orangetoughguy | log post II

Yeah, okay.

[Freddy gives a couple nods before stepping out of the stall too. Thank fucking Christ no one's around. His posture is tense but not rigid, it's hard to carry a stiff back when you're slouching from pain, and Orange wasn't one to walk straight up and tall to begin with.]

Still fuckin' hurts but you didn't take the wind outta me?

[He's joking. Maybe it's an ill timed joke.]

[Funny, but no laughs here. Tough, tough crowd. He is momentarily preoccupied with his reflection as an excuse to turn away and recover. Freddy's the one in fucking pain. That's it's own mode of suffering as it is. Don't need to add to it by being a horse's ass.]

You sayin' you don't want to go to a doctor though, is that right?

[Just to get things clear. First he's looking into the mirror to see the man standing behind him, then turning.]

[The kid shakes his head.] I didn't say that, I ain't gone cause...

[Cause it wasn't this bad before. Freddy runs his fingers through floppy hair then down to rub the nape of his neck.] I'll go to a doctor.

[That's a concession just for Lawrence Dimick.]

[Turning back around Lawrence Dimick takes a good look at this kid. His intentions are good. From the toucan, to this. Does he really need to be this rough with him?]

Y'can't blame me for worrying about you.

[He hopes. Or maybe that's the trouble. The old man's not made of nerves though.]

I'll take your word for it if you say that it ain't bad enough to want to get it looked at.

[Except it doesn't escape him that he sought out pills.]

I don't blame you, Larry.

[The kid shakes his head. No of course he doesn't blame the old man, but he does blame himself for not handling the situation better. Just like he failed with the toucan, now he's endangering himself. Except it wasn't that fuckin' bad man, he just keeps coming back to that.]

I don't know, I don't wanna go to the hospital.

[That's just a tiny bit different from not wanting to go to a doctor. He drapes an arm over his stomach. No growling so it definitely isn't indigestion.]

Frankly speaking I don't think anybody wants to be at a hospital. They're there because they need to be.

[Although he had seen him truly needing and wanting to see a doctor. Fuck man, the more memories like that pop into Larry's head the more they make him feel helpless and angry that was how the chips fell. But it's done and finished. No way to change it. Besides, who knows what changing one element of then right now wouldn't be the same. He saw Back to the Future.]

Do you think you can eat?

[Let's try the long way around. If Freddy can be persuaded to see a doctor then...]

Believe me, Larry, I wanna eat. Real slow like maybe. [There's a brief pause, then:] I'm sorry.

[His mouth pulls into a slight frown to one side, but it's brief.] Know anyone from work could give me a lookover?

[That wasn't the question. In fact, it makes the old man feel worse that they're at a goddamn restaurant with food all around and the kid isn't able to enjoy it. Real fucking smooth.]

S'okay.

[A paw grabs and squeezes one shoulder. It doesn't have the same pressure. Sorry kid. He's now going into the land of overly considerate.]

I do.

[She's a short warthog of an old woman with enough hair on her lip to call a mustache. There isn't enough sweetness in her personality to save her. The handful of times Larry's seen her, she's been in a foul mood.]

...that what you want?

[He is so relieved to have that paw on his shoulder, touching and squeezing just like he needs it. Freddy reaches up to put his own palm over Larry's.]

Yeah, just a real quick look. If I gotta go to the hospital from there I'll go. [Another pause.] Can we try finishin' dinner?

[Another squeeze. Freddy's suffering enough. They'll talk about it later....maybe.]

Okay, tough guy. [Baby.] Fair warning she's more Nurse Ratched than anything else. [Could he just go to the hospital now? Better care that way? Kid's choice really.]

Well sure. [He steps aside, hand on his shoulder but this time from the side.]

After you.

Thanks, cowboy. [Baby.] I don't mind.

[The Nurse Ratched deal, better than going to the hospital to possibly deal with any of those fucks. If he could book a time with Cameron...but he won't until he has to. After riding in the backseat of a car bleeding to death then bleeding out further on a ramp, Freddy thinks he has a solid idea of what level crosses into necessity.]

Don't get worked up if I gotta take it slow okay?

[He asks more out of better humor than a real request. He knows the old man can be one overprotective and overly concerned bear. With good reason though.]

[Just don't go using that kind of talk right now. It's because he's not on the verge of death that it should be treated right now. A fella shouldn't wait until he's clinging to strangers.]

Take your time. We'll go when you're ready to go.

[Mr. Orange calls the shots.]

log post II

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