For Kal (again)

[downsidedarling]

It's been a while. Time flies when you're having fun

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[downsidedarling]

This narration does not doubt that prognosis, especially not since Eight-Hour is not planning on speaking unless spoken to for the rest of their stay.

Meditating is something she does well; if left to her own devices, the only sound she'll make for the next two-thirds of a year is the fire-noise of starving to death and reviving again.

[hero_farmboy]

And that's just kind of gross. Clark is, however, thankful for perhaps the first time ever that he doesn't really need to eat all that much. Or sleep.

It's only a day - maybe two - before he asks, "How much longer do you think now?"

Yes, Clark was totally the kid who bugged the hell out of his parents on long car rides.

[downsidedarling]

Eights blinks. "Hold on," she says absently, her voice a bit weak. (She hasn't moved since they last spoke.) There's a peculiar sort of noise, the familiar rush of flame, and abruptly she looks and sounds a whole lot healthier. "Well, at a guess I'd say we're just rounding the corner of the one-third mark. A little less than eight months to go. Not that much further than the last time you asked."

[hero_farmboy]

Clark watches her this time with probably more interest than Kal ever did. He might be used to it, but it's an entirely different experience now.

He sighs heavily.

"I don't suppose trying to convince her we've learned our lesson will do any good?"

[downsidedarling]

"Nah, she threw the bubble up here and forgot about us. It'll drop us when our time's up, but I doubt she's even watching. Kiazhriel doesn't often concern herself with the dealings of her subjects."

Bitter? Why, yes.

[hero_farmboy]

"I'm not her subject." There's bitterness here, too, but also whining.

"And you know, if I don't know the rules, how am I supposed to know what not to break?"

[downsidedarling]

"Well, to be honest, I didn't know the rule about going Upside applied to guests, though I should've figured it did. And I was talking more about me, though I'll bet you she thinks of you as her subject too-- everything dies eventually, after all. I wouldn't be surprised to hear she figured the living were as much hers as the dead."

[hero_farmboy]

He shrugs. "I've already died twice. May not ever again. I'm not her subject."

[downsidedarling]

"Twice," she says incredulously, raising her eyebrows. "Care to elaborate?"

[hero_farmboy]

"I died; I got better. What's to elaborate?" Clark answers, shortly.

[downsidedarling]

"I'd think I know a thing or two about dying, and trust me, people don't tend to get better from it without help. But if you don't feel like sharing, suit yourself."

Eights shrugs amiably and lapses back into her comfortable silence.

[hero_farmboy]

Clark isn't adverse to silences. He spends enough time alone, but if there's someone else around it just seems dumb to not talk to them.

"The first time, someone brought me back." He will not call it help. Ever. "The second time, it was just... I just got better. Regenerated."

[downsidedarling]

Dryly, "You're quite the little miracle, liveling."

[hero_farmboy]

There's another shrug. "No, it's just my biology. Whatever it is."

[downsidedarling]

"Well, it sure looks miraculous from this corner of the room. Or it would, if this room had any corners."

[hero_farmboy]

Clark just looks at her. "I'm nothing special."