the things that i was sure of then

[crapbearer]

WHO: Max and Naminé
WHERE: a hospital in Marturia Falls
WHEN: Oct 25 into 26
WHAT: Aftermath of Max's powers making the memoryshare plot go a lil more haywire than planned.
WARNINGS: Unloading baggage? Maybe? Warnings will come as needed.

---

Max had been uncharacteristically quiet for... well, since they'd left the alleyway. Normally, not a moment went by without some kind of running commentary from him, but tonight, Max couldn;t muster any words, save for a few when he was required to answer. When he'd been brought to the hospital and the medical staff had looked him over, he let them work unhindered, gaze distant and expression... burdened.

Inside, his mind was racing, flooded with thoughts of how people had gotten hurt that night - that night, and many, many more times before. The emotional barriers he'd so carefully constructed had been ripped away so suddenly with the manifestation of Skullmaster from his memories. Guilt, shame, and grief flooded him freely, pooling in his chest, weighing him down, poisoning him like a cold, dense sack of mercury.

When the medical technicians finally cleared away to let Max rest, shooing away any visitors who might disturb him, Max found himself unwilling to be alone with his own thoughts, not yet.

Quietly, he pulled himself from bed - ignoring the aching protests of his body - and shuffled out of the room to find Naminé.

Comments

[redigere]

Larxene was not a kind woman to be around back in Castle Oblivion. Her role as the mouse to Larxene's cat often meant dodging blows...and she'd been very bad at that, even with portals. So Naminé is actually used to a certain level of pain. This, though-- this hurts worse than the worst abuse Larxene put her through. It hurts enough that she's utterly incapacitated by it, enough to warrant her first emergency visit to the hospital.

She hopes it's her last, because she doesn't know how many more times she can handle doctors pestering her for details about why and how she has no heart.

Despite that thought, she's being a good patient, and as per doctor's orders, is breathing as deeply as she can manage, trying to ignore the ache and tenderness and the general feeling of fragility all over her body. She suspects she needs to tell the nurse about that, actually. But she's determined to at least send off a message to her friends back at their house before buzzing someone in.

Only, it's proving very difficult, and she's sensing someone who wants to come in of their own accord, too. A looming, heavy darkness that's trudging forward, meandering the hallways but slowly making its way to her. It's...very worrying.

Naminé scoots upright just a bit, takes a minute to recover from the cold sweat of pain lancing through her from the minimal movement, and then calls out to her soon to-be visitor, soft and labored.

"Hello?"

[crapbearer]

Max hears the call when he reaches the doorway, and he pauses at the threshold, suddenly unsure if this was all that good of an idea after all. He's ready to turn back but he musters up the will to stay, finally answering after an uncomfortable pause.

"Hey."

He steps inside, his body language far more reserved that it normally is, and catches Naminé's gaze. He sees her covered in bruises, how hurt and frail she looks, and he feels a stab of guilt to his gut. Max pales, and quickly averts his gaze. Why would she want to see him, after what he put her through?

"I... I'm sorry, maybe this was a bad idea. I should go."

[redigere]

Ah. So it really is Max.

"No, it's okay. Please come in."

Naminé knows very well how difficult it is to face someone you've hurt. There was a sinking feeling in her stomach that took a long time to go away, even after Sora had forgiven her, back at Castle Oblivion. She wants to extend that same gesture to Max to help ease his conscience, and start the healing process for him.

Though she's not in any condition to stop him, if he really wants to leave. But the visitor's chair has been pulled up, in preparation for the handful of her friends who will come visit eventually, and she's watching him with patient understanding.