newtralize | Then we are dead.

[Newt quickly picks up his passport to shove it in one of the many pockets on his coat before he quickly disappears from the room to notify staff.

The next bit of time is kind of a flurry of activity. Nurses and doctors enter in and out of the room to check up on Percival. They go usual routine to see how his body is and explain to him the physical state of his health. That he would require some physical therapy for the muscle entropy from being confined for as long as he was.

Newt sits quietly in the chair by the bed, but it's like the man is practically invisible. None of the nurses and doctors say anything to him or seem to acknowledge that the Brit was even there.

It isn't long before a visit by the Madame President herself happens. She walks in with her dress sweeping; poised as usual. Her expression is unchanging, but there's a certain look in her eyes. Guilt, perhaps, for not realizing the man standing by her side for so long wasn't the man she trusted at all. Regardless, she makes no pitying comments or anything about Grindelwald and what he had done. Instead she speaks about the mediwizards appraising her of the situation. That he wasn't to return to work (the implication, of course, was she had no intention of replacing him) to focus on his recovery first.

And that Scamander would be assisting the man in his physical therapy and rehabilitation.

This was probably a shock to Percival, but the blank expression on Newt's face was probably a good indication that he was also taken by surprise completely too. The man sits stock still and doesn't even get a chance to agree or disagree before Seraphina is already leaving the room. The aftermath of Grindelwald's capture has been a flurry of political turmoil meant Seraphina's hands were filled as is.

Newt is completely frozen before he finally turns to look at Percival.]

[ Percival watches as the other leaves the room to notify the staff before he takes in a shaky breath. He knows the staff will surround him to make sure he's okay and if he's being honest, he's not looking forward to anyone touching him. Dropping his gaze to his hands on his lap as he mentally prepares himself not to flinch or come off as entirely unprofessional.

Being the center of attention for a good couple hours was not his idea of fun, he's tense and visually uncomfortable but he takes in the information given to him from the medical staff as they check his condition and explain the stages of recovery he'd have to go through.

Percival occasionally glances over at Newt, watching everyone move past the other, not paying attention to him or even offering him anything while he sat there.

He feels like he can breathe a little easier when they all leave the room but that sense of relief is tossed out the window when the Madam President walks in looking as regal as always. Percival straightens up as he greets her arrival and listens attentively as she talks.

Up until the point where surprise is written clearly on his face that Mr. Scamander would be assisting him with his recovery. ]

Madam Presid..ent...

[ He tries to object, to try and understand why Newt would be tasked in his care but Seraphina has already left the room, clearly standing by her decision. Percival runs a hand down his face, closing his eyes for a moment before he sighs and looks over in Newt's direction.

Guess that also means, he better get started with learning BSL then. Otherwise, this will be a complete train wreck. ]

Guess you and I are stuck with each other for awhile longer. I apologize for that, seems like we were both caught unsuspecting with the decision.

[Newt immediately looks away from the other. Not because he finds the other intimidating, but more like a force of habit. He has never been very good with keeping eye contact with others, which makes conversation a very difficult thing with him.

It's a very slow working process.

He gives the other a rather apologetic smile. As though he should be the one apologizing about this or something. Newt knows he's not exactly the easiest to interact with. His colleagues don't have the best words to say about him.

Still, he wonders why Madame President was so sure to just put him up to this. He thinks about the few times he had been within her vicinity. The first time was when they had been arrested and apprehended and his case confiscated. He had so fervently defended that his creatures weren't dangerous. That they wouldn't harm others (which he still stands behind, of course). The second time was when he had released Frank and how they had all watched him and Frank say their farewells.

The only other time he had been in the general space as her was Percival's search and rescue. He recalls that in particular because Tina had questioned why Newt had easily made physical contact with Percival despite his aversion to it. How he had explained that Percival probably needed it. That he had lived the last countless months with only the cruel hand that belonged to Grindelwald.

After all, people needed physical comfort as does animals. A comforting touch goes a long way.

Ah.

He wonders how much of that conversation America's leader had caught and why she had decidedly found him to be fit for the job. He wonders if she didn't have someone else who would possibly go through the rehabilitation process with Percival.

Still. He isn't sure if he's exactly a good choice when he knows very little. His knowledge was limited to what Theseus had talked about in idle chatter and he can't say that he knows the other much based on his interactions with Grindelwald.

Well, he has to write some letters and send in some forms the next few days. Newt doesn't think he had the option to say no. That's for later though.

He tentatively holds out his hand to Percival for a shake. It seems only fitting that they start getting along sooner than later. If they do get along.]

[ They're going to need to do a lot of work to make this work and while Percival has some patience, its not up to par with his usual temperament at the moment. Still, he gives the other a flicker of a smile when the other gives him one.

Perhaps it was best that Seraphina had chosen Newt for the task. A vast majority of those at MACUSA were intimidated by Percival and of the other higher ups because they'd worked beneath them. They knew what they were like and what to expect. Whereas Newt knew nothing, there wasn't the familiarity and she must've thought that could prove beneficial in Percival's recovery besides the other's background. No one else would jump to simply volunteer for the task making this likely the easier option with the least amount of headache.

Percival looks at the hand presented to him and for a moment, he's hesitant before he finally reaches out and shakes the other's hand firmly. He had to accept that he was going to need help recovering months of mental and physical damage and he had no right to really object that.

At the very least, they weren't going to get started today so he might as well let the other leave the hospital to take care of what he needed to and actually get some decent sleep. He's had enough attention for today and as much as Newt might be used to it, he's probably had enough of being ignored as well. ]

It'll be a pleasure working with you I'm sure but you should go get some rest. You've been an immense help but you've been here for awhile and deserve to go home than sit around here.

[ He didn't want the other to feel like he was stuck here because no one told he could leave or not and he feels as though he'll be pretty useless for much longer with how tired he still felt. The mediwizards were likely to be checking on him pretty regularly now that he was awake so there was that as well.

As much as he wanted to get a head start in learning the method to better communicate between the two of them, it could wait until tomorrow, at least. ]

[Newt wants to explain to the other that it didn't bother him to be here. That he had wanted to. To some extent, he had been invested in making sure the other was alright.

The man had gone through so much and he was a bit of a bleeding heart. He had no real pressing matters at the moment, so it wasn't like him staying at the hospital was an issue. He can't say he was comfortable, but he can say that his discomfort was nothing compared to the want to make sure the other woke up without a hitch.

Instead, he gently reaches out to tuck some of Percival's hair out of his face. It's a gentle brush of his fingers against Percival's face. Delicate. Not in a way that treats the other like glass, but a touch by someone who merely was gentle and shy about when he make physical contact with others.

He does get to his feet after that though. Not because he's jumping at the idea of leaving, but because he was probably going to get kicked out anyways. He had only been allowed to stay for as long as he did because Seraphina basically ordered him to and it's not like the hospital staff or himself were gonna disobey the Madame President.

Newt gives the other a polite bow before lingering for a moment longer before shuffling out of the room. The other will surely see him tomorrow.]

[ Percival tenses up as he watches Newt reach out towards him and he finds himself holding in a breath as he stares at the other, feeling the gentle brush of his fingers against his skin. Compared to everyone else, Newt's touch was... different.

Different in a good way. A safe way. His gaze flickers up as Newt moves to stand and bow before he turns to leave. Almost wanting to backtrack and ask him to stay instead but passes the thought.

Percival gives a small bow of his head in return, watching the other leave the room before bringing up his hand up to ghost where Newt's fingers once were. He remembers the other's gentle touches when he first found him and its the last prominent memory he has before blacking out.

He can't seem to remember the last time someone had ever touched him so gently before, even before being captured by Grindelwald. ]

...Tomorrow.

[ There's a flash of a smile as he mutters under his breath before one of the mediwizards walks in with a tray of food to get him to eat something. Its a slow process where he manages to eat almost half before pushing it off to the side and calling it a day.

They'll be busy enough tomorrow and for the moment, he was rather exhausted. ]

[Newt does return the next morning of course. His hair seems more disheveled than it had been the previous day. The mop of hair curled everywhere and seemed even more wild. His clothes were slightly skewed and there was the smell of fresh grass and dirt from the man, which was rather unique given New York being an urban giant.

As he quietly shuffles into the room, the mediwizard that lets him in gives a rather disapproving look of Newt before resuming their duties. Newt stands there awkwardly, hands tightly gripping a worn out briefcase. It was worn looking, but also looked cared for and well loved. If anyone had talked to Percival about Newt to him; it would be easy to guess what that case was and what it housed.

He finally took a few steps forward tentatively.

The mediwizards had told him that the other could be released in a few days as the other was making a wonderful recovery. It also meant that they would surely have to work on the physical therapy part of Percival's recovery sooner than later.

It would be best to discuss what the other wanted to do, moving forward.]

[ Percival had slept on and off since Newt had left the day before and in that time he had requested information on the man who he'd be spending his recovery with. It was mostly to pass the time in a more productive way than staring at the ceiling.

He read about Newt's brush in with Tina and how Grindelwald, framing as himself, had confiscated the man's case and there was a description of what housed within and it surprised him to some extent. It would explain why the other kept to himself, it seemed, and the ever gentle touches. He wonders if that was why the Madame President had paired them together. The file stopped at his rescue, which made sense, and he sighed before passing the file to the mediwizard to return it as they brought him breakfast.

He finished it before Newt arrived and had been sitting in bed, staring off into the corner at a small window that barely had peeking sunlight.

When his attention turned to the magizoologist, his expression is soft concerning the other's appearance. If he's being honest, he's sort of looking forward to therapy, even if he knows he might grow impatient or his emotions in general, might get the better of him. ]

Good morning, Mr. Scamander. Please... sit.

[ Offering a soft smile, he motions to the chair the other had sat in previously, knowing they needed discuss their plan for this recovery process. ]

[Ah. Right. He nods quickly before making his way over to take a seat next to the other again. He returns the soft smile with a shy one of his own. He only glances at the other before he's looking at the ground and bring his case closer to himself.

Newt doesn't expect the other to confiscate his case, but he also can't help but be a tad protective of it. It was unconscious of him to keep it close to him after losing it before.

That doesn't last long though because he seems to dig through the inside of his coat. It's easy to realize that Newt's coat was also like his case. It was filled with plenty of items that one couldn't guess unless they were aware that the coat also was charmed with a multitude of undetectable expansion charms.

Newt seems to find what he was looking for and holds out loose pages of parchment to the other.

Percival will find that it's highly unlikely Newt spend much of his time resting. Everything written down wasn't really so much a plan for recovery, but a multitude of estimates as to how long it would take for a body to recover to accomplish certain actions. It's obvious that the man had a rather good idea as to how a body worked and the physical toil.

Perhaps it isn't even surprising, given his career.

Still, it was rather thorough and the estimates for the time required seemed sound enough. There was plenty of notes scribbled in the margins like he had been writing down his thoughts as he went. Things from exercises to questions that he probably was really just asking himself.

Thorough, but definitely a bit chaotic like the man who wrote it.]

[ Newt's case was safe where it belonged, with its owner. He had no reason to confiscate it, MACUSA already had their moment and that incident was done and dealt with. Percival watches curiously as Newt fiddles through his coat pockets, looking for something it seemed.

When he's presented with sheets of parchment, he leans forward to retrieve them before settling back in his spot and reading what the other had written. Percival is quiet for awhile, a small smile curls in the corner of his mouth as he looks over the notes in the margins while he ends up tilting his head as he tries to follow the bit more chaotic ones.

All of this was a little out of his league, if he's being honest but he trusted the magizoologist and his estimations versus anything he could come up with himself. Given what information Newt's file held, he had loads more experience on the subject of recovery than he ever would.

It would be easier to build a plan off this information than to go in completely blind as he was originally thinking. Setting the sheets in his lap, he finally gives Newt his attention. ]

With your estimations, what do you suggest to addressing first?

[ Percival does glance away for a moment to raise his hand towards some stack of parchment, a quill and ink that we sitting atop a table in the corner; likely extras for whoever needed them. While he didn't completely trust his ability to write, his hand shaking a little as he was still pushing his luck using magic again so soon.

There wasn't going to be much writing down on his part, mostly bullet points of the general makings of a plan. ]

[While Percival looked over Newt's writing; the man just seems incapable of sitting still. It's subtle, but he fidgets. From wringing his hands together to bouncing his knee to tapping his foot a bit. The man was rather skittish, it seemed.

He only tries to sit upright, as though to show he's being attentive, when Percival speaks to him.

Newt tilts his head curiously and considers the other's question before pointing at Percival then patting his chest; trying to convey that the other should consider what they wanted to address first. After all, Percival was the patient and the one who would be going through the physical therapy. It seemed important to consider what the other may want and working with those particulars.

Of course, the magizoologist was pretty sure the other would consider what would get him back to work the quickest. The man seemed like someone who took their work seriously based on the way that Grindelwald acted before they started letting their facade slip.]

[ There's a brief moment where Percival tries to interpret what Newt signs to him, brows furrowed as he looks over the sheets of parchment again afterwards. As the other man would have already guessed, he looks over what points would, in fact, lead him to getting back to work the quickest.

Though, he finds that to be rather futile in the sense that Seraphina wouldn't allow him back that quickly and would insist on more recovery time. She'd rather have him back at a hundred percent than less than.

Everything was bound to get addressed at some point and while it was difficult to determine which would be easiest to simply get it out of the way and over with since his body, in general, still felt weak. Working from the bottom up seemed ideal but he's not quite fond of the idea of someone spotting him for support. It was bad enough he was still trying to adjust to the mediwizard's constant poke and prod.

Percival lets out a sigh and accepts that he'll have to suck it up and deal with it. Recovery would only be more difficult if he delayed the inevitable. The quill starts jotting down his thoughts of a plan that he wanted to get through before he passed that sheet over to Newt. ]

I... want to start with this first.

[ Walking was going to the most difficult for him and a step he knows he'll likely get frustrated with himself more than the others. It needed to be addressed first. It had a little asterisk next to it while the rest of the sheet had everything else following.

Being stuck in that basement really messed him up quite a bit. He started off refusing to sit, being chained to the wall like he was, left him restricted in more ways than one. Then eventually, that's all he did. Sit there and wait for help till it eventually came and now he has to pick up the pieces and rebuild an image Grindelwald likely damaged in some ways.

He wasn't quite sure how Newt might interpret his plan, he honestly doesn't understand how the other might make it different than if he had simply done therapy with the mediwizards, like he thought this was originally going to go. ]

[Newt gives an understanding nod to the other. He isn't all that surprised that the other wants to get to walking first. Getting independent mobility back was one of those things most people wanted. Something people take for granted until they lose that independence.

It's unfortunate that it would probably be awhile before Percival will be able to walk without some sort of assistance. Getting mobility back in limbs was certainly a long, grueling affair.

They would have to do a lot of stretches and exercises to get mobility back before they can get to the point of helping him get back his balance on his feet proper. Newt thinks of the best exercises to start off with.

Ah, right. He shoulder respond to the other.

Newt taps his wrist, similarly to if someone was tapping a wristwatch. He doesn't own a wristwatch, of course. Of course, the other might not understand that he's trying to ask when the other wants to start.

The mediwizards had mentioned that Percival would be allowed to be released soon. While he was far from fully recovered, Percival was at a point where there was very little they can do to help his condition. The rest of recovery would be by his own hand.]

[ Percival gives a little nod of his own as an acknowledgement the Newt understood what he wanted to do.

It takes him a moment to decipher what Newt might've meant. Something related to time? They're talking about recovery so it'll likely be related to a starting point, if anything else.

Its not like he can start immediately and while the mediwizard praised his recovery thus far this morning, he wasn't told for sure when he'd be released. And while he felt like it was time wasted when he should start as soon as possible, he needed to listen to his own body and its current limitations.

There's a soft hum from him in thought.

He could likely spend his time with stretches, at the very least. That wasn't too strenuous on the body as some exercises and he knows he's some time away from being able to stand. That alone he's not quite looking forward to. Immediately thinking about the possibility that his legs were going to give out from under him or the inevitable shakiness, among others.

With this being worked on, everything else on his recovery list should fall into line fairly easy.]

Best course of action would be to wait until I'm released, heal some more, but I would like something of minimal effort to start with in the mean time. To start adjusting.

[ Newt would be one of the first to see him in such a vulnerable state, mentally and physically and he tried to keep such weaknesses out of sight from others if possible. ]

[Newt understands starting off small and that they should start with smaller things than actual things like walking. Percival would surely be like a newborn unicorn on those unsteady legs of his.

Speaking of legs, he gestures at Percival's legs. He then does a flexing motion where he bends his arm back and forth a few times. Indicating that the other should try and bend his legs a few time. They were likely to be stiff from lack of use.

He was also pretty sure that the other was going to struggle with even doing that if he was going to guess. That even moving his limbs extensively was going to be a painful affair. Still, it was necessary for the other to go through this. He wasn't going to get better unless he did.

Newt waits quietly to see how the other will do.]

[ There's a moment of hesitation at the request.

The only time he's really moved his legs since his rescue was with the help of one of the mediwizards during his first assessment once he woke up and even then, there was a certain level of discomfort in the motion that he didn't enjoy in the slightest.

Percival pulls the covers to the side as he sits up, hands braced at his sides as he stares at his legs before taking in a breath. He starts with one of them, bending it slowly as far as he could manage before it became too painful and extending it again. He repeats the motion a few more times before alternating with his other leg and back again, the discomfort can easily be read on his face.

It put into perspective just how long this road of recovery might turn out to be. After some time, he finally stops when he can't bear to continue, as much as he would like to keep going. Baby steps, after all.

Leaning back, he processes the activity; there's a dull ache but it was progress. He glances over at Newt. ]

Who knew sitting in one spot for months could deal such damage.

[Newt offers the other a sympathetic smile as the other struggles to even bend his legs. He had cared for plenty of injured creatures and watched them have to struggle just the same.

It was different to watch Percival struggle though. He felt his chest ache to watch the other barely even do something as simple as bending his legs. Newt was finding it difficult to watch, but he was determined to help the other as much as possible.

There was still the issue of communicating though.

He digs through his many coat pockets for a quill and something to write on though. If he couldn't speak and they couldn't communicate through sign, then there was at least writing. It was slow, but what choice did they have?

Newt holds the parchment out to the other. He keeps his answers short just to make it quicker.]

Muscle atrophy.

[ Percival watches the Newt with curiosity as he shuffles through his coat pockets, watching the other pull out the quill and a slip of parchment. Waiting patiently, he leans forward a little when the sheet is presented to him as he reads the message. Handing the sheet back shortly after, gaze downcast. ]

The staff mentioned the same thing at some point...

[ Quite a great deal of information was told to him after he woke up this morning, everything that wasn't mentioned to him during yesterday's evaluation, most of which he didn't take to heart like he should've. Not that anyone could really blame him, given his current condition.

Besides the obvious physical injuries, the trauma, muscle atrophy sat at the top of the list. Percival can't help but wonder if this sort of thing could've been prevented had he stuck to moving around when he could instead of giving up the notion entirely after the first month. His mistake, really.

His raises his gaze.]

I have a request to make of you, if I may. I know we'll be spending a great deal of time in each other's company and I was wondering, in the downtime between the therapy sessions, if you could teach me to sign? It would make matters easier than you haven't to write everything out on parchment.

[ Of course, he didn't want to eat up all of the free time Newt possessed between aiding in his recovery and caring for the creatures housed in his case. The other had every right to say no but he's hoping he wouldn't. That they could fit it into the schedule somehow without it being too much. ]

[Newt seems to be taken aback when the other makes his request. He had expected plenty of other things that would perhaps pertain to his recovery. Not about learning sign language. Well, perhaps, this technically did pertain to his recovery, but most didn't care to learn. Most would be content with the rudimentary form of communicating (or maybe people just didn't care to communicate with him).

He realizes he hadn't actually answered the other. He just writes three letters down and underlines the first letter as though to emphasize.]

BSL

[Just to make sure the other knew that he wasn't going to get much use of it in the States. They were different enough that they didn't quite overlap.

He wasn't sure if the other would want to learn knowing that it would probably just be a niche skill used to converse with him. He wasn't certainly going to waste Percival's time after all.]

[ If he learned, this would only make the process run more smoothly and Newt would be more in his element then having to converse so shortly on paper. It would take Percival some time to adjust to the difference but in the long run, it was worth it.

Given his position at MACUSA, he only saw it as a benefit given the world confrences he attended and he knows this likely wouldn't be the last time he'd ever see or interact with the magizoologist either.

He wouldn't have made the request if he thought it was a waste of time. The other could certainly be using his parchment on better things like his research. ]

I would still like to learn, if you're up for it, of course.

[ If the other was going to go through the trouble of making sure he was comfortable, he was certainly going to return the gesture. Its the least he could do. ]

[Newt nods for a moment. A slow little nod, like his mind was still computing what the other was requesting before he suddenly stands up.

He places the case on the ground before popping it open and started climbing into it. As though a thought had suddenly occurred. A thought that he didn't bother to share with the other before he seemingly disappears into the case.

Percival, at least, knew what the case was capable of. He can hear rummaging from inside as Newt seems to be digging about, trying to find something.]

[ At first, he thought, perhaps, this was a terrible idea and that Newt was only going along with it because he requested it of him.

Percival's eyes widen a fraction as he watches Newt set down the case and climbs into it, it wasn't until the other had disappeared completely that he attempted to sit forward, wincing once he went too far. Even with curiosity getting the better of him, he knew he likely wouldn't catch a glimpse inside the case.

He leans back and listens to the rummaging down below as he waits for the other to return. ]

[Newt eventually climbs back out kind of haphazardly and awkwardly. He stumbles a bit as he climbs out, but at least he didn't end up falling over. It would be rather embarrassing to go face first into the floor in front of Percival.

Once he staggers back to his feet, he holds some books out to Percival. They were rather old and worn looking. Obviously they had seen a lot of use through the years. They were sign language books.

The silent Brit isn't looking at Percival, but at his worn out boots instead.]

[ Percival wishes he could help the other, offer a hand instead of watching the other struggle but alas, he's stuck here giving a rather sympathetic look.

He reaches out for the books Newt hands him, looking over the covers of each and sliding a gentle hand over them. ]

Thank you... for these. I'll be sure to take good care of them for the time being.

[ With some amount of hesitation, he comes up with a plan for the day. He wasn't due to be released into the magizoologist's care for another day or two, give or take. And with how much he struggled with stretching his legs the barest amount as well as the need to form a better line of communication with his future caretaker, outside of slow guesses and parchment paper notes, he figured it might be a step in the right direction. ]

For today, do you mind if we went over these along with filling intervals for stretching? Keeping it light today.

[Newt nods a little too viciously. He can't help but be a tad excited. It's rare for someone to want to learn something that they wouldn't really make use of like this.

To learn because they want to interact with him.

People have always found him annoying and didn't exactly want to talk to him.

It's even more surprising how quickly he wants to get into it. He can only nod again before gesturing at the book before signing A-L-P-H-A-B-E-T to the other. Hopefully the other understands. To start they had to start at the beginning and that means learning the alphabet first.]

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captivecharm - 2020-07-15 08:41 (UTC) - Expand