thisavrou_log | Stuck in the Medbay: Visitors Wanted [OPEN]

Who: Thane Krios and YOU
When: All through October
Where: THE MEDBAY
What: Visiting the terminally ill assassin
Warnings: Terminal illness? Probably nothing major, will edit if that changes.

Thane had known for a while now that his last days would be spent in a hospital of some flavor, probably hooked up to a respirator and peppered with sessions of physical therapy designed to maximize his comfort even as he slowly suffocated, until he did finally, inevitably, slowly suffocate.

He had also expected it to be a fairly quiet and isolated time, disturbed only by the occasional hospital staff member.

The only person he'd told of his new whereabouts was Shepard, and he knew the commander could be trusted to be discreet. The only other person who knew he'd been hospitalized was Hawke, since she'd been there when the hospitalization had happened. Somehow, even in the somewhat brief time he'd held acquaintance with her, Thane could tell that the woman did not possess a discrete bone in her entire body.

So, naturally, he blames her entirely for any concerned visitors that might show up.

Not that he particularly minds company, because he doesn't. It's just that he never expects it, and so is, in turn, always surprised by it.

Hospital Room
Visitors can often find him in his assigned room, sitting lotus-style in the middle of his bed, back ramrod straight and hands resting comfortably on his knees. He's shirtless, dressed in nothing but a pair of soft cotton pants. He's also hooked up to a respirator, which hums quietly and soothingly in the background as it delivers much-needed oxygen to his soggy lungs. He seems to be meditating, or maybe just sleeping, but will look up regardless when someone comes in.

Physical Therapy
Sometimes visitors can catch him on his way to or from physical therapy, which for him are short but frequent sessions of being hooked up to a different respirator as well as various monitors while performing a series of Tai Chi-like exercises designed to encourage oxygen flow to his muscles and organs. The ship's doctors, to their credit, are working their butts off studying his disease and formulating treatments to decrease the severity of its effects. The doctors won't allow visitors while he's in the middle of therapy, but before and after is just fine.

Exam Room
The exam room is doctors only, but it's a great place for said doctors to study Thane up close, ask him questions, and attempt to get a feel for what exactly is wrong with his stupid lizard physiology.

[ooc: I'm down to match brackets or prose, whichever is preferred!

Thane's going to be hospitalized all month, while the doctors do their best to figure out how to fix him. PC doctors are welcome and encouraged to come poke and prod him as well!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ A lot of the pieces were already there, and deep knows he knows he should have been expecting an answer like that. Somehow, though, he wasn’t, and the casual, senseless cruelty in the words steal his breath for a moment. All he can do is stare.

A year. They’d lost a year because all of them were weak, and all of them were stupid. Because he'd let the crew down as their medic. As Nightwing. And now it’s Thane who has to pay the dearest price.

He swallows and looks down, trying to rearrange his expression to something more neutral. He hadn’t come here to bring him down. ]

There’s not... really an easy to break that, is there? [ His hand rubs over his face, eyes dropping to the floor. "Sorry" is meaningless, and he hates that it’s still the first thought he has to bite back. ]

There goes my gripe about missing the playoffs. [ Things Dick could actually care less about for 200. ]

There really isn't, no.

[He probably won't ever stop being somewhat astonished at how upsetting knowledge of his illness has been to everyone. He can see how hard the other is taking this information, and his voice softens a bit as he attempts to reassure him.]

I've been quite reconciled to my fate for some time, Dick. If there's one positive thing to say about a slow-onset degenerative illness, it's that it does provide time to prepare.

[ Maybe Thane's right that it's better this way. A measured end you can see coming rather than the swift, senseless violence that took his parents. Jason. So many friends.

But it isn't fair. ]

Still incredibly bad timing for an impromptu year of mandatory dance parties. [ He's not sure if that's really a question. ]

Yes. The timing was extremely poor.

[Not gonna argue with you there, sir.]

Still, I have a few more weeks, at least.

[Look on the bright side! He could already be dead!]

Weeks. [ He lets out a little breath, takes a note from Thane’s affect and tries to project a little more confidence. The failure of that year burns at his heart a little more. ]

Well, on that note: any plans?

You don't have to say if it's personal. I just- I care.

[Aww, Dick...!]

There's nothing particularly personal, no. And no real plans in particular, honestly. For all that it went on far too long, I did enjoy the party.

[He shrugs slightly, and smiles.]

There are worse send-offs.

[Like a gaping sword wound through his vital organs, but he doesn't want to alarm Dick anymore than he already has, so he's not going to be mentioning that.]

The candy rings were something, I'll admit. [ A smile tugs at the side of his mouth.

A beat: ]

But they had no right.

No, they did not.

[No disagreement there, friend.]

There's little use in being upset after the fact, though. When we allow others into our lives, it's only natural that they have an affect on us, for good or for ill. The duplicity of our gracious hosts is maddening, but anger at the past has no effect on the present.

[ There's a sudden flash of anger in his face that isn't meant for Thane. He controls it a second later, tense fists relaxing against his thighs. ]

You're right. I'm sorry, I-

It's just wrong and unfair and I hate what they did. Whether they knew what they were doing or not.

[ Even more now than before. ]

...I don't know if it's much comfort, but you're not alone in your feelings.

[The wryness in his voice may indicate that Thane actually does share those feelings, despite his philosophical approach to them.]

Still, a lesson has been learned, painful though it is. It's doubtful such a mistake will be repeated by any who have shared in it.

I hope not. [ His jaw stays clenched a moment longer. Then he takes a breath. ]

Man, listen to me. I came to cheer you up, not send the mood down the river.

To be fair, I get the feeling you didn't come here expecting such dire news.

Unfortunate topic aside, your presence is very cheering.

[Anyway, enough about Thane!!]

Tell me, Dick, what have you been up to since returning aboard?

Not much, honestly. [ But that's not quite honesty, and somehow knowing Thane won't be here for much longer makes it harder to swallow his own lie. ]

...I lost a lot of- well, I used to be an acrobat. [ His shrug is one-shouldered, almost embarrassed. ]

It takes a lot to keep it up, and that's one thing I was a little short on while we were living it up with the anthill.

I've got some big gaps to fill.

[ Spoilers: he's barely left the training room since they disembarked. ]

An acrobat?

[He tilts his head to one side briefly, curious. What an interesting picture that painted, when paired with the knowledge of Dick's area of study. For some reason a specifically acrobatic police officer, rather than a merely athletic one, strikes Thane as unusual.]

Is that a hobby of yours?

Yeah. I guess you could call it that.

[ He also can't really talk about it and not smile. ]

But I used to perform when I was a kid. Big tent traveling circus, the whole deal.

[Aw, that's a good expression for you, Dick! Please keep smiling.]

Really? I've only ever heard of such things. I never had a chance to attend one, myself.

[Tell him more!]

It figures my dreams of the flying space circus of the future would come to naught.

[ He may or may not be joking there. ]

I guess they're getting to be pretty rare even where I come from. We were lucky to break even on our best day.

The galaxy is a large place, filled with billions of people. Don't give up on your dream just yet.

[He's not sure whether or not Dick is joking there, but his response is sincere in either case.]

[ The sincerity there actually gets to him a bit. Blustering aside, it's always hurt a little to imagine a future where nothing resembling his family still thrived. ] I won't then.

[ And he clears his throat, mostly to cover that sudden, awkwardly intense wall of emotion. ] I guess there's one possible career path in case the whole fixing the Ingress and shipping back to Gotham thing doesn't pan out.

It's always good to have options.

[He's observing Dick carefully - just as he does with everyone he speaks with, and thinks he may be treading into some sensitive territory. He'll pursue a little further than he might normally, since Dick was the one who brought it up, and also since he is quite curious.]

Did you specialize, when you were in the circus?

Stuck in the Medbay: Visitors Wanted [OPEN]

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