[ John grits his teeth. he’s going to let him go. he’s going to let him go. he’s going to let him -
not much cop, this caring lark.
- oh, for... God’s sake.
John’s hand reaches out - not far enough to touch, not quite, he doesn’t want to risk doing harm or triggering anything (learned hesitance, maybe, but better to be careful, Prior’s already shaken). it hovers in the air between Prior and his chosen route, one final blockade. he’s spoken in anger and it isn’t what he meant... is, but not quite how he said it. Prior is both a friend and somebody to whom he has a certain duty of care, regardless of medical oaths and how long dead they are. trust is hard earned and easily lost and he’s not about to abandon anyone now. not now. ]
When you get wherever you’re going, rest. Please. Find somewhere comfortable and stay there for at least an hour. Keep your fluids up. It’s overexertion that’ll get you, and if you go too far you won’t have any choice but to stay in bed. And if you do collapse - [ John’s expression is earnest, but bordering on fierce. ] Be the one to call me. When you wake up. Of course I’ll be there. Of course I will. But for God’s sake, don’t need me to be.
[ keep yourself well. if you’re going to do this, do it as safely as you can. John lets his hand drop and does his best not to notice that it’s shaking. that he’s looked too long into the face of something he hasn’t let himself work through yet and that he needs to be anywhere other than here, in this building, with these people and the same smell still fresh all around.
he stands, steady as he can manage, and waits for Prior to go. ]
no subject
not much cop, this caring lark.
- oh, for... God’s sake.
John’s hand reaches out - not far enough to touch, not quite, he doesn’t want to risk doing harm or triggering anything (learned hesitance, maybe, but better to be careful, Prior’s already shaken). it hovers in the air between Prior and his chosen route, one final blockade. he’s spoken in anger and it isn’t what he meant... is, but not quite how he said it. Prior is both a friend and somebody to whom he has a certain duty of care, regardless of medical oaths and how long dead they are. trust is hard earned and easily lost and he’s not about to abandon anyone now. not now. ]
When you get wherever you’re going, rest. Please. Find somewhere comfortable and stay there for at least an hour. Keep your fluids up. It’s overexertion that’ll get you, and if you go too far you won’t have any choice but to stay in bed. And if you do collapse - [ John’s expression is earnest, but bordering on fierce. ] Be the one to call me. When you wake up. Of course I’ll be there. Of course I will. But for God’s sake, don’t need me to be.
[ keep yourself well. if you’re going to do this, do it as safely as you can. John lets his hand drop and does his best not to notice that it’s shaking. that he’s looked too long into the face of something he hasn’t let himself work through yet and that he needs to be anywhere other than here, in this building, with these people and the same smell still fresh all around.
he stands, steady as he can manage, and waits for Prior to go. ]