A visit from the Grim Reaper ( Rhi <3)

[Anonymous]

He lifted his hood up little to look at a piece of paper he had in his hands since his hood was blocking his vision. "Let's see...who is it this time...again..?" he mumbled to himself as he walked the streets of the middle caste. He was happy that it was pretty much the time when most people would be asleep because it meant the less questions he'd be asked. Honestly who wouldn't think it was weird to see a short person, clad in cloak, walking around mumbling to himself? 'Kestrel'

He stopped for a second and just stared at the paper. "No last name? Or anything?! Way to help me out." he said with a huff, making the paper disappear. Yea it was pretty much the only Grim Reaper power that was semi stereotypical. Being able to make his death list appear and disappear. Not that it was very helpful though. With a huff he adjusted his plastic scythe that he had hanging off his shoulder. Shaking his head, he walked towards a building that he was pretty sure where the person he was after resided. He had checked earlier and then the location disappeared off his list for some reason.

Upon getting to the building, Pip jiggled the knob a little to see if the door wasn't open. It wasn't fair. He couldn't go through doors. He couldn't go through or make portals. No..he had to walk and travel like every other living person because the Grim Reaper before him had a very very cruel sense of humor. A smile came to his lips when he found that the door was indeed open. 'At least I won't have another 'are you a trick or treater' incident...'

This couldn't be classed as breaking and entering either. He couldn't get himself in trouble with the law again. Well not unless someone saw him and decided to get them dragged into this. That would be very unpleasant. It would make his job a whole lot harder. Shaking the thought away, he closed the door quietly behind him as he went inside. He glanced around a little. 'Not bad.'

Pip walked around the apartment like home, searching for the bedroom. He of course didn't know automatically where these things were so he had to look and be quiet at the same time so if the person was asleep he wouldn't wake him up. Not until he got there at least because he had to make sure they were dying of course. He had quite a few instances where the person was on his list yet they were either perfectly healthy or making a recovery and killing a person like that just wouldn't work. He'd get himself in trouble.

"Ah ha." he said quietly when he found the bedroom. Ah how creepy this seemed. Poor person if they woke up suddenly would probably have a heart attack. Hm..that would be nice. He wouldn't have to do too much except take the person's soul. He walked into the room and where the person would and should be asleep. "Heyyyyy. Wake up." he said loudly, trying to wake said person up if they were there asleep.

(( This is an edit because Rhi told me to : DDDD *SHOT* ))

[Rhi-Rhi]

To put it simply, Kestrel felt like death.

There wasn't a part on him that didn't hurt. His wings, bound though they were, throbbed in time to his pulse and his whole body felt bruised and achy. Then, as if having broken wings, a bruised body, and an addled brain weren't enough he'd started to come down with something. At least his memory had returned, having been temporarily knocked out of him after a brawl that left his wings broken and his mind dazed, and as soon as it had returned he'd gotten the hell out of that creepy doctor's place (two nights was more than enough, but at the time he had been confused and desperate) and high-tailed it home.

High-tailed as in limped. And taken a taxi.

He planned on calling a real doctor in the morning, because all he could do upon arriving at his apartment was pop a few pills for his fever, collapse on his belly in bed with a wet cloth pressed to his forehead, and pass out. He hadn't even bothered to lock his door; it had completely slipped his mind.

Miserable, Kestrel drifted in and out of of a restless sleep, pulled back toward consciousness each time he shifted and something hurt or he swallowed and his throat burned, but exhaustion kept him from waking fully.

That is, until a voice reached him from outside his disjointed dreams. It still took a few moments for it to register, though, and a few more before he managed to claw his way back up to the real world and crack his eyes open. It was dark in his room, so for a few seconds he couldn't tell if he'd really opened his eyes or not, but his eyes felt dry and when he swallowed it stung, so he concluded that he was awake, at least. Maybe that voice had been part of a really vivid dream? With a small groan that only made him ache more, he turned his head to look around, felt dizzy as a result--

--And felt his his heart plummet when his eyes landed on a silhouette by his bedside, the silhouette of a person.

"Ahh!"

It didn't matter that he felt like death, that was enough to jerk him back to full consciousness and with a hoarse cry that felt like sandpaper in his throat, he pushed himself up in bed and then stared in horror as his eyes adjusted. For one frightening moment he thought it was Dante, the weird doctor, because whatever meager light filtered in through his bedroom window reflected off the person's hair, enough to show that it was light. Then the moment passed, he realized this was a different person, and for a second he was relieved--which was quickly followed by another gut-wrenching moment of horror because that wasn't any better that it was a new stranger in his apartment!

Then, before he could fully freak out about that, he caught sight of something, an odd shape hanging off the person's shoulder.

A blade. A SCYTHE.

OH FUCK.

Kestrel gave another little wordless cry, unable to get any louder than that, and scrambled sideways off the bed, toppled when his legs weren't ready to support him, and landed hard on his side. It jarred his broken wings, as well as every other bruise and wound, and he hissed in pain and cursed, tears springing to his eyes. Oh fuck, oh fuck! He had a crazy psycho in his apartment! He forced himself to his knees and grabbed blindly for the reading light on his nightstand, then yanked the cord out of the wall when he found it and wielded the light like a club.

"Stay the fuck away!" he rasped, still feeling around on the nightstand, only this time for his phone. "I'll smash yer head in! Get out!"

[Anonymous]

Pip tilted his head a little, arching a brow as the person in the bed sat up quiet suddenly. Near death people didn't do that...they usually couldn't do that. A small nervous smile crossed his lips as the person pretty much freaked out, letting out various cries of shock and probably horror. That was expected...he was a strange person standing at their bedside with what only looked like a weapon. They didn't need to know that it was plastic though..The longer they didn't know, the longer he could get away with being threatening.

When the person jerked back away from him and ended up tumbling off of their bed it caused Pip to flinch a little. That sounded like it hurt. Maybe they had hit their head though and passed out? It'd probably be a lot easier for him to figure out if they were supposed to die or not.

Just as he was about to walk around the bed and check, said person quickly up kneeling with...a lamp? That could prove harmful for him. He had many occurrences like these in which he was the one that ended up hurt and the person was left alive. Just thinking about those times made him remember the odd bruises that would end up showing up. You'd think an undead wouldn't get bruises...but exactly what about him was normal anyway? He was a short and too cute grim reaper that had to wield a plastic scythe rather than a real one.

"Whoa whoa whoa...now calm down. No need to get violent." Pip said, raising his hands a little to show that he meant no harm...yet anyway. Yea...this guy definately did not seem near death. Stupid list...always wrong. Maybe he actually just had the wrong address...after all the location had disappeared before he arrived. "I just need to know if your name is Kestrel."

He blinked when he noticed the other reaching around for something again. Another weapon? Upon inspection he found a phone on the stand and another nervous smile crossed his lips. "That doesn't work right now." he said simply. That was a lie of course...He was trying to keep the person from calling anyone...that anyone most likely being the police. It'd be very unfortunate for him to get in trouble with them again.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Stay calm, eh? No need to get violent, huh?

FUCK THAT NOISE.

"Stay the hell back an' I won't hafta," Kestrel warned between gasps, still poised to bludgeon the stranger with it if he got within range. It might not be a very effective struggle--his body was burning with fever and he felt light-headed and sore everywhere, so it wouldn't take much to take him down--but the invader didn't have to know that. He looked worried, unless that was the darkness playing tricks on him, so he'd just keep on bluffing.

His free hand found his phone, wireless, and he went to snatch it off its cradle right when the guy asked if his name was Kestrel. He jumped, knocked the phone off the table instead, and stared up at the psycho with wide golden eyes while the phone clattered noisily onto the linoleum.

He knew his name.

Kestrel felt around on the floor blindly until his fingers hit the phone, and he scooped it up. "Tha's none of yer business," he said, swaying on his knees as he felt that initial burst of panicked energy draining away by the second, and when the stranger told him his phone didn't work, Kestrel jabbed the 'on' button with his thumb and heard the dial tone drone through the speaker. Right.

He gave a wheezy laugh that killed his throat, trying to put on an air of confidence he didn't feel, and started to dial emergency. "Nice try. I'm callin' the police."

[Anonymous]

"I am..trust me." Pip said, rolling his eyes a little. He hadn't moved one step towards the other and had no plan to. At least not until he could figure out how to get the lamp out of his hands. At this rate his only option would probably be to show him that he wasn't a threat by putting the scythe aside and taking his hood off. How embarrassing though...he didn't like his cute looks.

The reply he got about the person's name was enough to tell him that he had been on the dot. Damn list...it was wrong again. He wasn't anywhere near death..or so it seemed. He'd actually have to get a good look at him to figure it out for himself. By the sounds of it though he merely sounded like a normal human with a cold. He was so going to burn his list after this...Too bad that he had done it before and all that happened was it disappeared and then reappeared seconds later as if nothing had happened to it at all.

His eyes went wide when the other turned the phone on and laughed. Great...so much for trying to lie. If he had a heart, which he wasn't sure if it was there or not..., it dropped when Kestrel started to dial a number. 'Crap crap crap crap' He bit down on his lip a little for a second before whining a little. "Aww..come on..don't do that...look...I'm not going to hurt you." he said quickly as he put his scythe down away from him. Pip was just tempted to throw the stupid thing...but again...he didn't want to let Kestrel know that it was just plastic. After that he hesitated before pulling his hood down, smiling nervously. "S-See..." He hated how automatically after his hood was down he would start stammering. "Now....just put the phone down..plleassee..." he begged.

[Rhi-Rhi]

"Yeah right," Kestrel croaked, though he was no longer dialing. Instead, he was staring at the buttons on the phone, trying to remember the number--and make sense of the numbers he was looking at. The quick burst of panicked adrenaline was gone, and now all that remained was the pain all over, the uncomfortable heat, and...his mind was drawing a complete blank. He hadn't finished dialing, but he found he couldn't remember the number or understand what they even meant, fever clouding his brain. He'd exerted himself way too much just then, and he didn't notice just how heavily he was panting until just then.

The room tilted strangely, his vision going dark around the edges, and he leaned forward onto the bed to brace himself. Fuck. Don't pass out now...

He stared up at the intruder, who had removed his hood and lowered his weapon, and he blinked blearily at him. Guy didn't look like a scary axe murderer. Scythe murderer. Whatever. Looks were deceiving, though. He had a scythe.

The high pitched operator dial tone brought his attention back to the phone, and Kestrel turned it off before turning it back on again and took a deep, unsteady breath. He still couldn't seem to remember who he had been dialing. All he could really focus on was the throbbing ache in his wings and head and the heat and the slowly turning room. "Whaddya want...?" he finally rasped, sandpaper scraping against his throat.

[Anonymous]

Pip just stayed where he was at, watching as the other just stared at the phone. What was he doing? Thinking really hard? He was tempted to step forward and attempt to take the phone but was afraid that if he did he'd end up with a black eye or something. That wouldn't be any of at all. He'd have to keep his hood up until it went away or have people laugh more because the Grim Reaper got a black eye from someone he had to get a soul from. Yea that'd be great to explain.

"Ah..." He was going to say something when Kestrel started to tip over but stopped when it seemed he had managed to keep himself up and okay for the moment. Pip scratched his cheek a little, smiling nervously as the phone was turned off and turned back on and then his motives were questioned. This would surely make things worse. He really didn't want to make the other start panicking again and have him suddenly remember what he was going to do. "A..Ah..w..well...yo u see..." Blasted stammering. He couldn't get out one sentence without messing it up completely.

Maybe he should've just thrown his plastic scythe at Kestrel in hopes of knocking him out. Not that the chance of that was likely but still...it would've made his job a little easier. No scratch that...he'd have to find a way to figure out if he was the right person since he hadn't confirmed his name. Of course he didn't really blame him..no one would tell a completely stranger with a scythe their name now would they? "W...Well...you see....a..according to my list...you're dying...or..should be...maybe..and.... I-I gotta take your soul." Pip explained.

[Rhi-Rhi]

There were no words.

So Kestrel only stared.

And stared a little more.

'I gotta take your soul.'

So nonchalantly. So matter-of-fact. He has to take my soul. Just like that. Kestrel stared until his eyes slid out of focus and started to sting, and then he blinked, ran a hand over his hot face, and burst out laughing. It hurt his throat, but it seemed he just couldn't stop laughing, shoulders shaking and jarring his wings painfully, reminding him that he was still awake and this wasn't some crazy dream. Or was it? Either some escapee from the loony bin had broken into his apartment or he was having one very vivid hallucination. He leaned forward onto the bed and let his head drop down, hair falling into his face, and gasped for breath between chuckles until they started to die down and turned into just gasps. Pained ones, weaker ones. That outburst used up precious energy.

Wow. Just...fucking wow. He'd met some crazies before but this took the cake and ate it, too.

"Heh...gotta take my soul, huh? Tha's new..." With an effort he looked up again; he really just wanted to lean his head on the bed and pass out, but not when there was a crazy in his place. "Fine...look...poof." He made a flicking motion with one hand. "There ya are. My soul. Now get th' fuck out. I said I was callin' th' cops..." Or maybe he already had, unless he was imagining all this. His mind was blurring, his words starting to slur. His grip loosened on the phone and his head bobbed. He was passing the point of caring and really just wanted to curl up, sleep, and ride out the rest of his flu.

Fever dreams. Maybe that's what this was. Had to be. Because really, who walked around Haviah with a scythe claiming they had to take peoples' souls? Probably just his subconscious still weirded out by the guy that called him 'angel'.

"Jus'...get out," he muttered, and dropped his head to the mattress and squeezed his eyes shut.

[Anonymous]

Pip blinked before pouting a little when the other suddenly started to laugh. This was no laughing matter at all. It was serious and he was being completely serious. Why couldn't just one person at least take him seriously? Sure he understood why it hadn't happened yet but still...maybe just once it could. It'd make things so much easier. He puffed out his cheeks a little as the other male continued to laugh for a minute. This really needed to finish..he probably had like five other people on his list by now and he hadn't even finished this one yet.

A small sigh escaped his lips when the other acted as if he had given his soul up. Again...where was at least a little bit of seriousness in this? He hadn't moved or anything despite wanting to since the phone was still on and the cops hadn't been called yet. "It...doesn't quite work that way..." he mumbled, sighing a little again. This was frustrating..He had no idea how he could just hurry up and finish when things were going this way.

"How about this...you rest a little...a..and...d on't call the cops...anndd...we can talk about this again when you wake up?" He really didn't want to draw this out any longer but he saw no other way of doing it. He couldn't move from where he was at while the other still had the phone so he couldn't just take his soul. As far as he knew the name was still on his list so he couldn't just leave without it. He had gotten in trouble enough lately. "Deal?" God he hoped so...

[Rhi-Rhi]

"No."

It came out muffled with his face buried against the mattress. A headache was building between his eyes, making it even more difficult to concentrate. "No. No deal." He was sick and out of it, but he wasn't stupid. If he went to sleep, no telling what this guy would do in the meantime.

Then again, he was sick. Obviously he was having a hard time just talking--what was stopping this guy from harming him or robbing him in the first place, if that's what he came here to do? Unless he was just plain psycho. Everything was currently pointing toward that option and Kestrel didn't want to close his eyes for a second around him.

Didn't want to, but was running out of time. His body didn't care about what he wanted, and it wanted rest. His brain was shutting down, and with it, Kestrel was losing the capacity to care.

He let out a long sigh and pressed his hot forehead to the cooler sheets. "Get me some water..." he mumbled. Fine. Fine. Psycho was here and all he really wanted was water and sleep. He didn't have the energy to argue or even think anymore, and it took enough energy just to lift his hand and set the phone on the bed. Fine. If psycho wanted to stay, the least he could do was make himself useful and get him something to drink.

[Anonymous]

Pip frowned. No deal...great. What was he supposed to do then? He couldn't leave but he didn't want to get put in jail or anything. This really sucked. He nibbled on his bottom lip a little as he watched Kestrel and the phone. If there was no deal why wasn't he just calling already? He shook the thought from his head. It was good he wasn't calling. Very good.

He fidgeted a little as he waited then, staying quiet. What else was he supposed to do? Saying anything else might just urge the other to call the police even more.

When the other suddenly spoke, Pip jumped a little and immediately looked at the phone. Oh..it wasn't up to his ear or anything. It was on the bed. "W-Water? O-Okay. Just o-one second." he stammered. He hesitated, as if waiting for Kestrel to sit up and throw something at him or go for the phone again. When no such thing happened he backed out of the room and quickly went to the kitchen.

After wandering a bit he managed to find it and a glass. So far so good. Sort of. Good that the cops weren't called..but bad that he hadn't left yet and probably had like twenty other people on his list by now. No..that didn't matter..he had to get this soul first. Then again though...Kestrel still didn't really look like he was dying. Really sick but not dying.

Pip pushed the thought back as he hurried back to the room. There was no reason to think about it. The name was on his list so he had to stay until he got the soul..or until the name went away on the list. If that happened though it would be irritating...but not like it hadn't happened before. Again he pushed the thoughts back. "A...Ah...h..here you go." he mumbled as he inched over closer to Kestrel so he could reach the glass that was now held out to him.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Just a dream, just a dream...just a really fucked up dream. Or hallucination. One or the other. It was just too ridiculous to be real.

Head swimming, when the kid left the room, Kestrel did his best to haul himself back up into bed and managed to get his torso up onto it, legs still hanging off the sides. He flopped onto his belly, bandaged wings laying stiffly against his back, and laid there for a moment, hot and panting, eyes drifting shut. It was hard to think--or at least think logically and coherently--and it was difficult to care about much when all he wanted to do was pass out so he didn't feel like shit. But the part of him that was still capable of putting coherent thoughts together knew that he was in really bad shape and that he should probably get to the hospital. He just didn't have the energy to make his way outside and to a shuttle.

He folded his arms under his head and waited. Alright. This was the real test. If that person came back and gave him a glass of water he could hold and drink, maybe he'd consider the possibility that this was real. And if that was the case, maybe the psycho could help him with his issue.

It wasn't too long (or at least, in his state it didn't feel like long; things felt rather timeless in his dazed state) before the kid returned, glass of water in hand as he inched close to him. Water. Maybe he should have been cautious and concerned about taking water from a weirdo, but he was too thirsty to care. Pushing himself up onto his elbows, he snatched the water away and chugged it, a little too fast; a good amount of it spilled past his lips and went down his neck and shirt and all over the bed, but it felt good. Nice and cool against his inflamed skin. He finished the glass off and wiped his mouth off with the back of his hand before slumping again.

"Uh...thanks..."

Guess that meant the guy was real. Or a really good trick of the fever-induced imagination. He let out a hot breath. "Look, uh...if yer here...I'm not doin' so hot...I need a doctor. Or like...pills..." or something. He didn't truly know what he was saying. He let his forehead hit the bed. "Dun feel good."

[Anonymous]

Pip just stood back and stayed quiet as Kestrel drank the water. He didn't know what else he was supposed to do. Well he could just try to take his soul while he was busy but the phone was still there. There was still the chance that he'd get in trouble. Best to avoid that still. That meant he'd just have to continue to go along with everything.

Great...

He jumped a little when Kestrel spoke, having temporarily zoned out. At least while he was thinking. "A..Ah..n..no problem." he mumbled, fidgeting with the ends of his sleeves a little. A doctor? No that wouldn't do. He couldn't get him a doctor...heck he probably couldn't even get him to a doctor. "P-Pills...o..okay. D-Do you have anything here?" That would be convenient. Having to go out and get pills wouldn't be very fun at all.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Kestrel heaved a stuffy-nosed sigh and flapped his hand in the general direction of the bathroom down the hall. Took too much effort to do much else, and just lifting his arm took more energy than he had to spare. He just wanted to pass out--and probably would have if he didn't feel so hot and achy and uncomfortable.

"Medicine cabinet..." he muttered. There should be some cold medicine there. Hopefully. If he hadn't used it up, and hopefully if it was still there then it hadn't expired. Nothing in there was a cure--after all, there was no cure for the flu--but at the very least there must be something in there that could help bring the fever down.

But even he was aware that he really, really needed medical treatment. His wings, while they had been cleaned and bandaged and the bones properly set, still needed tending to and needed the bandages changed if they weren't to get infected--if they weren't already infected. But one thing at a time. This guy seemed fuckin' clueless, so baby steps first.

And rest.

[Anonymous]

Pip looked in the direction Kestrel waved his hand at. Well the general direction anyway. When Kestrel spoke up, he jumped a little and quickly looked back at him. He really needed to calm down. This wasn't so bad..."Ah...r-right. Okay. I-I'll be right back."

He took a couple steps back from Kestrel, still keeping an eye on him. When he nearly stumbled backwards though he quickly turned around and went to the bathroom. 'Medicine cabinet...' Pip glanced around a little once he was in the bathroom. Once he had found said cabinet he opened it up and examined what medicine was in there. Most of it expired. '...Great..' Expired medication would probably just make him worse..

Pip shook his head at his train of thought. He didn't really want him to get better..if he did then he couldn't take his soul. That would be a problem. Even with that thought in mind he still looked for something that would work and also wasn't way past it's use date. He still didn't want the cops called on him so it was just best to get the guy better and maybe the name would go away. If not..well then that was a problem he'd have to deal with later.

Pip smiled slightly when he managed to find something. There wasn't much left of it but it would work. He quickly left the bathroom, not even bothering to shut the cabinet and returned to Kestrel's side. "H-Here." he said, giving the medicine to the sickly man.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Without a word, Kestrel snatched up the pills and popped them in his mouth, swallowing them dry even while his mother's past lectures niggled him: always drink a full glass of water or you'll damage your kidneys!

Sorry, mom, he thought, delirious.

With one last little burst of strength, he managed to haul himself back up onto his bed and then stretched out onto his belly, face against the pillow. "Thanks," he mumbled to the weird scythe guy, and after that all he could really do was hope the meds would kick in and bring down his fever and clear his foggy brain. At least one of their effects was kicking in--those were the PM pills, so if nothing else at least he'd get some sleep.

Feeling his eyes starting to get droopy, and still a little convinced that this was all some crazy fever-induced lucid dream, he decided to indulge his 'subconscious' a bit while he drifted off. Why not? Maybe he'd learn a little about what the hell was going on in his brain.

"So wha's this 'bout takin' my soul...?" he slurred.

[Anonymous]

Pip quickly pulled his hand back once Kestrel had taken the pills. He held it close to his chest for a second as if he would catch Kestrel's sickness before letting it drop down to his side. So, what was he supposed to do now? He was going to make the guy better and...well then what? Hopefully his name would disappear off the list but he wasn't so sure of that. On top of that he didn't want to just pull that out of thin air and cause more alarm somehow.

"U-Uhm..you're welcome.." Pip mumbled, not really sure what else he was supposed to say. He wasn't even sure if he should help the poor man. In the end he opted not to and just stood there looking kind of stupid.

And there was the question he was hoping he wouldn't get again. He figured the guy would go to sleep, he could check his list again and if it had changed he could just leave. Chances were Kestrel would think it was a dream if he did that. "U-Uhm..w..well...y..you see. Er...w-why don't we talk about that...uhm...when you wake up? Or..feel better?"

[Rhi-Rhi]

"No. Now," Kestrel demanded, but his voice was fading and his muscles were relaxing. He let his eyes drift shut even though he wasn't yet comfortable letting that guy out of his sight, and sighed as that relieved the burning, tired sensation in his eyes. It felt wonderful.

Just a minute. Just rest 'em for a minute...

"Start talkin'..." he murmured, breathing becoming slow and even, body starting to feel all heavy yet distant. "Ya needa...explain an'...an'..."

And he was down for the count.

[Anonymous]

Pip frowned when Kestrel demanded for him to talk right then. He really didn't want to and that seemed to be sort of fine since the other man was obviously not going to stay awake too much longer. Or at least he thought he wouldn't anyway. He was starting to relax and even though he had demanded his voice didn't hold as much "oomph" as a voice demanding normally would. If he stayed quiet he could just hope Kestrel would go to sleep and he wouldn't have to say anything...until he woke up.

A sigh of relief escape his lips when Kestrel was finally out like a light. He stepped away from the bed until he was leaning against a wall and then sunk down to the floor. He pulled his hood up over his head and then well over his face as well, wishing at that moment he had the capability of suffocating cause he'd actually attempt to do it to himself. "..What am I going to do..?" he mumbled, pressing the cloth against his face.

With the hood still over his face, he quickly made his list appear before pulling the hood away. Pip quickly looked over the list and frowned when he saw that there were a couple more names added to it. Kestrel's name was also still right at the top of the list. He was taking too long here and that meant he'd be behind. After all of this was said and done, if it ever got to that point, he'd have to hope getting the other souls wouldn't be as difficult. Another sigh came out as he made the list disappear and hit the back of his head lightly against the wall a couple of times.

Now all he could do was wait for Kestrel to wake up...he couldn't very well take his soul since he looked healthy and he had no evidence that he was actually dying. "..The universe hates me.."

[Rhi-Rhi]

When Kestrel woke up again, his fever had broken. Cold sweat beaded on his brow and he was still in obvious bad shape, his wings a mess that needed to be cleaned and treated, the bandages changed, but he didn't look like he was dying, at least.

And he didn't feel it, either.

Still sick, still awful, still achy, but not like he was on death's door.

With a groan, Kestrel cracked his eyes open--and gave a small yelp of surprise when he saw that HE was still there! what the fucking fuck?! So it hadn't been a fever trip? Or was he still trippin'?

"You!" he croaked, throat sore. "What th' fuck're ya still doin' here?"