A respite for Gorlim

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

After this.

Malcolm Crowe gently guides Gorlim through the infirmary, leading him to one of the more private beds, away from the other patients, but close enough to the door that friends and loved ones will still be able to find him.

"Why don't you take a seat there," he gestures toward the bed.

Comments

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

Gorlim plops himself down like a bundle of sticks.

"I can sleep here?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Actually, if you hadn't said it first, I would have asked you to. You need a good night's sleep to...deal with the rest of this."

Malcolm turns back from rummaging in the small chest of drawers beside the bed, a stethoscope around his neck and a tongue depressor in hand.

"Let's get the basics done with, and then we can talk about what happened if you'd like. Or if you'd rather just get some rest for now, that's fine too."

Translation: Say 'ahh,' Gorlim.

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

Gorlim sits and lets Malcolm inspect him.

"He didn't hurt me. Scrubbed pretty hard in the shower, but that's me." And there's no blood. A few places -- hands, arms -- that look a bit like rugburn. He's pretty dehydrated -- comes from not keeping anything down in a couple days. "He just... showed me things." He shivers.

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm takes his time, checking heart beat, eyes, ears, etc. Keeping a routine going to try to take Gorlim's mind at least somewhat away from the full impact of what he's gone through. Now's not the time to deal with the full weight of what he's experiencing.

"Showed you things....but as Andres this time?"

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

"This time..."

He bows his head.

"No. This time he just... took me. Held me. Like Andres used to but... kinder."

[song_tra_bong]

Mary Anne does not exactly come skidding into the infirmary. For one thing, there are people recovering in here, wouldn't do to startle them. For another, she's still rather bruised from last night so running is something beyond her.

Rather, she opens the door carefully, stepping halfway inside to look around, the note from bar still clenched tightly in her hand.

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

Gorlim's in a bed in a far corner, face towards the wall, curled up under a blanket and shaking.

[song_tra_bong]

She closes the door softly behind her, crossing the room to his bed.

She reaches one hand toward his shoulder but doesn't yet touch him.

"Dove? It's me."

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

He curls a little tighter, face hidden under an arm, shaking... as if he's crying.

[song_tra_bong]

After a moment's hesitation, she sits down on the edge of the bed. She rests her hand on his shoulder.

"Dove? You with me?"

[namo]

Malcolm had told him where to find Gorlim.

Quietly, he enters the infirmary. His own fever had broken, but he was still a little lightheaded and tired. He hadn't known Gorlim would go to Ruin tonight or he would have tied the Man up and kept him away from the beast.

He comes to stand beside Gorlim's bed, dark eyes on him and the quiet of their bond. As if Gorlim had withdrawn into himself. No bruises marred his beautiful face, and he didn't sense physical pains...

"Dove?"

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

There's no answer. A hand clutches the bedsheets. Eyes leak silent tears. He may not hear... or may not WANT to hear. He looks exhausted. Beyond exhausted. Pale, dehydrated, a sense of nausea vaguely apparent through the bond, a sense of deep, deep shame.

[namo]

"Gorlim," he says with a little more volume to his voice. "What... what happened?"

He reaches out to place a hand on Gorlim's shoulder.

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

Gorlim immediately cringes from the touch, curls tight and hides his face.

[namo]

He pulls back his hand.

"What did he do?" he demands, his tone taking on a hard edge. "What did he do to you, love?"

[eilinel.livejournal.com]

But Eilinel, she's different.

Whether Gorlim wants to be touched, or not, she's not going anywhere.

He's asleep, when she comes in, and she simply curls up next to him, humminh a lullabye meant more for her love than for her child.

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

Here is a voice he will never shun, a touch he cannot shy from. Here is she who has tamed him completely. Asleep, he still moves towards her, rolls over to touch her hair, gives a sleepy nuzzle, and is gone again.

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

Some time later, Random slips in.

He moves immediately towards the bed, eyes wide with concern.

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

He is asleep.

Or trying to be.

He is curled up on a bed in a corner, hands clutched into fists.

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

He grabs for the clenched hands, immediately making a soft noise.

"Hey lovely" he whispers, just in case he is asleep.

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

He opens his eyes.

That's Random.

Random's not supposed to be here.

Which leaves one alternative.

"Don't touch me, you face-wearing whore," he snarls.

[guppy_sandhu]

It is some time later when Guppy comes into the infirmary. By his time zone it's Ridiculous O'clock, but he couldn't sleep, and so had decided he might as well come downstairs and do something useful until he could.

He spots Gorlim in a bed nearby and pauses, watching over his friend a moment. Saddened that there seems nothing he can do to help him.

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

Rediculous O'clock is a FINE time to have a chat with an old buddy!

Gorlim doesn't notice him. Or doesn't notice it's Guppy. He's gotten used to people shuffling through in the background.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy's mun ponders whether half of Gorlim's post has just been eaten by an interdimentional piece of sentient cheese. Suspicions are confirmed when the post is reposted.

Guppy meanwhile does not think about the cheese, as he is not yet in a position to view thought bubbles with text from Gorlim. But he does notice after a few moments that Gorlim would appear to be awake, so he approaches cautiously.

Just in case Gorlim sleeps with his eyes open like Námo does.

[gorlim.livejournal.com]

Gorlim's mun cannot explain that one.

And Gorlim does not sleep with his eyes open. That's an Elf-thing. Gorlim's as human as they get. Or was. He's kind of a wizard now, too, for a little while, but he doesn't really know how that works.

His eyes focus eventually and he blinks at Guppy. Even smiles a bit.

"Hi."