bakerstreet | Away at War / Left Behind

Away at War / Left Behind

Left Behind: Away at War/Battle

Da da da dadadadadadada, charge!

We all know war can be a hard time for everyone but those left behind? It can be torture. Hoping you get a letter or a call, staying glued to the television and cringing at those news stories. Guess what happens to you now? Your loved one has gone off to fight a war (battle, fight, in that ilk of things) and some time has passed. Sadly the letters and e-mails have stopped so you are left wondering the fate of your loved one. What do you do? Do you move on or are you holding on to hope they'll come back?

1. Post as your characters (List whether you prefer to be the one left behind or the returnee).
2. Others go to RNG and roll 1-8 for a scenes then respond.
3. Feel free to make up your own scenes too!
4. Respect others' preferences!
5. Have fun!
6. Angst away!

One: You get a call, or you get a knock at the door. You are told the person you love is dead and you feel like your whole world has caved in. The healing takes time but after awhile you pick up the pieces and you've finally moved on. You've never forgotten them and you know they'd want you to be happy. Then one day you get another call and you feel like you've been punched in the gut. Surprise! Your loved one is alive and has been rescued. What do you do now? Or if you are the one returning home how do you handle knowing the person you love is with another? Do you try to get them back? Or do you let them stay happy and walk away?

Two: You are so relieved to hear that they've found your loved one. You go to the hospital to see them but when you go to kiss them they stop you. Oh...wait...they have a big chunk of their memory gone. Oh no! Can you get them to remember your lives together? Does it hurt too much that you walk away rather than deal with it? You with the memory loss do you try to find yourself letting this person guide you. Do you refuse and walk away? Are those memories ever return, or are they gone forever?

Three: They have come back safe and sound. Though they cringe away from your touch and can be a little violent. Something about them has changed because of what they've seen. They rarely sleep and when they do they wake up screaming. The intimacy seems to be gone because you can't seen to get close to them. Can you handle it? Can you work with them? Or have you had enough? Do you leave? The returnee how do you feel? Do you wish you could just hold them and be normal again? Do you seek help or think you can handle it yourself?

Four: Even before they left it was as if the love was gone between the two of you. Plans have been made to break-up or divorce but after the hell they went through? You feel obligated to stay. You try your best to rekindle what was lost but it's gone. Finally you are at the breaking point and it's time to tell your significant other that it's over. You want to end it. Either one of you has this feeling and are acting to end the charade. Ready to break it to the hometown hero or to your sweetheart that waited for you?

Five: You've lost them and it was just too much for you. People have told you to move on yet you never could. Now you get a call. They've been found but it's unclear if they'll make it. Better hurry and rush to their side just in case. You don't want them to go without you getting to tell them one last time you love them just in case. Alternately you are injured and you know it might be the end and you refuse surgery until you get to see them one last time. You want them to know you love them.

Six: You lost your other half and you still aren't over it. Might be that little one asleep in the other room that has their eyes or smile. You are always reminded of what you lost when you look at that. The sad part is you never got to tell them the good news. Never got to hear their excitement. Or maybe you had an adoption in motion and were just waiting and it happened while they were gone. It still reminds you of what you and your love had planned for their future. Then you get the call they were found, and now you are nervous. How will they get along with their child? Will they still want that life? How do you take it the first time you see your eyes when looking at the child?

Seven: Finally news comes in and they've been found and you couldn't be happier. They were injured pretty badly and had to undergo surgery. They are alive but they've lost a limb or one of their senses. How do you two deal with this? Do you try to work on it together? Do you leave unable to handle it? Or let your loved one go so they can have a normal life? It'll be a long stressful road, can the relationship survive? For better or for worse?

Eight: Make up your own if I've missed something.

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[Thorin just waits quietly outside of the room. It's his duty to be strong, to be the leader, but the crushing weight of Fili's death is too much to bear. For a long while, he sits in a corner, his head in his hands. If there are tears, it's impossible to tell.]

[Kili does everything he can manage alone but some things are just too tough for him. And it's not fair to shut Thorin out when he's been so close to them both. A sorrowful, cowed Kili sticks his head out of the room an hour later.]

I could... I could use some help singing the final songs. And I can't get his braids right without the full use of both hands...

I want him to look well for when he meets our kin at the Halls of Waiting.

[Thorin's head snaps up, his eyes a bit red. He nods and pushes himself to his feet, wordlessly joining Kili at Fili's bedside.

He can't quite bring himself to speak as he tenderly rebraids his nephew's hair, though after a moment or two he joins Kili in the last few songs.]

[Together, redressing Fili, Kili looks up at his uncle with sorrowful eyes.]

The way I acted-- I'm very sorry, Thorin. I won't do anything stupid. When you are King Under The Mountain and the war is over, after you have brought our people back, and have married and have an heir.. [He stops himself.]

Fili said that since I was born, he never was able to do anything first any more. I need to stay safe so he can explore the Halls without me for a little while, don't you think?

[Injured fingers stroke Fili's cheek.]

I'll be borrowing one of your swords, brother. It's finer than mine. I'll return it soon.

[And not caring that Thorin is there, he bends to kiss his brother's cold lips.]

Say hello to our father, Fili. I will be with you when my hair is pale like yours.

[It's all a little too much for Thorin. He nods tightly, his eyes fixed on the ground. After a moment he turns away, rubbing his face.

Fili was more than just a nephew. He was a son, perhaps not by blood, but in spirit. Thorin's lost so much already; losing Fili is too much.]

...I should never have brought you with me.

[Kili's adamant when he shakes his head]

You know we would have followed just the same. And would have never been happy. You needed us, uncle. And he died like a warrior, not of old age in a bed complaining like cousin Dain.

[Kili turns, away from the corpse.]

We'll see him soon enough. If you visit the Halls before I do, just promise me that you'll tell him I love him.

And that you'll axaggerate my beard. Say it's the finest a dwarf has ever grown!

[It's rare for Thorin to be overcome with emotion, but it's evident by the way his face is in his hands and his shoulders are shaking that he is now. Kili's had his time to get it out; Thorin's been holding it all in. He's embarrassed of the show of weakness, but he can't stop.]

Oh.

[Kili is quick to curl himself around Thorin after he drops himself to his knees.]

Or just tell him it's better than stubble! You don't have to lie! Unless it really is a good beard!

[He's so simple. It's horrible.]

[Thorin just...clutches at Kili. What he's saying is just so nonsensical, so silly and unimportant, and a choked laugh escapes him. His only comfort is that it's only Kili here to witness his weakness, and after a moment or two of struggling, he regains control of himself.]

I...apologize, I... [He pulls Kili into a tight embrace.] I never did get a chance to tell him how proud I am.

[As Fili use to do to get him to stop crying, Kili lightly touches his nose to Thorin's. ]

He knew. Told me so. You don't have to worry, Thorin.

[There's something threatening to burst in Thorin's chest, and his wound is aching, but he's never loved Kili more than he does in this moment. A tired smile steals across his face and he kisses his nephew's forehead gently.]

...You know I am not skilled in expressing my feelings, but I want you to know that I love you dearly. I will give anything for your happiness, and I will do everything I can to help you through this.

[Kili's arms immediately wrap around Thorin's neck as they use to when the other dwarf would be forced to tote him around. Those words are the only ones that Kili has ever wanted to hear before yesterday -- and no he longs to hear Fili's voice again. ]

I love you too. We both do.

['We'. Thorin holds Kili close and wonders how long it will be before he drops that habit.]

You should rest. You are still very pale. How is the pain?

[Kili has been a pair for seventy-seven years. He has almost never used a singular when it comes to describing himself because he has never been a 'self.' The only way he can carry on is to believe that Fili is still with him. Cheering him on. Hugging him even as he hugs Thorin. ]

The pain is bearable. Give me some strong beer. We should call the rest of the House of Durin to bury Fili's body.

[He doesn't need it anymore. He has his brother with him.]

We will. Soon. [He nods tightly and releases him finally. Kili seems to have calmed, but Thorin fears for what the next stage in his grief might be.]

Come. To bed with you.

Bed?

[Kili was silent for a moment. The marauders were long gone. He knew. Going out to find his brother's killers would be better just to wait for them to return. Because of course the would return. Kili nods. The voice of his brother in his head makes perfect sense.]

All right. Do you want to be alone?

[Kili is genuinely worrying Thorin, but he supposes that's normal.]

..I want a moment with him, but I will be back. If you would allow the company.

I still want the beer.

[Kili is still very tired. He looks exhausted as he shuffles out of his brother's room and slips back into his own room. He undresses his hurting arm and frowns at it in the mirror.]

I'm not a baby. [Talking to himself?] I'm not going to cry.

C'mon. Get into bed before Thorin yells.

[Thorin sits back down at Fili's bedside, taking his nephew's cold hand in his own for a moment. And for a few minutes, he lets himself fall apart. Tears drip down his cheeks and splash onto Fili's bed.

Despite everything he'd said to Kili, Thorin couldn't help but feel responsible for this. He had promised his sister he would keep them safe, and look what had happened. He would never be able to face her. It was difficult enough to face Kili.

It's some time before he finally leaves Fili's bedside to return to Kili.]

[Though in bed, Kili is sitting up trying to bandage himself again. There are dark circles under his eyes but he seems more or less all right as he catches a bandage between his teeth and sucks in a painful breath as he tightens the linen around his arm. He looks up at Thorin and frowns lightly. He's been crying again.]

Thorin?

[His eyes are red and tired, yes, but he's holding himself like a king again. Strong and proud, but he knows Kili can see through it.

Thorin is afraid and hurting.]

Let me help. [He sits on the edge of Kili's bed, taking the linen from him and wrapping it securely around his injured arm.]

We had it...

[He's only pouting a little. He really had needed the help of course. He watches Thorin tend to him, almost curious.]

You should be resting too.

[Thorin lets out a sound that might be a laugh.] Perhaps. I'm busy.

[He finishes the bandage, taping it securely in place.] There.

Busy and forgot the beer. Ah well. We'll live. Do you still want the company?

You know uncle, if you plan on staying here you really ought to just stay. Back in bed then. They'll think us lazy! Then again... My arm is probably broken...

[He doesn't like the way Kili is acting at all. He's talked in the plural before, but not like this, not this extensively.

There will be no leaving Kili's side, not for a long while.]

A drink, of course. Stay here and I'll fetch you something.

[And have Oin drug it. Kili needs sleep.]

Away at War / Left Behind

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you know it's a good thread when you're sitting at your desk trying really hard not to cry

Oh bb! <333

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