Alright. I'll see you around dinner time. Please take care of yourself until then.
[And he will too - it means heading a bit early to the kitchens to make sure there's something fresh and hot to bring, but Angeal got along reasonably well with the Warden running the kitchens like his personal army.
And as he said he would, he turns up in early evening with a covered tray, and knocks on the door.]
They sleep through the rest of the afternoon, dreamless and light enough for them to wake up when they hear the knock at the door. They spend a few moments making their bed, ignoring the pain in their chest and shoulder, then answer it.
“Were you injured at all during the Flood?” Their voice is rough, and they look more tired and pale than usual, but nothing else is obviously out of the ordinary.
There's something measuring in the way Angeal studies Avalon; he's used to battlefields aplenty and the side effects of those battles, clearly it's been a rough time. "Not enough to be a concern. May I come in?"
He himself looks and sounds almost completely normal. Most of the worst of it happened to other people, he was just .. an accessory. "It looks as if you could use more sleep. Did you speak to the medical staff?"
They watch him blankly as he studies them, looking through him more than at him. “Good to know.” They move aside, letting him in and closing the door behind him. Unlike most others here, their cabin is the same size as it appears to be from the hallway, and could easily belong in a hotel.
“Someone killed me during the Flood,” they explain, gesturing for him to follow them. They have a coffee table in front of their window, big enough for two people. “Do you know what the death toll is yet?”
"I've heard it exists." A price to be paid for dying sounded sensible, but he also hadn't planned on ever returning from his last round with death. "A way to keep people from being too reckless with their own lives, sounds like."
Except someone killed Avalon. Wardens had their powers. Was it a monster, then? The tray and its covered bowl of soup is set carefully on the coffee table. At least there'll be no reason to get up and rummage around, he's also brought a spoon! "Are you intending to retaliate?"
“Not exactly. It seems to be an unintended side effect of dying rather than an incentive to avoid it or a punishment for being too reckless.” The death toll is another limit of the Admiral’s power, just like the fact that they come back with their body in the same state as it was when they arrived on the Barge after going home.
Avalon uncovers the soup, somewhat surprised to see that Angeal only brought some for them. “The person who killed me was not herself during the Flood, and even if I blamed her completely … revenge is not something I often want.” They want to talk to Ilde, because they still like to leave things finished, but they see no reason to retaliate.
"It seems to have left you pretty tired." A note is made about it. As far as the SOLDIER is concerned, this meal isn't about Angeal, it's about Avalon, and making sure they have what they need after what's obviously been a bad time. If he could make it easier, even if it's just with soup, then that was a small price to pay. HOpefully Avalon likes beef and barley, it's tasty enough, and hearty, but it's not going to win any exotic food prizes.
The sigh that follows the decision to not go for revenge seems a little bit relieved. "Have to say I'm glad for that. In this place, retaliation doesn't seem much of a deterrent. It could escalate." The ongoing violent circle of tit for tat! "Does she know what she did, or was that.. not being herself also tampering with minds?"
“My body is unused to needing rest.” Comas and death tolls are the only things that seem to cause them to need sleep. As far as they are concerned, being able to sleep through the worst of the death toll is useful.
Avalon takes a bite of the soup, focusing on the warmth it spreads through their chest. “She knows that she harmed people, which may or may not include the knowledge that she specifically killed me.”
That brings to mind some questions that he's not sure are inappropriate, so Angeal bides his time to test the metaphorical waters more cautiously. "I won't interfere, it's not my business, but ... if you choose to say something, and wish backup in case it gets bad.."
Well, you can take the SOLDIER out of duty but keeping him from wanting to do it is another matter. Avalon might be his warden, but somehow that meant to Angeal responsibility went the other way too. "..Are you .. capable of restful sleep, or is it a matter of waiting til the fatigue fades?"
“I plan to let her to decide how she deals with it.” She did apologize on the Network, but Avalon decides not to say that so as to avoid revealing who it is. How she deals with the aftermath of the Flood is her decision. “She does not seem interesting in doing something like that again, so I see no reason to involve anyone else.”
They are beginning to understand why he seems to care about their wellbeing this much. After all, they had offered to help Rawne when they had been his inmate. “I tend to sleep through the first few days of the death toll, and it does seem to help.”
This ship had a way of encouraging murder. Adding to it wasn't particularly sensible, but it seems Avalon wasn't inclined to go looking for trouble.
That's reassuring. "Occasionally in situations like that, when the mind is altered.. there's not much that can be done to prevent it. And generally nobody wants it to happen again." But it still could. Accidents, even grisly ones, were still accidents. Angeal isn't going to go looking for vengeance in their stead.
He knows a bit too much about what happens when people lose their reason and choose violence. "Hm! Well, until you've recovered, if you need anything, let me know. Even if it's just tidying up a bit or bringing a meal or two. I don't mind a bit of exercise." It'll help him keep tabs on Avalon's wellbeing while he's at it.
“The death toll usually lasts about a week, but the first few days are the most severe. After that, the only symptoms are phantom pains. I should be fine soon.” He seems level-headed enough not to take revenge for them, which is good. “Do you need anything?”
That's not the first time he's been asked that, by the rueful smile that crosses his face. "No, I'm fine." He wasn't, it just wasn't anything that'd interrupt his work, be it an assigned task or otherwise. "Let someone worry about you instead. I'm a pretty resilient guy."
Phantom pains and exhaustion, for someone who didn't really seem to sleep much, didn't sound like a pleasant time. "I'll bring some pastries up later on, see how you're doing." Not that he's going anywhere just yet, he has a bowl to bring back to the kitchens, and assure himself that Avalon is actually recovering, and not.. getting worse in some fashion he couldn't quite detect.
Something in his expression makes Avalon wonder if he means it. “You can be functional without being fine,” they tell him. They had learned to differentiate the two when they were dealing with other people, and are still learning how to do it for themself.
“I would rather you not worry about me. I can take care of myself.” The death toll may not feel good, but they have a way of dealing with it. The soup might help, or they might learn of another symptom that they have not experienced yet. Either way, they can learn more about how to take care of themself. “I also think that the soup was enough food, but having a visitor later might be nice.”
It's waved off - literally, one calloused hand making a brief dismissive gesture. "Functional and fine are interchangeable for a SOLDIER." Was it?
It was for him. For the forseeable future. He chuckles though, like it's not really that big of a problem. "No can do. Once I know someone, I worry about them. It's just how it is, the key is to not get too stressed out over it." The number one reason he looks much older than he is, constantly being concerned for everyone else.
And now that included Avalon. It didn't matter if they were only temporarily paired, Angeal was rather free with his concern about people. "Well, in that case I'll see about visiting more often.
Their expression remains flat, but they do pause, trying to decide whether they should press further. While his mind is not entirely closed off to them, it is much quieter than those of some people here. His emotions are a blur, the same way Shaw’s had appeared on her orb: there may be something under the surface, but Avalon would need to fully connect with him in order to see it. And without a file, they have little context for anything that they might sense.
“I see.” That piece of information may not be relevant now, but it could be later. They have time to decide what to do with it. The idea of someone being concerned about them may never stop feeling foreign. As they get to know Angeal, it should begin to feel more natural, just as it had with Rawne.
They finish the soup, setting the bowl and spoon aside. “I would like to eventually visit your cabin. I should feel better in a few days, so I can come visit then.”
"Fee free to. The door's unlocked if you turn up and I'm not there." The bonus to having nothing precious to lock up, no reason to lock anything. "I try to keep busy, idle hands do mischief's work and all that, but I stop in often." And of course every evening..
It's going to be a disappointing sight though. Angeal's been given a very rustic environment. But it's comfortable. "I'll see about leaving some snacks just in case, and a deck of cards if you're into games."
“I think you trust the people here more than I do.” They tend to let those they know into their cabin without much hesitation, but they would rather it not be open to everyone. That, and the fact that it would be irresponsible to let just anyone into their cabin now that they have weapons of their own. “In any case, if I visit, I would likely do it while you were there.”
"What would they do? What could they take that has any meaning to me? What can they do to me that will matter?" Although it's a very serious topic, he is .. gently amused. Not so much at Avalon, but the idea itself.
Death had no meaning. He had no objects of value here. What could anyone really do? "I'm sure there's people here with quite a collection of important things, or reasons for concern, but ... I can trust, because there's nothing anyone can do."
“I lock my cabin because I keep weapons here, and I would not be doing my job if someone took them and used them to cause harm. Also, some people need to be denied access to things like that in order to learn.” Avalon had. The Barge had needed to strip their options away one by one before they considered a different path. “I was thinking that you might want to protect something that was important to you, but if not, then it makes sense to trust.”
"Our situations differ." A warden would, reasonably, have a very good reason to lock a door. They likely had access to all KINDS of things that inmates generally did not; weapons, magic items, the possibilities were endless.
For a warden, not using a lock was probably the height of irresponsibility. "I... can't say I have anything important to me here, besides people. And I can't very well lock them up in my room." His tone turns that last part into a joke, he's certainly not even THINKING about it. "I suppose it's for the best. But I'll endeavor to be there when you turn up, either way."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2024-08-28 04:59 pm (UTC)No, but thank you for offering. [Their own experiences had been different enough from reality so as to not affect them as much as they could have.]
no subject
Date: 2024-08-29 11:18 pm (UTC)[And he will too - it means heading a bit early to the kitchens to make sure there's something fresh and hot to bring, but Angeal got along reasonably well with the Warden running the kitchens like his personal army.
And as he said he would, he turns up in early evening with a covered tray, and knocks on the door.]
->Action
Date: 2024-09-01 05:28 am (UTC)*******
They sleep through the rest of the afternoon, dreamless and light enough for them to wake up when they hear the knock at the door. They spend a few moments making their bed, ignoring the pain in their chest and shoulder, then answer it.
“Were you injured at all during the Flood?” Their voice is rough, and they look more tired and pale than usual, but nothing else is obviously out of the ordinary.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-01 06:52 pm (UTC)He himself looks and sounds almost completely normal. Most of the worst of it happened to other people, he was just .. an accessory. "It looks as if you could use more sleep. Did you speak to the medical staff?"
no subject
Date: 2024-09-01 07:32 pm (UTC)They watch him blankly as he studies them, looking through him more than at him. “Good to know.” They move aside, letting him in and closing the door behind him. Unlike most others here, their cabin is the same size as it appears to be from the hallway, and could easily belong in a hotel.
“Someone killed me during the Flood,” they explain, gesturing for him to follow them. They have a coffee table in front of their window, big enough for two people. “Do you know what the death toll is yet?”
no subject
Date: 2024-09-02 08:14 pm (UTC)Except someone killed Avalon. Wardens had their powers. Was it a monster, then? The tray and its covered bowl of soup is set carefully on the coffee table. At least there'll be no reason to get up and rummage around, he's also brought a spoon! "Are you intending to retaliate?"
no subject
Date: 2024-09-03 02:44 am (UTC)“Not exactly. It seems to be an unintended side effect of dying rather than an incentive to avoid it or a punishment for being too reckless.” The death toll is another limit of the Admiral’s power, just like the fact that they come back with their body in the same state as it was when they arrived on the Barge after going home.
Avalon uncovers the soup, somewhat surprised to see that Angeal only brought some for them. “The person who killed me was not herself during the Flood, and even if I blamed her completely … revenge is not something I often want.” They want to talk to Ilde, because they still like to leave things finished, but they see no reason to retaliate.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-03 10:22 am (UTC)The sigh that follows the decision to not go for revenge seems a little bit relieved. "Have to say I'm glad for that. In this place, retaliation doesn't seem much of a deterrent. It could escalate." The ongoing violent circle of tit for tat! "Does she know what she did, or was that.. not being herself also tampering with minds?"
no subject
Date: 2024-09-05 06:32 am (UTC)“My body is unused to needing rest.” Comas and death tolls are the only things that seem to cause them to need sleep. As far as they are concerned, being able to sleep through the worst of the death toll is useful.
Avalon takes a bite of the soup, focusing on the warmth it spreads through their chest. “She knows that she harmed people, which may or may not include the knowledge that she specifically killed me.”
no subject
Date: 2024-09-06 11:09 pm (UTC)Well, you can take the SOLDIER out of duty but keeping him from wanting to do it is another matter. Avalon might be his warden, but somehow that meant to Angeal responsibility went the other way too. "..Are you .. capable of restful sleep, or is it a matter of waiting til the fatigue fades?"
no subject
Date: 2024-09-07 03:43 am (UTC)“I plan to let her to decide how she deals with it.” She did apologize on the Network, but Avalon decides not to say that so as to avoid revealing who it is. How she deals with the aftermath of the Flood is her decision. “She does not seem interesting in doing something like that again, so I see no reason to involve anyone else.”
They are beginning to understand why he seems to care about their wellbeing this much. After all, they had offered to help Rawne when they had been his inmate. “I tend to sleep through the first few days of the death toll, and it does seem to help.”
no subject
Date: 2024-09-10 11:37 pm (UTC)That's reassuring. "Occasionally in situations like that, when the mind is altered.. there's not much that can be done to prevent it. And generally nobody wants it to happen again." But it still could. Accidents, even grisly ones, were still accidents. Angeal isn't going to go looking for vengeance in their stead.
He knows a bit too much about what happens when people lose their reason and choose violence. "Hm! Well, until you've recovered, if you need anything, let me know. Even if it's just tidying up a bit or bringing a meal or two. I don't mind a bit of exercise." It'll help him keep tabs on Avalon's wellbeing while he's at it.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-14 04:28 am (UTC)“The death toll usually lasts about a week, but the first few days are the most severe. After that, the only symptoms are phantom pains. I should be fine soon.” He seems level-headed enough not to take revenge for them, which is good. “Do you need anything?”
no subject
Date: 2024-09-15 02:29 pm (UTC)Phantom pains and exhaustion, for someone who didn't really seem to sleep much, didn't sound like a pleasant time. "I'll bring some pastries up later on, see how you're doing." Not that he's going anywhere just yet, he has a bowl to bring back to the kitchens, and assure himself that Avalon is actually recovering, and not.. getting worse in some fashion he couldn't quite detect.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-16 04:46 am (UTC)Something in his expression makes Avalon wonder if he means it. “You can be functional without being fine,” they tell him. They had learned to differentiate the two when they were dealing with other people, and are still learning how to do it for themself.
“I would rather you not worry about me. I can take care of myself.” The death toll may not feel good, but they have a way of dealing with it. The soup might help, or they might learn of another symptom that they have not experienced yet. Either way, they can learn more about how to take care of themself. “I also think that the soup was enough food, but having a visitor later might be nice.”
no subject
Date: 2024-09-16 10:27 pm (UTC)It was for him. For the forseeable future. He chuckles though, like it's not really that big of a problem. "No can do. Once I know someone, I worry about them. It's just how it is, the key is to not get too stressed out over it." The number one reason he looks much older than he is, constantly being concerned for everyone else.
And now that included Avalon. It didn't matter if they were only temporarily paired, Angeal was rather free with his concern about people. "Well, in that case I'll see about visiting more often.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-17 02:30 am (UTC)Their expression remains flat, but they do pause, trying to decide whether they should press further. While his mind is not entirely closed off to them, it is much quieter than those of some people here. His emotions are a blur, the same way Shaw’s had appeared on her orb: there may be something under the surface, but Avalon would need to fully connect with him in order to see it. And without a file, they have little context for anything that they might sense.
“I see.” That piece of information may not be relevant now, but it could be later. They have time to decide what to do with it. The idea of someone being concerned about them may never stop feeling foreign. As they get to know Angeal, it should begin to feel more natural, just as it had with Rawne.
They finish the soup, setting the bowl and spoon aside. “I would like to eventually visit your cabin. I should feel better in a few days, so I can come visit then.”
no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 09:51 pm (UTC)It's going to be a disappointing sight though. Angeal's been given a very rustic environment. But it's comfortable. "I'll see about leaving some snacks just in case, and a deck of cards if you're into games."
no subject
Date: 2024-09-24 04:20 pm (UTC)“I think you trust the people here more than I do.” They tend to let those they know into their cabin without much hesitation, but they would rather it not be open to everyone. That, and the fact that it would be irresponsible to let just anyone into their cabin now that they have weapons of their own. “In any case, if I visit, I would likely do it while you were there.”
no subject
Date: 2024-09-25 01:38 pm (UTC)Death had no meaning. He had no objects of value here. What could anyone really do? "I'm sure there's people here with quite a collection of important things, or reasons for concern, but ... I can trust, because there's nothing anyone can do."
no subject
Date: 2024-09-26 01:32 am (UTC)“I lock my cabin because I keep weapons here, and I would not be doing my job if someone took them and used them to cause harm. Also, some people need to be denied access to things like that in order to learn.” Avalon had. The Barge had needed to strip their options away one by one before they considered a different path. “I was thinking that you might want to protect something that was important to you, but if not, then it makes sense to trust.”
no subject
Date: 2024-09-27 09:52 pm (UTC)For a warden, not using a lock was probably the height of irresponsibility. "I... can't say I have anything important to me here, besides people. And I can't very well lock them up in my room." His tone turns that last part into a joke, he's certainly not even THINKING about it. "I suppose it's for the best. But I'll endeavor to be there when you turn up, either way."