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+--- Thread: [G] [P] [EVENT] 742.04.12 | Silenced Songbird (/showthread.php?tid=5015)
742.04.12 | Silenced Songbird - B'jin - 11.Apr.21
B’jin had been to his share of infirmaries. It came with the territory, what with being a greenrider. Especially one that flew as often as Larrikith did. Some riders were just mean and sometimes accidents happened. He hadn’t been as injured since Larrikith and Ayyonth mated, but awkward locations still caused bruises and the occasional dramatic flair, like a dislocated shoulder. Nothing extreme, just the usual highs and lows of being a greenrider. Then of course, there were all the years B’jin had been involved with N’mall, and the routine mess the brownrider had made of him. Less fun than disaster flights, if such could be called fun, but it had happened. B’jin had had broken bones aplenty, and more than his share of concussions. But none of that quite added up to the events of that morning.
Eyes fluttering open, B’jin shifted uncomfortably, a hand raising to flutter around his bandaged throat. The aching pain caused tears to spring to his eyes, and B’jin wanted nothing so much as to make an agonised sound, but even swallowing and breathing was painful, and B’jin shifted again in the bed, angling to sit up as he tried to express his anxiety, hands both fluttering around his throat and in front of him as wild eyes stared around the room, taking several long moments before the familiar faces that came into view actually took hold. R’nd taking one hand calmed him notably, and B’jin breathed out strongly through his nose, still looking stressed.
RE: 742.04.12 | Silenced Songbird - R'nd - 14.Apr.21
R'nd sat in an uncomfortable chair beside B'jin's equally uncomfortable bed. At least it looked like it would be horribly uncomfortable and he knew he'd know for sure when his mate woke up and complained about it. B'jin was still a Harper of luxury despite it all and his pampered and cute behind would not be pleased with an infirmary bed. But at least he was alive while in it. It had been close there early on and R'nd had been yelling at B'jin to stay alive and yelled at Larrikith to do the same and help keep their greenrider with them.
Now they were all sitting in silence with Ayyonth sometimes making him tell a story from his childhood to keep him distracted. Larrikith was invited in so she could listen to the story R'nd was too tired to voice out loud to help keep her just as distracted. But it was hard to focus on it when his mind kept drifting back to how similar this was to T'ryn nearly dying and hearing about Casa. He thought he only had to worry about his children that Impressed bronze and gold but now he had his fairly innocent mate clinging to life. Was it because B'jin had a knack for Searching shiny Candidates? Was it because he was on his way to visit the goldrider that had fallen to her death? Either way, R'nd was a bundle of anxiety and wished he was better at strategy so he could formulate a plan to keep all his loved ones safe.
When B'jin started to rouse, it startled R'nd and he held his breath, silently hoping his mate would drift back into sleep. Healers assured him B'jin would be fine but sleep was best for him to help get through the pain but of course no one told the stubborn greenrider that and B'jin awoke, looking frantic as things settled in. R'nd took one of B'jin's hands and held it tightly, relieved that Larrikith was able to make jokes and that B'jin wasn't panicking as much as he probably should have been. But why did he have to be the one to explain what happened?
A dose of fellis was left on the table in case B'jin woke early and required more for the pain which R'nd softly explained as he helped his mate drink it back. It took a little coaxing and it was done in slow and small sips to try to make swallowing some easier before the task was done and R'nd was helping B'jin to get comfortable before going into his explanation.
"You were on your way to visit with Nerili when you were attacked and... he slit your throat, love. It was done in haste from what the Healers have said but I can't recall all of the details as I was a bit distraught." There was so much blood and B'jin was so pale and it didn't seem like a lot of confidence in the room for survival. He sighed, and added in the other bit of bad news, "Nerili was found dead as well. It's unclear if she jumped or was pushed from her ledge but it seems likely she was pushed given everything going on and you being attacked near her weyr."
RE: 742.04.12 | Silenced Songbird - B'jin - 16.Apr.21
B’jin grimaced when the fellis was offered to him, and tried to refuse it, but that hurt and in the end it hurt less to slowly sip at the gross drink than it did to try dodging it – and probably end up wearing it. Sighing through his nose, B’jin did his best to drink all the fellis, but it wasn’t easy; he couldn’t remember the last time his throat had been so sore. The hand not being held by R’nd fluttered anxiously around the bandages on his throat, tentatively exploring the edges of the bandage before ghosting his fingers across the centre of the wrapping, under which he could feel the cut happened to be.
Someone… slit my throat? B’jin exclaimed to Larrikith, eyes wide as he looked up at R’nd from his reclaimed position in the bed, shifting around a bit and reclaiming R’nd’s hand. He squeezed it tightly, raising both their hands to press his cheek against the back of his mate’s, and he mouthed ‘Sorry’, at R’nd. Trying to speak hurt too much, so he didn’t try at all. Mouthing was easier, at least with the single and simple words. Eyebrows furrowed as R’nd finished speaking, B’jin shook his head just slightly, grimacing when even that hurt, and pursed his lips. ‘Why’ he mouthed, fluttering his free hand again, but even he wasn’t sure if he was asking about his own attack, or the apparent attack upon Nerili.
Poor Nerili, B’jin thought sadly to Larrikith, curling up a little as the fellis warmed him from the stomach and made him weary. Despite the growing need to fall asleep, B’jin focused carefully on R’nd, folding his free hand under his cheek and yawning. Nerili had been one of B’jin’s favourite Searches; she had been a sweet young woman who took well to Weyrlife and had made B’jin proud with her achievements and her dragon had been a sweetheart. B’jin brought R’nd’s hand back to his lips, pressing another affectionate kiss to it as he fought off the urge to fall back into blissful sleep. He didn’t want to sleep, damnit.
RE: 742.04.12 | Silenced Songbird - R'nd - 18.Apr.21
R’nd could feel his heart breaking further with each little reaction B’jin gave. His mate was normally so lively and expressive that seeing him struggle not to speak made him wish there was more he could do besides hold a hand. And he hadn’t even told B’jin the worst part; that he most likely will never speak again. R’nd may have shut down during most of the drama of saving the greenrider and the explanations that followed but he was holding onto the slim chance that perhaps the healers were wrong and in a month he’d have his chatty mate back, smiling and singing.
“Stop fighting the sleep,” R’nd urged softly, brushing back B’jin’s hair, silently soothing the man with simple and normal gestures. “You shouldn’t even be awake right now. I’m glad you are since it’s easing my fears but the healers said you’d be in too much pain for a bit yet.” After all, his neck had been deeply cut and was now stitched back together. Thankfully he hadn’t had a clear view of the before, during, or after. R’nd wasn’t sure he could handle the sight. But the amount of blood that he had seen would haunt him for quite a while.
“I haven’t sent word to your children or sister yet. I wanted to wait until you were awake and prepared for them.” R’nd also didn’t want to send the wrong letter. He couldn’t handle telling them B’jin was fine and have them arrive to find that B’jin most certainly wasn’t or had passed. But he also didn’t want to make it sound dire if it wasn’t, either. But he’d have to send word soon before the rumours spread and made things worse. He didn’t need N’mor’s soul-searing gaze on him because word wasn’t personally sent.
“I can take care of that while you sleep. T’ryn offered to personally tell N’mor and to pick up Amorandii when you want visitors but I told him he needs to rest as well. He was winded just walking in here.” His stubborn and caring son needed to look after himself sometimes as well. R’nd was actually surprised he left Cazan for even the short visit but R’nd appreciated it.
“Are you comfortable? Do you need more pillows or… anything?” R’nd was doing his best to keep it together for B’jin. He knew how much his mate relied on him, used him as the steady presence that was always there and calm. He was an absolute mess on the inside and barely keeping the tears in but he’d perform an entire musical act with a smile right then if it meant B’jin was relaxed and not focused on his pain or fears.
RE: 742.04.12 | Silenced Songbird - B'jin - 20.Apr.21
B’jin glared half heartedly at R’nd, pouting at being told off for fighting the urge to sleep, but a smile lingered on the corners of his lips, taking away any seriousness the expression might otherwise have portrayed. He curled tighter into the bed; R’nd was right that it wasn’t very comfortable, but B’jin was in so much pain that the uncomfortableness of the bed was far outweighed. Instead, the blanket felt comforting as it was wrapped around him, and the love he felt from the bluerider was soothing.
When R’nd brought up his children and sister, B’jin’s nose scrunched up in sympathy for R’nd; he wouldn’t want to be in the bluerider’s position if their roles were reversed. Of course, B’jin only had two children and one sister. R’nd might have only had one sister to send word to, but by the time B’jin had contacted all his offspring, the bluerider probably would have been healed of whatever ailed him. That made B’jin smirk sleepily, and he rolled his eyes lightly, the action mostly hidden behind drooping lids. R’nd would do what was best, he had no doubt. He was glad to hear that T’ryn was feeling well enough to try and be helpful, even if it wasn’t helpful to his own full recovery. Sounded like R’nd’s boy.
The offer for anything more had B’jin puckering his lips playfully, smiling into the chaste kiss he was given and gently stroking the side of R’nd’s face. Everything would be fine. A couple days – a week at most – and B’jin had no doubt he would be back to normal. He hd nothing in his experience – and no word from the Healers at that point – to think otherwise; it never occurred to him that his voice might be gone for longer than it took his throat to stop hurting and since most flus only lasted a week or so, he didn’t expect the current injury to take any longer to heal. After all, it hurt like a bitch, but so did broken bones and they didn’t change his whole life.
Smiling wistfully, B’jin mouthed ‘love you’ at R’nd, before obediently letting sleep claim him once more. Everything would be fine.