[Sept. 16/11] Raine's Room, Night

[tomorrowrain]

After his talk with Sorrow's brother in the garden, Raine had retreated fairly quickly to his room. His cigarettes were soaked through, Sorrow was nowhere to be found, and his stone was going insane trying to force-feed him snippets, possibilities.

It was more than a little overwhelming. He'd sat down on the edge of his bed, sodden clothing and all, and put his head between his knees, trying to catch his breath. Trying not to feel so dizzy, at least. It wasn't working out so well for him. But, at least, so long as he was thinking about not asphyxiating to death or something, he wasn't paying much attention to the possibilities that were flitting through his mind.

Raine was going to consider that a win.

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[tomorrowrain]

He probably couldn't huddle any more deeply in his blankets if he wanted to. He was practically wound in knots, now, after all of his shuffling around. But... that was okay. Things had calmed down. He was feeling better. The H.A.H. girl didn't seem too horrified with him.

That was kind of like a win.

And so he sat, bundled up in bedsheet knots, waiting for her to finish, at peace with... with all of it.

This was okay. Right now, at least, things were okay.

He had no idea what he'd say when she finished. Maybe she'd just run out of the room. He was still Jasper, sight or no. It was... kind of the thing to do. She was just doing her job. He got that.

[oath_keeper]

More and more and more and then there was nothing left to heal, except that which would require rest and food and liquids. He would tire easily for the next few days.

With a lot of regret, Cassidy tugged her power back to her, chivying it towards her stone and shutting down the conduit between them. Energy made her jittery, like she'd swallowed a pot of coffee in one go and it was hitting her bloodstream all at once.

Her stone flickered, humming in her head, then went dark and cool. She dropped her hand and took a deep breath.

"You'll have to take it easy for the next few days," she said, like she'd done nothing more exciting than taking the trash out. "Stay out of the rain."

[tomorrowrain]

Raine nodded again, not quite able to look up. She'd turn and walk out of the room either way. But at least if he didn't look up, he wouldn't have to see her leave, now that her duty was done.

"Shouldn't be a problem," he murmured. "I feel like I've been made to run laps around the graveyard."

Literally, figuratively. His soul had been scraped raw today.

And then, more quietly...

"The... I mean, how long will those..."

The pills. How much silence would he get?

[oath_keeper]

She stared at the top of his head for a long moment.

No, it hadn't been a kindness to give him the pills. Perhaps it would have been better to just have left him but there had been no way she could do that.

"Twenty four hours," she said. "I'll inform the faculty that you're out sick and not to expect you in class."

[tomorrowrain]

"Thank you," he said again. He'd said it too many times already tonight. But what else was there to be said?

Twenty-four hours. A day.

Maybe he'd catch up on his reading.

Maybe he'd watch a movie or something.

"I'm sorry to have been so much trouble tonight."

Maybe he'd just sleep it off, and regret the missed opportunities later. He was tired.

[oath_keeper]

"I've had worse," she said very dryly. "Sleep."

She really didn't have anything else to say as she swept towards the door. Cassidy had a list of things to be done tonight. A report for the President, a discussion with Leith, finishing up her shift at the infirmary, double checking on that firstie who'd caused her to be sent here...

Cassidy paused at the door and tossed two words over her shoulder. "You're welcome," she said and was gone.

The door swung shut behind her.