duke_of_illusions (
duke_of_illusions) wrote2011-03-22 11:24 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
one foot in front of the other
It helps a great deal, having someone to care for, having something to focus on. He wakes up the next morning aching, but with a bit better of an idea of what to do with his day than he has in the months since his partner vanished.
He makes breakfast, and brings it to Liam's room. Knocks on the door.
"It's me."
He makes breakfast, and brings it to Liam's room. Knocks on the door.
"It's me."
no subject
For a moment, he's confused about where he was.
"I had an odd dream," he murmurs.
Then he catches sight of the tray, and he can't help but feel a bit of bitter disappointment.
"Oh. Not a dream."
no subject
He agrees, moving to get Liam's glasses, tucking them back on his nose.
no subject
"There might be medicine in the pocket of my dressing robe."
He hopes he put the bottle there instead of leaving it on his bedside table. If it's not there, he's going to have to just suffer through it.
no subject
He goes to search, thinking there might also be something in the washroom medicine cabinet here. The mansion has a way of providing.
no subject
"I thought, last night, that they were making me hallucinate."
no subject
"What are they?"
no subject
"Don't know. But they work."
Realistically, they're probably an opiate of some sort.
no subject
He reminds him, taking one out and moving to offer it to him with his morning tea.
"Let me help you sit up."
no subject
He does as much as he can to help, but the adrenaline caused by the need to find out if Xerxes survived Yura's party is gone, and he's not able to do too much.
When he's propped against the headboard, he gratefully takes the tea and painkiller.
no subject
He says, quietly, looking him up and down.
"Do you feel any fever?"
no subject
It probably doesn't help that he distinctly remembers that he had a head wound from the initial fall, and if he has a concussion that's liable to make it difficult to think anyway. He'd reach up to check the condition of that wound, but one arm is in a sling and the other hand has the teacup.
"I don't know," he answers honestly. "I... I can't tell."
no subject
He reaches forward to touch the back of his hand to Liam's forehead, feeling carefully.
"Did you have any other questions about this place?"
no subject
He considers the question.
"You mentioned that Jack Vessalius is, er, was here? Who else? Anyone who can be trusted?"
He really hopes it's not the two of them surrounded by a bunch of Baskervilles.
no subject
He struggles to explain.
"We also have Gilbert, Break, and a number of the deceased Nightray family. Cheryl, Shelley and Sharon Reinsworth, Vincent Nightray and Echo, Oz, Ada, Oscar and Zai Vessalius. Dodo, Owl, Raven, Gryphon and Jabberwock, Mad Hatter, Equis, Dormouse, Albus-"
no subject
He interrupts softly. "The Chains are here?"
And then, his mind working slowly:
"Perhaps Gilbert would be able to procure a gun for me."
no subject
He proposes, going to get him a piece of toast.
"It's important that you eat."
no subject
It's difficult for him to express how the apparent loss of his contract feels.
Liam isn't hungry--the pain has seen to that--but he knows Barma is right and he takes a bite of it anyway.
It hasn't slipped his notice that the Duke is ignoring the second part of his statement, but he lets it drop. At some point, he's certain he'll run into a Gilbert, and then he can address the situation himself. He will not be injured in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by enemies, without the ability to defend himself, flimsy as a gun may be.
"How do things... operate here?"
He's used to the Barma household, where everything runs like a well-oiled machine, and to Pandora, which runs much the same way so long as bureaucracy doesn't muck up the works. But here... Well, he has no idea.
no subject
He admits, quietly.
"I find myself partially responsibly for the care and safety of two children. It has been an educational experience, to say the least."
no subject
It's the second part that startles him.
"There are children here?"
The idea that something could be so malicious as to bring children to this place, tearing them from their worlds, is horrifying.
no subject
He murmurs, with a nod.
"At a terribly young age, before they joined the Nightray household."
no subject
But a child version of Vincent... He asks gently,
"Is Vincent... stable?"
no subject
He says, quietly.
"With someone to read to him, cook with him, listen to him- I think he has a chance."
no subject
When he's finished it he asks,
"If I am unable to find you at any point, who should I talk to?"
no subject
no subject
The answer, however... He stares, then asks very slowly:
"Gilbertine?"
He can't have heard that right.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
lmfao it's like they're talking about socializing angry cats or something
this stuff doesn't come naturally to Barma
That's because he practically IS a bad-tempered cat. That's why he and Break hate each other~~
and again, sorry
Re: and again, sorry
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)