Fifth Cream Cake: [Action/Voice]

[vor]

[Almost two weeks spent in Malnosso captivity and what does Gregor have to show for it?

Lots and lots of band-aids, mostly. Also a minor cold that has turned into a chesty cough.

Instead of any great torture, drugs, or whatever he'd been expecting, the Malnosso mostly took DNA samples. Blood samples. Tissue samples. He's from further in Earth-universe's future than most besides Ivan, so maybe his specific point in human evolution was of interest. He understands the "lab rat" metaphor pretty well now. There hadn't been a lot of space in his cell, so he's a little stiff and sore. At least the hallucinations are gone. That had been the worst part--having to assure himself that this was a normal reaction to solitary confinement. He slowly heaves himself to his feet, blindly scrabbling for his journal. Writing is not easy with all his bandaged fingertips, so he speaks, sounding hoarse, slightly congested, and exhausted.] 

Ivan. [A pause. ] Buffy. Adele. Whoever's...interested, this is Greg. I'm back. [He coughs a couple of times, fairly hard.] The Malnosso...anyway, I'm fine. It...wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'm heading home now. Did someone take care of my horse?

[He'll take about fifteen minutes to walk home from his spot in the woods.]

Comments

[vor]

I'm just in the woods. [He coughs.] Excuse me. I've been here before, though, so I know how to get back to town. It might be fifteen minutes.

[theoniongirl]

Do you need anything?

[vor]

Yeah, do you know Ivan? He hasn't answered yet, and I'm hoping he didn't get the same treatment. If you've heard from him lately, I'd like to know, if you don't mind.

[theoniongirl]

I haven't met him. [it's an apologetic response, but she means it as she continues] But I'll keep an eye out. And I'll pass the message on to Buffy, as well. For when she patrols, tonight.

What does he look like?

[vor]

Wait---never mind, that's him. Dammit. [He coughs again.] Thanks.

[theoniongirl]

[she's not sure whether she should really be amused or not, especially with how his cough is persisting, but she allows herself a smile, anyway. He can't be too bad off if he's got the energy to call people idiots.]

I don't think I did much worth thanking, but you're welcome.

...

I think it's only fair to warn you that I'm going to show up at your place, later.

[if he's getting sick, there's no reason she can't add one more stop to her usual round of visits.]

[vor]

[When did he acquire a collection of nurturing women? He suddenly misses Arthur.]

Why?

[theoniongirl]

Why not?

[vor]

[He misses Henri, too. Henri is like a more mature Ivan, in some ways. And when you want to be left alone, he leaves you alone.

Although it's probably a bad idea for Gregor to be alone right now.]

No reason. You might run into Adele.

[theoniongirl]

That's okay. I'm tiny. I don't think I'll hurt her, even if I do.

[teasing, of course...though it seemed oddly fitting, considering she'd run into him once before]

[vor]

[A soft laugh that leads to a cough.] I'll have dessert thawed.

[theoniongirl]

Don't you dare.

[vor]

It'll give me something to do.

[theoniongirl]

[that gets a laugh] From the sounds of it, what you should be doing is resting.

[vor]

Well, I have to make sure General Alys is...alive, first. That-Idiot-Ivan didn't even know I was gone, let alone look in on her.

[theoniongirl]

I'm sorry.

Is she the only horse? [she doesn't downplay the concern of checking on an animal, but she's hoping there are others stabled in the same place.] Most people here wouldn't leave her to go hungry if they noticed she hadn't been taken care of for a little while.

[vor]

She's not the only horse here, but the stables are full, so she's staying at the farm. Maybe someone's fed and groomed her, but I doubt anyone's taken her out for exercise.

[He sounds like he's walking briskly. With bronchitis.]

[theoniongirl]

[sigh]

Greg...

Go home. Talk to someone over the journals. The farm's not exactly close to the village.

[vor]

Who am I going to ask? Not everyone knows what to do.

[theoniongirl]

That doesn't mean that no one does.

This really isn't a case of "If you want something done right." Someone can exercise her today while you recover.

[vor]

This isn't a floor that has to be swept, Jilly, it's a life in my care and I can't just...foist that off on someone when I'm having a bad day.

[...Aw, crap. He just had to say that and sound like the world's most raging hypocrite. At least she doesn't know. He sighs.]

[theoniongirl]

[she gives a small sigh, but otherwise there's no sign that it upset her]

I get that. I don't think it's unimportant. But this isn't about foisting. It's about letting other people take care of things so you can recover and do it right.

If you collapse out there, then someone's not only going to have to learn how to take care of General Alys, but they're also going to have to carry you back here. So you'll just end up giving everyone more work.

[she's teasing...but only slightly]

Let others help. I'll even look into it personally. I'll find someone who can make sure she's taken care of. Just promise you'll go home right now.

[vor]

[He's not slowing down.]

Ivan knows how. He was taught by the same man who taught me.

[Gregor could even order him to do it. There's a thought. "We request and require for you to look after Our horse, which is named after your ma." Gah.]

Anyway, I'm not that sick. I'm getting over a cold.

[theoniongirl]

Then what's the problem? Isn't he a friend? Why not let him help?

[vor]

He can help, but I'm seeing my horse.