Battle wounds

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

[Devon's in the hospital ward. Reason: blood loss and various cuts and bruises, mostly on shoulders and arms. Overall, condition stable - but her mood is foul, and she's here in the first place only because the aforementioned blood loss made her too weak to resist.

Reading a book while sitting in a bed currently. Approach?]

Comments

[mydutyisnotover.livejournal.com]

You got hurt pretty badly.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

[Gives Frank a "you came here to gloat or what? look.]

My flesh mends quickly. Can't say the same about the four I destroyed.

[mydutyisnotover.livejournal.com]

[Provocation ignored.]

Luckily, you only lost some blood. But if you keep fighting recklessly, it might be worse next time.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Your care is wasted on me.
[Sarcastic Devon is sarcastic.]

I will not die, no matter what.

[mydutyisnotover.livejournal.com]

Don't get overconfident. That's one of the worst mistakes you can make in a fight.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

I'm not overconfident. I just refuse to die.

We both know I cannot afford to. Not now, not ever.

But especially not now.

[mydutyisnotover.livejournal.com]

Which is why I'm telling you to be less reckless. Laura would say the same thing.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

[That name!]

I'll do... What must be done.

No. I'll do whatever I decide I must do.

[mydutyisnotover.livejournal.com]

Hope you will decide the right thing. In the meantime, return to health. Aside from what I said already... you fought well.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

I know that. No need to placate me with compliments.

[mydutyisnotover.livejournal.com]

I give credit where it's due.

[bakaribbon.livejournal.com]

[Haruka's here! And she brought a tray with steak, veggies, and lemonade for both of them. She sits one of the trays down on the table next to Devon, and takes hers to a chair in the corner of the room.]

I heard you got hurt pretty badly last mission...and, Tsukasa was making food for everyone, so I figured I should get you some.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

[Looks at Haruka, at the tray, back at Haruka. Whatever emotions boil inside Devon remain a secret. Her face is a stone mask.]

If I got hurt, it's only due to my own actions. Do not be concerned about it.

[bakaribbon.livejournal.com]

Still, you'll get better faster if you have something to eat.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

I'm not infirm. You don't need to bring me food.

[Grabs something from the tray and devours it almost immediately anyway.]

And should I ever become infirm... the same would apply. Even more than now.

[bakaribbon.livejournal.com]

[Haruka stifles a small laugh at Devon.]

Right...I guess I should be leaving now, then?

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Do whatever you want.

[Not at all hurt by that laugh, no siree.]

[bakaribbon.livejournal.com]

Right then, I'll see you around. Get well soon!

[Haruka exeunt.]

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Mhm.

[Goes back to reading. And once Haruka is out of the sickbay...]

This is familiar. Don't get too soft now, me.

[vjockey.livejournal.com]

[Had heard about what happened and had made to the ward with all due speed]

Devon.

[Was not sure what to say after that, because OBVIOUSLY "are you alright" would be beyond idiotic]

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

If you're going to ask what happened...

Mostly side effects of my powers. They're inevitable. I was also shot at. The armor absorbs most of the impact, so I can take it. Easily.

[Did not even interrupt her reading.]

[vjockey.livejournal.com]

[Taking it easily? True. Walking away from it? Not so much since she's laid out over here]

I see...

[Cheng considered his words carefully before he spoke again]

Are there any other side effects that we should know about?

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Not really. There is exhaustion, but it falls on people of lesser stamina. I do not have years of experience as a Shifter to get tired from my own power now.

[Way to be humble, Devon. But then, it doesn't sound like she's bragging - more like stating a fact.]

Human body heals. I was the victor there.

[vjockey.livejournal.com]

[Was somewhat disbelieving...but when one thinks about it Devon has a point, she's alive. They aren't. If anything that was one of the biggest points the academy put out about combat.]

Any battle you can walk away from...

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

"What does not kill me, makes me stronger."

A cliche line, but fitting.

[vjockey.livejournal.com]

A pity that many of us would die easily compared to what you could survive.

[Actually said that without any sarcasm or malice]

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

I realize that. This is how life is - fundamentally unfair, and you cannot help but live with it.

Or can you? If you are unhappy with the status quo, then change it. And if you do not see any sensible options that let you do just that, look for new ones.

[vjockey.livejournal.com]

[Cheng doesn't say a word, but from what it looks like he is now considering deeply the words Devon has granted him]

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

It's never easy, but some things are harder to change than others. Being less easy to kill...

It would be best if everyone had Shifter potential. But that's a fantasy, impossible to attain.

[vjockey.livejournal.com]

Perhaps. But then again it may be for the best as well.

The potential for abuse is great even though the same could be said for any power.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Every power can be abused. If humanity is afraid of that, then maybe it'd be better off still living in caves.