asgardmeridiem | END OF ARC 1: DAY 173 DOWNTIME

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END OF ARC 1: DAY 173 DOWNTIME

[Two days of battle have been harsh. The hospital and the Arena are both nearing full, and the smell of charred wood still remains from the few buildings set on fire in Freya district by a dragon on Day 168. Nothing is truly quiet, but this is another welcome break in the violence.

The only question is: how many more cycles can we survive? Though we did well yesterday, it's clear that we'll be wiped out soon if nothing changes.]

[ooc note: this is the catch-all log for Day 173 (Nov 12-13). There is no battle, but there are a lot of general npc wounded of all different species (some of which are outlined here). You can find the battle log for Days 171-172 here, and the shelter log here.

Please be sure to include the day/time of day in the subject line of top-level threads. Also, be sure to have read the entire plot post.

There is a timeline of all important posts in the ooc comm here. If you have plot questions, please submit them to the plot post so everyone else can get the answers. Thank you!]

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Then let us pray there is indeed always another choice available.

[She cannot help but smile at him though. He's more like the stories than he knows. Not many people in her experience would so freely put themselves in harms way for others.]

Should we pause and allow you a few moments of rest?

A prayer I speak every day.

[For everyone to be safe, so that there will be nothing to protect them from. One day. One day.]

I am well I can continue a little more. [He doesn't want to take any more of her time than the absolute necessary.]

As do I.

[And she does - for everyone to remain safe and to eventually be returned to the places they all belong.]

If you need to rest, I do hope you'll let me know. I'd hate for you to over do it. [And though she really thinks they should stop for a few moments, she continues walking with him, keeping a firm grasp on his arm - just in case.]

Outside of the fighting, have you found things to keep your time occupied?

I will.

[He nods, hoping it won't come to that but knowing it's unlikely. The houses of Thor never seemed so far before.]

On more peaceful times, I work at the Citadel. I teach the use of the crossbow. And yourself?

[Her eyes light up a little.]

The crossbow? I'm quite skilled in archery, though the crossbow has never been part of the skill I've mastered.

[She thinks for a moment. What does she do around Asgard?]

I enjoy meeting people, learning of their homes. Also reading. I've quite enjoyed reading the different literature that the library offers. [She'll just not talk about her occupation at the moment. It's not that she's ashamed - she just doesn't want to overly shock the poor man. Not right then at least.] And of course I make sure that Mal and Simon both stay out of trouble.

I would be glad to teach you if we find ourselves with the time for it.

[Perhaps they won't go home right away, perhaps they will be given a chance to say their goodbyes after the fighting is done.]

All fine ways to spend your time. [He smiles at her]

If you're sure you don't mind... I would truly like that.

[And here, all the extra expertise with weaponry would probably be needed, well maybe not after the fighting - but in theory it is a good idea.]

I believe so. [Her smile warms.] At night I enjoy looking at the stars. It reminds me of my home.

Not in the least, it is the very least I could do to repay your kindness.

[He can offer at least a few free lessons, certainly Arthur wouldn't mind it for someone who cared for his injuries.]

That's good -- other than the people very little here reminds me of my home. [Everything around him is so advanced and foreign and confusing. He can hardly understand most people he speaks to; it's frustrating at times.]

That's very sweet of you, but truly you don't need to repay me. I'm just very happy I was able to.

[Her eyebrows knit together and after a moment she nods.] Granted not much else here reminds me of home. [Technology is different. People are different - many from times long forgotten.] But even though the stars aren't the same? They are close enough to please me.

I owe you a debt, my lady. And pay it I intend to, by any means possible.

[He smiles at her, he may not be mortally wounded but without treatment it could have turned that way. The way he sees it, he owes her his life.]

I'm glad they can give you comfort.

[She looks over at him, her eyebrows raising in slight amusement.]

Very well, though only after you're recovered from your wounds and not a moment before.

[She pats his arm again.]

I'm finding in this place we must find our comfort where ever we can. And since I can't be among the stars, watching them will have to do. Have you ever looked at the stars through a telescope?

We have an accord.

[Another soft smile is offered; he couldn't give her his best as a teacher if he tried to teach while wounded. But who even knows if he will have a chance to fulfill his promise? It's wrong to promise when he doesn't know if he could keep it but should the Gods leave them here still...he has every intention of keeping it. That counts, does it not?]

What is a tele- [no he really didn't catch that word sorry] -- that?

I guess we do then.

[Honestly, it wouldn't bother Inara one way or the other if he wasn't able to teach her - if they for some reason found themselves stuck in Asgard. But if it made him feel better to say he would, then she wasn't about to argue with him.]

A telescope? Oh it's an instrument designed to make distant objects appear closer. So you'd look through it and you'd be able to see the stars better. Perhaps if I'm able to find one, you'd like to look through it?

I would. [He nods; there are so many wonders to this world still foreign to him, so many things he has yet to learn and experience...

He's not ready to go home.]

Is it magic, or is it -- technology?

[The only part Inara was worried about going home was the possibility of forgetting her time in Asgard and the people she met.

And despite the fighting, it was nice to be around certain people from home. Nice to get to know them again.]

Oh, darling, there's no magic behind a telescope. Though to be honest seeing the stars so clearly can seem like magic.

[There are many things that worry him about going home, and he attempts to push them out of his mind. Whatever happens will happen, he can have no control over it so why worry about it? He will handle it when it comes, that is all he can really do.

Darling. The term of endearment nearly makes him fall and he stops in place. No one has called him that since... since his mother...since that day.]

I'm sorry - forgive me -- I may need that rest after all.

It's really all right. No need to apologize at all.

[Inara's eyebrows knit together in concern and her grasp on his arm tightens. She doesn't even think it might have been something she's said, no, she's thinking it's because of his injury.

She glances around quickly and then seeing a bench not far from them, motions toward it with her free hand.]

Then let's sit while you catch your breath.

[He nods faintly and focuses on making his way towards that bench. Slowly, just one foot in front of the other, until at last he half sits half flops onto it with a soft sigh of relief. He must have lost more blood than he thought because he hasn't heard his mother voice so clearly in years. He wasn't prepared for it.

He leans back and shuts his eyes for a moment, willing away the tears. So many years have passed but the pain is always there.]

[Inara does feel bad for him. She truly should have insisted that they stop before. Her skills with medicine weren't anything near what he should have had and maybe she should have insisted on finding Simon for him.

Perching on the edge of the bench, her watches him carefully and then after a moment rests her hand on his arm again.]

Lancelot, will you be all right? You look quite pale.

[He opens his eyes to look at her; he doesn't remember enough of his mother to judge if she looks like her but right this moment she seems almost identical.

He shakes his head to clear it. No, he can't let his mind play tricks on him. He has to keep it together, they are at war.

With a small smile he pushes himself to a more dignified position.]

Yes, give me a moment I will soon be able to continue.

[She nods slowly, though her head tilts a little to the side and she continues to watch him. She's not quite certain why he's looking at her the way he is, but she doesn't understand his culture so it could have something to do with that.

She smiles back at him and moves her hand from his arm and soothes it over her skirt before resting both her hands on her lap.]

Please don't rush yourself. We can sit here for as long as you need.

Thank you. You are very kind.

[He takes in a deep breath, and another, and another. His head seems to be floating and he realizes he needs to arrive at a bed soon or this bench will be his bed, so after another moment he pushes himself up to his shaky feet.]

I can continue.

There is truly nothing to thank me for. Here in this place we must all help one another.

[Quickly she rises to her feet and she really wants to chide him for pushing himself too much, but now is not the time for such things.

Seeing how shaky he is though, she wraps an arm firmly around his waist and looks up at him with a stern expression and her tone leaves no room for argument from him.]

And this time you'll let me help support you the rest of the way.

[Of course he can try to argue with her but he'll soon find just how stubborn Inara can be.]

[More than anything, he wishes he could protest right now. But good would it do him if he protests and collapses a moment later? No, it would only serve to worsen the humiliation, so he sucks it up and allows her to support his weight with a shaky nod.]

It should not be far now.

[She let out a relieved breath and her expression softened as they slowly began to walk again. Luckily she's had experience with helping wounded men walk, so his extra weight isn't unexpected or truly that awkward.]

Once we're at room, do I have your word that you'll actually rest? Or will I have to sit there and make sure you do?

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