deathsdoctor | 014 [Action/possibly voice]

[ Not too long before the draftees are returned to Luceti, all snug and cosily tucked in their beds (or in random and embarrassing drop-off points in the enclosure – whatever works), a figure cloaked and hooded in black staggers into the village. Weaving like he’s dead drunk – reality? Dead tired – he occasionally trips and catches himself…

… and then…

… and then just faceplants in a snow drift when it becomes one trip too many. He’s just going to just stay there for a moment. He feels like shit.]

Ughhhhh.

[Yeah. That’s enough of that. Picking himself up and dusting himself off, the figure reveals himself to be Trafalgar Law, freshly returned from one month full of missions.

Armed to the teeth. Worn to the bone and bleary eyed. And apparently lei’d.

… no, you aren’t imagining things - there is a tacky plastic floral garland hanging around his neck. Like you’d get on some cheap tropical vacation.

Don’t you dare suggest he’s been on one, folks.

And when he looks around, finally registering the Christmas lights and the general emptiness of the village, he mutters…]

Oi… what I’d miss?

[Go ahead. Spoil his ~~triumphant~~ tired return and tell him about all the draftees about to drop in. The draftees that possibly and quite probably need medical attention.

It isn’t like he desperately wants to find a bed and get some sleep. And it isn’t like he desperately needs that sleep either.

Not at all.]

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It's good to see you've been returned in one piece.

[Pun not on purpose, clearly. And there may be a vague sense of relief to his voice.]

[Of course not.]

Itachi...

[Well... there's a weight off his shoulders. One of the big ones. A month. A month of not knowing. And now the people that matter are slowly, slowly checking in...

He's trembling and he's not sure if it's just the exhaustion coursing through him expressing itself. It's frightening, you know. He doesn't shake.]

It's good to hear your voice too.

At least you're wise enough to realize it. [Shimmers and switches into a phoenix.] Are you safe to hold on?

That's good to hear. [Slight frown.] Just don't overload yourself, alright?

Uh... could I ask you a favor? Could you let me know when the draftees start trickling in? Leave me a message and start rounding up the other healers that are still left for the post-draft flood?

[He winces and his pride burns. But it is greater weakness not to speak than to admit this.]

Right now it's too dangerous for me to work on anyone. I'm too tired and I'm not thinking clearly. [He'll kill someone accidentally at this point in other words. That is unacceptable.] I need to catch a few hours of sleep before I start in on the injuries. Could you let the others know I'll be with them as soon as I can?

Safe enough. I won't fall unconscious until I'm safely down.

[This he can guarantee.]

Will you require assistance in any way?

[Don't think he doesn't hear the weariness seeping into your voice.]

[Side glance and nods.]

All right, hop on, eh?

I won't.

Of course. I'll get the word out as soon as I know. I can see what other healers we might have around too.

[Slurring very slightly.] Mister Marco is taking me home.

[And the sounds of village life are falling away, to be replaced by the sounds of flapping winds and the whistle of wind as they pass through the air.

But Marco isn't taking him to House 22.

He's taking Law to what he thinks is Law's home.

He's taking Law to you.]

[And somewhat awkwardly Law climbs on, both hands clutching feathers (or is that flames) firmly but carefully. The only reason there's no problem with Law's nodachi is that it's fastened to his back by a thin strap. Something he gained to deal with some of the challenges of the naval draft and something that still is useful for when he needs both hands.]

I'm ready.

[The exhaustion in his tone creeps in, seeping through and permeating every word like cold mist through a thin coat to chill the wearer to the bone.]

Thank you. I appreciate it a lot.

No problem.

Is there someone to help you home or somewhere?

A-ah, of course! How could I not me, given the season...?

[Ignore the draft.

Ignore the drama of his love life.

Ignore the blizzard]

[Flame feathers. Still tangible until Oda says otherwise.]

[And Marco takes off slowly to make sure Law won't fall, and heads over to CH2, where he assumes he lives from that whole thing with the Malnosso droids.]

Who were you healing over there? Other kidnappees or volunteers, or just Malnosso or whatever passes for natives on this planet? [He'll let you sleep soon dude, but might as well ask in the meantime.]

Mister Marco is flying me home. [Quiet. Poor guy's being the One Piece air taxi tonight.] He'll make sure I get back safely.

Good to hear.

Get some rest, sir. I'll keep things organized.

Their soldiers. [He still has enough energy for distaste] At least, the ones who weren't too delirious. They never let us near the raving ones. Didn't want us to hear what they were saying.

Once or twice they brought in a captured Third Party member. Never let us near them either. One I saw managed to kill herself while struggling with her captors. Bit out her own tongue.

And the Third Party continues to sound insane. Sad when you can't tell which is worse.

[Drifts lazily over the rooftops. Luckily for him, the blinding Christmas lights make it really easy to see where he's going.]

I know. What a choice. [His voice is quiet] Madmen or people lower than scum.

I will.

Goodnight and thank you, yet again.

Aye. Of course, since our world has both, it's pretty much same old, same old.

Yeah. Pretty much.

[Lapsing into silence as he forces himself out of the haze he was beginning to sink into.]

All right, we're here, but I'm guessing the window isn't open this time. [In this weather, it'd be a bit crazy.]

Do you know if the door on the roof opens from the outside?

It does.

[Door on the roof? But he doesn't live here anymore... doesn't he?

It's a muzzy thought smearing into more muzzy thoughts and the warmth of the indoors and the thought of a bed beckon. He can spend the night here. Maybe have breakfast with Itachi.

But yes. The door opens from the outside.]

All right. [Lands down on the roof and switches back to human, giving Law time to climb down if he wants. And if not, he'll just carry him as a human. Something he thinks nothing of since he does it with Ace all the time, and probably hitches rides on his huge brothers. ~~Because they are ridiculous.~~]

Let's see if I remember the room right from the inside of the building this time, eh?

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