deercountry | never had no chance (out comes the sun)

ok, good.
i'll meet you where we do our workouts if that's alright

Edited 2022-09-14 11:23 (UTC)

yup

[it takes her moments to get there - moving like she means business (and she does) with no hangover to slow her down, no leisurely stops - just lamps and jumps until she's there, anxious for a few reasons - and wondering what she's steeling herself to see besides that gauntlet. she tells herself again, out loud this time;]

No freaking out.

[a breath. she hadn't been doing it daily, but she had taken his meditation instructions to heart.]

[ it may take a little longer for him to get there, but only because shoyo isn’t running. it’d mean terrible harm for his body, so . . . limitations. he was already lugging extra weight. at least it wasn’t absurdly long of a time until a bush of short cut orange hair appears in sight. picanha doesn’t travel ahead, her ears are pulled back and her tail gently held between the legs.

the closer shoyo gets, the easier it is to spot dark blotches and dry warmblood staining his clothes and face. his nose looks strange, his mouth— bloodier. from the stiffness of his legs and tenderness around the guy and ribs, oh, lord. yes. he’s absolutely beat, and looks like someone had stepped on a tangerine with their heel.

at least, in one of his hands was hanging the massive gauntlet, and lining the top are dully lit blue jewels. ]

—No freaking out.

[ you promised. ]

[she's seen worse. but has she seen worse on shoyo? no. and his pace was one thing, but picanha's demeanor: red flag. and her little tail oh no.

wow, his nose. sure, sleeper blood and all that - but it looks like if it wasn't still broken, it definitely had been, maybe multiple times? and yeah, volleyball's a "rough" sport - a ball in the face can hurt, can even break a nose, but this looks...

...like he'd lost a fight with sevika. so she catches herself wincing, schools it back into neutral, and settles on a hell of a lineface.]

No freaking out.

[it's faintly lit - and that's ...something she should probably talk to viktor about. later. she doesn't even know what it means here, if anything. her eyes go from it to his face and back again. but his nose. his mouth. she'd lost a tooth in that fight.]

Did you see anyone about this? You look fucking terrible.

[ she gets a heavy hand giving her a brief thumbs up for the effort. good job holding the freak-out face. ]

I just got back like . . . Maybe a half hour ago? [ so he hasn't exactly had the time to look for someone to see about, gestures, all of this. either way, when closing the distance between them with aching legs, shoyo holds that hands out to take her's in a friendly clasp— he might squeeze too hard, though. everything hurts. ] It's not the first time, I guess.

[ a shrug, but he's exhausted. and very aware of the hole in his gums where a tooth should be because his tongue keeps feeling right through it, bloody and not the best of tastes to keep swallowing. ]

[too hard of a handshake? she can roll with that, and though her face shows surprise, it doesn't hurt - but her heart does a little, at the idea of her friend having to relive the fight that had nearly killed her.

had it---

(oh no)

---probably. oh, ouch, shoyo. she's sorry for that, and it's not like she hadn't met her own end in sansa's memory, but it had been (mostly) painless. not to mention quick.]

I'll take the sucker-punch mitt [tight smile] if you let me numb some of that shit up for you.

[...]

It's called an Atlas gauntlet. Viktor and a friend of his made it. Wasn't even intended for combat.

. . . Alright, [ he agrees to that, but it didn't need much thinking. he's not the reluctant type where help is concerned— he's never really gotten anywhere without it. shoyo starts nodding and tries to pull the damn thing off. it's easier to let it fall to the ground with a little thunk once he's managed to release whatever mechanism he has to get through for the steam to pop it out. ] what's it really for?

[ he's still thinking, like. thanos. is viktor iron man??? ]

I don't know all the specifics, but mining, mostly. To break rocks, to uh, shield against cave ins.

[she's eyeing him, looking for any open cuts. anything that looks like it could remotely be open gets ointment. it's not as effective as vileblood, but it's something. she hates asking this question, but she needs to:]

Where does it hurt?

[she can look at the glove later. she's very familiar with it. if she were not so concerned, and if she knew who thanos was, she might have made a joke. but she only digs into her kit for the ointment and for a needle and a bandage.]

[ shoyo hauls the gauntlet over to an easy enough spot for them to sit. a ledge by the ends of the farthest shore into actual cobblestone paths. as she asks him, he plays with his tongue in his mouth, and pokes it right through the..... hole....... next to his molars. ]

My mouth . . . Definitely my nose, [ his voice is midway nasally, and looks like it's a bit out of place. ] —ribs. I can't breathe too deep.

[ it hurts to expand them. ]

[okay, there's a wince she can't control - that tooth. her tongue finds that same spot and just. damn.]

I dunno about putting the ointment in your mouth, but it's a better bet than vileblood.

[she won't risk putting her blood on his nose either - at least anywhere near his nostrils, so she uncaps the jar and dots a small bit over the skin there, spreading it with a great deal of care, and she's set her share of broken noses but she's not about to---]

I'll come back to the nose in a sec. Let me know when it starts to numb up a little, yeah? Okay. Shirt up, or do you need me to get it?

[if it hurts to breath it probably also hurts to move his arms, too. so before he's given an answer she's reaching, but gently, and slow enough that he can deflect.]

I think I, wait, [ he does try to do it himself at first, but lifting his arms and stretching all the muscle connected to the task has him slow, almost stopping, and wincing. holding his arms in the position he could, though, he allows for vi to help him out there. he’s going to need it. ] Thanks— oh, wow, it’s numbing already.

[that's good - it's what she wants to hear - and she'll take a look at his ribs, his chest, no open wounds so she's good to go, there. she lets the shirt fall a moment while she pricks her index and middle finger, squeezing up a little blood.

and now that her own fingertips are good and numb, she shoves the needle in - dragging down the middle finger about half an inch. she doesn't have her knife on her, and the vial she usually keeps is empty. so: improvising it is.

lifting his shirt again with her bloodless hand, she proceeds to rub the bloodied one - fingers against thumb until it's a viscous coating on most of her palm, and the air begins to stink of flowers. palm flat to his skin, she lightly rubs it - much stronger than the ointment - making sure to cover his ribcage. she moves round to inspect his back, and if he winces or cries out at her prodding he'll get it there, too.]

Okay.

[she will take this moment to pull a small cloth from her kit, wiping off most of the lingering blood from her hand before quickly wrapping the tear in a small, sticky bandage and stand up to reassess that nose. it's numb, so she doesn't need to play any games here. just a quick feel and - yep - this is an easy fix.]

Ready? It's gonna sound worse than it'll feel.

[she'll wait until he signals that it's okay to proceed - if and when he does that - she'll pop that sucker back into place. they're sleepers - they heal fast, anyway.]

[ shōyō is ever compliant during the whole check up. she even follows up with soft, nasally compliments: you’re real good at this, you’d make such an awesome manager with this first aid damn!, and so on. even if he doesn’t look nor feel his best, vi help bring out the best of what’s left. picanha watches on only by sitting next to them, and eventually drops into a subdued lay with expressive eyes sadly pointed up at vi’s handiwork.

oh, now here comes the nose. ]

Okay, but don’t tell me when you’re gonna— [ crack ] ACK.

[ picanha springs onto all fours, but doesn’t yelp. looks like it startled them more than it really hurt, so, with a hovering hand over his nose, ]

Oh God, that’s gross.

Edited 2022-09-27 01:40 (UTC)

[some of this is old hat - the nosebreak, for instance - if it wasn't her own nose it was mylo's, or some other rag tag from the undercity - an accident, a tussle, a friendly exchange of punches - and also: prison. some of this is recently learned (the ointment, the extra care, and obviously the vileblood.]

I wouldn't have warned you anyway. [makes for flinching, sometimes.] You did great. And you should be able to breathe now. [she hands him the ointment] In fact, just take this, I can get more.

Ugh, I'm so sorry, Shoyo.

[you too picanha, you also get a sad smile and a good picanha. vi will now take a moment to inspect that glove, turning it over in her hands thoughtfully. she looks at shoyo and adds:] Huh. It's missing the "return to ass-kicker Vi asap" markings. Must've worn off.

[what else to do but levity? also, she is trying not to freak out. so.]

[ shoyo tries it— breathing, that is— and would you look at that, works like a charm! oh, what relief. he's hardly nasally, and what could've hurt a ton more was just tingling now. he can't help a short huff of a damaged chuckle. she is trying her best. ]

Must've worn off from all the punching . . . [ so much punching . . . well, he raises an arm, slow and steadily to avoid harming his ribs any further despite the numbness, and finds her shoulder to rest it upon. ] It took a few tries, but I got her. None of it is your fault.

I know. It's still...

...a lot. [she's looking at his face with a bit of concern, but seeing him take a regular breath without wincing, without it catching - that shifts her mood a bit. she's done something, at least.]

You got her? Well, shit. Good for you.

[a few tries could mean a lot of things. it could mean ...many hits, or a complete reset of the memory because he'd ...failed.

(died?)

...you can't die in your dreams, your memories, can you? wait. why would that rule even be upheld here? why would there be any rules at all to this?]

How many tries?

Think it was something like . . . Four.

[ shoyo attempts a deeper breath. it's slow and testing the waters, but with the aching areas numbed, it's easier. much easier. there were no sudden pulls or seers that forced him to stop. pressing his hands together, he only quietly reminds himself to breathe steadily, slowly, and not too deep. at least not right now— he wouldn't want to make things worse while the harm was masked. ]

You? You only got that try, though. It's the most badass thing I'd imagine someone could do.

[four resets. four ...ugh. that shows on her face, but she wipes it as soon as she realizes - does a reset of her own that gives nothing away. shoyo doesn't need to feel worse about this - he doesn't need her worrying - and it's not going to help anything at all. what's done is done.]

I dunno about that. There's some stiff competition around these parts.

[the lift of a brow, and she lets a smile shift her features. because why not? it's not like it's a lie.]

Back home yeah. It was pretty badass. I'd waited a long time for that.

[she might have added 'it felt great', but it didn't. it felt like too much.]

She knock a tooth outta you, too? It'll probably regrow, right?

[ if he could offer one better, he’d playful jab her shoulder. in the meantime, his palm could at least find the curve of it to give a good squeeze. ]

Huh . . . Do we grow the adult teeth back, here?

[ he knows back home it’s pretty impossible. once you lose a big tooth, it’s gone for good. you’ll need dentures or a fake to replace them. but, in trench? who knew! besides that, shōyō’s certain you can hardly see it. as one of the molars, his smile is still pearly white with no sudden holes. ]

Maybe? Mine didn't, but I came here with that. Seems like if you get hurt here... [the thought is almost audible: are the books here? do they count? they ...should?] ...well, it's like dying and coming back.

You know how we can squid out if we want? Maybe if you do that when you reform you'll just be ...full up on teeth. I wonder if gargling with the ocean water would work?

[she appreciates the squeeze - and she's glowing a little at the praise - but she wishes her friend didn't have to lose pieces of himself to give it.]

. . . I'd do it if you dared me.

[ is that a challenge? well, yes. it's what makes shoyo's world go round. even though it doesn't bother him all too much. well. okay, the gummy, missing hole from a fallen tooth is strange to feel and his tongue keeps flitting into it, but other than that, you know! he'd give it a shot. he has nothing else to lose. ]

I wouldn't mind just hanging out by the beach, too? [ wait for it. this is truth, but also a pun-intended joke to lighten things up. humor is the best escape. ] I'm beat.

Maybe I'll have to dare you, then. While we hang out by the beach.

[it's funny how this mirrors their most memorable beach hangout - though vi had been worse for wear, there. if he wants to vent at the ocean this time, she's down for it. though in truth she has less to yell about now. well, less to yell about angrily.]

Ha. Volleyball's not the only game you've got. You're pretty good with the jokes.

[she'll suggest he shed his clothes before squidding, just in case - she'd been fine when it'd just been her legs, but jinx had come back naked, so: outcome unreliable, better safe than sorry. she can turn her back if he wants - or not, she's not really gonna check him out like that. but she will hold his clothes for him. she'll even set them aside and follow him in and let her own legs go squid if he seems nervous.

she doubts he'll need the assist - he's pretty yolo when it comes to this stuff.]

never had no chance (out comes the sun)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

maybe we could start wrapping here for new threads?

absolutely!