Guess Who Decided Not to Die Today :: Invite

7 July 1920
6:00PM
Paediatric ICU

It had been two weeks since the plant attack. Two weeks since her eyes had been open. Two weeks since she had eaten a single morsel of food. Two weeks since Benji had watched her nearly die. It was hard to wrap her mind around all that had gone down. Bram told her the full story, the plant, the rescue, the jungle hospital, her weeks unconscious, fever, convulsions, Ren visiting, not knowing if she would wake up or if she did, if she would be the same Matilda that went into the jungle that terrifying day.

She remembered nothing from that day. The walk the day before she could piece together. Dinner by the fire, funny stories with Benji, sleeping in the tent… then nothing. Her next memory was waking up in the hospital bed, exhausted and starving.

Bram Had been sitting in a chair next to her bed, eyes closed, snoring softly. Her blue eyes stared at him, puzzling out what was going on, where she was, why her leg burned as if on fire. Matilda tried to adjust herself in the bed, jostling her leg just a smidge, sending a sharp zinging pain through her body. A strangled sob left her lips, causing Bram to jolt awake, eyes blue and bloodshot found hers immediately. Bram, letting out his own sound of shock, suddenly looked relieved and… happy? Exhausted, but happy.

“Matilda, gods you’re awake. Are you ok, how do you feel? Are you in pain?” His hands hovered over her, eyes scanning her body looking for something, she wasn’t sure what.

“My leg.” She said, in a gravely voice. Sounding like a pack a day smoker, she was shocked by how scratchy her throat felt. “Water?” She managed.

Bram scuttled around the room, coming back with a cup that she greedily gulped down. “I’m going to get a healer, I’ll be right back.”

Matilda, exhausted from the brief interaction closed her eyes and breathed, trying to take stock of her body and mind. What hurt? Well… everything honestly. Her leg most of all, but the muscles in her body were tight and achy. Her right leg on the other hand pulsed with pain. Bram rushed back in with a bedraggled healer in tow.

“Miss Nordstrom, so glad that you're finally awake. How are you feeling?” Trying to sit up was outside of her capabilities, but Bram noticed her struggling to move, and thankfully helped her readjust on the bed, adding a couple pillows behind her head. “I don’t know. What happened? I feel exhausted, weak. Everything hurts, but my right leg is throbbing. I don’t understand.”

The healer went about their job, checking her over, shining a light from his wand into her eyes, checking for a fever, taking her vitals, administering a pain potion. This went on while Bram told her what brought them to St Mungo’s.

A plant attack. Blood loss. Seizure. Fever. Unconscious for two weeks. She could barely believe her ears, but when the healer removed the bandage off her lower right leg, a small gasp left her lips. The plant, thankfully was gone, but an intricate series of scars wound around her leg in a leafy pattern. The scar, which would normally be red or pink, was a light pale green color. The skin around the scar red with irritation, raised and angry looking.

“Well, the good news is you’re awake. Getting your strength back will take some time. The pain and achy muscles are likely from the seizures and your body laying sedentary for so long. I’ll order up some tests for tomorrow, after you’ve eaten properly. Then we will hopefully get you up on your feet.”

’On my feet?’ She thought. Was he nuts? Talking for ten minutes had her ready to pass out, and he wanted her to walk?

Roughly an hour later things had calmed down. Bram had been ushered out of the room, a couple of female healers came to help her to the bathroom, brush her teeth, take a shower while thankfully sitting down, then changed back into a fresh gown, and into bed with clean sheets. Matilda was exhausted when she laid back down, but was happy to see a bowl of broth, some water, juice and crackers waiting for her.

While Matilda ate (drank?), Bram filled her in on everything that had happened. Her friends came to visit, not knowing if she would wake up. Bram staying with her until he had been forced to leave and stay at home. He had aged ten years since their first day in the jungle.

“It’s getting late, my love.” He said, giving her a sweet kiss on the forehead. “I’m going to head home so you can get a good night's rest. I will send word to Ren and your friends that you’re awake. Hopefully the camp will allow them to visit. I’ll be back in the morning." Tilly smiled gave her Grandfather a weak hug. "Love you," she whispered. She wanted nothing more than to see her friends. Ren, he must be so worried. She couldn't imagine what she would do if the roles were reversed. And Benji, from what Bram said, it was a traumatic experience for all involved.

Finishing her broth and crackers, Matilda’s eyes got heavy. She was exhausted from the simple tasks. Getting comfortable in the bed, pulling the warm quilt up to her chin, Matilda shut her eyes and fell asleep, this time, with a much brighter outlook at the end of her rest.

July 12th, 1920
St. Mungo's Hospital, First Floor
Pediatric ICU
11:17am

It had taken a fair amount of time for Ren to get permission from the facility to visit Matilda. the word 'fair' was a misnomer, though. It was five days since he'd heard news of her coming to, and every single one of those one hundred twenty hours were pure torture. first came speaking to the camp director, whose hours were all over the place due to his actual job. Then came writing the letter and sending it, a full day for the owl to arrive at the orphanage. Then waiting another day for the owl to come back, followed by following up with the camp director once more.

Any longer and he would have begged for some poisonous plant to take him, too.

---

Arriving once more at St. Mungo's through floo powder, he'd cough up a lung trying to remove the magical soot taste from his mouth. The medical facility was as active as the last time but at least this time around it was for better news. His girlfriend wasn't actively dying, and that was clearly an improvement. Approaching the front desk and sticking his visitors pass on, he moved towards the pediatric wing on the first floor.

Nordstrom, M.

The placard on the door holding her name made the situation all the more real. His nature of caution and patience was clearly in conflict with his desire to bust the door open and call her name out dramatically. He stood frozen outside, staring at the sign on the door for what seemed like in perpetuity until one of the healer's assistants side-stepped the stunned boy to enter the room. Ren peaked in as the door open and then closed once more, pressing his ear against it to make sure that, indeed, it was Matilda's room.

But he could never confuse her voice. It was really her, awake and definitely, probably not a ghost.

The assistant exited the room and flashed Ren a smile. It wasn't a mystery figuring out why the boy had been standing outside, nor why he was hesitant to go inside. But Ren saw the adult open the door and subtly nod inside. An open invitation if there ever was one.

"Thanks... really..."

He moved past the boundry to the door and saw the girl he'd gone for too long without.

"What were you thinking?!"

They were the first words out of his mouth, ironically, said without any forethought.

"You could have been killed! You were like, halfway to dead! Who told you it was a good idea to go to Brazil, huh?!" His voice rose, but the tone remained softer than the words led to believe. It was from worry, words said to mask the pain he had felt in waiting for any piece of news about her condition. Ren's eyes started to slightly well up, and a sniff later he found his voice again.

"And now I have to find a way to burn down the Amazon. I hope you're happy."

Laying in bed, always laying in bed. It was getting really fucking old honestly. Not that walking was much better. It had been a handful of days since she woke up, healers coming in and out at all hours of the night. Checking… well, whatever it was they were checking. There was a lot of attention on her leg, the odd scar still green, standing out against her pale skin.

Thankfully, she was on solid food again, not that it was any better. All she wanted was her friends. Getting them away from the summer facility was proving more difficult than she would have liked. Matilda was bored and tired of the hospital, she was going mad with the monotony of the days.

Once again, a healer came in, asked about how she was feeling, gave her another potion that was supposed to counteract the neurotoxin still flowing through her blood. Then stepped out. Matilda, sitting up in bed, let her head fall back, resting against the wall with her eyes shut.

"What were you thinking?!" Her eyes flew on, wide with surprise at the one voice she had been dreaming about for weeks.

Ren.

"You could have been killed! You were like, halfway to dead! Who told you it was a good idea to go to Brazil, huh?!" Her heart cracked open. In that moment, it was clear just how much she had missed him and just how scared she had been. After waking up, realizing how sick she was, just how close she had come to death. Sure, she was out of immediate danger, but there were still a lot of questions about her health.

Tears were rushing down her face, all the emotions that had been kept inside came barreling out like a mud slide. Her hand raised, reaching for him, “Ren!” came out, in a choked sob. Suddenly his arms were around her, and there was no other place in the world she would rather be. "And now I have to find a way to burn down the Amazon. I hope you're happy." A watery laugh came out, only he would be able to get her to laugh right now.

Her arms were still weak, but no one would pry him out of her arms. She clung to him, face buried in his neck, calming herself down while breathing him in. The unmistakable scent that was just… him. It was like a drug, each muscle in her body relaxing with every breath.

“I’m sorry that Brazil almost killed me. To be fair, I don’t think it was the country's fault. Just that one plant with a murder habit.”

Pulling back, she wiped her face, trying to rid her face from tears. Clearing her eyes, so she could see him clearly. Taking in every inch of his face, she smiled. Feeling content for the first time in weeks. “Hi.” was all she said, then leaned in for a brief, but intense kiss.


((OOC: PP okayed by Ren and his Human))

Matilda was awake.

The owl had come shortly after his arrival to the summer facility, and while he'd wanted to go right away, there were processes in place that made it less simple than he'd realized.

Not only would Julia have to approve, but so would the facility director, and it had been a whole ordeal to get them both on board. Julia hadn't wanted to give him permission, arguing that she'd been lenient enough this summer, and he could write to Matilda to check in on her.

That had gone over as well as a wet firework.

When he'd finally gotten all the lengthy paperwork signed off on, Julia had begrudgingly picked him up and escorted him to Mungo's, letting him know he had a whole whopping thirty minutes before she was taking him right back. His mum was weird about hospitals, he'd realized, but he didn't bother to ask. He had a friend to visit.

Apparently, so did Ren.

"Never fear, Benji's here!" the boy announced, hoping to break up the kiss that he'd inadvertently walked in on. He'd unfortunately been the witness of too many of Matilda's snogs and snog descriptions over the years, and as much as these two were his close friends, he didn't want to add to that list if he could help it. "Hey mate," Benji said, slapping Ren on the shoulder, "You have to complete ten years of paperwork too, eh?"

He turned his attention to Matilda, his smile softening when he saw tears running down her cheeks. "Oi, what's all the blubbering for, girl? You survived that shit, a real bearcat." Yes, he was well aware that he had interrupted a probably romantic reunion, but he'd only be here thirty minutes and then they could resume...whatever they were doing.

"Missed you," he said with a little shrug. "Thought for sure you were a goner."

"Oi, what's all the blubbering for, girl? You survived that shit, a real bearcat." Her eyes were swimming with tears, rendering her two favorite guys blurry. Benji was there, alive, in one piece, and as always, trying to bring levity to the stressful situation.

Wiping her eyes, they both came into focus. Matilda laid her head on Ren’s shoulder, but kept her eyes on Benji. She couldn’t imagine what he had gone through. If the rolls had been reversed, she would not be ok.

"Missed you," he said "Thought for sure you were a goner." A few more tears escaped.

She let out a shuddered breath, “I’m so sorry Benji.” She hiccuped. The trip had been because of her and her obsession with plants. That and a Grandfather’s attempt to spoil his Granddaughter. It was her fault Benji had been there and experienced the attack. Her fault that he had to traipse all over the jungle, walking miles a day in the heat. It wasn’t a relaxing or enjoyable experience at the beginning and then it ended in trauma.

“I don’t remember the attack much. At first there was nothing, but I’ve been getting flashes. Nightmares. I wake up screaming, but then don’t remember why. I can’t imagine. If it had been you?” Sitting up fully, Matilda held her hand out to Benji, pulling him down to sit on the other side of the bed. There, she gave him a firm hug, filled with friendship, apology, love and the realization that they survived a traumatic event, changing their friendship forever.

Pulling away, trying to put a happy face on, but failing, “Maybe next time we stick close to home for a vacation. Leave the jungle to someone else. It wasn’t a total loss though, I got a wicked scar from the plant. Guys did scars right?” She asked, flipping the blanket back to show them her left leg. Wrapping around her entire calf, a green leafy looking scar marred her otherwise pale skin. The skin around the green was red and raised, but less angry then when she had woken up.

He didn't know how to tell her that guys didn't dig scars that actively looked like they were sentient with intent to murder anyone who dares get close. There went cuddling time...

"Hey Benji," Ren sniffed a bit and smiled at his friend's presence. Despite the fact that Ren couldn't stop beating himself up over not going, regardless if he could have done anything to prevent it or not, he was glad she had Benji there. A friendly face in the face of death was always appreciated. Now that he thought about it, he'd had the opposite thought when Maddox had stuffed them underground in the tomb of a sphinx who wasn't really looking for them to leave alive. Letting Matilda see him then probably would have turned her off in many ways.

"Are you okay bud? No evil plant attacking you and making its way up your leg? I'm sure Rae'd go back into Brazli and help me burn it down if it knew a vine was going to second base with you." Ren disjointed from his girlfriend and gave Benji a hug, a few pats on the back where enough for him to express his thanks when words would have been insufficient. If there was anyone who was going to be by her side during then, he'd of wanted it to be Benji. Or a healer. Probably a healer first, and then Benji.

"By the way," Ren started as he looked back at his lover girl, "what's the deal with the glowy parts of you? Not that I don't appreciate a nightlight on our dates in the Room of Requirement, but uhh, what is it? Does it bite?"

Listening to Benji and Ren banter back and forth helped her stiff muscles relax just a bit. Listening to them brought her back to a time where running through the garden didn’t involve man eating plants.

"By the way," Ren asked looking at her. "What's the deal with the glowy parts of you? Not that I don't appreciate a nightlight on our dates in the Room of Requirement, but uhh, what is it? Does it bite?"

With a slight chuckle and sigh, Matilda looked at her leg. It really was disturbing. The green was striking against her pale skin, rimmed in red where the wounds were still healing. “The healers have been trying different potions and salves to heal it, but the green isn’t going away. The red is getting better. I guess long pants are in my future.” Looking at it in a different way, cocking her head to one side she smirked. “Maybe I’ll just say I got a tattoo.”

Matilda flipped the blanket over her leg, covering up the offending limb. Grabbing onto Ren’s hand tightly, needing to have a connection, she squeezed his hand, wanting to show she was ok. “So how is camp? Looks like I won’t be coming. I won’t be going home until August they think. This place is severely boring, you’re going to need to send me letters.”