6/16: ion

[randori]

[ The moment votes were cast, Natsuo had left. He didn't want to hear the results. He didn't want to be a part of it at all. So he picked himself off and left— slow, staggering, blood seeping through the bandages around his stomach that dots a trail from the garden back inside the castle.

He probably wouldn't be able to get very far, but the path he takes is directly up the stairs to his room, and he can be intercepted at any point between the garden and there. ]

Comments

[fragileprophet]

[Oh. My God. Natsuo. When Ion sees him, he can't keep himself from hurrying to catch up.]

Natsuo, please...your injury. Let me help.

[randori]

[ Ion's able to catch up easily regardless of whether Natsuo wants him to or not. Natsuo turns when he hears him, but he doesn't stop walking. ]

I'll be fine. Just gotta wash it off, find something dry to wrap around it. It's going to keep bleeding no matter what, unless I find somebody who can sew it for me.

[ But considering the lack of pain medication around here, maybe he'd rather go with the bandage route for now. ]

[fragileprophet]

I have fresh bandages. I made a lot of them.

[He grimaces as he follows Natsuo.]

If you won't stop...here, take this. It'll help.

[He offers his walking staff for support. He'd offer his body as support but...honestly the walking staff is better. He'd just fall over.]

[randori]

I'll take the bandages, but don't you need this...?

[ Can Ion walk without a walking staff? Natsuo takes the staff and stares down at it for a moment, and then turns it over so that the head is in front of Ion and he's left holding the bottom, length of the staff between them. ]

We could share it.

[ Sharing does nothing to support either person's weight. ]

[fragileprophet]

[Even bleeding out of his abdomen, Natsuo is still thinking of other people. As worried as he is, his mouth widens into a smile.]

Let's do that. We'll get you to your room in no time, together.

[And so he takes hold of the offered end and sticks close. Slow and steady, one stair at a time.]

[randori]

[ It's slow going, and it doesn't make things any easier when there's nothing to support him and the staff is just extra weight shared between them, but there's still some comfort in being physically connected to somebody like this- the thought that if he hangs on tight enough, he won't let anybody else slip through his fingers again.

He's exhausted by the time they reach the top of the stairs, trying to hide his ragged breathing by holding his breath and not breathing at all until he needs to. ]

Could've built an elevator in here with all this money...

[fragileprophet]

I don't think they like making it very easy on anyone...

[It's said lightly, but his tone suggests he feels bad even complaining in a joke. Still, Ion stops with him at the top of the stairs.]

Do you want to catch your breath for a moment? There's no shame in it.

[randori]

[ The dorms are so close... But he has to admit defeat for now, flopping down to the ground and flipping over onto his back. He stretches his arms up over his head, reaching out to touch the tips of his fingers to Ion's shoes. ]

Maybe you can drag me the rest of the way to my room.

[fragileprophet]

I'll try!

[Ion takes the suggestion very seriously, and leans the staff against the wall so he can carefully take hold of Natsuo's arms and pull.

He, uh, gets nowhere. Natsuo maybe slides, like, just slightly? And then Ion's huffing.]

I don't think...I'm strong enough. I'm sorry.

[randori]

[ He gets a weak stretch out of it, but not much in the way of moving, no. He appreciates the effort, though, considering how much Ion's apparently exerted in humoring him. ]

Nah, I'm just too heavy. Just sit with me a while, then, and I'll be good to go soon.

[ He feels fine already. But he'll wait until Ion's breathing steadies too. ]