Erskine Ravel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
edgeoftheknife) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
tushanshu2015-07-02 02:10 am
edgeoftheknife) wrote in tushanshu2015-07-02 02:10 am
[ console | video/action ] we get to carry each other
[Hello folks, it's your friendly neighborhood gorgeous janitor. Except he's not looking so friendly, today. In fact, he's looking more serious than most people have probably ever seen him, here in Keeliai. When he speaks it's with a gravity that his words normally lack.]
Anton Shudder is no longer in charge of the Midnight Hotel.
I'm taking over.
[There's a pause, while he lets that sink in.]
Since Shudder has proven himself incapable of the running of the Hotel--or indeed, simple things like standing and walking, I find myself forced to keep him confined to a comfortable chair in front of the fire. With tea. And yarn.
He knits, did you know he knits?
[It should be noted that while the tone of the video has become decidedly less serious, Ravel's face has not.]
At any rate, I'll be taking over the day-to-day operations of the Hotel for the time being. Matters such as employment and pay will still go through Anton, obviously. Day-to-day functions should come to me, instead. Any present staff are encouraged to pitch in as you're able--God only knows you don't want me doing the cooking. Not unless the lot of you fancy grilled cheese or cold cereal.
[He pauses]
Was that it? Yes, I think that was it. Er. Carry on.
Anton Shudder is no longer in charge of the Midnight Hotel.
I'm taking over.
[There's a pause, while he lets that sink in.]
Since Shudder has proven himself incapable of the running of the Hotel--or indeed, simple things like standing and walking, I find myself forced to keep him confined to a comfortable chair in front of the fire. With tea. And yarn.
He knits, did you know he knits?
[It should be noted that while the tone of the video has become decidedly less serious, Ravel's face has not.]
At any rate, I'll be taking over the day-to-day operations of the Hotel for the time being. Matters such as employment and pay will still go through Anton, obviously. Day-to-day functions should come to me, instead. Any present staff are encouraged to pitch in as you're able--God only knows you don't want me doing the cooking. Not unless the lot of you fancy grilled cheese or cold cereal.
[He pauses]
Was that it? Yes, I think that was it. Er. Carry on.
no subject
Only that's not how it goes. Erskine knows Anton well enough to know that a grunt from the gist-user is akin to a cry from anyone else--Shudder never does much more than grunt, no matter how injured he is. It sets Erskine's nerves on edge and he's up instantly, moving to a portion of the bedside out of Raine's way.]
What was that? What's happening? Anton?
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[Even if she didn't have some inkling of Anton's pain tolerance, the fact Erskine is worrying would have put Raine on edge. She jerks back, eyes wide, breath sticking. No. No, tell her she didn't.]
Anton? Are you--
[Very carefully magic-less, she reaches to check his pulse, his pupils. Part of her is already racing along the logical trails. Coincidence is possible but extraordinarily improbable: Anton reacted to her magic. It looks like he reacted badly. Her artes speed and fuel the body's natural regeneration. Therefore... therefore.]
[The other part of Raine's mind is locked in a tiny loop of panic, an ever quickening stream of no no no no I hurt him I can't fix this. Raine ignores this part, despite the unsteady fluttering it causes. It is not constructive. Panic will wait.]
no subject
I'm alright.
[He very much is not. But he's cognisant and responding, at least, just a bit slow. Getting up? Not a chance. It takes a moment for him to focus on Raine, and even then the dizziness makes it difficult to keep that focus.]
What was that?
no subject
[The problem is, Erskine can't do anything. He's not a healer, not a doctor. If someone were shooting at Anton, that he could probably fix. (Then again, Anton had gone and gotten himself poisoned easily enough, hadn't he?) Short of holding Shudder's hand--which he certainly isn't going to do unless it's indicated that a gesture like that would be appreciated--Ravel is all but useless.
So he looks to Raine, worry etched on his face. It's not an accusatory look at all. More... muted pleading. Please tell me you know what just happened. Please tell me you can fix this.]
no subject
I'm not sure. I...
[Deep breath. They're both still looking to her for this. Raine is struck, briefly, by the utter ludicrousness of it; there's enough centuries in the room to make up her entire projected lifespan, battle-worn soldiers both of them, and here she is, twenty-five and in many respects just beginning, but yes, the best healer her world has to offer.]
[And she's letting them down.]
I can't--
[Nope. Breath. Try again. Raine folds her hands in her lap, watches Anton. Speaks coolly and remotely, like she's talking about someone not even in the room, because that's the only way it's getting out.]
I don't know for sure. My artes use my own energy to speed and fuel my patient's own natural regenerative processes. In this case, a base healing arte resulted in what certainly appears to be somewhat of a worsening. My best guess at the moment is that this condition is caused by the body attacking itself, for whatever reason. Perhaps a defect in the genetic code. Certainly nothing I can fix at this point.
I can only assume that I...
[Raine stops there. Changes tacks, leaving the other obvious conclusion hanging in the air unsaid.]
...I can't do anything.
no subject
[Anton's voice is still a little weak, but his vision has cleared and his eyes are focussing better than they were.]
That doesn't mean you won't discover something to do in the future. I can't imagine you'll let it go. Am I wrong?
[If she can pinpoint how it works, then the momentary weakness is worth it. It narrows the field. ... He'd still rather not go through that again.]
no subject
There are other healers, aren't there? Aqua or Milyn? Maybe a different kind of magic...?
[Ravel lets the thought trail off, suddenly aware of how bad that sounds. He hadn't intended it that way. Maybe he should just...
...yes. With one last look at Anton, to make sure he's not going to pass out or anything in the immediate future, Erskine ducks his head and moves back out from the side of the bed, heading for the bathroom.]
I'll be right back. I'll get you some water, Anton.
no subject
[Raine is, however, a little bit glad that Erskine's gone, if only to give her a moment. She might trust him with Anton for now, but where she stands with him... that's a little less clear.]
[She closes her eyes briefly, forces her shoulders to drop, rather than curl in. This is not the place for personal weakness.]
For now. You're correct. I don't plan to let this go, and I do intend to find whatever I can to help.
[It'll be a priority juggle, and Anton likely will have to take the backseat to the grievously injured much of the time, but this is going to be active research, not passive waiting. That much she's determined on.]
no subject
[He isn't sure he has the energy to ask. So he doesn't. His eyes are practically closed as it is.]
It seems to me that a good portion of the progression of healing involves research, and research is usually prompted by necessity, is it not?
[Read: he doesn't blame her for not knowing.]
no subject
[So Raine breathes, and takes the offered reassurance, and by the time she speaks again is back to at least sounding normal.]
Yes, that's true. Then, here is the necessity. The rest will follow.
[Very hesitantly, Raine sets her hands over his again, drawing the faintest touch of her mana into them. No artes. Just the careful warmth of life, hoping at least to soothe what she inadvertently caused.]
no subject
Part of it has to do with Raine and the awkwardness between them, but probably not as much as the others believe. Most of it has to do with the shock of something being amiss with Anton. He knows it isn't lethal--or at least he's been told it isn't lethal--but Anton has been Erskine's anchor for the last few months, a piece of stability when Erskine sorely needed it. To see that anchor tossed about like this, his health threatened....
It brings to mind other times his anchor's been taken away, and those didn't exactly turn out well. For anyone involved.
Ravel presses his eyes shut tight for a moment, then reaches for the glass and fills it from the tap. He's just about got himself collected again when he reaches the doorway and sees Raine once again holding her hands over Anton.
Ravel pauses in his tracks. Forgets, for now, to breathe.]
no subject
[Anton closes his eyes. In spite of the objection he'd put up, he does feel like sleeping. A good soldier sleeps when his body tells him to, barring no other complications.
[The touch of Raine's hand is light, and at first Anton braces himself, but the soothing warmth is just that--soothing, and warm. Warm in a comforting way, more than a heated way. No spell, but possibly pure magic, as far as Anton can tell. It doesn't stop his hands from trembling, but he relaxes a little more into the bed, and exhales, and makes himself relax completely.]
Thank you.
no subject
[She'll stay there until she hears Erskine's footsteps, at which point she glances back. Frowns. He looks like he's seen a ghost, cliché as the phrase may be.]
Erskine?
[Does he not trust her with Anton? A little late for that, though she supposes she can't entirely blame him, given the events of a few minutes past. Anton's as fine as he's going to get for now, however. Why is Erskine...]
Is everything all right?
no subject
He nods, slowly at first and then more assured, even offering a small smile.]
Fine, yeah. Everything's all right.
[It takes him a moment to remember he's still got the glass of water in his hands. The smile turns sheepish and he crosses the bedroom to the side of Anton's bed opposite Raine. Since Anton looks comfortable now he sets the glass on the nightstand instead of offering it immediately.]
Just in case. Anything else I can do?
no subject
[Quietly, as she rises:]
Sit on him, if you have to. I don't want him pushing this, and I suspect he'll try, once he feels a little better.
[She's still a little concerned about Erskine in general, but at the least she doesn't doubt that, here and now, he has an interest in Anton's well-being. It's enough. She can let whatever that was slide.]
[For now.]
no subject
That I can do. Don't worry. He won't get far with any of the chores around here on my watch.
[And then he falls quiet, a natural lull in the conversation, but the past between them immediately skews it as awkward.]
Thank you.
no subject
[Before that can linger long Raine just nods.]
Of course.
[It's Anton, isn't it? Of course she'd help. Thanks are hardly necessary.]
If anything else happens, let me know. I'll be here as soon as I'm able.