[...Mirror, Video/Audio, late evening/night of the 21st]

[proudbraveandtall]

This is late news, but everyone, be careful.

[Hjalti does not sound well. Hell, Hjalti doesn't look well, either, and there's a reason for that: he's "broadcasting" from a hospital room, one of the small ones off the ER that patients are put into after a doctor's seen them while they wait for assignment to a full room. He's got a bruise spreading over the left side of his face and the little that can be seen of him is not wearing his normal work coveralls or beat-up comfortable shirts, but a hospital gown. He looks pretty annoyed, but actually wounded for the first time in a long time. Which he doesn't like.]

These bastards... figured out I'm your brother, Þór. Yeah, guess that was pretty obvious, and with me losing a foot in height over a couple months it was obvious I was in it too, but god. They followed me to my complex and tried to threaten me.

[He gives a grim smile, and even though he winces he doesn't seem to care about causing himself further pain.]

I made them rethink that. Got a pulse in all the confusion, started throwing them around like they wanted to do to me, then they pulled out a knife and a couple of pipes. Some of the Numbered stuff is good, but christ, even being a fighter in that past life can't give you all the skills right away. Don't think they were prepared for me to shrug off a pipe to the face, though.

[Obviously that still did something to him, since he blinks and closes his eyes for a moment, getting stabilization back, but most people would've crashed to the ground, possibly with a split skull. Thank god for durability.]

Anybody sees anyone coming up to them with pointed teeth or... what was... their eyes, their eyes glowed, run. Scream for help, find a public spot, something. A couple of my neighbors came out and they ran off to lick their wounds and Kevin called the ambulance, but we've got people on here who aren't fighters. And next time they might bring something more than a knife and a pipe. And I'm never going anywhere without weapons again.

Comments

private; video

[disdainfully]

[A thousand things run through his head at once; but most of them he will deal with later. The practical ones need to come first.]

Which hospital are you in?

private; video

[proudbraveandtall]

The one attached to the university. If you're coming, make sure you're armed.

private; video

[disdainfully]

I'll get Killian and come over.

[Both to keep an eye on Killian and because goddammit little brother. You'll get a visit now.]

[Video]

[espigeonage]

Aaaah, shit. I knew I was lucky... They gave you stuff for pain, right?

[Video]

[proudbraveandtall]

They gave me seventeen different meds, one's gotta be for pain. [That's definitely an exaggeration, but is is medicated. His eyes are just a hint unfocused from it.]

You ran, I didn't. Maybe that was kind of stupid, but I've never run from a fight, and I sure as hell wasn't gonna start with them.

[video]

[sylvanguard]

[Well Ariel knows she'd be needed to keep Killian company so he doesn't try to do something stupid the moment Hjalti starts speaking.]

Holy shit. How are you not dead?

[video]

[proudbraveandtall]

[Thanks Ariel, his son is undoubtedly going to do something stupid.]

The guy I used to be? Apparently he had ... something like the hardest head in the world. I've got memories of a battle with orcs where he ran around like a berserker headbutting them and knocking them ass-over-head. We all got that stamina and toughness back a few months ago.

video

[youngestone]

What the fucking hell where are you?!

[Did someone order a panicking furious son?]

video

[proudbraveandtall]

[Someone knew this was going to happen, yes.]

The hospital. Your uncle's on his way over, catch him if you want a ride.

[video] YES SHE IS DRESSED.

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Got it. Minimum of three daggers at all times. Even when naked.

[video] I LOVE HOW YOU SPECIFIED THAT.

[proudbraveandtall]

At least three. I'd go for twelve if I was you.

Voice

[icy_heavens]

[Sigh.] This is really happening too often lately.

Voice

[proudbraveandtall]

You got that right.

[He can't see the kid, but the voice sounds young, and he's got a bit of a protective streak over kids. Still, he's not panicking and sounds under control, so there's no "protection" instincts going off just yet.]

Are you gonna be okay?

voice;

[brotimaeus]

Their eyes glowed. [It's not quite a question, though the dubious edge is there. It's not that he doesn't believe the guy but it's the first he's heard of any glowing.]

Shit, they're gettin' to be a real pain in the ass and the media attention is only gonna make sure no one steps up to lend a hand. [Just in-fighting between those Numbered freaks, right?]

What'd they say to you?

voice;

[proudbraveandtall]

Not a lot, the kind of thing you'd only really notice in low light, but a bit. And they were stronger than just a normal human, probably wouldn't even have a bruise if...

[No. He doesn't do the "what if" game, this is the hand he's been dealt, he'll deal with it.]

My family owns the Thorssons' Hardware stores, and a few of us are Numbered, like my brother who's the head of the business. They gave a couple of threats and then I started swinging and shut them up.

private; text

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Shit. That idea about carrying my axes with me at all times sounds better and better.

You're at the university hospital right?

private; text

[proudbraveandtall]

I'm never going anywhere unarmed again. The twins found a warhammer in the linen closet and I reclaimed it; that and the axes are gonna be welded to my back from now on.

[And he doesn't care who he pisses off.]

Yeah, your uncle and your brother are coming over, if you want to as well.

audio;

[saviorsoul]

They went after you with weapons? I thought they didn't even need them...

audio;

[proudbraveandtall]

Not at first, but then I started punching them in the face and they decided they wanted some reinforcement.

[He sounds so nonchalant about that.]

video; sorry for the delay, I had to go read back some to reply properly.

[arrowpoint]

[Liam looks kind of torn while replying, on the one hand, people getting hurt wasn't cool, and while his feelings on Killian were mixed at the moment, oddly enough he still considered him a friend. He wasn't too fond of talking to a Dwarf either, but in the end he felt he should say something to not be a total dick. It was a serious thing.]

So...dude, uh...that sucks.

[Awkward.]

No problem!

[proudbraveandtall]

[He's gonna eye Liam for awhile before replying. Liam's... really stupid, let's not beat around the bush here, and he has little to no patience for stupid. Also Liam doesn't like his son all of a sudden which is what. But still, he seems to mean well enough.]

Yeah, kind of really does.

Action

[thebalrogslayer]

[By the time Gabriel gets wind of the incident he knows that Thorir and Killian will have responded already. So rather than leaving a message on the network he texts Thorir directly for the hospital, so a while after Killian and Thorir have gotten most of their concern out of their system, Hjalti will get a visit from an almost-elf.

He knocks on the open door more to announce his presence than anything else, coming straight in.]

How're you feeling? I see they haven't knocked you out with drugs yet. [He's a lot more concerned than his jokey tone lets on.]

Action

[proudbraveandtall]

[Not yet, but by the time Gabriel gets there the drugs are taking more of an effect, so he's entering the "hazy and possibly tired" portion of the evening.]

When're you going to stop getting pretty? [This is a real concern, okay!] Not too bad, they've got me on... something.

[Audio]

[dead_black_eyes]

When you're out of the hospital, stop by Espresso Yourself; we're running a promotion where victims of mob violence get free coffee, meals, and care packages.

[Audio]

[proudbraveandtall]

Really? Uhh, thanks. But I've got help, give it to someone who needs it more.

[Yay for family.]