destinystrings | recovery

Entry tags:

recovery

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! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"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."

"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.

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.

"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."

"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."

"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.

"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?"

"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."

"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.)

"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~!

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."

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;
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.

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?"

"I"m fine."

It's obviously a blatant lie and/or understatement, but he says it anyway. He's been like this for the past five to six years, and it stopped bothering him long ago.

"Thank you for taking time out to come see me." He gives Taro a grateful smile - his exhaustion is carefully hidden away this time. "Though... yes. I'm not exactly in a presentable state, by Kotoha's opinion..."

Taro sighs briefly, and shakes his head. "If you were 'fine' you wouldn't be in the hospital." Honestly. He smiles a little bit at Takakage again, though.

"What are you reading now?"

He smiles a little more, but that change is gone as quickly as it appeared.

"It covers the various hormonal systems of the human body. While it isn't exactly relevant to our current situation, I figured that such knowledge might be of use in the field."

Takakage you huge nerd.

... Yep giant nerd alert. That's okay, though. It's sort of endearing.

"Uh... maybe? I slept through a lot of biology class most of the time. I could probably pull together enough knowledge to come up with some science-based pickup lines but that's about it. I grabbed a couple of the genetics books lying around the house, though."

He pats the bag next to him. "I also brought some cookies and mixed nuts. I wasn't sure what sort of stuff you like to eat so I brought both. I know hospital food can suck sometimes."

... science-related pickup lines.

There is a two-second pause as he tries to think of something to say, and fails.

"Well... genetics mostly affect basal cell metabolism, inheritance of alleles and the like, so in combat situations they won't be all that useful. Though it helps to understand why our bodies function in a certain way, and helps with management of diseases caused by defects in transcription templates. Hormonal things affect regulation of signaling so they are... sort of relevant? Except, again, better for long-term conditions. The only one of note in the field would be adrenaline, involved in the fight-or-flight response..."

He realizes that Taro is probably getting bored.

"Ah, my apologies. I've rambled on for too long." He smiles a little sheepishly. "Thank you for taking the effort to bring food along." Though he isn't very hungry, and the hospital things were... more bland...(?) than usual city food, which he actually found quite welcome. "The fare here is plain, but commendable, given the current situation."

It's okay, that's a normal reaction to Taro.

"If... you say so." He just smiles at Takakage. Whatever makes him happy. "Yeah. I've been lucky, most of the time - I know how to wrap up my own injuries but I don't normally get in the middle of fighting. So I haven't ended up here. I just know from my world that hospital food tends to be bad."

Takakage looks thoughtful for a moment. "I... can see how that may be the case. There is some Visitor bias at work here... well. I can't complain, but it does feel a little strange to receive what is perhaps better treatment." Especially since there are civilians in need of care, too. But then again, he did just wake up from a coma...

He closes the book on his lap and sets it on the bedside table.

"But anyway. Did anything happen while I was out of commission?"

"Maybe..." It makes some sense, and he's not going to complain, but it's weird for him too.

"Not really. It's been pretty quiet, thankfully. So don't worry about it."

"That is a good thing, then." He nods again, lapsing into silence for a few moments.

"Hinoto-Ri is relatively peaceful. It's... how shall I put it... rather refreshing, in fact."

He's tired. More so from all the work he has had to do. Even in a time without war, administrative tasks slowly wore him down.

"Yeah. It's nice. And you look like you could use a break, just in general."

He's quiet a little bit, before speaking up again. "I know it might not be your kind of thing to do... but really, if you ever need to talk to someone, I'm here. We may not be from the same time, but I've been around a long time and I really do want to help. I like you, Takakage. And I think of you as my friend. So please, just let me know if you need anything. You don't have to carry your load alone."

... he's not quite sure what to say.

Part of him wants to do as Taro asks, but he's since locked that part away. It's not that he doesn't trust the tanuki enough, but sheer force of habit has honed his facade to near unbreakable. He has to be strong - not only for himself, but also for the people who rely on him. Lord Kobayakawa, always the voice of reason and serenity, the only sane man in many situations -

- people needed him to be unbreakable, even if it meant crumbling slowly from the inside.

"Thank you."

He closes his eyes briefly and sighs.

"I really appreciate your offer, Taro. I do trust you, but... it is very difficult for me to speak of such things. I hope you can understand."

Another pause.

"Perhaps next time. I... do not feel ready yet."

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SOCIAL LINK UP...?

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