nocturne.

The surgery was quick and went well from what the doctor told him after. They’d said he’d only need to stay for the night and the next day for observation but if everything looked okay, he’d be home by Thursday morning at the latest. Maybe even Wednesday night if he was good. The only downfall he could see so far was he couldn’t talk much. His lips could make small movements without causing too much pain or risking a stitch tear. This meant people had to sit close and try to make out what the mumbled words he said were or he had to type it out on his phone. The nurse wrote a sign for any visitors that might stop by that Finn could point to. 

Adrian had been there since he woke up from the anesthesia and he’d sent him to go get some coffee or something since he’d refused to sleep when Finn was awake. Finn scrolled through his phone to pass time and figured it was Adrian coming back. He looked up and hummed and waved, then pointed to the sign in case they missed it. While they read Finn moved his bed up more to sit up and hear what they had to say.

He  doesn't  enjoy  coming  to  the  hospital,  a  sense  of  distrust  instilled  into  him  since  the  days  when  he  lived  inside  listless  walls. Perhaps  because  it's  so  similar,  even  now  he  feels  the  air  here  is  stagnant  as  if  he's  hopped  into  an  underground  pit. The  floor  is  uneven  from  so  much  traffic  with  both  feet  and  wheels  that  it  leaves  his  feet  uncomfortable. Yet  he  treads  on,  here  for  a  visit,  something  he  felt  only  polite  given  the  circumstances. When  Flynn  sees  the  other,  instincts  is  to  wave  and  offer  a  verbal  greeting,  but  the  other  points  to  a  sign  and  he  scans  to  read  it  first. "Got  it."  the  male  ceases  any  conversation  start,  until  he  sits  down,  scooting  himself  closely  to  the  other  while  maintaining  some  personal  distance. "Well. You  seem  better. Did  they  mention  how  much  longer  you  have  to  stay?"

Caine found himself posted up at the Dive for the night of 4th of July. He knew that the drink specials were good and the vibe would be fun— plus, it was better than sitting in his empty apartment or even emptier house by himself. With the kids at the Lake House with Reina and Andy, there wasn’t a whole lot of life hanging around his place. He was happy they got to spend some time out there, knowing they would have entirely too much fun. So, Caine let’s a little loose, feeling like he should be enjoying himself this weekend, looking to his right. “You’ve got three seconds to decide if you’re taking a shot with me or you’ll be missing out. America and all,” he tells them. Looking at the bartender for a moment and then back to the person to his right he starts counting, “Three… Two…”

His  evening  starts  with  an  acquaintance  dragging  him  into  the  dive  under  the  guise  of  the  holiday  spirit,  but  the  other's  expression  was  a  giveaway,  Flynn  knew  before  they  wandered  through  the  doors  he'd  be  alone  in  less  than  a  minute. Indeed,  a  few  steps  in  and  he's  lost  the  other  to  the  crowd  ebbing  in  and  out  around  him  like  waves  against  shore. Now  a  fish  among  many  swimming  through  the  area,  but  he  doesn't  mind  the  separation. Settling  down  on  a  free  spot,  he  orders  himself  some  beer. Casual,  and  light  enough  for  him  to  enjoy  himself  with  little  chaos. His  fingers  curl  the  circumference  of  the  glass  when  it  arrives,  an  index  tapping  against  the  surface. He's  inhaling  the  murky  air  when  a  voice  breaks  through  the  hundreds  of  conversations  surrounding  him. Right  away  he  joins,  after  taking  a  swig  he  flashes  a  small  smile  as  he  places  his  drink  down. “Can  we  try  this  again  with  a  proper  shot?  Beer  just  doesn’t  hit  the  same.”