[h2][center]Oswald Connoly- Infirmary[/center][/h2]

The way Sapphire spoke played with Oswald's emotions in a cruel way. He knew she hadn't meant to, couldn't have, really, but the way she spoke about the situation- the way she spoke like she knew [i]exactly[/i] what it was he was going through-reminded Oswald of Blaine once more. [i]She's just like him. Just like me.[/i] The last month of Blaine's life had gone almost the same as it had for Oswald-the two were closed-off, angry, and tried to hide their pain from everybody else. The major difference was that Oswald's self-destructive outlet at least served to help further his physical condition. 

[i]That's what you tell yourself, at least.[/i] In reality, Oswald was doing much more damage to his body, but that damage was easier to hide. Internal. Blaine, on the other hand, had utterly refused contact with anybody but Oswald and Cerise, and rarely ate unless they practically forced it down his gullet. They had been making such progress when they found him. 

[b]Hanging.[/b] Closing his eyes and shaking his head roughly, Oswald took a moment to compose himself, hoping that when he looked back at Sapphire, he wouldn't see the same look everybody else had given them in the days after- damnable pity. 

What had Sapphire just said? It's not worth it? [i]She's right...but I can't just stop. I can't let this be where I stop growing.[/i] If he slowed down his training, would his body maintain its condition? Would it grow, or deteriorate if he didn't constantly push himself? [i]That's not what she means, and you know that.[/i] He did, but admitting it and accepting it were two completely separate beasts. 

"I...you're...you're right, Sapphire. It isn't worth it." But how did she know? What had happened to her? Who had hurt her, and why did seeing her like this make him so damned [b]angry[/b]?!

Before he could even try to reign in his whirlwind of emotions, Sapphire's Scroll dinged, and she leaped at the chance to check whatever message she'd been sent. In her position, he might've done the same. This had gotten far more emotional than either of them could have imagined.

"I just...I don't know any other way." And that was the crux of Oswald's problem. The only remotely healthy outlet he knew for venting his pain and frustration required a bit of time to setup and a bit of booze, both of which were on limited supply here at Beacon. Before these missions, he'd been doing relatively well- at least, he thought he had been. 

But it seemed that he was just hiding it all away, waiting for something to come along and open that old wound yet again.

[@Prince of Seraphs]