[the last voyages] ic inbox

[onlyhearmusic]

[a lyrical hum cuts in, almost as if someone didn't know what they were doing]

"Leave yer message."

[oh. no, he knew. he just didn't care. the beep comes after another brief humming stops.]

Comments

audio;

[zichen]

With your mouth, I am considering it. But we both know I'm not going to leave you in the water. Where are you?

Re: audio;

[onlyhearmusic]

[No reply. No indication he even listened to this response.]

audio;

[zichen]

[He is going to row around the ship, then, looking for Collins's familiar figure.]

[onlyhearmusic]

[Zichen will not find Collins in the water at this time.]

[zichen]

[So he climbs back onto the capsized ship, leaping into the first hole he finds. If he can't find an opening on the top, he will swim underwater and locate one there.

Unfortunately he doesn't encounter Collins and he ends up back on the island's shore, looking grim.]

[onlyhearmusic]

[It took Collins a matter of hours to get off the ship. He was fortunate to have been in his room on the bottom. But he was still exhausted from the ordeal and his minor injuries. Once he reached the island he found a place to rest and tend to his head wound. He didn't sleep the first night. That came later.

On the island Collins took to staying away from others, especially the first few days. He checked on Trevor but wasn't feeling very social after everything. Then he got caught up worrying over Aerith after his first sleep and so it wasn't until he knew she was safe that he stopped avoiding people.

Being approached by Zichen after those first few days wasn't so bad. He stayed put and even offered, wordlessly, the other man some scavenged food as he sat at a small fire that only he attended.]

[zichen]

[By then Zichen has his robes mostly dry and he is dressed again. The cats and his snake are settled, nice and safe, with Xue Yang and that leaves him freedom to look for his inmate. Armed with Fuxue, he journeys around the perimeter of the island first. He doesn't think Collins will have a longing to visit the interior.

And then, suddenly, he finds him. The knot in his chest eases and he smiles at the offer of food. He doesn't need it, but the thought warms him.]

I thought the Barge devoured you.

[onlyhearmusic]

The Enposib.

[He corrected, his accent overriding any that would naturally come about from pronouncing a foreign language's word. He still hasn't done much more than glance at Zichen. Instead he was focused on the fire. It was much more warm than the warden's presence in the Irishman's mind.]

I'm well and "alive".

[He said with a hint of sarcasm. It was possible to see he took some damage from the initial flip, but everything looked attended. He even had a makeshift bandage upon his head. And he certainly wasn't fussed over anything. He was fine.]

[zichen]

Ah that's right. [His sleep has been odd on the Enposib. Very deep at times - too deep for his liking - and nonexistent at others. Somehow he has merged the two vessels in his mind as a result.]

Your head... [Zichen walks closer, carefully and kneels down near Collins.] I have some herbs. They will help with infection and swelling.

[He had kept them in a pouch at his waist. While the pouch had gotten wet, it hadn't ruined the contents.]

[onlyhearmusic]

[Collins lifted a hand as if to fend the other off if he reached out to examine his head wound. But when Zichen did no such thing, Collins lowered his arm and resumed his state into the fire.]

It's fine. Save it.

[Nothing altruistic about it really, he just didn't really want the witch's herbs. However, there was no bite to the words so it could have easily passed for a suggestion to save the medicine for someone who actually needed it.]

[zichen]

Are you having any troublesome symptoms? Blurred vision? Headache? Dizziness? [He can at least reassure himself that Collins isn't bleeding internally. Those things can happen if the head wound is bad enough.]

How frustrating would it be for you to have escaped an upturned ship only to perish on an island.

[onlyhearmusic]

[Collins repressed a sigh. There the boy went again, treating him like a child.]

I know how ta take care of myself.

[He said tonelessly instead, keeping the rest of his thoughts to himself.]

[zichen]

[No, he is treating him like a living person.]

I only wish for you to stay whole.

[He looks up at the sky for the millionth time and sighs.]

Have you seen my finch?

[onlyhearmusic]

No, and I doubt we ever will again.

[It was exactly why he thought animals were a bad idea. Not that he had had a choice in his coming along apparently. Collins patted his bag and confirmed the weasel was still hidden inside, asleep.]

[zichen]

...you are likely correct. [As much as it hurts to admit. His gaze shifts to the bag and he asks:] A stowaway?