Look What Lightning Broke (Infirmary)

[Allen Hollows]

He was pushed back into bed, beads of sweat forming on his brow. He took a long and deep breath, stitches pinching at his wounds.

"R-right. I did try to bring it up to him. He just seemed....very confused. Like he didn't know what i was talking about, and he claimed he'd never...never heard of those things, save Damien."

[Arianna Barrial]

"Memories are tricky things, as is amnesia. It's possible whatever part of his subconscious remembers but he can't consciously comprehend it." Arianna ventured as she gave him a once-over. What else could she say? Even if Damien was alive, as well, chances weren't likely he'd be any more aware than David. Why get her hopes up over something that wasn't even a surety when her own life had moved on?

There was a time to let things go.

[Allen Hollows]

He nodded.

"Maybe true, I don't know."

He let himself relax, pushing the button in his right hand for a little more morphine. There were limits on how much he could push for, of course, but right now he needed it.

"You must know him...better than you're letting on, if you were going to marry his brother. What was it like....back then? David never wanted to talk about the golden ages with me. Before and during the wars."

[Arianna Barrial]

She shook her head, slowly.

"Not really. I know him from everything my sister told me, and a bit of interaction." Arianna considered the second question and then sat down again, sipping her water. "Well...I suppose you would have only just been born after Barker dropped all his bombs. As for...the time before, it was interesting. Cities were full of life and the world...was truly different. Chaotic in a lot of ways, I suppose, but many similar to now. Is there something in particular you want to know?"

[Allen Hollows]

He licked his lips.

"Did...I mean, were people happy?"

He only knew life under the thumb of the territories. No American pride, no patriotic stupor flooding him. Just...259.

"It sounds silly to you, I guess....but I wonder if people in that time knew how good they had it. I guess it would be....great to know it's the good old times while you're in them."

[Arianna Barrial]

"Many were. Others weren't. It doesn't matter what era you're part of, though...not everyone is happy all the time. But it's human nature to want more, I suppose...so, no, I don't know if we all knew how good we really had it. This day and age has its good times as well, if you know how to look at it that way."

One leg slowly lifted to cross over the other and there she remained, sipping at her water.

"Have some more ice chips..?"

[Allen Hollows]

He nodded, taking a drink.

"Was Leon always like this? I mean, did you know him pre-war too?"

He'd found out a little about David, might as well go for Leon too.

[Arianna Barrial]

"I hadn't met him and don't know much about him, then or now. Sorry." Her shoulders moved a bit. Kyrie wasn't as informative on Leon, after all, and what she did know amounted to: fighting, constantly, and pizza. At least, that's what she remembered.

[Allen Hollows]

"It's alright."

He thought for a moment, trying to muddle through his thoughts. Then, he felt a click as his eyes would drift back over to her.

"Arianna....the Phoenix? That Arianna?"

[Arianna Barrial]

Arianna withheld an internal sigh and instead...nodded.

"Yes, that Arianna."

[Allen Hollows]

He glanced around. Okay, another living legend. And he was sitting here drooling over himself.

"W-what are you doing here? I thought....I thought you were with the Gods?"

That was what the stories told, anyway.

[Arianna Barrial]

"Primarily..? I seem to have developed a new qi, one my sister had and said that it was something in our bloodline. So I'm here because it's mandatory. Otherwise...I'm also here to evaluate both Cabal's effectiveness, and the effectiveness of its supervisors."

She leaned back a little in her seat, then continued. "Otherwise, yes, I reside with the Gods. I do frequent territories connected with 259 and provide medical assistance, usually by performing surgeries."

[Allen Hollows]

"Assess....? Who could give such orders? Asiv?"

He was the only one he knew that had any control over the dragons, monsters as they were.

He winced.

"And what happens....if you find them wanting?"

[Arianna Barrial]

"Strictly speaking? I don't know precisely, but they'd probably be removed from their supervisory positions at Cabal."

[Allen Hollows]

"I see."

He would smile a little.

"Alright....thank you for sitting with me, and humoring my questions. I know you...probably have other work."

The company was just....welcome.