Eighth.

[trustharder]

Seven in the morning comes and goes as it always does – namely, loudly and a little obnoxiously, given the usual blaring of the klaxons. Today marks almost a full eight weeks since the Survivors awakened in the Vault; more than enough time for people to get used to how things tend to work around here on Fridays, and yet not so long that there isn't any hope that maybe (maybe) this Friday will be better. The first-floor corridor is generally quiet, in that it's free of blood; however, there are some scattered books in the hallway, near the library. Maybe it's nothing. Maybe it isn't. It might be good to make sure, though, right? >Explore?

Comments

[notjustawriter]

Thanks.

[He'll definitely take the water, at least.]

I wish I could remember more about what happened.

[amygdalae]

[Please drink, Gabriel. It'll probably do you some good.]

What matters most is that you're alive. [...] But we should look into exactly what happened to you.

[A hesitant pause.]

Do you mind if I check you for injuries?

[You know, besides the obvious one on his neck. Which he'll totally look at too, of course.]

[notjustawriter]

Not at all. Take a look.

[A cursory glance will make it obvious that the most important injury is the bruise around his neck. He appears otherwise uninjured.]

[amygdalae]

[That makes it easier, at least. Thank god for no more head injuries.

With a murmured apology Bruce comes in close in order to more closely study the ligature marks around his neck. Just how bad are these marks, and is the imprint deep enough that he could get a sense of the item used in this... incident?]

[notjustawriter]

[The bruise is pretty nasty looking, like it's going o be sore for a while, but it's not anything that'll cause long lasting damage.

But the bruise is distinct enough to cause a specific mark; it resembles the chain of the talisman around his neck.]

[amygdalae]

[At least that very quickly narrows down what could have been used, especially since Bruce had held it for a while himself at one point.]

...I'm sorry, but do you mind if you take off your tailsman for a bit?

[notjustawriter]

'Course.

[He takes it off, handing it to Bruce carefully.]

[amygdalae]

Thank you.

[Bruce will take very good care of it, Gabriel, don't worry.

Anyway time to examine this thing closely. It's probably a hell of a long shot but is there anything on it that he could find that shouldn't be on said talisman?]

[notjustawriter]

[Nope, everything looks perfectly fine here!

But maybe Bruce should examine the bruise on Gabriel's neck again, now that he has the talisman to look at too.]

[amygdalae]

[That was exactly what he was planning to do, yes, since the tailsman itself is apparently in the clear.

He'll hold up a part of the chain and bring it close to the marks on Gabriel's neck to properly compare them, just to be 100% sure.]

[notjustawriter]

[Holding it up the Gabriel's neck, he'll notice that the bruise could only have been made if he was attacked from behind.]

[amygdalae]

[As in they grabbed the chain from the back and pulled it? Just to be clear...

Either way Bruce will return the tailsman to Gabriel.]

You'll probably not want to wear that for a while.

[notjustawriter]

[Yes, exactly like that!

Gabriel will take the talisman back, flipping it around carefully in his hands.]

Sounds like a good idea.

[amygdalae]

You don't remember anything at all?

[He asks after a very brief pause. Bruce doesn't want to push, but... with something like this surely at least even a little of the experience must be there. Unless his mind's automatically blocked out the trauma... which Bruce can't blame him for.]

[notjustawriter]

Maybe it'll come back to me. Right now, I really don't remember much of anything.

[amygdalae]

It could be the trauma of what happened, especially if you were attacked without warning.

[And if it is from the back it seems to be the case, anyway.]

Just take a rest for now. You need it.