[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.]

[halfbrokenwings]

[Likely curious themselves, or headed to the kitchens and in need of stretching their legs, one troll and a bard are making their way through the hall.

Movement out of the corner of her eyes caught her attention and she turned to look.

Isabella was not expecting the sight she saw upon the stairs. He stood like a ghost, ripped and torn and bloody and it shocked her to see it. This was not the countenance of the fellow she met at the springs or the one she danced with at the party or helped dig worms up from the ground.

She makes a step toward him, clearly concerned.]

M-malkus?

[doctoral_bird]

[Very faint memories are occasionally popping in and out of his mind, like the desire not to be caked in dried blood.

Malkus is gently brushing his hat off with his glove, causing flakes of red to dust off at an unusual rate.]

U-Uh-.....Nnno...No-...

[Wait.]

Er-Yes! ...

[He glances towards Isabella and the troll, silently. Does he mean "yes that's me?" perhaps? Stay tuned to find out.]

Huh-....

[And with that, his attention goes back to his hat.]

[thii2ii22tupiid]

*Sollux eyes Malkus from where he was, making no move closer like Isa had done. The guy's covered in blood, but the way he was acting, and the way Sollux had previously known him to act, made him look rather harmless.
Unless he was somehow still sick...but if he was in the barracks than he'd probably died and HOPEFULLY the lord wouldn't send the disease back into his safe zone.*

That's your name, if you don't remember yet.

[doctoral_bird]

[His attention turns to the young Troll thing, appearing just as blank as his mask. No need to worry, Sollux! Malkus is absolutely healthy and as absentmindedly harmless as ever.]

Yes...I-It is...

[He fiddles with his gloves a bit, seeming to get a bit more nervous as he tries to force himself to remember. It occurs to him that he wasn't always covered in slashes and torn to pieces.]

So-....So... Have you-...erm...

[He pauses. Motioning to his eyes for a moment, tapping his beak in thought.]

Seen! What has um-....

[His hands glide down towards his robe jacket, circling some of the rips in the fabric.]