Keep Burning Like We're Never Gonna Die [Closed]

[numberedshepherd]

Who: Lazarus, Micah and Nathan
Where: Christchurch Hospital
When: November 24, Tuesday
What: Lazarus is finally leaving the hospital which means that it's finally a good time for visitors, including one very relevant to him he has yet to meet.
Status: Closed



The old adage is that when one falls off the horse, it's imperative for him to get back on as quickly as possible. Falling hard, however, means that a little bit of extra time might well be forgiven, and Lazarus has certainly taken that. After over three weeks in the hospital recovering from a badly burned leg and the acquisition of some looser pants, it's with reluctance but a sense of duty that he packs his things and waits to be discharged. The world might be a more hostile place, but despite his doubts, there are some people out there who still think that he has a place in it, and he's come too far and given too much of himself not to cling to that. Whether or not he's earned what remains of that faith in his ability and worthiness, it's his job now to earn it. That seems fair.

But there are two last visitors before he leaves. Just as well, to help ease him back into the everyday life he's been observing and partaking in from his phone and the Network while others have been disbanded and displaced. One is Nathan, a familiar at at this point indispensable presence. The other is one he's only spoken to over the Network so far, who has yet to see his face but had a bit part in the life of his Other. He doesn't know what will happen; he can only hope that it won't be yet another catastrophe to throw onto the heap.

He strikes a different figure than he usually does as he sits and waits for Nathan and Micah, his close-fitting black clothes exchanged for something looser-fitting and more comfortable as his leg continues to heal. The outfit happens to be the same long-sleeved white t-shirt and pair of baggy blue jeans he got back from his teleporter echo.

Comments

[numberedshepherd]

At the very least, Lazarus feels like there's been some illumination on a topic that was poorly understood before, at least for Micah. He worries that it was too much too quickly and that the young man might not be able to get past the very powerful feelings in the echoes, but it's difficult to predict at present. He and Nathan did have a chance to get to know each other a little before this, after all, as the people they are and not those past shadows leaking into their present lives.

"I have some," Lazarus volunteers, picking up his bag of belongings and setting them on the mattress beside him to rifle through. Not that they've done much for him while he's in a burn ward, not that morphine was always enough, but he's in the habit of keeping some for minor aches and pains. Whether or not Micah was joking, Lazarus is also in the habit of taking such things very seriously. He moves a little awkwardly as he leans over his injured leg, but retrieves the bottle fairly quickly and offers it.

[enflammen]

He's not joking this time; Micah accepts the bottle with a nod of thanks, opens it, retrieves two pills, and swallows them dry before handing the bottle back to Lazarus.

"Thanks," he says, quietly, rubbing at his temple. So many memories, so much new information all at once - it's more than he expected. How does someone know what to expect in a situation like this? It's more or less without precedent, for Micah.

"Well ... this certainly hasn't been boring."