paradisalost | 1st category - human. [ accidental dictated and action ]

[ The journal opens at the same time that someone sounds like they jumped the last four steps of the stairs. The exhale after it sounds like who ever it was didn't realize it was the last four steps rather than the last two.

But to anyone watching, it should be clear that Duke hadn't jumped stairs. In fact, he'd dropped from... no where, and landed wobbly. He straightens, and turns slightly to look about. ]

... Dark... Did the lights ... no, even without Brave Vesperia... The spirits would... The garden is too dark... [ He takes a step, and nearly stumbles. Startled, and a weakly amused noise. ]

... Injuries more severe than thought... Definitely ...strong... [ He's just going to stand there, slightly slouched because fighting a group of four heroes thrice in a row, despite magical boost and healing in between... isn't exactly easy on the body. There are scraps of fletching in his hair, his coat is cut and torn, singed, soaked and frosted, and the beginnings of bruises are showing on his pale face. ]

[ooc: Duke is in the lobby, and despite all his talk of night, it most definitely isn't. He won't be able to answer anything written, but if you want your characters to figure this out, I'm okay with replying "sorry, he hasn't noticed" if you want to have to swap to dictated! just... note. Or something. Have fun~]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... Would one ask if they could tell? [ Which means that the dark.. is something from his end. His blank staring straight ahead takes on a sort of.. stunned look. Blinking doesn't help anything. Concentrating on keeping his balance, and then to throw his mind off that thought - that he's blind - back to working over what she said. ]

Name derived from 'paradise', assumed. Cost to access this is what it takes...

[She doesn't have a sarcastic response to that. She's just... shocked that it would take someone's sight. Meanwhile, the elevator doors slide open.]

I-- I'm sorry. [It's genuine, but she's still in soldier mode and they can't afford to dawdle. She reassures him that she's still there by squeezing his hand.] ... The clinic is the first door on the right. It's about fifteen steps ahead of us.

... No need. You did not have anything to do with it...[ There's no change in expression or the way he's standing at the squeeze. ]

... Fifteen of mine, or... [ Well, he starts ahead anyway. ]

Fifteen of ours.

[She's still supporting him, and makes this clear as they move forward.]

I suppose I should introduce myself. [Dammit, Duke, you're heavy.] I'm Tear.

[ That's because Tear's feeling the Tidal Waves and Holy Rains that still cling to his clothes. ]

Duke. [ Is this fifteen? ]

Duke... [That's usually a title, not a name.] If only we could have met under better circumstances.

We're here. [She lets go of his hand in order to open the door and make way for him. Whoever is tending the infirmary must be busy or on break, so she finds an empty bed and directs him toward it.] There's a bed five steps ahead, then three to the right...

... Perhaps. [ He'd said those words a fight or two ago, to someone else. Faintly amused. ]

... Five and three. [ Carefully taking those steps, then shifting to feel for the bed that was supposed to be there. ]

[It's there. Tear is ready to catch him if he suddenly drops. Or at least provide a good... cushion. Lol.]

There it is. Can you make it?

... Yes. [ A little stiff in movement, however, and just plunking himself on the edge. a little too much of edge sitting, and he'll scoot back so its a better seating. And then awkwardly shift, pulling his hair to the side so he's not sitting on it, and then feel his way to figure out what the rest of the bed feels like, where he's sitting on it, and the like. ]

[She waits until he's settled before pulling away. She pours him a glass of water from a pitcher and leaves it on the table beside his bed.]

Is there anything else?

[ He tilts his head, listening to movement. Sounded like a cup... A slight twitch of his head for 'no', looking blindly ahead and down. ]

... Why?

Why what?

[She tilts her head as she looks down at him.]

Most people say, 'No, thank you.'

[ A slight twitch and turning his head slightly with a slight tilt. Does he look like 'most people'? ]

... Why ... do you aid me?

[He can't see the way her lips curve into a frown, though he can probably hear it in her voice.]

You were clearly in need of assistance.

.... [ Which was more or less true. Duke doesn't have anything more to say, so he's going to shift and work his boots off. ]

Thank you.

1st category - human. [ accidental dictated and action ]

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;