wake up time

[cardinalsinned]

[ This is probably the second worst way to wake up, in a hospital bed with Juan there watching. ]

What... happened to me?

Comments

[maleborgia]

*standing in the doorway, having already talked about what happened with Juan*

So soon? I would be hardly cold in the ground.

[cardinalsinned]

[ A little surprised, but he's hurting too much to jump ]

It was for the best, since Juan refused to believe it possible.

[maleborgia]

It was rash; I would have expected you to at least wait a week.

*and entering*

How are you feeling?

[cardinalsinned]

Better he face reality, even when reality changes.

I am well enough. Sore and tired, but well.

[maleborgia]

What happened to you? *closing the door behind him* Juan could only tell me that you would not wake.

[cardinalsinned]

I don't know. Only that I slept and woke in the hospital.

[ He'll help unpack what he's started to pack ]

[maleborgia]

*good.*

I don't know anything, either. I walked into the forest with Guy of Gisborne and came out alone, several days later.

[cardinalsinned]

We left Juan alone for some time. I should check that all of my things are still where they were left.

[maleborgia]

I wish I could accuse you of being too harsh. No, for this at least you are not acting rashly. Help me check here first, while we are already inside.

[cardinalsinned]

I would give everything I own to have Micheletto here. It would be a weight off my mind to have his help again.

[ Putting things back where he found them is a good start to figuring out what's gone. ]

[maleborgia]

*putting things away*

I felt that way too. *about my own Miguel, obviously* It would be much easier at times.

[cardinalsinned]

Juan is never easy. You should understand that by now. Even with two of us he causes more trouble than we can handle.

[maleborgia]

More than we are handling, yes, but I doubt it is more than we can. Surely with the two of us we should be able to outsmart him.

[cardinalsinned]

That implies he can be bested with logic and reason. That is an assumption I have yet to prove.

[maleborgia]

We could outsmart an animal in the hunt.

[cardinalsinned]

As always, we make a good argument.

How will he be trapped?

[maleborgia]

For that I am afraid that I will have to defer to your experience. If you recall, it has been quite some time since I have spent much time with him. But perhaps I can offer some insight as someone coming to the situation anew.

[cardinalsinned]

My insights on Juan have run dry. Were he younger I could twist him to my will easily, but age has given him a difficult streak I cannot overcome.

[maleborgia]

That seems to be the problem. I spoke with him recently and he raised something of interest. He knows that we both have twisted him in the past, and now he has nothing to lose by resisting. I have tried to remind him of his honor or his place of pride, but truth be told he has neither left. If we are to use anything to shepherd him, we must first build them back up.