The MEETING Team (PLOT)

Though they had been separated by thousands of miles for several years, Eldes had gotten quite adept at detecting his own twin's anxiety, a power that he still apparently possessed. He swallowed as Ardos' unease began to seep into his body language, unsure of what he should do. His mind raced to numerous possible confrontations that would end up with Eldes further injured or possibly dead if the truth came out about his job or motive for coming to the island. The ginger twin figured that Ardos' unease likely stemmed from his own, but he couldn't help it. This place... not only was it completely foreign now, but everyone in it was so... robotic. It was like the grunts were no longer their own people, no longer individuals. Instead, they were now a hive-mind... and that thought terrified him down to his core.

If Ardos had been able to do that to these people...

Eldes, despite the welling, heavy sense of doom that weighed down in the pit of his stomach, kept his pace with Ardos even, not wanting to fall behind. Anything to keep the ants from being disturbed while he toured the nest. There was soon noise, however, which drew Eldes from his own fear for a moment to listen. They were words; words spoken by many voices, chanted simultaneously by a large crowd. Ardos led them closer, he turned and placed a single still-too-thin finger on his lips, indicating silence. Eldes could certainly do that. Nodding his understanding, he followed his brother to stand in the threshold of a large, intimidating archway.

Before them was the large crowd he heard not moments prior, almost evenly divided by a long thick gap between two neatly formed groups. They weren't in normal Cipher gear, but... robes? Robes like he and Ardos had been assigned when they were younger, like the robe Ardos wore now. They were plainer, of course-- stark white with blue accents that reminded him too much of his brother's colors. On the back was a golden Cipher emblem emblazoned upon the robe, their collective looking like a hundred golden eyes watching. Eldes blinked as his eyes made their way through each member of the crowd, suddenly coming to the realization that they were separated by sex. The robes, their stance, the words they shouted to their superiors... Even their hair was uniform. At at the front of it all was yet another grand visage of his brother, accompanied by the same symbol they all wore.

Eldes' mouth gaped slightly at the sight; the words they spoke with such conviction struck him to the core, his mind flaring with alarm. It was too much like his childhood. Too much like the words their father forced them to recite each and every day. He stole a quick glance to his brother to see him deep in thought, but the question in his mind remained: Did he truly cherish the memories that brought Eldes nothing but despair? All of Father's abuse, all of his torture-- did Ardos actually think that ideal? Even after all this time?

His emerald eyes glanced back to the ceremony, where he did manage to spot a familiar face. Venus, the most popular of the admins that had served under Cipher, stood quietly in a corner as she surveyed the scene. He hadn't recognized her at first because she was no longer in her trademark Cresselia garb; instead she was fashioned after... Diancie? There was only one pokemon that was so uniquely tailored and colored. He swallowed against the hard lump in his throat; Venus had been fanatical before... What was she even like now? He was sure that if she was anything as he remembered, she wouldn't view his abandonment of Cipher any better than his brother had.

Unable to keep his anxiety to himself, Eldes leaned closer to Ardos, forcing the fear from his voice, keeping it steady. He couldn't show his fear. Not in this shark tank. "Ardos, what is this?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but he was sure his brother would be able to hear well enough.

Ardos's inner rage about the whelp who had brought down Cipher and the XD001 project caused him to miss the look of shock written upon his twin's face, but while he would have understood Eldes's surprise at the rather grand scale of his operation he would have been less lenient towards Venus. The elegantly attired Admin noticed her master's approach and had offered him a beaming smile, but when he did not lift his head her gaze turned to a sight she hadn't seen in years, that of Ardos's twin standing at his side. Shooting Eldes a nasty glare she huffed and returned her attention to the graduates as Ardos once again lifted his head to a query posed by his other half. "Ardos, what is this?"

The question was almost inaudible but the ragged man had spent years thinking Eldes dead, so his ears cherished every word that came forth even if they were difficult to detect. He gave a fond smile to the red head and stepped away from the door so as to not disturb the auditorium with his voice. "Why brother, it's Graduation Day of course." His voice was full of pride and amusement, but rather than entertain the notion of standing in the hallway and disturbing the new grunts he waved them on as he continued down the hallway. If his twin had more questions then they were best asked while on the move. After all, he didn't want to waste any more time getting the nasty cut on his forehead looked at.

Eldes' eyes went back to Venus, who seemed to have caught their presence. While she beamed at first, that enthusiasm was likely only for Ardos. She seemed to recognize him quickly because her face contorted into a nasty glare, then proceeded to ignore them. Huh. Well, that was... better than what Eldes had feared. Still, Ardos soon leaned away and led them from the arch with a wave of his hand. "Why brother, it's Graduation Day of course." The heavy knot in Eldes' stomach dropped further in tandem with the cheer in his brother's voice. "Graduation Day"? Oh dear God. Eldes' eyes widened as everything came together in flurry of thoughts and images, the man desperately trying to keep himself under control. His joy and relief at seeing his brother had blinded him at first, but there was no denying it now. Not when there were nearly a hundred people almost worshiping Ardos' doctrine of faith.

His brother had made Cipher a cult.

It fit. The posters, the rigid conformity, the denial of individuality and celebration of a set of ideals. The uniformity every single person maintained even when not on duty. The devout care these people were treating Ardos with. Eldes swallowed hard against the lump still occupying his throat, the hope he'd allowed himself to have upon arriving instantly dying again. If the virus that destroyed the world had indeed come from Cipher, which Eldes doubted very little in the first place, it would absolutely have been possible seeing everything now. No one would question Ardos. They would only did as they were told, and gleefully at that. Even to destroy everything around them.

It was a sobering thought. One that was soon accompanied with how he could possibly summon the nerve and heartlessness to kill Ardos. It made him balk and stumble slightly in his memorized gait behind his brother. This had to be stopped. Remembering suddenly that he was not armed either with pokemon or his weapons, he took solace in the fact that he couldn't act, even if he wanted to. It then occurred to him that he never said anything in reply to Ardos' cryptic explanation, which might cause room for questions. He couldn't have that. In this state, Eldes didn't trust himself to tactfully dodge questions. His mind was too frayed, too out of sorts. He needed to be less emotional about this...

...He needed to do his job.

"'Graduation Day'?" Eldes repeated curiously, thanking whatever Deity was looking over him to keep his voice from wavering. "I don't recall Grunts going through that. Then again, I don't remember a lot of things." He couldn't help but look up again to see the proud banners sporting his brother's face draped almost everywhere. "You've been very busy, Ardos. How did you even find this many people?"

They walked for some time since the auditorium and the echoing quiet was beginning to eat at Ardos, his rapid enthusiasm for hearing his brother's praises devolving into vicious whispers in the back of his mind about dark possibilities he didn't want to consider. Was Eldes not pleased? Did he think ill of Ardos's improvements over their father's design? Was he jealous that he hadn't been included? A million thoughts whirled in the slowly sobering man's mind and each of them was more horrid than the last.  Finally, as if by some miracle, his twin finally broke the silence.

"'Graduation Day'?" The two words inflected into a question, once again pushing up several paranoid fears that he was going to reject Ardos and his new Cipher. "I don't recall Grunts going through that. Then again, I don't remember a lot of things." Ardos thanked the familiar gait that kept him slightly ahead of his twin, because it meant that Eldes couldn't see the aqua haired brother worrying at his lip to the point of bleeding. His views were threatening on the edge of condescending and he didn't think he could handle it if his twin rejected everything he had worked so hard to build. "You've been very busy, Ardos. How did you even find this many people?"

A cautious optimism cracked through the nervous tension flooding Ardos's body, allowing his stiff back and shoulders to relax a bit as Eldes caught up to him. Technical questions he could answer without worrying about his emotions tangling his words, without showing false weakness to his brother or the subordinates around them. "Most were already working for us when the incidents on the mainland began, but in the early days of the plague we held recruitment from the port to save as many as we could. We were so overwhelmed with response we actually had to add three new dormitory wings to the lower levels." Ardos smiled fondly at the joyous acceptance of the once hated Cipher when the pitiful mainlanders realized they could offer not only protection but quality of life from the oncoming disaster. It had been a shining moment in Cipher history. "In the more recent months our scouts have brought back what few numbers they can, but in the last ten attempts no one has been alive to bring back. What you saw may very well have been our last graduation."

As they rounded one more corner a wall made up almost entirely of glass came into view, the clear partitions obviously making up the outer part of a room where within several men and women were seen scurrying about completely oblivious to anything outside their space. "We're here," Ardos said calmly, pausing outside the doors for another guard stationed at the entryway to step inside and announce their arrival. "We will have to go through sterilization first, before we enter," He warned while they waited, indicating with a gesture of his hand a small vestibule off to the side of the entry. "Wouldn't do to have all of my doctor's hard work go to waste because of something we brought in from outside."

Ardos still looked tense, at least what Eldes could tell by the back of his head. He flinched inwardly; he needed to be more careful. "Most were already working for us when the incidents on the mainland began, but in the early days of the plague we held recruitment from the port to save as many as we could. We were so overwhelmed with response we actually had to add three new dormitory wings to the lower levels." Eldes' eyes widened at the description-- but it made sense. Desperate people clamoring for a last hope, the only hope they had, would have made for an excellent basis for loyal troops. Their gratitude mixed with devoted subjects grandfathered in, like Venus, and... well... This was the result. Knowing how many the old dorms housed, Eldes inwardly shuddered from the sheer number the island now supported.That... was a lot of people. "In the more recent months our scouts have brought back what few numbers they can, but in the last ten attempts no one has been alive to bring back. What you saw may very well have been our last graduation."

Eldes could only nod as his gaze became constantly distracted once more; he just couldn't help it. Seeing the Isle in this shape, seeing so many people and liveliness, despite its uniformity, was just shocking to his system. He hadn't seen another living person in... a year? More? He realized they stopped again, however, and turned to his brother once more. "We're here," Ardos announced evenly, opening the doors and making way, Eldes following. "We will have to go through sterilization first, before we enter." Eldes blinked dumbly at the walls, looking for an indication as to what he was supposed to do. "Wouldn't do to have all of my doctor's hard work go to waste because of something we brought in from outside."

"No, of course, but... uh... What do I... Do I just stand here?" Eldes asked earnestly, awkwardly glancing around a bit before looking down at himself. In the bright artificial light, Eldes could really see how gross he was. Traveling in a desert will do that to a man, but... he probably needed a little longer than a quick spray. He looked to Ardos, brow furrowed a little in worry before he occasionally looked back down at himself while he brushed his jacket and torso off. Small clouds of dirt were already rising from his actions. He was almost... embarrassed. "I'm sorry if I'm... quiet, Ardos, this is just... so overwhelming..." It was the truth, at least. He could barely keep himself focused. His brother was alive and running a cult and ruining the world. Lots of news sinking in. In a lower voice, he grumbled under his breath, "I don't mean to make an ass of myself but, you know, too late."

Eldes's sudden nervousness about his current situation was endearing, stumbling around his words as the white room and bright lighting showed just how filthy he had become traveling the outside world. In a vain attempt to make himself more presentable he tried patting himself down, releasing clouds of dirt from their nesting places on his clothing and making a soiled ring around his feet as the dust settled down to the floor. His twin's embarrassment over his presentation was bordering on adorable. "I'm sorry if I'm... quiet, Ardos, this is just... so overwhelming..." he deflected quietly, trying to steer the focus away from his appearance. Ardos nodded politely and waited for the waves of ultraviolet light to start, listening as he brother mumbled to himself about being an ass.

Ardos was going to try and reassure him that he wasn't an ass, but he was distracted by a second round of ultraviolet starting. What in the world were they doing running it again? When the lights stopped rotating around them he stepped over to a comm panel and was about to press the call button when a voice came out of the speakers in the ceiling. "Sir I'm afraid we have to ask your companion to head to the decontamination shower. After two rounds he still has more filth on him than the ventilation staff sees in a month." Ardos flinched at the analogy, now concerned about Eldes's health running around all the time like that.

"I'll take care of-" he began, but was cut off when a short, portly young woman stepped into the room with them wearing white nursing scrubs and holding out three plastic bags. "Strip and put your clothing in here," she barked out, causing Ardos's eyebrows to raise in amusement. Stepping back for a moment he decided to see exactly how Eldes was going to handle this situation, sans any help from Ardos. "Now, if you please," she continued, growing more impatient with the red head. When he had finally complied and shucked his clothing she grabbed his shoulder and spun him around to the rear wall, pushing him towards it as a portion slid open into a silver metallic box. "You, you filthy desert mammal, are to go inside and scrub every inch of your polluted body down until nothing is left but fresh new skin raw to the world. If you don't, I am coming in here personally and bathing you myself. Is that understood?"

Without another word she sealed Ardos's twin inside and left him to his own devices, giving a courteous bow to her Grand Master as she passed by him with Eldes's bagged clothing. Dismissing her to take them to the wash the aqua haired man stepped closer to the decontamination shower and rapped gently on the metal door. "The water will come on if you push the blue button," he said with more than a hint of amusement in his tone. "The square indention is a soap dispenser. I suggest being generous with it if you don't want Elma to come back." He finally couldn't hold back the laughter he'd been squashing down, trailing off into a low chuckle as he stepped back away from the wall to give his brother privacy. However, with his deathly pale skin, even the security camera's could pick up his blushing cheeks as he walked away.

Ardos merely nodded, but Eldes knew better. He could almost see his twin laughing from behind those thick shades, and while Eldes was still relieved to see him alive and all of that, he'd rather not be the butt of a joke. Especially in front of Ardos' personal guard. And whoever was on the other side of that door. His ginger curse, however, was spreading; Eldes could feel the heat of his embarrassed blush blooming from his face to his neck and ears. Hell, he was sure even his shoulders were red at this point. He frowned as a ring of rust and dirt fell innocently around him as the strange light show began. That was... bad, probably.

It seemed something was wrong as Ardos lifted his head at a second round of weird lights, which caused Eldes to look about himself as well. He wasn't exactly sure what a bunch of light would be able to do against dirt, but... apparently it'd been working for them this entire time... However, when his twin stepped over to the comm to speak to whoever was in charge of running the light show there was already a voice ready. "Sir I'm afraid we have to ask your companion to head to the decontamination shower. After two rounds he still has more filth on him than the ventilation staff sees in a month."


Eldes couldn't help his face falling into a worried, yet frustrated frown. While he was sure that was true, there were certainly more tactful ways of putting it. Eldes helplessly tried patting himself off a little more, only succeeding in making the dirt ring around him even darker. "I'll take care of-" But before Ardos could even finish his sentence, a woman soon appeared. Eldes blinked at her hard, round face, suddenly realizing all her hostility was directed straight at him. For all his fearmongering during his short time in Citadark, Eldes thought with no doubt in his mind that should the opportunity present itself, she would be the first one to actually harm him.

"Strip and put your clothing in here," she snapped, handing him some large bags. Eldes stared at the bags, unsure of what really to say; a glance at his brother left him even more lost. All Ardos did was stare right back at him, eyebrows raised in expectation. He turned back to her, voice uncharacteristically small. There was more than a few reasons why he wouldn't want to do that, especially in front of his twin. Hopefully, he was just dirty enough to where certain things weren't visible... "...In front of everyone?" was his tiny reply.

"Now, if you please." She... wasn't kidding. She really wasn't. Oh dear God.

Well...

Eldes took in a deep breath and did as he was told, feeling more and more awkward with each passing second. The longer he stalled, the worse it would be, he was sure. Of course, it was more mortifying and kind of funny that as he took each article off, more and more sand fell to the floor, sometimes in considerably large chunks. A few he was even impressed managed to stay clinging to him for so long. The trench went in first, followed by his sweater and undershirt, which... was supposed to be white. He flushed more as taking off the clothing only released his natural earthy and, well, sweaty smell; he had been traveling in the desert for a while now, and any water was used for drinking. But as it came down to his pants and... everything else, he carefully managed to disrobe the rest of his precious clothing without revealing too much in the front or the problem area on his lower back. In fact, he was fairly proud of himself and would have celebrated if he weren't dying from humiliation already. All he could do was stand with his hands placed down to stay somewhat decent.

At least he was fit. The bruises tattooing his torso, however, were also unsightly, but it occurred to him that they may mistake it for some sort of new dirt. Or swamp sludge.

Once he tossed his dignity in the bags standing stark naked in front of his estranged brother and a bunch of strangers, the woman wasted no time in snatching his still sore shoulder to push him into some sort of chamber, earning a small yelp of protest. "You, you filthy desert mammal, are to go inside and scrub every inch of your polluted body down until nothing is left but fresh new skin raw to the world. If you don't, I am coming in here personally and bathing you myself. Is that understood?"

"Why are you so RUDE?" Eldes cried as she sealed him in the chamber, unable to stop her from closing the door. Well, he was happy that she had left him in there alone, at least, instead of insisting on cleaning him herself. Swallowing, he stared at the odd-looking mechanism, blinking as he tried remembering how the hell to work anything. But as he stared quizzically at the device, he soon heard a rapping at the door.

"The water will come on if you push the blue button," Ardos spoke, his tone unmistakable. Eldes' face fell into a stale glare directed to where his brother's voice was sounding. Of course he thought this was funny. "The square indention is a soap dispenser. I suggest being generous with it if you don't want Elma to come back."

"Oh, NOW you decide to help," Eldes snapped sarcastically, turning back to the wall where the buttons were. "Thanks." But as he turned on the water, the feeling of the pressurized water felt like... absolute heaven. Oh dear God, how he'd missed taking a fucking shower. He'd only been able to quickly rinse himself off in rivers or maybe a lake for so long... He couldn't help letting out a small, joyous laugh. All animosity, fear and humiliation was completely forgotten because he was having an honest-to-God shower.

To spite that horrible woman, his unhelpful brother and because who knew the next time he'd be able to enjoy indoor plumbing, Eldes felt free to take as long as he wanted. Hell, they probably thought he needed it. He washed himself once, twice, thrice to get all the dirt and dried whatever off until the water running off of his battered body was finally clear. In the light and now that he didn't have his protective layer of filth, he could see that the sun had freckled him much more than he ever remembered. It gave the illusion that he was tan, but really, it was just lots of freckles. That... figured.

His body now as clean as he could get it, he went to the door and knocked on it with a sturdy knuckle. "Are you still there?" he called, unsure of how much time had passed. "I'd really rather not parade around nude again, if that's at all possible."

Ardos hadn't gotten far before his brother's muffled voice penetrated the metallic barrier that encased him, using a mock rage to hide his embarrassment as his words echoed out to scold him. "Oh, NOW you decide to help," The blue haired man snickered to himself at the comment, raising one pale hand to partially conceal his mouth from the cameras. "Thanks." Feeling lighter than he had in years the Grand Master of Cipher decided to take a moment to himself, leaning into the corner of the room and letting the structure bear his weight rather than his back.

His eyes slid closed beneath his glasses and he inhaled slowly through his nose, letting his mind wander for just a moment in the possible future that was now possible with Eldes back home. A soft smile graced his haggard features, smoothing out the frown lines around his mouth and making his gaunt cheeks seem a little less hollow. The crushing weight that always seemed to be sitting on his chest was significantly lighter and his heart seemed to be beating faster than usual, leaving the pale man light headed and almost giddy. Eldes was home. He was actually home.

In his quite musings Ardos didn't even notice as his right hand rose slowly and rested just over the rapid beating of his heart, fingers clenching into the fabric softly. It was beyond anything he could have predicted, all of his calculations failed to support it, but Eldes was alive. When the Epidemic hit he had been forced to give his twin up for dead as logically there was only a 2% margin that he could have survived. And even if he survived, would have been badly injured or maimed in the initial wave that rolled over Orre. He never should have made it home. Statistically speaking, it was impossible. But here he stood, not only alive but well. A bit roughed up but still a healthy and viable human being. It was the closest thing Ardos had ever seen to a miracle.

He didn't know how long he stood there, wandering in his own mind, but eventually a sharp metallic knocking reached through and grabbed his attention. He opened his eyes and looked towards the decontamination shower just as Eldes's voice carried through the sealed door. "Are you still there?" **Sniffling. Crying. Tiny hands pounding on unforgiving metal. The scent of blood. 'Ca-Can I come out now?' Screams fade into black.** The memory flashed in Ardos's mind so quickly that he couldn't stop it, making his breath hitch as he heard the childlike voice of his brother filter through his mind. The hand on his chest clenched into a tight fist as he gritted his teeth, shaking the memory away violently. "I'd really rather not parade around nude again, if that's at all possible." Clearing his throat, he struggled to forcibly regain his composure before responding. "Just a moment, I'll see if I can't find you something."

Rapping on the window he waved one of the nurses over, who quickly obliged and flicked on the comm system. "Yes, sir?" she asked politely. "Find something to cover my brother while he is tended to. I will have to see about getting some suitable clothing found for him." She nodded. "Right away sir." It took only a couple of minutes before she returned with a white, neatly folded robe in her arms, carrying it to the door and offering it to Ardos before returning to her duties. He sighed heavily as his mind still swirled around the random flashback continued to plague him but refused to let his brother see his worry. Putting on his classically impassive face he rapped on the door lightly and held out the robe at arms length. "Put this on and then step outside with me. It's time we finally got that cut looked at."

There was a moment before Ardos replied, his voice no longer sporting the gentle, humorous tone. "Just a moment, I'll see if I can't find you something." Eldes' panic quickly settled back in, his heart quickening. Did his grunts report back with his belongings? Did they say something? Oh dear God, what was even happening out there  and he was still fucking naked. Frustrated, worried and almost frightened of what awaited him outside, he almost jumped when he heard Ardos again.

"Put this on and then step outside with me. It's time we finally got that cut looked at."

It was going to be okay. He had to believe that. Maybe... maybe something else happened to change Ardos' tune so quickly. Eldes nodded and then looked around himself, his panic rising when he didn't spot what he needed. Letting out a long, heavy sigh that nearly resembled a whimper, Eldes let his head fall against the wall with a light, thunk. This day... This fucking day. "Ardos," he began in a strained, stressed voice. "...How do I open the door?"

"Ardos."

Oh god that sound. That choked, pain filled sound. Hearing his name uttered in a near desperate whine threatened to send the man into a panic attack. His mind was suddenly bombarded with a thousand reasons for why Eldes would need him so badly, many of them coming back to the severe treatment at the hands of his scouts when his twin was brought to the island. If Eldes was suffering then Ardos would see to it that each and every one of them was awarded the same courtesy as their scout leader. Eldes could be disoriented from blood loss, have a concussion, cracked ribs, a fracture, a ruptured spleen, he could-

"...How do I open the door?"

-be a complete and total pathetic loss who panicked because he was locked in the shower. Ardos leaned forward and felt his head bump against the metal door as his body became racked with laughter, clutching at his ribs as the overwhelming relief made the situation a hundred times more amusing than it actually was. Ardos's laughter was so loud and uncontrolled he was beginning to lose his breath and his cheeks were hurting from the effort to smile so wide. As he finally began to settle down a coughing fit erupted, his diaphragm and lungs protesting the sudden overuse after so long. But eventually he was able to bring himself somewhat to rights as he gently pushed on the door, breaking the vacuum lock and popping it open with ease before sliding it to the side.

"You just push," he teased lightly as he again offered the robe to his twin, politely averting his gaze to give Eldes some measure of modesty. "This should suffice until we can find you some new clothes. Elma has threatened to have your original set burned because they cannot seem to get them cleaned. Too many sweat and blood stains. And holes." He wasn't entirely sure how Eldes would take the news of losing his clothing but surely Ardos would be able to have something found here, if not have a new set made. What was still useful out of his clothing could easily be re-purposed, as nearly everything on Citadark was, and he did need new shoes.

Laughter.

Though he should have been angry or embarrassed that his calm, level-headed and generally unamused brother was outright splitting himself from the power of his own guffaws in reaction to Eldes' own plight, Eldes couldn't help the relieved, tender warmth that washed over his entire being. There it was. There was the sign things may still be ok. Maybe his fears hadn't been realized, then, and something else had caused Ardos' voice to change so suddenly. Maybe this dream, this living hallucination that he would be genuinely reunited with his brother could keep going for just a little longer...

Because Eldes didn't lift his own head from the wall, he felt the small vibration from Ardos putting his own head against the door or wall as laughter cut through the cold metal that separated them. The ginger let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding as a small gesture from Ardos opened the door. "You just push," Ardos teased gently as he handed Eldes a robe, keeping his eyes away. Eldes happily accepted it, though frowned when he saw the length of it; was Ardos bent on showing Eldes off to the whole compound? Why was it so short? "This should suffice until we can find you some new clothes. Elma has threatened to have your original set burned because they cannot seem to get them cleaned. Too many sweat and blood stains. And holes."

"I don't understand why you gave me a robe that only covers half of me," Eldes fussed as he strode out of the shower, far-too-small robe at least in place. "This looks like a skirt on me-- Wait, what?" He whirled on Ardos, eyes wide with alarm. "They're going to burn them? I mean, yeah-- they've been through a lot, but is incinerating them really necessary?" He shook his head, voice rising a little as the panic returned. "No, it's not ok-- I kind of need them? Flapping around Citadark isn't the ideal goal for anyone that has to see me waltzing around in a mini-skirt bathrobe. Besides, the jacket and sweater are-- they're ok. Why does she want to burn them?!"

Ardos watched with a still far too amused expression as Eldes stepped out of the shower trying to cover his form with what was obviously a erred selection by the nurse who brought the robe. It was a female cut, leaving the bottom to skirt a few inches above the tall male's knees with little else to the imagination. He choked back another laugh when his twin announced his confusion at the strange size, fretting like an under-appreciated housewife. "I don't understand why you gave me a robe that only covers half of me," he sassed. "This looks like a skirt on me-- Wait, what?" Ardos had become somewhat distracted by the top portion falling open to reveal his brother's tanned chest, but despite getting a better glimpse at how fit his twin had become instead his eyes immediately went to focus on the numerous shades of purple dotting Eldes's chest.

Dylan.

His eyes quickly mapped the shape and contours of each bruise and mark that had been hidden beneath weeks of grime, memorizing each one even as his twin was still ranting. Each one he counted was adding another day to Dylan's sentencing, making additional mental notes to process the former scout leader for another career path since this one was obviously no longer his forte. How many other humans had been subjected to this treatment and left for dead, if not outright killed, rather than being brought to the island? How many of those empty handed scouting trips could have actually bolstered their numbers instead of dwindling them? Ardos's jaw clenched tightly as his mouth set in a firm line, doing his best to calm the rage threatening to boil over.

"---see me waltzing around in a mini-skirt bathrobe. Besides, the jacket and sweater are-- they're ok. Why does she want to burn them?!" He was brought back to the current situation when Eldes poignantly asked him a question about his former attire. They were...important, somehow? Ardos frowned a bit at the defiant look on his twin's face but eventually conceded, nodding slowly. "I will see what I can do," he offered, extending one arm out and placing the other hand to the small of his twin's back to guide the red head towards the door that would lead into the sterile surgery center.

"You have much more extensive bruising than I had been led to believe," he warned, patiently waiting for the team on the other side to open the door. "I think you should let the doctors take some x-rays as well. You may have fractured something." They were politely greeted as the nurses led the pair to an empty cot and asked Eldes to have a seat. "Please have Elma call up here from laundry as well, please." A young brunette nodded as she quickly rushed off to the master's request, leaving Ardos and Eldes alone again but only for a moment. A older gentleman, of rather short stature, approached the cot and stepped up to get a better look at the much taller ginger. "Seems you took quite a beating, lad," he chided gently, a rather amused expression on his face. "Let's see if we can't do something about that cut first. Though you may be easier to x-ray if you passed out from blood loss." Ardos's frown tried to slip into a smile at the joke but his concern about Eldes's health had it falling once again. Dylan was going to suffer for this.

Eldes paused as he saw the shift in his brother again, his own face falling a little as something seemed to snap into place within his brother. His eyes strained to find Ardos' behind the thick shades, but their owner moved too swiftly for that. "I will see what I can do," Ardos offered, his voice devoid of anger despite his entire being seething with it. His twin's hand gently guided him forward and Eldes obeyed, his feet moving on their own as his eyes still searched for answers. Quickly glancing over Ardos' stone face did little to enlighten Eldes, but the glance went down to his own slightly exposed chest, where the mural of greens and purples peeked through the infuriatingly small robe.

"You have much more extensive bruising than I had been led to believe," Ardos spoke, his mouth tight with controlled fury. So he'd been right, then, about them not thinking they were bruises. His mind went back to Dylan's face when Ardos sentenced him; what else could Ardos have in store for the man? Though Eldes shouldn't care for a man that savagely beat and ganged up on him like a coward, he still wasn't a fan of cruel punishments, especially since his only crime was being a giant asshole. But he knew the look his brother sported now-- blood was going to be shed. "I think you should let the doctors take some x-rays as well. You may have fractured something."

Though Eldes opened his mouth to protest, he was quickly and gently ushered by a nurse to his place in order to be examined. Ardos easily slid back into his Leader mode as he directed another underling. "Please have Elma call up here from laundry as well, please." Eldes watched the girl nod and rush off to complete his bidding, leaving him and Ardos alone for a short moment. He only managed to glance over at his brother before they were interrupted again. "Seems you took quite a beating, lad," an old man chided, one who could only have been the doctor. "Let's see if we can't do something about that cut first. Though you may be easier to x-ray if you passed out from blood loss."

Eldes let out an uneasy chuckle; he'd learned in his travels that he had a fairly unfortunate case of White Coat Syndrome, something he found ironic and embarrassing. But the man himself seemed... genuinely nice? "I-It looks much worse than it really is, I promise," Eldes commented, trying to ease both his own unease and his brother's seething anger. "I could trip and half my body would be purple. Comes with the territory," he added as he motioned to his hair. "That and all the freckles." Regardless, he stayed still, allowing the doctor to look closer at the cuts, even if his heart was pounding.

"I-It looks much worse than it really is, I promise," The smaller man tsked in disapproval as Eldes tried to make his injuries seem less significant, the doctor's trained eye knowing full well that as those bruises settled movement was likely becoming stiffer for the boy. His rib cage was probably screaming for him to stop walking. "I could trip and half my body would be purple. Comes with the territory," His continued implications that genetic stereotyping was to blame was also not going to work, the red head's attempt actually making the older male smile widely. "That and all the freckles." He shuffled around Ardos and forced the much taller man out of the way, stepping up onto a small stool to reach eye level with his patient. "I've got two ginger boys, laddie. There's not much you could do or say to convince me that those don't hurt."

Ardos frowned at Eldes but said nothing, leaving Dr. Chalmers to scold his brother for him. The blue haired twin watched even as he poked one of Eldes's bruises on his ribs to prove a point. "See? Now stop squirming and let me see that head." As the surgeon studied the long cut above Eldes's eye a smile still tugged at the older man's expression, though whether it was for Eldes's sake or Ardos's the Grand Master couldn't tell. Chalmers had always been rather friendly, even after education, and most of his natural enthusiasm for his craft shone through even when under pressure. The man was the best find his recruitment scouts ever brought back. "Do try to leave minimal scarring," Ardos requested as the doctor reached for the suture kit a nurse was holding. The man simply chuckled. "Head injuries always look worse than they are, lad," he chided. "He may need about three to five stitches for the deeper part above his eye ridge but the rest is all superficial. It will heal just fine." Ardos heard himself sigh in relief.

"Now hold still lad, we're going to have to numb that spot with an injection of Lidocaine. No jumping or I may miss and you will poke your eye out." Despite his age, and needing a step up to reach, Dr. Chalmers worked quickly. After offering his small warning about the local anesthetic he put one hand on Eldes's shoulder to steady him and gave him the injection. After a few moments he tested the area with the tip of the suture needle, smiling when Eldes showed no reaction. Chalmers then place one hand on Eldes's forehead and began stitching right above his eye, only leaving four stitches in at the edge of the gash and pulling them tight to seal the wound. The rest he began placing butterfly closures to clench the skin together without stitching before placing a large pad of medicated gauze over the entire region and taping it down.

"That should do it," he said as he finished, stepping off the stool to eye his work. Ardos leaned around to view the bandage as Dr. Chalmers indicated to his nurse and whispered something to her. "I'm going to let the nurse wrap your head while I go prep for x-rays. She'll show you over when she's done." With that he left the twins in the nurse's care. Ardos stood protectively next to Eldes as the young woman tenderly rolled a cloth wrap around his head to keep the bandage covered and in place. Chalmers he trusted implicitly but some of his staff were too eager to please sometimes, making the blue haired man uncomfortable many of the times he ran inspections down here. Speaking of which. "Eldes, while you are with Dr. Chalmers I need to attend to something down here. I won't be allowed in the imaging room anyway but I'll only be gone a moment. Will you be alright?"

For all of Eldes' efforts to minimize the importance of his wounds, specifically the nasty bruising, he should have known the small, kindly doctor wouldn't believe his bullshit. He tsked and shook his head as he mounted a stool to come to eye-level with Eldes. "I've got two ginger boys, laddie. There's not much you could do or say to convince me that those don't hurt."

Though Eldes was about to defend his words, the doctor swiftly stabbed a thin, old finger right into the former's ribs. Eldes' breath hitched and he hissed in pain; it had been a sort of dull roar most of the time they'd been walking, but any actual real contact nearly blinded him. He clenched his jaw and mouth shut to prevent any actual sound to escape, but it was obvious he'd been found out. He could feel Ardos' disapproval. "See? Now stop squirming and let me see that head."

Eldes could only nod slightly as his breathing became slightly more labored from the sudden jab to his bruised ribs. He couldn't help the increase in his breathing as not only did the pain really hurt, but it flared his panic. He could only watch, however, as the doctor came too close for Eldes' comfort. The ginger knew that he needed to stay still and that the man was only trying to help, but the knowledge did little to alleviate the irrational fear that was swelling in his mind. He had to focus on not allowing his eyebrows to move. "Do try to leave minimal scarring," Ardos' voice sounded from beside him. Eldes couldn't help the small pang of annoyance for his brother for not intervening, even if it was necessary and kind of the entire point of coming to the hospital wing.

The doctor chuckled Ardos' almost monotone concern away. "Head injuries always look worse than they are, lad," he chided; wasn't that exactly what Eldes had said about his bruises? Granted, they weren't on his face, but still. Eldes' mouth tugged downward in what could have been called a pout. "He may need about three to five stitches for the deeper part above his eye ridge but the rest is all superficial. It will heal just fine." Eldes heard his brother's relieved sigh, but felt little relief of his own. He hadn't really been that concerned for the small cuts here and there, since he'd suffered worse before. All that really was on his mind was getting away from the doctor.

"Now hold still lad, we're going to have to numb that spot with an injection of Lidocaine. No jumping or I may miss and you will poke your eye out." Well. That certainly didn't help. Eldes swallowed hard as the doctor began working, the man's skilled hands far too close to his eyes. Eldes' body went rigid as the doctor worked, flinching at the anesthetic's application. But he did stay still for the remainder of the procedure, even if it was out of panic.

"That should do it," the doctor commented as he leaned away to better inspect his work. It was only then that Eldes realized he'd locked his elbows and tensed almost every muscle in his body, since they all relaxed at the same time. He nearly lost his balance from the odd sensation. The doctor said something to his nurse before stating,  "I'm going to let the nurse wrap your head while I go prep for x-rays. She'll show you over when she's done."

Oh, goddammit. Eldes had to suppress the urge to bat the nurse away as she rolled a bandage around his head; the cut was only a couple of inches long, was all of this really necessary? Then again, everyone here hadn't been living out in not sterile conditions and dealing with cuts the old-fashioned way: wash it and hope it doesn't get infected. No, these people were likely the last of civilization, and just because Eldes had lived like a filthy monkey for the past god-knew-how-long didn't mean that it was right or better. But it had solved him of his White Coat Syndrome. "Eldes, while you are with Dr. Chalmers I need to attend to something down here," Ardos spoke suddenly, surprising the ginger twin. "I won't be allowed in the imaging room anyway but I'll only be gone a moment. Will you be alright?"

"I--" He glanced to the nurse, then the surrounding room, unsure where Ardos' words suddenly came from. Was he being called away to look over Eldes' stuff? Would he find the badge? Was someone calling him on some unseen comm to discuss what to do with Eldes' pokemon? Oh God, were they already chucked away for experimentation? His panic, still lingering from the doctor and nurse being so close was difficult to hide, even as he inwardly berated himself for being so scared since he was nearing his mid-fucking-forties. Seriously, what the hell was wrong with him that, as a grown-ass adult, he couldn't handle a freaking doctor visit?

"Y-Yeah, I'll... I should be fine..." He swallowed again, anxiously looking his brother over. He felt himself flushing, something that happened when he really needed to calm the fuck down. A wave of heat accompanied it, a heat that clung to him like an invisible, suffocating blanket. Dear God, man, get a hold of yourself... "W-Where are you going?"

"I--" Eldes's panic at the thought of Ardos leaving sparked a warmth in the blue haired man's chest that soon began to spread. He smiled gently as his brother shifted uncomfortably on the small gurney, looking around nervously as though trying to piece together why he was being left here alone. His dilated pupils once again fell upon Ardos as he tried swallowing the lump in his throat, his adam's apple bobbing nervously from the force, before uttering out a meek response. "Y-Yeah, I'll... I should be fine..." It was like seeing his brother as when they were children, vulnerable with only each other for protection.

***Laughter. Sun. Trees rustling as branches are weighed down. A snap. Screaming. A child cries. Is it broken? Cold eyes staring in disapproval. A white room, empty, cold, terrifying. A hand on his, holding him. Green eyes filled with warmth. Safe.***

Ardos shuddered as another memory flashed in his mind, his left arm aching at the sensation as though it too remembered that it once wasn't whole. That had been the last time their father let them out to play. Closing his eyes for a moment Ardos willed the emotional memory away and instead focused on his brother, the sight of Eldes blushing madly with nervous tension easily breaking through the last traces of his shock. "W-Where are you going?" Ardos chuckled softly, gently cupping his brother's cheek as he stepped closer. "I just need to check on a few things," he offered gently, a tone he only ever reserved for Eldes. "You're clothes for instance, and lodging. It's getting very late and you should rest when we are done."

Not even sure what compelled him to do so, Ardos leaned forward and placed a gentle peck of a kiss on the new bandage over Eldes's eye, stepping away and letting his hand drop as he smiled. "You'll be fine. I'll be right back." He turned away slowly and nodded to the nurse as she went to take Eldes to where Dr. Chalmers was waiting, and headed back towards the exit. He was almost to the door when one of the staff pulled him aside and offered him one of the on site communicators. "Sir, Elma for you." Ardos nodded and took to receiver from the grunt, getting quite an earful for a moment after he asked for Eldes's clothing to be spared. He managed to negotiate keeping the shirt and jacket, getting them patched and washed best as possible, but the rest needed to be replaced. Luckily Eldes looked good in Cipher grey.

He gave Elma leave to do what she thought was necessary, provided she still kept those two key items, before handing back the receiver and exiting the hospital wing. His security was still waiting patiently in the hall and Ardos dismissed them, not needing their support any longer since there was no one on the island willing to do him any harm. He requested they bring Eldes's personal belongings to his office so that they could be returned to his twin later and to have one of them stationed outside his office in case one of the Admins got curious. He knew that he hadn't been very happy about Eldes's betrayal of Cipher and was sure that some of them were likely still not over it. It was easier for him to forgive his other half than it was for them.

He continued down the hall and made a few more stops on his checklist before running into Venus, the flamboyant female taking him by surprise. "Grand Master!" she announced, practically purring her enthusiastic greeting. "I thought you had forgotten all about our little meeting tonight." Ardos winced lightly, realizing he had indeed forgotten in the excitement of seeing Eldes and rushing to get him treated for his injuries. "My apologies Miss Venus, but it seems as if there wasn't enough time to fit you into today's schedule." She pouted and crossed her arms before a rather indignant look contorted her features. "It's because he's here, isn't it?" What? She knew Eldes was back? "I saw you two standing outside the graduation ceremony. He gave me the ugliest look when he saw me on stage. He shouldn't be here."

Ardos scowled at her audacity, slapping his clipboard on the table he was standing next to and frightening the inventory clerk he had been talking to before she had arrived. "And what concern is it of yours if Eldes is home? Your duties will not be affected by his presence. Unless you are planning to do something to anger me. Are you trying to anger me, Miss Venus?" She faltered at the rapid aggression and quickly tried to backpedal her way out of the argument, nervously stuttering an apology before running off in mock tears. Ardos sighed heavily as her flowing pink dress rounded a corner and out of sight, raising up one hand to pinch at the bridge of his nose. That woman was going to kill him with migraines one day. If his Admins weren't so crucial to being able to make their own decisions he would indoctrinate her in such a hurry.

Looking down at his timepiece he realized he had already been gone near thirty minutes and Eldes was likely done, or near it, and wondering where he was. He gave a few notes and orders to the inventory clerk before making his way back to the medical wing. Hopefully his headache would let up by then.

Ardos' hand moved to cup Eldes' cheek, a gesture that the latter didn't entirely know what to think of it. The contact was reassuring, if only by a small amount, since the ginger twin was so worried of all this brotherly affection becoming undone by a small piece of equipment. But it was when Ardos spoke that Eldes' mind really didn't know what to do. "I just need to check on a few things," his twin offered. He spoke in such a gentle tone, for a moment, Eldes was actually inclined to put his panic in the back of his mind. "Your clothes for instance, and lodging. It's getting very late and you should rest when we are done."

Eldes blinked; he had lost all concept of time once he'd seen his brother. How late was it now? It'd been nearing dusk when he was captured... It was likely well into the night already. As Eldes was stunned to be reminded of the concept of time, he wasn't prepared for Ardos to lean down and gingerly place his lips on the fresh bandage Eldes' forehead sported. Eldes' blush flared again; he likely looked like a burn victim at this point. "You'll be fine. I'll be right back."

His mind raced as Ardos left Eldes alone with the nurse, who looked more than a little uncomfortable. What... in God's name had prompted that? Eldes found himself staring wide-eyed at the space that his twin had just occupied, unable to move for a moment. His skin crawled as he sat in stunned silence. That... felt... wrong. While the men had always been close before Eldes defected, they hadn't... Why did Ardos kiss him? At least it was on the forehead, and that was more acceptable, but... Still. It didn't feel right.

The nurse tapped Eldes' arm, her face not concealing her confusion well. "Come, sir; we should head to the radiology room." Eldes could only nod and follow her, hoping his robe stayed closed enough to remain modest. He did manage to get a look at some of the rest of the ward; though she led him through what was mostly unremarkable hallways, he did spot a gruesome sight through the window of the Intensive Care space. He lingered only a moment when he spotted the red and heard screaming. A man on a gurney, wailing in pain as two nurses cared for him, looking like they were trying to sedate him. The red Eldes had spotted was from a large, messy gash across his torso, which was threatening to spill more than just blood. Wincing, Eldes moved quickly on, not wanting to memorize the horrible details.

They arrived at the Radiology room, where Eldes was quietly told to sit on another table. The doctor from earlier was there was as well, tinkering with the x-ray machine's settings. "Hello, again!" he chirped, adjusting his jacket a moment before gesturing to Eldes. "Go ahead and lower the top part of your robe, Laddie," he directed. "Then lay on your back and keep very still." The panic rose again, and Eldes inwardly groaned. It'd be a miracle if he made it through the night without bursting from a heart attack. He numbly nodded and did as he was told, flinching against the cold hard sensation the table provided. The doctor and nurse quickly donned what Eldes could only guess were protective lead jackets, since they completely covered the front of their bodies as well as their throats. The nurse laid something similar across Eldes' pelvis, which he could only be thankful for. Anything for more modesty.

He closed his eyes as the machine did its work, having to wait a while as the doctor checked the x-rays taken, then having to adjust the machine again to take more. "First ones were too blurry-- sorry, Laddie. Won't keep you too long, I promise." Eldes only nodded his understanding as he tried keeping still. His heart was pounding in his chest for now various reasons, his mind racing it with its own paranoia and fear. He had to keep calm, though. He opened his eyes and spotted a, unused IV tree, the thought occurring to him that this place and all its people could, and likely would, turn on him in an instant. He had to keep himself aware of anything he could use to protect himself. That IV tree would probably do the trick.

Eldes' guilt stabbed him, however, as the clicking returned. These people were medical professionals, though, and were really only working to help people. Would Eldes really have the gall to smash an IV tree into the doctor that had been remarkably patient with him? The quiet nurse that had so carefully bandaged him? Even Elma, the angry sow, had only wanted to keep the Isle clear of filth and disease. Would he be able to hurt any of these people for protecting what they cared about? His brow stung as it furrowed. He could only hope it didn't have to come to that.

It took nearly ten minutes to get back to the decontamination room in front of the hospital wing, making Ardos fidgety at the idea of Eldes having sat there waiting on him with strangers. While Ardos knew he could trust his people his twin would have no such assumption. When the small tone rang out and the lights over the door lit green he wasted no time rushing into the trauma ward to find Dr. Chalmers and his brother. Luckily one of the nurses caught him and said they were just finishing up their tests, causing the blue haired male to let out a sigh of relief that he hadn't kept Eldes waiting.

With nothing more to do than wait for them to exit the imaging room he sat down at a nearby desk, dismissing the nurse who had been there to have her out of the way. He rested his elbows on the metal surface of the desk and steepled his hands, letting the posture slump his back as he leaned forward to contemplate a recent occurrence that had only started happening after seeing his twin again. The strange memory flashes kept triggering so randomly that he was having a hard time placing their reason. These were events he hadn't thought of years, there was no need to. Anything before their lives under father's tutelage was mere childhood whimsy and completely unpractical for the real world. Father had taught them that.

So then why were the most painful parts of his childhood suddenly deciding to swarm him?

Eldes closed his eyes, gritting his teeth against the sharp pain that stabbed him as he sat up. The nurse's gentle hands guided him up but it didn't keep the pain down; now that his adrenaline was waning, he was definitely feeling those boots and fists. His free hand, as the other was supporting his weight on the table, went to his sore side. The doctor hummed cheerily to himself as he quickly developed the x-rays, invoking some jealousy in Eldes. If only he could be that carefree... His mind went back to his previous thoughts, of having to possibly defend himself against these people. If it came to that, hopefully these two wouldn't get caught in the crossfire.

Still, he'd keep that IV tree in sight.

The grim thought in his head, he more or less was startled when the doctor spoke. "Ohohoho-- looks like you were lucky, Laddie," he chimed, placing two screens atop the light boxes mounted on the wall. He turned them on and the x-ray film came to life, sporting pictures of his rib cage, skull and collarbone. "You've got several tiny fractures here, here and here." He pointed to each in turn. Eldes couldn't help the frown deepen on his expression. "But those should heal just fine, given you don't run into any more boots or fists. All you'll need are some pain meds and an anti-inflammatory, to prevent swelling. Because you're definitely going to have some." He gently patted Eldes' forearm, where it was free of bruising. "Your nose is fine, though. Lucky you!"

"Yeah... Lucky me," Eldes repeated, his tone considerably less enthusiastic than the doctor's. But the sweet old man simply laughed it off, tottering around a corner. "Stay here; I'm needed in ICU for a bit. The Grand Master should be back soon." Eldes merely nodded as the nurse went with him. Eldes' eyes went back to the x-rays, sighing heavily. Any more fighting could worsen those fractures easily, either by over-exerting himself or taking damage. Oh God, he didn't want it to come to that.

Dr. Chalmers perked as he came through the ward to find the Grand Master propped up against a desk. "Ah! I should have expected you to be so punctual," he chirped, motioning in the direction of his brother. "He's ready to go. Just a few fractures on his ribs and collarbone, but nothing terribly serious. My nurse will gather the meds he needs. Make sure he takes them with food." He smiled and washed his hands, preparing for the patients that needed him in ICU. "Any questions, sir?"

Ardos didn't know how long he had been sitting there, too long probably, but eventually a familiar voice cut through his scattered thoughts and brought him back to the realm of the aware. "Ah! I should have expected you to be so punctual," came Dr. Chalmers' friendly greeting. "He's ready to go. Just a few fractures on his ribs and collarbone, but nothing terribly serious. My nurse will gather the meds he needs. Make sure he takes them with food." The Cipher head lowered his hands and offered the man a polite smile, standing up from his hunched position and grimacing when his lower back protested the motion. Dr. Chalmers seemed to have noticed the expression and gave him a look, but said nothing about it. They had that discussion once already and it did not end well for the older man.

"Any questions, sir?" He asked politely, though his usual smile was less brilliant as he forced himself not to scold his Grand Master's health conditions. "None right now, doctor," Ardos responded curtly, brushing past smoothly and continuing on to the imaging room. He rapped on the door a few times with his knuckle before opening the door, mostly to let Eldes and the nurse know someone was coming in so they wouldn't be startled, but also to give his twin a chance to get decent again if he had needed to remove any clothing. He pushed open the door to find the red head almost rigid as he nervously glanced about the room. "Everything all right in here?" Ardos queried, concern filtering through his mind and equating to any number of possibilities, none of which were good.

Eldes started at the sound of his brother knocking, relaxing a fraction when his twin emerged from the door. "Everything all right in here?" Eldes gave a slow nod, donning the robe back on -as best he could, at least- and placed the lead divider to the side. He stood, giving one last look at the X-rays before turning to his brother.

Ardos was alone, without his guard. A good sign. He also didn't look completely livid. Another good sign. So, whatever he'd needed to tend to likely didn't involve Eldes' confiscated belongings, which... while Eldes knew it was only a matter of time, he'd at least like to be clothed for that. "Yeah. I told you-- it looks much worse than it really is," he managed to reply, the unease in his voice much too evident for his liking. He knew Ardos would be able to pick up on it and then added in a far quieter tone, "I just... don't like hospitals. That's all." He cleared his throat and nervously fidgeted with his robe before asking, "Where to now?"

Watching his twin shift about nervously as he tried brushing off his injuries once again was all the red flag Ardos needed to start glaring at Eldes. That was thrice now he attempted to convince the aqua haired male that his injuries were not as bad as they appeared and thrice now Ardos did not believe him. "You aren't telling me everything," he said coolly, crossing his arms and staring at his red headed twin. "I just... don't like hospitals. That's all." As he began to nervously fiddle with his robe ties Ardos reached out and grabbed just one wrist and lifted it away, looking down his nose at his brother to get him to talk, but the other man simply tried to deflect again. "Where to now?" Ardos's frown pulled back into a thin line as his eyes shot darting glances to the nurse taking notes on the computer.

"Nowhere," he began, bringing his gaze back to Eldes. "Not until you tell me exactly what Chalmers told you about your injuries. Or do I have to ask her?"

Eldes could hear his heart pounding in his ears as his brother leveled a stern, unwavering glare at him, the blue-haired leader's hand firmly grasping the former's wrist. Oh God. "Nowhere," was Ardos' seething reply, causing Eldes' body to jerk and his eyes to go wide. "Not until you tell me exactly what Chalmers told you about your injuries. Or do I have to ask her?"

Oh... Oh right. Injuries.

Some of his panic managed to dissipate with the sigh he heaved, lightly trying to get his wrist back. "Ardos, please, it's just a few fractures. Nothing life-threatening." He gestured to the X-rays. "You can barely even see them." He placed a hand on Ardos', giving a slightly stern glare of his own back to his brother. "They'll heal just fine. I'll be fine. Now, please, can we go get me real clothes? Before that angry woman burns them all anyway?"

Though Ardos felt a nagging tug of guilt for frightening his brother, the wide-eyed expression all too visible on his face as the blue haired male gripped his wrist tightly, he refused to let it show. His face was stone as he waited for a reply, frown deeply set and making the haggard wrinkles on his face all the more sharp. Eldes let out a sigh as he tried to relax himself, pulling gently on Ardos's grip to release his wrist, but Ardos would not budge. "Ardos, please, it's just a few fractures. Nothing life-threatening." He pleaded, tugging once again and pointing to the monitors where the nurse was still taking notes. "You can barely even see them."

As his red-headed counterpart place a hand on his Ardos felt his resolve begin to crumble, sighing heavily as his grip loosened under the warmth of Eldes's palm. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, to collect his words before another incident occurred, but it seemed as if his twin hadn't lost his connection to Ardos's mental state despite having spent years apart as he continued to placate the worried male. "They'll heal just fine. I'll be fine. Now, please, can we go get me real clothes? Before that angry woman burns them all anyway?" Ardos couldn't help but smile slightly at the mental image of Elma doing exactly that, having heard her threaten to do it over the comm not a half hour before, and felt his tension ease.

He fully released Eldes's wrist and stepped back out of his brother's personal space, clearing his throat as he tried to figure out whether or not he was supposed to apologize for his previous behavior. Deciding against it, he concluded to himself that if anyone knew how to handle on of his mood swings it would be Eldes and so decided to simply continue on with their evening. "A set of clean linens has already been brought, while what remains of your clothing is currently being triple washed." He paused for a moment to gauge his brother's reaction before adding a simply, "Elma insisted," to assuage any worry about his clothes being destroyed. "I managed to get her to save the coat and turtleneck but the rest of your ensemble was beyond saving. Were you aware that you had less than a quarter inch of sole left in those boots? Honestly, walking around the desert in those. You would have been better off wearing pancakes on your feet. At least those would have been thicker."

He snapped his fingers sharply and a young man wearing all white stepped in with a clear plastic bag, handing it over to the Grand Master. "A temporary set," he explained as he took the parcel from the laundry attendant, showing the neatly folded stack of white to his brother. "Just pants and a shirt, with a set of flats to walk in." He handed the bag to Eldes and ushered both the nurse and the laundry attendant out of the room to allow Eldes to change in peace. "They should fit, as they took your sizes from the clothes you came in with. Come out whenever you are ready."

A small huff of relief escaped Eldes as Ardos' stern grip slackened and released when a small smile once again graced his haggard brother's features. It seemed that had done the trick; hopefully Ardos wouldn't bring the subject of Eldes' minor wounds up again. Not likely, but a man could dream. "A set of clean linens has already been brought, while what remains of your clothing is currently being triple washed." Eldes' brow furrowed. It wasn't like Ardos to repeat himself. "Weren't they already...?" "Elma insisted," he added, to which Eldes' expression immediately fell into a stale frown."Yeah-- wash it in fire, you mean."

"I managed to get her to save the coat and turtleneck but the rest of your ensemble was beyond saving. Were you aware that you had less than a quarter inch of sole left in those boots?" I had that much? "Honestly, walking around the desert in those. You would have been better off wearing pancakes on your feet. At least those would have been thicker." Eldes couldn't help but imagine the scenario, even with as ridiculous as it was. Mmmm... Pancakes. Fuck walking-- I would have completely eaten them first.

Ardos snapped his fingers, bringing Eldes out of his food dream of pancake mountains drizzled in syrup and butter, to summon a young attendant toting a plastic bag full of things. Eldes swallowed the access drool Mt. Pancake had procured to stare a bit at the bag before Ardos explained. "A temporary set," Ardos supplied as he took the bag. "Just pants and a shirt, with a set of flats to walk in." Handing Eldes the bag, he shooed the others out of the room so Eldes could, once more, strip. Eldes bitterly thought to himself why bother being modest when half the island had already seen everything, but he knew he shouldn't bite the hand giving him actual, honest-to-God clean clothes. They even smelled like detergent. "They should fit, as they took your sizes from the clothes you came in with. Come out whenever you are ready."

"Oh, you mean I'm not going to have my stripper robe anymore?" Eldes quipped as he took out the shirt and inspected it. Looked right, at least. "Darn. I was getting a show all ready and everything." He wasted no time in changing, practically jumping out of the tiny woman's robe to get into clothes that actually fit. Sighing in content at the easy fit for the new clothes, he stared a little at the shoes before slipping them on. Weird, but ok. Anything aside from his old boots were just... odd. He soon emerged from the room subconsciously holding himself taller since he was no longer terrified of accidentally flashing anyone. "We should hurry-- I don't want that woman any more tempted to incinerate them on 'accident' than she already is."