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Post by Markise Sterling on May 15, 2009 20:56:46 GMT -5
Markise arrived at a reception area filled with rickety wooden chairs. There were only a couple people present, an older woman with steam rising in circles from her ears, and a man who looked very green. Literally. The Welcome Witch gave him a halfhearted greeting he didn't return, and he hardly noticed the Healers in uniform lime green robes bustling through the room. Ariel should be here soon. If he actually comes. Markise half expected to stand there for half an hour, then give up.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 15, 2009 21:06:47 GMT -5
Ariel did come, all but stumbling from the fireplace, coughing. He remembered why he had hated traveling like that, even if he had only done it a couple of times. Side-alonging with his brother was so much easier. He reached out a hand for anything that was near him, his eyes closed as he tried to keep his balance.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 15, 2009 21:19:56 GMT -5
Markise had been waiting for that, and so Ariel's hand found his shoulder. He tried not to think about where his own hands were as he took as much of Ariel's weight as he could get, then looked over at the Welcome Witch. "My brother's hurt, it's not magical," he said, hoping the witch would look up. She did, then gestured toward the seats as she picked up her wand. Muggle-type maladies, the witch said.
Within minutes, they'd been shuffled off to the first floor. Markise wasn't entirely sure, since it said it was for Creature-Induced Injuries, but apparently they'd lumped Muggles into the category.
"Healer Pye will be in after I get some information from you," the nurse said to Ariel.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 15, 2009 21:32:43 GMT -5
Ariel felt extremely awkward sitting there answering little questions about his age, how long he had been in the country, and where his hurts were, and he couldn't resist a momentary glare towards Markise. However much he wanted to do this to get on good terms with Markise, did the nurse really need to know about his father's allergy to kneazles?
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 15, 2009 21:41:17 GMT -5
Markise purposefully avoided looking anywhere near Ariel for the duration of the questioning, and so he was fortunate enough to miss that glare. Of course, if he'd seen it, he only would have glared back as fiercely as he could. He tried not to wonder how long it would be before Anna came looking for him, and so his mind moved repeatedly to the fact that he was likely going to have to reschedule his Portkey. He was not pleased about that. He didn't notice when the nurse asked Ariel who he was.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 15, 2009 21:49:18 GMT -5
Ariel's eyes barely even moved to Markise when he answered that they were brothers. When the nurse looked suspicious, he raised an eyebrow over one bruised eye and she pursed her lips and wrote it down. He then flicked his eyes over to Markise and relaxed slightly, though he had the feeling he would have to defend that particular answer soon enough. Still, she finished her questions and left, telling them it would just be a few moments.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 15, 2009 21:52:28 GMT -5
Markise's attention had returned just in time to hear that yes, they were going to be brothers, disturbing thought that it might be, then watched the nurse leave. The tension in the room, or maybe just in Markise, rose sharply at being alone again. Markise didn't at all know what to say now that Ariel had cooperated.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 15, 2009 22:00:07 GMT -5
"I'm here," Ariel said after a few moments' silence, refusing to let any of his usual hostility enter his voice. "And I answered all my questions like a good boy." His voice held some hope for Markise to take the humor in it, though he truthfully doubted it would happen. He sat uncomfortably, his eyes only rising to look at Markise when he spoke to see if he had made any kind of positive impression.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 15, 2009 22:16:28 GMT -5
Markise had nodded at Ariel's first statement, but didn't get the humor in the second. He'd been far too stressed for far too long, and aside from when he'd been drinking, not much happened that could be considered humorous. "Thank you," he said softly. It was probably ridiculous thanking Ariel for allowing Markise to help him, but it had given him some peace of mind he wouldn't have otherwise had.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 15, 2009 22:21:37 GMT -5
Ariel watched Markise before he adjusted himself to lay back on the bed. It was a relief to change the position of the stiff muscles, but it was also a little painful to stretch them out. The little bit of pain potion hadn't worn off just yet, but Ariel didn't think it could hold up to all of his injuries much longer. He rested his hands on his stomach. "How long are you going to stay?"
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 15, 2009 22:25:01 GMT -5
Markise looked over at Ariel, then almost immediately dragged his gaze away. "I don't know," he said truthfully. He didn't know how long Ariel would want him to stay, how long the hospital would let him stay, or even how long he'd be able to stand staying. He wasn't leaving right now, though. He declared as much by sitting on the rather uncomfortable chair in the corner.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 15, 2009 22:32:54 GMT -5
Ariel opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Markise. He didn't want Markise to leave, but he wasn't about to ask Markise to stay. He had done everything he could to convince Markise that he wanted to try again, and that would have to be enough. "Thank you for making me come," he said finally.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 15, 2009 22:39:12 GMT -5
Markise blinked and looked up at Ariel, letting his eyes rest for now. "I didn't make you come," he said softly. He'd tried and failed to get Ariel to come, and then somehow, after he'd given up entirely, Ariel had said yes. It was just like Ariel to wait until it was too late, then somehow get yet another chance anyway.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on May 15, 2009 22:46:18 GMT -5
"It was either this or watch you leave," Ariel said, shifting a little to make it easier to see Markise. That was as good as making him go. He hadn't thought that refusing to go would cost him whatever slim chance he had to make things right, but now he had a little more time. Of course, by now he was beginning to see how very wrong he was to expect Markise to give him another chance now after all he had done just because he said he was ready.
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Post by Markise Sterling on May 15, 2009 23:02:05 GMT -5
Markise felt heat steal into his face at that, and his gaze dropped, then moved away. "You'd have moved on in an hour," Markise said, just as the door opened, Ariel had moved on more than enough times that Markise knew it was true. He'd taken everything Ariel had said today with a grain of salt or dismissed it entirely. He'd meant it when he said words were nothing. He wasn't listening to them anymore.
The Healer was looking at the papers the nurse had given him when he stopped inside the room. "Logan?" he asked, looking at Ariel. He glanced at Markise, but didn't say anything before looking back at Ariel. "I'm Healer Pye," he added, flipping from the first page back to the second.
"It says here that you were attacked by Muggles. I'm going to have to check it out, so you," he said, looking at Markise again, "are going to have to step out for a while."
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