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Post by Leda on Jul 12, 2010 0:35:45 GMT -5
Ears twitching at the sounds of chirping birds, rustling leaves, and far-off voices chattering as residents and visitors traversed the boardwalks, Rouge's eyes opened and turned toward the open window. A gentle breeze fluttered past her curtains. It was hot and stuffy, but at least the air was moving at all. Still, the room was losing its cool as the midday sun picked up, and the bedridden bat found herself overheating. Rouge whimpered a long groan and braced her arms into the mattress. All together now she'd been in bed for almost a week, and her muscles felt like they had devolved into jelly. She grunted with a burst of effort and lifted herself back enough to sit up against her pillows, then immediately paused and panted for air. Despite her gratefulness to be regaining her mobility at all, Rouge couldn't help but bemoan her situation. Just scooting around her bed felt like heavy labor; how was she ever going to get that window closed? Maybe I need to switch to plan B, the bat silently plotted. Pushing down the lip of her blanket, Rouge instead set to work removing her clothes. It wouldn't make that much of a difference, but hopefully it'd still be a notable one.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 12, 2010 22:11:35 GMT -5
A gentle knock on the door shortly followed, with a familiar voice calling from outside. "Rouge? are you awake?"
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Post by Leda on Jul 12, 2010 22:14:01 GMT -5
"Yes," the bat called, in a stronger voice than the day before. Tucking in her wings, Rouge pulled the purple tank from her upper body and dropped it over the side of her bed. "You can come in."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 12, 2010 22:37:19 GMT -5
Slowly opening the door, Rob looked on toward the Rouge before gently closing it behind him and stepping inside. "How are you feeling?" he asked, noticing she'd been in the process of stripping herself. "Is there anything I can get you?"
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Post by Leda on Jul 12, 2010 22:59:48 GMT -5
Rouge rewarded him with one of her demure smiles. "I'm okay. Just a little warm."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 14, 2010 0:20:49 GMT -5
"Mmph," the archer said, his eyes drifting toward the window. "Here, let me get this for you..." he said, wandering over to shut it.
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Post by Leda on Jul 14, 2010 11:34:44 GMT -5
"You're too kind, Rob." As her visitor took care of the troublesome window, Rouge's gaze fell down on her bedding. I've been getting stronger each day. I wonder if today is the day I can... Pulling a preparatory breath, the recovering bat carefully pulled her legs upwards from beneath the covers and shifted to one side.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 15, 2010 1:00:04 GMT -5
"Tis my pleasure, milady," Rob smiled, flicking one of his ears when he heard the rustling sound of her shifting. He turned back to face her. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
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Post by Leda on Jul 15, 2010 1:09:52 GMT -5
Another quiet grunt, and she'd managed to swing her legs over the side of the bed. "I'd like to try standing..."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 15, 2010 1:23:35 GMT -5
"Ah!" the archer fussed, scrambling over to Rouge's side. "Here, let me help..." he offered.
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Post by Leda on Jul 15, 2010 1:31:13 GMT -5
"Thank you." Rouge drew in a preparatory breath. "Okay... Here--!!!" The next sentence was cut off by a gasp, as the bat's legs failed to support her weight at all and spilled her into Rob's arms.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 15, 2010 1:45:37 GMT -5
[dice=2] (One: Falls. Two: Doesn't) Rob caught her, albeit the unexpected weight nearly caused him to take a fall of his own. As he steadied them both he looked down to her. Holding her in his strong arms so close to his chest, an unknown blush erupted across his face. "A-are you okay?"[rand=58396064062990450818412070983297672228640836356983786113131044606]
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Post by Leda on Jul 15, 2010 2:12:32 GMT -5
In a rare moment of showing some emotion clearly on her face, Rouge's flustered features turned to the floor as she struggled to orient her feet beneath her. "Y.. Yes, thank you... I'm sorry, I didn't think I'd be so bad." Her fingers gripped tightly (ish) onto his shoulders for security.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 15, 2010 11:01:33 GMT -5
Rob nosebled cradled her while nosebleeding in his arms for support as Rouge struggled to stabilize her weakened body. "You were in pretty bad shape, dove," Rob said, "But I think you're doing fine." That blush was still covering his face.
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Post by Leda on Jul 15, 2010 14:09:45 GMT -5
After much fumbling and stumbling, Rouge's legs seemed to find some modicum of stability. In no way was she able to support herself under her own power, but if nothing else it was no longer completely Rob's job. " I already feel spent," she muttered to herself, eying her wobbly knees. The bat turned her attention back to her assistant, and seemed surprised at his ever-reddening muzzle. "...Rob?"
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 15, 2010 16:34:09 GMT -5
"Huh?" The archer asked, confused by her expression. "Yes?"
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Post by Leda on Jul 16, 2010 23:47:15 GMT -5
"Your face is all red."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 16, 2010 23:55:13 GMT -5
Rob's response was a calm one. "Oh," he stated simply. It was a good thing his hood was up, though, because his quills frayed slightly beneath their cloth cover. A sheepish grin spread across his face, and he turned his head away. "Yeah. Warm day and all..."
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 20:38:22 GMT -5
The bat's eyes partially closed. "Ah, of course..." she murmured, turning her less enthused gaze back down to her wobbling legs. It was strange; she had come to the conclusion that Rob was the reason she had managed to recover from her poisoning at all. There had been a piece of her, a piece that was particularly fond of him, that had encouraged her to keep going. And upon confirming that he had, indeed, vigilantly watched over her while she'd been ill, Rouge had begun to suspect he may have had a fondness for her as well. Apparently she'd been imagining things.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 21:00:51 GMT -5
"'Of course'?" Rob quoted, glancing back at her in confusion.
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 21:03:32 GMT -5
"Nothing," she dismissively replied. Her ears wilted, and she did her best to press her right forearm to her head without letting go of his shoulders. "I think I need to sit back down..."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 21:09:50 GMT -5
Sensing something off, Rob could only frown in concern, but he did comply with her request. Gently helping her take a seat, he took a seat of his own beside her, learning on his knees and continuing to look her over. "... Are you sure?" he urged. "I mean, if there's something wrong..."
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 21:13:51 GMT -5
"No, nothing's wrong," Rouge said while staring down at her bare feet. She wiggled her toes and swung her legs from side to side; it was nice to be able to move a bit, even if it was minimal. "I can't thank you enough for helping me through this."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 21:20:04 GMT -5
Allowing the subject to drop, the archer smiled dimly, gripping at his knees as he recalled all he had experienced the last few days. "Heh, well... you had given me quite a scare..." he said. An understatement. "... I'm really glad you're okay now..."
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 21:25:44 GMT -5
"Hopefully I can get back to work quickly," Rouge agreed. She paused, then added softly, " I really don't want to be useless to you."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 21:29:39 GMT -5
"... What would make you think that?" the archer asked, turning in his seat to give her a sideways look. "Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 21:33:57 GMT -5
The bat's head tilted back and sideways as she stared at nothing in particular on her ceiling. "It's just important that I pull my weight after all you've done for me. I owe you that much."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 21:37:29 GMT -5
Rob exhaled slowly. "Rouge, you could never be useless to me."
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 21:48:32 GMT -5
"I know, I cook and clean... But the missions are a lot more... urgent."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 21:55:15 GMT -5
"That's... that's not what..." he exhaled slowly, looking down toward the floor. "... Nevermind. I'm just... really glad to see you're alright..."
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