|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 8:39 pm
Evan had a headache already. He’d been pacing for hours, shuffling around and trying to be productive. He’d talked to Michael, he’d talked to Lucien, he’d talked to Zac and Soleiyu and Julian. There was a plan, although he didn’t quite know what it entailed. Yet.
He felt like everything was moving and nothing at all but he knew it was just anxiety and stress. Riker had been injured, badly, and he was too far away for Evan to do anything or help.
So he had to wait, and had to trust that he was okay, and had to be patient.
He wasn’t doing a great job.
Talia was going to be home any moment and Evan was shuffling around the living room making his best effort to take deep breaths and stay calm. He didn’t want her to see him worked up. Realistically speaking, he knew Riker was safe. He knew he was in good hands.
He just remembered what it was like to be hurting and around strangers. Riker was stronger than he was, maybe he wasn’t even scared like Evan had been.
Oh, he didn’t know. He just needed a project to focus on but right now he was just focused on filling Talia in so he could get everyone on the same page.
Maxim had been by Evan’s side but he’d just moved to the window and his tail started wagging. He didn’t bark, he already had Evan’s attention. Talia had probably just gotten home so Evan went to the front door and opened it for her.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 8:45 pm
Talia had been shopping. It hadn’t been planned, but she had gone to the craft store and had come back with…a bag filled with novelty socks. They were cute! Halloween themed, "and a few thanksgiving themed ones. She got a pair for herself with a unicorn dressed as a turkey, and several for Julian, one with cheese ghosts on them for Evan, and even a grumpy looking frankenstein pug for Zac…though she wasn’t sure if he would like it or not, she had gotten them. Some bat socks too, and honestly, those might be the ones that she ended up giving him.
She was heading to the door when it opened, Evan standing there, and her expression brightened. “Hey!” Her smile faltered a little with his expression and she paused, walking inside and closing the door behind her, her sock filled bag all but forgotten.
“...What’s wrong? What happened? You look stressed about to burst…”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 8:46 pm
“Oh, I am, a little,” he said. “It’s fine,” he insisted quickly but paused and shook his head. “I mean, it’s not fine-fine, just–you know Riker, Julian’s friend who stays over sometimes? He works for me on the food truck? It’s just–”
Evan exhaled; his heart was pounding and he realized he was dangerously close to losing his train of thought. He needed to stay focused.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t rehearsed this, both in his head and to Maxim. He just needed to cover the important parts.
“He got hurt. It was pretty bad. He’s stable but he’s going to need somewhere safe to rest and heal for a while. So, you know,” he gestured vaguely. “Julian’s already fixing up his room. He was going to ask you if it was okay but I said I’d talk to you. Zac already knows, too. I haven’t told anyone else. Oh–well, Soleiyu knows, too. Sorry, I’m all over the place. He’s a good kid, I don’t like to think of him hurting.”
Or being hurt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 8:48 pm
Talia hesitated and put her bag on the couch before moving to wrap Evan in a hug, frowning, and now more than a little worried herself. “What happened? Does he need any healing? Can I help with anything? Of course he can stay, that’s obvious but…”
She squeezed Evan just a little. “...What do you need right now? What can I do to help you right now?”
Or anyone. Everyone. She’d have to get Riker some socks too, she thought vaguely. When she figured out what he liked. Everyone should have nice, stupid silly socks…especially after being hurt. Small things…were better than nothing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 8:52 pm
Evan expected the hug from her but for a few seconds he wasn’t thinking clearly enough to understand her words. He wrapped his arms around her and gave himself a few seconds to catch up.
It was hard to remember everything she’d said so he clung to the parts that stood out amongst the fog.
“I’m okay,” he said, perplexed. Why was she asking about him, he wasn’t the one who’d been–
Oh, because she was worried about him. “No, I’m okay,” he said, this time with more confidence. “It just took me by surprise, that’s all. I don’t really have all the details, I just know that he’s safe for now, he’s getting treatment, and then he’ll be here. I’ll feel better when I can see him. My stomach is in knots. I’m just worried about him. Maxim’s been trying to get me to sit down but I can’t.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 8:53 pm
“Maxim’s a smart dog, always has been. Come on, come sit with me. Talk to me about him?” Maybe getting Evans mind off the current crisis, would get him to calm down just a little. Not having the details could be extremely frustrating, and she understood that, but if Riker was in such danger…being frazzled wouldn’t help, not really.
“Can I do anything to help? Do you need me to get clothes, extra food, anything?”
It was an afterthought, but she'd do what she could, that was for sure. Would he need another bed? She could go and get another bed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 8:53 pm
“I don’t know,” he admitted, letting himself be guided to the sofa so he could sit down next to her. He rubbed his palms over his knees and continued to fidget, like he just had so much energy he didn’t know what to put towards. If he knew what Riker needed maybe he could have put all of this nervousness towards that.
“The fridge is stocked, I don’t think we need food. Clothes, no–I don’t even know what size to get him. Well–he’s got some here already I think? Julian would know better than I do about it.” He sighed heavily and rubbed at his face.
“There’s probably a lot that we need to do but he won’t be here for a few days so we have time to prepare. I’m doing my best not to panic but I’m still overwhelmed by all of it. I have ideas, but I just want him to be comfortable. He’s probably going to spend most of his time up in Julian’s room so I guess we have to start there. I bet Julian’s already thinking about things. Zac, too. He just left a little while ago, I don’t know where he went. But Soleiyu went with him. Oh, I have to look up recipes, I have to find out what Riker can eat.”
He had a thousand things on his mind and was still struggling to settle on just one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 8:57 pm
“A bed?” The suggestion was somewhat tentative, but worst came to worst they could get a nice air mattress…some of those were quite sturdy. If he was injured, sharing a bed with Julian might be difficult, if either of them moved around.
“I can go out and grab a good air mattress, some blankets…I don’t know. I like blankets.”
It was the first thing she had bought for Julian’s room. It was something she found comforting…and there were so many cute ones right now…
“Sorry…I know I always start to go all nesting. What do you mean what Riker can eat? Does he have restrictions?”
She wanted to know, for she knew she would start baking like crazy. And if there were restrictions…it would be helpful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 9:21 pm
“A bed? Would that even fit in Julian’s room? We might have an air mattress in the garage but I know we need a new pump. Unless Soleiyu’s found out it’s broken.” Although, knowing Julian, he’d say he was just fine on the floor without anything fancy. No, he was back to overthinking already.
Evan drew in a breath and rubbed at his face as if that would get the blood flowing to his brain any quicker.
“If you buy him any more blankets he might need another shelf,” he laughed, but there was a smile on his face. Talia had given Julian quite the collection of blankets already and he regularly made good use of them.
“Riker’s the one with the coconut oil allergy but I wasn’t even thinking about that right now. I didn’t know if he was going to have any dietary restrictions because of his injury. I mean, I figure nothing spicy or too heavy? I don’t know, I have to do research. I’m sure he needs protein and iron, those are good to eat when you’re hurt. Right?”
He had time. He should make a list. Do research. Put all this energy into something productive.
“I think you might have to coordinate with Julian on this one. I’m sure there’s plenty he will need help with, I think everyone is just worried about different things. But I’m pretty sure Riker’s going to be staying in his room, so Julian’s up there trying to get that all ready. He’s doing okay, too. A little shaken, I think. He’s worried about his friend.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 9:22 pm
“Well,” Talia felt her cheeks heating up. “...They would be for Riker. I don’t know. I just find blankets comforting.” Coconut Oil! That did make sense. She had been making sure not to use it, and it was because of Riker. Perfect sense. “My brain is saying soup and broth? But that’s more for being sick…not injured…maybe like…milk? Strong bones and all that?”
Honestly Talia had no idea. “Maybe meat? Things with iron to help with blood loss? I’ll have to look up what foods have a lot of it…if he’s lost blood, that’ll be important. And liquids. We don’t want him getting dehydrated…and I can absolutely talk to Julian about it. That's not a problem…but Ev…are you sure that there’s nothing I can do to help you right now? He’s going to be okay.”
She didn’t know for sure. She didn’t even know what had happened...but she could heal, and if worst came to worst, she would simply do that. She wouldn’t let someone so important to those who were important to her just remain injured and hurting. That just wasn’t who she was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2024 5:53 am
Evan lowered his hands from his face. He was hunched over, elbows on his knees as he tried to pull himself together. He smiled again, even if there was worry in his eyes.
“Yeah, sounds like you and I were on the same page for some of what I should put on the menu. I have some ideas, I mean–it’s not like people in the house haven’t had to deal with bad injuries before. I just–I don’t know, I keep thinking ‘well what if things changed since I last looked it up’ and–I know it’s not practical. I know I’m freaking out. I just–I don’t know what I need. I need the next few days to pass so I can stop expecting the worst.”
He had to force himself to take a deep breath and he rested his cheek in the palm of one hand as he half-turned to face her.
“I know he’ll be safe here. I know he’ll be able to rest and heal here. Do you think Julian might want a mini-fridge or something up in his room? I don’t know how badly Riker’s injured but I know the stairs aren’t going to help. But Zac and Soleiyu–I think–are doing something to take care of that. Maybe an electric blanket, that might get a lot of use. Would you be able to take Julian out shopping? I don’t know if he’ll be ready today, but soon? What’s your schedule look like for the next few days?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2024 1:04 pm
Reaching over, Talia rubbed Evan’s back and nodded. “I can get a mini fridge, that would be good. It would make sure both boys were hydrated too, especially if Julian knew that it was his...” It was something she should have thought of before this, but it was a very good idea.
“I’m free and clear for the next few days unless you need some help on the truck. Or whatever else you might need from me.”
Right now he needed her, and she was more than happy to be there. “I’m happy to go grocery shopping too, I’ll do anything you want me too, I am happy to do so.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2024 4:33 pm
Evan shook his head. “No, I’ll–I want to get out of the house, save a grocery trip for me at least. I’m just spitballing ideas so don’t get too excited about anything I’ve said. It feels like jumping the gun a little, trying to plan things for Julian while he’s not here. Do you want me to call him down? I can call him down,” he said, searching his pockets for his phone. He had to twist to try and reach it, it was deep in a pocket but he wasn’t trying to get up. Maybe if he’d been thinking clearer he would have just asked her to phone Julian–she’d just come in, certainly hers would be within reach–but Evan was just going through the motions and doing the best he could.
The walls between here and Julian’s room wouldn’t allow for much sound so unless someone wanted to go up and get him the best way to reach him was just a quick phone call.
“I was just thinking he might feel better if he was involved in some of these plans. I don’t want to take over his room, you know? I know how hard you worked to make sure he knew he had a space that was his.” As if Julian would have ever said no to anyone wanting to change the space he was staying in but that wasn’t saying much; he was such a people pleaser that he probably would have given the clothes off his back if Talia had asked.
And for his friends’ comfort? He’d have given even more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2024 4:47 pm
“I’ll go up and talk to him, no need to call him and have him come down here…and Evan? Why don’t you go and talk with Tobias…I bet he can make you feel a little better.” He was clearly flustered, and Talia making plans was helping, but he needed some serious chill out time.
It was hard, not being able to really do anything, when you knew there was a problem…but. They could work on things in the background…and hopefully, Riker would be there with them soon, and would be right as rain even sooner.
“I think he’d like to be involved, that’s a good idea. I’ll be upstairs for a bit, but Ev, if you need me don’t you hesitate to reach out okay? I’m here for you. No matter what it is you need. I promise.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2024 5:12 pm
Evan stopped fumbling for his phone and finally just deflated again. His hand was stuck in his pocket now and he didn’t have the energy to try and wriggle it out.
“I know,” he sighed. “I would have called while you were out but I knew you were going to come home soon. And I wanted to wait until you were home to talk to you. Tobias is out right now, too. But I was going to talk to him and Ahri later.”
Evan wasn’t the best at keeping his emotions to himself and he knew they’d both figure out something was wrong as soon as he started sighing in the darkness after the lights went out.
“I think I should make something to eat. Maybe that’ll help get me back on track. I think I forgot lunch. Do you want something or did you eat while you were out?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
