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 Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2020 12:28 pm
Soleiyu had been far from the first to learn that Priam had been injured, but when Sterling gave him the information, naturally he was frantic and worried. He wasn’t allowed to go to the hospital, and moving Priam into his house meant that he had to give him a few extra days to settle in.
As soon as Sterling had given the go-ahead, Soleiyu had made his way over. His go-to was to make a nice get well package, but he was more concerned about what he could do to hasten his recovery if it was this bad.
Soleiyu had come empty handed; he didn’t know how much of a window he’d have to visit. He knew that Sterling’s boyfriend was out of the house, so now was the perfect time to run over and talk business.
He needed to see how bad this was, needed to see what he could to to help.
Soleiyu traveled swiftly, grateful that no one paid him much mind; when he arrived on Sterling’s doorstep, he regretted that he didn’t have the ability to just ring the doorbell. But, it was for the best; he knew the dogs were there and if Priam was still resting, he didn't want to cause some sort of mayhem and startle him. Instead, he withdrew his cell phone and texted that he was here and waited, as patiently as he could, on the doorstep.
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Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 7:59 pm
Sterling had been waiting for the text from Soleiyu and smiled when he got it, getting up from Priam’s bedside and giving the male a soft kiss on the forehead. “Soleiyu is here, I’m going to go and let him in...It’s so good that he can text.” He laughed, the sound both amused, and still a little amazed. He hadn’t quite gotten over just how...savvy the cat was.
No, Mauvian, he wasn’t simply a cat. He was special.
“I’ll be back in a minute, Priam.” He got up and walked to the front door, opening it with a grin. “Long time no see, Soleiyu. Come on it. Priam’s in bed right now, but he’s excited to see you. We’ve missed you. Did you know that we’re both squires now?”
He was sure that they had already told the Mauvian but...still. The thought made him kind of proud.
“...not that we’ve gone up to our wonders yet, but still. We’re doing good, I think…Minus...you know. This setback. He wasn’t even powered when it happened. That’s the part I don’t understand…”
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Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 8:17 pm
Soleiyu looked worried. "It was mentioned briefly, congratulations." He pawed his way in nervously and, though he waited for Sterling to close the door behind them, he was already looking around like he'd just be able to find Priam and interrogate him.
"I'm glad he's out of the hospital, I'm glad he's here in bed. He wasn't even powered, that's not something you just fudged in the texts in case anyone was stalking you? What happened?" he demanded hastily, shifting his weight between paws like he didn't know what else to do but move.
"--I'm sorry, I'm being rude. I am proud of you, it's just that I--I can't help but worry, you're certain you two being powered up isn't what got him hurt? --What do we know about it, what happened? You can pick me up and take me to him, I can smell those dogs..."
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Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 8:29 pm
Sterling nodded, scooping Soleiyu into his arms and squeezing the large cat gently. “You’re not being rude. You’re worried. We might not be senshi, but you...were there. You helped us. I’m sure that...you just…” He sighed and walked towards Priam’s room. “He wasn’t powered, but let him tell you himself if you don’t believe me...and he said that whoever did it said that his name was Parisite...and that sounds like the name of something bad, don’t you think?”
He poked his head into the room and smiled. “Our guest is here, Priam!”
The door was closed so that Soleiyu didn't have to deal with the dogs, and he gently put the Mauvian onto the bed, settling back into his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. “We know that...Priam got hurt. It happened in the daytime. And it happened while he was at work.”
Sterling’s eyes, warm and somewhat worried moved to Priam. “...Do you have any other things to add? I mean, that you feel up to adding.”
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:12 am
Priam was black and blue and battered and the bed seemed to be his new best friend. He was tucked in underneath it, exhausted and miserable, but managing a smile when he saw Soleiyu. "I'm sorry," Priam said, like it was a greeting.
Soleiyu would have none of it and padded over worriedly, looking him up and down as he sat next to him. "Don't apologize, you're alive. It doesn't sound normal," the Mauvian protested, like there was some greater force listening as he prepared to lodge a complaint. "--Parisite, you said? I'll pull up files, I'll see if I can find anything. How long is it going to take to heal?"
"A while," Priam simplified; he didn't want to be reminded.
"Less than that," Soleiyu shook his head. "Earth medicine isn't bad don't get me wrong, but I know there are things we can do to help. I'll help." This might not have been his fault, but he couldn't help but feel responsible for them and their well-being.
Priam gave a questioning look, but his face was too sore to hold it so he just accepted the information.
"Was there anything else?" Soleiyu pressed, still looking worried and eying the bandages, the casts, the bruises.
"I don't know. My head hurts when I think about it. He said something...about Icarus, I think. It was dark, I couldn't see very well. It was late, I'd had a long shift. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary--there was a letter, I thought it was just someone who needed an ear. But I got up there and they--he--threw me. I can't remember what he looked like. I remember long hair and dark colors and sharp teeth. And he--I was already so tired, but I just...I was falling asleep in his arms, I couldn't even fight back..."
Soleiyu caught the tenseness in his voice, the stress, but couldn't regret asking when every bit of information helped.
"...So consistent with a Negaverse Agent," he said, glancing at Sterling as if this was what he had concluded as well.
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:22 am
Sterling reached out and lightly caressed Priam’s hair. “It’s okay, Priam. It’s okay.” He nodded at Soleiyu, but looked just a little confused. “...What do you mean by Earth medicine? You have some...magical Mauvian medicine that can help Priam feel better sooner?”
There was definite hope in his voice and he looked back at Priam, giving a soft smile. “I knew you were awesome, Soleiyu...but I didn’t...think you could offer this kind of a solution to the issue…” If Priam could recover more quickly...well, that had good and bad consequences...of course Priam feeling better was the goal, but...Sterling didn’t want him to leave. The very thought made him sad.
“I’d do anything if it meant Priam could be out of pain a little more quickly...just saying.” He nodded though, agreeing with his deduction. “...The name itself sounds like one too. I just...I don’t understand why they’d do such a thing to a civilian..”
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 6:41 pm
Soleiyu gave him a look, like maybe he did have all the answers, but he looked disappointed to report, "Not exactly. I mean, yes, technically. There is magic in this universe, you know that. Of course there are ways to improve healing," he assured. "...I just...might not have access to something that could help you. Yet. Give me a bit to scrounge something up. But--more than that, you two haven't been to your Wonders. But now, you should. Priam, you need to get healthy enough to be able to walk, to feel strong, and then you need to go up there."
Priam faltered and glanced between the two of them. "You want me to power up like this...?"
"Yes," Soleiyu said, "And take Sterling and I with you. We'll be able to protect you. But it's a tiring trip, so you need to be strong enough to handle it. Physically, you don't have to be healed. If you're good enough to walk, and good enough to hold onto the two of us, that's good enough. But you heal faster at your Wonders. I don't want your first trip to be you going up there alone," he said worriedly, "But the more time you can spend there, the better it will be for your healing."
Priam seemed hesitant once more. "I don't want to be a target for anyone..."
"Well, you were a target when you weren't powered up." Soleiyu didn't say it cruelly, and looked like he wanted to bump his head against Priam but didn't see anywhere safe to do so. "...So we have to get you back together so we can get to the bottom of this..."
"Sterling," he said after a few seconds, and glanced up at him. "...Is that...do you want to do that? ...Could we get away for a few hours, while Yu is working a shift or something? ...The next time he picks up a double--after I'm feeling 'well enough'?" He was doubtful, but there was a part of him that very obviously, very desperately wanted to feel better.
...At least enough that he might be able to take care of himself if something happened.
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 8:08 pm
“Priam, you don’t even have to walk if you don’t feel up to it. I can carry you easily when I’m powered up…” Though...Sterling didn’t really fancy doing the powering up in the house...that seemed...like it was asking for trouble. And they had more than enough trouble to last a lifetime already.
He nodded though, once again caressing the male’s cheek. “I do want to do that. If it helps you heal faster, I want that more than anything. And Soleiyu is right, between the two of us, we can protect you. I won’t let anything happen to you, not while I’m around and able to stop it...I…”
He fell quiet for a moment, his free hand clenching into a fist. “...I won’t let you get hurt ever again if I can help it...if I’m by your side...I can protect you. That isn’t an issue. That won’t ever be an issue...so...yes. Let’s get away the next time he’s working late. I want to see your wonder anyway...that...that was our plan from the beginning...remember?” Sterling forced a smile and sighed softly. “...Our plan from the beginning. And we’ll visit mine when you’re healed. It’ll be a victory trip.”
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 8:29 pm
Priam watched Sterling with an understanding, and a bit of a guilty expression. It had been their plan to go up; they had been talking about it since they first awakened but the timing just hadn't been right.
And now...
Priam exhaled and offered a smile, reaching over a stiff arm so he could take Sterling's hand and squeeze it in his own. "All right. I'll do my best to feel better so I can do that." It was a bit daunting--and he hurt so much that he couldn't even think about what it would be like to be out of bed, moving.
...But, slow steps were still steps, and every day was one day closer to normal.
"...Just being there...is really enough to help me heal quicker?" he asked, glancing at Soleiyu without moving his head.
The Mauvian nodded. "Your Wonders are full of untapped power. It will be a good learning experience, too. But we'll get you up there, we'll rest--and I'll do everything in my power to get you all healed up. I'll see if I can't find some Senshi, too. A lot of them have healing magic. There might be something else we can do. It'll be okay," he promised. "...I'm so proud of both of you. I'm so sorry this happened. I'll do my best to get to the bottom of it. I won't stop digging until I find out why this happened, and how we can make sure you two stay safe..."
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 8:39 pm
Sterling nodded and his smile softened into something more real. “Yeah. We’ll do it, and you’ll start feeling better...Soleiyu, if you could find a senshi who can heal...that would be utterly amazing...I...I didn’t know that was even possible.” Hope was beginning to rise within him. If...they could use these shortcuts...then Priam would be feeling better in no time…
And then going back home…
But feeling better! That was what was the most important thing. He reached out and stroked Soleiyu under the chin. “You’re a great friend, you know.” It had been so strange when they had first met the Mauvian...he had been a little picky, thinking that they knew what they were doing but…
But honestly, he couldn’t imagine not having the fluffy monster as a friend now. He didn't want to imagine it.
“Thank you for knowing so much. It helps a lot.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 6:55 am
Soleiyu snorted. "Well, I'm supposed to know everything." Or, enough of it that he could pass for such anyway. "
The Mauvian pressed his face into Sterling's hand a little deeper, appreciating the sensation of being pet. "I care about the two of you. Of course I'd do everything in my power to keep you safe and protect you. I'm sorry that this happened. But I'll do everything I can to help. Sterling, you need to keep training. Don't go out alone, it's too dangerous. I might be able to set you up with a Senshi who you can patrol with if you still want to go out, but keep working to get stronger. I care about the both of you. I need you two to be okay. If there's ever anything I can do for either of you, or any questions, you must tell me," he said, unable to resist purring just at the sensation of being pet.
Priam managed a soft smile, tired as it was, and closed his eyes. "Thank you, Soleiyu."
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 4:29 pm
Sterling nodded at the suggestion of going out with a senshi, honestly, the thought was a comforting one. He always liked having Nalanda patrolling with him, and the thought of being alone was...less than comforting, to say the least. “If you could find a senshi who would want to put up with me...I’d appreciate it, thank you, Soleiyu.” He stood and tucked the blanket more gently around Priam. “How about you and I find something for you to snack on and we can let Priam get some rest.”
He didn’t want to hinder Priam’s recovery at all, and it did seem like a good idea to talk a little extra with the Mauvian, even if it was about silly things. Sterling scooped the fluffy cat into his arms and pressed a kiss to the star on his forehead, before bending and pressing one to Priam’s lips. “I’ll be in to sit with you in a little while. I love you. Rest well.”
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