the falcon cannot hear the falconer; [OPEN]

[ensorceler]

who; anne & you!
what; escape from the clinic
where; clinic & castle gardens
when; today
rating; pg-13 (mention of hell and torture and skirts stuck in wheelchairs)

Anne had been to Hell and back, and what did she have to show for it? Broken pride, perhaps? Even that could not be entirely stifled, but she has made a remarkable show of it since her awakening in the clinic. It helped that she had her clinic room's door shut whenever she could, not wishing for anyone to see her in such gruesome shape. She certainly had injuries to show for it, but so did everybody. Even a week later, Anne is unable to walk on her own more than a step or two. Though her gown, dark for mourning, shields the worst of it from prying eyes, it's impossible to hide that her left arm is in a sling (or at least it should be), the right side of her face is bandaged, and she is most certainly in a wheelchair! But that doesn't stop her from trying to look her best with accessories, simply using a long silk scarf to wrap up her skirt so that it doesn't get tangled in the wheels. She may have already had to learn that lesson the hard way.

Adjusting to these chairs on wheels took some adjustment, especially considering the upper arm strength they required. This, of course, meant that Anne had to pull her arm from her sling whenever she wanted to go anywhere. And you know what, that's exactly what she does, because fuq the popo she's Queen and she does what she wants. The painkillers help, for sure, although she still requires many breaks and pauses in her venture.

Anyone might spot her on her way out of the clinic, as she is not the most subtle scene to bear witness to, but eventually Anne will try to find her way to the castle's gardens, wanting to see the roses, and perhaps find shade in the maze. Wherever she may rest, Anne will end up seated in the grass with the flowers, weaving them along the armrests of the wheelchair. Though her mind still feels numb at times, unable to cope with even thinking of what she should do now, the sun always helps, and menial tasks like these help occupy her scattered mind.

Comments

CLINIC;

[ensorceler]

[whichwayyoulean]

The Once-ler is still in his bed, the same place he's been for over a week now. It's starting to get grating. But the sight of Anne wheeling along is enough to attract attention. After all, it's SOMETHING that's happening.

He's been trying to avoid her, since the whole...imaginary crazy family thing. But he'll clear his throat as she wheels past.

"They'll catch you, you know."

[ensorceler]

Her shoulders visibly hunch at the voice, the now tainted voice, and Anne must consciously suppress a shudder as she looks over to the source. The Once-ler, the strange man who indeed lives by his not-name, taller than any she knows, even her own dear husband.

Swallowing dryly, Anne forces a small smile. It isn't too difficult, because despite it all, she is glad to see he is well with her own eyes. Ted had already told her, as he often tells her so many interesting things, but it is always different to know for oneself.

Eye contact. Because she's a professional.

"And what will they do? Drag me back like a sack of flour, as they did from that ship? I think not."

[whichwayyoulean]

He notices the shoulder hunch, but skilfully tries to avoid talking about THAT. No awkward conversations for him, thanks. He offers her the smallest of smile.

"Maybe. House is back, so it could go anyway, really."

[ensorceler]

"The doctor?"

Since she's been caught, and has had enough time that she isn't like to just dismiss anyone for looking at her now. Not unless they contributed to these injuries, anyway... But he certainly didn't. Her tolerated her crazy a disturbing amount, the poor fool. Her throat just about closes up over remembering the things she said.

Still smiling, though, carefully wheeling closer to his bed, then slipping her arm back into it's sling. "And what would he care if I were to leave?"

[whichwayyoulean]

"That's him."

The Once-ler gives a soft shrug to her question, there's still a smile on his lips, though. House means an awful lot to him, and knowing he's back has done him a lot of good. He's doing his best not to bring up the crazy, he's decided this is something they're going to pretend never happened, and he's utterly okay with that.

"He wouldn't care," he says. "He'd probably stop you out of spite."

[ensorceler]

Anne's nose scrunches a bit in irritation at the mere suggestion, but again always reminding herself that nobody here cared if she was queen, visiting or not. She had moments where she had trouble caring these days, too. With a little sigh, she stops beside his bed and pushes on an exaggerated smirk.

"Then I would merely beguile him into letting me pass."

[bronwe]

He has brought her what she asked for, though incomplete. Perhaps the progress might comfort her. It's only a roll of paper with the names of the dead written there, as much as he can gather from the announcements on the journal. He doesn't dare ask for people to report in the rest when he has little authority.

And a basket of teacakes.

He stops just by the door when he notices her meaning to leave. "Good morning."

[ensorceler]

Damn, so close to making a getaway undetected. Anne almost has the grace to look sheepish at being caught trying to edge her way into the wheelchair all by herself, and not at all gracefully given her state, either. She nearly falls right on the floor in her quick attempt to lean back in the direction of the bed.

"Mister Frodo... What brings you?"

[bronwe]

Frodo notices that too, hurrying as best as he can to steady the wheelchair for her to move into, before remembering that she probably needs more help getting out of the bed and offers his arm to serve whatever support. He has nothing against her running away from the clinic when he certainly would given her place.

"Names, Your Majesty. As you requested of me."

[ensorceler]

Oh, his assistance is somewhat unexpected, which really shows how accustomed she has grown to Paradisa, even though no others seem to realize. She no longer expects help from anybody. Maybe she was a fool to have expected it in England. But as it's being offered now, at least in shallow means, she accepts it readily, gripping his arm tightly as she tries to slink into the wheelchair with as much dignity as she can muster.

"The names of the dead? Hmph, well, some of them are already returning. Sooner than I was told of. But I would still like to hear."

[bronwe]

The errand helped keep him busy, keep his mind off of things. His only regret is that visiting the clinic and going through the journal to find the names took so little time, which did make him wonder if he should start asking too, like she did. But who would answer such a grave question when asked by a silly old hobbit?

Frodo holds her arm as firmly as he can, in case she slips and injure herself some more. It certainly is nice to see her all cleaned up and bandaged but he still remembers how terrible the wound on her leg seemed. He fetches that roll of paper only once Anne is securely in her wheelchair, unrolling it to start reading them out, even if he remembers the few names anyway.

"These are the people who were dead, or missing. Kara Zor-el. Zelos Wilder. Gregory House. Ib. South Dakota. Clow Reed," he hesitates before offering her the list to see for herself. "There was also a fair-haired man there that I don't know, and a woman with red hair."

[ensorceler]

It's some trouble to sit in such a cramped chair in all of her skirts, although a doctor would tell her not to dress like this. She just cannot stand what has been dubbed a 'hospital gown' when it's no gown at all but a sack.

She listens while occasionally fussing with her skirts to rearrange them. She already knew of House, Zelos, and South Dakota. Unfortunate. It all is, really, and she prays they did not go to the Hell she did.

"The fair haired man would be James Bond, I believe. Could you not have asked after the red-haired woman? Do you at least know anything about any of the others?" Accepting the list, she glances it over to memorize the spelling of the strange names. "Ib, the strangest name on here. Who is that?"

GARDENS;

[ensorceler]

[3nterprising]

Being in the castle had been stuffy and frankly quite undesirable for Faye, considering everything had been going on since the event. Her torso is bandaged to the Nth degree while her stab wound heals, and bending hadn't been easy, but she's compelled to be outside.

Spotting the familiar face as she wandered the gardens jarred Faye for more reasons than one, but approaching her seemed inevitable.

"How's your leg?"

[ensorceler]

The voice triggers her to freeze in place, only looking up when the other woman draws near. Feeling considerably vulnerable in this state, especially around any who had attributed to her injuries, Anne can't help but completely clam up at first. The gaze she offers is not warm, though, as her hand settles over her skirts and she finally finds her voice.

"I am unable to walk. I trekked with the injury for too long on that ship of the Damned, and I was told the loss of blood and infection could have been my final undoing had I been rescued at any later date. Shall I go on?"

[3nterprising]

"No need, I get it."

Faye had been expecting the animosity. "I wasn't-- neither of us were in our right minds." She's inching her way toward an apology.

[ensorceler]

Anne's eyes only narrow more. Faye's right, but Anne can't keep down the defensive feeling, especially when someone tries telling a queen what they were supposedly thinking. What quiet humility she had been summoning so often lately seems drowned out now, the feeling of weakness only making her show of pride that much louder and enforced.

"You do not know me, and can make no claim on my state of mind. You are beneath me."

[3nterprising]

Any semblance of an apology Faye had is now taken back, or at the very least postponed. Maybe she wasn't royalty, but she didn't deserve to be spoken to like that.

"You should be thanking me," she says, crossing her arms.

[ensorceler]

That only receives a look of bafflement, drawing back as if she was again struck. "What, pray, ought I to be thanking you for? For nearly ending my life?"

[gottaknockhard]

Spike took his time returning to the castle. Most might alert everyone who may care the moment they return from the dead, but it took him longer than a few days to start to feel like himself again -- turns out staying in the mansion wasn't the best method of recovery.

He spotted her with Faye before he even made it inside, and hung back behind a tall piece of shrubbery to let them talk. Considering how he left, it's better that he take them one at a time. With any luck, they didn't get that story, but he's not taking chances. Once Anne is alone again, he steps out, crushing a cigarette he smoked to pass the time before getting any closer. He watches her carefully, taking in what he sees.

"You look shorter than I remember." To be fair, there wasn't anything he could say that would have helped his case.

[ensorceler]

The stem of the rose snaps and tears in her grip in her hurry to turn and see the owner of the voice, peripheral vision not at it's best thanks to the bandaging. Not that she should have really doubted who it is, but when one has suffered from countless visions a week earlier, it's understandable to occasionally doubt reality. Although she already had, hadn't she? Hadn't they both?

What hope and relief that managed to shine in her eye is quickly stamped out, even bright anger nonexistence, instead replaced with cold walls. Her lips purse, and then she looks back down and away to the ruined stem. Gripping the rose with her hand, she forcefully rips it free, then calmly works about nestling it within the design along the back, using the other flowers to keep it in place.

"You no longer seem as tall, either."

[gottaknockhard]

He didn't know what to expect from her reaction, and he misses nothing as she puts on her detached front. The subtle insult seems to roll past him, although he does fluff up one side of his hair self-consciously before saying anything else.

"I'm sorry." Apologies seem to come easier all the time, so he must be getting used to giving them. He looks down at hands. "I didn't even bring flowers."

[ensorceler]

"Is that a jest? You think I am in the mood?"

Seriously they're in a garden, and she's got pile a pile of flowers in her lap. Anne seems intensely devoted to weaving some together, too, reds and whites and yellows. She purposely doesn't invite him to sit.

"You apologized before. You said it, not even knowing why. What are you sorry for?"

[gottaknockhard]

"A few things," he starts lamely. He wants to know what happened, but he had a suspicion after seeing her with Faye. He remembers trying to get her help to track Anne down, so he can only make assumptions. Everything went to Hell and back again and all he can do is make jokes. Maybe he tries too hard to seem normal.

"I guess I don't blame you for firing me." She had said while trying to claw herself away from him, and she had a right to. Spike only brings it up now to gauge her reaction, and give her an out if she cares to take it.