It needs but one foe to breed a war [OPEN]

[endthiscycle]

Characters: OPEN
Location: Horrorspital
Rating: PG?
Time: Starting October 2 lasting various days.
Description: A place for all those injured from the attack on the city.
Note: It's up to you how long you want your character to stay in the clinic, remember their recovery will take a wee bit longer than usual because of how short on staff the

Comments

October 2 - October 4. [open ; action or prose ]

[justsopretty]

Clovis did not like to be confined to a bed and found his way to sit on the sill of a window to look out at the city. It helped to remind him that he actually had been brought back to where it was that he had longed to see. One hand set against the pane of the glass before pulling it away. He sighed a little at how much weight he lost, but so had everyone else.

Scars and cuts along each finger were given a once over before settled down on his lap instead. He played a bit with his hair -- happy that it was now washed finally, but it still looked terrible to him as he caught a glimpse of his transparent reflection in the glass. Another shake of his head before he looked past it once more toward the sky. Everyone had come back safely.

Letting out a soft sigh, he rested his head against where the window met wall. Closing his eyes, he was willing to fall asleep in that position. It was far more comfortable than the prone one that he had on the floor for so many days, at the very least.

October 2

[redpeacock]

While Genesis might have preferred to sleep in after a mission, he woke early enough to pay Clovis a visit the very next day after rescuing him. After all, it was rather like a duty he had-- to ensure that who he rescued was going to be alright. In any case, he brought with him a small bag of apples, if the Prince wanted something other than hospital food.

"Clovis...?" His voice was low and soft, not wanting to bother the other man all that much. It was up to him if he would let him see to him.

And besides that-- how could he turn down a request from someone from the future?

[justsopretty]

He opened his eyes first before turning to look to Genesis. Little bit of how he was came forth as his hands moved through his hair to try to appear as presentable as he could. Eventually, after a few sweeping gestures, he gave up and held the sill's edge instead.

"Yes?" A slight tilt of his head in equal question, before looking at the bag with mild interest. "What can I do for one of my rescuers?" That was right. He had to find a way to thank Vergil, Toph, and Genesis for all that they had done for him. Even though the man had said that he did not wish for a reward, he felt somewhat shamed if he did not do something.

[redpeacock]

"I came to check on you-- to see if you were alright," He replied with a little smile, letting the little worry slip away from his features. The prince might feel more at ease if he acted normally. After all, it seemed as if even he was trying to act as he usually did.

Yet somehow, he could tell that something was different about him. Something had clearly changed about Clovis.

"I brought apples, if you wanted to have one," they were nothing like Banora Whites, but Genesis still liked them and found a little comfort in the fruit.

[justsopretty]

"I'm not sure if I am or am not." Clovis answered honestly, even though he smiled lightly afterward. There was a lot that he was thinking of while he was in the factory.

He held his chin lightly, looking off to the side. About his title. About what little power that he actually had. About the others that were present with him and how much stronger they were in will than he was. He was only able to remain whole because he had them present to posture in front of -- strangely enough.

"I would love to have one." His hand dropped away to touch his stomach lightly. Really, he was starving but he had to be careful about eating too much. Only had to be reminded of it a few times by Watson and the nurses. "I think that I can handle having one, anyway." His smile was a teasing one as he made fun of his own weak body -- something that he felt that he picked up from Phoenix.

A beat. "And, how have you been, Genesis?" Clovis continued. "I do hope that you have been resting as that was a rather strenuous mission."

[redpeacock]

The prince's change in tone surprised Genesis. Yet at the same time, he didn't feel himself too taken aback by the change. After all, he went through something such as that before-- the degradation, the madness pushed further by his crumbling pride, and the humbling encounter with the Goddess.

He drew closer to Clovis and took out one of the apples from the bag, handing it over to him.

"I've been well, just a few scratches, but it's nothing a SOLDIER cannot handle."

[justsopretty]

SOLDIER. Clovis had remembered -- really, how could he forget? -- about what Genesis had said about it. He smiled softly, and thought that must have been how Suzaku had been able to handle the torture and experimentation as he had, being one of the first taken.

"My sister always talked about how I should learn some military techniques." Starting out in a conversational tone, he smiled fondly at the scoldings that he had received by Cornelia about it. Though, he was now seeing that he should have tried to learn something.

He reached out to take the apple carefully from Genesis. His eyes widened slightly at the pain of moving his fingers and released the fruit shortly afterward.

[redpeacock]

He was surprised by the sudden way Clovis let go of the fruit. And then he noticed-- the prince's hands weren't gloved. And thus, he saw the scratches and wounds on the palms. Genesis couldn't help but feel a little pity for the prince to suddenly be privy to the abuse of the kidnappers.

Please continue to take care of me.

He remembered the little note he retrieved from Yuuri. The note from Clovis. He was unsure to how he cared for the prince in those years in the future, but he knew well now that he was someone worth remembering for Clovis. And thus, he shouldn't abandon him. Or simply let him be in his pain.

"Your hands... what happened to them?" His voice was quiet, lowered with consideration, not wanting to demand answers of the prince that had been through so much.

[justsopretty]

"I'm sorry." The apology came out far easier than before. Really, the only people that he would be willing to offer to was his family and those he felt that he absolutely had wronged -- which were really so few. "That was my fault. I still think I can do more than I should."

Reaching down, he was careful this time in how he took the apple -- finding the right, if not awkward, manner to hold it. Perhaps, he should have let it go, but he did not wish to waste even a little of the gift brought. Hm, to talk about at all what happened. Clovis wondered if it would become something of a memory that he could forget, but as he looked at his hands, he supposed that would not be possible. He went to sit back down on the window sill, flipping his hair over his shoulder. I suppose that I should. The others probably are as well. Phoenix is able to, so..."Well," He folded his hands on his lap, looking at the apple. "I became a little upset when I was separated from the others. I began to strike the walls like that would be able to allow me to

[redpeacock]

"Did anything happen to you in these experiments?" Genesis wanted to be calm, but hearing of Clovis being experimented on only was like a trigger to himself, reminding him of the atrocities ShinRa had done in search of the perfect weapon. The administration of Mako in the body... the creation of clones utilizing Jenova cells... Genesis' body shuddered with the memory of being under the lights of an operating table.

And then the realization that he was but a failed experiment.

Unconsciously, his gaze had gone from calm and having a semblance of caring to livid and focused, although his voice still maintained a moderate tone.

[justsopretty]

"Anything happen?" Clovis lightly touched his mouth, covering it with a soft touch. To cover up the hesitation and trembling of his jaw. His eyes widened at the question -- it really was a simple one. The pain in his back flared violently as though compelled him to speak on it.

He bit onto his finger that was by his mouth until the pressure of his teeth on the skin returned him to reality. For a second, he wondered how much time had passed since the question to finally answering it. "Well, yes, but it doesn't matter anymore. We're save back home, aren't we?"

A dismissive wave. "Those things can be forgotten and ignored now."

[redpeacock]

Genesis paused. As much as he wanted to know what had happened to Clovis, he wasn't in the position to pry. He stepped back, then, frowning slightly-- not one of displeasure, but there was a tinge of worrying concern there. As if he wanted to know so he could figure how to best attend to the Prince.

Not that Genesis was conscious of that, though. He had yet to figure out that he did want to truly care for the prince. He gave a little sigh.

"... if you say so, Prince Clovis."

[justsopretty]

His hand had involuntarily reached out for Genesis when he stepped back. He caught sight of what he was doing and allowed it to rest at his side instead. Closing his eyes, he could already feel his desire to break come over him. It would be unfortunate, though, because he thought that he may have already cried too much on his friend's shoulders. Such a weight of constantly having to carry me...

Clovis looked up at the comment of his title, with a small smile. "I am wondering if that still means anything here." A beat. "Merely the thought that I have been quite a foolish prince since I had come here has become somewhat clear to me." Yes, it was a new topic. One that seemed safer as it was one that he had been mulling over for some time.

[redpeacock]

At the sight of that hand reaching out for him and then suddenly retracting, Genesis began to see that perhaps he did have reason to stay by this Prince's side. Not out of pity but because... simply because he had needed him. Gingerly, he reached a hand out in reply to his thoughts on his title. Fingers slowly brushed golden hair away from those solemn, blue eyes that had seemed to have lost the commanding, bratty sparkle he remembered them having.

"Being a prince is part of who you are. The same way that I can't take back the fact that I was meant to inherit a land before I decided to go into military service," Genesis offered a little smile, his eyes meeting the other's.

"At the same time-- as I no longer ask people to call me a 'young master' or a 'commander' or even 'general', I guess there is a point in time where you simply become 'Clovis'."

[justsopretty]

"It's unfortunate, but I am a very weak person." It was why now that he was back in the city that he was hiding behind his title while consequentially questioning if his title meant anything and could be a guard for anything save his own eventual breakdown. Interlacing his fingers loosely, it was embarrassing to admit as much to Genesis, but he remembered what he had said to him before he disappeared.

"I'm actually easily frightened and not very strong save when I am able to put on a front before others." He did finally sit down on the floor as he felt suddenly, very tired. "There is a point in time when I must simply be, but I am growing more troubled for that day than anything else." Phoenix was able to keep him relatively calm when he had a bit of a break while tortured. Two weeks is all? Really?

"I'm not sure as to what I should do." He looked up then at Genesis, showing a bit of his meek side. "Or if there is anything that I can do."

[redpeacock]

Genesis found himself wondering how he could comfort the prince once more. For a moment, he closed his eyes, trying to channel the memory of Angeal to at least help him a little. It wasn't that he disliked comforting others. But somehow, he couldn't find it in his personality to simply reach out to people so easily.

In any case, he lowered himself down to Clovis' level on a single knee.

"I am very sure that you can find a way to help, Clovis. But for now-- you should concern yourself a little more with getting better. Surround yourself with things that please you and keep you at ease."