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

[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.

[thirdarrow]

"Perhaps." He leans back a little more - getting a bit tired, again. "Calculations are tedious, yes, but the concepts it describes are fascinating." Science had advanced by leaps and bounds since his own time. "It can be used to predict a variety of motions, though they don't really work well outside of controlled conditions."

Such as when out in the field.

[hachitaro]

"I guess so. I'm just not inclined towards numbers. I like literature classes, though. Philosophy's fun, too. Anything that lets you figure out how people think." He's keeping an eye on Takakage's expression, ready to break off the conversation if he's getting too tired.

[thirdarrow]

Takakage nods, smiling a bit more. "I find literature quite fascinating, too. And on history. By reviewing the actions of people in the past, we can learn many things. And predict the future, a little and within reasonable extent." It was his father's favourite topic, after all - and the affinity seems to have travelled down the bloodline.

"It's a little amusing, actually. Modernity and my home time are four centuries apart - some events in your past are in my future. That makes for interesting perspectives, don't you think?"

[hachitaro]

"I think so, too. There's so many interesting people here. I know we're supposed to be helping to fight and protect the city, but when we're not doing that I like seeing what sort of books I can find and people I can meet."

[thirdarrow]

"Ah, you like reading too? That's great."

Nothing gets Takakage more excited than books.

"The library here is very impressive. Especially with all the new knowledge that has been discovered in these past four centuries. Even the overarching literary style has changed, too. And philosophy has branched out very much - though I'm not sure whether it's a good thing. Too much thought tends to detach from reality..."

He pauses for a moment.

"But I digress. Two individuals from my homeland arrived here, too, though from a different timeline. This realm is a nexus not only of worlds, it seems."

[hachitaro]

"Well, I like a lot of things, but libraries are always a good choice. I... actually have a small stack of books from home that came with me. I like spy novels." Taro no, Taro stop, you cannot be James Bond.

"Oh, really? Are they... uh. Allies of yous?" There does not need to be a Warring States period over Hinoto-Ri, thanks.

[thirdarrow]

Ah. "Spy novels? The ones with plots revolving around espionage and stunts, yes?" He's heard of them. The genre is a recent invention, so he hadn't developed a taste for it yet. "They're quite intriguing."

"Yes, they are." The strategist nods. "There won't be any conflicts." Hopefully. Logically there won't be any. Especially since he nearly died trying to protect them.

[hachitaro]

"I can lend you one if you want. I can bring you some other books too, if you're bored."

Well. That's a good thing. "I'm glad. We all need to work together here."

[thirdarrow]

"Ah, if it isn't inconvenient, that would be great."

+10000 Social Link points, Taro. His (probably only) weakness is books.

Takakage frowned faintly."Though... their memories seem to differ somewhat from mine. It's a little... strange."

[hachitaro]

"I've... heard that happens sometimes. Different worlds and all that. It should be all right."

The background behind Taro is moving, and he switches over to voice. No sense in giving Takakage motion sickness.

"What's your opinion on romance novels? I've got a few here I could put in the bag..." There will also be snacks, Takakage. No objections.

SOCIAL LINK UP...?

[thirdarrow]

"Ah, uh, I... I don't really read those. Sorry." This is as close his politeness will allow him to get to a refusal, Taro. Please take the hint and prevent any further embarrassment. "I admit my taste in reading is probably a little drab. Non-fiction, and the like..."

Um.....

"You're coming over?"

[hachitaro]

"Okay. I thought I'd ask." He'll just put more science books in there. It's not a big deal.

"Yep! I figured you could use some company."

[thirdarrow]

"Ah, you're too kind." He chuckles a little, but it comes out more as a half-sigh. "You're coming now? I suppose I ought to tell the staff to expect you."

To be honest, he's a little apprehensive. He doesn't look very... presentable.

(Euphemisms everywhere.)

[hachitaro]

"That would be nice. I mean I could sneak around until I find you, but I think the staff has better things to do than look for what's making all the doors open."

~Illusions~!

[thirdarrow]

This actually manages to make Takakage laugh. It's the first time Taro will have heard it - his laughter has a very clear quality, almost crystalline - if that word could even be used.

"It would be amusing, yes, but dreadfully inconvenient." A pause. "I'll tell them about your usual disguise, then. You're a Visitor, so I don't think they'd ask too many questions."

[hachitaro]

He smiles, even if Takakage can't see it.

"Thanks. I'll be there soon, okay? I just have to leave a note so the others don't wonder where I went..."

Ah, the joys of housemates.

text -> action;

[thirdarrow]

text;
Alright, take your time!

action;
Takakage was given a small ward all to himself. Perhaps it was due to the Visitor prestige, though he is still in the Intensive Care Unit by virtue of how he had just woken up two days ago.

The ward is surprisingly airy, and the curtains are open, flooding the room with afternoon sunlight. Takakage is sitting up in the bed, reading. He has the covers drawn up to his chest in a bid to conceal all the wires and tubes that had been attached to him - most of them poke out from the blanket from his left, and end in various assorted devices plugged in on a trolley placed on the same side. A soft steady beeping echoes throughout the room, coming from the vital signs monitor. For now, it's steady, but also slower than normal.

He has a book open on his lap, though he's only using his left hand to do page turning and whatnot. An IV line is attached to his right hand, feeding in from a bottle of clear liquid hung on a stand. His complexion has gotten worse, and he seems slightly more frail than before, if it is even possible.

[hachitaro]

Taro heads in after talking to a nurse for a moment, a backpack on his back. He figured it would be the easiest way to carry books. He smiles when he sees Takakage, moving the bag off of his shoulders and into his hand. He sits down next to the other, keeping his voice soft.

"Hey. How are you feeling now?"