005; Video

[iwannabeadragon]

[This is a risk. Not everyone likes him and he knows at least one that probably wants him dead. Still, he won't sit and hide just because of some injuries. Besides Notch makes for a wonderful bodyguard.

Hawke really should be in bed instead of in front of his console, but here he is. He looks better but only barely. There's bruising where his head struck the wall and his left arm hangs in a sling. If he looks grumpy it's because he is. Hawke hates how useless these injuries have made him but he refuses to use what few potions he has on anything not life threatening.

After a beat he lifts a scribbled note.]

I need a hand. Who wants some work?

[Man this sucks.]

Comments

video;

[problematical]

[ River looks distressed across the video feed. ]

I ca░░ hel░░.

video;

[iwannabeadragon]

[Yeah he thought she might be when she found out about this. He tries to look as reassuring as possible.]

Alright. Are you okay?

[He won't deny her a chance to help but he's more concerned about her right now.]

Re: video --> action?

[problematical]

Y░░. Th░░ ░░dn't get ░░.

[ The static appears to be increasing on the line, which she recognizes and stands from her console. She'll just come over and talk to him instead. ]

action \o/

[iwannabeadragon]

[Alright he's got no idea what she's trying to tell him now. Before he can even begin to write something she's already gone. He knows her well enough to know where she's headed and opens the door for her.]

[problematical]

[ It never takes her long given that their suites are next door but River seems to make this trip even quicker than usual. She seems even more fidgety, clutching a shawl around her shoulders tightly even as she gives Hawke a smile that seems incongruous in comparison. ]

Hi. You knew I was coming?

[ Yes River, you just told him you were... ]

[iwannabeadragon]

[He grins at her but it's hard not to notice her sudden fidgeting. Hawke won't bring it up though. At least not yet.]

I managed to piece it together after sifting through some very subtle clues.

[Notch affectionately rubs his head against her side.]

[problematical]

[ River answers him with a smile, kneeling to she can hug Notch tightly, arms seeming even thinner around the mabari's thick neck. ]

I haven't been able to sleep.

[iwannabeadragon]

[Notch appears to be perfectly happy with this, his tongue lolling out and his little tail wagging. He very much likes River.

A worry line appears across Hawke's brow however.]

For how long? Won't have to carry you to the a healer will I?

[He voices it as a joke but he's concerned. Of course he can barely lift a milk cartoon let alone her at the moment.]

[problematical]

Since the Palace broke.

[ She glances over at him with a Look. ]

Do I need to carry you to a healer?

[iwannabeadragon]

[That look stops him, if only for a moment. For just a heartbeat River looked like his sister. He quickly pushes the thought away and smirks.]

I was only blown up. [He says that like it's a simple as stubbing his toe.] You're the one not getting sleep.

What's keeping you up?

[problematical]

[ The Look has difficulty not pulling into a smile at that, and Simon could always do stern better than River could. ]

There are bad sounds, in the palace. I can't shut them out.

[iwannabeadragon]

[Now that sounds ominous. There's not a damn thing he can do about it either with his body this injured. Not for the first time he curses the fact Anders isn't around.

Hawke steps beside her and briefly pats her shoulder, trying to offer some reassurance without making her flinch.]

You're welcome to stay here as much as you like.

[Hopefully it will give her some comfort. Then he lifts his hand to whisper to her as if he's trying to be confidential.]

Notch gets scared of the dark anyway. He could use the company.

[Notch snorts at that.]

[problematical]

[ River nods, appreciating the offer and she might just take him up on that, at least for a little while. ]

Sometimes the dark is scary, even when there aren't Reavers here.

[iwannabeadragon]

Don't I know it, but somehow I still end up mucking about in dark.

[Hawke has no idea what a Reaver is but he figures it can't be good. Sounds like the poor kid has seen a lot more than anyone her age should.]

At least Notch and I will be around to chase of shadows. That's kind of our job. Well, our old one anyway.

[problematical]

You chase the shadows here too, I've heard it. They steal things and hide them, and make you guess, and they're sharp enough to cut. Even Notch doesn't like them.

[ She scratches the hound under the chin in emphasis. ]

You just need a bigger light, enough to chase them away.

[iwannabeadragon]

Some habits die hard I suppose.

[Notch makes a pleased woof in response.]

If it would make my job easier I'd happily take one. Maybe then I could finally retire.

[Hawke may boast about his accomplishments playfully at times, but he has trouble seeing himself as a real hero. He accepts the title Champion because getting people to stop using it is more trouble than it's worth. If someone wanted to take his place he'd relinquish the title happily. The problem is no one else is crazy enough to try.]

[problematical]

Do you think I could try?

[ Not at the whole being a hero part, even though in her and Simon's playtimes sometimes she got to be the hero -- as often as she liked, because he never objected -- but because maybe she thinks she understands the stakes a little better now. Ironically, since so little else makes sense anymore. ]

[iwannabeadragon]

[For a moment he just says nothing.]

Do you want to?

[It's not his place to decide this for her. If she wants to do it then that's up to her. After all, the first place he met her was inside that bottle. He can help her though, and support her.]

[problematical]

I want to try it.

[ Because she has a pretty good track record for trying things and getting them right. ]

I'll help with your work. You asked. Where is it?

[iwannabeadragon]

Alright.

[Hawke nods his head. That's enough for him.]

Well, all around really.

[His place is a bit of a mess. Sheltering different families of kedan can do that to a place. There are blankets and pillows laying about the living room, furniture moved around, dishes are out with flecks of food still on some, and somewhere his little black book is hidden in the mess.]

And I still need to get groceries.

[Enough to ration him through the week at least. There's also a matter of his smuggling business to take care of.]

[problematical]

[ She looks around the suite and nods thoughtfully to herself, as though she's already started organizing things in her mind. ]

I can cook. The others say I shouldn't but I know how.

[ Of course she knew. ]

[iwannabeadragon]

[Not for the first time Hawke finds himself wondering what she's thinking.]

That's already a step beyond my abilities.

[He smirks. Hawke can put meat over a fire. That's about it.]

[problematical]

[ immediately: ] No fires in the house.

[iwannabeadragon]

[Um...that's one hell of a coincidence. Again he's thrown off balance for a second.]

I'll do my best to suppress the urge.

[problematical]

[ insistently: ] You have to promise.

A 2.4m by 3.7m compartment with a ceiling height of 2.4m has a volume of 21.312m³. Based on a potential heat release of 3 MJ/m³ of air, the volume of the compartment would provide sufficient air for release of 63.936 MJ. A fire burning in this compartment with a steady heat release rate of .5 MW would consume the air in the compartment in just over two minutes or 127.8 seconds.