[Video]

[espigeonage]

[The view is from the floor, of the ceiling of Julien's room in the hotel, which has a poem taped to it. You can hear the sound of his very deep breathing, noisier and more labored than usual.]

I can't get up. There was a pulse - something's gonna - [A white wing is briefly visible, flapping. It's another moment before he says anything.]

It hurts.

Comments

[hustru]

[Alerted by Floweregg, Siiri has come over to look at the feed.]

What hurts?

[Where is he? Who is he?]

[espigeonage]

My chest hurts. It's-

My bones are moving.

[hustru]

Echo.

[It's not a question - it's pretty obviously one.]

[espigeonage]

Yeah. 'S... first one to hurt in a long time.

[charcoalfeather]

W-what...? Julien! Are you okay?

[espigeonage]

I'm really not.

[charcoalfeather]

Where are you?! Do you need an ambulance or something?

[espigeonage]

Nnh. Hotel Lilie. No ambulance.

They can't help and I don't want people staring.

[radiantchicken]

Julien? Where are you?

[Concerned birdman is concerned at the way that wing was moving, as well as the pain in Julien's voice...and the overall "can't move" message.]

[espigeonage]

Off in the - the Lilie hotel. Germany.

[radiantchicken]

I'm not sure how long it will take me to get there, but I'll come and do what I can.

[He is not sure what, if anything he can do, outside of moral support, but that's better than nothing...]

[espigeonage]

I don't think there's anything you can do. Liam's setting up the athelas.

...distract me. I don't wanna-

Talk to me about things.

video

[arrowpoint]

[Obviously worried.]

Dude you okay? Where are you?

[espigeonage]

[The view on Julien's end is still ceiling. Part of his wing shows flapping again. He's on his back.]

I'm not, I'm really not!

-I knew this was gonna happen.

[arrowpoint]

Hey, keep calm, okay? Where are you? I'll get over there.

[He's rushing around now to get shoes on, and hitting his head on a low beam from the Dwarven architecture with a yelp.]

[espigeonage]

It's just gonna freak you out, man.

[Voice]

[gobybessie]

[ Yep, that sounds and looks like an Echo. ]

Is anyone on their way?

[espigeonage]

I'm - yes.

I'll be okay if I can just get some athelas. [He's not entirely convinced of this.]

[gobybessie]

Athelas?

[ That's a word he's never heard before. ]

[thebalrogslayer]

[Gabriel sent Julien a message asking for where he was, and then went to bother Liam until he found what he needed. After that, there wasn't much deliberation, just a brief pause to grab some fresh and dried athelas (just in case) and head off.

He finds Julien's room after a little searching and knocks on the door.] Julien? Can you let me in?

[espigeonage]

[Julien takes a moment to respond. He's muffled by the door, and his voice seems different, a little deeper and more resonant thanks to the length of his windpipe.]

No...

It's open.

[In the tiles of the kitchenette area, next to a pan of athelas and cooling water, there is a blue-and-white dove the size of a small horse, stretched and splayed out belly down with neck extended, chin on the floor.]

[thebalrogslayer]

[Gabriel hesitates for a moment, but then pushes open the door, shutting it behind him again before he looks around, taking in the pigeon, looking around, and then putting two and two together.

Ah.

Okay then.

Well, it had to happen eventually. And while it's a bit strange for Gabriel, it has to be worse for Julien. So Gabriel gathers himself up, takes a breath and steps into the room properly.]

Come on, up you get. Lying on the cold floor isn't going to help, unless you want to get sick. Does it hurt?

[video] (8 million years late, Starbucks for everyone)

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Blue, what the fuck is going on?

[espigeonage]

Bad pulse. I'm changing again.

[flutter. he's got to try to rally!]

-Hurts but I've had worse. Guess I just couldn't, couldn't stand not saying somethin'.

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Damn it, Blue. Look... is there anything you want me to do?