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Post by Satra on Feb 15, 2010 0:20:11 GMT -5
His nervousness showed in his wiggling and beating the mattress with his paws while not moving an inch as Anoushka hacked once again.
"I promise to be good always, Daddy," he squeaked. Behind him Hadrian couldn't help but roll his eyes. Yeah. we'll see how long that lasts. Tears began to well up in the pup's eyes and the whining soon followed. Unable to hold back, he wiggled himself under the blankets and curled up next to Anoushka and relentlessly licked whatever he could reach. Hadrian was hesitant to stop him. After all, here was a 9-year-old standing face-to-face with his own father's death. A father he'd only really become close with in the past few years. He gently reached forward and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.
"None of that. Be calm." he said quietly. He watched Anoushka closely. He'd pull the pup away if she wanted him to. He got up from his chair and sat on the edge of the bed. "They've really couped you up in here, haven't they?" He put his hand to her cheek, rubbed gently with his thumb. There was a small cough behind them. The doctor seemed to think their visiting time was up soon. Hadrian gave the doctor a rather uncharacteristic dirty look. He knew exactly what Anoushka was thinking: What the hell use was giving her all of this rest just so she can live in misery for just one more day? Useless. Completely useless. He leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek and whispered into her ear: "I'll be back."
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Post by The Jenn on Feb 15, 2010 11:32:56 GMT -5
Always be good. "Heh." The empty promises of a child. It was cute, though. Cute enough that she didn't mind him moving close and licking her like a little tongue-beast. He wasn't pushing or kicking, so it didn't hurt, and if these were to be his last memories of her... the kid could do what he wanted. She couldn't muster the aggravation to mind. He was just a puppy.
She reached one hand to the side and scratched lightly behind one ear, hand moving around Hadrian's grip of his scruff. She patted the hand as well. "I've been a prisoner in my own body for the past year anyvay," she agreed with a sigh. "Not much they can do that I haven't done to myself. Except for kick you out." Her ears flattened at the doctor and she growled low in her throat, but the sound was weak at best and set her to coughing again. She was really starting to hate that man. Professionalism be damned.
"You'd better be," she wheezed with a glare in the direction of the door.
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Post by Satra on Feb 16, 2010 2:34:11 GMT -5
Radek continued to whine and nuzzle against and lick Anoushka. Hadrian loosened his grip and just pet the back of Radek's head. All he wanted to do was make sure his actions didn't escalate, but he wanted to give his son as much time with his father as could be allowed.
"I will be," he smiled softly. The pair stayed until they were physically kicked out by the medical staff.
---
The next day about noon Hadrian returned. Radek was busy pretending to sick and therefore distracting the doctor. He walked in humming.
"Hey, you," he said in a gentle voice and nudged her a little. "I'm here to kidnap you and make the doctor pull his hair out if you're up for it."
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 1, 2010 14:28:39 GMT -5
A sweet boy, the scamp she'd sired. This might be her last chance to see him. What a hideously depressing thought. And maudlin. Eugh. She pet the small head and then let him do as he wished until both boys were chuffed out the door.
She slept for much of the next day, as best she was able. The pain in her hips left her feeling restless and she had a hard time fighting with the pillows to make herself comfortable for more than five minutes at a time. If she moved them too vigorously... or threw one at the medical staff... then it would send her into another coughing fit. Damn it all!
When Hadrian approached her bed, she practically grabbed his 'hawk as he nudged her and growled. "Yes. Dammit, yes! Let's go now. I don't think I can take another uninterrupted hour in this bed. Help me up." The last three words tasted like acid in her mouth.
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Post by Satra on Mar 1, 2010 23:44:34 GMT -5
Hadrian blinked and his eyes went a little wider in surprise. He really shouldn't have been. Bedridden or not, it was still Anoushka all the way through. In fact, isn't that why he was here to begin with? Silly 'hawk-head.
"Of course," he said softly, able to feel the hatred she put into the words. He took the blanket off of her and helped her up. He would have been perfectly happy to just scoop her up, but he couldn't even conceive how she would be feeling now. He helped when he felt it was necessary. When she was standing, he supported her firmly.
It was then he'd realized since he'd gotten his form, they'd never actually stood side to side. He was about a half a head taller than her. It seemed strange, surreal almost. He gave her cheek a light kiss.
"I'm thinking the garden. It's almost dusk. Would you like me to grab the blanket? Or do you want to keep warm by my manly hairiness alone?" he asked, teasing, trying to keep the mood light.
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Post by Nathalia on Mar 10, 2010 9:55:44 GMT -5
For reaching 101 posts, you each receive one of the (belated) February prizes!
Charmed Ring: This tiny ring doesn't look as though it would fit on anyone but a rodent. Brass, slightly bent, and a little green with mislaid care, it doesn't even shine. When held, it tingles slightly and the owner will watch as it slowly dissolves. The SD will now, once a week, be able to cause any brass surface to act as a sounding mirror, allowing them to communicate with one person anywhere they desire for a full five minutes. Their communication will be in the other person's mind, while the caster will be able to see a little bit of the person's face in the brass surface.
<3
~Nathalia
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 13, 2010 14:56:47 GMT -5
Getting off of the bed was a painful shimmy that involved moving uncooperative limbs and twisting swollen joints. Anoushka cursed on more than one occasion, her Sorgaire accent thickening with each growled expletive. When she finally stood against him, she had to half-cling and hack herself into a dizzy wheeze.
A prisoner in her own body. She felt like utter shit. Made sense to feel bad when you were dying. She closed her eyes against the swimming sensation and felt his proximity more than his kiss.
She grunted, clinging to his side as best she could. Kissing someone who coughed like she did was a real task of affection. She wasn't sure she'd have been able to. Retarded boy. At least it wasn't contagious.
"Your manly hairiness vishes it vere enough," she rasped, trying to catch her breath and sound like something other than an old woman. "Bring the damn thing, and the vater if you can. Unless you've got more vhere ve're going." She would limp along wherever he took her, the gardens or elsewhere. For all that there were nearly tears pricking at the corner of her eyes from the pain in her hips and knee, she was so glad to be out of that bed.
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Post by Satra on Mar 30, 2010 19:06:48 GMT -5
He collected the water and blanket with his Vine Bracers. He really didn't want to move Anoushka around any more than she needed to be. Her body against his made him almost shudder. She felt so frail... it was unnerving to see her like this. He took a breath in and regained his composure. There would be plenty of time to mourn her later.
"My Manly Hairiness forgives your transgression," he commented in mock-offense, "Alright, I got everything. Let's go."
He helped her walk down to the garden, wishing she would just let him carry her. He said nothing about her slowness and showed no pity. It was slow and he supported her the best he could, but if he knew her, she would hold on to her pride for as long as she could.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 30, 2010 19:14:18 GMT -5
Anoushka snorted in reply to his "offense", but let the moment otherwise pass without comment. She struggled to walk next to him as she limped her way outside of the room. Her frailty honestly unnerved her as much as it did him and she tried not to let it shake her too visibly. The coughing fits were awful. The dizziness was unexpected. The pain was... well. She would grit her teeth and deal with it. If she could do nothing else with herself anymore, she could at least fucking walk.
With... a lot of help. The thought honestly drained her more.
She would go unprotesting wherever he took her, unwilling to speak much as they went for fear of starting up another painful coughing fit that wouldn't stop. Then someone would hear her, the doctors would arrive and hover and fuss, and she wouldn't be able to do a damn thing but rage and cough and cough some more.
"You'd think these hallvays vere a labyrinth," she muttered at one point, clearing her throat as best she could. Saying it made her feel... older.
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Post by Satra on Mar 30, 2010 19:27:44 GMT -5
Hadrian gave a small, concerned smile. The halls did seem so much longer with her in tow. Really, was it necessary for this place to be so large?
"We're almost there," he said softly, continuing to guide her along. He hated himself for thinking it, but he hoped she wouldn't have to endure any more life. He never really wished for anyone to die before, but he found it was a merciful thing in this case. Finally they were out.
"Where do you want to go from here?" he asked. The sun was making its way toward the horizon line. It was completely sappy, but Hadrian planned it that way. He just hoped the moment would wait to be ruined until after it was over.
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