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ph_logs2024-04-10 10:00 pm
be_seeing_you) wrote in ph_logs2024-04-10 10:00 pm
April Catch All
Who: Number 6 & Open
Where: Around town and on the farm
What: Various prompts for April
When: Currently before Flood, might add some for After Flood
Warnings: [cw: Talk about spousal death, illness, grief, depictions of chronic impending fatal illness]
A. Around the farm
Number 6 is finally starting to look the part out here on the farm. He found a pair of dungarees and work boots stowed away in the attic of their home and he's donned them now along with a wide-brimmed sunhat to protect his pale complexion from the worst of the sun's rays. It can only do so much, and as a result, his face has broken out in an explosion of freckles. Despite that and the sunburns, he's happy. His hands are covered in dirt from plowing the soil and his shirt is soaked from the sweaty work of hauling logs and chopping wood. And he hasn't had to lie to a single person or keep a single secret to accomplish his tasks. It's all good, honest labor.
Unfortunately, the work is getting harder on him by the day. At the start of the month, all seems fine enough. But that ring in the shape of a skull jawbone on his finger is slowly but surely sapping that strength away from him. In the middle of pushing a wheelbarrow, he suddenly falls to his knees, out of breath and clammy with sweat so thick his hair is wet beneath his hat. It's fine, he tells himself. Get up. He has more work to do yet. But... maybe he should just rest for a moment, first.
...Just a moment.
B. Now I lay me down to sleep [cw: Be advised, this is directly following Ava's IC death]
He went out to lay beneath the stars with his wife. But now... now he's walking home alone. There's a bundle in his arms. The clothes she left behind. Still warm, but that warmth is fading. Like she faded.
Tears glisten in his eyes but he blinks them back. He has to stay strong. She will be a ghost. She might see. He doesn't want her to have to watch his anguish. Stiff upper lip. It will be all right. They knew the cost of freedom might be high. He let her pay it this time, but the next... and the next...
"I'll find a way," he says under his breath. "We'll stop this."
But, for now, there is nothing he can do but cross the short distance from field to the front door of their home, drift inside and... no, he doesn't think he can sleep tonight. Not alone. He resolves to go to the kettle instead, to brew something hot. He carries it back out to the front porch and sits heavily in one of the wooden rocking chairs. A matched set. Somehow that only makes him feel lonelier, watching the empty chair creak slightly in the breeze. On a night like this, he could use some company.
C. Wildcard Me
Can be next day, ghost shenanigans, etc. Just throw whatever at me, I'm game.
Where: Around town and on the farm
What: Various prompts for April
When: Currently before Flood, might add some for After Flood
Warnings: [cw: Talk about spousal death, illness, grief, depictions of chronic impending fatal illness]
A. Around the farm
Number 6 is finally starting to look the part out here on the farm. He found a pair of dungarees and work boots stowed away in the attic of their home and he's donned them now along with a wide-brimmed sunhat to protect his pale complexion from the worst of the sun's rays. It can only do so much, and as a result, his face has broken out in an explosion of freckles. Despite that and the sunburns, he's happy. His hands are covered in dirt from plowing the soil and his shirt is soaked from the sweaty work of hauling logs and chopping wood. And he hasn't had to lie to a single person or keep a single secret to accomplish his tasks. It's all good, honest labor.
Unfortunately, the work is getting harder on him by the day. At the start of the month, all seems fine enough. But that ring in the shape of a skull jawbone on his finger is slowly but surely sapping that strength away from him. In the middle of pushing a wheelbarrow, he suddenly falls to his knees, out of breath and clammy with sweat so thick his hair is wet beneath his hat. It's fine, he tells himself. Get up. He has more work to do yet. But... maybe he should just rest for a moment, first.
...Just a moment.
B. Now I lay me down to sleep [cw: Be advised, this is directly following Ava's IC death]
He went out to lay beneath the stars with his wife. But now... now he's walking home alone. There's a bundle in his arms. The clothes she left behind. Still warm, but that warmth is fading. Like she faded.
Tears glisten in his eyes but he blinks them back. He has to stay strong. She will be a ghost. She might see. He doesn't want her to have to watch his anguish. Stiff upper lip. It will be all right. They knew the cost of freedom might be high. He let her pay it this time, but the next... and the next...
"I'll find a way," he says under his breath. "We'll stop this."
But, for now, there is nothing he can do but cross the short distance from field to the front door of their home, drift inside and... no, he doesn't think he can sleep tonight. Not alone. He resolves to go to the kettle instead, to brew something hot. He carries it back out to the front porch and sits heavily in one of the wooden rocking chairs. A matched set. Somehow that only makes him feel lonelier, watching the empty chair creak slightly in the breeze. On a night like this, he could use some company.
C. Wildcard Me
Can be next day, ghost shenanigans, etc. Just throw whatever at me, I'm game.
no subject
Ava reaches for his hand to curl their fingers together, thumb tracing that ring, but she doesn't remove it despite all the temptations to end his pain (but it wouldn't end his suffering, would it.) Respects his choice, their agreement to trade off. They're enduring this in every way together, but she's more determined than ever to find an eventual solution. One that doesn't require going through this every month.
"It's awful, isn't it?" She won't pretend otherwise. "But you're so strong, darling."
no subject
"Yes," he admits. The pain is terrible. Worse than anything they ever did to him in The Village for how it simply goes on and on without reprieve. "Know that even if my body breaks, my mind never will. There is nothing I could not endure for us. No price is too high." They're used to paying a high price for their happiness, after all.
He thinks a moment and then, reluctantly adds, "I suppose I could afford to come in for tea. Will you help me get the wheelbarrow to the side of the house?"
no subject
Still, the guilt twists.
"Of course, here. Do you want to finish this water while I move it?" she offers instead, wanting him to take it easy despite his stubborn desire to prove himself still useful. She wants him to conserve his energy for the trip back inside. "Ylva had brought me those ingredients for tea before. I think you'll like it."
no subject
"Yes. I'll finish it." Staying hydrated is important even when one is well. He knows that.
"Did she? That's kind of her. We'll be sure to set some apples aside for her." As soon as that leaves his mouth a part of him marvels at it. They've become something here, all of them, that they struggled to be on that cruise ship--a community.
no subject
"Mhm. And Tayrey claimed a share of the mint, in exchange for some pain killer." Effective enough to take the edge off, she doesn't want to use it too often in case it might cause some sort of dependency or tolerance. "We'll mix a drop or two with the tea, and then we'll get you a bath."
She takes care of the wheelbarrow, humming along.
no subject
"She did? Then we'll be sure to give her the best crop of mint we can pick."
He almost wants to argue against the pain medication, but then he considers how he would have told Ava not to be stubborn when their places were reversed. He need not struggle against her care. For what? Pride? He's going to have to sacrifice that.
"A bath sounds very nice. Thank you, dear."
no subject
She's glad he doesn't protest, finishing up with the wheelbarrow and putting away various yard tools so that he has more time to gather his strength back up and finish the water. When she returns, she offers out a hand with a sweet conspiratorial smile. "Bet we could fit both of us in that tub, too..." she motivates his getting up.
no subject
He grins as he takes her hand to get up. "You do know how to motivate me, don't you?"
no subject
good wrap?
"You do make me happy. So very, very happy."