06.25.3013: Reality Sets
Summary: Viannea goes to see Michael while he's injured.
Date: 25 June 2013
Related: Backstory to this scene
Viannea Michael 


Barracks - Volkan
At the base of the Blackspyre are several floors of barracks, training facilities, armories, and cafeterias, all built to house the defenders of House Khournas in rough comfort. Soldiers are bunked in rooms each large enough to sleep 50, with lockers and desks alongside each bed. Deep within the barracks levels, close to the training areas, are communal bathhouses, some set aside for single-sex use and others open to members of both sexes. There, the soldiers and nobles of House Khournas can soak away the aches of a hard day's labor. The corridors are all narrow enough that two soldiers could hold them against a tide, except those leading from assembly areas to great doors that open to the exterior surface of Volkan, allowing the soldiers of House Khournas to march out already in formation if need be.
25 June 3013

"Aaaagh!" comes the pained cry of a man hit squarely in the chest with a blunted training blade. Michael drops to his knees, utterly exhausted, he's been up all night since the meeting. The medics attempted several times to rush in an medicate him, and there are orderlies standing just off to the side like hawks. Clearly this patient isn't staying put like told.

The early morning light barely makes it's way through the June gloom of the Crescent, Michael fights his way back onto his feet and lifts his sword at the training dummy. He could collapse at any moment he knows, but he's going nuts here.

Viannea couldn't make it right away despite wishing to check on Michael, duties keeping her at home for several days after getting his message. But here she is now, standing off to the side after having arrived with nothing said or done to announce her presence at first. Michael is watched curiously before, with a sigh and a roll of her eyes towards the heavens, she approaches when he makes to take another blow at the training apparatus. "Looks like there is more than one dummy here," she grumbles under her breath, not at all pleased by how he's pushing himself despite his injuries.

Once close enough she goes as far as to try and shoulder check him away from the practice dummy, her expression angry. "Go and rest," she hisses, sounding very much like she expects the squire to obey her command despite not being a part of his household.

Michael is thrown off guard by the shoulder check. He whips around with an exhausted fury as if expecting it to be another orderly. When he sees who it is, he slumps entirely and his sword lowers. At that moment an orderly rushes in with a hypospray in hand, and takes Michael by the arm. "Sir, shall I knock him out?" the orderly looks to Viannea with the question, obviously not knowing if this is the squire's knight or not. "He's been at this for hours now, and though his leg is healing he only sleeps if we drug him." the orderly scowls at Michael.

"Viannea… it's good to see you… see someone other than these very kind medics and they sneaky drug attacks." he glances up at the orderly.

A hand lifts as Viannea eyes the squire, a gesture meant to keep the medic at bay. "No need to drug him just yet. It is hard to chat with an unconscious person." She gives the medical personnel a nod and a smile after that, trying to show that she's not angry at them. "I will see the squire to his bed. You may go about your duties. Thank you."

Vi doesn't wait for Michael to speak before trying to drag him off towards wherever it is they have him resting, her hand curling about his wrist if he doesn't resist her efforts to take him away from the practice area. "You're a fool…" Pausing, Viannea takes a deep breath and sighs, her ire deflating. "It is good to see you as well. I am sorry I couldn't come sooner."

Michael doesn't resist Viannea's efforts to drag him the curtained off temporary looking medical area not far away. When she speaks, Michael winces slightly, "I… I'm going crazy here… I haven't been outside in days, and I can't go running, I can't go swimming, I can't do anything." he pauses, "It's alright, we said a balance right? Reality is that we're both not always free." then if she's gotten him his bed, he'll acquiesce onto it the back will still be propped up though.

"It hasn't been that long," Vi chides lightly while helping him get situated, her voice now equal parts stern and maternal. "You need to rest. If you don't your wounds will never heal properly and your knighthood might become jeopardized." A seat is taken on the edge of the bed and she runs a finger through her hair, loosening some of the shorter whisps from the braid they were held in. "Are you alright outside of being injured," she asks quietly.

Michael sighs softly, and nods. "Aside from losing my mind in here, I'm fine." he pauses and looks at Viannea. "Did you get the vid I sent? Or at least I think I sent one… it was the first night, and I was pretty hopped up on meds." he blushes, "I… didn't say anything…" he drops off.

Pillows are fluffed and blankets drawn over Michael as much as Viannea can while he's seated upright. She looks at him at the mention of the vid and then laughs when he asks about what was said in it. "You were a gentleman. Just let me know what happened and everything although you did ramble a bit. Could tell you were medicated. Now, do you need anything?" The subject of boredom is cleverly danced around. Best not to belabor that subject and potentially make Michael feel even more restless as a result.

Michael seems a little at a loss for the treatment, but he smiles. "Oh good… when I woke up… I thought I'd dreamed the whole thing, and then I got worried cause my dream…" he lets it drop, on purpose, "Well now that you're here, I think I'm good until you leave again." he smiles, "You should have seen me, took the ribbon and then after Lord Nitrim's words cut through my zone, "there a sudden look of concern and worry there, "I was able to get back up, and somehow.. I did better. Sliced right through the first one, then moved on the second one and finished it after Lord Victor's blow to it's chest." he shudders, "That elite though, they're huge and take a beating. All of us were on it and it took several goes to kill it."

"No, you were fine. A gentleman as always even though you were drugged to the gills. You can lay your worries to rest." Once she's sure he's comfortable she sits back, the leather she wears creaking. The tale of the fight and those involved has her attention held firmly in its grasp, her brow slightly creased in concern. "How many were lost," she asks quietly, sadly.

Michael shakes his head, "None we lost on our side, most of us injured, but none lost. Lord Nitrim, Lady Johana, Lady Ellinor, Lady Anabethe, Sir Thalo, and myself were all injured in some way. With myself and Sir Thalo taking the worst wounds." he pauses, and smiles, "So, what have you been up to? Did you happen to get a gown made like you said?"

That's a relief to learn and Vi sighs. Eyes closing, she takes a moment to let that welling of sadness and worry ebb although the latter does not disappear entirely. There were injured, after all. Once she gets the sudden uprising of emotion quelled enough she opens her eyes and nods her understanding. Thinking afterward, she reaches out to pat Michael gently on the arm. "No, I don't think I'll have time for gowns and dance lessons for a while. Damn Hostiles put that idea on hold for me. I've been making sure our house is ready…"

Michael sighs softly, "Perhaps when patrol gets boring enough, I can dance with you." he pauses, "I did ask Sir Johana, she said it would be fine for you to come along. At least, that's how it sounded. I don't think she'll object to another knight being there though." then he reaches over an claps his hand gently on top of hers. "It would be really nice to have you come along." he takes a moment, "Is house Peake ready?"

There is a grin from Michael's visitor. "With how things are let's see how things go before we plan for afterward." Even though Viannea says that she finds herself smiling a bit and unable not to daydream a little bit about dancing. The mention of the patrol gets a nod but when Vi speaks again it is about the readiness of her family instead. "I believe we are, yes. But only time will tell as to if we truly are or not, yes?"

Michael will leave his hand on her's if she doesn't withdraw, if she does he'll simply lay it to his side. He nods, "Time will tell… hopefully Lord Barton is fine loaning me his old combat armor. My light armor is fine, I got the whole patched up, but if I'm going to be fighting like that again I'll need stronger better protection." that word seems to elicit a odd look of memory and embarrassment for a moment, his smile to match hers makes it disappear, "Having a plan for afterward, can often inspire one to strive for it. Like an incentive to make sure it happens." he pauses, rubbing his leg idly with his other hand, "How are patrols going in the Spine? I know here on the front lines we're doing just fine. House Khournas is a force to reckoned with, and our shield wall is the best in all Haven." a small look of pride from the Sauveur turned Ibrahm.

Her hand is left there for several seconds but is then slid away so it can rest on her lap while the other is raises to brush a stray bit of hair from her face. "I do not understand why they haven't given you armor that is better suited for combat," she grouses. "Is it because you're a squire?" She remembers her own time as a squire and even saw some combat but… well, she can only guess why Michael's made to wear armor that's been damaged and repaired. And she can't say she's likes it. The frown disappears slightly when he asks her another question. "Everything's been going well for us although I've been sticking close to home."

Michael lets his hand rest to his side after her's is slid away. He sighs, "I'm not actually part of the house. I'm allowed quarters here, meals on occasion, and medical treatment… but I'm not a noble and I'm not family." he pauses, "The armor I own, I scraped every cent I earned to buy. Sir Corbin had left armor for me, but it wasn't resized right and it shattered when Sir Thalo and I sparred. Lady Johana made the offer then to see if Lord Barton would loan me his old suit." when she answers about his house he nods, "That's good to hear, it sounds like they're mostly contained with only a few pockets here and there that slip free."

"Oh." Well. There's not much Vi can say about that, is there? She nods her understanding but is quiet, her eyes lowering slightly. "Sometimes," she eventually whispers, "I forget that I'm noble and that things are different for me." Not that she'd trade being a noble for anything but still. Shaking her head, she smiles at her companion once she regains her composure. "We're keeping an eye open for trouble. They'll have to work very hard to get in."

Michael smiles at her, and reaches up to gently squeeze her arm. "It's alright, with all the nobility I have as friends it can be easy to forget I'm not one myself." he pauses, withdrawing his hand, "It good that the various houses are able to keep them at bay so far. I can't imagine what would happen if they made successive assaults on a grand scale. We're running thin as it is, spread out across the three to keep them safe. The Ways are our most important resources." he stops, she knows all this why's he lecturing? He switches gears, "Well, since our conversation was cut short on Saturday… remind me again what your favorite color is?" he smiles.

Viannea blinks slowly and then shakes her head. "And here I was, thinking that it was obvious I don't like talking about myself much," she semi-jokes while looking at the hand that Michael just used to touch her. "But since you asked, my favorite colors are black and blue." There. He finally got her to talk about herself. That really is not an easy task. Might seem weird considering how so many warriors love to go on and on and on when given a chance to talk about their self. "Happy now?"

Michael smiles at Viannea, and nods. "Yes." he grins, "Honestly, I'd really like to get to know you… perhaps because you're so secretive, but I think it's something else." he doesn't say though. "So, archery, hunting, falconry, dancing, black, and blue. In time I'll need to write all this down." he smiles, a very light tease.

"Keeping mystery about oneself keeps a person from getting boring. And it's safer to do so, too. I have gotten into the habit ages ago." Makes it hard to get to know her, sadly, but maybe it'll be possible to get her to open up with some time. She watches Michael for signs of pain or fatigue. "Promise me you'll be careful from now, on, huh?"

Michael smiles at Viannea again, "Well, I won't pry but I will ask and learn in time. I'll do the same, only give you small amounts about me in exchange." he nods, "You are the only person who can make me promise to stay put until I'm healed. I'll actually try sleeping too, but only if you promise that when my leg is healed, we'll go for a walk in the park." he doesn't show it, but he is fatigued from an all night sparring match with a dummy.

—scene fades out

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