highlyregarded:
[A shadow moves abruptly across the blinds rigged up in the front windows of his restaurant, and Raeger sighs in quiet dismay as he recognizes exactly what the shadow was. It’s almost alarming how familiar he’s become with the sight of someone collapsing outside his front door, even for as obfuscated as the sight is by the blinds. It’s almost alarming, though, because it’s difficult to maintain alarm for what has become a near weekly occurrence over the last couple years.]
[Mumbles to himself under his breath, tossing his ladle down onto the nearby spoon rest.] Fritz… I told you to be careful in this heat.
[He had been in the middle of prepping for the dinner rush he expected to start in the next hour or so— getting sauces and soups ready to accompany orders, mainly— but it’s easy enough to switch his burners down to low heat and to go check on the collapsed heap outside. He’s just about to chastise the puddle of a young man, to say something along the lines of “let me guess, you have only minutes to live and you need a free sandwich”— when he suddenly realizes he doesn’t recognize the man on his stoop.]
H— hey—
[He springs to the man’s side and stoops to check on his still form, tapping him urgently on the shoulder to check for signs of consciousness. The clinic isn’t far if he needs to make a run for the town nurse, but if he can get the stranger out of the sun without hurting him, that seems like a better immediate plan.] Hey! Are you alright? Sir— can you hear me?
Nnnnn-- [His head rolls just enough for the brown cowboy hat to slide off of his blonde crown. Wayne’s lips are cracked and dry, his face pale. One hand twitches while both eyes begin to gently flutter.] Hhhhh--
...
[Despite the heat wearing him out, Wayne manages to begin picking up his head. Small beads of sweat drip down his cheeks, nose, and chin--until finally, both eyes slowly open. He looks straight ahead at Raegar’s chest.]
...
Wh--
M--ail
...
[Eyelids grow heavy, signaling another near collapse.] ... ... ...
