Visiting Hours, Party Hours

[vocarrah]

Who: Ianchus, anyone coming by the clinic.
What: Visitation, beratement, and/or patient gossip.
Where: The Clinic.
When: Early-ish August, after this and this.
Warnings: Injuries and stuff? Probably not much.



Nothing injured but my pride. That was a common phrase he'd heard among the explorer-mercenaries after any sort of slip-up, their fault or not. Ianchus' favorite version of that would be to say he had no pride, so he had nothing to hurt.

And yet, there seemed an odd little ache now, in addition to the massive ache that was his whole body (his wounds had been fixed, his ribs wrapped, his cuts stitched, and he was on the way to mending, at the very least).

It looked like he had some sort of pride after all, that could be wounded, small as it was. And Ianchus realized that, despite his idiosyncracies...that for the time being, he was tired of wounds.


He'd been quite surprised at how many people had responded to his half-incoherent messages--even to just check if he was alright after seeing all the other responses. He was...grateful. Incredibly grateful. Everyone was trying to survive here, and yet nobody seemed to want to watch others die, no matter how foolish.

Ianchus had managed to find spare twine, cloth, rope, and other similar objects around the clinic, and he'd whiled away the hours once he was awake by making Cephean sailors' good-luck charms; braiding several different kinds of materials together into a thick rope was not only relaxing (and would keep him from going stir-crazy in his bed), but it was the only way he could think of to repay the people he was grateful to. A little luck would certainly be useful, wouldn't it?

Thankfully he's well enough now to receive visitors. Are you a fellow patient? Have you come to check on him? Admonish him, perhaps? God, but he could really use the company.

Comments

im gonna say the... 8th-ish! (just for my own reference sorry)

[puzzlingly]

「For as much as Atem had tried to appear cheerful the couple of times he's visited Ianchus, he's not. Coming to the clinic to check up on him is not something that brings him any sort of glee (that's a lie, seeing him getting better does bring him hope, but it's hard to see it sometimes), the whole experience is a bitter reminder of what happened to him so long ago. Besides, trying to avoid the hours in which Law is in the clinic is not pleasant at all, but right now, he doesn't want to confront the pirate, it doesn't feel well just to ignore him either...

But this is not about himself, how many times does he have to tell himself that!?

Every single time, apparently.

He kicks every single negative thought to the depths of his mind when he crosses the threshold of the clinic and makes it to the cots area, then gives a little smile at Ianchus.」

Hey.

「How are you feeling? He'd ask, but he doesn't. He remembers doing a lot of lying when someone asked that, and being honest about how crappy he felt it didn't help either. The less uncomfortable he makes his new friend about it, the better, right? Oh but those braid-like things are new! What are those, buddy?」

What are you doing?

「He asks, curiosity all over his face as he takes a close chair and sits next to his bed, meanwhile Ianchus might notice he seems to be hiding something a little bulky inside his jacket.」

[wantsnudes]

It was by complete coincidence Yusuke had arrived at the clinic: Kate had asked him if he could make a start on the project of decorating it, so Yusuke decided to examine the building to have an idea of the scale and dimensions first. Perhaps like the previous building before its destruction, it would be a good idea to cover the outside with an expansive mural, but inside, something more subtle, that would please the eyes of patients without being overly intrusive...

Certainly, having a building as his canvas would have to be one of his most ambitious projects yet, so Yusuke is completely absorbed in thought when he wanders into the clinic. So much so that he initially doesn't notice Ianchus laid up in one of the beds. But as his eyes scope the room, he eventually stops to double take.

"C-Cepheos-san?!" He's startled, moving over to the foot of his bed. "What are you doing here? Have you been feeling unwell?"

[circumitus]

Even as a patient, Rey wouldn't be caught dead at the clinic. This is one of her least favorite places to be, despising the presence of medicine, sickness and injury and blood. She's used to it, and that's all the more reason to hate it.

At least she can say it lacks the certain aseptic qualities, though. No lingering smell of ailing bodies and disinfectants. No sounds of wails for help or beepings of heart monitors and the padding of many footsteps. No steril white walls and blinding, fluorescent lightings. The clinic is more of a small town practice than a hospital. It doesn't mean that Rey loathes being here any less.

Still she reminds herself of the network post the other week. Ianchus was not without any bodies to come to his aid, so she didn't take it upon herself to rush. Now that some time has passed, she figures she'd pay him a little visit and see if he intends to go sailing out to sea anytime soon. If so, then he's dumber than she already suspects him to be...

It's not that hard to find him; Ianchus is not a very discreet-looking guy. She checks to make sure if he's awake first before she approaches the end of his bed, arms folded over her chest and a narrowed look on her visage.

"Think you can spare one month not to get your ass handed to you?"

That's not how you say hello to an injured person, Rey.

[vocarrah]

[Atem visiting him so often has helped keep him from going mad. He was absurdly touched by the man's repeated presence, and had started to look forward to his visits. At Atem's voice, Ianchus looks up, a grin on his face.]

Ah, just in time. This one is for you. [It's the one he's working on right now, fingers weaving the different materials together expertly and tightly.]

A token of thanks, I suppose. Where I'm from, these are powerful talismans to prevent calamity at sea. But, considering we're on an island, I suppose they'll work just as well! [He gives a little laugh, pulling a strand of tattered sheeting through to continue the braid.]

It's made by braiding a rope from several older, more frayed ropes. The result offers both strength and experience, you see. [He lets his eyes drift up to Atem.]

How have you been, my friend?

[vocarrah]

"Ah, Yusuke." Ianchus sits up, wincing at the strain on his ribs, even as he lets his eyes flicker up and down to check on the youth. He's tempted to answer the question with a question but, ah, he can't do that to someone he's this close to. He does feel a pang of guilt when he remembers tapping the "exclude" button on his phone, though. Bleeding on the rocks, yet still hiding things from his loved ones, ah, if that wasn't Ianchus Cepheos at his core.

"I was...careless on one of the cliffs, that's all." He forces a little smile. "I'm on the mend now, thanks to Lady Kate's assistance. And you? Why are you here?"

[vocarrah]

Ianchus has realized what it is he likes about Rey--she reminds him of the mercenaries he's traveled with. Blunt, openly judgemental but not grudging about it. One who assesses by a constant set of criteria, and without that fetishistic taste for gossip and secrets (other than her own, but every person is entitled to their secrets). It makes it easier to talk to her, in some ways. It means he doesn't have to feel bad for being a bit of a cad.

He breaks into a wide, lazy grin as he looks up at her.

"Lady Rey." She's as much of a lady as he is a champion of the poor and downtrodden, but, ah. He can't quite get out of the habit of using the honorific.

"Have you brought me a gift, perhaps? To help my aches and ails?"

[circumitus]

By now, Rey has been called 'lady' by enough people that she doesn't bother to correct them. She just grimaces and bears with it. While Ianchus isn't the modest definition of refined, he has struck her as someone formal and from one of those worlds where talking like that is actually normal.

His question earns him a raised eyebrow and curious look, though.

"What, do they not have anything for you to take here? You'd think they would have some sort of painkillers. Vicodin or morphine, at least..."

Is she going to have to start bringing Carlisle's drug tea here, too? How do they even manage to get this place stocked?

[puzzlingly]

「Ianchus words are met with a bit puzzlement, which quickly is replaced by amazement.
Is what he's doing... for him?

For him...

A gift.

His first ever since he got there. A material one at any rate. The change on his face is gradual and very obvious as he takes a good look at the talisman as Ianchus works on it — the little details, the dedication Ianchus is puttin on it — his smile seems more and more genuine and warm. Strength and experience, huh... It's exactly what he needs.」

I'm-- I'm fine. Actually... I brought you a little something.

「He looks towards the general entrance of the room, just to see if there is anyone there that would frown upon this, no doctor in Hadriel probably would but still, it adds to the mystery. At last, he brings out a medium sized bottle from inside his jacket and shows it to Ianchus. It's more than obvious that it is not apple juice.」

I thought you might be missing this a little.

[wantsnudes]

"You... were careless," Yusuke repeats, with the faint disbelief of one who knows they're being lied to. Or at the very least, being withheld from the whole truth. He doesn't move any closer, nor does he answer Ianchus's question.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

[vocarrah]

He certainly feels uncomfortable from that question, and his smile drops somewhat. He thinks, perhaps, he might have let Yusuke get too close--ah, wouldn't it have been better to stay at arm's length, instead of trying to take Yusuke in as a younger brother? He should have stayed the mildly interested patron.
But then he finds it again, trying it out. He can't let this overwhelm him.

"I didn't want you to worry, is all. As I said, I'm fine now."

[vocarrah]

"Ah, you're not jesting, are you? You should know." He drops a wink at her, a grin as he laughs.

"With the business you're in, you should know that there are more than physical aches that people must contend with." He puts a hand over his heart, tapping it as if in imitation of palipitations.

"I meant something to soothe the soul, hmmm? And to warm the belly."

[vocarrah]

Ah! Atem, you are far too kind. Far, far too kind!

[Ianchus grins, sitting up a little, craning his neck out to as if to ask if he can have a sniff, trying to gauge what treat is in the other man's hands. His own fingers continue working on the talisman, though--concentration is key, and though he's woven several (and it's not really intricate work, considering it was meant to be made by rough, calloused hands), he refuses to drop it until he's finished.]

[wantsnudes]

"I'll worry about you more if you hide things from me," Yusuke replies softly, moving to sit at the edge of the bed beside him, fingers laced in his lap. "But I suppose the fault is also mine, for not noticing you were in difficulty. Please forgive me."

He leans closer, then, to look for any visible injuries. "Where were you hurt?"

[vocarrah]

Ianchus sighs a little and sits back as well, relaxing somewhat.
"Like I said, I took a tumble. Broke a few ribs, got a few cuts, got pretty banged up."
Thankfully, the black wounds by the goddamned magical demon knife have been fixed, so there's nothing suspect about that.

"And you never answered my question. How are you?"

[wantsnudes]

Yusuke looks troubled, but for now he won't push the matter any further.

"I'm well," he answers. "I'm not here for ill health. Kate asked me if I could paint the clinic now it has been rebuilt, so I've come to survey the building."

[vocarrah]

"Ah, that's good!" Ianchus perks up a little at that, excited at the prospect of a project of Yusuke's, and also glad that he's not being questioned anymore.

"I imagine that would brighten it up quite a bit, hmm? How lovely. Perhaps something in your 'ukyo-e' style? A landscape?"

[wantsnudes]

"An ukiyo-e style painting, but upsized to a mural... That's certainly a thought-provoking idea."

He sounds distracted as he looks around the clinic, though; this is one of those rare occasions where it's difficult to focus on his art at all. He turns his gaze back to Ianchus.

"Cepheos-san, do you trust me?"

[vocarrah]

Ianchus' lips are quirking into a little smile at the idea of a wall-mural-sized version of the painting of the pearl diver and the octopuses, but at the question he shifts to a more confused expression, tilting his head.

"Yes? Of course I do, Yusuke."

[wantsnudes]

"Then if you do, I'd feel better if you were honest with me. If you're in trouble, I want to be there to help. Not to keep finding you when it's already--"

Too late. He swallows, expression downcast.

"If what happened really was just a fall, that's fine. But there was still no need to hide it."

[vocarrah]

Ianchus feels his blood run cold at that, though his expression betrays nothing. He lowers his head, his smile slipping on defensively. Ah, of course, of course, he's utter trash for lying to this boy, who only cares for him.

"Thank you, Yusuke. You're right. I suppose I didn't want to--to trouble you."

[wantsnudes]

Unfortunately the smile does nothing to convince him. He knows from hard experience just how much can be hidden behind a kind word or a soft smile, and so Ianchus is a lot easier to read than he might think.

"Why would I be troubled? You've aided me in the past when I was in difficulty, but you behave as though I mustn't be burdened with anything. I don't need to be coddled or protected."

[vocarrah]

"I know. I appreciate that. Still--I got enough help." Ianchus makes a motion around him, to the clinic, smile still stubbornly on his face.

"Really. Don't worry so much."

[wantsnudes]

"How can I not worry, when I...!"

His hands ball into fists in his lap, his gaze fare-off.

"What I saw won't leave my dreams. When I look at you, that sight is all I see. You might be able to convince yourself to move on with that smile on your face, but I'm not like you. I can't behave as though things never happened."

He's keeping his voice low to be mindful of other patients, but it's all he can do to restrain his anger.

[vocarrah]

He winces at that--that again, the idea that something that he'd considered nothing at all--had thought was poetic in fact--had so affected someone he cares about.

"Yusuke..."

Ianchus runs both hands through his hair, then puts his palms against his eyes, his lips still smiling under them.

"Please. I'm not worth it. Please."

[wantsnudes]

Yusuke shifts on the bed to grab his shoulders, and for a second it looks like he wants to shake sense into Ianchus. But he doesn't, grip simply remaining firm but not tight enough to hurt, mindful of his injuries.

"You are worth it. Nothing you can say will change my mind, so don't try."