ten|| 7/7/2005

[theoldsmoke]

All day Walter has been sluggish, mainly because his small body ached so bad. Almost as if he has a very bad case of arthritis. He figured that maybe taking a warm shower might help; so after that it just seemed to make everything worse

Comments

[coolgreycity]

It may not be as good as a bay or an ocean, but San Francisco's glad there's at least some body of water near HQ. As a result, it's not uncommmon to see zir down by the lake. Zir own gait is without a particular care or concern at first, but ze slows as ze sees London. And ze slows further upon realizing that London is not a person who usually wears gym shorts.

Chrys takes the last few steps slowly and crouches down next to Walter's blanket.

"Hey, you ok there?"

[theoldsmoke]

[He mumbles while rubbing at his eye. Blinking slowly, he gives Chrys a weak smile.]

I'm fine, just a little exhausted.

[coolgreycity]

Ze tilts zir head.

"Looks like more than a little bit, man. Would coffee help? Or talking about it?"

[theoldsmoke]

I don't fancy coffee too much, but thank you for the offer.
[Sitting up slowly, Walter hisses in pain.]

This always happens, every year around this time. Suicide bombings happened back in my place some years ago. I can still feel the pain that I felt on that fateful day.
And the sad part about this is that, nothing will take it away. So I just have to bear with it.

[coolgreycity]

"Ah, right, England, te-"

Chrys's sentence cuts off as Walter sits and hisses. Ze winces in response and properly sits down, reaching an arm behind Walter, should he choose to lean on it for support.

"Oh. Damn." Zir voice is solemn now. "Five years, right? You made it through this long, and you'll keep making it through! But...that kind of hurt takes more than five years."

[theoldsmoke]

Probably after some time I won't feel it anymore. I usually go back to normal the day after. Though it doesn't feel like five years have passed. It feels like just yesterday. [He sighs.]
I'll be fine, I just need to rest here for a bit.

[coolgreycity]

"Good that it's just the one day. But...it really takes a lot of years. I couldn't tell you if this kind of thing ever goes away or not."

As ze speaks, ze reflexively runs a finger along the scars on the side of zir face.

"Do you want to be alone, then? Or would you rather keep the company?"

[theoldsmoke]

[He shakes his head, Clinging to ze's shirt.]

N-no...I don't wish to be alone at all. I need people...someone around when things like this happen. Being alone drives me crazy, please, please stay.

[coolgreycity]

Chrys remains seated. Ze stops fingering the scars and places zir hand over Walter's, squeezing gently.

"I won't go anywhere, then. To be honest, if you'd said I should go, I probably would've said something like having other people around helps you heal faster. I'm sure it'd be better if it were your citizens, but..."

Ze offers an encouraging smile.

[theoldsmoke]

It would be better if I were around them. [He relaxes his shoulders a bit, closing his eyes again.]

W-what were you doing, before chancing upon me?

[coolgreycity]

Deep breath. What starts as a blink ends up as a slightly longer period of closed eyes.

"Believe me, I know how that feels. Definitely one of the worst things about being at HQ..."

Ze opens zir eyes again.

"I was just heading down to the lake because it's nice to get out. I'm almost completely surrounded by water back home, and I miss it."

[theoldsmoke]

A lake isn't enough, yeah? I miss the Thames...I miss my bridge, I miss the London eye, and Queen Grandmother. It's times like these I would really love to go back home.
[He takes a deep breath.]
Just being home always makes you feel better, regardless to how ill you feel. I just really need that right now. But I guess having you here is good too.

What waterways are you surrounded by?

[coolgreycity]

"Not even close to enough."
Ze agrees to that immediately, but then listens as London lists his landmarks. Ze nods slightly at the mention of bridges in particular.

"I never even contemplated being away from home for some big anniversary until I got here. I suppose people like us need to be home even more than just a citizen might, for these events so tied to, you know...place. But seriously, I'm glad I can help."

A bigger nod.

"And I have water on three sides: the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Bay to the east, the Golden Gate to the north. I miss them, and the air that comes off of them. The air here's just not like that."

[theoldsmoke]

.....It hurts less when I am there. I suppose the pain is more intense to just remind me of my absence.
Though that sounds so soothing, so much water in one place. I'm sure this makes you feel less homesick? The air feeling much like your home?

[coolgreycity]

"Yeah, the water's very soothing, as is the fog. This air's a little different, since it's freshwater, but it certainly does help. I actually don't know why I didn't think to come out here back in April. If I couldn't've had the descendants of the citizens that helped me through the original thing, I could've had the water, at least. Probably would have felt a little less awful, anyway."

[theoldsmoke]

[He nods slowly, rubbing at his forearm.]

Being in such an enclosed place as ones room...it doesn't help. I know that I am in so much pain, but I had to get out of there. Alda is going to be very upset with me...I just know it.