That frail voice is almost drowned out by the rattling of Li Lianhua's breath in his own ears. The world tends to shrink, in these moments when the struggle to stay conscious, to stay alive, is all there is. Unexpected as it is to hear a familiar voice out here, it's tempting to assume it an illusion of a confused mind. If Cat were added to the phantom images and memory fragments that might keep him company when his mind fails him fully, he now finds it would be a comfort.
But the coughing fit subsides once it's taken what it could out of him, and he's still reasonably certain he really did hear Cat speak. His eyes briefly search erratic tracks around him, but it's no use. He'll just have to take it on faith that the boy is... very close? Below him? Is he dying up here? Good question, questionably real friend.
After a moment's consideration, his pained frown releases into an amused smile and he draws in another labored breath, once more defying all weariness and inevitability, to answer, "Not yet." It only sounds a little wistful. But not imminently dying doesn't mean he's going to keep on standing for much longer, so he lets himself sink to the boards of the porch gracelessly to sit before the choice is taken from him. He'll still try and muster the appearance of someone who is definitely sure he's talking to a real person whose presence and location he is totally sure of, though.
"Don't tell me you are?" Wasn't that voice a little too small even for that boy?
no subject
Date: 2024-06-10 09:14 pm (UTC)But the coughing fit subsides once it's taken what it could out of him, and he's still reasonably certain he really did hear Cat speak. His eyes briefly search erratic tracks around him, but it's no use. He'll just have to take it on faith that the boy is... very close? Below him? Is he dying up here? Good question, questionably real friend.
After a moment's consideration, his pained frown releases into an amused smile and he draws in another labored breath, once more defying all weariness and inevitability, to answer, "Not yet." It only sounds a little wistful. But not imminently dying doesn't mean he's going to keep on standing for much longer, so he lets himself sink to the boards of the porch gracelessly to sit before the choice is taken from him. He'll still try and muster the appearance of someone who is definitely sure he's talking to a real person whose presence and location he is totally sure of, though.
"Don't tell me you are?" Wasn't that voice a little too small even for that boy?