Dyss didn't resent Izumi at all for her suggestion. He would gladly given the space himself for Illorex. It was concerning, though... Many things about Illorex were strange, but he wasn't one to be unconscious for so long... Dyss wished there was something he could do, though he didn't feel the powerlessness as before.

"How is he so... Heavy?"

Dyss could see them struggling, of course, though there was little room for him to help. Once they had finished, he would see the two into Izumi's bedroom before heading to the kitchen. Traveling here was still sort of surreal... Thinking back to the times he'd spent blind, from the times stumbling around to the time he had fallen on Izumi in the middle of the night... That night was still one he could remember vividly, for some reason...

"I'll help in the kitchen."

Since regaining his sight, Dyss was eager to help Izumi around the house, particularly after all the time he'd spent with her help. He would follow her as she went to the kitchen, close behind...

Izumi smiled a little back at Dyss when he followed her. It was nice when he could see. She had really gotten a hang of helping him around the house and around town, and she liked being able to help him like that-- and she worried about him a lot, too, when he was off somewhere outside of the house without her to guide him along. That could have been any of his friends he was with, and she still worried.

But when he could see again, she didn't have to worry anymore, and best of all, with him able to move around again like a completely normal person, it wasn't like she was caring about someone she was taking care of-- it was like caring about someone who could take care of himself, and even her, if she didn't have the strength. It made things feel a lot less like a pipe dream, and much more . . . real.

Once in the kitchen, Izumi opened the cupboards under her sink, withdrawing a couple of glasses, and while facing the sink, proceeded to fill them up with clean water. That was one thing Galaens was good for. The well was kept constantly filled. There were never any water shortages. Izumi had only a few pales sitting in her sink, which was a lot less than normal, but just a couple glasses of water barely even tapped into her supplies.

"U-um, could-- you, um--" Izumi started nervously-- but it was a good nervousness. With the one glass sitting on the countertop, Izumi turned a bit to hand the other one off to Dyss, faintly shy, "T-take, um, this to Recheov . . .?"

"Okay..."

Dyss would take the glass of water to Recheov, slightly confused. In fact, confused was his general state around Izumi lately, it seemed. She seemed strange, though it was sort of an awkwardness, not confusion like he was experiencing... Like, for example, he wanted to be close to her, but was reluctant to touch her...

"Here you go."

Dyss would hand the glass of water to Recheov, his mind still occupied. Dyss's thoughts were sometimes hard to figure out: it was hard to tell what he was thinking about or paying attention to when his eyesight was completely hidden. When he looked other places, too, he tended to zone out from his body...

"Oh, shit-- appreciate it," Recheov took the glass and held it up for a second to show his appreciation.

Really, he hadn't even asked for a glass. Izumi had just volunteered to get him one, too, without asking. Both he and Attis looked worn out after carrying Illorex-- he probably needed a glass of water just as much as Attis.

Izumi returned to the room with a glass of water as well, handing it off to Attis. Attis slumped forward and tried not to fall off the chair in the process, and gave a weak smile up to Izumi. Over time, the two of them had been acquainted. It was difficult not to. Izumi was acquainted, if not friends already, with all of Dyss's friends, just by being around Dyss as much as she could-- but with Attis, it was hard not to get to know him. He was easily approachable and so polite, yet not a pushover in the slightest.

"Ah, thank you . . ." Attis thanked her as he took the glass, and without a second thought, placed it to his lips, tipped his head back, and in less than a second, he'd drank the whole glass. Ironically, Recheov was only nursing his glass.

"Y-you're, um, you're welcome," Izumi replied awkwardly. She didn't want to laugh at the sight-- which was kind of hard to do. "Were you really that thirsty . . .?"

Attis slumped forward again, elbows on his knees. He nodded breathlessly.

The brief silence was interrupted by Recheov, who seemed to have forgotten something already: "Oi, guys, where's Milos?"

"Milos went to that other town..."

Dyss wasn't eager to split everyone up, particularly since they had only just found each other again, but it seemed like something of a choice. Dyss couldn't search that far out with his sight: it was simply too difficult for him to maintain concentration and get meaningful information...

"Is there anything we can do for Illorex?"

Dyss didn't know what was wrong with him, much less what could be done, but if Illorex was up and mobile, they could all stay together, at least until they figured out what had happened. Dyss would sit down on the bed, near the middle, not as exhausted as Recheov and Attis, but still worn out from... Whatever had happened...

Attis sighed. Illorex's state was worrisome, and at the same time, it was cumbersome. He was thinking along the same lines as Dyss. If Illorex were awake, then they'd all be able to go out to Hillcrest and look for Milos. But as it was . . .

"I don't know . . ." Attis replied, regretfully.

Izumi sat next to Dyss on the bed. Reminded of the somewhat painful, yet confusing, situation was a little sobering. She would have much rather thought about all those things about Dyss, and wanting to be close to him like they were at the bottom of the stairs-- and all of those things, but she was reminded that . . . well, now wasn't the time. Still, sitting by Dyss was pleasant enough to take a little bit of impending stress off.

For a moment, there was silence.

"'e's dreamin'," Recheov finally declared, answering Dyss's question directly, much to the confusion of Attis and Izumi, who almost simultaneously looked at the man with inquiry. Recheov didn't look back, though; instead, he remained sitting, leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

As Izumi sat next to Dyss near the middle of the bed, the natural inclining of the bed enough to push their shoulders together, which Dyss wouldn't fight in the least. After all, for whatever reason, it felt nice...

"Maybe someone in the town knows more?"

So far, they hadn't been in direct danger, it seemed, excepting perhaps Illorex. There had just been a lot of pain and confusion. They didn't know how many people had been affected, or how far... Or if there was any danger at all, really... Recheov's comment seemed strange, though...

"What do you mean? About what...?"

"'ell if oI know," Recheov replied with a shrug.

Attis smiled weakly. More than likely, Recheov was just commenting on something without prompt. He did that a lot. The man was like an incarnation of randomness. Sometimes, he'd say things that were just completely unexpected-- and often times completely off topic, and he usually didn't even know that he said it. It was like some sort of turrets, except with no prompt whatsoever. Emotions didn't need to be heightened, stress didn't need to exist-- he didn't need to be hurt or happy or anything. It was just . . . chaotic.

"Oi, oI'm loightin' up a smoke," Recheov declared as he reached into his pocket.

"Wh-what? W-wait a second!" Izumi protested.

She never let Recheov smoke in her house. For that matter, she never let anyone smoke in her house, and she certainly didn't like it when people smoked in her vicinity when they were outside. As stressful as the situation might be, she wasn't going to let up on that rule!

But Recheov did it, anyways. He withdrew his small tin canister of cigarettes, plucked one out, and set it between his lips. A box of matches was withdrawn just a moment later. He sparked one and lifted it to his stick of nicotine.

"Just once," he declared, "Won't do it again."

The deed was already done. Izumi tightened up her brow and frowned-- almost pouting. "Fine-- but-- but-- but just this once!"

Recheov took a drag from his cigarette and shut his eyes peacefully. It seemed the only times he was calm was when he was acting on some sort of vice-- sex, drugs, liquor, or nicotine. He had a the whole lot of them, and when he indulged, he didn't twitch at all, and all of this thoughts were collected and easily accessed.

"The only toime Illorex feels loike a real person is when 'e's dreamin'. 'e's either one soide or the other, never both-- loike 'e is as we know 'im," Recheov declared-- surprising Attis, certainly, "If you lived your loife conflicted by every li'l thing, barely even knowin' who the 'ell you even are-- you wouldn't want to wake up, either, would ya? If your dreams were the only toimes you didn't 'ave t'argue with y'self twoice over every li'l thing. 'e just don't wanna wake up, and there's no way in 'ell we're gonna be able t'wake 'im up."

Recheov was extremely strange sometimes... He claimed to not know anything, then explained about Illorex's dreaming habits? What he said made sense, in a way... Dyss was often conflicted as well, at least as far as his emotions went. It was so rare for everything to be clear... But not like Illorex...

Dyss had to bite his tongue to avoid saying anything to Recheov. His instinct was to side with Izumi on the vice, not for any particular reason except for the fact that she liked it that way... Still, Dyss would put his arm around Izumi's waist to comfort her, without even thinking about it...

"So we wait until Illorex decides to wake up?"

"I--" Attis was about to make a decision, but he decided against it. Rather, he had a question that absolutely needed to be answered first: "How long do you think he'll be asleep?"

Recheov took another drag. If it weren't for this, he wouldn't have been thinking straight enough to intelligently answer Attis's question. Sometimes, he just wanted to get his thoughts in order. During this times, he needed vices like this.

"No oidea," Recheov repied, "Loike oI said, 'e can sleep up t'twelve hours sometoimes-- and we were only out for six, roight? 'e prolly ain't gettin' up for another two or three hours."

"Oh . . ." Attis trailed off.

For a moment, there was silence. Izumi didn't know what they were getting at here, Recheov was content to just settle down with his thoughts, and Attis himself was horribly conflicted. He didn't wanted to wait that long-- just like Dyss didn't want to wait that long to look for and check on Izumi. Dyss wouldn't have been able to wait that long-- and Attis certainly couldn't wait two hours or more before he sought Milos out. Finally, Attis stood up.

"Guys, I-- I need to go to Hillcrest," he declared, "I need to know if Milos is okay."

So, splitting up it would be. Dyss had been here the longest, but not with sight- Really, he had something of an advantage navigating the local area with his sight, but was less experienced with seeing the area than the others, ironically. And if they had to split up... Well, Izumi was a concern...

"Do you want someone to go with you, Attis?"

Illorex had to stay here, obviously. Izumi shouldn't travel either, most likely, until they knew more, especially since it was her home... Dyss, of course, didn't want to leave Izumi... Really, it was a rhetorical question, one up to Recheov and Attis. Not that Dyss wouldn't mind some time alone with Izumi...

It was a tough question. Attis hated putting others at risk, evident in how adamant he was in Recheov and Dyss being prepared when they trekked across the dead lands to get to this place, and how he barely slept at all until Recheov came back. He genuinely cared about the well being of his friends. If there was a risk that he could take alone, he was likely to take it.

"It's okay. It's just here to Hillcrest, right?" Attis asked rhetorically, "I mean-- on foot, it's three hours at most. That's not too far away. I can walk it alone."

Recheov raised his hand to volunteer himself, interrupting Attis while declaring outright, "oI can stay."

Attis was a little surprised by this. "What?"

"oI said oI can stay. If somethin' attacked us, it moight still be 'round. Dyss 'ere would know if there's anythin' for a good moile or so," truly it was a testament to how much Recheov could actually reason when he was smoking or drinking, "And if somethin' busts in 'ere, oI'll know for sure, and bust it'n roight back."

A little nervous, and even a little embarrassed (to be shown up by Recheov, essentially, as anyone would feel a little bashful afterward, no matter how modest!), Attis scratched the back of his head as a nervous habit, and looked to Dyss inquisitively. Really, it was up to him, if he wanted to stay or go. If he didn't, Attis couldn't certainly go to Hillcrest on his own . . .

At this, Dyss was a little taken aback, though there was some logic in it. He trusted Attis to take care of himself, but he could be a big help, especially since he had his sight back. And he did want to make sure Milos was okay, too... But Dyss wasn't just thinking about himself. He was also thinking about Izumi...

"I don't know... What do you think, Izumi?"

He wanted to make sure she was comfortable here with Recheov and Illorex if he went. After all, Recheov was likely to drive her crazy if the two of them were alone. He wasn't worried about Recheov, of course, but he wasn't sure what Izumi wanted. Dyss was tired, but not too tired to go, and certainly less tired than Attis...

And then, the decision fell on Izumi. Suddenly, she felt two feet tall.

"U-um, I . . . I, uh . . ." Izumi laughed meekly--nervously.

Recheov wasn't a bad man. He may have been a womanizing, chain smoking, compulsive gambling, drug abusing, alcoholic sex addict, but that didn't make someone a horrible person by default. Well, actually, it kind of did, but Recheov made up for it with other traits! Like . . . like . . . like when he . . .

Actually, he didn't really make up for it at all. Maybe he was kind of a bad person. Wait! Izumi blocked the thought off, refusing to finally admit that being alone with Recheov might actually be a horrible idea. She had come up with proof-- documented evidence that she'd be fine with Recheov, alone, while Illorex slept. Recheov was always loyal to his friends! And as far as Izumi was concerned, Recheov was a friend. The documented evidence of this was that, during bar brawls that Recheov habitually started, he never took a swing at one of his friends, ever, even if they accidentally hit him during all the chaos. That and she had been alone with him before, and no terrible things had come of it. She was nervous as hell, but nothing bad actually happened.

"I-its, um, it's fine. Recheov a-and I will be okay here, r-right?" Izumi concluded cheerily as she focused on the smoking man, "J-just, um-- just as long as that's the last cigarette you smoke in my house!"

"Foine, foine," Recheov waved her concern off, "'ow 'bout booze? You got anythin' to drink 'ere?"

"N-no, I-- I don't drink . . ."

"Roight then! oI'll 'ead on down to the pub in'a bit, get somethin' to go."

"N-no way!"

"Wot?"

"R-- Recheov! You're not getting drunk in my house!"

Recheov stared at her with a furrowed brow-- almost like he couldn't believe his ears. Here he was, offering to stay and defend her from all the baddies outside!, and she wasn't even going to let him drink or smoke in her house?

"I-- okay, I have cards and dice, you know?" Izumi relented.

"Oh! Damn! Whoy didn't ya say so before?"

With that, Dyss was satisfied. Recheov and Izumi would pass the time with cards or dice, and he wouldn't have to worry. Recheov was probably more capable than himself, if things really came down to trouble. They'd be fine, if a bit at odds.

"Okay, then. I'll come with you, Attis."

Dyss would stand up, collecting the sword from its bundle where it sat against the door. He would really have to find a way to carry it... It was just inconvenient to carry as it was. For the moment, there was little way to carry it, though. It wasn't too big a deal, though, with a bit of adjustment...

"Izumi, do you have an extra belt I can use?"

Carrying the sword, wrapped up, attached to his waist or shoulders would be a lot easier...