2022-05-10 - Bedside Manner

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Soooo um. Just to let you know: I'm in the hospital. I'm okay, mostly, just got beaten up a bit. Long story.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : shit what happened? How bad?

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Really long story. Went for a jog, decided to intervene in a kidnapping attempt. I'm an idiot. But Ava healed me up a bit, and I'm going to be okay.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Fuck. Ok. Glad Ava could work her magic. How long are they keeping you? Do you want visitors? Need anything?

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : Pretty sure they'll let me go in the morning, completely forgetting what they said earlier today, when they sewed me up. Bit of a trip, really.

(TXT to Jules) Mikaere : I wouldn't say no to a visitor. Make big doe eyes at the nurses and they'll probably let you in.

(TXT to Mikaere) Jules : Ok, I can be omw in a few.

It may take a little convincing, but the nurse on duty does, eventually, let Jules in; by now, Mikaere has made his statement to the police, been vouched for by Dr Brennon, who is, after all, a known quantity, and made a fairly impressive recovery, even with the inevitable reality-adjusting the Veil has done to account for everything. "Don't tire him out," she warns, though. And, "And you can take these in to him-- someone left them earlier." It's a box of chocolates. How sweet!

Mikaere's propped up in bed in a private room, bare-chested except for the bandages that cover what was a bullet hole and a deep slice made by a sword. There's still visible bruising, but it looks rather as if it were a few days old, and not-- surely-- no more than a few hours. Surely. He's watching the door, his smile a little lop-sidedly rueful.

Jules is on her very best behavior, just in case sweet-talking is required. It’s all nods and “of course!” and careful attention. She even clears what she herself brings with the nurse, though it will take a bit of shuffling to be able to carry it all once chocolates are added to the mix.

She’s carrying a pair of different colored smoothies in addition to the chocolate box when she enters. A visitor’s tag is stuck on to her shirt, and her hair is back in a hasty ponytail. “Hey,” she says, determinedly casual and calm even as she takes him in, there in the hospital bed. “I brought smoothies. Strawberry banana and berry. Your pick, if you want one.”

Ruefulness aside, there's a brightening of Mikaere's expression, especially about the eyes, as Jules arrives. At least his face is unmarked; chest aside, he can't possibly be too injured, right? Though there are dark stains on some of the bandages that suggest that blood was spilled at some point. "Hey," he says, letting that linger between them for a moment before he adds, "I'd love one. Strawberry banana?"

Beat. "And are those the chocolates Ravn left with the nurse? They wouldn't let him in, earlier. The man has serious connections, though."

Jules approaches first to hand over the pink smoothie and set down the chocolates on a little plastic stand next to the bed, then drags over one of the chairs stationed against the wall so she can sit a little closer. “Must be. Good of him to come by.”

She covers a long pause where she’s fishing about for what to say by sipping her own smoothie. Her brown eyes remain fixed on Mikaere though, and there’s a line of concern creasing her brow. “How are you feeling?” That’s the question she settles on, out of all the ones that could be asked.

"I'm okay," he promises, meeting Jules' gaze squarely. "They'll absolutely let me out tomorrow. A few scars, but... I'm fine. And the kids are fine, and that's the most important thing." He holds the smoothie in one hand, carefully angling his arm so that he can lift it towards his mouth-- it's a very useful thing that the positioned him half-upright rather than prone-- though he doesn't yet take a sip.

Fine now. Jules bites back the quick retort that immediately rises up, but maybe Mikaere can read the fleeting skepticism in her expression. It isn’t helpful, though; she doesn’t say it.

“That’s good,” she says instead. Also, “what the fuck, a kidnapping? What is wrong with people.”

Mikaere hesitates.

"How much have you heard about a dude named Haggleford?" he wonders, then.

Jules’ eyebrows lift. “Guy who’s stealing people and dragging them to the other side?” That’s how much she’s heard.

A slow nod from Mikaere confirms Jules' summation. "This was him again, almost certainly. Five teenagers, in some kind of... club, maybe? Drugged. And they had a whole crew, trying to take them all away. We stopped them."

Well. His expression turns pained. "Well, other people stopped them. I kind of just turned myself into a punching bag, but it got the job done, more or less. I think the thing is... we know more of what to look for now. These people look odd. Hollywood movies gone wrong. Which is something to keep an eye out for, anyway."

For this, Jules turns to her favorite set of curses. “Jesus fucking Christ.” She lets out a long sigh, then reaches to find Mikaere’s hand for a quick squeeze.

“Welcome to Gray Harbor, right?” She tries for dry humor, though there’s a more serious thought that goes along with it. “I think this is part of what you get, when you stay here and you’re like us. I wound up in the hospital not so long ago. But congratulations, you have me beat for time between arrival and first ER visit.”

Mikaere squeezes back, fingers curling around Jules' in a gesture of return comfort. "That's what people keep telling me," he agrees. "It's... I'm not much a fighter. It's not something I have a lot of experience with, outside of Dreams, despite..." a wiggle of his fingers: he has a built-in weapon.

"What put you in the hospital?"

“Well, I wouldn’t blame you if you decide to peace out, to hell with this town and its Hagglefords,” Jules replies. It’s the first time she’s even obliquely mentioned that unspoken question of just how long Mikaere intends to stay. That’s something she just doesn’t ask.

“I got in a fight with a tree,” she says then. “Literally. It decided to crush me. But, like, it was out of an old legend. I wasn’t myself. Right before we met—remember, I needed the ice for my ribs?”

The shake of Mikaere's head answers Jules' first comment, but he holds off on replying to it verbally because of her explanation. "In a Dream?" he concludes. "I remember. I hadn't realised. It... happens. Place like this."

He pulls her hand closer, drawing it to his mouth to press a kiss to it. "As long as Haggleford is out there, I'm staying. At least that long. It's my fight now, too. Fuck that guy."

“Fuck that guy,” Jules repeats with strong agreement. Maybe it’s a way of saying something else entirely, to go along with the little smile that springs to life with the kiss for her hand.

Then, “Yeah. I got beat up pretty badly. Maybe not as badly as you, though.” She’s eying the bandages again.

Mikaere lets their combined hands drop back his side, and takes a moment, then, to finally take a sip of his smoothie. It's probably the first food he's had, solid or liquid, all day.

"It happens," he says, aiming for light. Though: "It's fine. I'm fine. There was a bullet and a sword, and some brass knuckles," and sure, okay, some martial arts as well, "but it didn't hit anything important. It could've been worse, and we're lucky: we have healers to help us as well. And whoever was there with me... they helped too. They helped me. But I promise, next time I won't make a target of myself."

But there will be a next time.

Jules doesn’t try to reclaim her hand yet. Instead she winces at the description and gives another quick squeeze. “Guy’s gotta be stopped,” she says, and this too is an acknowledgement that a next time will come. “Glad there was someone else there.”

"And he will be," is firm. "Keep an eye out, okay? People who look out of place, like movie characters in real life. I mean, the kidnapping is maybe enough of a giveaway, but... I guess the more we have to look out for, the better. And the more people who know. It's... I was commenting on this to Ravn, when he texted. All of this, it relies on the western world's self-focused thing. You and I have the advantage: we come from cultures that are more about the collective good. That's what we need here."

Which segues, clearly, into his added, "I wish I knew who did help me. I.. kind of went down before I really got to see anyone properly."

"I will," Jules assures. Now she reclaims her hand and sits back, settling into a more comfortable position while she sips her smoothie. "Maybe you'll run into them and they'll recognize you. It might not be as small as Taholah, but at least our community seems to keep track of each other. Maybe not quite the same as what you mean," the collective-focused ethos, "but it's better than nothing."

Reluctantly(?), Mikaere relinquishes the hand-- though he certainly turns his attention back to his smoothie, too, taking several long pulls from the straw. "I hope so," he says. "But you're right. It's better than nothing. We have to stick together, else we're already lost."

He shifts, managing not to wince in the process. "Everything's a lot... closer than it was at home. But the immediacy is exhilarating, too. I like feeling like... this is somewhere I can make a difference. Hopefully, though, next time that won't meant shedding blood."

"Yeah," Jules agrees, looking thoughtful. "I like that about living here too. For all the shit that happens, it's nice to know that maybe something you're doing has an impact. I didn't know how I would feel about being here, but I think it's been the right choice so far."

She studies Mikaere as she sips her drink, assessing the way he holds himself in addition to the wounds -- or rather, the indications of them, since none are immediately visible. "So when you get out of here," Jules ventures, "are you going to be up to being back on your boat?"

"I'm a white knight," says Mikaere, then, with a laugh. "A crusader. I can't help myself." At least he can laugh without wincing: that's got to be a good sign, right? Unless it's all down to the painkillers. "But this place? It gives me a cause. Something more immediate than... than everything I used to fight for."

He's very careful in how he moves. He's also very clearly on heavy painkillers. "That... is a good question. I suspect Ava will insist on me coming back to her place. She's bossy."

A smile twitches as Mikaere describes himself. At least it's not a loopy laugh. "That's probably the wisest course of action," she says. "And good to be with a doctor, right? And maybe she can work more of her magic." Jules wiggles her fingers to indicate boom, abracadabra. "Though I don't fully understand how it works. Like, can she do that more than once on a single person? Or if for example, I tried, would it help if someone has already healed you? She said she could help me learn a little bit more about all this."

Pause. "So back to living in a house with a baby." She's trying so hard not to smirk.

Look at the face that Mikaere makes: just look at it! Woe, etc. "Yes," he allows, all sadface and sulky. "Back to a house with a baby."

There's a pause, though, and he considers Jules. "She can," he answers. "Not regularly, though, because it takes it out of you. She'll be back tomorrow to try again. Do you want to try? You could probably make a further difference, I think. Ma says that it... stacks is the wrong word, but you know what I mean? It all helps, bit by bit." He gestures towards his chest with his free hand, the one not holding his smoothie. "Give it a go?"

"I wonder if it grows at normal speed," Jules muses. "Like, awake every two hours and screaming, or sleeping through the night?" That smirk is starting to show. "I'm not helping, am I."

As for actual help-- Jules sets down her smoothie on the floor besides her chair as if having both hands free is important. "Okay. If you don't mind that I'm literally experimenting on you. I have done this only once before. With the cougar. Who was guiding me through it. So here's hoping for no fuck-ups." Jules is nervous, clearly, but willing to try. She leans forward and very gently puts both her hands on Mikaere's chest just above the bandages, touch feather-light. She stays quiet, eyes a little unfocused to see beyond the bandages, to the flesh and blood beneath. She's not skilled at this like Ava is, but something about what she sees -- or imagines she sees -- has some effect, encouraging the body to see how it knits itself back together and hastening those connections.

"You're not. Ava says she's a perfectly normal baby, for the most part." This isn't helping either. Look at Mikaere, so enthusiastic about the prospect.

"Experiment away," is said in a murmur, rather than properly out loud; Mikaere's eyes flicker closed, as he focuses on his sense of self, feeling rather than seeing what Jules is doing. It's a warming sensation, felt in his skin and also deeper. He sighs; a contented, breathy sound.

"I think that worked," he says. "At least a little. Look at that-- good for you. Coming in to your power."

"Oh good." Jules sounds and looks relieved, shoulders relaxing. When she sits back this time, it's with another quick and gentle squeeze, this time her hand on Mikaere's arm before she picks up her smoothie again.

"Yeah," she says after a moment. "I think that trip helped me connect more to who I am, including this." Magic wiggly fingers lift from where they're curled around her plastic cup. "Anyway. Glad I can help, even if it's just a little bit of taking the edge off."

Mikaere's smile is directed first to that hand on his arm, and then to Jules herself as he adjusts his position, and takes another sip from his smoothie, which is disappearing rapidly.

"I'm glad," he says. "For you-- I mean, for me, right now, because I'm beginning to feel amazing again. But for you, in connecting like that. I haven't forgotten your grandmother's gift, either." Though clearly, today has been a distraction. "Once I'm properly on my feet, I'm still willing to take another look at it, give it another go."

"Oh," Jules says, sounding surprised that Mikaere's brought up her strange little ritual object in the midst of all this. "Don't worry about that. It can wait; it's not going anywhere. I'm going to show it to Ravn and see if he can help me figure out more about it, too. It's good to have a Resident Nerd."

She purses her lips, tilting her head a bit. For a moment there, it looks like a question's on the tip of her tongue, but it doesn't materialize. Instead she says, "He said something about taking a photo -- and if he can't get one, then it means that there's some sort of spirit shenanigans going on. I guess they don't like having their picture taken."

"'Resident Nerd'," says Mikaere, and he laughs; he's not disputing the designation. "That's a good way to put it. Have you tried, just taking a photo on your phone? You don't need him for that, do you?"

He's not missed that unanswered question, and there's a lift of his brow for it, a question of his own embedded into it. But he doesn't push. "I guess my point is just... I haven't forgotten. This," he gestures towards the bandages, "doesn't stop me from wanting to get involved in things. Okay?"

"I haven't yet," Jules admits. "I haven't felt like opening the box again. It's like a snake. It might bite me." She turns it into a joke, tone light. "Don't worry, it'll still be there when you get out and are all healed up." Sitting on Jules' desk, lurking. At least it's a very pretty box to look at.

"So tomorrow morning, you said?" Time to change the subject. "If Dr. Brennon comes by first and has her way with you a second time--" There's an eyebrow arch and sly smile to go with the innuendo, which is quite purposeful. "--then they'll have to release you."

Joke or no joke, Mikaere's nod is a serious one: he doesn't doubt that it might bite.

But the latter remark, that does make him laugh. "Ava did tell me I had a good body," he relates. "Granted, it was about not getting kidnapped by Haggleford myself, but... I just thought you'd better know. But yes: they'll have to release me, I think. Which is good. Hospital food is the worst."

"Did she now." Look at that brow lift. Jules makes a show of checking Mikaere out with a sweep of her gaze up and down. "I guess you're not bad," she determines, keeping it light.

It's very likely Ava's assessment that pushes Jules over the edge into spitting out what she's been pondering. "Well, if you don't feel like dealing with the blue baby and it screams all night, I am literally just next door. No pressure. I totally get it if you want your own space while you're recovering from taking a bullet and being a big dumb hero."

Mikaere is-- aside from the bandages-- half-naked, after all. And yeah, there's a somewhat smug, amused expression settling in now. "I'm so very glad you think so," is his response, half-laughing.

The offer, though, that draws him to a pause. "That's-- thanks." This is quieter; more serious. "Let me see how it is. Your housemates may not want me hanging around in their space, but... thanks. If nothing else, at least there's that beautiful yard, right?"

Big dumb hero: that's him all right.

Jules reiterates, "No pressure, whatever works best for you." She leaves it at that -- or almost does. Instead, after giving him a very skeptical look for all that smugness, Jules forges ahead to say, "You know, I don't expect anything, right?" Of course, now that it's out, Jules looks like she regrets it.

She just had to open her big dumb mouth.

It may be more that look of regret than what Jules actually says that sets Mikaere to laughing (and then wincing because, despite all the healing efforts, he's still at least a little tender around the ribs), immediately shaking his head in apology.

"I know," he says. Promises, even. "Jules, I know. And believe me, I do appreciate the offer. So let's see how we go, okay?"

Now, with the laughter, Jules is just going to look embarrassed and hope for her chair to swallow her. Thanks, Mikaere. She covers for it with an un-serious scowl.

"Okay," is her simple reply. "Alright. I should probably let you rest."

In other words, time to flee.

It's probably for the best that Mikaere is not as hopped up on painkiller as he could be, because now could be a moment of even worse embarrassment. Instead, he nods. "I'll let you know how things go," he promises.

"And... Jules? Ava and I are just friends. You're the only girl I'm pursing. Okay?"

Big smile. "I'll talk to you soon."

"Woman," Jules automatically corrects. She smiles back though, as she gets up with her empty smoothie cup. And when she leans over him to take his empty drink, presumably to dispose of it along with her own, she pauses along the way for a light kiss on the lips.

"Feel better," she says, and off she goes.

"Women," allows Mikaere.

And he smiles after her, until she's out of sight.