[Audio/Commentlog]

[doctoral_bird]

[The audio flicks on, but is silent for a few moments. There's the noise of sheets rustling and faint confused mumbles growing louder until they sound as if whatever is making them has picked up the journal. Then there's a disappointed sigh as Malkus can't help but feel as if he has been in this situation before, though much less bloody. His memory

Comments

[Commentlog]

[trustedhisheart]

[Tus hasn't been back at the barracks for very long, but he also has not eaten in quite some time. Which means he's making his way from his room to the barracks kitchen rather than remaining in his room. Except his progress is halted when he spots a figure sitting on the stairs he is currently descending.

A very familiar looking figure. One he last saw wearing those exact clothes, with the same blood stains, only much fresher. And much less alive.

His journal is in his hand, as it has so far proven to be his only method of communication amongst the people of the Keep - none of whom speak Persian, it seems - but he disregards it entirely in his shock.]

It cannot be.

[Commentlog]

[doctoral_bird]

[The doctor is observing his own boots rather closely when Tus appears, poking and prodding every piece of clothing on him as if he's unfamiliar with everything.

When he speaks, the doctor seems startled. Looking side to side, then back over his shoulder he sees the man.]

...Hm? E-Err- h-...huh?

[Noises and squawks are all that Malkus can remember to make, but at least he's not growling and yelling anymore.

He tilts his head, curiously.]

[Commentlog]

[trustedhisheart]

[The man in front of him is - still there. Tus blinks a few times, shaking his head as if to clear it, but when that does nothing, he rather has to accept that, yes, apparently it can be.

He stays where he is for the moment, examining the man cautiously, one hand moving towards the sword at his side. But his movements are entirely different, confused and curious rather than violent.

Perhaps it is a different man, however unlikely that is. Though he wonders, is it less unlikely for the man before him to be entirely unconnected to the one he and Dastan had killed, or for Malkus to have somehow returned from the dead?]

You are - Malkus?

[Commentlog]

[doctoral_bird]

I-

[He pauses, rubbing his mask as if wondering if it's his own face.]

Yes....? erm- ...Yes, Malkus...

[He thinks, tilting his head again as he slides his journal out from under his robe.]

I think?

[He sounds exactly the same as their first encounter, minus the rage and sorrow and screaming. The doctor flips open the book and closes it right back, seeming to toy with it rather than read it.]

[Commentlog]

[trustedhisheart]

[He only recognizes 'yes,' a word he'd picked up quickly, and Malkus's name, but as there isn't much other than that, Tus gets the gist of what he's saying.

Confirmation that this is indeed Malkus, the man that Dastan knew, the man that Tus had helped kill himself. Tus - well, he supposes he has seen stranger things, but it is still incredibly unsettling.

He's not at all used to having to face the men he's killed.

Seeing Malkus toying with the journal prompts Tus to take out his own, turning on the audio function so that it will pick up and translate their speech.]

Are you unharmed? Not ill, or injured?

[doctoral_bird]

[Malkus gives the man an unusual stare through the lenses of his mask, turning his attention down to his journal. He remembers enough to know what a few words mean in text.

He seems to be speaking directly to the journal, as if having a conversation with the book more than Tus.]

No... I don't know. No- No not injured or harmed.

[A thought occurs to him.]

This. My clothes.

[Curse this forgotten language! The doctor lifts a gloved hand, observing the dark red currently covering part of it.]

My-...erm...blood?

[trustedhisheart]

[Tus is not entirely certain how encouraging that is. It is good that he seems to no longer be ill of the disease that had caused him to lose his mind, nor to be suffering from any negative after effects of his death.

The mere thought of that is strange enough that Tus shakes his head, momentarily unsettled. This place is far stranger than he ever could have expected, even with the experience of the Sands of Time in his own world.

Malkus still seems confused, though, and when he asks about the blood, Tus is not entirely sure how to answer him. He settles for a question instead.]

What do you remember?

[doctoral_bird]

Well... I remember... Words.

[There's an unsettled laugh.]

Aaand... My name... Aand... Nothing after that. E-Erm, sorry.

[trustedhisheart]

[He reads the words as they appear in his journal, and frowns a bit. Words and a name are something, he supposes, but that means neither of them have an explanation for how Malkus could have been dead one moment and alive the next.

Especially since Malkus apparently does not even remember the events that lead to his death, though that, at least, is something of a blessing.]

Apologies are not necessary. If you cannot remember something, it's most certainly not your fault.

I'm afraid I'm at somewhat of a loss for what has happened, however. The only experience I have with one person not remembering something another does involves travelling back in time, and that does not seem to be the case here.

[doctoral_bird]

[You might as well be speaking another language to Malkus...Well, another language in another language with all of this time traveling business.]

I suppose so. I'm almost certain I have not traveled time, but I fear that I may somehow be responsible for the stains on my robes here... It is blood. But what if it isn't mine?

[trustedhisheart]

[And now Tus is rather uncomfortable, as he tries to decide what to tell him. He knows quite well what caused those blood stains, but informing a relative stranger that you killed them is - well, to be honest, he's not quite sure what it is, as he's never run across the situation.

Somewhat awkward, to say the least.]

Ah. Well, as far as I am aware, you have been here for some time. There was something of a commotion recently, that caused quite a number of things to happen that I still do not entirely understand. I believe that may be where the blood is from. It's also possible that is what is responsible for your current lack of memory, though I haven't a clue how.

But my brother knew you. I do not believe you would have attempted to harm anyone had it been in your control.

[doctoral_bird]

Oh... Interesting. A commotion? Is it over? I-I certainly hope I did not...contribute... And thank you-...I do not think I would enjoy harming anyone either...

[His tone drops a bit, unsure if he's saying that because it's true or just because he hasn't remembered any BLOODTHIRSTY URGES yet. Anything's possible to an amnesiac plaguebird...]

[trustedhisheart]

As far as I can tell, it is over, yes. There was some sort of - illness, that caused people to behave as they would normally not. The woman who seemed to have been part of the cause called them zombies. I've never seen the like of it before.

[He's not going to touch on Malkus's contribution. If he does not remember it, that may be something of a blessing. Tus knows very well that one's own death should not be something a man ever has to remember. Nor would he imagine it would be pleasant to recall doing things you had no control over.]

Perhaps you do remember some of your old self, then.

[doctoral_bird]

[The word "Illness" catches the doctors attention.]

Like a plague? Absolutely awful... What's a "zombie"? I certainly hope not to see anything like that again, then. Are you well? I hope you have not had any unfortunate encounters on your end... I feel as if a few faint memories are gradually coming back. Still absolutely foggy, though...

[trustedhisheart]

[Tus nods.]

Yes, it did seem to be quite similar to a plague. A zombie is what the people who had been infected by this illness were called, I believe. I'd never heard the term before.

[There's a slight smile there, though Tus cannot help feeling a bit guilty. Here he had been responsible for the man's - apparently temporary - demise, and he is asking if Tus is well.]

I am quite well, thank you. Neither my brother nor I were infected or injured. Are they? Perhaps you will eventually regain more, then.

[doctoral_bird]

Ghastly. So I had become a zombie? Strange...

[The doctor gives a invisible grin behind the mask, shrugging his shoulders slightly.]

That is good to hear, I'd hate to have been some cause of discontent during this all. And yes, I believe I might be recovering fully. I get the strangest feeling that this is not the first time I had lost my memory.

[In truth, it hadn't been. This is Malkus' second time meeting a very discomforting death.]