CHULANE
Why had Chulane come? Because he cared. Why had he tried once again, and then again and again, his tactics becoming crueller, a relentless assault that he never would normally take. Chulane had always strived to be honest, to be kind, caring, open and direct with his communication. But what he had done here tonight wasn't just open communication - it was borderline abuse, an attack on the grief that would drag Korbin into whatever afterlife Caidoians believed in.
He found no amusement in his actions tonight. No pleasure, had no desire to commit them, knowing the power simple words could wield, and swinging them around anyway, driving them into all the vulnerabilities that Korbin showed in his weakest moment. But he would let Korbin think the worst of him, think him an ass, a douche, a prick, if it meant that Korbin was alive to think those things, he would accept it - he would welcome it.
If Korbin never spoke to him again after this, but he was alive. Chulane would accept it. Because he would be alive, at least, even if he lived in hatred of the vet who only sought to save another life.
He was crying, quiet sobs as the boy clung to his hands, a small sense of relief daring to show itself. It was precarious, terrified, afraid to rise up lest it be shot down again. And when the boy murmured his final questions, it tremored in fear, shivering and shuddering at the darkness those simple questions posed to it.
"You have to stay," he confirmed in soft tones, feeling no need to have his voice reverberate and boom like before, settling more into gentler, normal intonations, though perhaps a bit rough around the edges from the emotion that got stuck in his throat. "Someday, you can go to them… but not today. Not until you've lived too."
The night crept on, the few hours left before dawn seemed to move by in a drowsy blink. Chuy's back hurt, his posture as he fell asleep slouched in his chair, reaching for Korbin the whole night. Sleep was something of a foreign concept for the vet tonight, and he was woken as the first few rays of light crept through the heavy curtains on the window. That, and the cook who came bustling through the door, apparently still in her habit of waking him at the crack of dawn even when he was no longer a permanent resident of the lodge.
But she came with kindness and delightful smells this morning, with bread freshly baked and butter melting across it, with fresh ningo eggs poached and awaiting consumption. Chuy sat up in his chair, stretching the aches and awkward posture out of his frame, unable to contain the yawn that stretched his mouth open wide. He gratefully accepted the cook's offerings, taking both plates from her with a tired but warm smile. He sat Korbin's atop the bedside table, before waving the cook back out, (she took the untouched broth from the previous night with many mutterings under her breath).
Then he looked over to the boy, to see if the commotion or perhaps the food, might've woken him. Adjusting his chair once again, he positioned himself to put his feet up against the edge of the bed, before tucking into his own meal with gusto. He was… here. And he'd remain here until Korbin was definitely awake, until Chuy could confirm he was not going to try anything stupid again - until he knew his assholery from the night before had been an effective treatment for what was ailing the raven-boy.
He found no amusement in his actions tonight. No pleasure, had no desire to commit them, knowing the power simple words could wield, and swinging them around anyway, driving them into all the vulnerabilities that Korbin showed in his weakest moment. But he would let Korbin think the worst of him, think him an ass, a douche, a prick, if it meant that Korbin was alive to think those things, he would accept it - he would welcome it.
If Korbin never spoke to him again after this, but he was alive. Chulane would accept it. Because he would be alive, at least, even if he lived in hatred of the vet who only sought to save another life.
He was crying, quiet sobs as the boy clung to his hands, a small sense of relief daring to show itself. It was precarious, terrified, afraid to rise up lest it be shot down again. And when the boy murmured his final questions, it tremored in fear, shivering and shuddering at the darkness those simple questions posed to it.
"You have to stay," he confirmed in soft tones, feeling no need to have his voice reverberate and boom like before, settling more into gentler, normal intonations, though perhaps a bit rough around the edges from the emotion that got stuck in his throat. "Someday, you can go to them… but not today. Not until you've lived too."
The night crept on, the few hours left before dawn seemed to move by in a drowsy blink. Chuy's back hurt, his posture as he fell asleep slouched in his chair, reaching for Korbin the whole night. Sleep was something of a foreign concept for the vet tonight, and he was woken as the first few rays of light crept through the heavy curtains on the window. That, and the cook who came bustling through the door, apparently still in her habit of waking him at the crack of dawn even when he was no longer a permanent resident of the lodge.
But she came with kindness and delightful smells this morning, with bread freshly baked and butter melting across it, with fresh ningo eggs poached and awaiting consumption. Chuy sat up in his chair, stretching the aches and awkward posture out of his frame, unable to contain the yawn that stretched his mouth open wide. He gratefully accepted the cook's offerings, taking both plates from her with a tired but warm smile. He sat Korbin's atop the bedside table, before waving the cook back out, (she took the untouched broth from the previous night with many mutterings under her breath).
Then he looked over to the boy, to see if the commotion or perhaps the food, might've woken him. Adjusting his chair once again, he positioned himself to put his feet up against the edge of the bed, before tucking into his own meal with gusto. He was… here. And he'd remain here until Korbin was definitely awake, until Chuy could confirm he was not going to try anything stupid again - until he knew his assholery from the night before had been an effective treatment for what was ailing the raven-boy.
it is better to know some of the questions
than all of the answers
than all of the answers
