imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

...You may be right, but... I truly know nothing of his history, and in a delicate state, I worry that I might make matters worse.

I know a little, from shared dreams, but it's nothing he'd share with me willingly so I wouldn't feel comfortable saying anything.

In any case, I trust you to do what's best. He and I have our problems, but I don't want him hurt.

[ Speaking of hurt, she winces a little as she turns her head back to where she's walking. ] The clinic isn't much farther, right? Maybe after you clean things up I can ask Venti to at least close the gashes.

Right up ahead.

[He leads her inside and ushers her into a hospital bed, before starting about the business of cleaning and bandaging her wounds.]

[ Into the bed then, and she'll bear the sting of cleaning mostly stoically. ] Of all the abilities they took from me, I miss my instant healing the most.

Did I tell you yet that I got a new unitmate? Or rather, a returning idol new to our unit.

You've not mentioned them, no. How is that going?

I really like her. Lumine is her name, she was on Wild City before so she and Caeli are good friends, and she's close with Venti too. [ Which speaks very well of her. ]

She was with me during one of my runs thought that game. She did a great job looking out for me, and I had a strong instinct to protect her.

That is good to hear.

[Maybe she doesn't get along with all of her unit yet, but at least there's one!]

You'll have to introduce us the next time I stop by your dorm.

There is one thing you should know... Aether is her brother.

[ She hates to bring that up, but she doesn't want him shocked by it. When he's busy treating her medically is probably the best time. ]

...Ah.

[He stills for a moment, then goes back to wrapping her injuries.]

That is good to be warned of ahead of time, then.

I did tell her about the circumstances under which he left, so you don't have to worry about those questions at least. She felt confident that wherever he is, he is well and she'll see him again.

Her name means "light up" in my native tongue and she very much lives up to it. You'll like her.

She sounds lovely. But I shall still prepare snacks to win her over, just in case.

Not a bad idea. She eats like I do.

But don't go finding her too lovely, now. Me and my mangled face might get jealous.

[Gently smooches her cheek.]

You'll always be the most beautiful to me, my dear.

Even now? I adore how dedicated you are despite overwhelming odds.

...I did sort of make amends with the unitmate who snarled at me before. Not easily, since she decided to be something of a jerk about it, but I kept my temper. [ Considering how Aliza blamed herself, someone being a jerk means something very different than just being mad about what happened. That, she'd accept and agree with. ]

Is that so? 'Tis good to hear. And I'm very proud of you for keeping calm.

Thank you. She didn't make it easy, either. She walked up and bit me without a word.

Maybe it might seem like a minor thing, but for me...

[ Doctor probably knows without her explaining that biting is a very intimate thing to her, not something one does without consent. When she did it, it was because her hand was forced in a game, which was hard enough without someone thinking that doing it back to her was an appropriate way to get past it the whole mess. ]

Well, that's highly rude at the absolute best, even if it weren't you. [And since it is her, that's obviously not a good idea, what the fuck.]

Yeah. I don't know if I explained it well enough, but I said that wasn't an okay way for her to feel like we're on even footing again.

I know what it's like to not have the best skills with people though, so I'm going to try not to hold it against her.

As long as things have been settled.

How are you feeling now?

Settled sort of. It's a work in progress with her, always is.

I feel... like half a mummy. But better than half bleeding, so I'll take it. Thank you. As soon as I find a sIV to help these the rest of the way along I'm at least getting my face de-scarred.

If I see one who remembers that they can heal, I'll send them on to you.

Do you need some help with the scratches on your face? I'm sure you can talk me through it.

Ah, no, I can handle that on my own well enough. Physician treat thyself and all that.

All right. Can I just rest here while you do that? I'm -- pretty tired.

[ Her hesitation there is probably for nothing, she ran the thing twice, who wouldn't be tired? But even so, being tired will always make her wonder. ]

Of course. You're always welcome here.

[Even if he'll be a little distracted until he gets his own wounds treated.]