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Post by Nari on Nov 8, 2023 14:45:26 GMT
While in the Bathroom, Pascal took a rag and scrubbed down his arms and face. During his time, he’d been denied the chance to wash properly, so he had to deal with a layer of grime, dust, and dead skin. It was rancid to him, and he knew he’d properly shower once he had the time for it. For now, he just needed to be clean enough to check on River.
Speaking of, the other boy called over to him while he cleaned up and asked how he was doing. “I’m managing,” he responded, contemplating if he should say more or not. He was a private person and didn’t really like talking about what was on his mind. However, he’d been through so much in just those few weeks, he just wanted someone to talk to.
“Look today… wasn’t good,” Pascal stated, slipping on a clean white coat as he walked out of the bathroom. “I was told one of two things would happen to me; I’d go home or I’d die.”
Soon he was sat near River, and started pulling out the stuff he’d need right away before continuing, “I accepted the latter but… I never wanted someone to take my place. And after the vitriol Cleo said to Laurie and how much rage Luka had when she attacked them… I worried for my life a bit, like what happened was my fault.”
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Nov 8, 2023 17:52:11 GMT
River watched him as he finished washing his arms and face then put on that white coat. As he contemplated telling him more or not. As much as he wanted to know about what had happened to him, he wouldn't push. It was hard to talk about knowing your life could have ended right then and there. But, he kept going and at the mention of Laurie River stiffened.
His eyes turned downward to the table and his open hand resting on it. What had Cleo said to Laurie that also got to Pascal? He wanted to ask but... he just couldn't get himself to. He kept thinking about that photo he was sent and his lip twitched in agitation. It wasn't important right now, not with how he was feeling having just learned about the situation. He'd ask later.
If he could.
"Tensions have been high since you've been gone," River started cautiously. He was still looking down at his hand as he thought over these past few days alone. "A lot of things have been said that can't be taken back. But I promise no one blames you for what happened."
He lifted his head and relaxed into his seat. With how hard they've been trying to get their people back no one should blame him for coming back. They'd all been injured and knocking on death's door just to even see them again. And while one sacrifice was unfortunately required to get one of them back, it wouldn't be for long. They'd have everyone back again.
"At least trust that i'm happy to have you back despite my stubborness," River finished and stretched his weak hand in front of him.
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Post by Nari on Nov 8, 2023 18:22:19 GMT
Pascal nodded along as River spoke affirmations to him, how it wasn’t his fault and everyone was just tense over everything. He trusted the boy’s word on that, but it still pained him. Just the idea that so many people were stressing for his sake was hard. He didn’t think he was that important. He barely knew anyone, but they were still concerned. It was strange, and new.
He held out a hand to the other boy, gesturing for him to let him see it. Once River obliged him, the Champion of Hades got to work. He didn’t mention how the injuries looked, and only spoke up to continue their ongoing conversation.
“It’s appreciated,” Pascal spoke, his gaze focused while he slowly removed bandages, “I can’t help but feel cursed with misfortune. This all started on my dreaded Birthday of all days. The fates must be mocking me with that one.”
The boy paused after saying that, grabbed some sanitizing wipes, before finishing his statement with, “You can laugh. It’s a joke.”
Yes, Pascal wasn’t the best at telling jokes.
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Nov 8, 2023 18:29:33 GMT
Cleo's gaze looked even more confused at the mention of a note, tipping their head, "note!? What note?" They looked to Lucien, seeing if he knew anything about a note. Cleo certainly didn't.
As Lane explained her situation to Cleo and Lucien, explained the Helm of Hades, Cleo's eyes widened. That could be very helpful indeed.
If it was what Lane claimed, especially because the story, while making more sense, well...Cleo knew it wasn't the full story. There was something in the Underworld that attracted Lane. Cleo knew that it wasn't just that helm.
Lucien expressed his anger at Lane leaving, and Cleo was angry too, but they remained silent. Their own exhaustion and pain was getting to them, and Lane was already explaining why she left. The real reason. Answers? To what?
As Lane defended herself and told them about wanting to help, Cleo rubbed at their forehead, "you can help by being there when you are needed rather than running off. Your actions didn't only hurt yourself, Lane, Luka, Chiara, Ariella, and-" they paused, cutting off and looking away, "people got injured. People almost died. You yourself look as if you were running from death itself."
Sighing deeply, Cleo looked between the two, shaking their head, "we can discuss this more later. You need to rest and we need to prepare to discuss our options," Cleo first looked to Lane, then to Lucien.
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Nov 8, 2023 18:48:32 GMT
River smiled and released a breath of laughter from his nose. "How thoughtful of the fates to give you a surprise," he joked back and watched Pascal work on his hand.
Truly it was a shitty birthday. To be kidnapped and held hostage for so long. River's had shitty birthday's such as getting jumped in the middle of the night on his way to where he was staying. Or when he was arrested for something or other. But Pascal may have him beat on this one. He smiled at the thought and suppressed another chuckle.
"Ow," he groaned as he reached for his neck. Grimacing he swallowed and rubbed at his face. Everything still hurt, but it felt good to joke casually with someone else for a moment. Just a moment to forget and be friendly. "They've had it out for all of us for a while, haven't they?" he asked raising his eyebrows and glancing up at Pascal.
All of them came from bad childhoods. Some worse than others, some getting worse now instead of better. But, at least this time they had each other this time. Despite being at each other's throats.
"I think you deserve a redo birthday. Actual cake instead of a cold warehouse."
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Post by Nari on Nov 8, 2023 19:38:06 GMT
There was a slight smile on Pascal’s face when the other boy took the joke, responding back with his own addition as well. However, it seemed to drop when he noticed River in pain. Likely from laughing. Note, it's best not to do that again.
With a wipe, the Champion of Hades cleaned the injury on the other boy’s hand, removing some of the damaged scar tissue in the process. The laceration was large and seemed to run deeper than the skin layer. He didn’t know how deep the injury was, and regretfully, did not have the training to check how it was going to impact things down the line.
A specialist would be needed, but they did not have that luxury, so Pascal had to do the next best thing. After the area was cleaned, he stitched the area closed so it would have an easier time healing, and wrapped the hand in bandages. Enough so he wouldn’t be able to move it too much.
He continued the process with the boy’s shoulder next, cleaning and stitching up the area before bandaging it up. Eventually, his attention was drawn to the boy’s comment about a birthday.
Pascal’s expression became more somber at the suggestion, “That’s kind, but I don’t celebrate it. It seems like a waste for me.”
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Nov 8, 2023 20:08:04 GMT
The Ares Champion turned his head away from his shoulder so he didn't block the light or get in the way of Pascal working. He flinched every now and then at the feeling on the wipes against his exposed flesh or the needle digging into his skin and pulling it back together. Treatment he didn't think he needed but clearly did.
He did glance at the older man when he said he thought celebrating was a waste. He didn't disagree there. To him it was just another day in a long year that told him how old he was. "Alright," River agreed and closed his eyes to keep from moving away from the pain.
He'd managed with the pain before this. Getting to a point where the pain was subsiding in his mind and he could function. Now, that he was actually realizing and allowing himself to be looked at he felt every inch of it again. And he wondered how he'd been moving so carelessly as he had been. And it seemed he wouldn't be training anytime soon anymore with how his hand was wrapped up.
That or he learned to use the other hand.
"Well, how am I looking, doctor?" River asked, half joking and half wanting to know what it looked like. Maybe it only felt worse than it looked.
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Post by pallas on Nov 8, 2023 21:00:47 GMT
Lucien shook his head when Cleo looked at him in confirmation that he too knew nothing about a letter. There had never been one mentioned.
”I wrote it, I left it in the kitchen, it-” Lane’s breath caught, ”it explained everything, things I don’t know how to say.”
Lucien had no idea what that meant, but now didn’t feel like the time to ask.
Lane’s emotions had to be running high, maybe that was why she didn’t seem to be making sense. Perhaps the Underworld affected people in strange ways.
Lane made no attempt to defend herself at Cleo’s words. She knew leaving had been wrong of her, clearly, and she looked distressed to know that people had been hurt because of her decision. Still, Lucien had a feeling that if given the chance over Lane might still choose to go on her trip to the Underworld.
When Cleo couldn’t say Theo’s name, Lane looked more concerned than ever. Obviously worried something truly awful had happened to him because she had left. That he might have even been killed on the mission.
”Theo.” Lucien said when Cleo skipped over the name, looking at the Ma’at champion as he did so. ”Theo got hurt.”
Lane seemed at least a little more secure on the knowledge that Theo hadn’t been killed because of her.
When Cleo said Lane looked like she had been running from death, the girl say back and Lucien caught two quiet words from her, almost a whisper.
”I was.”
But they were right. It was time to let Lane get some rest for the moment. Lane nodded at the suggestion and seemed to settle herself more comfortably on the bed.
Lucien rose from his seat and approached her, and reached carefully for the helm a second time.
”You’re safe now.” Lucien told Lane gently when she gripped the helm tighter again. Clearly that thing had been her lifeline escaping the Underworld undetected, and after all it was the treasure she’d gone there for. At Lucien’s assurances though, she loosened her hold and allowed him to take the helm from her grip. The boy carefully placed it on the small table beside her bed.
But before he left, he had one more thing to deal with. He met Cleo’s gaze, nodding to another part of the room. Clearly indicating he wanted to talk with them. But as he did so, he caught something out of the corner of his eye. Just for a moment, so he could tell himself it was just a trick of the light. But he swore he caught a gleam. Greenish. Just for a second.
When it disappeared, though, he convinced himself to forget about it. He was seeing things with the stress. So he led the way further down the room to let Lane rest in peace while he spoke to Cleo.
Once they’d joined him, he’d grabbed an ice pack from among the supplies as well as a few other things he thought he might need. He first got as good a look at the injured nose as he could so that he could see what he was working with, then handed over the ice pack to Cleo to put on it.
”That punch was a long time coming, to be clear.” Lucien started briskly. And he did believe that; after everything Cleo had done, all the pain they’d caused other people, they could deal with the pain of a broken nose for a little while. ”But I really do think you give half a shit about trying to be better. And you give more than half a shit about this group, even if you have a terrible way of showing it. So I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt one more time. You gave Luka and I another chance after all.”
They did do that, and he could not deny that fact. They’d been stupid and River had almost died. That was serious. And even though what they’d said was harsh and being put on probation had messed with his head more than he’d be willing to admit, he’d been grateful for the second chance.
He sighed.
”I can try to set it. My powers can’t set bones anyway so it has to be done. But it’s only if you trust me.” Lucien explained, before adding to clarify ”I’ve never administered local anaesthetic before. Obviously. Or done any of this.”
The procedure normally involved anaesthetic, he’d had to have it done once himself so he knew this. He wouldn’t like to think of how painful it’d be without it, though they could try if Cleo wanted to. But he’d never done this process before and if it were him he wouldn’t trust a 17-year-old to put anaesthetic in his face.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Nari on Nov 8, 2023 21:25:46 GMT
At River’s question, Pascal leaned his head back to see what else he needed to tend to. The gash on his neck was obvious, but there were a few cuts on his face that would need attention. There likely were other things he was missing, but they were obscured by clothing.
“In my professional opinion,” he finally responded, moving in to take care of the injury on the neck, “not good.”
Once it was cleaned and closed up, he bandaged it up and sat back to take a short break. Looking at the wounds was starting to make him lightheaded. He shifted his focus so he looked the other boy in the eye as he cleaned some blood off his hands.
“The injuries would have healed better if they were looked at earlier, or at least were given proper rest. It's worse that they seemed to have been continuously re-opened. That increases the chance of infection and could cause problems down the line. You’re lucky nothing worse had happened…” Pascal spoke with more confidence than usual, a result of his knowledge on the subject.
“After today I’m going to need you to take it easy so you can properly heal.”
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Nov 8, 2023 22:42:41 GMT
Cleo shook their head, sighing, "we didn't see any note and no one brought it up," they let the girl know. She wasn't lying though, Cleo knew that. There had been a note, and it had been in the kitchen. Someone had seen it or thrown it away then. Strange.
When Lucien mentioned Theo when Cleo themselves could not, they winced. They still felt bad about the trade, about Theo's sacrifice.
Cleo didn't hear Lane's quiet admittance about running from death, and they chose not to pursue it. The girl was exhausted, and there was something much deeper to this than Lane was willing to currently reveal.
Cleo glanced at the helm as Lucien set it on the bedside table, the boy indicated to another part of the room, but something seemed to catch his eye. Cleo looked over to see if they could spot it, but they saw nothing there. They didn't push it, following the boy as he led them to another part of the room.
They sat down, gingerly pressing the ice pack to their nose. As he spoke, they narrowed their eyes, but understood exactly what he meant. After a few heavy, silent moments, they sighed, "I'm not any different than I was, Lucien, and I'm not any better," they admitted, "if it hadn't been for what...for what I did, I wonder if Laurie would be where he is now. If he'd have still chosen this. I-"
They bit their tongue in frustration, jaw snapping shut as they grunted, trying to find the words, "I told him about that, I said I didn't regret it. When he just cuddled up to Ripley Gates, I just looked at him and thought I was right this entire time."
They went quiet after that, processing their own emotions and guilt. They didn't regret saying that, but they did regret having hurt River and Laurie when it first happened. They had blamed themselves for Laurie getting taken and River's pain. But now wasn't the time for apologies, it was life and death.
"I'd rather not have a needle stuck through my nose by a 17-year-old delinquent child who has never in his life applied anesthetic," they said dryly, though the comment was actually a joke despite their straight face, "plus, I'm sure you'll take some satisfaction from this. It'll be like getting your own punch in, just set it."
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Post by pallas on Nov 8, 2023 23:33:08 GMT
Lucien sighed when Cleo said they’d told Laurie about the River breakup. He took a moment to process this, because it brought on a fresh wave of anger and he didn’t want to risk saying something he didn’t mean this time. This conversation felt important. Too important to do his usual thing and let his anger get the better of him.
”You weren’t right.” Lucien said. ”Your anger at Laurie is valid, yes. But nothing could make that decision right.”
He wanted to make that clear, first of all. Nothing about that meeting had been right, and nothing Laurie could do would retroactively justify it. Laurie’s awful decisions were bad in their own right, but didn’t make the meeting okay.
”It’s pointless to torture yourself wondering about if things had been different. Trust me, I haven’t stopped wondering how Hallowe’en could have gone differently. Besides, it takes more than a bad breakup for that sort of thing to happen.”
Lucien focused on laying out some supplies he might need as he spoke. He’d never done this before. When his own nose had been broken he’d wanted to try and set it himself so he didn’t get in trouble but Elara caught him anyway and he’d been properly seen to. It was for the best, because who knows what a mess he would’ve made to it if he’d tried to do it himself.
”I think you’re wrong about not being better, though.” Lucien commented. ”You feel bad about the mistakes you’ve made. That’s how you learn to be better. Growth and all that shit. You just have to want it and put some work in.”
He more than understood when Cleo said they didn’t want an inexperienced and untrained teenager injecting them with anaesthetic. Still, he went along with the joke by pretending to be offended for a second before giving a small smile to show that he too was just kidding.
He did, however, produce an anaesthetic spray.
”Okay well if you’re sure, I’ve got this. I don’t think it’ll do shit but I’ll feel better about it.” Lucien shrugged.
He had them remove the ice pack and carefully sprayed the anaesthetic spray up Cleo’s nose. It wouldn’t do anywhere near as much as an injection he was sure but he had to work with what he had. Hopefully the ice pack might be of some help for the pain as well as preventing swelling.
Once that was done and the spray was working, Lucien set to work. ”Okay I’m sorry, this is going to hurt but I’ll be as quick as I can,” he assured them with a wince. He might not like Cleo, they might thoroughly have deserved the punch, but this was not going to feel great.
With some guidance from Apollo, Lucien began to carefully manipulate Cleo’s nose to repair the damage and set the bones and cartilage back in their original position. Blessedly the damage was not actually too terrible in terms of changes to the shape of Cleo’s nose.
It didn’t take too long, but it had been delicate work on which Lucien had needed to be very focused. Painstaking, really. Once he felt like he was done he sat back again to get a better view of his work.
”Alright, well that’s the world’s least glamorous nose job done.” Lucien said. ”You can check in a mirror if you’d like but I think it is back to normal. You should take some painkillers for a while. There might be some swelling as well but it’ll go down.”
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Nov 9, 2023 16:48:43 GMT
River's leg bounced as his neck was looked at. He did his best not to swallow or disrupt the process in anyway but this particular wound made him nervous. Made him want to flinch back and cover it again. Still raw, and sensitive, and holding on to the feeling of the knife. But, he forced himself to remain relatively still.
He told him to take it easy. Not to keep reopening the wounds through training and to actually rest. But, then how would he be able to sit still with the way that his mind was? With the lack of sleep he actually got in the middle of the night. What was he going to do now? He didn't want to dwell on it.
With a sigh River looked at his wrapped up hand. "I'll take it easy. Can't do much with this hand anyway," he relented. He flexed his fingers in the bandage cast and tested his range of mobility. Like he thought there was not much.
Standing from the table, he decided it was time he made his exit and went back to his own room for a bit. He shoved his bandaged hand into the pockets of his pants and grabbed his cold coffee cup with the other. "If you don't want to come to the meeting, you don't have to. But, don't feel like you have to stay away," he encouraged.
Pascal had gone through a lot, had seen a lot, and still seemed to think he was in danger from at least one person. While his help in knowing what was going on within the base of the exiles would be helpful, they could still ask him at a later time. He wasn't going anywhere. He deserved his time.
Stepping over discarded papers and thrown clothing, River got to the door and turned towards the Hades champion. He nodded once and opened the door. "Thanks, Pascal," he said and then closed the door behind him.
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Post by Nari on Nov 10, 2023 15:44:17 GMT
Pascal nodded when River accepted his advice. Before the other boy could leave, the Champion of Hades quickly snatched a piece of paper off the ground and wrote something down before handing it to him. Aside from some random sentences that were there before, the note included brief instructions as well as names of prescriptions.
“First is for antibacterial medication, to help with infections. Second are painkillers to help with any soreness. Take with food to avoid nausea, and don’t mix it with any other substances. If anything looks troublesome, or if they don't work, come talk to me and we’ll figure something out,” Pascal explained, hoping he wasn’t missing anything.
He had to include the last bit because a certain someone would always complain the painkillers didn’t work, and that same someone tried to down an entire bottle of the stuff. Some people were just careless.
Once River was gone, Pascal was soon left to ponder about the upcoming meeting. Given his experience within the Exiled base, it seemed too important for him to not say anything. However, his nerves were still on high after everything, and the idea of speaking in front of a group of people made it worse. He needed to prepare himself.
So he scavenged around his room for some unused papers, sat down at his desk, and began to write. Write about things he knew, things he could only speculate on, and at least one case of him needing to correct a misconception.
“-he’s watched Haleema die and Echo be tortured-” - Incorrect
He hoped it was the only one he’d have to comment on.
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Nov 10, 2023 17:53:02 GMT
Cleo listened to Lucien and didn't add much else, eyes strayed closely to the ground. The tapped their fingers a bit, eyes narrowed, "my guilt will do nothing to fix the problems I've caused," they said, averting his eyes, gaze locked down.
They let him work in peace, silent as the boy sprayed the antiseptic and set their nose. They flinched a bit at the pain flaring up from the actions, but other than that, they almost seemed unaffected.
They'd been through worse more often, after all.
They stood up to look in the mirror hanging on one of the walls, inspecting their face and gingerly touching their nose, "you did well," they said, voice impassive but with a slight bit of warmth to it.
After that, they glanced at their soiled sleeve covered in now dried blood from their nose and winced. That would be a pain to clean. Hydrogen peroxide would be quite helpful there. They grabbed some painkillers though, pouring some into their hand, and filling a cup in the little water dispenser they had within the room. They took the pills quickly and turned back to the blonde teen.
Back to the important things then, this meeting coming up. "We should probably leave Lane alone for now and prepare for this meeting," they sighed under their breath, Lucien may be calm now, but Luka would be a nightmare to deal with. They'd have to look over that list before entering.
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Post by pallas on Nov 10, 2023 20:55:21 GMT
Lucien knew Cleo had to feel awful about the mistakes they had made. They made that fact very clear with their words about how their guilt could not fix their mistakes.
”You can’t fix everything, same as I can’t fix what I did on Hallowe’en.” Lucien explained. ”But you can make better decisions, make an effort to treat people differently. We’re failing because there’s a rot in this group. We’ve got how we treat one another wrong. Do your part to fix that. Put the work in, like I said.”
He watched them get up to approach the mirror and examine his work. He had to say he was quite pleased with himself for being able to achieve it on his own. Well, with a bit of guidance from Apollo.
Even Cleo complimented him, and the boy couldn’t pretend he wasn’t surprised. Cleo wasn’t usually one for compliments, it had to be said.
”You’ll have me thinking Cleo Lester is getting soft.” Lucien joked, a reference to their conversation the night before the meeting where Cleo had joked about Lucien getting soft.
Then Cleo was suggesting that they leave Lane and prepare for the meeting. Lucien cast a glance in the girl’s direction to see that Lane was resting, as she should be. Cleo was right; they should leave her in peace.
He nodded in response to the suggestion, showing that he agreed to the idea of leaving Lane alone and preparing for the meeting.
”Alright.” the boy said, ”but think about what I said. Today and last night.”
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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