distressedude | 011 ~ [Voice/Action]

[It's later in the evening when the Fon Master makes a reappearance in the village just outside the barracks. Somewhat dazed, Ion takes only a few steps before tripping and falling to his knees in the snow.]

[He brings a hand to his throat as he gasps, the numbing effects of the drugs quickly wearing away and bringing to attention a stinging pain running along his neck and chest. Numerous vertical cuts, some deep but none within rage of vital arteries, litter the front of his neck. And with only flimsy bandages to cover the wounds, the front of his robes had served to soak up much of the blood as a result.]

[Knowing he won't last long in the snow dressed as he is, with a shaky hand, Ion opens the journal and starts trying to speak to call for help... but no words come out. He tries to cough and clear his throat, but that only increases the pain in his neck tenfold. As such, a pained gasp is all that can be heard over the journal, the book unfortunately tilted towards the snowy sky.]

[And the Malnosso weren't even kind enough to leave him with a pen.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I said not to talk, didn't I?

[As an alternative, Luke reaches back to pull out his journal from his belt; not the one used for communication, but the one he writes about his everyday life in. He opens it to the last few pages, then holds that and a pen out to Ion.]

Do you think you can write?

[With a slow nod, Ion pulls his arms out from under the pile of blankets and grabs the pen and journal. Then, just as slowly, he starts trying to write something. His hands aren't cooperating too well, so his handwriting is much, much messier than usual.]

[As such, he wastes no time writing what he'd be unable to say earlier.]

Thank you, Luke.

[Once Luke reads what he writes...

... fffff. ////]

S-Sure, no problem... I'm just glad you're okay now.

[Ion would probably feel even more okay after a good night's rest, but first he had to make sure of something before he got too tired to write.]

You're okay too? ~~Wasn~~ Not too cold?

[Even though Ion's the one shivering under a blanket mountain, he's still concerned for Luke, knowing he gave up his shirt and jacket to keep Ion warm outside.]

I'm fine, really. Just a little cold... But it's always like that in here.

[The cold he's feeling is a lot harsher than the temperature inside, and he still feels pretty weak... But Ion's worse off than he is right now. He shouldn't have to worry about him.]

[Luke, when even Ion can tell you're lying after going through what he's been through tonight... he frowns. Even "a little cold" isn't good!]

Take a blanket?

[L-Look, just because he's terrible at lying...! Luke leans away a little and shakes his wrist dismissively. Ion, you need all the blankets you can get, bro.]

No, you keep them. I'll just warm up later when I get back home. [Except he's not sure when he'll head home.]

[Somehow the idea that Luke wasn't going to stay here with him hadn't crossed his mind until now. And while Ion didn't want to stay in the clinic alone, regardless of whether he was just sleeping or not, he didn't want to inconvenience Luke either! But as long as Luke was still cold, he was still inconveniencing him, wasn't he...]

[And it's with this thought in mind that Ion writes:]

We could share them? The bed isn't that small.

[You know, Ion, if Luke were a few years younger, he'd happily comply and snuggled right in. But he's older now, so he just widens his eyes and leans back.]

Share the bed?! Ion, I-I haven't done that since I was a kid!

[What's with that reaction, Luke? He just wants to help you get warm! And considering how shaky Ion's handwriting is from the shivering, it'd probably help him a little bit, too.]

Is something wrong with that?

[Because last time he shared a bed with someone, he was ~~four~~ fourteen! And Guy had woken up with a teenager clinging to his stomach! Needless to say Luke got a talking to! And now he knows just why it's so awkward!]

Of course there is!

[Luke can say there is, but Ion doesn't see it... or maybe he'd pick up on it a little better if he weren't so out-of-it.]

You don't have to do anything you don't want to.

[Although if that means Luke isn't going to try and stay warm as long as he's here, maybe he should go home so he can warm up after all...?]

[... Well now Luke is conflicted. Ion is obviously cold, but... sharing the bed? No way! He couldn't do that with anyone! But...

What do.]

Edited 2011-01-10 22:46 (UTC)

[And it's while Luke is debating this that the decision will be made for him... or rather, Ion falls asleep. It was taking all he had just to keep his eyes open, let alone try and carry a conversation! He had started writing something, but whatever it was, it was illegible now.]

[Luke will probably notice as the pen falls from his hand and falls down to the floor.]

[Indeed, the noise makes Luke snap out of his thoughts and look at Ion again. ... Sigh, Ion.

Luke takes his journal back, but tears out a few pages from the back, then leaves those plus the pen on Ion's stomach. If he gets anymore visitors, he's sure Ion will want to talk to him somehow.

After a moment's thought, he leans over to write a message on one of the pages: Feel better soon!

It's after that that Luke finally leaves to return home.]

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[Action] And back to the phone for me ;A;