deercountry | (closed) march catchall

[Don't worry, big guy, he'll sit. And absently pet the omen's head. You can't not pet a doglike creature when it puts its head in your lap like that. His own Omen stays where it is, though, curled around his shoulders. Nice and out of the way.]

[He's quiet, listening. Generally, in his experience, someone's abilities going out of control ended in a lot more people being dead. A lot more blood. This incident seems to have left the students scraped, bruised and injured, but alive. Better than it possibly could have ended.]

Was it corruption? [Corruption that pushed the student over the edge. Hakkai is sure he's met the boy. Spoken briefly. He'd never gotten a sense of power from him. Not like he did from someone like Goku. Maybe it was Trench, then, that caused it.]

[But... he does understand not wanting to pressure someone who'd just been through a traumatic event. And Hakkai sighs.]

I'm reminded of our conversation at the... speed dating event. Though I hadn't expected you to take it so far.

I suppose I should have, shouldn't I?

[ Daniel at least does shake his head a little when Hakkai asks if it was corruption. Even if Daniel didn't get a whole lot of details about the situation just yet, multiple of the kids have been sure to mention that much to him. Whatever it was - it wasn't corruption. Maybe there's something else that could trigger his powers to do that. Daniel isn't sure.

Instead he exhales after Hakkai says that last part. Not quite a sigh on his part though. ]

You know me.

[ It's said with a little bit of humor, at least.. Sure, Daniel doesn't like that he ended up like this, but at least the kids all seem safe, and that feels more important. ]

The doctor said it'll heal. [ Blood minister. Whatever. Daniel is too normal to not just call them doctors, okay. ] I just need to rest.

[ See how good he's being, Hakkai? Actually resting??

.. even if it's just since he literally can't get up without experiencing immense pain... ]

[Well... it not being caused by Corruption is worrisome. It means there isn't an easy answer available. Not for anyone. And he's sure that's going to bother the other man, terribly.]

Yes, I certainly do know you.

[He sighs. His hands rest lightly on his knees.]

You know I could assist. [He has to offer. He really does.] Depending on the extent of the damage, I'm uncertain if I can fully repair it... but likely, it could shorten the time you're forced to spend away from the students.

[Spoilers: he won't be able to fully heal much of anything right now. Thanks to the month offering his services to combat the effects of the Leech curse.]

[ The man frowns for just a moment, like there's a thought crossing his mind, but then his expression lightens a bit up again. ]

Well, I could use something that'd make the pain a little less intense. [ Really, that'd be great already. Daniel isn't expecting a wonder cure that could have him out of bed already, but at least getting that much would be such a relief for him right now.

(Also, look at him, honestly admitting that to Hakkai? He's trying here for you.)

.. though he does let out a faint breath, a little more concerned as he continues. ]

Are you sure it's not too much on you right now though? [ It's the main reason he didn't call Hakkai over to ask him this in the first place, even aside from Daniel's issues with asking for help. After all-- ] You must have been using your power a lot already.

[ Considering the offer he was putting out only a little while ago on the network. It's not like Daniel knows that Hakkai's power might sputter out entirely - he's more just worried about the other losing too much energy at once. ]

I'm sure.

[He's not. But he can say so confidently enough. When has he ever let something simple like limitations stop him from using his healing ability? Never. That's when.]

[He ignores the question of his usage. And proceeds to roll his sleeves up. It's not really necessary, but it helps with focus. Helps him focus on what he needs to do next. Gently, moves the Omen's head off his lap, standing, and stepping closer to Daniel.]

Where is the worst of it?

Definitely my back.

[ Hakkai does look like he's doing alright - even if Daniel can't be entirely sure of that judgement, considering that his own head is still a little hazy because of the pain.. But he at least believes in his assessment enough here to not protest it.

.. and maybe also partially since he knows by now Hakkai will do it anyway.

So instead he's being cooperative. It's definitely his back, and the way it definitely was broken before. It's been on the mend, healing itself due to their weird squid bodies, but it still comes coupled with a lot of pain. It's why Daniel is lying on his side, facing Hakkai - giving the other easy access to Daniel's back if he needs it without Daniel having to move. ]

It feels like someone shoved a knife straight into my spine.

All right.

[Without being able to fully assess the injury himself - which he shouldn't, given the location, and the amount of pain described - the most he can probably do is reduce local inflammation. That should help with a great deal of pain. Maybe not able to heal the actual injury...]

[But it will help.]

[A deep breath. He extends his hands, not touching Daniel, hovering over him instead.] This shouldn't hurt. If it does, please inform me immediately. [If Trench has messed with his ability at all-]

[And he begins. Pouring energy into the site, to encourage the body to heal, to patch itself together, the irritated, inflamed tissue around the injury to calm. Bruising to disperse. Color slowly leaving his features the longer it goes on.]

[ Honestly, at this point Daniel doesn't even care if it'd hurt, as long as it'd make some of the pain finally stop after that. Despite the painkillers Chozen has managed to bring him - not even realising the other guy got them from gambling at the monthly gambling hall - it still hasn't felt like enough, and dealing with this pain on the daily is far too much.

But even though he's grateful for any and all pain relief, somehow it hurts even more - though not physically this time - when he sees just how pale Hakkai is growing. Daniel's mouth opens before he realises it, and he manages to force out: ]

Hakkai. [ There's something almost a little desperate about his tone, like he really wants to grab the other's attention, even though Hakkai is busy at work. ] Hakkai, that's-- that's enough, you can stop.

[ Before the other grows even more pale. There's no way Daniel would allow Hakkai to do too much to himself for Daniel's sake, no matter how much more relief Daniel craves. ]

[He doesn't want to stop. He should keep going. He's supposed to keep going. Use his awful, demonic power for something good. So what if it taxes him? So what if it drains him? This is the only good to come of that awful part of himself. Apply it where it is needed, keep lives in the world again, instead of rip them apart.]

[He wants to keep going.]

[You can stop - ]

[It's an effort to stop. An effort to reign it back in. To stop pouring energy into the injured tissues, into the spine, and the nerves. At the very least, the likelihood of Daniel having pain relief has extended beyond a few days. When he finally pulls himself all the way back, sitting back in the chair, it's with a long exhale.]

... How does it feel...?

[ It's such a shift. Even if the pain isn't fully gone, it's lessened to such a degree that Daniel has to adjust to it for a moment. In a good way, sure, but it's still an adjustment, leaving the man to just lay there and take a few deep breaths before he can properly answer. ]

Better.

[ There's concern in his gaze he still can't quite hide, but he smiles a bit all the same for Hakkai. His effort really did something here, after all, and Daniel would hate to not be appreciative of it. ]

It's a whole lot more bearable like this. [ Sure, it won't get him out of bed, but Daniel is happy to just be here without feeling like he's dying.

But Daniel wouldn't be Daniel if he didn't fussily address: ]

.. how about you? You look-- [ .. should he be diplomatic here. Or maybe just direct without necessarily being rude-- ] .. exhausted.

[ At least he's saying it in a sympathetic sort of way, rather than sounding like he's trying to call Hakkai out. Daniel is just worried. ]

Was it too much?

Good.

[Very good. Hakkai leans back in the chair, catching his breath while he sits, just focusing. It's not too bad. Not the worst he's ever done. No big fights before this. No monumental injuries to heal up. He just needs a moment or two to catch his breath.]

I'm all right. Just a moment.

[He can just hear the familiar voice in his head. Chastising him for being stupid and selfless again. For being reckless with his own health. It's so familiar he almost smiles to himself. But that would be weird, wouldn't it. Daniel is watching. He can't do that.]

[Instead, he just runs his hand down Jeep's back, his Omen having settled in his lap.]

Far from the worst I've ever experienced.

[ Thankfully the pain having faded quite a bit makes it easier to Daniel to shift. He's not dumb enough to just use this as an opportunity to get out of bed altogether, but he just wants to shift slightly, just enough so he can lie there and still have a proper view of Hakkai.

And even after shifting, he makes sure to keep lying still there, resting. Giving himself a moment to observe the other, making sure that Hakkai doesn't look like he's about to pass out - or he'd have to call Chozen over to help.

Thankfully it doesn't seem that bad. He thinks. ]

You know that's not saying much, right. [ That last part. There's some faint humor in his tone, but.. only very faint. It mostly just sounds tired.

Not pained, though, and that's the important part. ]

Just stay here for a little bit. I'm going to have to scold you if you get up before you seem like you got some energy back.

[It's not too bad. Not as bad as it could be. For one, he's conscious. He doesn't feel hideously sick. Just a moment to breathe and refocus himself. Jeep huddles closer, like the Omen's presence could help alleviate some of the fatigue.]

No, you're right, it isn't much. [But he smiles - and thankfully it's not one of those knife-edged smiles. Something more honest.] But it is what it is. And I'll be all right. Generally, I recover quickly.

But you're feeling better?

[That's the most important thing here. Not his own health - it's never that important. You and I bear a striking resemblance to dirt rags.]

.. yeah.

[ It's almost more exhaled breath than an actual answer or word, but Daniel does mean it. It's not like he suddenly feels perfectly fine, but there's relief in the pain that he was craving so desperately that it feels like he's found an oasis in the middle of the desert.

It's enough to leave him at least smiling a little despite everything as he still looks at Hakkai. ]

All thanks to you. I really should be doing more for you in return. [ Since this isn't even the first time Hakkai has done this for him. ]

Excellent.

[Still said with his eyes shut, head tilted back toward the ceiling. Really, he'll be all right in a few more moments. And this is kind of a novelty. Being able to sit down, relax and recover his energy. Usually, he's slinging attacks around while trying to heal his teammates in unison.]

[This is almost funny, how quiet it is.]

Please, there's no need for that. I'm not doing this to be repaid.

[ The answer isn't surprising at all. It's very Hakkai, Daniel thinks.

But that is, of course, not enough to deter the man from giving a very Daniel-like response. Perhaps even a touch more sappy than the usual, since it's easy to feel just a touch loopy after suddenly having such intense pain relieved, or when Daniel's sleep hasn't exactly been incredibly consistent because of the pain in the first place. Hence-- ]

It's not a transaction. [ This isn't about paying and being repaid in equal amounts just to retain some transactional balance. No, it's.. ] It's about friendship.

[ Sorry, Hakkai.

This is what you have to deal with. Daniel even smiles as he says it. ]

Haha...

[That laugh. It's the sort of filler noise Hakkai uses in place of things like "um". To fill silence. He doesn't know what to say to that. He's ... been accustomed to a small number of people reasonably close to him. Which is fine. Preferable, even. Fewer to know the skeletons in the closet.]

[He'd never been a terribly social person, anyway.]

Well. I suppose I can't argue with that, now can I?

[ Daniel releases a breath.

Not one that sounds bothered though. Maybe a little tired, since he's pretty exhausted from having dealt with all that pain until now, but it's almost a touch amused. ]

I'd say that's one of the strangest response I've received to a reminder of friendship, but I haven't exactly had a whole lot of friends.

[ Apparently Daniel doesn't feel much shame in admitting that, huh. It's just been a fact of life that people seem much more eager to fight him than to befriend him.. ]

I'll take it though. I know it's still a lot coming from you. [ And all of Hakkai's.. general Hakkai-ness..

If anything, the fact that he's stuck around this long and has done so much for Daniel says enough by itself, he thinks. ]

By this point, I'd say you're well aware I'm a rather strange individual.

[You know... given his whole... everything. Daniel is probably the only one in Trench who knows any of it. And, if Hakkai had his way, he'd keep it like that. No one else needs to see any of it. Absolutely no one needs to see the whole of it.]

[It isn't that he wants to be argumentative, to fight. It's just better this way.]

And difficult. Which I do apologize for. I'm not an easy one to get along with, unfortunately.

Really? I think we're getting along rather well.

[ It's not like he's oblivious. He has some idea of what Hakkai means when he says that. Sure, the other is very agreeable on a surface level, quick to smile.. but there's a huge brick wall behind it, intended to try and shut out everyone else.

Daniel isn't full of himself enough to believe he's wormed himself past that in any way. But just knowing it's there at all - that's already something. ]

Especially since you don't strike me as the type to put up with people you don't like. [ After all, the kind of people Hakkai is friends with back home is.. well, they sound more than just a little wild.

Hakkai wouldn't just hang around them for no reason. ]

Ah, that's correct. I do have a habit of being less than polite to... unwanted guests.

[Or so painfully polite it borders on aggressive. Or... he throws them down and stalks off. Depends on who it is. He's done both.]

[More, actually. But that doesn't bear repeating here. Daniel's already seen what "more" entails, and Hakkai's not eager to delve back into that whole business ever again.]

I... should likely let you get some rest. [He sits up a little straighter as he says so. It's easier to do than it was a moment or two ago. He really does recover quickly when there's not a constant drain on his energy.]

[ There's a brief pause where Daniel seems to gauge those last words. Is it just an attempt on Hakkai's part of getting out of this conversation, or is it just that he'd rather be doing something than sitting here idly..

.. not to mention there's also the matter of whether Hakkai has recovered enough to be able to get going. It's something that's a little hard to tell, especially when Daniel still isn't doing perfect fine.

Still, after a moment he just releases a slow breath. ]

Okay. [ He should probably rest. Maybe sleep some, so the boost Hakkai gave his body can truly do its work. ] Are you sure you're feeling good enough to go..?

[ Look, he's still got to make sure. No, he's not going to stop fussing even when he's literally stuck in bed. You don't escape it that easily. ]

I should be fine.

[He's already straightening up as he says it. Leaning forward in the chair instead of back. Jeep clambers up his shoulders, curling around his neck like a scarf. It's true, though. He does feel better.]

[This was nothing, really, compared to what he's done before. It makes sense this took far less time to recover from.]

Please continue to rest. Do you have a doctor looking in on you?

[ Jeep, you better be looking out for Hakkai!! Make sure he's alright..!! ]

Yeah. [ It's coupled with a small nod of his head. ] Though I'm not sure how to feel about a doctor telling me I survived because I'm a squid person.

[ Daniel tries to say it with some humor, but there's some vague discomfort around the edges of his tone at the same time. It's never really a fun reminder, since it just feels.. weird..

Even if it did save his life this time around. ]

I guess it's a good thing this time.

I would look on the bright side.

You could be worse than a squid! I've heard jellyfish don't even possess nervous systems.

[Hakkai that's. That's not comforting. But on the other hand, that's more like himself than before. So clearly he's feeling better.]

Ah, but I suppose it makes eating fried squid more problematic, doesn't it.

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