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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Apr 22, 2013 14:31:44 GMT -5
Else laughed weakly at his comment before it sent her into a harsh coughing fit. Gettting the soup down had been unpleasant, but she could at least feel it's warmth sloshing about inside. She could feel herself drifting off again; his arms were very comforting, as would ANY embrace be at this point in her sickness. She couldn't REMEMBER that last time she had fallen ill. She was always the one taking care of others.
"mmmm... one of us should talk..." She said. "We've already spent so much time in here in silence... it's driving me-" She coughed, but was able to reel it in before it expanded into an uncontrollable fit.
Hook didn't offer anything, he just kept giving concerned looks when she thought he wasn't looking or staring at the fire.
"Fine..." She rasped, her slit eyes staring sleepily into the fire as well. "When I came here... gods know how long ago anymore... after I was marooned, after I stumbled about in this strange world, I came upon the lost boys." She gave a slight cough. "Brats... everyone of them... in need of a mother... but I was too old, one said." She tried laughing, but it came out muted and rasping. "Called me 'Red-Handed Jill'... for taking those four who wanted to leave..."
She coughed into her hand, her frame shaking. "..I... I will say THIS for them; their power of belief is ASTOUNDING... they had... what they called medicine... believed in it's power just through pretend. I SAW the water that they had gathered it from, just some runoff from rain... but they called it the most acclaimed, doctor pre-scribed medicine... and I saw a sick boy heal after drinking it... or he was a rather good faker. I'm not sure."
She was rambling, because everything was getting darker... not as brightly lit in her vision as it once was. "To be young and innocent...and the power of pretence..." Else huffed, smiling to herself.
The warmth in her belly was gone... and cold returned... but not from the outside in... this branched out as if Else was the source of her own coldness. She could feel her body shutting down, wondering if she was dying... she must be. She expelled the last amount of her energy bringing an icy hand to his chest.
She should say something encouraging, something to give him hope...
"It's cold..." Was all she could manage, before her hand slipped away, deathly still.
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Apr 22, 2013 15:47:09 GMT -5
"Else??" He grabbed her hand, it was Ice cold but slick from sweat. He cursed and pulled her onto his lap, shaking her gently as if trying to wake her from a deep slumber," C'mon Else, it's not so bad in here..."
She wasn't waking, how could she be gone so quickly??? He checked her pulse and lifted the metal of his hook to see her breath. Nothing.
No, he couldn't.... she couldn't be dead yet. He refused to believe that she'd passed.... it was like what she'd said about the boys. Maybe he didn't believe I that sort of magic to that extent, but it couldn't end so quickly.
"You have to come back Else, you said you believed in me! Now.... Now I'm returning the favor," He pulled her close to his chest, hutting his eyes tight," Else, I believe you'll make it home, I believe you'll find your cure.... I believe in you too"
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Apr 23, 2013 6:03:15 GMT -5
Perhaps if Else had BELIEVED that she would make it through, the coldness would have been kept at bay, but she felt that she was a goner... so much so that the Island saw fit to take her so suddenly.
Which is why it was so surprising when a little bit of warmth crept back into her body. She was motionless for a few heart breaking moments, but then she gasped, coughed and groaned. Things had been getting peaceful, a deep sleep without nightmare... and something infinitely pleasant waiting her at the end...
But then she as dragged back to this cold terrain by something strong... and hellishly stubborn. She moved in his arms. Blinking her eyes up at him.
"...the....hell..." She wheezed. Confused as to why she was STILL in this den and not DEAD. "What... what happened?"
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Apr 23, 2013 8:36:06 GMT -5
He laughed and held her tight, not allowing her to leave him,"You didn't think I'd let you go so easily, did you?"
Hook kissed her forehead tenderly, he hasn't thought about it before, but making the journey back to Celeste without Else- It would be far more painful than he'd be willing to admit.
"My gods your stubborn, do you have any idea how difficult it was for me to wake you?" He grinned at her like this was some hilarious joke," .... Well, it doesn't matter, your back, your better and I still have some rabbit left if you're hungry" though he wasn't sure she was entirely back to health, he believed it wouldn't be long till she was and they could continue on their way.
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Apr 23, 2013 16:36:21 GMT -5
Oddly she sat up, when she had been too weak to move before. She tested the stickiness of her throat. She would need some water first, but she thought she could manage a little more meat. She knew she needed it anyways. She nodded at his offering.
"I'm sorry... so where was I?" She finally said. "Ah yes... so those lost boys... quite interesting." She took the meat and leaned back against him, fishing for the flask in his coat pocket, which she was still wearing. She took a sip of the cold water from within. "I suppose if you believed I could shut up hard enough, it MAY happen." She teased him. She was feeling SO much better, though still very cold. Even some color had returned to her skin. "I don't know what you put in that broth... but I think it did just the trick, Captain Killian: your a natural healer."
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Apr 23, 2013 19:57:57 GMT -5
She had recovered so quickly... it was incredible.
"Well, I am a man of many talents," He mused, he hardly did anything in his mind- but he'd let her believe whatever she wanted at this point. Perhaps if he was better at it he could 'believe' in an Else that'd let him cover her in mud again...
Hook knew she was getting better rapidly now, her lips were their usual full color and her eyes bright with gold specks once again
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Apr 24, 2013 5:23:22 GMT -5
Else swallowed the last bit of Rabbit that was before her and then put her skull bowl aside. "Well...we HAVE to get out of here." She supplied. "Make a run for the summer border again... or trudge through, though we only have one coat between us... and while it's sweet of you to let ME wear it, it puts you in danger."
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Apr 24, 2013 8:49:22 GMT -5
"I'll be fine, Love," Hook insisted as he got to his feet,"At least wear it till we can see the border? Or if you're really determined we can go around the winter I suppose..."
Either way he wasn't taking his jacket, he was at least wearing some layers. The captain helped her up and onto her feet,"I'll follow your verdict, Love"
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Apr 24, 2013 10:09:09 GMT -5
Else raised a brow at him. He was being VERY nice... so either he was thinking something obscenely filthy... or something had happened while she had drifted off. Not that she thought he was HEARTLESS; he was just usually more irritable and quick to talk back to her rather then being supportive.
"I think we should cut through." She finally said. Standing up with a stretch. It felt like they had been hauled up in this den for DAYS... but she was sure that it had been no longer then a half day. "Quickest way to our destination... and honestly, if we haven't died YET, I don't think we are bound to die today..." The look Hook gave her was unreadable. It was guarded, and tender, before he looked away.
What was WITH him? She almost preferred her vulgar, self-absorbed pirate back... that was normalcy. "Does that sound good? Captain Jones?" She stood very close to the fire, committing it's warmth to memory... cause memory was ALL she would have of warmth when back out in the winter woods.
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Apr 24, 2013 15:20:06 GMT -5
"Perfect," He gave a soft smile, but waited for her to set foot outside first, not wanting to rush her.
It was fairly cold outside, but at least the sun was out, so the black in his clothes would attract it's warmth. They were also traveling down hill, so as long as they didn't cause another avalanche the struggle through the snow wouldn't be quite so awful.
Hook was quiet for quite some time, refusing to acknowledge that he was still shook up from Else's near-death experience. He wasn't sure what that would mean for him, if he was so easily shaken by this one event that didn't even necessarily happen to him....
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Apr 24, 2013 18:48:28 GMT -5
Else trudged through the snow, which was up to knees.
"What I wouldn't give for some snow shoes." She muttered, then shot Hook a sideways glance. He was still acting out of character. "Oh for gods' SAKES, Captain Jones! Say SOMETHING inappropriate or vulgar! Anything to make this queer silence go away!" She finally exclaimed, exasperated.
"What is with you, recently?"
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Apr 24, 2013 20:31:59 GMT -5
Hook drew a breath and laughed," I don't know what your talking about love..."
He glanced over, doing a classic 'looking her over' glance before giving her a grin ," I just.... keep visualizing how nice you'll look without my coat, once we cross back to the summer line"
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Apr 24, 2013 20:45:57 GMT -5
Else would have stopped in her tracks, but stopping might mean death if they lingered, so she kept her body moving. "You're starting to frighten me, Captain Jones." She said under her breath at his AWFUL attempt to act normal.
"... Do you want to talk about it?" She finally asked, voice gentle. "Is it... Milah? Did you dream about her again?"
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Apr 24, 2013 20:53:41 GMT -5
"Love.. I've dreamed of her nearly every night for the last three hundred years.... I've learned to live with them..."
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, how could he keep this from Else? She had to know, even if it might frighten her, or make her angry since he kept it from her.
".... it's reliving it.... in actual real life that.... that's devastating"
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Apr 24, 2013 21:09:03 GMT -5
Else looked up at him. "Reliving it... do you mean the mirror?" She could see from his face that wasn't it either.
She didn't understand, but she still took his cold hand in hers, bringing her in close to his side. He didn't have to face his fears alone. "I'm here, Killian..." She said softly. She then cracked a smile. "And the gauntlets pretty much prevent me from leaving your side." She then looked ahead of her. "Not that I would want to at this point. You've been... refreshing company."
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