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[tolaywaste]

infirmary } wednesday night-thursday morning

[He wakes up quickly but smoothly. This time, he doesn't scream. He knows where he is, he knows more or less what's happened, he knows he died, beyond just the fact that he can feel it in his bones. Royce's face is clear in his mind, although he still doesn't know the man's name. He will, soon enough.]

[Even though he doesn't want to stay in the infirmary, he will, less for his own sake than for the sake of the people who are worried about him. He'll rest, until he can't take being there anymore.]

cabin 6-02 } thursday-saturday

[And then he flees, back to his room, which is more private, more comfortable, less of a hospital. He stays there, wracked with pain but grudgingly allowing visitors. He can be found on the way to and from Zero on Friday, when he goes to visit Royce. Other than that, he sleeps, or tries to figure out why what happened did.]

out & about } sunday

[He should probably still be in bed on Sunday, but he can't take the confined space of his room anymore. Instead of his usual run in the CES, he takes an early-morning walk, slow and a little pained, but mostly steady. He visits the kitchens and takes a slow lunch, his shoulders hunched against an uncomfortable feeling of vulnerability. Other than that, he spends some time on the deck, trying to work off his excess nervous energy.]

Comments

[wedonot]

[There's no particular use in trying to hide the relief he feels, and there's a warm sort of burst of emotion that turns soothing when Alex starts to panic.

He tries to tell him he's alright, that he's safe, and squeezes his other hand reassuringly.]

Welcome back. How are you feeling?

[tolaywaste]

[The gentle touch of Charles's mind makes Alex feel safe enough to close his eyes, just for a second, until he gets his bearings. Everything hurts, especially his neck, and it's a little hard to breathe, but he's pretty sure that's mostly panic. Mostly.]

[He doesn't open his eyes or speak until he knows he can form a sentence, until he's not terrified anymore. Then he smiles wanly at Charles.]

I'm fine.

[That's a joke. NO REALLY. He clears his throat.]

I feel awful. What happened? I mean - who happened, is what I mean, I think.

[wedonot]

[Although his primary focus at first is making sure Alex stays calm and doesn't wind up hurting himself, he does manage a Look - really, Alex? - and a wry smile at the joke. But really, he's more than a little relieved he's feeling well enough to make a joke in the first place.]

His name is Royce. He's an inmate - obviously - and thought killing someone would be the fastest way to wind up in Level Zero. Apparetly he thought we might be holding a friend of his there.

[Oh and thus far? He reminds Charles a lot of Erik.]

He said he isn't interested in harming anyone else unless they threaten him first. I'm hoping he actually means that.

[tolaywaste]

[That impression sure will translate, later, when Alex actually meets him. Right now, he's mostly confused. And also putting a lot of effort into ignoring that Look.]

Did he find his friend?

[He's assuming not, but. You never know, he guesses, on the Barge.]

[wedonot]

No. He said if he was here, he would have come down to Zero to tell him off himself before anyone else had a chance to. [Which is what made him think of Erik. That, and the revenge solves everything attitude.]

I'm sorry you got caught up in the middle of it.

[tolaywaste]

Me too. I'm sorry it wasn't worth anything for him. I mean, if you're gonna die . . .

[It's a little bitter and morbid, but he's also pretty serious about it. It's a lot of useless pain to go through.]

[wedonot]

[That's true enough. God knows he wished that things had gone differently when he'd died, it's not like his counterpart had managed to do anything he set out to accomplish and all it had done was cause people more hurt.

But he tries to smile, and reaches out to ruffle Alex's hair briefly.]

As true as that may be, I'd still prefer it if you at least tried to avoid this sort of thing, Alex.

[tolaywaste]

Oh my god, I totally was trying!

[In faux-indignation, he ducks away from the hair ruffling to squint at Charles.]

I was literally just walking down the hall! [YOU CAN'T GROUND ME FOR THAT MOM OMG]

[wedonot]

[Charles laughs, even though there's still a part of him that wishes he had realized something was happening, that he could have intervened. Yes, death isn't necessarily more than an inconvenience here, but he still hates it.

But he still laughs, because at least it wasn't permanent. For the time being, things will be alright.]

Don't worry, you're not being grounded. [How he'd even go about doing that with someone who was an adult, he doesn't know. He might think of Alex as his son, but he isn't a child.] Can I get you anything?

[tolaywaste]

[Alex is totally groundable. Just say you're very disappointed in him and he'll go sulk in the corner for weeks. For now, though, he grins.]

No. I mean. Can you stay, for a while? Is that okay?

[Sometimes he wonders if he gets more upset about being in places like this than Charles does. It takes him longer to get over things, probably - or else Charles just buries them better.]

[wedonot]

Of course. [Not that he'd really been planning on leaving any time soon. Hospitals do tend to make him uncomfortable, but being here is worlds more important than his discomfort.]

You can't get rid of me that easily.

[He really means he'll be here as long as you need him to be, but he knows not everyone is comfortable with that level of sentimentality.]