SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (The World)

[gluttoning]

[FOOTBALL NOISES

aka this for IRL football watching or any communications outside Fragment. Yay football. :)]

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SUNDAY 9/17 - CRMC Hospital, Fresno

[gluttoning]

[For anyone who got Lucas's number for visitation or is communicating through Barrett's cell, they will get a single text on Sunday.

Visiting hours are below. I need your full name before I allow security to send you up. No pictures. No video.

So long as they abide by the rules given by Lucas Blake, they can return to the hospital at the given time. He's not quite cognizant of everything yet, according to the nurses. A second surgery earlier that morning has him on an immense amount of painkillers. But he would do well with a familiar face.

He's strung up on multiple IV's, oxygen, monitors, and a bandaged bracer on his entire left leg that makes it look three times its normal size; complete immobilized. Opening the door to the room won't earn a response until the nurse calls out his name. His eye movement is clouded, groggy... but recognition comes eventually, a smile that spread so slowly, dazed and not quite there.

A hand lifts from the bed, just barely. Friends...

Hello friends.]

[tinged]

[ a blessing and a curse are two sides of the same coin. maybe… that coin is hani. what if they’re the curse that’s spreading to all the people they care about? nothing bad ever happens to hani. but there’s ganymede, morgan, bear, even going as far as back as - justy. all these people so dear to their heart and all of them touched by this foul thing.

hani doesn’t want to think this way; hani doesn’t want to feel this way.

bad things happen in life, they know that. but this… this is a pattern. and they need to find out why. they will.

but first.

first hani has to walk through this door and smile for bear, some flimsy attempt, the corners heavy. at the very least, they can be here for him, right now. whatever that means, whatever they can offer. it may be nothing, but it’s there. ]

…Good morning, Bear-kun.

[gluttoning]

[He mumbles a response, hand reaching off a little further, tugging the IV mindlessly with the motion to stretch off the side of the bed.

Everything smells of sterile and blood and plaster. Not for him. The world is warm and drifting. A space between dreams. He doesn't understand where he is, but he doesn't mind.]

Tiny. Tiny, tiny. Little Hani.

[His fingers open a bit more, as though beckoning weakly.]

Y'r here.

[tinged]

[ if he could have smiled like this after winning the game with him on the field...

slowly, hani walks up to him, and puts their hand in his with some hesitation. ]

I'm here. Look... [ they try for a bigger smile because he deserves that much from them. ] Like this, I'm on top again.

[ their hand rests on top of his, holding tight. ]

[gluttoning]

[His laugh is gravely and rough, his fingers curling with a grip that doesn't quite hold.]

Y' taller th'n me again.

Makin' me miss tiny Hani...

[tinged]

But if - [ hani stop. swallows. very gently they continue, asking a question that only they can answer. ] - if I’m always tiny, there won’t be enough of me to cover Bear-kun.

[ if something like this happened again. and it will, it will. ]

[gluttoning]

T's okay. My job.

[He weakly pulls their hand, as thought trying to cup it to his chest. He's far too weary to do it, leaving it halfway there, his arm propped up like he's not sure what to do with the appendage.]

Coverin's my job. Not Hani's.

[tinged]

[ they finish for him, pushing when he can’t pull anymore, until their entwined hands lay on his chest. just as a lump drops in theirs, a tear trails down their face. ]

That’s silly, Bear-kun. When it rains, both people need to be covered.

[gluttoning]

Eh-?? Ehhhhh--

[He holds the hand close, comfortable. His eyes see but don't see that they have started to shed tears. It's their face. How happy to see a face.]

Gotta fin' a biiiig umb -bri, um... brella then. Just for you 'n me.

[trashtier]

[All of the brothers are together when they arrive at the hospital for the day, so Barrett finds himself with a very big "welcome back to consciousness" party to contend with for a bit. Levi, perhaps unsurprisingly, hangs in the back and doesn't say much. But after some time, they filter out so their drowsy brother can get some more rest.

Later on, they begin to trickle in one at a time to speak with Barrett in private. Levi's in the mix somewhere, holding a cute lion plush that he found down in the hospital gift shop. There's a Ruri Hana handkerchief wrapped around its neck like a little bandana- a personal touch so Barrett can remember who it's from.

The sight of his little brother like this hurts him deeply, but he does his very best to put on a brave face. He taps into the immense relief of Barrett being alive and conscious right in front of him. Loopy on pain meds, sure, but still.]

Hey.

[His voice is gentle and a little shaky. As he approaches, he holds out the lion for Barrett's appraisal.]

I got you a little something.

[gluttoning]

[The nurses have already been passing comments onto the family that having people present now that he's awake seems to lighten Barrett's mood dramatically. Now is no exception. Though Barrett's head stays tipped back in deep breaths when Levi first enters, recognition and joy spreads across his face the second he opens his eyes and sees who it is. Brother.]

Leviiii. Y'r back, Levi?

[He gives a dazed but happy chuckle, hands clumsily trying to take shape around the gift presented to him - a touch of soft in a sea that's warm and fuzzy and hard to parse, floating with just himself and his brother and those other people that were just here, who were they? Weird people, in his bedroom, touching him, feeding him, clicking buttons, making his leg hurt sometimes.

Levi is better.]

T's... mmm. [His nose wrinkles in thought, not displeased - more that he's trying to find the words for what he's seeing.] Fuzzy man? Fuzzy... Fandan'l turned me 't a fuzzy like this. I was big.

[A hand to the fabric. A chuckle.]

Ruru.

[trashtier]

[It’s really too bad this isn’t a case of Barrett being out of it from something benign like getting his wisdom teeth out, where Levi could tease him instead of grapple with the overwhelming urge to cry.]

Y-Yeah, I’m back. I hope you’re ready for some quality brother time.

[Were this literally any other situation, Levi would bristle and make a scene over his gift having any connection to Fandaniel, unintentional or not. Instead, he simply raises his eyebrows in surprise as he settles the plush down for Barrett to hold.]

He turned you into a lion? Now that’s a story I gotta hear when you’re more awake.

[When did that even happen? Had Barrett been hanging out with Fandaniel? He…doesn’t want to think about that more than he has to right now.

Fortunately, he doesn’t have to. Barrett notices Ruri and Levi instantly brightens. Barrett remembered…!]

That’s right! Hana Ruri, ruru~!

[He does an imitation of Ruri-chan’s voice for the little line recital.]

She’s gonna stay here so she can watch over for you for me, okay?

[gluttoning]

Turned e'rrybody to 'n anim'l. Turned himself 'nto a bird. Angry bird.

[Oh, but Levi said he wanted this later. Okay. Okay, tell bird story later. He will remember this somehow.

He looks very seriously at the little lion plush in his hands.]

Ruru... sorry y' got turned into fuzz. I'dll be okay. T's not bad.

[Ruru the poor furry-coded lion magical girl now gets to live next to his shoulder because that's as far as he can put her.]

Y' not gonna go yet, right? Ah... I missed ya...

[trashtier]

[Levi can’t help but laugh, about both the story snippet and Hana Ruri’s transformation into Ruru the lion. It makes the situation a little easier to bear.]

She believes you. She’s happy to be your fuzzy guardian.

[He reaches over to take control of the plush for a moment, making Ruru nuzzle up against Barrett’s cheek before setting her back.]

Heheh. See?

[He shakes his head when Barrett asks if he’s leaving, and pulls over a chair in the room to prove as much. He gets as close as he can and sits down.]

You missed me? Really…?

[gluttoning]

[He leans over to the plushie to give it a smooch. There there, Ruru.]

'Course I do. Miss y' all the time. Wish y' could be with Book'r 'n I so we c'ld go more places....

Mn... Were we still gonna play games... later? Was gonna go home and... talk with ya...

[His brow furrows as his eyes shut a bit, concentrating. A momentary break in the fog. A realization that he's missing pieces, but unsure. Too tired to let it settle.]

What day is it 'gain...

[trashtier]

Y…You do…?

[This probably isn’t even the first time that Barrett has expressed a sentiment like this, and yet now it hits Levi like a truck. It makes him stop and think about how much time with his brothers he’s missed out on, and how uncertain the future is now.

It leaves him especially vulnerable to be blindsided by what Barrett says next. His breath hitches in his throat, and the moment that Barrett spends contemplating is equal time for Levi to panic.

He hates this. He desperately doesn’t want to lie to Barrett, but he doesn’t want to break the news to him either. Lucas doesn’t want him to anyway. There’s…really no way that he can go about this without feeling horrible.

But he’ll get through it. He’ll be brave.]

It’s, uh…oh, Friday. You know how it is for me sometimes, the days just kinda blend together.

[He puts on a shaky smile, reaching for Barrett’s nearest hand.]

You just gotta get some rest first, then you can come home and play games with me. For as long as you wanna.

[gluttoning]

[His nod is clumsy, the explanation seemingly good enough.]

Maybe Booker c'n come. He took a nap earlier. Trying to figure out why he isn' goin' to bed, ... but he got all mad at me.

[A pause, as he looks over Levi with softening eyes.]

...Proud of you, y'know. Everybody is.

[tylorific]

[ Tylor sends his own full name Justy Ueki-Tylor. For once, he is on time to something. An attempt, for Bear, for Morgan, for Hani. Dressed down since the game, in a tank top and sweats, he assists everyone else with soft hums, kind words, and the occasional stupid joke. Into the car even if he has to carry them, and off to the hospital.

Hani makes it ahead of them, but only for so long. The reason becomes clearer once Tylor and Morgan finally make it in the room. Tylor has one arm supporting Morgan, keeping him upright and pressed against his side as his other arm manages the door.

Looking as effortless as most well practiced motions do, Tylor helps Morgan to Bear's side; with his balance and a warm and solid hold about his waist, it's a good thing he is stronger than he looks and Morgan is light. At the edge of the bed, Tylor waves back with his free hand before it joins the first in keeping Morgan stable and grounded beside Bear.

From over Morgan's head, Tylor beams down at Bear warmly. ]

Good morning, sleepyhead. How're you feeling?

what hap to cael

[tinged]

[ hani won’t tell anyone that they blocked lucas immediately after giving him their legal name; there’s no point in bringing it up and that name means nothing to them anyway. so it’s okay to give him nothing because they don’t like him. at all.

once justy and morgan arrive, hani ends their call with a short murmur of thanks - another matter, unrelated to lucas; still related to bear. they drift from the corner of the room to kiss both of them good morning, again for the second time today, though the way the sun hovers in the sky suggests it may be past that.

(morgan was hardly awake the first time; it was cute, they could have stayed in bed all day just watching him with justy.)

aside from their damp lashes, hard to tell in this hospital light, there’s no other sign of their tears from earlier. ]

Good morning. He’s still out of it, I think.

[ which the other two probably expected. ]

He’s drugged up pretty good.

dead, sorry

[tablescraps]

( Cael is composed and conscientious - he'd made a trip out early in the morning and gotten Morgan a cozy little tote bag (though it may have been snagged by Tylor or Hani by now, if they want it) with some books and flowers in it and told him to give it to Barrett on his behalf, with his well wishes; maybe he'd like something to occupy his time once he's up and at 'em, he'd said. They're all popular, easy books; big hits from the past few years, fun and punchy things he figured a college guy might like. Cael chooses to stay in the waiting room, though, knowing Barrett isn't likely to be very coherent, and not wanting to crowd him more than he probably already is.

Morgan's focused on Barrett, though. Tylor's helping him, but he's almost barely not letting him - not out of a sense of resistance, but out of a sense of trying to go a little faster than he should be. He mostly stays put, and mostly stays in pace with Hani and Tylor, though not fully out of choice.

Hani's warning isn't lost on him, though; he glances at them as he passes, but doesn't comment. He doesn't expect anything, really. And he already knew Barrett was alive, and he knows Barrett's condition, so there's not much else he can do here. Just...

Should Barrett be raising his hand some in recognition of familiar faces, Morgan's going to get himself up to the bedside to take his hand. He squeezes it with so little force he's almost not squeezing at all. I'm here, it says. But he doesn't say anything else yet. )

rip cael dead to belated fugu ingestion accident

[gluttoning]

[His expression is dazed as the other two walk in -- freshly woken, a slight disorientation between the warm fog of sleep and the more colorful, difficult fog of consciousness.

The little one reacts, though. Hani, he vaguely recognizes. Hani, they came back. That's nice, that they came back. His gaze watches them as they circle the other two. The dark hair and effortless smile. Too short to be Lucas, no glasses, voice too high. Tylor?

He drifts further, to the one at Tylor's side. To light hair and a gaze that pierces, a reaching out. He feels the touch, and his fingers curl carefully, brow furrowing. He knows this one, too...

Morgan.]

...We havin' 'nother picnic...?

[Is this the surprise, Hani? He thinks he remembers a surprise, a long time ago. How long ago? Mmn, maybe he missed it. Maybe he slept through it.]

fakethrun's errand was fatal

[tylorific]

[ Kisses from atoms are always welcome. It's so natural a thing that Tylor is already leaning over slightly to accept it before Hani arrives to deliver them. His attention though, remains on Bear. He does his best to keep up with Morgan's whims without letting him fall, but wild animals are often unpredictable. Especially while injured.

The bag that Cael put together is probably slung over the shoulder opposite Morgan, digging in to his shoulder with the weight of it. He doesn't seem to mind. Now might not be the time, when he's so dazed. ]

Oh, I see.

[ Tylor says it to Hani, low as a whisper, without looking away from the patient. His laugh is soft at the first words out of that groggy mouth. ]

Sure. We're all here for you this time too, Bear.

[tinged]

Mhm. This is the surprise - are you happy?

[ it seems that, with the other two in the room, hani's more settled. and with all four of them, it's easier to breathe and smile and exist. ]

We can have anything you want. [ anything that they can send someone to get. they're not expecting him to ask for anything difficult in this state. ]

[tablescraps]

( His hold grows a little firmer, when Barrett seems to take it back. His gaze runs across the length of him, the sorry state that he's in, before returning to his dazed expression. Eyebrows furrowed, lips pursed. He can't really invite joy in like Tylor and Hani can, so he doesn't try.

He's been thinking over whether there's anything he could've done. Not in an abstract sense - but, concretely, what could he have done differently, since he learned his leg felt weird? It's not like his research had revealed anything to him. It's not like he had access to one such source of the glitches - there was no one to speak to these things about. But... maybe he wasn't talking to the right people, asking the right questions; maybe he was letting things go too easy. Maybe he hadn't been taking these things seriously enough.

...

He can't pretend to add to the picnic act, so he won't. He's probably the dourest person here, and it's probably not helping. The words at the tip of his tongue are heavy, so he doesn't speak; not cheering, not comforting - he'd have this same problem if he came alone. Maybe he should've gotten Barrett a book, too, to be some positive force in lieu of his speech. )

[gluttoning]

Y'r here...

[It's unclear whether he truly understands, whether he parses what's being told to him. It feels like a weird picnic. He's lying down and they're all standing up. Why? It feels too hard to move, but he doesn't much want to.

This is the surprise... He's glad. And his lips turn up, a slow movement, as though he lacks the energy.]

Hani came back. 'n Tylor, an'...

[He sees two smiles, and one that doesn't. It earns a pause. His fingers move slightly in Morgan's hand. Not strong enough to squeeze. But still a movement.]

...Are y' still comin, Morgan? Game's on th' weekend. Gonna... be 'n Fresno.