[ Don't mind Erik mouthbreathing on this post Having had his own share of injuries from time to time, the one on his own wrist was reasonably addressed, although really, it's difficult when you're doing things with one left hand and teeth to get by. ]
I've managed my own decently enough, [ Erik says, not bothering to actually show his; he figures Charles would pick up on that. ] Though if you can't find the nurse you're looking for, I can lend my assistance.
[ He'll ignore the distraction of the writing for now, assuming the wrist required more attention in the meantime. Which it should, given how drastic the effect had been for him at least. ]
[There is a quick glance at the device, a small smile and then he's back to his scribbling.]
Thank you, Erik. I am hopeful that Nurse Chapel will be able to answer, because I feel as if a round of antibiotics would not be amiss either, if the hospital was stocked with such.
But I shall keep your offer in mind.
[The antibiotics and if he's lucky a local anesthetic also. Charles would not be looking forward to the debris process without something to dull the pain but if he had to go that route, so be it.]
Are you all right? I know the events of the past week were particularly difficult on some.
[He will not mention, what he saw from the other Erik but the memory does swim close to the surface and he frowns a little, suspecting that the Erik he is speaking with could have been likewise traumatized.]
[ Which is understandable, considering Erik had gone through the process of picking through his without any anesthetic, merely an abnormal amount of alcohol to numb any feelings. It was, in retrospect, not the greatest of ideas, but Erik hadn't been prone to making good ideas lately.
Erik nods though, but he doesn't return the smile, when Charles has his attention occupied elsewhere. 'All right' is putting it mildly, but he doesn't feel the need to express this to Charles, having already spoken to Erik about his own issues, and he thinks he's recovered, which is to say, not really the same, but he's coping. ]
I'm getting by.
[ Erik deflects like he always does, rubbing over the makeshift bandages, careful not to disturb the dressing. ]
[The tender skin of the inside of his wrist took the brunt of the struggling, quarter inch strips of necrotic skin still dangle from the wounds.
His attention is who knows where but its focused enough to be aware that you're deflecting, Mr. Lehnsherr. He pauses in his writing, still not looking towards the device.]
Have you taken some time to talk with Erik?
[Yes, he's asking rather than just thought surfing for his answer.]
[ He spent the night, day, something that could be constituted as reasonable amount of time with the man, curling into some sort of desperation and relief that was offered from Erik, handling each other as well as they could. Erik rather liked the interaction he'd get from the other man, being able to rely on him somehow more addicting than any material item he'd indulge to cope. ]
We have.
[ It's difficult for him to bring up the conversations again, with the fact that he had been struggling so much with the entire week, chained to a teenager he may or may not have emotionally disturbed and ruined, unintentional as it was. ]
[Charles had once again taken up writing and once again he paused in mid stroke as all the things Erik didn't say, washed over him. For a long minute he simply stood there, digesting what he picked up, then he squared his shoulders and began to write that much more vigorously on the window.]
Good.
[Said gently.]
You should make the effort, to make it enough. We should not question where support comes from but make the most of it when it helps.
[ He's convinced sometimes that he'll end up too dependent on Erik or Charles, part of the reason why he's been so reluctant in the meantime to truly open up at all. With the exception of the occasional repressed memory, Erik would rather not become a bother to anyone. ]
Where are you?
[ Sorry Charles, but you're getting a distraction in the form of Erik taking an interest in what you're doing over his own issues. ]
[Charles said in a distracted tone as he scrawled across the glass. He wasn't at home and he couldn't entirely remember how he'd gotten where he was or why. Maybe it had been during the search for the wax pencil? Who knew.]
Am I ... what? Oh, ah, no I'm not opposed. I just honestly forget where I am. One of the office buildings I believe, two blocks away from the hospital.
[He knew the City, in his own way and could find his way around unerringly from landmarks and the like but it was like how he measured time, or maintained his focus, self taught coping mechanisms that probably did not make much sense to anyone else.]
I'm on one of the upper floors, facing uhmmm away from the clock tower. The light was getting in my eyes.
[ That was... more than he was anticipating, already sliding on a jacket at the when the directions came his way. ]
I'll be there shortly.
[ Shutting off the phone, he sets off into the darkness, crossing the blocks to the office buildings. They're not too far from his own bar, and the finds them effortlessly, squinting through the darkness for the one that could occasionally show off the pale lines across the glass that Charles had left.
All things considered though, he had no specific reason to climb the stairs and join Charles, save for the company he gained. With everyone else, he had forced himself to maintain conversation, struggling for words and coherency when it was easier to get them out around Charles. ]
[Charles is standing a few steps away from the window, his head down, eyes focused on his notebook. He does not immediately glance up when Erik appears, having already marked the man's approach when he came through the lower doors of the building.
Making a small notation, he glances up and tilts his head at the man, then gives a small, half smile that is still genuine enough.]
Yes. Observations I've made since I arrived here, combined with other bits and pieces. I'm trying to get it all sorted into some sort of coherent organization.
Did you learn anything new since the last time we talked?
[ Erik turns his attention deliberately towards the glass windows, glancing over the written content curiously. It's a distraction he'll take, with all the turmoils he's been through over the past few days, frustrated that he can't maintain some semblance of normalcy without having to succumb to either the city interfering or his other self giving him a hard time to begin with. To Erik at least, as long as he can dive into something objectively, he'd be fine, or at least, that was the excuse he was giving himself to glancing over Charles' notes. ]
[ Erik takes his time with the words written over the glass, most of which Charles had already told him beforehand. Seeing it all written out, being able to process it on his own allowed Erik to focus solely on the fact that they were in a position far off worse than he had imagined. His own issues aside, the fact that Charles had pointed out the lack of materials for a medical emergency meant that if they suffered anything worse than having their wrists torn apart, they'd be in considerable danger. ]
[It takes Charles a minute to suss out exactly what Erik is asking but then he quirks his lips and gives a small shrug.]
Here, let me show you.
[Walking along the windows, he stops by one that contains a large chart.]
This was made up fairly early on by a young man named Edmund. I haven't heard from him recently so I believe he left the City but luckily the information remained. As you can see there is a timed schedule, as measured by the clock tower I believe, of the trains.
Since I've started to go further down the tunnels now, I count off the rhyme for Three Little Kittens to help me gauge how much time has passed. It takes me 1 minute and 10 seconds to get through the entire rhyme. I can walk down in the tunnels for 12 full refrains and eighteen lines, before I have to turn around as it takes me 2 full refrains and 13 lines to clear the mouth of the tunnel in time for the next train.
[He has this on the notes just off to the side, meaning to give them to his other self.]I know the trains now by heart, so when I'm just
( ... )
[ Don't mind Erik mouthbreathing on this post Having had his own share of injuries from time to time, the one on his own wrist was reasonably addressed, although really, it's difficult when you're doing things with one left hand and teeth to get by. ]
I've managed my own decently enough, [ Erik says, not bothering to actually show his; he figures Charles would pick up on that. ] Though if you can't find the nurse you're looking for, I can lend my assistance.
[ He'll ignore the distraction of the writing for now, assuming the wrist required more attention in the meantime. Which it should, given how drastic the effect had been for him at least. ]
Reply
Thank you, Erik. I am hopeful that Nurse Chapel will be able to answer, because I feel as if a round of antibiotics would not be amiss either, if the hospital was stocked with such.
But I shall keep your offer in mind.
[The antibiotics and if he's lucky a local anesthetic also. Charles would not be looking forward to the debris process without something to dull the pain but if he had to go that route, so be it.]
Are you all right? I know the events of the past week were particularly difficult on some.
[He will not mention, what he saw from the other Erik but the memory does swim close to the surface and he frowns a little, suspecting that the Erik he is speaking with could have been likewise traumatized.]
Reply
Erik nods though, but he doesn't return the smile, when Charles has his attention occupied elsewhere. 'All right' is putting it mildly, but he doesn't feel the need to express this to Charles, having already spoken to Erik about his own issues, and he thinks he's recovered, which is to say, not really the same, but he's coping. ]
I'm getting by.
[ Erik deflects like he always does, rubbing over the makeshift bandages, careful not to disturb the dressing. ]
Reply
His attention is who knows where but its focused enough to be aware that you're deflecting, Mr. Lehnsherr. He pauses in his writing, still not looking towards the device.]
Have you taken some time to talk with Erik?
[Yes, he's asking rather than just thought surfing for his answer.]
Reply
We have.
[ It's difficult for him to bring up the conversations again, with the fact that he had been struggling so much with the entire week, chained to a teenager he may or may not have emotionally disturbed and ruined, unintentional as it was. ]
Not nearly enough though.
Reply
Good.
[Said gently.]
You should make the effort, to make it enough. We should not question where support comes from but make the most of it when it helps.
Reply
[ He's convinced sometimes that he'll end up too dependent on Erik or Charles, part of the reason why he's been so reluctant in the meantime to truly open up at all. With the exception of the occasional repressed memory, Erik would rather not become a bother to anyone. ]
Where are you?
[ Sorry Charles, but you're getting a distraction in the form of Erik taking an interest in what you're doing over his own issues. ]
Reply
[Charles said in a distracted tone as he scrawled across the glass. He wasn't at home and he couldn't entirely remember how he'd gotten where he was or why. Maybe it had been during the search for the wax pencil? Who knew.]
Reply
[ He won't intrude if you'd rather not but some things are just better spoken to in person, and Erik's never been fond of the phones to begin with. ]
Reply
[He knew the City, in his own way and could find his way around unerringly from landmarks and the like but it was like how he measured time, or maintained his focus, self taught coping mechanisms that probably did not make much sense to anyone else.]
I'm on one of the upper floors, facing uhmmm away from the clock tower. The light was getting in my eyes.
Reply
[ That was... more than he was anticipating, already sliding on a jacket at the when the directions came his way. ]
I'll be there shortly.
[ Shutting off the phone, he sets off into the darkness, crossing the blocks to the office buildings. They're not too far from his own bar, and the finds them effortlessly, squinting through the darkness for the one that could occasionally show off the pale lines across the glass that Charles had left.
All things considered though, he had no specific reason to climb the stairs and join Charles, save for the company he gained. With everyone else, he had forced himself to maintain conversation, struggling for words and coherency when it was easier to get them out around Charles. ]
Are they notes on the city?
Reply
[Charles is standing a few steps away from the window, his head down, eyes focused on his notebook. He does not immediately glance up when Erik appears, having already marked the man's approach when he came through the lower doors of the building.
Making a small notation, he glances up and tilts his head at the man, then gives a small, half smile that is still genuine enough.]
Yes. Observations I've made since I arrived here, combined with other bits and pieces. I'm trying to get it all sorted into some sort of coherent organization.
Reply
[ Erik turns his attention deliberately towards the glass windows, glancing over the written content curiously. It's a distraction he'll take, with all the turmoils he's been through over the past few days, frustrated that he can't maintain some semblance of normalcy without having to succumb to either the city interfering or his other self giving him a hard time to begin with. To Erik at least, as long as he can dive into something objectively, he'd be fine, or at least, that was the excuse he was giving himself to glancing over Charles' notes. ]
Reply
I've learned that we have a frightening deficiency in terms of an infrastructure for things like a medical emergency.
As well as a few other general concerns that are starting to crop up, now that some of us have been here for going on three months.
Reply
[ Erik takes his time with the words written over the glass, most of which Charles had already told him beforehand. Seeing it all written out, being able to process it on his own allowed Erik to focus solely on the fact that they were in a position far off worse than he had imagined. His own issues aside, the fact that Charles had pointed out the lack of materials for a medical emergency meant that if they suffered anything worse than having their wrists torn apart, they'd be in considerable danger. ]
Counting time has been near impossible for me.
Reply
Here, let me show you.
[Walking along the windows, he stops by one that contains a large chart.]
This was made up fairly early on by a young man named Edmund. I haven't heard from him recently so I believe he left the City but luckily the information remained. As you can see there is a timed schedule, as measured by the clock tower I believe, of the trains.
Since I've started to go further down the tunnels now, I count off the rhyme for Three Little Kittens to help me gauge how much time has passed. It takes me 1 minute and 10 seconds to get through the entire rhyme. I can walk down in the tunnels for 12 full refrains and eighteen lines, before I have to turn around as it takes me 2 full refrains and 13 lines to clear the mouth of the tunnel in time for the next train.
[He has this on the notes just off to the side, meaning to give them to his other self.]I know the trains now by heart, so when I'm just ( ... )
Reply
Leave a comment