[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

[espigeonage]

[Julien keeps his enormous eyes closed and slithers his head on the floor, neck unnervingly flexible, to hide his face under a flung-out wing. He's been flapping. The place is a mess, he's kicked up a lot of air.

Even laying flat his back is more than knee high. Children could ride on him.]

No. 'm really tired.

[thebalrogslayer]

[Ignoring the mess for now, Gabriel steps closer, crouching down by Julien and reaching out for him. He tries not to be too cautious in his movements in case Julien thinks it's because of his changes, but he does a little because he's not sure where to touch him, not sure if he'll hurt him.]

You probably spent a lot of energy, it's hardly surprising. Let's get you somewhere more comfortable and then I'll get you come Athelas tea.

[Can he pull Julien up by a wing or are they too delicate? Gabriel's not sure if his arms are long enough to wrap around him and pull him up bodily.]

[espigeonage]

[It's possible to pick him up bodily, just tricky. He's very large around, wide as well as deep, and weighs more. Something like a hundred fifty pounds, almost twice what he did before, almost all muscle. Some of it is neck. Julien looks like he should weigh even more. He's a big bird, and the feathers make him look much bigger. They're also soft, if Gabe was wondering.

Julien's wings are strong but the 'arms' in them are narrow and hard, difficult to find or grasp, plus his legs and center of gravity work differently. His body is built around the enormous muscles of his chest. Probably the easiest way to get him to his feet is to, well, stand over him and pick him up. Unwittingly he encourages this by moving his wings, folding them against his body while still covering his face.]

You're really bright.

[thebalrogslayer]

I do have a PHD. [Teasing lightly to distract from the situation as he tries to work out how to help Julien up. For the first time he's grateful for those extra inches he suddenly gained, that extra strength that was triggered by the new lights going up. It'll take a little bit of gentle manhandling to work out how to lift Julien best.] Here we go. Do you think we can get you to the bed or shall I make a pile of blankets? [But at least Gabriel wants to get him onto carpet where it'll be warmer.]

[espigeonage]

I... the floor'd be easier. You'd have to pick me up.

[If Gabriel straddles his tail then comes down to circle Julien's chest he can work to raise Julien up enough to get his feet positioned until he can take his own weight on shorter-seeming legs. But his head droops on a long sinuous neck. Swing. Sway. He's trying to raise it and just making weird gestures.] Ugh. I can't get out of a crouch. I don't know how to hold up my head.

...this is humiliating.

[thebalrogslayer]

It'll take some time to get used to. Come on. [Gabriel lifts Julien up, waits a moment to test Julien's weight and to give him a moment to rearrange himself, then half carries and half drags him onto the carpet. At least he pulls him to a spot by the heater under the window, where it's warm and there's light.]

We've all had to have someone take care of us at some point. That's what friends and family are for. At least you're not puking everywhere. [Gabriel keeps his tone cheerful as he strips the bed so he can wrap the duvet around Julien, and slot the pillows around him, making a nest that Julien can burrow into further if he wishes.]

[espigeonage]

Hnnh. [Obediently Julien staggers where he's led and sinks down into a loaf-shape when let go. He manages to raise his head part of the way until it flops back down.] I'm so heavy now.

[The feathers around his artificially serene face are wet. The only thing recognizable about his appearance is the blue on his head and neck, though the shape is pretty new. He sounds... defeated and subdued, uncharacteristically.] Y...yeah, but I think I'm gonna start crying again. You can go. It'll be okay.

[thebalrogslayer]

You're soft, though. [Gabriel laughs again, ruffling Julien's head feathers lightly.

He does pull away, but only to go and take the pot with the athelas in and empty it, so he can start some fresh, the sweet scent soon fills the room, and Gabriel makes some tea as well, bringing it over to Julien and sitting by him.] I only just got here, it'll take more than a few tears to scare me away. Do you have some tissues somewhere?

[espigeonage]

[ohgod he's being petted. It doesn't really feel like hair-ruffling.

Julien's eyes are partially open when Gabriel returns. His eyelids work differently now, it's the lower lids that move to cover the eye. Said eyes are the same silvery-blue as before, the granulated texture magnified and made more obvious. Their whites don't show and they are enormous and wide-set.

When you can't sob or contort your face, tears are a lot more dignified-looking.]

Bathroom. ...I don't see how I'm supposed to drink.

[thebalrogslayer]

[...Yep. Good job Gabriel. A+ Making Julien feel better. He's not cut out to be a nurse.]

...Sorry. I didn't even think about that. What about from a bowl? Would that work? [He asks, as he heads into the bathroom to grab a couple of tissues. At least he can do that?]

[espigeonage]

I... I, I don't know. Maybe.

[A cup would work, really. He hasn't figured most of his body out yet. While Gabriel is in the bathroom Julien makes one of those miserable whining crying noises and shoves his beak into a pillow, trying to hide his face. Sorry, Gabe. It's not you.]

Oh, God.

[thebalrogslayer]

[When Gabriel comes back he flops by Julien gracefully, leaning on some of his cushions so they're about the same height. Leaning closer to Julien so they're not quiet touching, but his closeness can still be felt, he reaches out to burry his hand in the soft feathers at Julien's neck, gently scratching and petting, letting Julien let his feelings out. Hopefully having a friend close might bring him some comfort.]

[espigeonage]

Jesus Christ.

[Weeping, Julien doesn't protest the petting but works a wing free of the duvet and tries to lay it on Gabriel, tries to grasp with the feathers and the two remaining fingers. It's a tremendously big wing, wide and nearly as long as Gabriel is tall. Mind the claws, too. He trembles. It'll take him a bit to be able to do anything else but, in time, he does still and gradually relax.]