(no subject)

[wanderingsin]

Aggie joins them in the waiting room as Athelstan, Ragnar and Mags arrive.

She hugs each of the Few in turn, nodding to the others. “They’ve sent him in for an MRI straight away. He lost consciousness almost as soon as he was in the ambulance. They tell me that’s not unusual and not to worry.”

She crosses her arms, hugging herself a little, “But beyond that, they won’t tell me anything else. I’m not family.” She sounds just a little bitter about that. “I guess all we can do is wait.”

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"Without. It's cheap and I can't always be sure I'll have money that week."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"The pavements here can be totally evil though," Ragnar says, the swaying and jumping of their tiny conveyance bearing proof of that as it rattles back towards the old town, and the river.

[athelstanthescribe]

He shrugs.

"Not when you get to know them."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"You don't fall off at all?" Ragnar asks, grinning. "Not even at that piazza near Santa Maria Novella. Crikey, that is some pavement!"

[athelstanthescribe]

"I don't any more. If I really can't handle it, I get off and walk for a bit."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"You are very sensible," Ragnar says, turning a corner quite fast.

Dr. Fells is sitting on the back bench with all the expression of a classical statue.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan clutches the edge of his seat.

"And you aren't."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Ooops," Ragnar says, slowing down a fraction. "Want me to drive more slowly?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes, please. There's no hurry now."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yeo, you're probably right," Ragnar says, slowing down considerably, now gliding rather than hurtling through the dark streets of Florence. "Better?"

Even Dr. Fell relaxes visibly.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes", Athelstan says simply, looking out the window.

[cook_the_rude]

Soon, they get to the river and the Palazzo Capponi, and Ragnar stops to let Dr. Fell get off. He thanks him for the ride while wishing the car a speedy recovery; there is some polite laughter, and then the doctor closes the door, and Ragnar drives on.

"Where to now?"

It might be a tad impractical to just drive off without knowing where one is going, but it apparently makes sense to Ragnar.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan glances up, pulling himself out of his thoughts, and supplies his address.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"That's not so far away," Ragnar says, "and I know a shortcut to avoid the worst tourist bits, where you still find them staggering around at this time."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Very good", he agrees. "We wouldn't want to accidentally run somebody over because they wandered into the road."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Erm," Ragnar says. "Depending on who it is -- I doubt I could even run over my brother in this thing, you know. But still, better not try it on smaller people."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Shouldn't be any kids out at this hour, but even so. Steer clear."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I'm not trying it out on anybody," Ragnar promises him.

He even slows down, noticeably.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Thank you."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"So, you paint Sin?"

Crawling through the Florence nightscape, Ragnar deems it safe enough to start an actual conversation now.

[athelstanthescribe]

"More him than anyone else." He smiles faintly. "Because he puts up with me."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"What's there not to put up with, for an ordinary model?" Ragnar asks.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan glances at him sidelong.

"You've never modelled for a painting, have you?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Standing still for hours while freezing my nads off?" Ragnar says. "Isn't that what the job is about?"

Beat.

"And no, I haven't."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It's very boring. And you have to be willing to move into whatever position the artist wants."