09.Feb.12, 05:18 AM
Tal was relieved at Valerian's kind words, though he still doubted that the situation was beneficial overall. He'd made a fool of himself in public and attracted far more attention than he'd meant to. This still proved it wasn't a complete loss. Pleasantly surrpised by Valerian's gentle demeanor, Talian took the last little jab in stride. Valerian was at ease, which was enough to keep an exhausted, half-crashed Talian as ease as well. He flashed Valerian a smile.
He tried in vain to blink away his headache. His body ached and his mind was sluggish after his thymus-driven adventure. Bleary, he was startled when Valerian took hold of his hand. "Oh!" Tal gasped softly, opening his eyes and looking down to see his knots returned to him.
He paused for a moment. Suddenly, things made more sense. He didn't remember wearing them, but he got dressed after taking his medicine. He must have put them on out of habit. Apparently they'd fallen at some point. That's how Lymsleia knew, and now it was obvious that Valerian knew as well. Talian wrapped his fingers modestly around the knots and pulled them close, his tawny eyes round with gratitude. He placed his free hand on top of Valerian's and pressed down firmly.
"Thank you," he said, practically whispering as he looked down at the intricate leather adornment. He had to clear his throat before continuing. After a moment of pleasant silence, he spoke again. "I could have," he said. Yes, he could wield his rank as a weapon. It simply wasn't in his nature. "My rank had no power to make you better faster, and well...to be honest, we get used to being quipped at by patients who are in pain," he said. There was a profound smoothness to his voice, like he was at peace.
He looked up at Valerian, meeting eyes again. "I guess I put them on out of habit. I was already on the medication when I dressed," he explained. "I...don't want to destroy them, though. They're all I have from home," he said. With that, he let it slip away. The final comment perplexed him for a moment, but in the end it drew a chuckle from him. "Not so bad, you think? I imagined I was more fun with the drugs..."
He looked to Lymsleia for support, or perhaps to evaluate her reaction. "I wasn't keeping it a secret out of spite or arrogance," he said. "The opposite, really. I didn't want special treatment." Or to get B'jin into any more trouble...
Sorry for jumping ahead, Song. It felt thematically appropriate.
He tried in vain to blink away his headache. His body ached and his mind was sluggish after his thymus-driven adventure. Bleary, he was startled when Valerian took hold of his hand. "Oh!" Tal gasped softly, opening his eyes and looking down to see his knots returned to him.
He paused for a moment. Suddenly, things made more sense. He didn't remember wearing them, but he got dressed after taking his medicine. He must have put them on out of habit. Apparently they'd fallen at some point. That's how Lymsleia knew, and now it was obvious that Valerian knew as well. Talian wrapped his fingers modestly around the knots and pulled them close, his tawny eyes round with gratitude. He placed his free hand on top of Valerian's and pressed down firmly.
"Thank you," he said, practically whispering as he looked down at the intricate leather adornment. He had to clear his throat before continuing. After a moment of pleasant silence, he spoke again. "I could have," he said. Yes, he could wield his rank as a weapon. It simply wasn't in his nature. "My rank had no power to make you better faster, and well...to be honest, we get used to being quipped at by patients who are in pain," he said. There was a profound smoothness to his voice, like he was at peace.
He looked up at Valerian, meeting eyes again. "I guess I put them on out of habit. I was already on the medication when I dressed," he explained. "I...don't want to destroy them, though. They're all I have from home," he said. With that, he let it slip away. The final comment perplexed him for a moment, but in the end it drew a chuckle from him. "Not so bad, you think? I imagined I was more fun with the drugs..."
He looked to Lymsleia for support, or perhaps to evaluate her reaction. "I wasn't keeping it a secret out of spite or arrogance," he said. "The opposite, really. I didn't want special treatment." Or to get B'jin into any more trouble...
Sorry for jumping ahead, Song. It felt thematically appropriate.