@caemthe said (inbox):
[ for cal ] It's a sudden call from Jiyan, at a random hour of the day. "Hey," His voice was strained, like he was out of breath, barely hanging in there. "Are you busy right now? I just... wanted to hear your voice." His speech becomes slurred, his thoughts more disperse, but he still tries to answer any questions to the best of his ability. Where is he? Far away, in the Norfall Barrens. What happened? The shockwave from an Overlord TD attack. Is he bleeding? Internally, most likely. Is helping coming? "Yes, I... already called, and a medical team is already on its way. Please, just... keep talking. It helps me stay awake." Usually, he wouldn't call under these circumstances. Saw no need to add to frighten them, but the possibility of them learning of his condition from the head of the combat medics when they called him... or worse, never getting to hear their voice again... it terrified him. So strange, to be thinking of these things now. "...Calcharo?" There's something he wants to say, but his eyelids feel heavy and, fortunately, he can hear the hurried steps of the medical team calling for him.
CALCHARO HAD BEEN DOING his usual patrolling when he had received a call from Jiyan. It wasn’t exactly rare to get them, but this particular hour was one where the general was often at his busiest with the Midnight Rangers. Still, he didn’t think anything too much of it when Calcharo just assumed he was more than likely calling to see if he could look into certain areas that might have been called to attention. Answering with a press of a button, he spoke with his usual curt tone without so much as skipping a beat. For anyone else he might have come across as rude in how he answered, but there was never any intent on such. Jiyan knew that well. ❝What is it?❞ he asked, curiosity growing by the second as he awaited what the other man intended to ask of him. However, rather than usual routine, there was…something altogether different about the general’s voice that made him pause. Brows furrowed a little, a certain unease beginning to settle.
❝Not in particular. Jiyan, are you wounded?❞ This was not the first time he had calls like this one. Not quite the same, yet the way that he was talking was the kind that one did when they were uncertain they would see another dawn. ❝What’s your location? Did you alert the Midnight Rangers of your condition?❞ Questions spilled from his lips back-to-back, everything about him seemingly composed despite the racing of his own heart. It was imperative that he maintained control in a situation like this one. What mattered right now, was that he kept Jiyan talking. It could have been about anything as long as he kept their mind sharp and as focused as possible. When he was given an answer to his question, some small relief was felt despite how muscles remained taut. ❝Can you recall the kind of attack you were hit with? What did the TD look like?❞ None of these questions were needed when he was doubtful the creature still lived. He just asked for the other’s sake. There was a pause between them, such lingering longer than he would have liked when every second mattered.
‘Calcharo?’
He didn’t like the way their voice sounded speaking his name, nor the silence that came afterwards. ❝Jiyan?❞ Another pause. ❝Jiyan?!❞ This time, he was not answered by another voice. Fear gnawed at him like a ravenous beast, only lessening a little upon hearing the medical team’s approach. Not wasting another second, he cut the connection, putting aside the rest of his patrol for the time being and heading off to Norfall Barrens as quickly as possible.
