itistolaugh | Mask or Menace IC Contact

[ There's no place to rent a car, not this time of night, and he probably wouldn't want her to steal one. She checks in to a hotel first-- two beds, please and thank you-- and gets a cab.

She hates sitting in the backseat, especially cars with safety windows, for the obvious negative associations. The things she does for friends. They had better be friends now, after this errand.

The driver waits while she goes to fetch. ]

Hi, Puddin'. Lookin' good.

[well, he wouldn't call just anyone.

Callaghan has tucked himself out of sight by a building, though he'd given Harley an idea of where he'd be. when she comes to find him, the first thing she'll notice is the textured mass of black, blending in with the shadows.

then said mass begins to split, separating and falling towards the ground and revealing a Robert who has most definitely seen better days. it looks like he'd fallen in to a half-doze, though he's clearly recognized her.]

...funny.

[at least he's not devolved in to a coughing fit?]

[ Awww gross, what is that? Ants? Metal ants? Robot ants are a definite turnoff, turns out. She tiptoes around them to get to him. ]

Cab's waiting. Are these ... things... Can they fit in the trunk or something?

[ C'mere, baby, lean on Harley. There's a good boy. ]

[on the bright side, they don't seem inclined to crawl on her? they push Callaghan to his feet, and he stumbles a moment before leaning on Harley and letting her help him.]

Yeah. I...they'll do it, I just...need to tell them.

[he furrows his brow in brief focus, and the things respond accordingly; lingering behind them both, and being quite discreet as they slide for the vehicle. other than weighing it down a bit, there's only so much to really note their presence.

Callaghan, with his clothing scorched straight through at his back, and visibly exhausted...well. he's a bit more conspicuous]

Edited 2015-06-27 14:38 (UTC)

Jeez, Robert. A first aid kit doesn't come with a burn ward, you know.

[ But she won't mention a hospital. She knows very well the many reasons a person would want to stay low, take care of their own business. She helps him into the cab and pulls him against her in the back seat, running her fingers over his hair. ]

We'll be at the hotel in just a couple minutes. Get you cleaned up and then you can sleep all you want, okay?

Antibiotic ointment and gauze. [it's not third degree, he doesn't think- it hurts like hell, which means there isn't nerve damage. at this point, though, the pain has settled in and he's been relying heavily on some mental exercises...which are. only helping so much. mostly it's just enduring, and reminding himself he's alive, it could be worse, he's alive

he leans against Harley with closed eyes, nodding at her words- and relaxing at her touch. ~~how long has it been since someone did that?~~]

I know how to take care of a burn.

[ She talks for the entire ride to the hotel about nothing at all. Describing the scenery, saying the names of stores out loud, asking mundane questions to the increasingly irritated driver. She has nothing to say, but hopes that it will help keep him awake. If he falls asleep in the cab she isn't sure she can wake him up, and it would be a huge pain in the ass to drag him up to the room. Her hands smooth down his hair, only stopping to give him a little tickle or lightly tug his ear if he's too close to dozing.

God, she's glad their room is on the first floor. She pays the driver (but no tips for grumps!) and goes around to Robert's side to help him out. ]

We're here. Come on, sweetie, upsy daisy. Not much longer now.

[on some level, he understands what she's doing; on another, he is too damn tired for this. she does end up having to tug a bit, which ends up having him halfheartedly waving a hand to try and push hers away, but he is trying.

really.

honestly.

he doesn't waste energy on anything more than closed-mouth sounds of affirmation or acknowledgement, though, wearily moving to his feet and once again leaning on her. and, once again, those metal ants - the microbots - shift behind, a grouping moving up on his legs as if to provide an exoskeleton's support.

it's...actually a very good thing that the technokinesis has them so much more responsive than the mask and band. it seems exhausting to simply imagine walking, much less do it, but Harley will be able to get him moving and in to the room.

only so much is promised once he's inside and in a position to collapse, though.]

[ She pulls him into the bathroom where the light is strongest and pushes him to sit on the toilet lid. No chance to get to the bed, sorry. If she doesn't get his back cleaned and bandaged first thing then he'll really feel like hell in the morning. She works fast, if not very gently, and there's no fumbling or uncertainty in what to do. This is a situation she's been in more than a few times. ]

Is this all of it or do I need to strip you down?

[it's awful hard to imagine feeling worse than this.

now that he's in the light and there's the real opportunity to examine things, it's clear that he's been in some sort of blaze - or, well, clearer. there's a few strain burns on his front, but the majority of the damage seems to have been on his back- and there's a few bumps and scrapes, but that sort of thing is mostly superficial.

mostly.

he grimaces and hisses a bit, in pain, but otherwise lets her work- he hasn't nearly enough energy to wonder about where she learned about of it.]

'sall. Backdraft...hit me from behind.

[ The smaller, superficial wounds will have to do with just cleaning for now. The first aid kit has a limited supply, and she wants to be sure there's enough for a change of bandages after he shower in the morning. He's gross and he reeks of smoke, but if she made him do it now he might, like. Drown or something. Fall over and break a hip. Old man problems. ]

Think you can get to bed or do I gotta carry you?

[there's a tiny part of him that wants to laugh. she may be able to help him walk, but carry him? not likely. which means that he has to get up, which means that once she seems done, he's starting to push himself up]

Just...steady me.

[ Harley helps pull him up by the armpits which is 100% dignified and ducks under his arm to take his weight. She's no Superman, but she's stronger than she looks.

Plus he's ripped so she wants to get up in his space, aw yeah.

Unceremoniously dumps him on the nearest bed. Now you can sleep, grandpa. ]

[guess who's got even more reason to stay ripped if he's going to be fending off attempts on his life. this guy, aw yeah.

he seems a bit awkward with the proximity like this, but on the bright side, he's kind of in no position to protest.

and fine then he will!!!!! probably for the next twelve hours, at least.]

[ She respectfully goes to the other side of the room to strip down to her t-shirt and panties, bra and shorts left on the floor, and only pouts a little bit that he is in no state to appreciate.

In fact, she won't even TRY to crawl into his bed and will stay properly on her own. She is such a good friend!

Watching a dude sleep for hours is a friend thing, right? This seems normal. ]

[there's something to be said about watching over someone?

it's past noon when he awakens- not that he's really aware of the time. mostly he's aware of the literal pain in his back, and as he pushes himself up, he hisses softly. why-

-and then it hits him all at once and he sort of sags back down, groaning as much from pain as the realization of what the hell just happened

David is going to be so ticked off at him.]

[ Harley is dressed and sitting with her feet up on the small hotel table, flipping through an outdated magazine she grabbed from the lobby. She gets up and bounces over to him when she hears him groan, flopping down on the bed beside him. ]

Mornin', Sunshine!

[ Oh god she is so awake. ]

Or afternoon. We missed checkout. Figured you needed the sleep more.

[oh god she is too awake for him. can she just. go to sleep.

...probably not.]

...sorry?

[should he apologize? he thinks he should. for the temporary hold on her wallet, anyway. unless they're actually in a five star hotel and he missed it, he's pretty sure he can pay, though.]

[ Goodness no, they are in a total shit hole. She pats him on the head. ]

Don't even worry about it. Hey, you want some coffee? I got you coffee, but it's cold by now. And it wasn't good even when it was hot. But it's something! I poured Red Bull in mine.

[ That. Explains. Everything. ]

Also, uh, you gonna feel up to a shower? Because you reek. No offense.

[somehow, he's not surprised on the Red Bull front. it does, in fact, explain a lot. Robert makes a sound - not necessarily pained, more of a 'hmh' - and moves an arm under his cheek, supporting and pillowing it as he considers for a moment.

smoke and gasoline. well, at least they cleaned it out of all animal products...he grimaces]

I think I'd better. I just...need a minute.

[beat]

Can you get me some water?

Yup!

[ She hops up and gives him a quick pat on the butt as she goes. Friendly patting. Like friends do!

She keeps talking as she goes to fill the flimsy hotel-provided plastic cup in the bathroom. ]

There's, uh, I dunno if you're hungry yet, but there's stuff on the table. Not a lot. There's a sad banana and a muffin. I think it's blueberry? Or maybe it's really old. Oh! And I got the car thing taken care of so we can leave whenever but we already have the room for another night and maybe you wanna lay low...? Got you a new shirt too.

[ Sets the water on the nightstand by his head. At least she's not making him work for it. ]

[note to self; reconsider calling Harley next time this happens because okay, thanks, that's his butt, can we just not-

amended note to self; how about this not happen again. ever. any of it.

he probably should eat, but he's really...really not hungry right now. thirsty, if anything, and by his limited medical knowledge he's pretty sure water is far more important. all that said...]

I think...laying low is the smartest. I don't know if he'll be looking for me.

[he'll down that water very quickly, thanks.]

'Kay.

[ She shrugs and goes to refill his cup. And, more importantly, doesn't say anything else. ]

[smart girl, Harley. maybe he should call you if for whatever reason this happens again.

he's managed to push himself up in to a seat by the time she returns, and is wiping his face. when he notices she's come back, he reaches for the cup- then pauses]

I'm not taking you away from anything, am I?

[though he does have the sheet nicely placed to protect some lower assets from ogling, so he's taken that away from her.]

[ A smile and a shake of the head. ]

Don't worry about it.

[ She sits on the edge of the bed and waits for him to need another refill. ]

time for action WINK WINK

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