doku | VISIONS I HAD BURIED UNDERGROUND / RETURNING TO ABUSE US

'Course. What kinda jerk would I be if I didn't?

...Kinda crappy, if we're being real about it. Because --

[ she leans in closer, half-considering just climbing into krieg's bed and laying her head on his big pec'd out chest. she could use the comfort right now. she breathes out slowly; there's no use in dancing around the subject, because she knows krieg would be at least some degree of upset if she withheld the information based on thinking he couldn't handle it. ]

Band's done for. Showed themselves to be a bunch of dicks.

[He doesn't lean away from her coming closer, but he does angle his head so he can get a better look at her face in its entirety. Try to read her expression.

"Band's done for"?

It takes a moment for it to really sink in.]

Ooooohkay. What...happened? [...he asks, as if he isn't aware that during the entire time he was laid up here, she's been his only visitor. But what's going on in his mind is we've been through so much worse, how is a sick drummer the stick that broke the horse's back?]

[ gaige huffs out a frustrated sigh -- not at krieg, but at the situation. she leans back in her chair again, pulling her knees up against her chest and resting her head on them, glancing away. ]

They started looking for a new drummer. Said not to bother, like you were just someone we could switch out.

I fought 'em about it. Hard. And I mean literally. I broke Francis' nose.

[Oh. That stings something fierce. And yet...he's not surprised.

With an even exhale:] Can't blame them. I put all of us in a lot of danger...multiple times. [And not the "broken nose" tier of danger, either. He pauses for a moment.]

Might be for the best for all of us. Lots of my connections were through them, so...just less temptation out there for when I'm out of here, I guess. What about you? Gonna go solo again?

[ gaige goes from zero to one-hundred in the few seconds it takes krieg to answer. her eyes prickle with tears -- it's her first reaction to anger, as much as she dislikes it. she curls her fingers into a fist (not raising it), nails biting into her palm, trying to ground herself; she's surprised that krieg would even -- ]

No, you idiot. You're stuck with me. You really think I would've been that pissed if I just wanted to bail on you, too?

Woah, woah.

[Ah, shit, he didn't mean it like that. No, he kind of did. With her talents, she could synthesize anything he could do; how would keeping him around benefit her? A figuratively sick mixer with a literally sick drummer, it's--well, it's not exactly impossible, but it'd be a weird combination anyway.

He turns over and reaches out to her with a bulky, discolored arm with bulging veins to comfort her. He'd like to use his other, better-looking arm, but that's the one that's healthy enough to put an IV in.]

I didn't mean to upset you. C'mere.

[ gaige lifts a sleeve of her baggy sweater to wipe away the tears brimming at her eyes, calming down just as quickly as she'd started up. without any question or hesitation, she moves from her seat and crawls into the minimal space left in krieg's hospital bed, tucking herself under his arm. ]

They might suck. I don't. Or at least I try not to. You can replace a bandmate, but you can't just do that with a friend.

Watch the tube.

[If his lethargy wasn't telling enough, even the way his body feels attests to how awful he feels. He's normally so warm, a walking furnace to become Gaige's personal heater whenever she wanted, but his extremities are cold and clammy. At least the part of him that's under the covers is warm.

So maybe cuddling him doesn't feel exactly the way it's supposed to, but the motions are all the same. He tucks her head under his chin, draping his free, disfigured arm over her shoulders.]

Gaige...

[He says it quietly, weakly, maybe a little more sappier than either of them are used to. But that's okay. Every passing second with her, even though he feels like he's been run over with a train, gives him that much more motivation for the fight.]

Think your dad's got the lawyer connections for the royalties battle?

Right.

[ gaige breathes slowly, barely bothered by the chill of krieg's body aside from the worry for him it stirs. maybe, as warm as she is in her sweater and cozy sweatpants, he can absorb some warmth from her. she's usually the one that leeches it off him anyway. she's quiet for one long stretch before she answers his question, taking in the calming effect of their proximity. ]

Yeah. I think so.

[ she nuzzles up against under his chin, blowing an errant strand of hair out of her own face. ]

We're gonna get through this.

[ said both to him, and to herself. ]

Yeah. We are.

[And in the following weeks, Gaige--for the first time--gets to know Sober Krieg. At first it seems like his lethargy isn't really wearing off, but it turns out that Krieg is just...really, really chill. Which might be a startling revelation to anyone who is only familiar with his rockstar persona. In other words, anyone who isn't staff at the rehab center.

A few weeks later, he's still attached to his IV, but the color's come back to his face and he started exercising again. It's not the stuff he usually did before shit hit the fan, but at least he doesn't feel like he's slacking anymore. With the newfound energy, he's up and about a lot more.

One day, he shoots a text Gaige's way.]

hey, wanna go out with me to grab some dinner? getting tired of the cafeteria rotation

Edited 2015-09-26 03:10 (UTC)

[ krieg and gaige have been spending a lot of time together, and gaige has been delighted to see krieg's health returning to him. he's always protected her, and now she feels like it's her turn to care for him, which she'll happily do.

she's laying in bed when her phone vibrates, and she smiles when she sees that it's him. ]

duh. you want to pick somewhere?

there's a bbq place down the street from the center. everyone says it's pretty great.

we'll see about that >;)

nothing's gonna be better than the stuff you used to make but we'll see if it lives up at all!!

see you there soon?

used to?? i haven't given up, i'm just on hiatus!

actually, could you come here and pick me up instead? it'll feel a lot less like a walk of shame. i'm still stuck to this machine...

hey, you know what i mean

oh. yeah, of course. my bad. give me just a bit to get ready and i'll be over, okay?

you know where to find me

<3

<3!

[ it doesn't take gaige too long to get ready. she's at the rehab center in around half an hour, sidling into krieg's room with a smile on her face. ]

Ready to bust this joint?

Edited 2015-10-16 03:01 (UTC)

[When she shows up, Krieg is dressed in a comfy hoodie--open, of course, with nothing under it--and some exercise slacks. Not that he's actually done any exercise recently, but this is pretty much what happens when he wants to lounge around but has to stay decent for the staff and his neighbors.]

Hell yeah.

[He stands up from the corner of the bed and wields his IV hanger in one hand while he puts the other over Gaige's shoulders. They make their way back downstairs uninterrupted, and he gives a short wave of acknowledgement as they pass by the reception. One young nurse working the counter blushes as he makes eye contact with her before making an abrupt nod.

Krieg chuckles, but refrains from commenting on it until they get past the front doors.]

Never seen someone so flustered to get the chance to work with me before.

[It's nice. He never noticed things like that before, when he was out of his head.]

VISIONS I HAD BURIED UNDERGROUND / RETURNING TO ABUSE US

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