04-25-2023, 01:43 AM
Maksim sat with his forehead in his hands for many minutes. He was sure that if he looked up he was going to vomit, and he could think of nothing more humiliating than that. Physical weakness was no more tolerated than mental, but true to culture, the others gave Maksim his space in silence. They ignored him out of respect excepting for the European among them.
His gaze was fixed on the floor and he only noticed Kristian’s approach by the shoes that populated the carpet in front of him. Max said nothing in response, but he tried to answer the question in his own head. He’d not seen dead bodies outside of the funeral house, but even at a funeral he paid his respects as swiftly as possible and moved on without lingering. Death bothered him, and nobody talked about it. Grief was as shunned as psychotherapy. Was that the source of his ill ease? Or was it something more?
Soon, uniformed servicemen filed into the room. Maksim only noticed the disturbance from the additional voices. Then, he only noticed that someone was kneeling at his side after they spoke his name.
A scanner flashed in and out of view. Still he did not lift his head. He’d have gone to the bathroom if he thought he could make it, but hell if he was going to carry a trash can the whole walk there. He'd just sit here until it passed. Surely it would pass soon.
“Mr. Marveet, can you tell me what you’re feeling?”
Maksim shook his head no. If he spoke, he was sure he was going to lose his stomach.
Then the voice spoke to someone else nearby. “His heart rate is very high. I think we should take him in just to be sure.”
“Agreed. He could be in shock.” Someone responded. Afterward, the host indicated that there was a back way out to avoid the more popular areas of the casino.
Actually, that didn’t sound like a bad idea. Maksim did not resist when they helped him to his feet, but as soon as his head moved, everything went black, and he passed out.
[[All the blood left his head when he stood, which is why he passed out. It’ll only be about 30 seconds before he wakes back up.]]
His gaze was fixed on the floor and he only noticed Kristian’s approach by the shoes that populated the carpet in front of him. Max said nothing in response, but he tried to answer the question in his own head. He’d not seen dead bodies outside of the funeral house, but even at a funeral he paid his respects as swiftly as possible and moved on without lingering. Death bothered him, and nobody talked about it. Grief was as shunned as psychotherapy. Was that the source of his ill ease? Or was it something more?
Soon, uniformed servicemen filed into the room. Maksim only noticed the disturbance from the additional voices. Then, he only noticed that someone was kneeling at his side after they spoke his name.
A scanner flashed in and out of view. Still he did not lift his head. He’d have gone to the bathroom if he thought he could make it, but hell if he was going to carry a trash can the whole walk there. He'd just sit here until it passed. Surely it would pass soon.
“Mr. Marveet, can you tell me what you’re feeling?”
Maksim shook his head no. If he spoke, he was sure he was going to lose his stomach.
Then the voice spoke to someone else nearby. “His heart rate is very high. I think we should take him in just to be sure.”
“Agreed. He could be in shock.” Someone responded. Afterward, the host indicated that there was a back way out to avoid the more popular areas of the casino.
Actually, that didn’t sound like a bad idea. Maksim did not resist when they helped him to his feet, but as soon as his head moved, everything went black, and he passed out.
[[All the blood left his head when he stood, which is why he passed out. It’ll only be about 30 seconds before he wakes back up.]]