line up the dominoes / a light wind blows

[standvastig]

Where: Heliodor
When: A few years after Hendrik's promotion
Summary: A seemingly petty curse. A terrible incident on the battlefield.

[In the moments he is conscious enough to string awareness together, he sees blue. A blue sky. Light filtering through the trees. He tries to hold on to that sense, but it blurs under the pressure and pain of everything he feels. A wooden wagon, its wheels rolling over stones and holes in the road. Flashes of cold that bite into him when his skin doesn't feel hot and sweaty. Pain, pain, pain--

A particularly rocky patch of road jostles him against the burlap that provides little protection on the wagon, and merciful darkness takes him.

The field medics fight what the healers cannot, trying to keep General Hendrik's fever down while stemming the blood flow from the grievous wound that took the man's right arm. The giver of the wound -- a nightmarish dragon with teeth capable of piercing plate and chain both -- has the knights rushing back to Heliodor, touting more injured than previous campaigns.

The crowds that see the knights drag themselves back to the castle grounds cannot do much more than look on in shock.]

Comments

[standvastig]

[Silence. Hendrik exhales sharply as he falls back against his pillow, book in hand. That done, he looks over at Jasper and simply stares at him for a long moment over his laughter.]

Why are you laughing?

[Perhaps he had missed something. He can't read the emotion in that laughter at all.]

[leitstern]

Because the irony is delightful?

[Perhaps it is a terrible idea to roll his eyes? Oh well.]

Honestly. You are utterly dense.

[standvastig]

[Once again, Hendrik hardly reacts. He pulls his shoulders back, grunting at the pain it causes him, before looking at Jasper with renewed focus.]

Are you going to explain? If you cannot tell, I am not feeling well.

[If Jasper is going to be this way, he can be annoyed as well.]

[leitstern]

[Jasper shakes his head. His fingers rise to glide across his face - where they press and rub against the bridge of his nose.]

I am laughing because of our memories as boys. Am I permitted to feel nostalgic?

[standvastig]

[That tells him nothing. Hendrik responds to Jasper's continued ... amusement with annoyed silence. For good measure, he turns his face away to frown at the ceiling.]

[leitstern]

[Legs unfold. Fingers leave his nose. Posture changes and emotions boil. Jasper adjusts himself to sit straight to the point of rigidity. His voice is an octave lower than normal and pressured by frustration.]

Must you sulk, Hendrik?

[standvastig]

What would you have me do, Jasper? Share in laughter I do not understand?

[The words are snapped, his voice rising as he shows he is more than a little agitated.]

There is a door if you do not wish to see me sulk. You are free to use it.

[leitstern]

[Jasper thins his lips. His jaw clenches and his teeth bare in frustration. The energy of his anger drives him to push himself onto his feet and from there he turns to leave. But his head twists his neck - and his body turns towards his friend instead.]

I will not budge an inch. You stubborn mule.

[standvastig]

Then explain! Do something other than laugh!

[His frustration has no other outlets while he is bedridden, and he grits his teeth at the rising sense of helplessness. His hand curls around the book he had just retrieved, callused fingers pressing into the hard cover.]

[leitstern]

[Heat boils his blood. Rage spurts through arteries and veins towards every inch of his body. It makes him pace in a cirle until he throws his arm aside in anger. He feels the wetness in the corner of his eyes and snarls towards his companion, chest heaving in agitated confusion. He does not wish to show weakness.]

What do you expect from me, Hendrik? Do you wish to see me cry?

[standvastig]

[This entire matter is becoming more confusing by the moment; Hendrik's initial confusion grows unabated without any proper explanation from the one who is the cause of it.

And so he throws the book in his hand. There is strength in the throw but little else, given his left hand is not his dominant one.]

You have ever been the better one with words. Use them!

[leitstern]

[Jasper lacks the will to dodge. His brows lift in surprise - rising again when that weak left arm fixes that problem. The book falls pathetically wide to his right. Hendrik lacking the strength to scatter it across a proper angle.

The moment falls into silence.

His eyes water as he collects the book spread across his feet. No words are spoken.]

[standvastig]

[Hendrik is terribly reminded of his current state by labored breaths as he seethes, shoulders shaking with effort and an awful feeling at the sight of his own pathetic throw.

A single sob shudders out of him as he lowers his head, hand covering his eyes. He wants explanations because he doesn't want to think. Every forward thought brings him pain, and even nostalgia is painted with loss and hurt now.]

Apologies... I am sorry.

[leitstern]

[Nothing is said while the book is collected beneath his arm. Little emotion colours his face when he collects the chair and brings it beside the bed. Few words sound right as he tastes them on his lips - choosing to swallow down those serious replies in favour of brevity and wit.

What can he say that will shock his friend's miserable train of thought?]

I suppose being dressed by a nurse is a fantasy in one of those magazines of yours.

[standvastig]

[The energy and anger quickly draining out of Hendrik leave him with nothing with which to react to Jasper's words. He rubs at his dry eyes and looks at Jasper tiredly, shoulders drooping as he tries to make sense of why the other man would say such a thing.

Why would he even begin to imply that he would any part of a fantasy that would resemble his current state?

It takes effort, but he shifts to rest on his good arm, his back facing Jasper. Strangely self-conscious, he pulls up the sheets to cover his empty sleeve.]

If you only have hurtful things to say, please leave.

[leitstern]

You are such an ignorant fool.

[Instead of sounding outraged - or bitter or vengeful - Jasper merely sounds disappointed. He pulls the book from beneath his arm and regards Hendrik with the intent of throwing it back in his face.

Why be so outraged when the man is wounded and unable to know his own mind? He sets the book upon the chair and does precisely as asked. He takes his leave.]