fragileprophet | Week 2, Tuesday

[ honestly Varian should probably logically ask ion how his power works and if there's any downside before he does this

On the other hand. Literally he doesn't know what he'll do if his arm gets infected. He can't cut it off? maybe he'll just die??? Just dying seems fine. ]

I... I... Yeah, okay, I'm sorry, we didn't-- I'm sorry.

[Ion sighs, though it seems more tired than disappointed.]

No, it's okay--you were probably doing something to try and help, right? That must hurt so much.

[He sits down somewhat heavily beside Varian, putting his staff down and reaching for his arm, where the injury is most prominent.]

Let me see.

We were just... [ yeah. He would hold out his arm but it's dislocated and... gross, so instead he just. turns to give him access ]

It looks bad, doesn't it.

[ he can't look?? He will die. ]

It's not that bad.

[It's very bad, but saying that is only going to make Varian feel worse, so Ion keeps on doing his encouraging song and dance as he carefully gets himself access to the wound, trying to minimize Varian's discomfort as he gets his hands all up in there.]

Bear with me if this is uncomfortable--it'll be over soon.

[The arm pulls itself back into its socket, the wound beginning to re-stitch, slowly and steadily. As it does, Ion's face begins to draw, his eyes looking...tired.]

No!

[ what. what is steph doing here. she honestly can't really move, really. let's say she's using a makeshift crutch that i will speak into existence in a bit, but there is definitely a stephanie trying to scramble towards them as fast as someone who has a crushed leg can. ]

Ion, I swear to god--

[ the good news is, Varian is so shocked by Steph's sudden appearance he just wrenches himself away from ion reflexively, ignoring that his arm is still there. That's fine. ]

What? What's happening?

I'm sorry, I...

[Startled as well, Ion brings his own arms back at around the same time as Varian pulls away, the healing process unfortunately stunted. But maybe that's ultimately for the best, because Ion's sleeve is growing a large red stain from the inside--one he doesn't seem to notice himself, even though his breathing's coming out harder.]

I couldn't just...

[ she... okay, she's just going to stop moving and just stay here while she talks to them. she ain't getting far. ]

His healing... he takes your injury.

What? No, no, Ion, no, you didn't--

[ now he's the one rushing back to Ion because he's GONNA LOSE AN ARM ]

Why would you do that?!

[Ion tries to smile, but it comes out strained and guilty as he grabs tightly at the space over his new wound.]

I just wanted you to be...okay. I can handle this--I'm just fine. I'm so sorry I misled you.

Ion, this needs to stop.

[ she almost wants to say that varian already feels bad enough, but she manages not to. she really isn't in any position to give another person a lecture. ]

How are both of your arms?

Why would, why would you, it was my-- [ he can't say it, even now, the idea of admitting blame chokes him because it's a little bit TOO familiar, and now he's crying again thank ] Ion, no, you, this, this isn't making me feel better!

[ MAYBE that will get it through his head??? Either way, Varian swallows back some more tears and wipes at his face ]

Show me, I, you made bandages so I-- [ why didn't he just take bandages god this is a bad Tuesday ] my arm's fine but yours won't be if we don't do something.

[ well, fine is a big word, but like hell is Varian going to admit it feels really... bad and off, thanks, ion is bleeding ]

[Not that he was ever looking pleased with himself to begin with, but Varian’s blatant horror cows him into disgust and shame. Shaking, he exposes his arm, stammering incomprehensible apologies.]

I’m sorry, I’m so—I just thought...I only meant...I’m sorry.

[He manages, at least, to pull out a couple rolls of his homemade bandages.]

Edited 2018-06-20 04:42 (UTC)

[ as she is the only one here with two actually perfectly working arms (or as close to perfectly as they can be, since one is still healing from last week), steph will... try to slowly go over there. then stop. ]

Please come to me so I can help you guys.

[ she doesn't really want to interrupt their moment too much because this is ultimately between the two of them but. please walk to her for the love of god. ]

Ion, you...

[ he doesn't even know what to say to the apologies because this is just another case of Varian Fucking Up obviously but then Steph speaks up and my god he is a FOOL and an idiot ]

Oh, no, why. Why are you even walking, give-- give me a second--

[ he's still holding onto Ion as he gets up, both to try to support him and because hes being a clingy bitch. Ion is like five inches taller than him so idk why he trying but anyway here they go to Stephanie ]

[His heart screaming at him for what he'd done, how he'd made Varian feel, Ion can't think of anything more to say. He can barely take his eyes off the ground. But Steph is calling to them--and if nothing else, he couldn't let his own self-loathing cause her more pain, so, with Varian at his side, he stumbles over toward her.

Even in silence, it's almost like he's still begging for forgiveness with that wretched look on his face.]

[ god, she made things worse by interfering. stephanie looks between the both of them as they approach, and she isn't entirely sure what to say here. she gets why ion keeps doing this, she really does, but even the kindest actions can have terrible consequences.

once they reach her, she'll hold her hand out. ]

Bandages. We'll... let's try to patch this up.

[ this is a safe circle of guilt. a guilt circle.

either way, Varian pulls at Ion to sit down so Steph is no longer stuck standing either. And also because if he's honest standing is a bad idea in general for all involved he wants to die. he's also taking the bandages from him to give to Steph since he already took them out. this is necessary. ]

How does it work, exactly? Your gift. [ there's a point to this, give him a second. ] We might have to disinfect your-- your arm.

It...

[He gulps as he collects his thoughts, trying to go back to logic. Simple, easy answers. That's easier to think about.]

I get as much as I take. Aside from that, I don't think there are any other real rules. I've been assuming I can't heal anything that someone sustained before we arrived here, and I think I can only take surface wounds and no other types of conditions...though I haven't tried, admittedly.

[He glances at both of them, then trains his eyes on where Steph will be bandaging him up.]

We can make homemade disinfectant a few ways. There's vodka, vinegar... we'll need to go to the kitchen.

[ it would probably be better to have, you know, real disinfectant but sometimes you are trapped in a murder castle with no real first aid.

at ion's explanation, she purses her lip. ]

And you won't try. Right?

I, well, I might be able to make something less [ shitty ] ... um, something safer in the lab, but in the state it's in I wouldn't count on it, and we should do this sooner than later.

[ going for science is his safe place but. he should probably. address ion too. ]

... How many times have you used it already?

Right.

[The absolutely dead, regretful look on his face suggests that this time it's really gotten through.]

I've used it four times now.

[Or five, but I don't actually know because SIPP needs to TAG ME BACK.]

-- was Natsuo one of them? His wound is healed.

[ she just assumed that was ion's doing as well, but she figures that she should probably actually check to be sure. ]

Ion... There's only so much your body can take.

[ like. any body? but also ion specifically is a sick boy smh ]

...wait...

[Ion blinks, looking at both of them.]

No, I didn't heal Natsuo.

[ ... ]

Wait. What?

[ uh ]

So who healed Natsuo?

[Ion shakes his head, looking troubled.]

I...I really don't know. Perhaps there are others with healing abilities present...but if so, I...

[He has no idea why there are still people SUFFERING.]

... we should probably ask him.

[ because if there is someone else with healing powers, are they the same kind as ion's? if not then that's kind of mean. ]

Why would we have... two titles that have the gift of healing?

[ and NO DOCTORS but. that thing. bothers him a little. ]

Maybe they anticipated this.

[Meaning, him. This ridiculous self-destruction. If your one healer went out of commission so quickly they'd all be pretty fucked.]

Otherwise, it's hard to say. Healers or not, we could really use some standard medical supplies.

If we ever get more of those tokens, I'm going to try the well again. I figure we need to be extremely specific with what we ask for.

I don't know if it was anticipation. They don't seem to care too much what we do so long as we keep... going along.

[ but this isn't the time for speculation, so ]

Extremely specific is... putting it lightly. I don't know if anyone got something good out of that well.

[ well. honestly blood aside. the shitty tool set wasn't 100% useless ]

I got what I asked for, actually.

[They already know he was lying about the scars being his wish, so...]

I don't know why that's the case for so few of us.

... what did you ask for? If you don't mind me asking.

[ she knows some people asked for personal things. she... did not. ]

[ ... he's also curious so he just turns his look to ion

LISTEn ]

[I hope you guys are ready to chew him out again.]

Oh, no, it's fine. I'm surprised it hasn't already come up--I wished I couldn't feel physical pain, so I'd be able to use my gift more effectively.

[He got what he wanted, because it was an excessively bad idea! But, clearly, he doesn't seem to comprehend this. It's just, like, whatever, right?]

[ there is a long period of silence from steph as she attempts to compute what she just heard. ]

You... you what? [ holy shit. ] Ion, you are aware that people feel pain so that they know when they are dying because they are injured.

[ oh mood steph ]

Not just, not just that, pain receptors control your body's reaction to extreme temperatures and you could've frozen to death last week Ion why would you think that was a good idea!

[??? ????? ?????????????????]

...oh.

[Ion looks confused, then startled, and then troubled.]

I'm sorry...I don't know...I wasn't taught much about physiology. I just thought...I could do more this way.

[And keep it a secret for longer. But.]

[ the years that the chicken house didn't knock off her, ion is. ]

Okay. Well. There's not much we can do about that now, unless the well would be kind enough to undo that.

[ is this how Varian's dad felt at all times. this is horrible. ]

There's a high chance even if it did, it would give back all the pain you missed out on at once.

[ and that would be... Bad ]

Just... Check yourself periodically? Or. Make one of us do it. You could get wounded somehow and never even notice.

Right.

[He absolutely does not want to think about that reality. This...this is fine.]

I'll be more careful about it from now on. I hadn't even thought about other injuries...

And like Varian said, we're both willing to help you check to see if you have anything you don't know about.

[ they. probably need to do this anyway because of the strip searches during trial. ]

[ don't strip the children ]

And also because we happen to be some of the very few people who know how bodies work in this place.

[ THATS NOT A GOOD THING ]

[HE FEELS DUMB, BUT SHOULD FEEL DUMB, AND HE RECOGNIZES THIS.]

Maybe I can find something to study in the library. I'm sorry...I thought I was helping, but I just made so much more trouble for both of you.

[ she shakes her head. ]

I want to help you. Trust me, if I didn't, I wouldn't be here.

[ she won't say that he didn't do some things wrong, but. ]

Ion, you, you literally got hurt to try and help me. I hope you remember it. It was five minutes ago.

[ he's. trying to joke about it. ]

Week 2, Tuesday - Varian, Steph

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