open the door enough to let himself through, gently closing it behind him.
Her sword and belt had been unceremoniously tossed onto the floor. Her shoes were also near the door, her crown of flowers discarded to the side, just like . . . her dress.
Donovan very quickly became incredibly uncomfortable with his decision to forgo knocking. Donovan wasn't a betting man, but he would place some chips on 'only undergarments' this time around. He'd win the jackpot too!
He knew he had already seen her at the most vulnerable she could possibly be, naked and unconscious, but he couldn't help but feel like he would be in deep shit if he didn't handle this right.
"May I, uh," Titanyana's ears, poking above the sheets, twitched into an alert position, "take a seat?"
There was a chair in the corner of the room, but he had no plans to sit there. That was facing her direction, 'her' was basically naked. He would sit on the opposite side of her bed, facing away from her.
". . . mm."
It wasn't a no, but it wasn't a particularly encouraging yes either. Cautiously, making sure that Titanyana could hear his footsteps this time around, Donovan approached her bed.
- - - - -
Titanyana could not believe Donovan had followed her. Well she could believe it, Donovan was just that sort of person when it came to his subordinates' health. She was just shocked that he followed her now of all times.
"What happened?"
Each had been waiting for the other person to break the silence for a few minutes at this point. Donovan being the first to speak after he was confident Titanyana had collected herself.
"It's nothing."
"I'm not stupid enough to believe that." Titanyana's ears flattened, her attempt at avoiding conversation had failed on arrival. "I want to know if I can help you."
She curled up tighter under her sheets. She knew Donovan didn't intend to treat her like a child, but it hurt what little pride she had left at the moment.
"Just tell me what's wrong. I can't think of a way to help you fix your problem if I don't know what it is." She could faintly hear him tapping his heel on the ground.
"I told you, I'm fine."
"You are NOT FINE DAMMIT!" He raised his voice, not in anger but frustration, just to have it immediately fall to his normal level. "Look, I know you've lived a tough life. I know that your life under my employ has not been particularly easy either. I would go so far as to say that I am responsible, whether directly or indirectly, for most of your hardship here. I have no intent to harm you, it is actually in my best interest to help you."
Titanyana squeezed her eyes shut under the covers, the only reason she didn't cover her ears was because her hands were gripping her tail. She was afraid of what was coming next. She had lived long enough to know that after this part came the admonishment. Her father was particularly fond of this tactic, easing her into a comfort, telling her she was justified in thinking her actions were correct before chastising her for doing something wrong.
"Believe or not, you are the second most important person to me right now, right after Diana."
thump - Titanyana's eyes opened wide. This was not part of the script she had envisioned!
"I am willing to put most of what I've built up thus far on the line if it means keeping you safe."
thump - The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. He was supposed to be admonishing her, telling her to toughen up.
"We need you. I need you."
thump - Titanyana's tail stiffened, and her grip tightened as she twisted it. He was wrong! He didn't need her, she needed them. She needed him.
"I'm worried about you. I want to help, I can help."
thump - Titanyana could feel her cheeks getting redder. Her body's temperature skyrocketing further when Donovan reached a hand back to grab her ankle. Was she missing something? Why wasn't Donovan being harsh on her? Why was it making her feel this way?
"Let me help."
thump - Titanyana poked her head out of the covers, revealing skin down to her brassiere. It was suffocating in there, mostly because she suddenly found it very hot. Her ears were flat in shame and the tip of her tail was flicking around wildly now that her hands were holding the bedsheets.
"Can you give me a chance?"
thump - Titanyana made eye contact with Donovan, bringing her knees to her chest as she did so. She always had the feeling he could see through her, like he knew what she felt and thought, but now that feeling was more extreme as ever. Even with blankets to cover her, she felt naked. Shrinking away from his gaze, she nodded.
"Thank you, Titanyana. It means a lot."
thump - With that, Titanyana broke. She tried to hold back, but the waterworks were on full blast. Tears ran down her face as the tension left her body. Donovan was scary, but he wasn't threatening. If anything, he made her feel safe.
Safe.
thump - As her heart drowned out all of the other sounds and emotions, Titanyana had something of a revelation.
This moment, right here and now, was the first time she had ever felt safe. There was nothing that would harm her here, not even the encroaching death of a star. Here, next to Donovan, she could live without fear.
thump - Once more her heart beat, and once more she had a thought. 'Is this what Mom felt like with Dad?' Even when she was decaying, her mother always smiled when her father was in the room. It was strange really, even on her deathbed, struggling to breathe and without the energy to close her own eyelids, she could always muster up a smile.
It made sense to her on some level. Who else but Donovan rushed her to aid? Who else but Donovan had kept her alive when she was at risk of death? Who else but Donovan would abandon his duties to check on her? Not even her father fit the bill, and that didn't even take into account he was also the one arranging the evacuation of her people. Donovan was her beacon of hope in a world of dying light, and now she felt a desire to cling to him no matter what. A desire that had been explained to her, but one she had never been provided the luxury of experiencing.
thump - 'Is this . . . love???'
cakeonfrosting I'm starting Titanyana's romance line off a little bit earlier than I was planning (it was supposed to happen around this time next school year) but I felt it would be a bit late at that point, especially considering a certain series of events that are going to take place post-party. Just a little spoiler, more people are going to try to help her than you might think.
