recovery

[thirdarrow]

Who: Takakage and a couple of people. Semi-open; if you want to jump in, ping me on plurk first and we can arrange something.
Where: Leo Ward, in the hospital
Summary: Someone finally wakes up to 2085947585 COMP messages.


Regaining awareness was an unusual experience.

Takakage couldn't remember anything of the days before, save for a vague sensation of rising through deep water. The return to consciousness remaindd in his recollections, though - a sharp jolt of crisp images, as if breaching the ocean surface and up into air. It was disorienting, especially given that the medical staff responded very quickly - and also because it took him a few hours to remember what transpired just before he had blacked out.

Given that he was in the Leo Ward and not within the bowels of a giant demon, it ought to be safe to assume that things did turn out as planned.

A little inquiring provided him with the reassuring fact that both the two lords had survived unharmed. Though it would be a while before he was able to try and contact them again. The first day passed in a whirl of sound and movement, filled with myriads of tests and staff bustling about. At the end of the evening, the doctor had insisted that he rest - and it was a decision he was not allowed to refuse.

Sedation couldn't be bypassed, no matter how hard he tried to fight off its effects.

The second day fared better - the morning air cleared his head, and allowed him to think better. Time to check up on what's been happening -

- Taro, why did you send a hundred messages? The COMP was even starting to lag...

[ ooc: Takakage is going to send individual messages to people he knows, so there will be 'sub-threads' for each person. Ping me if you would like one! ]

Comments

[ text, for mitsuhide and motochika ]

[thirdarrow]

He sent this one to the both of them, together. Given how short their prior interaction was, it felt a little strange to address them individually. And given how they might not have adjusted to modern technology yet, he felt that text was the most polite option.

Lords Mitsuhide and Motochika,

Please forgive my absence for the past week, and for using this channel or communication. I have awakened, though I am unfortunately unable to meet you in person at the moment.

I hope you have been faring well in the city. Hinoto-Ri possesses artifacts of advanced function, and they can be bewildering at times. If you require assistance or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If I may trouble you on one more issue - when you feel comfortable with it, could you enlighten me upon what transpired after I lost consciousness? I would like to know, as my memory is a little muddled on the matter.

Thank you.

Yours,

Kobayakawa Takakage

The message even included an image of his signature, though it was evidently penned quite shakily. (Fine motor functions have not yet completely returned.)

[ text ]

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide's reply is written in a practised, elegant hand; it is also one that took some time to be completed. The samurai is known for being good with words and is usually quite efficient at writing letters, but doing so with this technology is a little strange... and besides, he's not entirely sure of what he's saying.]

To Lord Kobayakawa Takakage,

Greetings to you, and blessings upon your name; it is good that you have awoken, and I pray that you recover quickly. Your assistance to myself and Lord Motochika likely saved our lives, and that is not a deed soon forgotten.

I fear there is little to tell. Your actons allowed us to reach the teleporter, whereupon we were taken into the city. At this point many residents came to our assistance, which was most welcome, as myself and Lord Motochika were in a poor state. These kind people took all three of us to their miraculous hospital, whereupon you were taken elsewhere and Lord Motochika and I took the help offered and fell into a long, deep sleep.

In truth, we have only had the time to start adjusting to life here for the past few days.


- Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide

bell i am very sorry if i am writing letters in the wrong format orz

[thirdarrow]

[ Takakage isn't very sure how to match Mitsuhide's reply length. His return message is still typed, though - his hands are too shaky to write properly. ]

Lord Akechi Mitsuhide,

Thank you for the information. I hope that the respite in this city is enough to ease your exhaustion. Again, if you require any assistance, both with regards to technology and also this realm itself, please do not hesitate to contact me.

[ They... probably do need help. Unless Kotoha is already on the job, which she most likely is.

He briefly considers requesting they meet up afterwards, but he is still too weak to leave the ward. Perhaps it should be arranged at a later date. ]

Yours,

Kobayakawa Takakage

[ Again, only his signature is handwritten. ]

[ video, for taro ]

[thirdarrow]

The feed opens to show Takakage sitting up in the hospital bed. He is dressed in a plain white shirt, as given by hospital regulations. His complexion has gotten paler, though his smile hasn't wavered despite his obvious physical weakness.

"Hello, Taro. I apologize for being unresponsive this past week - I went on a rescue mission, and it didn't go as well as I hoped it would be."

A pause.

"But I'm better now." He chuckles faintly. "I read all your messages - it's a lot, but I appreciate it."

"I hope you're doing fine?"

[video]

[hachitaro]

It takes Taro a few moments to think of how to respond. He hadn't really known what else to do other than keep sending him messages in the hopes of at least helping him smile. But when Taro responds, it's him in his natural form, smiling a little.

"I'm glad you're okay. I was worried."

Understatement of the century, Taro.

"Do you need me to bring you anything? I know hospital food can be pretty bad."

[thirdarrow]

Takakage sighs a little.

"I'm sorry for making you worry. I... couldn't get back to you regarding what happened, since... um. I kind of blacked out." He hoped Taro already knew this.

"I'm fine for now. Thank you. What about you?"

Note how he casually diverts the subject away from himself.

[hachitaro]

Yeah no. You're not getting away that easy, Takakage.

"I'm not related to you so they wouldn't give me any information other than 'he's in the hospital recovering'. What exactly did you do?"

Two can play the diversion game!

[thirdarrow]

Um. There's no evading this one, is there?

"I went outside the barrier for some scouting, and found some Visitors stranded there. They came with me back to the teleporter, but a giant demon ambushed us and we had to find a way to drive it off. I... had to resort to magic that I never used before. It took a lot more out of me than expected."

He closes his eyes briefly.

"But at least we all survived. I could have ended up as demon feed..."

[hachitaro]

... Oh.

"Well... I mean, that's a good reason. But maybe you should practice it once you're better so you don't do that again, huh?"

[thirdarrow]

"Of course." He nods, sinking a little into the pillow that supported his back. "I devised it with modern physics in mind, so... the calculations were probably a bit off."

Hey, he's part of the understatement club too. The principle of circular motion was easy to grasp, but coaxing a tonne of water to obey that principle in reality is far harder.

[hachitaro]

"Physics can be a pain, either when you're trying to work with it or when you're studying it. Math was never my strong point." So many physics projects. So much calculating.

[ text, for kotoha ]

[thirdarrow]

Knowing Kotoha, she would be quite mad at him if he sent a video or audio message. (He still wasn't confident of his ability to hide his exhaustion.

Kotoha,

I'm awake now. Please don't worry about me.

Takakage

It's short, mostly because he wasn't sure what else to add.

action

[unbroken_chain]

Kotoha's reaction to this message?

She's in his room looking unamused seven minutes later.

"So if I tell you to sleep and eat and in general look after your own health, you'll listen to me this time, right?"

action continues...

[thirdarrow]

Takakage jumped noticeably when Kotoha burst in through the ward door. He makes no effort to hide the fact that his physical condition had deteriorated further - it cost too much energy, and she wouldn't take that very kindly either.

"Yes, yes of course." Though the sheepishness in his expression was probably not very convincing. "I have been trying. It's just that... well. This was a special case." He means it, he really does!

Pause.

"The area outside of the dome is fraught with danger. And... a demon came after the individuals I was escorting. Driving it off took a little more effort that expected..."

('A little' is an extreme understatement, Takakage.)

[unbroken_chain]

Kotoha's expression can be summed up as ಠ_ಠ.

"Effort you could have spared if you had just listened to me in the first place, right?"

There's a slight pause as she considers something.

"...I'm gonna make arrangements with your job to give you a week or so off so you can actually start to recover, okay?"

[thirdarrow]

... Not really...? Especially given that the demon in question could be summed up as a giant earthworm with myriads of teeth. He had driven it off by ramming an equally large water drill down its throat, but the effort made him black out after the deed was done.

But details, details. Kotoha shouldn't have to worry even more.

He carefully skirts her first statement and responds to the second. "Ah... that would be much appreciated, yes. I doubt I'm in the condition to report back immediately."

(You have a terrible habit of making understatements all the time, Takakage. You nearly killed yourself, that's why the staff's still got you hooked up to a vital signs monitor.)

[unbroken_chain]

ಠ_ಠ

"You...doubt."

Kotoha takes a second to facepalm before explaining a thing.

"You hear that regular beeping sound? That is a monitor designed to warn the staff if something goes wrong. It means that not only did you nearly kill yourself, the trained medical professionals don't think you're out of danger yet. So, no, you are not in any condition to do anything, much less work."

[thirdarrow]

Takakage sighs, closing his eyes for a moment. His countenance seems to... crumple a little, if that word could even be used. He suddenly looks more tired than before, and his smile vanishes.

He waits until Kotoha finishes speaking.

"I know. It's just a speech pattern." Did you mean: a habit of constantly trying to make your condition sound not so bad. "I've read up on medical procedures before, so I understand what's been happening."

"And... I'm not physically hurt. It's more of... soul trauma, so to speak." His pre-existing fatigue aside, that is. "I had to do powerful magic to drive off the demon, and it cost more than I thought it would." It required the execution of a technique he had only envisioned, never practiced.

"I'm sorry. I'll try to pay more attention next time."

[ text, for nanami ]

[thirdarrow]

After going through three people, he was a little too tired to run off anything more than text.

Hello, Nanami.

I've been away for the past week, my apologies. I hope you're fine?

Takakage

He hoped that she hadn't gotten herself into any trouble...

[press_start]

I've been okay. I heard you were in the hospital- are you well enough for visitors?

Well, if you want I could drop by. I guess.

Are you discharged yet? If not, should you be resting?

Nanami

[thirdarrow]

Yes, I am. I cannot leave my ward yet, but I'm well enough.

Well, he can't say 'physically not damaged'. It sounded strange, and left room for unintended implications.

If you wish to come over, I won't mind. But of course, if it is inconvenient, please don't feel obliged to.

[press_start]

It's really up to you, I guess. I'm ambivalent.

She's ambivalent towards a lot of things, but oh well. It was a point that was hard to get across to most people.

Do you think company or peace would be more conducive at the moment? I wouldn't know. It's up to you, I guess.

At least I think I'll send you some visual novels you can pursue from your COMP once you're well enough! But I'll leave you to decide on the visits.

[thirdarrow]

I am quite ambivalent on this point as well, Nanami. He's smiling now.

But if you have spare time on your hands and have nothing else to do... I suppose coming by would not be too bad an idea. Unless it inconveniences you, of course.

what do now. do I immediately continue with an IRL meeting, start a new thread or stop here

[press_start]

Alright. I'll let you know if I'm about to visit?

breathes can we handwave this... I've run out of steam

[thirdarrow]

Please do - I will need to inform the staff here that you are coming.

Thank you.