xp_logs | Beatrice & Haller

xp_birdy posting in

Beatrice brings a catatonic Haller for a small walk.

"But, the doctor says my lowered level of ability is entirely normal, which... which is nice to hear. I've felt so terrible because I was tired for so long, so I slept all the time, and then when I was awake I didn't really have much energy." Bea sighed, with her arm looped through Haller's she steered him along the shoveled path around the mansion.

Here she paused, to look up at him, brows knitting together. "I hope it's not too cold for you out here. It was your coat, but I'd hate for you to catch a cold, David."

The other psi gave no response. He never did. He followed her direction with robotic obedience, shuffling as if moving through molasses. The only thing that differentiated his slack face from that of a wax figure was his reddened cheeks, one of them bisected by the nasogastic tube taped behind his ear.

"A few more minutes of fresh air, then we'll head in." Exercise and fresh air was important, but illness would do nothing to help his recovery process.

"What else, what else?" She wondered aloud as she began to lead him again. "Oh! Arthur introduced me to his dog, Felix. Isn't that a lovely name? And he's such a sweet boy. I always wanted a pet when I was little, but... well that wasn't meant to be. I mean, there has to be so much work that goes into taking care of an animal, right? And what if they have health issues, how do you find the best vet for them? Goodness, it's so much."

A bitter gust of wind drove nails into their sinuses. Haller blinked dully.

Bea shivered inside her own borrowed coat, trying to wrap it tighter around herself, stopping entirely to stand on her tiptoes to pull the scarf that she'd placed around his neck higher up to keep his face from developing windburn. "Oh maybe we should get you some goggles. That can't be nice on your eyes, David."

Blink.

"Next time," she announced, shifting back off her toes so she could begin to lead the man back towards the mansion. "And maybe Arthur will let us bring Felix along. I bet you'd like that."

The only response was the scrape of shoes over salted pavement. They expressed no preference one way or another.

Nodding to herself, she continued, her own boots almost soundless with her steps. "Or maybe we can walk him through the halls. That'd definitely be warmer. We'll have to get you a cup of tea when we get back inside."

The trees rattled in another gust of wind. Haller's lids slitted against the wind in a reaction just as automatic as his steps, a small gesture to protect his eyes despite all evidence to indicate nothing was going on behind them.

Concern flitted across her face again as she paused to open the door she'd left unlocked. Tugging the man inside took a bit more strength than she wanted to admit, a grimace spreading as she closed the door behind them. "Right, sorry, next time goggles." And again Bea found herself on her tiptoes, this time to pull the scarf down and peak into his eyes. Down to tug her gloves off and up again to check his temperature at the back of his neck. "Sorry if that's cold, but I think... you're fine."

"You're a very good listener, you know, probably the best listener I've ever spent any time with in a long time." It was wistful almost, a small smile tugging at her lips.

There was no false modesty and no follow-up question. Haller only stared as her compliment went to the same place as everything else: the void.

Truly it was a perfect relationship.