|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 11:12 pm
Stale coffee and granola were, quite unfortunately, becoming a combination of odors Lex had grown used to. The man was always on the run to the infirmary, to the library, to his own private study room (a section of one of the many libraries his wife but not actually his wife had under her iron fist, marked off with couches and seats and the ever present bitter scent of coffee) to his house and sometimes even running missions. He was stretched thin, and now was stretching himself even thinner - he never should have piped up at the staff meeting. Lex berated himself as he lay on one of the many hoarded couches, hair ruffled by the day and the numerous cups of coffee that led to his shaking hands sweeping through the tamed mop.
He could have easily just done his own research. They had libraries on top of libraries for Christ's sake, it would have been so damned easy to just find more books on therapy methods and hypnotic techniques and read those rather than finding a god damned university that he and any other interested Hunter could take online courses through.
The brunette mop only grew more disheveled when Lex turned on his side, grey eyes closed and a light snoring emitting from his throat. A page of white printer paper fell out of his loose grip, a scrawled plan of action written on it, not completely comprehendable through the chicken scratch and the coffee stains Lex had left. Quote: smallLARGE student body
extensive online prgrm - more students online the better
no skype, video access. no chatting with prof
no relig afili-tion NONE
i'mso The intermediate life trainee stirred with a groaning yawn, face scrunched at the harsh artificial light the lamps, the bane of his eyesight, gave off. The nap was unnecessary, and he could only be glad that Ami or another Hunter hadn't caught him sleeping on duty. The paper was gone, he realized, and Lex was quickly on the floor groping for his list of requirements. The choices were going to be slim, he realized as he found the paper and looked it over once again, and this whole plan may not even work - but God dammit he was going to try. You didn't propose an idea to the Doctor without following through - that was asking for death by humiliation. Lex had a reputation to keep.
< No you don't. >
<< Shut up, bird brains. >>
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 11:38 pm
Lex was always keen on his appearance - always. The only time he was disheveled was during night raids and emergency missions demanding he be present in five minutes - and even then, the man somehow kept his looks clean and orderly. It probably helped that his clothing was hung rather than folded up in a dresser, and that his hair simply required a quick fluff before he went out. The beard could get a little out of hand if he didn't shave daily, which he hadn't. The normal scruff on the lifer's face had become a quarter inch of chocolate wool, and he was far from happy about it.
< Shave later, Alexei. You have work to do. >
<< No, I can't work like this, >>
The gryphon could only sigh and squawk in reply, shaking his head at the man whom he called wielder. The fool was so vain, so stubborn - it was surprising they didn't get along better.
Lex's beard wasn't the only sign of the disuse of his body. Baggy eyes, half lidded and a sag to his back. His feet dragged and his head pounded with the infinite toil of a ship's drum. Their cottage was in sight, and Lex barley managed to pull himself into a bath of hot water, soaking and letting the steam clear his mind and pores.
< You were in there for two days. >
<< Only two? >>
< You're going to kill yourself - and where does that leave me? >
<< It was only two days, squawks. I got a lot done. >>
< Too much. You're still human. >
<< Partially. >>
< I cannot heal all your wounds. You're harming what I cannot reach. >
<< My mental health? I'll recover. Give it a few days, I'll have less on my plate. >>
The gryphon huffed, knowing the argument was impossible. Alexei woul never listen to reason. If Amalie could do it, Regal observed, Alexei thought he could do it as well. The problem was that Alexei was not an insomniac, he wasn't used to going over 14 hours without sleep. He was growing older, too. The late twenties was not a time for humans to be doing stupid things like this.
< Then hurry and talk to that man about your damn report, Clear your plate, because we both know you're just going to heap more onto it. >
<< Have to do my part. We can't all just sit back and focus on one thing primarily. >>
< You can when you've reached a full Hunter's position, like her. Specialize, and you'll have a much smaller plate of things to focus on. >
---
Lex had shaven the beard to his comfortable stubble, soaked his body in hot water and suds, even put on cologne. He was whole again, for a small while. The labs called.
---
Seven hours with little to no results. The bags had returned, as had the messy hair and the coffee stench. No granola, no time to eat. He'd only found two universities that met most of the requirements.
"Nebraska... no one lives there. Sudden flood of students would be alarming." He muttered, clicking with no bravado or effort to the other tab, "New York... but requires physical meet with students..." He stifled a yawn, ever conscious of his manners. "University of South Eastern Nebraska it is. Go Cogs..." Le mumbled, printing out the school's "home," "about," and "registration" pages before tucking them in a clean mania envelope and curling onto a seat, falling asleep quickly. Hopefully not one would come by.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
