post-snek recoveries

[neonleon]

[You know?

That weird temple wasn't good, but it wasn't the worst. Not by far now that he's back in this dimension. He floats a bit aimlessly, body broken, shell cracked and falling apart, some bones and insides shattered. His head aches in a way that he can't think.

All he can really do is hope Prime doesn't find him immediately right now. The light off his ring catches his eye and he looks at it, not fully registering that it's lit up.

A promise.]

Comments

[pyrighteous]

Then we can have dinner, and then we can see if this New York is the same as your New York.

[neonleon]

Sounds like a plan. I dig it. And in the meeeaaantiiiime, I get to freak your friends out huh.

[pyrighteous]

Yeah. Uh. In a good way! They’re all really happy.

[neonleon]

Or really confused.

[He's still kinda looking at those responses. A lot of acronyms and exclamation marks. And Amity kinda mad he got engaged before her because that isn't fair, somehow?]

Whatever, I'll let 'em know I'm not like. Evil or anything.

[pyrighteous]

That too.

[ In a good way!! Happy for Hunter!! Also how tf is Hunter the first one engaged. Amity and Luz better catch up. ]

There … are a few concerns along those lines, yeah.

[neonleon]

I'm pretty sure that Darius guy would've unalived me if I was evil when he talked to me.

[pyrighteous]

Oh yeah, that’s totally true. He’d have straight up murdered you.

[neonleon]

Y-yeah, so I'm pretty sure we can rule out I'm evil.

[Even as a muscle in his arm spasms a little, all internal and he just tenses a second. Probably just his nerves responding to the salve.]

What else do we need to do?

[pyrighteous]

[ Salve can do that probably!! Hunter just keeps gently massaging it in. Maybe taking a little longer than he needs but he's Leo's fiancé so he's allowed!! ]

Let it dry for a moment. And then I'll bandage you back up again.

[neonleon]

[The "oh" he says is more of a quiet whispered exhale. He sort of hunches into himself a bit and watches Hunter work, focuses on the feeling of him massaging the salve in.]

Yeah... Let it dry then.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter pauses a moment at that reaction. ]

... Is it okay? Does it hurt?

[neonleon]

Not- really any more than it did when we left the university. Just... Enjoying you being close.

[pyrighteous]

O-oh!

[ Hunter abruptly flushes a deep red. ]

That's - that's good!

[neonleon]

[Always cute. He flashes a grin at Hunter.]

I agree, it's great. So we'll let this dry, get my arm wrapped back up. Prep for ...whatever we're doing the rest of the day?

[Even if that's 'sleep for Leo while Hunter does other stuff'. He's already pretty worn out.]

[pyrighteous]

I think you should sleep, Leo. I need to do some work with Dell today anyway.

[neonleon]

Honestly? Love that idea. Wasn't sure if you had anyone else to introduce me to today, but I'd love to sleep some more.

[How you know he's really worn out: actively excited about it.]

[pyrighteous]

[ IT'S KIND OF CONCERNING IN FACT. But Hunter smiles instead and bumps Leo's forehead with his own. ]

You can meet Dell at the end of the day, yeah. I'll wake you up for dinner?

[neonleon]

[He nods, enjoying the closeness.]

Dinner, yeah. I'll try not to mess up the bandages.

[pyrighteous]

If you do, I'll just fix them again anyway.

[ He finishes tying them off! ]

[neonleon]

And waste all these good bandages? Nah.

[He looks down at his arm, clenches and unclenches his fist a couple times before leaning to kiss Hunter's cheek.]

Go on. I'll get settled, wake me up when it's time.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter goes rather red at that. ]

R-right! Totally! I'll be back soon.

[ And he moves to get up and head downstairs. ]

[neonleon]

[He watches Hunter disappear out the door and downstairs; the vibrations are really loud in this treehouse. Good.

Probably not great for his trying to sleep though. He climbs into the huge bed and curls up a bit, careful of his arm. But it's fitful. Dreams of dying, over and over, being ripped apart while he rips others into pieces. Of a thick, cloying tar covering him bit by bit as he keeps doing worse things.

He wakes up and starts every so often, before drifting back to a light sleep. By the time Hunter comes back, he's in a cold sweat trembling with a whimper in his throat.]

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter, meanwhile, has a great day with Dell. He ends up gushing about his fiancé, about how amazing he is, and he’s so excited to properly introduce Dell tonight. He’s pretty distracted from his chores, but you know what? Dell doesn’t mind. He’s just happy to see his protege happy …

Eventually, Hunter heads back up the stairs to their room. Knocks on the door frame? Peeks his head in. ]

Leo? Dinner’s almost ready -

[ He pauses, seeing that trembling. And rushes over. ]

—- Leo?

[neonleon]

[He tosses a time or two before he jolts awake at hearing his name, eyes wide for a second before calming.]

Hunter? Hey. [He swallows thickly, laying there for a few breaths before he shifts to push himself up.] What time is it?

[pyrighteous]

It’s - it’s evening. Almost dinner time.

[ He sits next to Leo in the bed, hovering. ]

Are you okay?