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[ The hospital room is pretty quiet with the silence between them, so it's pretty easy for Terry to pick up the apology Killua mutters. ]

You were injured, so... it couldn't be helped. It's fine, Killua. It's not like it's your fault that the bird boss tried to kill me. That's his fault, not yours. I wouldn't want anybody else to die there.

[ The mom cat quietly purrs while on Killua's lap and attempts to comfort him by pretty much acting like a therapy cat. ]

Even if you say that... [He can't shake the feeling that there's more he could've done. Fighting, combat--they're all things he's learned since he was practically a baby, right? So how could he be so useless when it came down to it?]

I don't understand. You said it crushed your heart? [Killua looks him over again. Sure, Terry's in the hospital, but he's looking pretty alive for someone who died--or almost died?] How are you.... [He trails off, brows drawing together. Even he knows it'd be rude to ask someone why they aren't actually dead, and yet. That's the question on his mind now.]

[ Right. Yeah. That should be answered eventually. Though Terry personally wouldn't have minded the question, since it's definitely weird that he's sitting there, talking to Killua after having his heart literally crushed to bits. ]

I don't die.

[ So he'll just simply put it out there for Killua. No curveballs. Easily understandable, right?! ]

[His brows immediately snap together in confusion. Then, his expression smooths out as he turns that information over, trying to put the pieces together.]

...was that something you knew before or after you got here?

Something I knew before. Not dying was something I always had even before I came here. I'm glad that it didn't get revoked like everything else though.

[ Nah, he's just mistaking game mechanics for his semi-immortality, but Terry looks fully convinced that he still has it. ]

[A low whistle, Killua impressed despite himself.]

So you're immortal? You know a lot of people would kill for that kind of power.

[Some people in his family, even, from what Killua knows of them.]

[ That... gets a nervous laughter out of Terry. ]

Hopefully people won't try to kill me over it? It doesn't transfer... and getting injured still hurts! It's a hassle to deal with...

I'm not going to say it won't happen. Humans can be pretty greedy about this kind of thing.

[He shrugs, even if his expression is just a bit sympathetic. Sorry, Terry. He's a little too jaded to think about lying, even if it's to make you feel better.]

We-ell, I won't tell anyone about it, if it worries you that much. Unless you've already said something to them.

I thought people here were pretty cool with it, so I didn't mind telling if they questioned it. Though, it's not like I'm shouting it at the top of my lungs for everyone to hear.

[ Yeah, he never said a word about that back home. ]

Life is too short when you're always worrying about something that you shouldn't bother with.

[ Such short lifespans. ]

[Killua grudgingly nods, briefly looking down to scritch the mama cat's neck.]

Guess you have a point--the people like us. So far they seem... decent. [The words are a little clumsy on his tongue, like he isn't really used to complimenting people like that.]

It's your call, anyway.

[ The mom cat is really enjoying the attention and it purrs really loud while rolling back and forth on Killua's lap. ]

Just "decent"?

[ C'mon, Killua. ]

Just because people act nice doesn't mean you should lower your guard. [Killua scoffs, and then adds, for good measure--] Stupid.

[Everyone's too naive for their own good.]

[ Honestly, that should be everyone's warning about Terry... it's too bad that he's both genuinely nice and cold... when he gets there. ]

Still--

[ He coughs and wow, there goes some blood onto his hand when he covers his mouth. Instead of his eyes wide with shock, he only frowns as if it's merely a bother. ]

Ugh... can you get a paper towel for me? It's in the bathroom linked to the room over there.

[At least Killua's one of the persona users here that wouldn't freak out at the sight of blood. He just raises an eyebrow at Terry, before gently setting the mama cat out of the way and making his way to the bathroom.]

Here. [He drops a sheet of paper towel onto Terry's lap.] How long are you gonna be stuck in here?

[ Bless Killua for not freaking out. Terry really appreciates it too, and he's just kinda tired of everyone screaming over how much he bleeds. It's fine... totally. ]

Thanks. [ He wipes his hand with the paper towel and drops it into the trash can, then using some hand sanitizer to clean his hands. Feels great! ]

Probably for a while... I don't think my heart will reform itself that fast.

[The thought of someone coming back from an injury like that is still something to wrap his mind around. Not that he hasn't encountered incredible regeneration abilities before--the Ants, in particular come to mind.]

What about the healers? Why don't you ask one of them to help things along?

That's...

[ He remembers the moment when Rei tried to heal his fatal injury, but nothing happened. Hm. He's not sure if he wants to put her through that kind of trauma again so quickly. ]

... I'll ask later when it heals up a little more first. I don't want them to put too much energy into it if they don't have to.

[As if Killua wouldn't pick up on that hesitation. He narrows his eyes slightly.]

Are you worried it won't work? Or that it'll cost them more energy that they don't have?

[Healers here are somewhat limited, he's noticed, and even if the personas are still a mystery to him, he figures the personas must be drawing their energy from who they're paired up with. It's the only reason he can think of that would make Terry hesitate like this.]

It actually didn't work.

[ Might as well give it to him straight. ]

She's the strongest healer I know too... and it didn't work. If it did, well... I wouldn't be here.

Edited 2019-08-24 18:34 (UTC)

[Instead of taking the seat again, Killua just crouches down beside the cats this time, giving up on any pretense that he isn't interested in petting them.]

It could be a compatibility issue. [He muses quietly, puzzling over this.] You said your heart got crushed--normally that would be a fatal injury. Something like that might've been beyond the persona's healing ability.

[ Yes, the cats really like the attention that Killua is giving them now. Some of them purr and playfully paws at his hand too. ]

But even so, shouldn't it at least reform somewhat? Even if it's a slow healing process, shouldn't it be healing something? I couldn't feel anything coming back when the attempt was made.

[ It's so different from the healing magic he's used to, so he has an issue of understanding how stuff isn't compatible. ]

There's a lot of factors that could've kept it from working.

[Though he's still playing with the kittens, Terry still has most of his attention and it's obvious he's taking this seriously.]

You've been healed by a persona before this, right?

I... I think so. I was coughing blood one time and I got a bunch of small healing spells thrown my way. I've been healed by normal means and other magic before too. It doesn't really feel all that different from magic.

[ So he doesn't think they're the same thing. ]

Though both felt warm...

Well, if they worked before, then it sounds like it was that situation that didn't line up somewhere.

[He smiles, just a bit wryly.] Usually this is where I'd suggest experimenting to find out what that something is, but....you know. That'd be pretty unpleasant.

[How morbid...]

[ Terry can't even fake a laugh at that comment. He looks like he's lightheaded with all the endurance chipping away and letting the morphine in his system fully take over so Terry ends up passing out on the bed.

Good job Killua.

Good job. LOL ]

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evoltlution - 2019-08-25 23:15 (UTC) - Expand