#kolechia | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

theinkedfoxsl · 9 months

Note

I sit down in your inbox and begin making horrible sounds coughing up a hairball. sory.

Papers, Please is a single player puzzle simulation game originally released in August 2013 for Microsoft Windows and OS X, and Linux in February 2014, and iOS in December 2014, and PS Vita announced in August 2014 and released December 2017 (what a wait time... I'd start biting off my own arm) and for Android and a new port for iOS in August 2022.

The preface of the game is Player becoming a border crossing immigration officer at Grestin Border Checkpoint in 1982 Arstotzka, which is like. a dystopian Eastern Bloc-like country. Which is not on good political terms with its neighboring countries. Player is. well the immigration officer at a migration checkpoint. Player must review each person's passports and supporting documents/paperwork (which becomes more elaborate and tedious as the game goes on) and decide whether to let approve or deny entry. You also have to make sure you have enough money so you/your family doesn't freeze/starve to death :3 Essentially reviewing paperwork for fun. It sounds so incredibly tedious Looking at this game isn't enough I need to print it out and eat it (/positive).

At the start of the game, Arstotzka has recently ended like. a 6? year war with the neighboring country, Kolechia. But like. Not On Great Terms With Everyone. High political tension. lemme get a map hang on

I hold this up to you. Also listing all the issuing cities plus Arstotzka's districts The issuing cities must be valid and sometimes the districts are relevant :3

Arstotzka

Districts

Atlan

Burnton

Fardesto

Glennistora

Lendiforma

Octovalis

Vescillo

Issuing Cities

East Grestin

Orvech Vonor

Paradizna

Antegria

St. Marmero

Glorian

Outer Grouse

Impor

Enkyo

Haihan

Tsunkeido

Kolechia

Yurko City

Vedor

West Grestin

Obristan

Skal

Lorndaz

Mergerous

Republia

True Glorian

Lesrenadi

Bostan

United Federation

Great Rapid

Shingleton

Korista City

As the days go on, you get a bunch of tools to help determine if all documents are in order. In addition to accepting or denying entry, you can also detain people, such as wanted criminals, terrorists, smugglers, and people with forged/stolen documents, or paperwork that is otherwise invalid.

Every in-game day, Player is given specific rules on what documentation is required for entrance and other miscellaneous rules for entry. Which. Grow progressively more complex as the days go on :3

I believe? You get paid $5 based on how many people you let in, and get two warnings and after that, fined $5 for every person you let in with incorrect/missing paperwork or person you deny with correct paperwork.

At the beginning of the game, it briefly explains the background leading up to the first day. Player receives a letter stating that their name was pulled in the October labor lottery (1982), and they are to report to the Ministry of Admission at Grestin Border Checkpoint immediately. Player and their family will be provided with a class-8 apartment in East Grestin.

The game starts on November 23, 1982. The first day conditions are Entrants must have a passport and Entry is restricted to returning Arstotzkan citizens; Deny all foreigners.

On the first day, the inspector's booth is equipped with the audio transcript, scale monitor, the lines on the back wall to check height, rulebook, time and date, and bulletin storage, as well as the shutter switch and the counter. You begin calling people to the inspection booth by clicking the announcement button :3 and greets each entrant with "Papers, please." (roll credits)

Day 1, pretty boring. All of the documentation that appears on this day is correct.

Rent is $20, plus heat $10, and food $5 for everyone living (you start with 4, so $20, Inspector's wife, son, mother-in-law, and uncle). Rent is non-negotiable, but you can choose not to get heat or food for a bit ^^ but if you do this too often your family will get sick and die. You can provide them with medicine ($5) if they get sick.

Day 2, Inspection hardware is now installed, so you can click a button to ask entrants about discrepancies. Foreigners are allowed entry now, Entrants must have a passport, and all documents must be current.

Here is where you start getting incorrect information on passports. You get fined $15 for every entrant you let in with incorrect paperwork, notified by a pink slip that prints a few moments once you've let them in

The day is cut short by a terrorist attack. One terrorist and one guard are killed.

Day 3, Foreigners must have a valid entry ticket (date). This is the date you first meet the reoccurring character Jorji Costava, which is the 8th entrant. He shows up without a passport and you have to deny him entry.

Day 4, In addition to the above, Arstotzkan citizens must have an ID card, Foreigners required to have an entry permit (name, passport number, purpose, duration, date), entry tickets are no longer sufficient. This date you begin having discrepancies with entrant statements and must begin using the audio transcript, and you are able to verify fingerprints. Rent has increased to $20 at the end of the day.

Jorji returns with a crudely forged passport and no entry permit.

Day 5, Rules stay the same. Player is given a list of wanted criminals and is able to detain criminals and people with incorrect paperwork (or can simply deny them). Booth upgrade available at the end of the day, Space key to toggle inspect, $5

3rd entrant is Vince Lestrade, who is on the wanted criminals list, for allegedly killing his girlfriend in "jealous rage".

8th and 9th entrant are Pyotr and Katya Vostok. They are a married couple fleeing from Antegria as she will be killed for an unspecified reason. Pyotr has correct paperwork, but Katya is missing an entry permit. If allowed in, Katya will give Player a token needed for an achievement, and Player will get a citation. If denied she will return to the Antegrian side of the checkpoint.

Day 6, Same as above, but workers must have a work pass.

2nd entrant slips Player a note when leaving, explaining that a man named Dari Ludum will likely force her and her sister to work at a brothel, and is in line today. She asks for Player to do something.

5th entrant is Jorji. He returns with a valid passport but without an entry permit.

7th entrant is Dari Ludum. Denying him entrance will result in a citation because all of his paperwork is correct.

9th entrant will have correct documentation, but will end the day short with a terrorist attack. They are Kolechian.

Day 7, Same as above, but all Kolechians must be searched before entry. Anyone concealing weapons or contraband must be denied or detained.

7th entrant, Shaddy Safadi is carrying contraband. They will bribe Player with 10 credits if approved, but Player will receive a citation.

Day 8, Automatic searches for Kolechians no longer authorized. A Kolechian diplomat will arrive that day. Diplomats only require a passport and valid diplomatic authorization (name, passport number, country's diplomatic seal) to enter. Booth upgrade available, Tab key to toggle stamper, $5.

3rd entrant Jorji returns with an entry ticket and a valid passport.

5th entrant is EZIC messenger. They give Player a note with the EZIC symbol on one size and the name Corman Drex on the back and leave.

9th entrant is Corman Drex. Her paperwork is correct. Player may choose to give her the EZIC note, and will signify Player's cooperation with EZIC moving forward

Day 9, Undercover agent of the Ministry of Information has been compromised. Ministry of Admissions has offered services as liason, expect a possible drop later that day.

1st entrant is Calensk, a guard. He explains he gets a bonus for detaining people, and will give Player 5 credits for every 2 people they detain.

Corman Drex will return on this day. If Player did not give her the note the previous day, Player will give it to her now. She gives Player a note explaining EZIC is a group rebelling against Arstotzkan government. After returning the note, she leaves a cipher behind.

Day 10, Divisional authority of East Grestin operations, will visit at the beginning of the day.

1st entrant is Dimitri, the MOA supervisor. He will take note of Player's current number of citations and give a plaque to hang on the wall and state he will be returning in 10 days.

EZIC messenger returns with a decoder for the cipher. They tell Player to let an EZIC agent through the next day, and the cipher reads the name Stephani Griare.

Day 11, In addition to above rules, Arstotzkan seals may be correct. May choose to receive EZIC gift at the end of the day, $1000, mor leave it unchecked and burn it. Booth upgrade available, rulebook shortcuts, $5

Jorji returns with correct paperwork, however makes a comment that implies the paperwork is most definitely forged. If Player approves his passport, he will give Player a(n Oberstan?) pin and Player will not receive a citation. Player can also reject or detain him with interrogation.

Calensk returns with $5 if you detain 2 or more people. Regardless of how high the number is. The max is $5

6th entrant Mikhail Saratov. His paperwork is incorrect. Player can approve him to follow EZIC interaction routes and get a citation, or deny him and later receive a note from EZIC messenger later that day.

EZIC messenger will with a note if Mikhail is denied. First agent was denied, the next will come in 3 days, and to let him in.

Day 12, same rules as above. Day is cut short by a terrorist attack. Class-7 apartment is available, $100 (rent $30 heat $10). May choose to receive or burn another EZIC gift, $2000.

1st entrant is M. Vonel, the MOI investigator. He warns Player of EZIC, and to report any activity related to them immediately.

4th entrant is Messof Anegovych. His paperwork is correct. He asks Player to hand out business cards to any engineers they see, and leave them 4 business cards.

Day 13, Foreigners must also have an ID supplement (height, weight, description characteristic, thumbprint, date), in addition to the above.

2nd entrant Calensk. If Player has detained 4 entrants before day 11 and another 4 entrants between day 11 and 13, Player will receive $10. If player does not detain 4+ entrants before both days, the maximum on day 13 will be $5

6th entrant is Filipe Hasse. He is a football player for the Arstotzkan Arskickers and is missing his ID card, claiming it was stolen in the locker room. Filipe gives Player a pennant for the Arstotzkan Arskickers to bribe them into approving him (which would result in a citation lmao) and regardless of approved/denied, Player keeps the pennant and can hang it on their back wall.

Day 14, Daily bulletin has added the faces of the top 3 most wanted international criminals. Booth upgrade available, double click for quick inspect, $5.

7th entrant is Nathan Cykelek. He gives Player two passports with similar information but differing names and, after realizing his mistake, asks for the documents back. If approved, Player will receive a citation. Player can also deny or detain him with no consequence, and is the only occurrence in the game where Player can return documents without stamping anything.

9th entrant is Stephani Graire, the EZIC agent mentioned in the cipher given on day 8/9 and decoder on day 10. They do not have the correct documents, but will need to be let in for ending 19 and Player will receive a citation. However, this will prevent Player from getting ending 20. If accepted and player accepted either EZIC gift money, Player will have the money seized but no further consequences. If denied and Player has accepted either gift, they will reach an ending at the beginning of day 15.

Day 15, same rules as above.

2nd entrant will place a bomb on the counter and leave. Calensk will appear after they have left and guide Player through disabling the bomb. Calensk will take the bomb and day will continue as normal. What a guy.

EZIC messenger returns and asks for the cipher and decoder back.

Day 16, Player will receive a key to unlock the tranquilizer gun once an alarm has been raised. Player will receive a $20 bonus for stopping any trespassers, and a $10(?) bonus for firing at and missing. Day is cut short by a terrorist attack.

1st entrant is Calensk. If 1-3 entrants have been detained, Player will receive 10 credits for the bonus and the bomb parts. If 4+ entrants have been detained, Player will receive 15 credits. Calensk will no longer be visiting, but Player will continue to be paid the correct amount ($5 for every 2 people rounded down) for detaining every other night.

4th entrant is a Kolechian that needs a surgery outlawed in Kolechia. They are missing paperwork, but will bribe Player with 10 credits. If approved, Player will receive a citation.

6th entrant is Messof Anegovych. If all four of his business cards have been handed out, he will give player an Arstotzka pin and 20 credits. His paperwork is correct.

Day 17, same as above. If player’s son is still alive, his birthday is in 2 days.

1st entrant is Sergiu Volda. He mentions coming from Nirsk, as does Player. He can be differentiated from other guards, as his sprite is green rather than blue. He promises to do his best to protect Player, and leaves. NOTE: if player fails to neutralize trespassers quickly enough, Sergiu will die. Lmao.

9th entrant is Marie Escalli. She has incomplete paperwork, but is revealed as an EZIC operative if a decoder is aligned over her passport. If approved, she will say that the man in red is not a threat, and Player will receive 20 credits at the end of the day, but will also receive a citation.

Day 18, All denials must be accompanied by a Reason For Denial stamp. To stamp this, Player must interrogate them first, and then the stamp will appear. Day is cut short by a terrorist attack. RESTATING that if Player does not shoot him fast enough then Sergiu will die. I’m very emotionally invested in him. NPCs. You understand. Player’s son’s birthday is tomorrow. He wants one of those 128 pack crayons with the sharpener on the back, $25.

Day 19, Deny all entrants from Impor, in addition to above. If Player’s son is alive and Player gives him the fancy crayons for his birthday, Player’s son will give him a drawing to take to work with him to hang on the wall.

1st entrant, if Sergiu lives through the terrorist attack on day 18. He thanks Player and mentions his aim is not as good as it used to be, and leaves.

Female entrant (not 10000% sure on the number here) claims to have known Player’s father. Her paperwork is correct, I’m pretty sure.

Jorji returns with contraband. Jorji offers to give Player 10 credits if they let him through. Player is able to detain him. He makes a don’t do drugs kids comment if you deny/detain him. <3 What a guy. I’m drawing hearts on him with a sharpie.

Day 20, Imporians will be allowed entrance again.

1st entrant, the MOA supervisor returns. He’ll yell at you if you don’t have the plaque he gave you on day 10 hanging up, or if you have other shit on your wall (e.g. the pennant, Son’s drawing). He will comment on the number of citations Player has received thus far. He will give a second plaque. He says someone named Shae Piersovska is coming through that day, and to let her in.

EZIC messenger returns and gives Player a note. An assassin named Khaled Istom will be coming from Antegria. They give Player a slip with a poison powder.

9th entrant is Khaled Istom. His paperwork is correct. Poisoning him will count towards ending 19 and immediately rules out ending 20. Denying him entry without killing him leads to a citation. Denying him after poisoning him will lead to several entrants in line collapsing and coughing up blood. Approving him after poisoning him will cause him to take a few steps before collapsing and coughing up blood, none of the guards are injured.

Day 21, Grant Of Asylum is introduced. Entrants with this grant do not need an entry permit or ID supplement. The day is cut short by a terrorist attack (from the Arstotzkan side this time!!!!) and one of the guards (NOT SERGIU) is killed (but Sergiu may still die if u miss lmao). Player’s sister has been arrested and her daughter needs a home. Player may adopt her for $40, which will also add $5 to food. If Danic is detained, the watch will be automatically sold for $10.

6th entrant is Danic Lorun. He is missing documents but says he will return in 3 days with correct papers. He offers a digital watch for Player to hold onto for collateral. Player can either give the watch back and deny him, or keep it and either approve or detain him. If Player detains him, the watch will automatically be sold at the end of the day. If approved, there will be an opportunity to sell the watch on days 22 and 23 for $10. He will return on day 23 for the watch. He will give 10 credits in exchange for the watch, but will demand the credits back because of a scratch. If detained, Player can keep the money. If given back, he will give a Republia pin. Wow such a long paragraph it’s bc I don’t want to come back and talk about him again.

Day 22, same as above. If adopted, Niece will give Player $100 from her mother’s savings.

1st entrant is Sergiu if he lives through the previous day’s attack. He reveals he was stationed in Kolechia for 5 years.

Jorji returns with contraband, even if detained on day 19. Interaction is the same as day 19.

4th entrant is Filipe Hasse. His paperwork is correct. He gives Player $10 as a bribe and asks for the pennant back. Player can either give it back or detain him. You need either the Arskickers pennant, the Son drawing, or Player’s Wife to live until day 29 to get ending 11.

Day 23, same as above. In the line, you can see a person with a red sprite. Day is cut short by a terrorist attack. Player may either use the gold key and shoot the terrorist or the silver key and shoot the man in red. If Player shoots him, they will reach an ending and either be sentenced to death or forced labor, and that night an EZIC messenger will slip a note under their cell door telling them that EZIC will go into hiding and their family escaped safely.

2nd entrant is EZIC messenger. They give a note with instructions to kill Khaled Istom, the man in red, and give a silver key.

Day 24, confiscate all passports belonging to Arstotzkan citizens from Atlan district. Entry is permitted if no other rules are violated.

EZIC messenger will update on the situation if the man in red survives.

Jorji returns with correct paperwork and without contraband, but his face is on the wanted list. Player can detain him. Again.

Day 25, in addition to above, deny all entrants from United Federation.

1st entrant is Sergiu if he is still alive. He explains that a girl he met in Kolechia during the war, Elisa, is coming to Arstotzka. He misses her very much and asks Player to let her in. He leaves Player with a locket with a photo of Elisa. Inside the locket there’s a note, “To Sergiu from your Elisa. I love you always.”

7th entrant is a depressed Kolechian. Player may give him the love note received from entrant 5 earlier that day (who gave it as bribery to Player as they had incorrect documentation. Very silly. Icon has a heart on the front. Reads “You are hot like fire. Object of desire. Wrap my heart in wire. Approve my visa.” With silly little doodles to go with each line.) In return, entrant 7 will give Player the Kolechia pin.

9th entrant is Shae Piersovska, mentioned by the MOA supervisor on day 20. Her paperwork is incorrect, but detaining her will lead to ending 12. Denying her will make the supervisor angry and approving her will lead to a citation. Overall no effect on gameplay.

Day 26, All entrants must carry an in-date vaccine certification (name, passport number, vaccines, date of vaccines), and United Fed. entrants are permitted entry with the certification. The day is cut short by a terrorist attack from both sides of the border, 2 from East Grestin and 1 from West Grestin.

3rd entrant is Elisa Katsenja, regardless of whether Sergiu is alive. Today is her 20th birthday btw (Dec. 18 1982) but it’s not explicitly brought up. It’s on her passport though. lmao. She is missing documentation but asks about Sergiu. She begs them to let her through because her family is gone and Sergiu is all she has left.

(splitting this up bc there’s a lot here sorry) If Sergiu is dead, Player will tell her that and Elisa will walk back to the West Grestin side of the border even if her passport is approved.

If Sergiu is alive and Player approves her, she and Sergiu will have this really cute reunion animation. I don’t cry every time I think about it I promise (<lying)

Player can choose whether or not to return the locket to Elisa, and she will not mention it regardless. If Player does not return it, Sergiu will return to take it the next day. If Elisa is approved and Sergiu survives the attack, Sergiu will be reassigned and Elisa will give Player 100 credits. Oh. Also. Player will still get a citation for approving her. The playthrough I’m watching denied Elisa so I’m sad a very normal amount. Btw her dialogue after getting denied is “I am denied? I understand. Please, tell Sergiu I will always love him. We will be together in another life.”

Day 27, Entry Permit and ID Supplement have been replaced by an Access Permit.

7th entrant is Kordon Kallo. Diplomat. If approved, Player may confiscate his passport to give to Kordon Kallo Impersonator to support EZIC. Regardless of confiscation, Impersonator will be entrant 9. If denied, Impersonator will not show.

Day 28, confiscate all Arstotzkan passports. Do not confiscate foreign passports. Day is cut short by a terrorist attack, one from the Arstotzkan side of the border. The MOI confiscated Player’s family’s passports.

Day 29, Government workers will be subjected to thorough information audit. Involvement with unauthorized groups is grounds for immediate arrest. Player’s audit is on December 24th (which would be day 32). Player’s Wife found an old family photo. Player can escape to Oberstan by themself.

1st entrant is the MOI guy again. Idk. He says nothing important.

Jorji returns and suggests to forge passports and flee to Oberstan with his family. To do this, Player must provide enough confiscated Oberstan passports for them and their family, along with $25 per person. Jorji gives Player his passport (you can’t refuse btw) (you get a citation for this regardless of whether you accept or deny him for unauthorized confiscation) and he asks for his flyer back.

8th entrant is an unnamed man (labeled vengeful father). He gives Player a photo of his daughter, Julia, and explains that the man who killed her, Simon Wenz, will be passing through on day 30, and to confiscate his passport so he can kill him. If Player does, he will give player a United Federation pin and the next day on the news, the murderer was found dead in a “confusing mess” ^w^

Day 30, same as above

1st entrant is the MOA supervisor again. He comments on the citations but no more plaques.

3rd entrant Simon Wenz. He is on the wanted criminal list. Player can either detain him or confiscate his passport and let him through and help Vengeful Father.

Vengeful Father returns and Player can give him the confiscated passport, but must confiscate it again since it’s Arstotzkan and let him through. If not, he walks away.

Day 31, final day. MOA is considering closing the checkpoint soon. The day is cut short by a terrorist attack. A car drives in from East Grestin, killing 1 guard. There are two terrorists in total.

Jorji returns for the final time. He does not have any paperwork, but he thanks Player and gives them $40 and leaves.

Holy fuck okay that was long so sorry anyways the endings

Ending 1 - Player goes into debt.

Ending 2 - Everyone in Player’s family dies.

Ending 3 - On day 12, if Player gives the MOI person the EZIC cipher and decoder from days 8/9 and 10, Player is arrested for associating with suspicious groups. The MOI will perform an audit on Player’s recent activity

Ending 4 - Discrepancy with finances. On day 11 or 12, if either gift is accepted and Player does not allow the agent to enter on day 14, MOI will arrest Player at the beginning of the 5th day.

Ending 5 - If Player shoots a civilian during a terrorist attack with a sniper rifle.

Ending 6 - If Player shoots a civilian during a terrorist attack with a tranquilizer.

Ending 7 - If Player shoots a guard during a terrorist attack with a sniper rifle.

Ending 8 - If Player shoots a guard during a terrorist attack with a tranquilizer.

Ending 9 - If Player shoots the man in red with a sniper rifle while EZIC creates a diversion.

Ending 9 - If Player shoots the man in red with a tranquilizer while EZIC creates a diversion.

Ending 11 - There are items hanging on the wall other than the plaque when the MOA supervisor inspects the booth on both days 20 and 30.

Ending 12 - If player detains Shae Piersovska on day 25. Or, if player denies Shae Piersovska and got a warning for unauthorized wall hangings on day 20

Ending 13 - Player completed less than 4 EZIC tasks and only shoots the bottom attacker on day 31, letting the top attacker blow up the wall. The next day, Player is arrested for failing to defend the border.

Ending 14 - Player completed at least 4 of 5 EZIC tasks and on day 31, EZIC Messenger tells Player to hold their fire. Ending is triggered if Player fires anyway and the wall is intact. The ending is triggered the next day.

Ending 15 - Player completed at least 4 of 5 EZIC tasks and on day 31, EZIC Messenger tells Player to hold their fire. Ending is triggered if Player fires anyway and the wall is blown up. Ending triggers immediately. EZIC takes over and Player’s fate is unknown.

Ending 16 - Player escapes to Oberstan on his own or with only some of their family. The fate of the family left behind is unknown.

Ending 17 - Player completed 1-3 EZIC tasks and on day 31, the wall remains intact and Player does not escape to Oberstan. Player’s connection to EZIC is discovered and Player is put to death.

Ending 18 - Player escapes to Oberstan with all of their living family members.

Ending 19 - Player completes at least 4 of 5 EZIC tasks and holds their fire on day 31. EZIC gains power and makes Player an agent and moves their family to a better apartment.

Ending 20 - Player does not trigger any of the endings until day 31. Player completes 0 EZIC tasks. Player remains aligned with Arstotzka and returns to the East Grestin Checkpoint when it reopens on January 1st.

Anyways. I hold up blorbos from my game to you. And I squish them

Jorji is such a guy to me… like, first of all, he’s always so polite to Player? And near the end of the game, he greets Player like an old friend (and Player greets him by name, no longer even asking him for his papers lmao). If the date on his passport is correct, he’s either 43 or 53, born in 1933 or 1932. He keeps coming back!!!!!! Even if you detain him every single interaction. And he’s so !!!!!!!!!!!!! So nice to Player even when he’s getting detained. Such a guy. What a guy. And he just fully gives Player his passport on day 29? Like what the fuck. Like this is the guy that came in on day 4 with a HAND DRAWN PASSPORT like look at this

What a guy.

And I’m sooooooooooooo so so so normal about Sergiu and Elisa. Maybe because by the time you get to day 25, you’re already. What. 3.5 hours into the most monotonous shit? The colour scheme is like. That. So dull w the greys and blues and greens. And then you get a character that like. You’re heavily encouraged to like. And that character feels strong emotions??? Like wow. And w the background of everything???? I’m normal.

Oh also there was a short film made in 2018 on youtube and I’ve seen it like 8 million times (as one does) (because I am normal) [ Link ]

so what ive learned from this is i need to play the game

#im kicking my feetsies and giggling #this is soo interesting and well summed up wow #long post

4 notes · View notes

jadzio-writing-prowess · 22 days

Text

It’s gonna get worse, before it gets better (Papers Please fanfic)

Rated: T

Sergiu Volda & Calensk, Sergiu Volda & Calensk & Inspector (in bg)

A terrorist attack happens at the Grestin border checkpoint, Sergiu gets hurt and Calensk takes it upon himself to help his friend.

Warnings: Discriptions of blood and injury

Hurt/Comfort, Sick Fic (kinda), No Beta - We die like Sergiu when a terrorist attack, Developing Friendship

A03 link if you want to read it there

The cold barrel of the rifle is being held steadily, in Calensk's big hands. It's another slow winter day, at the border checkpoint. Line of immigration is moving lazily. The hollow voice of the Inspector, methodically breaks up the silence. A few detains here and there, nobody is putting up much of a fight today. The air is cold and clear. The sunlight is harsh, but not warm. It's starting to get late, ⅔ into his shift, soon they will be able to all go home. Calensk closes his eyes, lets them rest and tries to welcome, in his own way, the cold embrace of Arstotzkan winter.

After a few minutes, there is a stir in the line, uneasy steps and voices fill the air. Then quick and frantic taps of boots, against the concrete. Some gasps from the crowd. The terrorist speeds past Calensk, creating a small breeze and scales the border wall with ease.

Dammit, his pay. He hopes the detainment bonus will be enough to cover for it. Uneasy steps turn into panicked running. Calensk opens his eyes. The line of immigrants is evacuating. His fellow guard is already retreating - not their side of the wall anymore. But he chooses to stay a little longer. He listens to the sounds of the commotion on the other side. Nothing, but frantic running and shots from the other guards. He waits for the Inspector to do his usual. “For Kolechia!” resounded against the concrete walls. A gunshot echoes in turn, from the Inspector's booth and a pained moan follows.

Explosion rumbles through the air on the ground. Pained moans multiply and Calensk can hear quick shuffling, mixed with swears from the booth, followed by a shrap door swing and sounds of running. Calensk starts to make his way toward it, an uneasy feeling creeping in. He steps through the still open checkpoint and starts running.

The tranq dart was accurate and made its way deep, in between the ribs of the terrorist. Effectively neutralizing the target in seconds, while not killing or doing any major damage. The guards weren't so lucky. The late shot didn't stop the grenade that was already flying through the air. Red stains decorate the post. A medium sized hole has been blown, before the guards and large rock chunks were sprinkled all around.

All of the guards managed to back off far enough from the grenade, to still be clinging to life. The first one had pieces of debris lodged all over his leg. The middle one had been pushed back by the explosion, now he is lying on the ground, treated to grenade parts and sharp stones all over his body. And the last one - Sergiu, kneeling on the ground, clutching his right arm in pain. The Inspector is already tending to him.

Calensk runs up to them. “Calensk! Friend, don't worry, I didn't get hit hard. Pyotr is already helping me out.” Sergiu looks up at Calensk with a weak smile. His painfully trembling arm and panic in the Inspector's movement, contradict his words. Pyotr is muttering apologies for his slow reaction and gently wraps Sergiu's arm in his shawl. It's blood soaked by now. He turns to Calensk. “It's not good. He will have to be escorted to the hospital, with the rest of the guards.”

Sergiu objects at the idea. “What! No, it's fine, it's barely anything. I've lived through worse during the war.” Sergiu turns white, his voice weaker than before. “Sergiu, this is serious. Rocks and grenade parts are deep enough in your arm, to be piercing through your veins. If you were to remove them on your own, you might bleed out. And if you leave it like that, your whole arm can die. I also wouldn't be surprised if it got infected and after that, it'll be just a matter of time before it reaches your bloodstream.” Inspector tries his best to sound stern and commanding, but the mix of guilt and fear in his voice are unmistakable. Calensk can tell that he is exaggerating a little, but the amount of blood coming from Sergiu's arm, his pained expression and the injuries of the other guards, are enough of a sign that he needs immediate medical help.

But all this, does little to change Sergiu's mind. “I won't… I can't go. If I do… they will get me off this checkpoint. I will be assigned a new job, or in the best case, I'll be moved to a less busy checkpoint.” Sergiu's words are broken up by painful gasps for air. “I will be fine… I can take care of myself. I can take care of this wound, on my own. Nothing, some bandages, water and sleep won't fix.” He tries to stand up, but his legs quickly start wobbling and he almost falls to the ground. Inspector and Calensk quickly catch him, before he reaches the ground. Sergiu lets out a painful groan, but does his best to stand upright, with their help. He clings to Calensk's side.

“You can't be left alone, like this, to deal with it on your own. You can't address your wound properly, in this state. It won't heal right.” Calensk shifts a bit, to get a better grip on Sergiu. It causes his friend to slightly hiss in pain. “You need to get your wound cleaned by a doctor. You need to go to the hospital, Sergiu.” Sergiu is visibly in pain, but that doesn't stop his protests. “It's impossible, Calensk.” He's weak, but seems to get ready to put up a fight, if need be. If this argument goes for longer, he will inevitably tire himself and pass out. Calensk sighs, knowing his stubborn friend enough to tell that trying to argue more, will be futile. "Someone should go with you, to help. Do you have any bandages at your place?” Sergiu shifts a little and avoids eye contact with Calensk. “No… I hoped to get some, on my way home...”

The Inspector chimes in. “He can't go to his apartment. The Ministry of Information agent, will visit him in his apartment, for an interview about the attack today, if he doesn't go to the hospital with the others.” He looks over at the other guards.

“Won't that make him suspicious?” Calensk raises an eyebrow. At the same time, he almost never gets interviewed for terrorist attacks. Most of them happen on the other side of the wall. So he's not accustomed to after attack procedures.

“Not necessarily. The agents are used to those situations and if there is no one at home to open the door, they schedule the audit for the next day at work. Only after you don't show up to it either, do they start an investigation. The rules are stricter than this, but no agent wants to spend the rest of their day searching for someone, who - is, most likely, just at some bar getting too wasted to be answering any questions, when found.” The commotion on the other side starts to shift, they seem to be starting to get on with the transport of the guards. The supervisors start to take notice of the three.

“I see. Sergiu, you will go with me.” Calensk looks at Sergiu. “My apartment is close by and empty. My wife and kids went to visit my mother-in-law. I should have something at my place, to patch you up.” He said in a commanding tone. Sergiu was getting worse and worse, there was no point in drawing this out. Calensk trusted that his friend had a good reason to be so desperate. To stay at this checkpoint, wounded and sick.

The Inspector shoves 5 credits into Calensk's hand. “Should help cover the rent today. I might come around later, in the evening. My wife is sick, so I won't stay long, but I might be able to drop off something useful. I will try to get your supervisors off your back for now. And hey-” The Inspector lowers his voice. “take good care of him, ok?” Calensk takes the money, he will need it with today's cut pay. He could use an extra set of hands to help, but he nods along understandably. Sergiu stays silent, looking like he is going to pass out at any moment.

They split, Calensk and Sergiu go towards Calensk's apartment and the Inspector walks to the rest of the guards. The two friends slowly make their way to the apartment. It's close by, mere 2 streets from the checkpoint. But with Sergiu's dwindling health, it took a while. Calensk also lived on the 6th floor, so getting through the stairs was another hurdle on their way. Sergiu needed to catch a breath every two floors. Slowly, but surely they made their way up and got into Calensk's apartment.

It's small. No hall. You almost immediately walk into a room that's a fusion, between a living room and a kitchen. It's humble, just a sofa, table big enough for a family to eat together, and a bookshelf. On the kitchen side, a counter fused with a sink, some cabinets and a fridge. Deeper in, there are 3 doors leading presumably to a bathroom, bedroom and the kids bedroom.

Calensk helps Sergiu take off his rifle and the uniform, then does the same. He pulls two chairs from the table and puts them opposite to each other, next to the sink. He sits Sergiu down on one of them and takes a seat himself.

He gently, but decisively unwinds the flimsy, applied layer of shawl that substitutes for bandages. Finally getting to have a look at his friend's wound.

“Jesus Christ…” Calensk mumbles. He has definitely seen worse, in the years he served under the Arstotzkan government. But that doesn't compare. If the wound gets any worse, the consequences will be gruesome. Pieces of debris and the grenade are sticking out of Sergiu's mottled skin, inserted in deep. Blood was slowly dripping out of some tears, mixing with the dirt, creating smudges of brownish paint all over the arm. Some of it managed to dry into dark reddish-brown clumps of unnatural shapes. The whole gash was covered in dirt and pieces of concrete, after the fall. There wasn't any water on hand to clean it at the border. But now there was.

Calensk puts the bloodied arm under the tap and turns it on. Lukewarm water starts to swiftly make its way down the uneven path, taking chunks of blood and dirt with it. Sergiu hisses lightly at the sensation, but keeps his arm steadily under the flow. Water eventually brings some relief, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Sharp stone fragments still firmly in their place and some dirt, still stubbornly clings to his skin.

Calensk looks down at his hands, big and bulky, but most importantly incredibly dirty. Chunks of dirt and grime on the palms, some of Sergiu's blood and some cigarette residue under all of it. He feels that he is the last person that should carry out such a procedure…

But there is Sergiu, looking up at him. With trust and hope in his eyes. Calensk can see the fear and pain hidden deep within, but Sergiu puts his hopes in him and he was not going to leave him like that. He knows that the younger man, if left untreated, will probably end up trying to treat himself and end up infecting and opening his wounds even more.

So, he gingerly pushes his friend's arm to the side, to wash his hands. He does it with as much care and attention as he can, while also trying to not take too much time. He knows it’s not perfect, probably not even good. That it would take way more, to clean the cigarette traces off of his fingers. He wishes he had some clean gloves, but no luck. He puts Sergiu's arm back under the stream, goes to the nearest cabinet and grabs a bottle of ethyl alcohol. He pours it onto a kitchen cloth and wipes his hands clean. Then he goes to get a clean cloth and a pair of tweezers, runs them under the water and alcohol, lays them beside him and turns to his friend.

Calensk starts to work. He gently puts his hands on Sergiu's arm and slowly and methodically, scrubs any dirt the water didn't take care of yet. Even the slightest touch of Calensk fingers sends hot waves of pain through Sergiu's arm, but he does his best to keep it to himself. Once the skin is cleared, Calensk turns off the tap and lays Sergiu's arm on the counter. He wipes the wound with alcohol. To Sergiu, it feels like he is getting his arm, gradually roasted by a fire. To add to that, the sharp stones in his arm, no matter how delicate Calensk tries to be, dig deeper and tear his skin. Calensk puts down the cloth and gets out the tweezers, but then immediately notices that half of the stone chunks are too big for them and he will have to use his hands again. He puts them aside and patiently, with as much care as he can, pulls out bits and pieces of debris and the grenade.

Sergiu bites his right fist to muffle the sounds of pain, he can't keep inside anymore. His vision starts going white, tears show themselves at the ends of his eyes and nausea starts to wreak his guts. His war deteriorated body and mind, are not what they used to be. He desperately tries to keep his clam and starts breathing heavily, desperately trying to stabilize himself.

Calensk stops and looks at Sergiu. He wants to say something, but he stops himself and immediately softens. “...Listen to me.” He puts his hand on the shoulder of his friend's healthy arm. “Focus on my voice. In one, in one two, in two three.” Calensk looks at him, patiently waiting. Sergiu's unfocused eyes and mind fail to catch his friend’s movement, but he manages to ground himself in his unusually soft voice. “...In one, in one two, in two three…” Voice weak and trembling like he was about to break into pieces. Slowly his vision comes back and the pain gives out a little. Calensk decided to pour him a cold glass of water, Sergiu slowly drank half of it. It helped with the nausea.

“Thank you my friend, I… my endurance is not the same as before.” Sergiu's eyes drift to the side, unable to face the judgmental look Calensk is probably giving him right now. Instead he gets a short response and an empathetic look. “I don't mind. War and Arstotzkan lifestyle took a toll on all of us. ..The thanks we get… .. Stupid terrorist. Just tell me when you need a break again.” Calensk's voice is back to normal. He's looking at his friend searching for any more signs of distress. “...I will keep that in mind. Thank you again, not everyone has as much patience when dealing with wounds and...” Sergiu gains a little courage to look at Calensk. His face is the same stone cold expression, he always carries and yet it feels a little softer now, a little more understanding. It gives Sergiu the courage and ease he needs. He releases a shaky breath.

Calensk resumes cleaning the wound. Picking out sharp, uneven rocks and grenade parts. Slow and tedious work, of digging out every speck of dirt from under the debris. Calensk, careful as before, does his best to not drag out the process. Sergiu lets himself catch a break, every few minutes. Calensk is always there, patiently waiting. Sergiu tries his best to break out the uncomfortable - in his mind - silence, in those moments. But he gets more and more tired as time goes on and finds it harder and harder to speak. Calensk doesn't mind and always just silently listens or answers the best he can.

Time passes, the sun has hidden under the horizon a some time ago, but neither of the two men noticed. Finally, after a few hours of tireless work, it's done and Calensk is only left with going over Sergiu's wound, with alcohol, to make sure it won't get infected. Sergiu is too tired at this point to react to the burning sensation. His eyelids heavy, he still tries his best to stay conscious and help Calensk with what he can.

Calensk after clearing the wound, stands up and looks around, searching for something to wrap the arm in. Unable to find a bandage and realizing it's far too late for any medicine shop to be open, he settles on tearing up a new shawl he bought recently for clean cloth.

“What… what, no don't use it on me…” Sergiu's weak protest, didn't even manage to register in Calensk mind, before he teared up the shawl and applied it to his wound. “Nonsense. It's cheap cloth that can't even retain heat properly.” He swiftly wraps Sergiu's arm and puts a firm knot at the end of it. “Besides, I can't let all this work to now go to waste.” He says in a no nonsense tone and shoots Sergiu a look. Sergiu relaxes a little. “I'm in debt to you friend.” Sergiu smiles at Calensk and looks around for a clock. “It's late, I should be going home. I'll find a way to make this up to you. Thank you for everything again…” He tries to get up, but his legs almost immediately give out. Thankfully Calensk managed to catch him in time, before he reached the floor. “You are all fired up. You are not going to go through Arstotzkan winter night, in this state. Especially if you hope to stand guard at the checkpoint tomorrow.”

Sergiu, overcome with dizziness, didn't protest much and gave in to the support of his friend. Calensk carefully held his friend upright and started to guide him to bed. Slow, ginger steps. Tired, but strong arms supporting the wounded. Sergiu broke out into fever shivers every few minutes, but Calensk managed, to safely, get him to lay down under a blanket. He wondered if he had any medicine left, that he could use to lower the fever. He searches through the cabinets and finds some leftover pills, from the time his wife fell ill. He also remembers an old blanket he had stashed in the closet and took it with him too.

Sergiu was already sweating bullets under the current blanket, but he appreciated the second layer. Calensk wondered if he had any clothes for tomorrow morning that would fit Sergiu. For now, he helps him to take the medication and brings him a glass of water. Sergiu downs it almost instantly.

He goes to refill it and comes back to Sergiu. He notices fresh tear stains, decorating his cheeks. “Are you in pain, my friend? Did I knot the bandage too tightly or is the sickness getting worse?” He isn't sure if Sergiu is even capable of answering him in this state, but he managed to mutter a few words. “No… no.. it's just..” He takes a few painful, desperate breaths. “I.. I think… I'm dying, Calensk …” Sergiu tries to muffle a wet sob that tumbles through him.

Calensk takes a close look at his friend - fever shivers still not giving out, sweat running down his face, the way he curls in pain and the way Segiu's eyes dart around the room. Calensk takes out a clean tissue cloth and wipes Sergiu's face. “Bullshit, you are not dying. You are strong enough to get through this fine.”

These words hit Sergiu deep, they act like a firm punch to his guts and everything unravels. “...I don't want to die.. not now.. not now.. when we are so close.. ..I can’t.. I need to see you again.. ..I can't now… ..I don't.. I can't…” Sergiu now fully breaks into muffled, ugly sobbing, mixed with incoherent mumbling.

Calensk, taken aback a little, tries to soften his approach. “Don't say that. Fever messes up your senses. You are going to be fine, I promise. Now deep breaths. Remember?” He tries to help Sergiu stabilize himself. Slowly, uneven and deep breathing is the only sound breaking up the silence, with an exception for occasional sobs and shivers from Sergiu. Little by little, Sergiu calms himself.

Calensk stands up to find some clothes, he hopes will fit his smaller friend, for him to change into. He searches through the closet and the dresser. Not much luck, everything is at least two sizes too large. He wonders whether to use some of the clothes his wife left behind. But ends up settling for his for now, concluding that Sergiu's sleeping clothes can be a bit too big and decides to possibly use the other ones in the morning.

He takes the clothes, uncovers Sergiu and helps him to dress himself. Not the most grateful job. He would gladly leave up to Sergiu, but he knows that he can't when he is in this state. He goes from down to up. It goes semi smoothly with Calensk's help and Sergiu's collaboration. Sergiu is too weak to do much at this point, so Calensk gently removes Sergiu's two shirts himself and-

“Blyat! What happened?! When did this happen?” Calensk uncovered Sergiu's torso, to reveal a bandaged up stomach, blood staining his left side, mottled skin spreading from it. “Please, don't shout….” Sergiu takes a long pause to compose himself. “.I.. During the war.. near the end, I was shot.. they sent me away back into Arstotzka … to a hospital to get treated. I was unable to get help … There were many more like me ..and the civilians.. …and I wanted to quickly come back to Kolechia to finish some business… so I used the money they gave me for the hospital stay… to buy some supplies and I cleaned and patched myself up. It wasn’t much.” Sergiu with great effort strings together sentences. Calensk gives him a sign to stop talking and straining himself.

He carefully starts pulling back bandages. Thankfully they weren't that old. But what was under them... Calensk can't shout, no matter how much he wants to and just mutters: “Suka blyat. Here is the dog buried... When was the last time you cleaned this?” Sergiu squirms at the sensation, hot waves of pain overtaking him again. “It's fine, it's healing ok, it's just flaring up because of the arm and the stress-”

“It's not healing ok. I can still see parts of the bullet inside it. It's infected.” Calensk interrupts Sergiu, keeping his voice low, but stern. He remembers Inspector's words ‘I also wouldn't be surprised, if you got it infected and after that, it's just a matter of time before it reaches your bloodstream.’ They keep ringing through his mind. Where is he either way, he said he was going to be here, at some point.

The infected wound before him, Inspector and Sergiu's words mix in Calensk's mind. He is at the verge of passing out. He doesn't know if he has the strength to do this, nor what he would even use to clean it. He used up most of his supplies, for the arm. He lets out a big sigh. “Stay here. Rest and gather up energy. I'll be in the kitchen trying to figure out how to tackle this.” He takes one of his shirts out of the drawer and uses it to cover the wound for now. “Calensk…-” Sergiu tries to say something, but a stern look from Calensk is enough to stop him. Sergiu gets hit with a new wave of pain and nausea, so he tries to focus on that for now.

Calensk leaves his bedroom and goes to the kitchen, to brew himself a coffee. He will need it. Ramped thoughts course through his mind. As he is finishing boiling the water, he hears a knocking on the door. ‘About time…’ Calensk opens the door to a tired Inspector, holding a material bag in one of his hands. His eyes are bloodshot and the expression tired. “Apologies for the hour, she got worse...” His eyes darted to the side in shame. “But I managed to get some supplies. Though I'm not sure if they will be of any use now, you probably already took care of the wound. Well I hope it can at least compensate-” Calensk steps aside, in a clear sign for the Inspector to come in. “No, no… Come in. He… also just got worse and I was wondering what to do. My supplies had run dry.”

The Inspector came in and they went to the kitchen. Calensk poured more water into the now, lukewarm kettle and started to heat it up again. The Inspector sat down by the table, while Calensk tended to the coffee. “So what happened? Was the wound that serious?” Pyotr started to pull out his supplies on the table. “No, there wasn't much trouble with his arm. He will probably come out of it with some scarring. If he cleans it regularly, it shouldn’t get infected.” Kettle starts to boil, Calensk takes it off the fire, before it starts to wheeze. “It's just that… he got shot during the war. Never got treated for it and well you can imagine the rest yourself.”

Calensk turns toward the Inspector. On the table lined up neatly, were a roll of gauze and bandage, a pair of gloves, a safety pin, a medi pad and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. “Did… Did you rob a United Federation hospital, when you were gone?” Calensk raises an eyebrow at the lineup. He struggled to get a few cough pills out of the medicine shop, Arstotzkan stores being notoriously understocked. “Heh, no. I went to the hospital with the guards and the agents, was close to my apartment anyway. They keep the local hospital pretty well supplied, with all the attacks going on the border. It's not much, but I wouldn't be able to get half of it, if not for the fact that I work at the border and that some of the staff seems to know Sergiu and was willing to lend a hand.”

Calensk finished brewing the coffee, handed one cup to the Inspector and sat beside him. “I'm impressed. This will surely come in handy. But I'm not sure if he will be able to come to work tomorrow, even if the wound gets cleaned.” Calensk takes a sip of the coffee, it's not much, being mostly water, but it's exactly what he needs right now. “Well you at least got time until 2pm. The Investigator will be out of town, with our Supervisor until then.” The Inspector sipped the coffee, his 4th cup today. He isn't sure if it will do anything at this point.

“Could use some extra hours. Thank you for the news and the supplies. …About the debt from the det-” Calensk starts, but gets interrupted by the Inspector. “Don't even mention it. You needed the money, I get it. Now I need time to be with my wife, rather than helping here… and you understand that. That being said” He stands up, having already finished the cup. “I'm afraid I need to go. Can I take a look at him before I go?”

“Sure. He's weak and resting now, so try to not wake him up, if he's sleeping.” Inspector nods and as quietly as possible, goes to see Sergiu.

Calensk finishes up the coffee, while he meditates over how he will tackle this whole thing. Inspector doesn't stay by Sergiu for long and quietly makes his exit. Calensk gives himself a few minutes, after the door closes to gather himself. He takes all the supplies from the table, grabs a pair of tweezers, a bottle of ethyl alcohol with whatever is still left in it, a new cloth for wiping, a bowl and a pair of scissors.

He comes into his bedroom. Sergiu is laying down, but clearly not sleeping. His eyes have a distant fog to them, not too unfamiliar for Sergiu to have. Calensk wonders what thoughts cloud his vision now. Is it the war, the terrorist attack, the image of his wounds, or is it simply clouded by pain and nausea. Calensk goes to grab another shirt, in case the bleeding gets worse. He puts down the supplies on the bed and floor, next to the bed. They lack the precise organization of the Inspector, but it will suffice. He kneels next to the wound.

Calensk looks at Sergiu, sweat and tear stains cover his face, his expression remains unchanged. He takes the cloth on the stand and wipes Sergiu's face. His face changes expression slightly, Calensk isn't sure what it exactly means, he just hopes it's a little of a relief.

“I'm sorry, I was too harsh to you before. I was tired …and worried.” Calensk takes a slight pause before saying the last part. His voice wobbles a little. “Don't worry, I've heard worse. At least you scream and swear, because you are worried about me. It's a nice change of pace.” Sergiu smiles weakly, but his eyes remain unchanged, still distant. “Don't say that. You deserve better.” Calensk eyes land on the floor, unable to look at Sergiu's face anymore. “Do I, though? I got my arm blown up, then refused to get professional help, becoming your burden. You already helped me so much, but I've taken up even more than you could give, or I could ever repay. You have the right to be upset.”

Calensk looks straight into Sergiu's eyes. “No, I do not. It’s not your fault that the terrorist attack happened,” Sergiu tries to interrupt Calensk, but he doesn't let him. “It's not your fault you are wounded. It's ok to get help from your friends. You didn't want to get to the hospital, for an unknown reason, I get it. But what is not ok and what I don't get, is why did you have to hide this from us too.” Calensk puts emphasis on certain words to hammer the point home. “You don't want to take more than you can give back, but… if we lost you, how do you imagine you could make up for that?”

Sergiu averts his eyes from Calensk's gaze. His expression changes, giving to a mix of sadness and distant grief. Calensk puts his hand gently on his friend's shoulder. “You don't need to hide anymore, you are among friends. You don't need to handle everything on your own. You are always ready to give a helpful hand to us, why not extend this kindness to yourself?” Sergiu's glances back at Calensk. His usually sharp features are softened, his face wearing the same sadness and grief to it as Sergiu. Except his grief feels closer and more tangible right now, than his.”You are right. Though I will find a way to repay you friend, it's only fair.” His voice gets quieter. “Trust me there is no need. So… ready for a round two? And don't you worry about the state of my medicine cabinet. When Pyotr came by, he made up for his absence by robbing a hospital.” A small smile graces both men's faces. Sergiu seems to be more at ease now.

Before Calensk takes care of the wound. He unravels the shirt protecting the wound. It didn't get any better during all this time, maybe except for the bleeding slowing down. Sergiu winces at the sensation.

Calensk looks into Sergiu eyes. “It's gonna get a lot worse. It’s gonna get worse, before it gets better. Are you ready?” Sergiu takes in a shaky, deep breath. “I am ready.” Calensk gives him a small reassuring smile and the tissue cloth to wipe his face, if he needs to and to bite down on, instead of his hand.

Calensk puts on the gloves and starts to dig out the dirt and grime out of the wound. He puts it in the bowl. Slowly and methodically, already familiarized himself with the rhythm. Segiu does his best to keep his pained moans and whimpers to a minimum. It feels like he is on fire again, but somehow it's even worse. Waves of nausea hit harder than before. His vision goes blank several times.

Calensk grabs the pair of tweezers every now and again to pull out a rock or a bullet fragment. He does his best to be gentle, but most of em had grown into the skin and had to be pushed and pulled out the flesh. Sergiu needs a moment, every time this happens. Calensk doesn't mind the countless trips to refill Sergiu glass, it's a neat break from the look and smell of the blood that starts to cling to him more and more.

It's been like that for hours. Digging dirt out, break, back to digging, break. It weighs on both of their minds and bodies. When it feels like it's almost over, Calensk takes off his gloves and Sergiu feels some relief. Before he hears a soft “I'm sorry.” from Calensk. He pours alcohol down into his wound, to disinfect the gash. Sergiu instinctively thrashes and Calensk gently and carefully holds him down, with his second hand. He breathes heavily, eyes hazy, alcohol digs deep into his flesh, scorching everything in its wake. Sergiu passes out from pain.

An unknown amount of time passes. When Sergiu gets dragged back to consciousness, his wound is bandaged up and the room cleaned from the medical supplies. Calensk is sitting on the floor by the bed, looking over him. When Sergiu opens his eyes, a relief washes over him. His cold hand brushes his face and stays on his forehead. “You are a strong horse, you will live through this. You already went through the worst, now you can only go up from there.” Sergiu enjoys the cold sensation of Calensk's hand on his face. “Your fever rises again, you need to take this.” He hands Sergiu some pills and water. He struggles to take them, but eventually manages to swallow them down. His eyelids are getting heavy and soon enough he lets himself drift off to sleep, tired and restless.

Calensk waits a few minutes, looking over his friend, checking if he is truly sleeping. When he confirms that Sergiu is deep in sleep, he takes the tissue again and wipes new sweat off of Sergiu's face. He puts his hand on his forehead and checks the temperature again. The medication should be slowly kicking in. He stands up, to go to sleep himself.

In the small living room, he opens his convertible sofa and thanks his grandfather for passing it onto him. With Sergiu occupying the only spare blanket, he makes due with his winter coat and an old sleeping bag, he hoped he would never have to use again. He changes his clothes into something more light, tosses the dirty and bloody ones in the laundry basket and settles on the sofa. Imagines of lines of immigrants, the terrorist's neutralized body, Sergiu's wounds, his distraught face, sounds of explosions, gunshots and soft sobbing fill Calensk mind as he drifts off. He knows full well that he is not the only one, with such things occupying his mind and that it will be a tough night, before Sergiu gets any better.

Sergiu's fever rises and falls throughout the night. Cold shivers break up his tired dreams. Sometimes he wakes up, nightmares, memories and reality meshing together into an unholy abomination that Calensk has to pull him out of. In the flurry of visions, seeing Calensk and his soft expression, his hand on his forehead, is like a lighthouse guiding him back to reality. Fever fights within him, slowly giving in to the medication, but never fully stops. Calensk is at least able to quickly fall back into calm, dreamless, but restless sleep every time. To be just as quickly, pulled from it by Sergiu. He doesn't mind it much. Be it his experience, with his sick kids, wife, or in service to Arstotzka. It's not his first night like this and it's not going to be his last.

Night quickly turns into a cold morning. Calensk wakes up, sun up above the horizon and gets himself ready. He finds some fresh spare clothes for Sergiu, for when he wakes up. Makes a light breakfast for both of them. Gets ready the last few remaining medicine pills and carries everything to his still sleeping friend. Sergiu sleeps deep, drenched in sweat. Calensk checks Sergiu's temperature with the back of his hand. Still warm, but he doesn't shiver so much. He puts breakfast and the medicine on a small bedside stand, next to an empty glass. He goes to refill it and thinks what a shame it will be to wake Sergiu up like that. He could really use a day off and stay in bed, but from his yesterday's reaction, there was no convincing him to stay. Calensk understands.

What is left now is to hope - that the weather is better and that there are no terrorist attacks happening in the near future. But with the sharpshooting guardian angel, he has in the Inspector, Calensk's patient helping hand and his undying hope to live another day on that post, he just might make it out alive, long enough to see his lover.

#papers please #sergiu volda #calensk #calensk papers please #segiu papers please #papers please fanfic #fanfic #Sergiu Volda & Calensk #Sergiu Volda & Calensk & Inspector (in bg)#the way that inspector and calensk rush to sergiu's help when other guards are just dying in the bg #accurate tbh

6 notes · View notes