Watching Skulduggery arguing with the doctor about Solomon's release from the hospital was like an exercise in trying not to burst out laughing and blow the whole thing.
Mostly because Solomon actually joined in. And, as far as Valkyrie could tell, neither of them ever actually lied.
The doctor said Solomon was still on drugs, and could barely walk. His medical advice was to remain in the hospital for another week, at least - and to finally tell the hospital who Solomon was. Skulduggery rolled smoothly over that last part, and claimed that his little brother had always suffered from strong delusions, and that the drugs were actually not having as much of an effect on Solomon as the doctor was thinking. Solomon denied it, which wasn't particularly surprising, but also a little worrying; that was, worrying until Solomon then went on to say in a completely deadpan voice that big brothers were far too much of an influence. Why, he remembered the time when he followed Skulduggery onto a sailboat in 1625, and they both ended up falling into the water because Skulduggery was a terrible sailor.
But if Tanith could manage to keep a straight face, then damn it, so could Valkyrie. She only had to turn away once.
The doctor didn't take a single word Solomon said seriously after that. He suggested a move to the psychiatric ward, whereupon Skulduggery gasped with shock and horror, and pointed out that his precious younger brother already had a panic attack once because he was in hospital; why did they want to do that to him again? Solomon agreed that he was finding the hospital very uncomfortable, and he obviously had plenty of people to help him out back at home. Skulduggery labeled that desire to go home Exhibit A as to Solomon's well-being, because who in their right mind wanted to stay in the hospital a minute longer than they absolutely had to? The doctor said he thought Solomon was delusional. Skulduggery said yes, he was, but only when it furthered their cause, and really everything was perfectly fine.
Valkyrie strongly suspected, when the doctor finally let them sign the non-liability waiver, that it was mostly because the young man was getting sick of the conversation. That, and Paddy - or Father O'Reilly, since Valkyrie really didn't like thinking of someone she liked as even remotely similar to Batu - putting in a good word.
It did feel weird to be walking out the front doors of the hospital completely legally, though, Solomon in a wheelchair and all. Valkyrie and Tanith exchanged one look as they emerged into the sunshine, and that was it. Every moment Valkyrie had wanted to burst out laughing back in the hospital room returned in full force, and Paddy - who was pushing the wheelchair - came to a stop in confusion.
"I really wish," said Skulduggery, "that they would stop doing that." His head tilted towards Gabe. "What is it this time?"
"Are you really that bad at sailing?" Valkyrie asked, doing her best the make the words understandable through her laughter.
"Well, I've gotten better since." There was something in Skulduggery's voice Valkyrie couldn't identify. It was something good, but it wasn't quite amusement. Relief? "That first one was Ghastly's boat. Or, more precisely, Ghastly's mother's boat. She handled it well. Paddy, thank you for all your help. Don't hesitate to call if you ever need anything."
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Mostly because Solomon actually joined in. And, as far as Valkyrie could tell, neither of them ever actually lied.
The doctor said Solomon was still on drugs, and could barely walk. His medical advice was to remain in the hospital for another week, at least - and to finally tell the hospital who Solomon was. Skulduggery rolled smoothly over that last part, and claimed that his little brother had always suffered from strong delusions, and that the drugs were actually not having as much of an effect on Solomon as the doctor was thinking. Solomon denied it, which wasn't particularly surprising, but also a little worrying; that was, worrying until Solomon then went on to say in a completely deadpan voice that big brothers were far too much of an influence. Why, he remembered the time when he followed Skulduggery onto a sailboat in 1625, and they both ended up falling into the water because Skulduggery was a terrible sailor.
But if Tanith could manage to keep a straight face, then damn it, so could Valkyrie. She only had to turn away once.
The doctor didn't take a single word Solomon said seriously after that. He suggested a move to the psychiatric ward, whereupon Skulduggery gasped with shock and horror, and pointed out that his precious younger brother already had a panic attack once because he was in hospital; why did they want to do that to him again? Solomon agreed that he was finding the hospital very uncomfortable, and he obviously had plenty of people to help him out back at home. Skulduggery labeled that desire to go home Exhibit A as to Solomon's well-being, because who in their right mind wanted to stay in the hospital a minute longer than they absolutely had to? The doctor said he thought Solomon was delusional. Skulduggery said yes, he was, but only when it furthered their cause, and really everything was perfectly fine.
Valkyrie strongly suspected, when the doctor finally let them sign the non-liability waiver, that it was mostly because the young man was getting sick of the conversation. That, and Paddy - or Father O'Reilly, since Valkyrie really didn't like thinking of someone she liked as even remotely similar to Batu - putting in a good word.
It did feel weird to be walking out the front doors of the hospital completely legally, though, Solomon in a wheelchair and all. Valkyrie and Tanith exchanged one look as they emerged into the sunshine, and that was it. Every moment Valkyrie had wanted to burst out laughing back in the hospital room returned in full force, and Paddy - who was pushing the wheelchair - came to a stop in confusion.
"I really wish," said Skulduggery, "that they would stop doing that." His head tilted towards Gabe. "What is it this time?"
"Are you really that bad at sailing?" Valkyrie asked, doing her best the make the words understandable through her laughter.
"Well, I've gotten better since." There was something in Skulduggery's voice Valkyrie couldn't identify. It was something good, but it wasn't quite amusement. Relief? "That first one was Ghastly's boat. Or, more precisely, Ghastly's mother's boat. She handled it well. Paddy, thank you for all your help. Don't hesitate to call if you ever need anything."