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[versusnurture]

[She doesn't hear from Arkin all day on Thursday; she doesn't see him, either. By evening, she's concerned. Maybe he's sick, like the new girl in the infirmary. She brings him soup.]

[When she finds him in his room, she drops nothing. Just places it on the nearest flat surface with a sigh and pinches the bridge of her nose.]

[The announcement comes after a slight delay, during which she's thinking hard.]

Arkin O'Brien has fallen into a coma in his room. I need help getting him to the infirmary.

[Anyone who tells her to let them take care of it and go away may get knifed.]

Comments

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[lastincident]

I'll bring the stretcher down.

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[versusnurture]

I'll be here.

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[lastincident]

Just be a few minutes.

[ And it will be, but eventually he'll be there with the thing folded up under one arm -- rapping on the door to Arkin's room. ]</small.

[versusnurture]

[She opens the door slowly, peering out to ensure it's who she's expecting. When she sees that it is, she backs up slightly to let Bruce in. She never takes her eyes off him, though, barely blinks, taking a place at the foot of Arkin's bed and awaiting instructions.]

[spam]

[lastincident]

[ Bruce watches her carefully, offering her a smile, small and deceptively meek; all of Bruce is a mask of patience over the rage, and it's so seamless that few could see it for what it is. ]

Can you grab his feet?

[ Spam ]

[warisart]

[Ben does not respond to her post, though the use of text concerns him. He does not turn up at Arkin's room, though he knows where it is. He's nearby, of course, and he observes as the other warden is taken to the infirmary, but he doesn't approach. He doesn't understand Abigail's relationship with Arkin, though he's considered it; he gives her the space to operate around it, as long as she doesn't reach out to him first.

But because of all this, too, he shows up at her cabin door earlier than he normally would. He's holding an item tucked under one arm, sheltered between his body and the wall where he's not leaning, but standing very close. He waits.]

[ Spam ]

[versusnurture]

[She isn't expecting him this early; she's taken her time getting Arkin settled, although technically speaking there's not much settling to do that will help him more than her. She's left him a note, at least, to call her when he wakes up (when, not if), so that she can tell him exactly how long it's been and what happened, in the event that she isn't there.]

[When she sees Ben, she slows, looking at him with confusion. Something must have happened to him. She racks her brain - then, with sudden alarm:]

Is Anya hurt again?

[ Spam ]

[warisart]

[He isn't impatient. He knows when she left the infirmary, more or less, and he knows the only other two people he is currently concerned about are either in the infirmary as well or in Zero still. So when he glances up and sees that she's spotted him he squares his shoulders and lifts his chin, and then she catches him completely off guard.

It's still concerning, sometimes, to know that other people know they are important to each other; he reminds himself that it's okay, here. He clears his throat.]

No. I came to speak with you. I know that Arkin is important to you, and comas can be... distressing.

[ Spam ]

[versusnurture]

Oh. Good.

[She goes quiet and lets him explain. Once he's done speaking, she looks down and away, her fingers tracing the shape of the doorknob.]

He's going to be scared when he wakes up alone.

It's just how things are here. It's all right. [It isn't. And she wonders what would happen if Ben went into a coma and never woke up.]

Do you - want to come in?

[ Spam ]

[warisart]

Because of the man that attempted to kill him?

[Ben has been fortunate, he knows; many have people close to them that experience comas much more frequently than his people have. Of course, Aya is gone now. Zack is still here, but Ben isn't sure for how long anymore; his heart isn't here.

The X5 knows it's not alright, but there isn't anything he can do about that, and he has sufficient experience bearing it along with him anyway.]

Yes, please.

[spam]

[worksbetterinthepast]

[It's after Arkin is moved that Ryan approaches Abigail. ]

Abigail Hobbs? My name is Ryan Hardy. I was wondering if I could talk to you?

[spam]

[versusnurture]

[She can't place him, but knows he's important somehow; doesn't recognize him, but knows this method of approach. Like Nathan, he is fairly transparent as a police officer.]

[She tilts her head quizzically.]

Regarding?

[spam]

[worksbetterinthepast]

[Ryan wasn't trying to cover up his approach, either. He smiles faintly, apologetically.] Hannibal Lecter. Look, I understand if you don't want to talk about it or to me. Just listen.

[He raises a hand to hold her off saying anything before he finishes.] He went out of his way to get into my head while he was still pretending to be your father. He got in deep. He found some things nobody but my Warden is supposed to know.

[spam]

[versusnurture]

[She almost bolts when she hears Hannibal's name. Almost. But he holds up his hand and she stills, and by the time he's done talking she looks waspish, as though considering a recalcitrant child.]

Of course he did. That's what he does.

It was really stupid to approach me in public like this. But I'll talk anyway. Just do yourself a favor and don't play any headgames with me.

Where's your cabin?

[spam]

[worksbetterinthepast]

[His expression remains flat though if he was he a better mood he might laugh about the stupid part. So much he could just let himself laugh crazily at if he let himself.]

I can say the same to you.

[There's a dangerous look in his eyes, one he doesn't bother to hide.]

Level three. 10.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

can't help you with that. [Someone's never been invited in.] but i've got make-up and free time.

[Beautifying wardens is a legitimate hobby and/or punishment for taking a nap, y/n? Yes. The answer is always yes.]

[versusnurture]

I think he'd be very annoyed.

[This is not a no.]

[forgetyourusedtobe]

maybe at first, but i'm pretty sure if he took a minute to think about it he'd be overjoyed we bothered at all.

he'll wake up beautiful.

[versusnurture]

[There is a delay in responding. Not because she's uncertain about the broad strokes, but because she's considering specifics.]

how much eyeliner do you have?

[forgetyourusedtobe]

i've got black, gray, brown, and even a blue. liquid, pencil. whatever floats your boat.

[halftheman]

[ The text came later; after the Arkins and Ryans and Bens were there and gone, after Harvey had time to go to his room, change into proper clothes. He fed his fish-- all four were in his room right now, each in their separate bowls on separate surfaces. The monochrome one flared at his fingertip as he traced the glass before he dropped the pellets into the water. ]

[ Finally, he sat down and messaged Abigail like he promised. ]

Healed and out.

[versusnurture]

Come see me.

[Her answer instantaneous, happy and yet terribly concerned.]

Or I can come see you.

[halftheman]

I can come to you.

[ After all, he's gone to the trouble of getting patched up, catching some calm and dressing well, he might as well leave his room. After ditching the infirmary gown, Harvey put himself in a well tailored, blue suit and a dove gray shirt; no split colors. The matching tie has a woven pattern, subtle but effective. His gloves match his shirt.

[ In short, he dresses like a well paid lawyer, or a well paid gang boss. Either or. ]

[ He's at her door in a few minutes, rapping lightly on it. ]

[versusnurture]

[She pulls it open almost instantly. Her eyes go from his face to his tie and back again. Then she gives him a quick hug and tugs him inside.]

[Her room is cleaner than it's been, though there are still signs that she hasn't been leaving it much. There are boxes of prepackaged food (crackers, dried fruit) and a meticulously rinsed dish from the cafeteria, waiting to be brought back to Ben.]

[Abigail sits down on the edge of the bed and folds her hands in her lap.]

How are you feeling? Both of you.

[halftheman]

[ There is a tiny girl hugging him and pulling him into her room. Like it's normal. Like he's a friend, family, something safe. He doesn't question it, and simply follows her lead, allowing her to do as she pleases. ]

[ He lets her get situated, taking in the place. Yes, she's doing better, that's good; he smiles, just briefly, at the improvement. ]

I'm fine now.

He's-- not speaking. Hiding. Afraid there's only one of us today. He'll recover from his sulk in time.