Colin's posts

Zeke nodded.

"All right." he replied.

The two of them then held hands, and Zeke smiled.

"Here we go." he told her.

The two of them then disappeared from where they were, appearing in the backyard as Angela specified.

"And we're here."

Jake just sighed lightly, smirked, and shook his head.

"See, that's the thing about a skilled medic." he told her.

"Whether it be a guild, this place, or whatever... your orders can supersede the boss's." he chuckled.

"But fair enough." he said, as Zeke appeared in the area.

"All right, here I am." he announced.

"Hey." he greeted Jake.

"Yo." Jake said.

Jake looked over towards Angela.

"I do?" he asked.

"I hardly notice." he said.

"I mean, not that I doubt you. You're the medic, after all." he then reasoned.

"...and, granted, I don't think I've had a 'proper' night's rest for about a week or so..." he then admitted. "I can usually sunbathe for a few hours and be good." he shrugged.

"But maybe it's time I actually took a vacation day or something." he mumbled.

"Thanks for the concern." he added.

"Yeah, sure." Zeke replied.

"Where?" he asked.

"Erica's house." Angela replied.

"Shouldn't be a problem." Zeke told her.

"Just tell me where to pick you up." he said.

At that point, Angela received one last text from Hal.

Just realised I didn't properly answer your question. I was planning on still being here, but if you feel it would be best if I wasn't here, I can easily vacate before or when you arrive. it read.

Very. Hal replied.

That's exactly how I would describe it. he sent further.

Anyway, just show up ASAP. he finished, before following Erica.

As he did so, he wondered what on earth was happening.

Did Vanessa do more than they had thought...?

She's acting very submissive, and I swear a strange mark on her. Hal sent.

I get the feeling a mana scan and a physical scan is needed. A complete one. he then added.

With that, he looked at Erica, and sighed.

"Erica." he said.

"Let's go sit in the den?" he suggested.

"Try and get a little more comfortable, at least?" he reasoned.

"While we wait for Angela, anyway."

Hal looked at the text.

"...." he was silent, before sighing.

Come to Erica's house. he told her.

Please. I feel this is very much needed. he sent further.

He then looked at Erica once more.

"Erica?" he said.

"Angela's coming here." he told her.

"I really think something might be happening. Something none of us are aware of." he added.

"..." Hal was silent, before removing his hands.

"I apologise if that made you uncomfortable." he told her.

"I didn't realise it was THIS bad." he said.

Internally, he was VERY confused and concerned.

That was NOT something she'd showcased before. What was different now?

Hal just approached her, and placed his hands gently on her shoulders.

"I'm sorry to hear that." he told her.

"But we'll do all we can." he said.

"I know I've said that before, but I promise you, it's true." he continued.

"We're all here for you." he reminded her.

"...for whatever that is worth."

Hal just approached her, and placed his hands gently on her shoulders.

"I'm sorry to hear that." he told her.

"But we'll do all we can." he said.

"I know I've said that before, but I promise you, it's true." he continued.

"We're all here for you." he reminded her.

"...for whatever that is worth."

Hal looked at his phone.

Got it. he sent back.

No urgent panic rush, but I think Erica could benefit from a full checkup. Let me know the soonest you can do that. he then sent her.

With that, he looked back at Erica, and sighed heavily.

"Trust me, I understand." he told her.

"Believe me, I do." he said.

"We need to do something about your sleep issue, though." he then added.

Hal just shook his head again, and approached her.

"I don't know, either." he told her.

"But we can't just ignore the chance that it might do SOME good." he reasoned.

"We need to not give up hope." he went on.

"Keep moving." he said further with a small smile.

"It's possible." Hal replied.

'Not likely, but possible.' he then thought.

"But a checkup may shed some light on it." he told her.

"We'll see." he said.

He then sighed, and shook his head, taking a drink of water.

"All we can do is wait and see."

"I... see." Hal responded.

"I'll set it up then." he told her.

"See when Angela can take a look." he continued.

He then paused for a moment, and looked at his phone. He sent a text to the medic in question.

Text me ASAP. Let me know when I can call you. he sent her.

"Erica, I'm not going to lie... I'm worried about you." he then told Erica.

'Things being a blur is never good." he reasoned.