Aeternum

Iris Halo

Take your tiiime~ Sorta.

Iris Halo

Yes you did~

Iris Halo

Spoke too soon canary~ Spoke too soon!

Iris Halo

@VampireOracle Waaait

With all the clean up and everything, Brian got back around almost 10am. So your character would have had less than an hour sleep. Also, Connor said it felt like he'd been laying down for a few hours. So...

Idk?

ONE PUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH

Hello! I was stalking Trinity! Just stopped by to say, nice signature @Melkor

Iris Halo

Brian Campbell

Cartesian

---

Brian paused outside the infirmary and with a wry smile, glanced down at his bare feet and somewhat bloodied hands and pants. Damn the floor was cold. With a slightly slumped posture and some of his exhaustion showing on his face, he headed back to the training room. He retrieved some cleaning supplies and cleaned up the mess in the training room.

Once that was done, he headed to the restroom and washed the blood off his hands. After that he headed straight to his room and made his way straight to his nightstand. He yanked open the top drawer and retrieved his lighter and a pack of cigarettes. From his dresser he retrieved a pair of socks and another pair of pants and pulled them on. His cigarettes and lighter went into the pants pocket. On his way out, he snagged his coat and shoved his feet into a pair of slip-on sneakers. His slightly bloodied pants were set to soak in a sink in the bathroom before he laboriously made his way up to the store above and out the apartment exit in the back.

The chill weather outside made him shiver a little, and he pulled his coat tighter around him. He looked around before making his way to his customary spot on a bench, a good 40 feet from any buildings. He sighed and rubbed at his face before fishing out a cigarette and his lighter. A deep inhale of tobacco and brisk air, a long exhale. After a few contemplative drags of his cigarette, he leaned back and stared up at the gray skies above. He sat there with his head lolling against the back of the bench before raising his cigarette to his lips again.

Even in the chilly weather, he could feel himself calming. He smoked his way down to the brown, discarding the ash into a portable ash tray, before discarding the butt in his ash tray. Immediately he fished out a second. This was a two cigarette sort of situation for sure. He sat there smoking as the chill seeped into his bones. His slightly damp clothes only made it worse. Only when he'd smoked his second cigarette to the brown did he haul himself to his feet and prepare to go inside.

As he lumbered over to the door, he reached into his pocket and paused mid-step. An almost inaudible sigh slipped through his lips and he ran his other hand through his hair. He furrowed his brows then flinched. Another wry smile crossed his face. He really was tired today.

After a moment he drew his keys out of his pocket and let himself back in.

Down a flight of hidden stairs he went into the Knight Quarters below. He made another stop by his room to hang up his coat, grab a towel and a change of clothes, and slip into some sandals before he headed off to the showers. Inside, he hung up his stuff and gave his bloodied pants in the sink a good scrubbing. When it was close enough he drained the water, wrung his pants out, and hung them up in an empty shower stall next to his to dry a little.

The nice hot shower washed away the grime and the last remnants of blood and his stress. He toweled his hair until he declared it good enough, and then returned to his room, dirty clothes in one hand. On his way there, he passed by the bathroom mirrors, and his lips twitched as his eyes fell upon the faint remnants of sharpie on his face. He tossed the dirty clothes into the hamper near his dresser then flopped into bed.

He let out a muffled groan before he eyed his clock. Relief shone in his eyes when he realized it wasn't yet ten in the morning. If he slept now, he could still get another three hours of sleep.

With a little more life in his movements, he popped in his earplugs, yanked back the covers and burrowed right back in.

Iris Halo

Posted.

Iris Halo

Brian Campbell

Cartesian

---

The corners of Brian's lips quirked a little as he watched the reactions. Some of the reactions weren't quite as much as he'd hoped which was a pity, they were growing used to it. He'd simply have to work harder next time. If he was lucky, no one would say anything and then he could wear it to work too. His lips twitched as he imagined it. He looked forward to the results.

"Morning Bry. How'd you sleep?"

He simply offered a sleepy grunt as a response.

"Good morning, Brian. It's nice to see you up and well...thoroughly decorated"

For the girl, he offered an equally sleepy murmur. One might say he was biased. One wouldn't be wrong.

His nostrils flared as the scent of delicious food wafted into his face from a plate in front of him. After a few minutes he decided he'd waited long enough and opened his eyes and blinked owlishly. He looked around for a bit and then began to eat.

He'd worked his way through most of the bacon and was halfway through a piece of toast when Darius began to request for spars. He sent his gaze heavenwards. Hammers.

Then Connor eagerly piped up and even asked that Darius go all out. He froze with a piece of toast sticking out of his mouth and stared. There was a pregnant pause before he sent yet another beseeching gaze to the apartments above.

Newbies. Overeager puppies, the lot of them.

It looked like he might have to put his usual after breakfast smoke on pause. He stretched and rolled his shoulders a little and continued his meal with a faint glint in his eye. He ate for a couple minutes before wiping his mouth with a napkin. He pushed his plate to the side and nestled his head in his arms. He began his farseeing and waited patiently.

He was very familiar with the training room, so it was clearer than usual. Of course, the view that was clearest for him was his room here at the base, but the training room wasn't too bad either. He watched patiently for the spar to begin. If Darius took up the new guy's offer... well, the new guy wouldn't be around long.

It was another couple minutes before he watched the doors to the training room swing open. He sharpened his focus on the two as they positioned themselves for the spar.

Brian's body was tensed like a bowstring as he watched. His farseeing was blurry, and he hated that at this moment. He could tell there were several close calls there. Darius was holding back, but it was difficult fighting against the inexperienced. They had a tendency to do unexpected things that could make things take a turn for the worst.

He breathed in deeply, and breathed out, forcibly relaxing his muscles as he waited. His concentration sharpened as Darius went on the offensive. Brian's eyes shot open and he shot to his feet as Darius hit the ground.

He forced himself to calm down and closed his eyes. It took several long moments for his face to regain a tranquil expression.

He activated his farseeing again just in time to see Darius leap.

"Fuck! Shit! Fuck! Goddamn Cocky Newbies! Goddamned Hammers!"

Brian teleported into the viewing section of the training room. Without a clear line of sight, it would be risky to teleport into the middle of the fight. It took him a split second to reorient himself and in that moment, Connor's sword broke.

Brian's expression twisted and his stomach dropped. His eyes followed the arc of Connor's arm as it sailed through the air. In mere heartbeats, Brian snatched up the first aid kit, concentrated and teleported to Connor.

His eyes scanned the situation. The bleeding was bad. Deftly he opened up the first aid kit and retrieved medical shears and a Combat Action Tourniquet. With the shears he cut open Connor's shirt from the collar to down under his arm. Quickly he looped the tourniquet over the stump of Connor's arm, tighened the strap, twisted the windlass, and locked it into place.

Iris Halo

Very short omake.

Omake Brian Campbell

Lightning streaked across the sky, momentarily lighting up the room. Nine year old Brian lay in bed as the storm raged on. He waited, his eyes on the door. Rumbling thunder nearly covered up the sound of someone turning the door knob. He propped himself on one arm as the door opened. A toddler stood silhouetted by the dim light from the night-light in the hallway.

Brian reached over to his bedside lamp and twisted the small knob. A soft click and he squinted in the light. He turned the knob back down, dimming it to a more bearable glow.

"Brian? I'm scared." the toddler spoke. She flinched as thunder rumbled yet again. "Can I sleep with you?"

"Sure. Of course you can."

Brian pulled back the covers as she darted across the room to him. She climbed into the bed and huddled up against him, shivering a little. Brian smiled as he pulled the covers over them both and he wrapped his arms around her. With one hand he gently patted her back.

"It's okay. I'm here. Want me to keep the lights on?"

She buried her face in his chest and shook her head. He felt his protective instincts stir. Carefully he reached up and turned off the lights and soothed her with quiet reassurances until the shaking stopped.

The next morning he awoke to find himself faced with a serious dilemna. His arm was numb and prickling. Did he dare risk waking her up to save his arm? Or should he try to wait it out.

Iris Halo

Soooo tired....

Anyways, Here's something like a first draft of a short story/omake. I'm not sure about how final it is because I really am tired.

---

Omake/Short Story - Brian Campbell: New Big Brother

Brian Campbell - Defining Moments

New Big Brother

Brian always wanted a little brother.

He wanted someone he could take under his wing. Someone to guide, and take care of, who would look up to him. He wanted a little brother he could teach all sorts of interesting things to, someone he could play with. Having a little brother would be so much fun! He'd begged Mommy and Daddy to get him a little brother. He had all sorts of cool things planned out for him. He already knew he was going to teach him to play ball and they'd catch tadpoles in the creek in the summer. That's why Brian was waiting patiently by the phone for Mommy to call and tell him he had a little brother.

Today was the day the doctor would tell Mommy and Daddy who the baby was, and Brian even had a name picked out. He'd struggled long and hard to decide between Benny or Ryan. Ryan would rhyme with Brian, but it didn't start with a "B" like Benny. He'd chosen Benny of course! Brian and Ryan sounded too close, people would mix them up! Brian and Benny sounded nice. He'd struggled to keep it a secret, because he was gonna surprise Mommy and Daddy with the clever name. Every time he'd asked what they'd decided, they'd always smile and look each other and say there were too many good names and it was hard to choose. So Brian did his best to pick a good name. He'd asked all his friends for name ideas too.

The phone was snatched up as soon as it rang by a grinning boy of roughly six years of age. He was practically vibrating with excitement waiting to hear about his little brother. He knew it was a little brother, because of course it would be. He heard Mommy's voice, and the words began tumbling out of his mouth.

"I have a little brother right!?"

His grin faded, and the little boy standing on a chair to reach the phone on the counter began to droop.

"Oh... you're sure?"

He waited patiently for the answer, disappointment on his face.

"Okay. I got it. Uh huh. Love you too. Take care Mommy, see you soon."

Small hands carefully hung up the phone, and then the little figure slumped into the too-large chair.

 

Four months later, Brian found himself in the back of Uncle Grant's car on the way to the hospital. He stared out at the passing scenery, fidgeting all the way. His little face was worked up into a worried and frustrated expression. The longer he sat in the car, the more he fidgeted, until he finally popped up and leaned forward.

"How much longer?"

Uncle Grant chuckled and glanced back as he pulled to a stop at the intersection.

"Ten more minutes, kiddo."

Brian's look of horror made him chuckle a second time.

"Excited to meet your new little sister?"

Brian closed his mouth and nodded, worry creeping back into his expression.

"Uh huh."

"Don't worry, we'll meet her soon."

Brian slumped back into his seat and returned to looking out the window.

His mind returned to well-worn trails. What if he didn't like her? What if she didn't like him? After all, James and his big sister hated each other. What if they hated each other too? Even worse, what if Mommy and Daddy loved her more?

Optimism warred with anxiety.

He'd be the best big brother ever. He'd be such a good big brother that she'd like him. Mommy and Daddy would be proud, he was sure. He was a big boy, and he wouldn't need his diapers changed or have to be carried around. In fact, he could help Mommy and Daddy take care of her. Except... he didn't want to help change her diapers.

Brian grimaced. Babies were gross.

He perked up when the hospital was in sight. The parking lot was a little full, and he wound up drumming his heels on the seat in his impatience. As soon as the car was parked, he was out the door and practically dancing in place as he waited for the slow adults to get out.

He darted in the doors to the hospital and searched around for clues to where his parents were. Grandpa was coming down one of the halls!

Brian launched himself into Grandpa's arms. It took more time than he wanted for Uncle Grant to catch up, and even longer for them to head to where Mommy and Daddy were. They were gonna meet Kayla!

Kayla was uglier than he expected, and tinier too. Her face was all red and wrinkly, and she was sleeping.

The next hour was a bit of a blur. Brian vaguely recalled poking at his baby sister, and getting to hold her only after he'd climbed up into Mommy's bed so that he wouldn't drop her. What he remembered after, was Mommy getting sleepy, and Daddy pulling him outside to let Mommy sleep.

That night, the elder Campbell looked at his son, and had a conversation that would shape his life.

That night, Brian Campbell looked his father in his eye with all the gravity a six year old could muster, and solemnly promised he'd always protect his little sister.