Who: Jean & open if anyone wants to join him. When: Midnight Where: Outside his bedroom Rating: PG-13
Jean himself didn't mind the rocking of the boat or the noises of the storm beating against the massive cruise ship, but his dog had other plans. Since the storm began, Nikko was obviously nervous, breaking into barks and whimpers with each crash of thunder or particularly forceful wave to hit the side of the ship. He found it a little bit odd, but the dog was rather unpredictable at the best of times, and Jean wrote his behavior off as just another thinking Nikko did to annoy him. Nonetheless, he didn't feel right leaving Nikko all alone while he and Az went to the concert, and his girlfriend had to go alone. Yes, he felt bad, but there seemed like nothing else to do. Besides, Az had friends. He loved her, but he felt like he needed to be there for Nikko, just in case something was wrong with the pooch.
By midnight, Jean had taken a shower, checked his phone to find one bar flickering on and off, and was in the process of falling asleep. Nikko lay beside him, snoring like a motorboat, although, every once in a while, Jean lost the sound amid the waves and storm. Somewhere in the beginnings of a dream, he felt himself launched into the air - part of the dream, right? Who didn't dream of flying every once in a while? Wrong! Jean awoke to a sharp pain in his right shoulder and the bed quickly sliding toward him. Luckily, the nightstand caught the worst of the impact, and it only grazed his legs. Of course, what went up had to eventually come down, and the boat's right side was no doubt up in the air... It tilted again, to the other side, sending everything flying across the room once again. Bed. Chairs. Bedside table. His dog. Him. All of their personal belongings. He ended up pressed against the wall, on top of the bed once more and surrounded by a mess of clothes, papers, books and shattered vases. Who knew glass vases with flowers in them didn't like falling off of tables?
Nikko poked his head out from beneath the bed, crawling out slowly, refusing to put weight on to his right front paw. Jean's fear factor instantly increased by tenfold. Was there a veterinarian on this boat? Please, please, please someone say yes! Thanking whatever gods there were for letting the vases break on the other side of the room, Jean pulled Nikko unto the bed, taking off his shirt to wrap it around the dog's leg. Nikko's leg was bleeding, there was blood on the floor and now on his hands, forcing the man to pause for a moment after the job was done to close his eyes. Blood. He'd... have to get that cleaned up... eventually later. At least the room smelled faintly of the flowers, and the coppery scent had not yet reached him. He... had to get out. Yes, that would be best. He'd clean up the blood later.
Clipping a leash to Nikko's collar, he did his best to find a safe way through the shards of glass and shelves and assorted other things scattered around to the door. Open. Close. Out of sight of blood. He'd deal with it later. Nikko let out a low, pained whimper. "I'm sorry, puppy. I know it hurts to walk, but you're too big to carry and I..." Why couldn't they just stay on the bed? Hell, he could not deal with the blood. It was on the sheets. He would not have been able to get any rest anyway. Nikko had sat down, and Jean took a seat against the now closed door next to him, breathing deep. "It's just a storm, pup. We'll find a vet for ya."
Then, another thought. Az. Az. Crap. A concert does not mean the room is magically storm-proof. Everything must have gone flying there too! Jean promptly leaped to his feet and tugged on Nikko's leash, only to force a bark out of the dog. Nikko clearly wasn't planning on walking anywhere. He couldn't leave his dog, but he didn't know what was happening to Az either... He felt lost and useless right about now. Groaning, Jean sank back against the wall. In his pocket, his phone beeped to alert him of a low battery. Just bloody wonderful.
He would sit here until he could make up his mind. What to do now? Where to go? Jean was beginning to strongly dislike this night.