ϡ - Chapter TwentyFive; the price of battle [voice/action]

[folkloristic]

[ It’s almost surreal, really, how at one moment the person you cared deeply about is there next to you alive and well and the next moment not. If he had only been a little bit faster a little bit more conscious of where Giles was during all that chaos...none of this would have happened. Instead he’s sitting in his room and has been for the past

Comments

[voice]

[noprevaricating]

Good God.

[There's a pause, as a drugged brain tries processing this.]

What fighting? What happened?

[voice]

[folkloristic]

[ A small wince on his end. ] Archie?

It might have been one of the villagers? O-Or the third party. I don't know. She was attacking people, damaged some buildings and she destroyed the-the village clinic. I-I don't know who it was.

[ He doesn't know Noel or anyone else related to her. ]

[voice]

[noprevaricating]

[Good thing Archie's in the Battle Dome clinic, or he might have had an even worse day.]

He...[his voice seems to hit a brick wall, and there's a pause.] Please tell me when he comes back. I'm not likely to be on my feet by then.

[voice]

[folkloristic]

Of course. If not me, someone else most certainly will. [ Wait. He heard that right, didn't he? Not likely to be on your feet? ]

Are you alright?

[voice]

[noprevaricating]

[A brief pause.]

Yes, I'm all right. If I may say so, I'm very fond of you both, but this is taking the concept of sibling rivalry to the extreme, isn't it?

[Sorry, he has to make these jokes.]

[voice]

[folkloristic]

[ That...that joke. You get a half choked laugh before he composes himself. He's trying to ] Oh, yes it is, isn't it? You know us, we're very extreme p-people.

[voice]

[noprevaricating]

It's a terribly long week, though. If you'd ever like to play cards or draughts--checkers--then I could help you in passing the time, at least. Focusing on small tasks at hand will help to keep your mind off things.

[The offer is as selfish as it is unselfish--being stuck in a hospital room is pretty depressing right now.]

[voice]

[folkloristic]

I think...that might be nice. I might take you up on your offer. [ Even if he knows nothing about cards, or is at least horrible at it and checkers too. He'll take anything to help get his mind away from this. Because he can't...he has no other outlet right now. ]

Any specific day you had in mind?

[voice]

[noprevaricating]

Well, as I'm buried alive in the clinic until Wednesday at least, I'm available any hour, any day. If you're not made too uncomfortable by hospitals, that is.

[voice]

[folkloristic]

Oh not at all. Aside from the smell there could be worse. I'll stop by then, Tuesday.

[voice]

[noprevaricating]

Tuesday. [Maybe by then he'll have less attachments to his person, and if he's lucky, the use of his left arm. A pause.] What day is it now?

[voice]

[folkloristic]

It's Sunday. [ Being dead for a whole week messed him. But he's pretty sure he's back on schedule. ]

[voice]

[noprevaricating]

Two days, then. God.

[voice]

[folkloristic]

Two days can seem so much longer here. It's rather odd. Then again nothing about Luceti isn't I suppose.

[voice]

[noprevaricating]

Always longer when cooped up in a bare little room.

[voice]

[folkloristic]

That would definately have a major part to play. But I'm sure you've gotten lots of visitors, hm? Although it does make one appreciate the ability to go outside whenever they want. Funny how one doesn't realize what they have until it's gone.