VIDEO(s) | 1-3 September + the rest of September | OPEN | +assorted pm's to a hella lot of people

[waterbearer]

Morning, Sept 1

[ The first video, on September 1st, is an empty room in the healing ward, locket angled awkwardly as though it were left on a dresser or table surface, but not by the user. The voice is raspy and disused, and the picture is off-center, focused on an individual whose body is seemingly entirely submerged in a bathtub full of iced water, bright pink and yellow discolorations interrupting the natural color of the skin. ]

Πού είμαι εγώ? Ανεξ Οριν? Πού είμαι εγώ?

[ He is only awake for a few minutes, entirely disoriented and squinting in the direction of the device he seems to have remembered to activate. He falls back asleep again, and slips beneath the water. ]

Dawn, Sept 2

[ He is awake again, this time more alert, hand moving as though it would reach towards the device before falling entirely still with pain, limbs assuming a decorticate pose. Still he tries to speak again, voice still quiet and raspy. The off-centered image of the locket seems to pick up a very strong fanning of his neck, seemingly expanding and contracting in quick intervals, but it is hard to tell what is causing that effect since the image seems almost blurred. ]

Where is...? Nightwing? Black Canary...?

[ He seems to stay conscious for longer, but his questions end quickly and he looks about in confusion at the room before sinking into unconsciousness again. ]

Mid-day, Sept 2

[ Awake and much more conscious, shifting slightly in the tub, though clearly in some severe form of discomfort. The voice is calmer, though he still seems slightly confused. ]

There was a dragon–

[ He doesn't say more, simply tries to peer about his environment, trying to look for clues. Once someone else enters the room, the feed shuts off. ]

Morning, Sept 3

[ Moderately upright, Alert, and the locket is now centered properly on Kaldur's face, though little can be seen below his chin. Given the more focused view, this seems deliberate. ]

I would know that status of Redgate, as well as all those of my acquaintance who are traveling abroad and receive this message. Thank you.

[ He still looks a little peaky, but much more aware of himself and his surroundings. ]

{{ hover for text translation, pm threads to be started in comments }}

Comments

text. krew locked.

[chromosomes]

Redgate isn't great. And any soldiers from there who see you or Korra will attack on sight.

How are you feeling?

text. krew locked.

[waterbearer]

Then my plans to join and assist with the reconstruction as soon as I am able will be benched.

I have a not-insignificant amount of gold however, that I will arranged to be sent to you in aid of helping to rebuild. Whether or not the funds of Redgate can handle the burden we placed upon it, they should not need to.

How you wish that to be delivered is up to you.

[ He hesitates a moment, but continues on. He might try to hide the severity of his condition from the others, but to do so from the Staff Sergeant would be stupid. ]

Not well at all. The burning is severe, some even down to the bone. The webbing between my left fingers has been burnt entirely away, and I have been in a coma for about a week and a half.

I am not certain as to the extent of the damage to my fine motor control, or what reflexes may need to be retrained. Regardless, I will not be doing much of anything for the majority of this month. I do not have the caability, without risking greater injury.

[ that doesn't mean he will be liking it, by any chance. ]

text. krew locked.

[chromosomes]

I could always ask if she would make an exception in that case, but she's not exactly happy about the whole situation.

That I can deal with. I'm not sure what the most secure way to get it here would be, though. I'd say Hermione, but... well. Have you heard? Checked your compass?

I'm glad you're awake now. Once I'm back, if you need any assistance retraining, I'd be happy to help.

text. krew locked.

[waterbearer]

I would prefer not to interrupt what reconstruction may occur, and I would not disrupt what order that has managed to be established. Though if you feel that she may take some comfort in the fact that I nearly died the same way she had, you are welcome to make known my injuries. They were only made worse by the fact that the quick-drying heat of the cavern slowly inhibited my ability to properly breathe, and the fact that I did not immediately seek attention upon returning to Caer Glaem.

The dragon Sura, understandably, came first.

In light of this, I would ask, also, that you not reveal the source of my... donation, unless she insists upon it. I hardly seek credit for actions that should have been corrected long before now, but were hampered by my inability to establish them.

And I thank you, for any assistance you are willing to provide.

[ As far as Hermoine... ]

John. I can barely move my hands and arms as it is, and my locket is only being used through voice commands only. I have not seen my compass in days.

What news of Hermoine.

Text

[gordianknots]

Redgate sustained serious damage. The mining operation within the mountain has been disrupted, with casualties, and the village took similar damage, also with casualties.

Text

[waterbearer]

Thank you for your honesty.

I would have assisted with the relief efforts, were I capable of doing so. I do not have manpower of my own to lend, but I am hoping to make what resources at my disposal available to help with reconstruction, as well as recompense for the loses, though I understand that true recompense is impossible for such loss.

I would ask, however, that you do not mention that I am the one providing said resources.

[gordianknots]

I'm not the kind of person to lie about a matter such as this.

Consider the matter under permanent nondisclosure. Many people are volunteering what resources they can either personally offer, or indirectly - being one of the many is a massive advantage at the moment.

Things were well under way towards reconstruction when I left, if that means anything to you as well.

[waterbearer]

That many are willing to help, and that progress is being made, these are good things. Again, I thank you for the news.

sept 2; dusk. private. voice.

[vrykolakas]

Open your mouth.

[The Brucolac's grave-dust voice sounds worried, though it's not Kaldur's health that concerns him exactly.]

sept 3; morning. private. video

[waterbearer]

[ This is the first chance Kaldur has had to congizantly respond to any messages that have been sent, but he is quick to open a video-channel to the Brucolac and reply. Or, well, to open his mouth to the camera.

The Brucolac is lucky that Kaldur is still out of it to do it first and ask questions later. ]

You were concerned about my mouth.

[ As flat as he states it, his eyebrow is still cocked in question. An interesting concern, though one does not usually enter a coma after being severely burnt, either, unless it was medically induced. ]

private. voice.

[vrykolakas]

[It takes the Brucolac a while to respond, until after the sun goes down, and he still won't open a video connection in response. (This is partly because he is squinting like hell at the tiny screen in an effort to make out details).]

Yes. [Preoccupied. He's gladdened by the apparent no-change in Kaldur's teeth and tongue, but can't be bothered to actually—state that, apparently.] Your pupils look normally dilated.

Your fever broke. Yes?

private. video.

[waterbearer]

I believe it has. I have been submerged in ice-water for the better part of two weeks. That I entered a coma was unusual, but there are many factors that could have contributed to such an outcome.

Other than minor complications from that, I am as I have always been.

[ He keeps the video feed open just in case. This is the strangest questioning he's had yet, and while he might be stretching the truth on how well he is, Kaldur isn't wrong that he is entirely himself. ]

[Video | Private] Sept. 3

[fell_to_hell]

[After the past two days of those network posts, Nico has refrained from speaking to Kaldur until he's more lucid. He's been worried over what's happened at Redgate, especially after Hermione got taken prisoner by the Unseelie. After seeing the burns on Kaldur in the previous posts, he's grown more concerned. He tries not to let more than a little of that concern show when he responds.]

Three assassins attempted to attack me in the middle of the night a few days ago. Considering we had five demigods, a mage, a mercenary, and Elincia, it wasn't the smartest decision on their part. We tried to catch them for interrogation, but they had a hidden poison capsule in their mouths.

[He shrugs lightly.]

Not that it saved them from an interrogation anyway. How are you doing? I haven't heard from you in a while.

[Video | Private] Sept. 3

[waterbearer]

[ If Nico hadn't stressed that he was safe, Kaldur would have dragged his ass out of his icebucket tub and headed straigt over to him, pronto.

Even so, he shifts almost as if to do so, a quick aborted movement that ends with a long hiss of pain.

He responds in a mix of Atlantean and Attic Greek, because it is easier for his mind to think closer to his first language. Very grateful for small miracles, at that. ]

I have only recently regained consciousness from a coma that appears to have lasted just shy of a week and a half. During the events of Redgate, I sustained some injuries, mostly from the dragon we sought to protect. But such is to be expected: as a creature of water and oceans, I am very sensitive to heat and flame.

But you are safe. And well.

[ It's almost a question, but not quite. He's definitely worrying about you, now. ]

I do not mean solely in the physical.

[ You just nearly got assassinated, felt people die, and then recalled them to have a chat. That has to have put a drain on you, and Kaldur curses that he cannot be closer to help or protect. ]

[Video | Private] Sept. 3

[fell_to_hell]

[He nods, and then hesitates.]

...I'll be alright. It's been a draining week, but I'll be okay.

[Nico rubs his face.]

We should be arriving at the Drabkeeper's Castle soonish. It's maybe a little less than two weeks away. Provided nothing happens to delay us.

[He doesn't have much hope in their luck holding out for that.]

[Video | Private] Sept. 3

[waterbearer]

[ He is going to sit here with his fretting face on because someone needs to fret about you. But he will try to be cheery anyways because you need that, too. ]

I shall do my best to provide adequate entertainment for the surely boring and uneventful weeks ahead of you.

[ Not gonna jinx it not gonna jinx it. ]

There is much to discover at the Drabkeep, I am to understand. I am sure it will be quite the fun trip.

[ Okay yeah that probably jinxed it. How does that saying go? "May your life be long and your legend great," or, perhaps, "May you live in interesting times." ]

[Text | Private] Sept. 15

[waterbearer]

Nico, I have been gifted the most interesting book by one of the fairies. Shall I send you some of the lines?

[Text | Private] Sept. 15

[fell_to_hell]

Sure. Go ahead.

[It's not like there's much else to do on this ship. This will be a good distraction.]

[Text | Private] Sept. 15

[waterbearer]

"Boldly she accepted the invitation and wrapped her arms around him, offering the delightful meal of her mouth, and he thought he had died and gone to heaven. He had never tasted sweeter. Another rush of warmth swelled over him, and he groaned, crushing her where he had wanted her for months -- against his heart."

Interesting, is it not? I do not think I have ever read such purple prose

[Action] Sep 2 | Mid-Day

[tough_love]

She had been about to say something over her own locket earlier that morning, but Kaldur had passed out before she could do so. Which, frankly, only annoyed her further, considering she was already displeased at this turn of events. So instead of sitting idly by and waiting to try her locket again if he woke up, she decided to be proactive about things and try to seek him out.

She probably would have arrived earlier, had she asked the fairies for help at the start of her little venture. It was only once she was hopelessly lost that she sought out help, and finally found her way to Kaldur's room in the healing ward. Which, naturally, she entered with all the grace of an angry ziboson, and it was a small miracle the door was not damaged after the way she flung it open.

"By Tetra's fist, if this is part of some ridiculous ploy to avoid our battle, no amount of strange magic will be able to fix what I do to you!"

Despite the clear and present threat in her words, Looma wasn't terribly upset. She was loud, sure, and gritting her teeth by the time she was done speaking, but she wasn't really mad. The door to the room would have likely been outside the castle by now if she were. Besides, she did not appear to be terribly eager to engage in violence, despite her annoyance. She simply crossed her arms over her chest and waited to hear the inevitable explanation.

"What. Happened."

[Action] Sep 2 | Mid-Day

[waterbearer]

Kaldur's mind is still a little hazy, and it is several moments of squinting at Looma after wincing away from the loudness of her voice that Kaldur is able to identify and recognize his visitor. He is glad, at least, the the feed shut as the locket fell closed with the loud bang and shake of the door she had wildly flung open, and he tries to shift more, with gritted teeth, to sit up and face her.

"Princess Looma. I apologize for the unexpected delay in our promised match."

In fact, now that he's thinking about it, he's pretty damned ticked, too. He'd been looking forward to that opportunity, and he is notlooking forward to the excess of physical rehab he is going to need to go through.

"I had underestimated the dampening effects of the environment, which exacerbated a particular weakness of mine. It was best that I be removed from the situation as quickly as possible, unfortunately, that only added to my injuries."

Also, Kaldur's priorities when it comes to his safety over others' safety, especially now that he isn't really in command any more, is pretty terrible. Greek Gods of Yogurt-Awful. Sea cucumbers are rather better at it, actually.

[Action] Sep 2 | Mid-Day

[tough_love]

"Bright colors?" she asked, one brow slightly arched as she looked him over.

Yep, she was going there. Though she did doubt that any species anywhere in the galaxy had an aversion to colors, she was curious about the strange coloration of his skin at the moment. She was relatively certain no part of him had been bright pink or yellow when they last spoke.

Still, as she was not completely inconsiderate, she thought it best to have this conversation from somewhere other than the doorway and made her way toward the tub that had been set aside for the Atlantean. She had her doubts that any chairs in the room would be even remotely comfortable (or able to support the weight of someone her size clad in full armor), so she resigned to leaning against a wall closer to the tub and setting her warhammer on the floor. Considering Kaldur's condition, she had no issues allowing it to leave her side, as it was unlikely he'd be able to do anything with it. Even if he was able to pick it up in his current state.

"How long until you are well again?"

pops in here (literally)

[brainiest]

[ After hearing from John that Kaldur had been almost locked away to heal, burying himself in warm water to soothe his burns -- well, she wasn't going to stand for that. It's her determination to help which has her popping out of his fireplace, literally, stepping through in a small burst of green fire and brushing off the ashes before she looks around, curious and a little disorientated before she grins, spotting him. ]

Kaldur! I've brought you a present.

pops in here (literally)

[waterbearer]

[ It has only been warm for the past few days, before that there were some icecubes floating around. (Not that he minded). Still, a sudden appearance through the fireplace is interesting, but Kaldur grins, happy to have a guest. ]

Hermoine! You needn't have. I am glad to see you safe and well.

[ It is wonderful that she isn't kidnapped anymore. ]

[brainiest]

[ She brightens and scurries over to his side without hesitation. Hermione knows that she couldn't really help being kidnapped, all things considered, but the fact that she hadn't been able to get to him to help sooner is a little frustrating. All the same, she's here now and she settles in a chair at his side, digging into her bag as she begins to speak. ]

I'm glad to see you too. It's been a while, hasn't it?

[ She perks up when she grabs something, pulling it out of her bag and offering it out. ]

Burn paste!