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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jul 5, 2011 14:26:48 GMT -8
A fierce determination came over Ashlin at Micahel's words. "No working!" There was no way she was going to let Michael work in this condition. No wonder he was never getting better. "You have to rest, and get better and you can't do that if you're working!" He had passed out for a reason they couldn't explain, and had been burning up with a fever. He was sick, and sore and he would spend the rest on the day resting even if she had to stay here the entire day making him rest.
She wasn't quite glaring at him but she was clearly not happy with Michael even suggesting that he might get up and work more today. It was like he didn't care about his own health . . . Well she'd just have to care for the both of them then.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jul 7, 2011 22:00:34 GMT -8
This was...new. Typically, people just didn't talk to him this way...well, except for, perhaps, Mister Stewart. He blinked a couple of times, staring at her for a stunned moment - and then he could feel a bit of anger surging up, unbidden, hands curling into fists. He opened his mouth, about to say something in retaliation-
"Michael, she's right." Stormy eyes shot over towards the older man, the irritation fading away again. "You need to rest. You aren't well, and you need to recover, or you will be out of commission for even longer. I know you don't like it, but things will be fine for now."
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jul 7, 2011 22:58:50 GMT -8
Ashlin felt a strange discomfort come over her as Michael stared at her after her declaration. She couldn't quite place it, but something about him in that moment felt vaguely familiar . . . in a bad way. As fast as it was there though the feeling was gone, and Ashlin was left blinking in confusion.
It was good that Mr.Stewart was backing her up on this, she thought. Despite her determination to keep Michael resting she realized it would be rather impossible to accomplish without the older man's say. It was still his house after all. She couldn't see him wanting to do anything that would hurt Michael though. Ashlin nodded along to Mr.Stewart's words, giving her silent support to everything he was saying. Michael had to understand that they were both worried about him, and were only saying it because the cared. "Please Michael." she pleaded with him, her stubbornness on the matter mixing with her worry and fear for his health.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jul 7, 2011 23:18:33 GMT -8
There was a long moment of silence - Michael looked from Ash, to Mister Stewart, and then back again...and then heaved a long sigh, leaning back against his pillow with a wince. They were right, of course. As much as he hated the idea of not doing his duties for any amount of time, he just...couldn't do them right now.
"...All right. I...I'll rest. But I...I can't sleep. All right? I'll rest, but I won't sleep."
Perhaps with the way he seemed when he was asleep, it was clearer why he didn't want to...although he needed it sorely, the dark circles under his eyes oh-so-prevalent.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jul 7, 2011 23:47:44 GMT -8
Biting her lip Ashlin nodded, she couldn't really argue with that despite Michael's obvious need of sleep. "Well as long as you're resting. . ." Both times she'd seen him sleeping it had been obviously painful for him. Which reminded her. . . Ashlin was still holding her purse from when she'd gotten the water bottle for Michael and covertly stuck her hand in to hold on to the hedgehog she'd made him. She should just give it to him now, she thought, but did not pull the present from her bag. For some reason she felt a little timid, giving it to him, even though she'd made it just for him.
She was being silly, Ash thought with a mental shake of her head. There was nothing wrong with giving a friend a get well present. "Ah, um" Ashlin pulled the small toy from her bag, her cheeks rosier than they had been a few moments ago. "This is for you." she told him holding out the doll. "I know you said you aren't going to sleep but, well, whenever I had nightmares Bo-Bo always made me feel better, so I thought if you had something of your own maybe it would help you too. Do you mind hedgehogs? I'd never made one before but I thought it would be better than a bear or. . ." she stopped talking realizing she was babbling again. That seemed to be happening a lot lately. "Its a get well present." she added after a moment, her cheeks growing a little redder as she peeked to see his reaction.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jul 8, 2011 0:06:15 GMT -8
If there was any remaining anger left in Michael when he lay back down, it was quickly pushed away when Ashlin suddenly presented him with the toy. He took it carefully, holding it up to look it over and turning it in his hands. He...couldn't actually remember the last time he'd had a toy of any sort to himself. He had books, sure, and the carving that still hid in his pocket...but no stuffed toys. Not since he was...not since...before....
His eyes softened, and they slid past the toy and up to Ashlin. His tone was soft, almost confused.
"...You made this...for me?"
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jul 8, 2011 0:22:53 GMT -8
Smiling softly Ashlin nodded, though she still felt a little strange. "Mhmmm" She pushed her hair behind her ear, still blushing a bit. "I thought it might help you feel a little better, and I, well, I've always liked making things. . . " She just never had anyone to make anything for beside her parents. Somehow it felt different, making something for a friend. It was only now occurring to Ashlin that Michael might be a little old for such a gift. Just because she still carried around a plush doll with her wherever she went didn't mean that Michael would want one. Maybe that was why he sounded so confused. . .
Her blush became a little brighter at the thought. "I know its probably rather silly but, well, I hope you like it." Ash began to play with her necklace, not quite looking at Michael. Her stomach was churning slightly, and it wasn't exactly a pleasant feeling. If nothing else she was able to forget for a little bit about everything she had learned, to focused on the moment she was in.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jul 8, 2011 0:31:48 GMT -8
There was another long moment of silence as Michael studied her face, wondering why she was blushing now...until he realized that she thought he must not like the gift. Looking back at the little hedgehog, he seemed thoughtful, lips slowly curling into a tiny, tiny smile....
And then he looked back up.
"...I'm not sure what to name him, if I am being honest. If I seemed less than thrilled, I was only surprised...I promise."
Mister Stewart let out a relieved sigh. Well, THERE was a sign of improvement.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jul 8, 2011 0:42:42 GMT -8
"I'm glad. . ." Ashlin couldn't stop the bright, relieved smile from blooming on her face. And while she was glad he liked the gift she was more relieved than anything to hear him rhyming again. It was the first rhyme she'd heard since getting here, and somehow it made things feel more normal. It made her feel like Michael really would be okay. "I'm sure you'll think of something!" she said happily.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jul 8, 2011 0:57:14 GMT -8
The smile on his lips broadened, just a little - sad, tired, but a smile all the same. The idea that she would have spent the time not only making the salve for him, but then sewing this little toy for him...it meant a lot. Besides Mister Stewart, people didn't tend to take special pains on his account - and generally, he never expected them to. He was content to remain in the background, quietly observing and taking care of his duties.
Still, it was...nice, someone fussing about him.
"Perhaps something from a book...it strikes me as a boy, upon first look."
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jul 9, 2011 7:52:07 GMT -8
She was glad to see him smiling, even if there was still something a little painful about it. Ashlin thought she'd like to see Michael really smile some time. If nothing else it made her happy that he was smiling because of what she'd made for him. "I think so too. Do you have a favorite book you could pick a name from?" Her smile was warm and friendly.
The rhyming was somehow easing the knot that had formed in her stomach through out the day. It was just something so uniquely Michael.
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