epidemiology | (no subject)

[ Lucina has tried her best, to alleviate her worries, to tell her that yes, Riza is there, and no, she's not exactly alright... but she will be, it's okay, don't worry too much. Nami has never been particularly good at leaving something like that be, but if Riza has been hurt like Genji was, she needs rest — and so Nami leaves her be, messages her some warm get-well-soon wishes on the Magitek... and waits.

it's pure luck she happens to be in the room at the time; most of her crew mates are out, Luffy on his way who-knows-where (with Sabo-kun, she supposes), Sanji-kun likely in the kitchens, Sai out investigating. she leaves the book she'd been reading on the desk, makes her way to the door with a hastily called-out Yes, coming! before opening it... to the sight of her friend. ]

— Riza! [ there's shock in her voice as she takes in her appearance, the way the other looks like she would still need a good three days of sleep, the strange glow that makes her pale skin even paler. ]

... are you sure you should be out of bed yet? [ linking her arm with Riza's, Nami ushers her in, moving slowly enough that her friend doesn't have to rush; she doesn't stop until she makes it to the sole bed in the room, though, promptly making sure Riza sits down immediately. ]

There, you sit down! You're pale as a ghost!

[What an alarmingly accurate turn of phrase (if only Nami knew), enough for a faint wince to cross Riza's face. She's quick to smooth it out into a smile as she follows Nami into the room and towards the bed, hand lifting and sweeping out in a reassuring motion.]

I'm fine, really. I was about to go crazy in that room.

[She's spent more than enough time alone as a child not to fear boredom, but one can only take so many hours of being stuck in a small room without company or good books before wanting to punch open the window in restless energy. Hence, her presence here. There's a point she wants to make eventually, and apologies she needs to make, but those can wait a few minutes as she gauges Nami's mood.]

I hope you've been well lately.

[Apparently, not even death's enough to strip her of her priorities: namely, the well-being of her friends over her own self.]

[ Riza winces, but Nami assumes it to mean she's hurt, perhaps physically over-exerted or otherwise hurt by her blunt words — whichever the case, her friend is clearly too polite to admonish her, instead choosing to claim to be "fine", which.

no, she clearly isn't fine.

but she can understand it, the way you want to push on despite death clinging on to you, the wish to be useful, to not hold others back, no matter how horrible you feel. wanting to get out of bed and talk to those around you. she remembers her illness on Drum Island, remembers still how Dr. Kureha told her she was this close to dying... if Riza has had anything similar, an illness, injuries, something to confine her to so much bed rest, no wonder she wants to get out. ]

Well, I'm glad to provide some relief from that! I wouldn't want a friend to go crazy.

[ a brief smile, deliberately there to lighten the mood a little. ]

Mm, of course... you know I'm always well, Riza. I've worried about you, Lucina told me you would be just fine, but I really wanted to see you! I'm glad you're feeling better now. [ she squeezes Riza's hand, her words almost a wish and a question as much as they seem like a statement. ]

[For not the first time during her time with ALASTAIR, Riza wonders how lucky she's gotten to have met so many talented, kind people. Friendship has never come easily to her, hindered by a lonely childhood and then a profession hated by most of the common populace. It's a fate she's largely accepted, but also one that's been turned on its head once she'd arrived here. For the better though; it's nice to know so many people have her back, even without her asking.

Impulsively, she leans forward to wrap Nami in a quick hug, a reversal of the first time they'd met, Riza reaching out this time instead of Nami.]

Thank you.

[For being a friend. And since she is a friend, and deserves to know:]

Can we take a seat?

[It's a simple question, but hopefully it ought to answer all of Nami's questions.]

[ perhaps strangely, friendship never was something that came easily to Nami, either, as much as it may seem the opposite now — it wasn't because of her, but rather because of what she had to do. in order to free her village, she had to work alone, had to push others away; friend was a cruel word, nothing more.

but for the last two years, it's become something to be treasured, something she values above everything else... yes, even treasure itself. for what good is treasure if I'm all alone?

Riza reaches out, her arms going around her shoulders, and Nami returns the gesture without hesitation. her friend is not one she would ever call frail, and yet it's what she thinks of now, the way Riza seems almost fragile — but no, she may seem that way, and couldn't be farther from it. ] You don't need to thank me, no matter what it is.

[ Nami squeezes her lightly before letting go, before sitting down on her bed in a strange mirror of the first time she went to visit Riza's room, gesturing for her to sit down as well. ]

Mm, of course.

[She follows Nami to the table, steps slower and more measured than they would usually be. The fact that she can still walk, can still see and breathe in the musky scent of the room after all that's happened still astounds her. She shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be able to still do this. It's that knowledge that has her sitting in a daze, eyes focused on Nami but not quite seeing the other woman.

Her fingers lace together, the most active and restless part of her otherwise still body. Where does she start?]

The day we were ambushed, in that abandoned town. I—

[Her mouth clamps shut for a moment as her shoulders hunch defensively. It's still hard to remember and to speak of, even all these days later.]

I was hurt. Badly.

[ they sit down, Nami's eyes never leaving her friend, watching her; Riza has always been (or so it seems to her, during the time they've known each other) someone who leans towards stillness, her body held firmly in check, shoulders straight and her form motionless — truly like someone in the military. but now, it seems she's even more so, almost unnaturally still, aside from her hands.

Riza starts to speak, and she listens in silence... though not for long. ]

... I guessed as much, that you were hurt. Lucina was so worried, and no one could see you — what happened?

[ it must have been something serious, to hurt someone so brave and skilled... she doesn't even for one moment think it could be something else, what makes Riza silent like this. ]

I was shot.

[Quiet, but there's no waver to her voice over such a distressing topic. Easier to talk about it, now that she's been forthcoming about it several times. And she trusts Nami, trusts the other woman to keep a level head and not to lose her composure over something as serious as this.]

The wounds were fatal. I shouldn't have made it—and I didn't, technically.

[Technically she'd died, pulse and heart unmoving for at least several minutes.]

But I was brought back by someone on our team, someone with the ability to bring back the dead.

Wh —

[ she swallows the rest of her shock and surprise, but her eyes are still wide, her teeth biting onto her lower lip to keep herself silent, to listen to the explanation until the very end. ]

Riza... [ slowly, she turns to her friend, brings her arms around her shoulders and hugs her, soft and careful yet still holding on tight. ]

... that must have been terrifying. [ no I'm so glad you're back, that one she hardly needs to say; no I'm sorry, because Riza isn't someone who would seek condolences or empty words that can't change what has already happened. ]

[Was it terrifying? She has to think about that for a moment.]

It was more or less what I expected.

[Death, at least. (Being revived's a whole different story.) There's a certain finality that comes with being a soldier and swearing one's life to one's country and one's squad. She's never really known how long she'd live; into her 20s or 30s sure, but she's certainly never imagined herself with wisps of white hair and a crook to her back. If she's going to die, it'll be in some meaningful way and not peacefully in her sleep.

But at the same time, she's well aware that's not how most people imagine their deaths and so she pulls away from that cliff, managing a small smile for Nami as she forces her shoulders to relax.]

Though I still wouldn't recommend it, both dying and being brought back. Getting used to being alive again is surprisingly painful.

[Also: kind of gross. She's vomited all over someone's shoes multiple times now.]