mememaster | have i mentioned lately that i'm shameless

[How Anise managed to carry such a massive person and his even more massive equipment all the way to an inn was a mystery few would be able to solve. In reality, the truly difficult part had been removing enough heavy armor to allow her to treat him.

In the end, he was left stripped down to his undergarments and covered with a blanket. A simple robe was left at the side of the bed, and the heavy pile of armor and equipment was laid out on the other side of the room. Any wounds he had were treated, and a cool cloth was laid over his forehead.

And now, days later, Anise sits at a table near the bed she left the brute in, groaning over some documents.]

Boooo. Now I'm going to be late getting back, all because I just have to help every stupid jerk I see on the road. This sucks.

[War's surprised when he wakes up. Last time he'd slept for a century. But his sleep is the same. Dark. Empty. He hears a voice, but not what it says. Not at first. But it's clear, one of the few things clear, is that it belongs to young girl. Not, not a demon...they wouldn't-. Unless...

War opens his eyes. Blinks. They wouldn't go this far, even the most deceptive. He sits up with a start, grunts at a stretch, a stab of blunt pain.]

Why...?

[Is this his voice? That breathy, shaking sound? He looks around the room, to his sword and armor. Hunches over, draws his arms above the covers. Close to him. It's true War had wounds, but most were scars. One was new. The mark of impalement. Poison. He hadn't thought it worth care, given how easily the bats were brought down. War looks at the cloth, which had fallen from his forehead into his lap. Damp. New. He takes a breath, slow, steady. Makes a sound to test his voice again. Makes sure it's steady. Strong. Able.]

What...what papers do you have?

[She hears a bit of shuffling, and glances over... then gives a little start and a yelp when the guy suddenly sits up.]

... Paper?

You've been out for days, and that's the first thing you want to ask about?

[...Yes.]

Do they concern me?

[WAR IS NOT DETERRED.]

Not really. It's mostly work stuff. The only one that's got anything to do with you is my letter for home where I have to explain why I'll be so late. Do you have any idea how long you were out? It's been days.

['Days' is answer enough - he doesn't need to ask. And War tends to take people at their word, constant mental interrogation aside, so the matter of papers is put aside. War looks to his armor and weapons again. His sword's against the wall, balanced upright on its hilt. It'd been cleaned, but is no less tainted. War continues to stare at it, then awareness grips him and he jerks his head to the side.]

I trust you'll be vague. Where am I?

[War flexes his fingers, those he was born with and those with circuits. It's not damaged. He picks up the cloth and dabs his neck, shoulders, face, for much of him still faintly burns. His face doesn't, but he wrings the cloth on his forehead, lets the water flow. So he'd remember what water feels like. So he'd remember it's cleansing.]

You're in an inn. We're on the edge of town, not too far from the road I found you on.

What happened, anyway? You looked about half dead.

[He sighs through his nose. Lays the cloth beside him.]

I was made to see. Even the weakest enemy should be treated with caution. It...was poison. Slow-acting.

[War tests out his limbs a bit. Sore.]

Did you see my horse?

[The last time Ruin'd been left alone, he was kidnapped for a century. But few forces can hold him, and briefly War wonders if Ruin led Anise to him. Unlikely - a horse is still a horse. They aren't known for their intelligence, phantom and undying or not. Maybe he just stood by him, then.]

Oh, yeah. There was a horse that followed us back here. I figured it was yours, so I asked the innkeeper to take care of it.

Anyway, you should probably take it easy for a bit. Are you hungry?

[...Uh-oh.]

No. Where is he keeping him?

[War shifts to the side of the bed, picks up the robe. Dark blue? ...It's a little disturbing she got the right size. But he can't fit his giant mechanical arm through there, so he tears a sleeve's seaming and down the side to mid-rib. The end result is...kind of a toga. He pulls it on, ties it loosely, stands up and whoooaa. Sits back down.]

Dammit.

There's a stable for travelers to use, just outside.

[Sigh.]

You know being unconscious for a few days means you haven't eaten for about that long, right?

I don't need to eat.

[Do you know how slow the Apocalypse would be if the Horsemen had to stop and chow three times a day? And here War goes, trying the same thing again. He manages to stand a few seconds longer. It's progress, at least. He sits down. Grumbles internally for a moment or two.]

Are my clothes being washed?

[They were rather dirty. And a little torn. And probably long stained with blood.]

You... what?

[He's not going to answer you until you answer him, Anise. Where is his cowl? And the sashes and the rest? They're not with his armor and sword.]

Try the dresser next to you.

[Anise even used her sewing skills to patch them up a bit.]

But seriously, you don't eat?

[Oh. War reaches over and tugs the top drawer out. Yes, out. He sets it on his lap and yes they're here, folded an-...sown? Why, Anise!? You ERASED HISTORY. War furrows his brow briefly as he plucks out his cowl and all the sashes and whatnot, lays them on the edge of the bed.]

My race breathed before angels.

[You're dealing with serious supernatural shit here, Anise. It is natural to eat. The Horsemen are beyond natural.]

[She needed to practice her domestic skills to one day snag a rich husband. You can't blame her for that!!]

And your race is... what?

Dead.

[He shoves the drawer back in the dresser, opens the second to find the black underarmor suit...thing, pulls that out, shoves the second drawer back. War stands carefully, looks at all he laid out.]

Why do you help me?

Um... [That doesn't sound like the answer she was looking for, but after hearing something grim like that, it's hard to push the subject. She lets it go for now.]

Well... it's kind of like, the normal thing to do, right? I mean, you're mean and I don't like you that much, but I don't hate you enough to leave you for dead.

[Success.]

Were your charity common. But would I have died?

[It's a question to himself as much as it's one not meant to be answered. Most of his exhaustion had been brought from the massacres. He'd ridden from one battle to the next, killed any who made to stop him along the way. The sword had its fill. More.

War removes his robe, slowly pulls on his underarmor, lower and upper, ties the numerous sashes, dons his cowl. He doesn't notice he's leaning to one side, soon to fall over.]

Well, maybe it's just the way I was raised.

[She figures he would have died, but seeing as he doesn't eat, she can't say anything for sure. In the meantime, he does look kind of... unsteady, still.]

Um... I'm not sure you should be moving around so soon.

[He catches himself, places one of his hands on the bed for balance. Listens to his breathing. It's a little shaky.]

My time of staying is finished.

[Days is long enough to be anywhere. But even as War speaks, he has second thoughts. Maybe he simply won't leave right away, for even he knew when action was folly. At least, so he'd like to think.]

What do you suggest, Anise?

[It takes a lot for him to ask that, and after he asks, he realizes she doesn't know his name. War'd gotten used to everyone he met knowing who he was.]

Well, I'd suggest taking a day off from... whatever you do. [She glances at the heavy weapons and armor, which gives her a pretty good clue.]

You know... read a book, try a hobby, get some sleep... stuff like that?

[...

NOPE. War pushes himself from the bed, walks towards the door. Almost kicks himself, but that's because he's unused to being barefoot. He raises his natural arm, nearly breaks the door from its hinges, but you can thank his hazy mind for saving the innkeeper replacement fines.

He steps out of the room, walks stiffly. This hallway is so small. But she said it was just outside...]

H-hey, wait!! What if you collapse again? Are you trying to get yourself killed?

If this is okay...!

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