Draft Log #4: After

[lucetimods]

Who: Whoever wants in!
What: The return of the draftees
When: The night of the 29th until morning; timing is ambiguous for more freedom D|
Where: See below.
Summary: The battle is, for the moment, over; time to pick up the pieces and go home again.
Rating: IDEK

Comments

House One, Night

[soreplaceable]

[Ion hurt.]

[It would take more than conventional healing to help his severed wing. It was something he just had to wait out. Even a full day in the makeshift medical center on the beach hadn't done much to lessen the pain he was feeling throughout his body. Not to mention the fever that seemed to accompany the re-growing process. And after losing so much blood? Well, it's a good thing the Malnosso had the decency to drop him off in his room this time around!]

[Though making him land on his back was still rather cruel. The occupants of House 1 will know he's home the second he arrives, after which he cries out in pain and rolls onto his side with a bit of a whimper.]

[offallingsnow]

[Not the thing you want to wake up to.

With Tear asleep, though, Nephry had settled for a restless sleep of her own in this quiet house. Until someone screamed. She thinks it's Tear at first, going to that room - but no, she's still asleep.

Which leaves only one option. Ion must be back. ...She will knock before entering, but won't wait for permission.]

[soreplaceable]

[It's a good thing she doesn't wait, because Ion is in no place to be answering. His shirt had been cut away because it had been covered in blood, but he had enough bandages wrapped around his shoulder and across his back to keep him decent, and probably rather warm too. The uninjured wing is laying flat against the bed rather than against his back, while the stump left behind by the severed wing was still bandaged.]

[He hears Nephry enter, but doesn't make a move. His back is in agony; it'll take him a moment to recover from that landing.]

[offallingsnow]

[She'd heard nothing from him or from Dist this whole time; it's a shock to see him now in this state, with one wing missing and in so much pain. But it looks like all that can be done for him, has been, except for getting him settled here in his bed.

She can do that, at least, even bringing in an extra blanket or two from the hallway.]

[soreplaceable]

[While Nephry is laying the blankets over him, he seems to recover a bit. Though the pain doesn't fully go away, the immediate shock of landing on the injury is fading enough for him to be more lucid. He takes a deep breath and turns to look up at Nephry.]

I... I-I'm home... [He says it with audible relief. He might have believed this to be a dream at first, but the pain he felt earlier dispelled that theory.]

[offallingsnow]

Such as it is, yes. [She tries to smile, to reassure him, but it won't dispel all the worry in her features.] When did this happen, Ion?

[soreplaceable]

Yesterday... on the beach... [He still remembered it so clearly. The shock of seeing soldiers appearing so suddenly, knowing no one else was around. That feeling when he thought he was going to die, twice. And he could still hear the soldier's victory cry when he stomped down on his back...]

[He looks away.] I-I don't want to talk about it right now.

[offallingsnow]

You don't have to.

[She just needed to know how recent it was. And, in truth, she does have one more question for him...but no delicate way to ask it.]

[soreplaceable]

[He's tired, and he's been tired, but he's not going to be able to sleep just yet. His eyes stay open, and he blinks a few times as if trying to keep them in focus.]

...is Dist back yet?

[offallingsnow]

If he is, I haven't heard from him. [So perceptive, Fon Master. You hit the nail right on the head.]

...But Tear is back.

[soreplaceable]

Tear? [His eyes widen and he almost, almost, tries to sit up. But he he quickly thinks better of it and stays down.]

Is she all right?

[offallingsnow]

[Staying down indeed. Nephry's hand is also keeping him there.]

She is. [If by 'all right' you mean not seriously hurt and still mostly herself.] She was hurt when they finally returned her, but she has been here resting since then.

[and here, the edges of a smile] I wouldn't have told you if I wanted you to worry.

[soreplaceable]

[The look of worry quickly leaves his face. He'll feel better when he can see her again with his own eyes, but he knows it's late and Nephry wouldn't lie to him.] I'm glad...

[offallingsnow]

If she feels up to it tomorrow [and from the sound of Nephry's voice, she will once she hears about Ion] I'm sure she will be in here to see you.

[soreplaceable]

[That manages to bring a small smile to his face. She's been gone for so long...] I would like that.

Perhaps... a night sleeping in a real bed will help me feel better tomorrow. [Of course, until his new wing came in, that was still rather unlikely.]

[offallingsnow]

Hopefully so. Do you need anything?