#Hospital – July 24, 2020

Zaylus hurries into the cover of the hospital entrance, shaking excess snow from the crevices of his armor that seem intent on collecting it. It's early on the 23rd and the weather is rather bleak, but a cautious optimism pulls at his features, his mandibles twitching idly. Wringing his hands slightly, he scans the waiting faces, wondering if he'll have to make the familiar trip up this

time.

Oxaris spares Zaylus that trip. The Turian commando is stood at the waiting room desk, engaging in idle small talk with the receptionist and ensuring that she has not forgotten anything. Despite the traumatic injuries she had suffered, Oxaris still manages to keep herself held upright and tall, exhibiting the same iron discipline that she often shows in even the most mundane of tasks. She is, for once, not donned in

any armour. She is instead wrapped up in warm, yet simplistic clothing of dark, muted colours. Her mandibles twitch in the turian equivalent of a smile as she picks up her rucksack, carrying the few possessions she had in the hospital. As well as the bottle of booze that Jason bought in for her. She turns and it isn't long before she spots Zaylus, her smile brightening ever so slightly at the sight of her

friend. She raises a taloned hand, but quickly pulls it down when it causes a spike of pain to shoot through her side. Dynamic motion is still tricky.

Zaylus heads in Oxaris' direction as their eyes meet, right hand raising up to mirror the greeting gesture. He stifles a small, emphathetic wince as hers ends abruptly and he can guess the reason why. Not to be too kind, he steps up next to her and snarks, "They're actually just letting you leave? I thought I was going to be sneaking you out a back door or something." He rolls his shoulders

in a shrug, feigning incredulity. "Okaaay."

Oxaris tisks with a small shake of her head, gingerly shouldering the backpack and raising a finger to flick Zaylus on the side of the head. "Nice to see you too," she says with a gentle laugh. She motions to the doors that lead to the sweet release of anywhere but the hospital and starts towards it. Whilst she is beyond grateful to Halisi and her team for everything they've done, Oxaris can't stand being stuck inside

idle for too long. There's only so many crappy soaps she can watch before she wants to overload the screen. "You look well. Well enough to snark."

Zaylus growls, tensing but not moving away from the vicious attack. She can have that one. He shakes it off, chuckling pleasantly. "I'm always well enough to snark. If I ever stop, you better bring me to Halisi." He retorts, leading out the way he came in. "Uhh, you feel like walking? Wasn't too bad on the way, but maybe you're not feeling up to it." He passes an uncomfortable glance at

her, hand hovering over his omni-tool to call a cab instead.

Oxaris flicks her eyes at him as he growls, mandibles twitching ever so slightly. "I might just leave it alone, actually. Might be able to get some peace and quiet for once," she muses, thoughtfully rubbing her chin for added effect. As they pass through the doors, the biting chill of the air briefly catches her off guard. But she welcomes it, inhaling deeply, glad to be breathing something other than the sterile air

of the hospital ward. For a moment, she almost seems to miss Zaylus' question as she is briefly lost in the feeling of winter's air. However, she answers, looking across to him. "It is a fair walk to my apartment," she concedes. "Let's walk for a bit." She raises a hand to halt any objections before they come, adding, "I'll let you know when it starts getting too difficult. Then we'll take a cab."

Zaylus lets the hand drop, shrugging in concession. "If you say so." He muses, "But it'll take longer and I'm going to snark the whole way." He informs matter-of-factly, stepping on any retort by quickly reaching out an open hand. "Let me carry your bag, huh? I know you're still hurtin', don't make a fuss."

Oxaris looks as if she's about to decline the offer, but she does admit to herself that she is indeed still hurting from her wounds. The surgery did wonders to restore the carapace and skin, but it's still tender, fresh. She sighs softly and gives him a grateful smile, holding out the bag to him. "Thank you, Zaylus."

Zaylus slings the bag over his shoulder, nodding with an affirmative grunt. He begins heading off into town, snow crunching rythmically under his boots as he gauges Oxaris for the approriate pace. "So, how long until they'll let you get back into action? Assuming... there's action to be had, I suppose." He questions, scanning the white blanket in front of them.

Oxaris walks alongside him, able to keep pace despite the numb ache caused by the motion. She hums softly, considering the question. "Honestly? If I want to be back up to fighting condition, it'll be a couple of months. The doctors did wonders, but it still takes time for the body to heal, adjust. I could probably expedite it through careful physical therapy...". The prospect of being sidelined for a few months causes

a visible look of sadness to cross her features.

Zaylus spys the discontent with a sideways glance, chewing on it for a moment as a small wind briefly swirls the snowfall around them. "Yeah, that sucks." He murmurs, pausing a few moments before adding. "...You know Jason will understand, right? You pulled your weight and then some on that mission. No one can blame you for taking some time to get back to fighting form." He assures,

uncertain if he's hit the root of her concerns.

Oxaris turns her gaze to Zaylus and offers a kindly smile to him. "I know. He's already assured me they'll do whatever they can to help me in the mean time. Including getting my armour fixed." She pauses for a moment as she steps around a human couple that pass them on the street, her brow plate furrowing lightly. "Speaking of, I'll need to call Artullin and see if he can come out here to fix it."

Zaylus similarly skirts the humans, only breifly peeping their outfits. The name takes several long seconds to dredge a thought before, "Oh right, your brother." He says thoughtfully, "Wait, why wasn't he-" Cutting himself off with a cough, he shakes his head quickly. "Uh, nevermind."

Oxaris now just fixes Zaylus with a curious look, her expression a silent urge for him to continue that line of thought.

Zaylus twitches his mandibles nervously, a hand running along the back of his neck. Unable to escape the line of thought, he backtracks. "Did he, uh, come to see you? When you were, you know." He asks, fearful of stepping on a familial nerve. "I just thought maybe I'd have run into him."

Oxaris perks her browplate for a moment before she laughs, shaking her head. "No, he didn't. I didn't tell him I was in hospital," she assures him, unable to let him wallow in his nervous fidgeting for long. "He has a family to look after, I'm not going to add further worry to him until absolutely necessary."

Zaylus perks a brow at her blase attitude. "Sure... I guess." He answers, not sounding entirely sure. He continues to fidget somewhat, looking down at their feet. "Alright, look, Ox. I get the impression you don't want me to ask, so I'll only do it once, and then I'll drop it, okay?" He looks up, mandibles pulled tight in an uncomfortable grimace.

Oxaris sighs softly and comes to a full stop. She turns fully to Zaylus, one hand resting on her waist, the other motioning to him to get it over with.

Zaylus groans quietly, peering over his shoulder until the nearest passerby is far enough away. "I'm not stupid, I can read between the lines well enough. And I wasn't concerned while you were in the hospital, but now..." He breathes hard from his nose, continuing a low and quiet tone. "What was in that message you sent, and why... why send it to me?"

Oxaris turns her head to the left and right, checking up and down the street. She waits a few heartbeats before she shakes her head. "Not here," she says simply. "When we're back at my apartment... then I'll tell you. Okay?" She gives him a slightly softer look this time, but there's just enough of that glint in her eyes to warrant no argument. "Call a cab."

Zaylus nods sharply, offering no protest. But her reaction must've been exactly what he was afraid of, and there's tension in his body as he navigates his omni-tool to summon a cab. "Too cold a day to walk." He murmurs absently, suddenly aware of everyone else on the street today.

Oxaris nods slightly and her she folds her arms across her chest, briefly closing her eyes in silence. This... this was going to take some explaining to do.

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Oxaris Ortoratus
Zaylus Velrin

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#Hospital
Oxaris Ortoratus
Zaylus Velrin