escordvi | [ Closed ] If you like, I will tell you a tale.

I've got it.

[Zack coaxes G'raha to use him as a pillar to hold onto if he needs to. All the while Zack grabs the scarf to use to staunch the blood for now. He applies pressure and holds it there firmly. This is a pretty bad stab wound even if G'raha tries to play it off that he's had worse.

Zack does try to breathe. He knows he can't panic just because of a little blood.]

He must have snuck down here right under our noses. Just keep the pressure, we'll get you stitched up.

Tie it off tightly... [ Another sharp inhale. ] I've used curative magicks... Worry not.

[ Meaning he will be fine, Zack. He promises. There's really no moving Raha at the moment. Or, rather, he doesn't have the will to quite yet. So he goes back to closing his eyes and leaning back. Trying to control his breathing and wishing he had a bit more aether. For now, he's just keeping the pressure applied to the wound, despite the aching.

Still doesn't compare to being shot in the back and then tortured. The pain of slowly being eaten by crystal. ]

Likely it is as you've said. [ Makes sense. Instead of searching each room themselves, easier to lie in wait and capture someone. Force them to take them to the seamstress. Too bad G'raha hadn't wanted to play along. ] The seamstress... We need to make sure she is still here.

[ Guess who isn't concerned about themselves. This guy! ]

Yeah. But one problem at a time, Raha.

[Zack hasn't forgotten about the seamstress and their mission to get her somewhere safe. But he isn't about to just let go of G'raha right now when he's bleeding out. His voice is firm as he helps to tie that scarf as tightly as he can without it being detrimental to G'raha. It's good he has strong hands.]

You sit your ass down right here. I'll go check on her.

[No more moving that might cause more blood loss. All seems quiet now on the ship so Zack does a quick check of the room for any more rogue pirates before heading to her door.

After a quick check... She's shaken but she's alright. And for their trouble, she does give Zack a piece of long fairy-cloth that she said he should use for G'raha's wound until they can get to port. So he returns.]

She's alright. She's just a little shaken up.

Zack...

[ One problem at a time. One problem at a time!? The seamstress is the problem to be concerned with. At least that's what G'raha truly believes. Prioritize the mission, not him. His tail slaps against the floor in a somewhat irritable fashion. Being told to sit down like a child. ]

I'm not going anywhere.

[ Although, the moment that Zack leaves? Rushes into the room for the seamstress, Raha slowly pushes himself up. He's breathing heavily still, eyes a little unfocused from the pain. From the struggle of getting to his feet.

It takes the entire time Zack is gone to get himself upright. His ears perk forward hearing the the woman is safe. Shaken up but safe. ]

Good. Good. We should take this Corsair to the brig. Maybe get some more answers.

[They can argue the details later but Zack wasn't going to leave G'raha to possibly bleed out on his own. The seamstress is important and he wants to do everything he can for her and help her. But G'raha is his priority too.

Zack is careful with his check too. He sweeps the room and checks the halls before returning to make sure there aren't any other hidden surprises with sharp things. Only then does he secure her room and go back to G'raha with a frown.]

Yeah. Let's get him a cell before he wakes up.

[But before that Zack reaches for G'raha to steady him.]

You need to take it easy, though. Until we can get you some stitches.

[ He really is able to stand, at least. Take a few breaths, covering his mouth to cough. The pain is more intense than anything else. But he keeps the pressure to his side even as Zack returns to his side. ]

What will the other Paladins do with him...? Other than get more answers?

[ If Zack reaches for him, he might find that Raha is going to make the attempt to try to walk on his own. And when it does get to be a bit much? Well he won't pretend to be fine and will give in. Just lean against Zack. ]

...I can still help.

Aside from dealing with that black eye I gave him, he'll have to deal with being locked up for as long as they say. The higher-ups are wondering why they're after the seamstress.

[And Zack will be right there to keep G'raha standing by scooping his arm around his waist.]

I know you can. But you're helpful when you can breathe straight.

[He's just worried... He should have been faster at getting to G'raha.]

For a moment I thought you might have broken his jaw.

[ G'raha chuckles and it turns into something like wheezing. Thankfully, there will not be any coughing up of blood. Nothing vital has been struck. Zack's hold is distracting though. Gentle yet firm. Probably going to whatever serves as quarters here until someone with more medical knowledge than G'raha can get there. ]

Spoken like a true hero...

[ Okay there might be something of a small fever starting to kick in. Nothing life-threatening, but the body's response to trauma. ]

[He'll carry G'raha if he has to. Zack's expression is concerned but firm as well as he watches G'raha's condition. He doesn't like seeing him hurt like this.]

Yeah. I had to hold myself back for a second there.

[He probably would have done worse to the guy...]

There's a room down the hall. You can rest there and I'll grab the doc.

[Some random npc that can do some stitches idk]

Hold back? That was you holding back?

[ BUT ALSO WHAT DO YOU MEAN HOLD BACK? WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?

Raha sighs, coughing a little on the exhale. Is Zack also going to be someone that fusses and feels protective? To the point of startling people?

He's only a little distracted by the thought of that, as Zack leads him to this room. A doctor. Stitches. Doe they really need to go that far?]

Zack, I promise. I'll be all right.

Raha.

[Zack's voice is deeper, a little firm. But it's also just ... concerned.]

Let me just be sure. Okay.

[... He cares about G'raha. He just has to be sure that he's not going to bleed out here and now. So will G'raha please just sit on the guest bed-]

[ Now why does this man have to sound like that? Say his name in that tone... Raha's tail stops moving altogether and his ears fall back against his head. When someone is just that earnest, how can the Miqo'te ignore it? ]

All right. If it will help you feel better.

[ He can allow it, if it's something like that. Adhering to a request because someone else needs it, not necessarily G'raha.

Not the healthiest way of thinking about it, but baby steps.

When Zack leads him to the guest bed, G'raha will need just a little help sitting down. He is in pain, sucking in a breath and trying his best not to flinch at the movement. ]

[That's better, Zack is a little more satisfied once G'raha agrees. He knows it's not the best way to get someone to do something but it's for the best right now. G'raha needs to have this wound treated sooner rather than later. He knows how nasty a stab wound can be. The blood loss is the worst part.]

Easy does it.

[He'll even keep his comments to himself as he helps ease G'raha to a sit on the bed. Then it won't be long before Zack gets the ship medic in to help with the stitches before Zack is handed the bandages to do the rest on his own. ~~handwaving the stitching part~~]

Alright, ready for the last part?

[ it is the best that Zack could do right now. If roles had been reversed, G'raha would probably have used the same methods. Whatever would get him the results that would ease his mind. And he's not unaccustomed to blood loss. This body, however, feels it more keenly than his last.

Yet he allows for Zack to help him sit down. Allows for the other to rush out of the room and bring someone in that might take care of the injury. And really, the bleeding had slowed considerably by the time the cleaning and stitching process takes place. ~~That we are handwaving~~

Bandages are left for Zack and G'raha himself is feeling the exhaustion start to set in. He nods, somewhat put out by the fact that he knows he is essentially going to be told to stay put. ]

[He can already see that look on G'raha's face and how the other man might not like being told to stay put a second time. He can sense that G'raha's not going to like that part. But right now he'll let the moment stretch on. Because G'raha also looks like he's still worn down and needs to take it easy.]

There, look at that. You're looking a lot better already.

[Which is maybe more of a relief for Zack than it is for G'raha. He'll take the bandages in hand and place a hand gingerly just below the stitches to inspect them. Then he'll pull the bandages roll open so he can start to wrap G'raha's torso.]

Arms up.

[ Zack is 100% correct. Even the very tip of G'raha's tail is still twitching. Despite the tired look to his eye, his lips are still turned down in something like a pout. ]

All thanks to my hero, yes.

[ But he can't find himself too upset, especially when there's a lightness that returns to Zack because of it. Something that has chased away a more immediate fear - one that probably runs deeper than G'raha rightfully knows right now. Regardless, if it makes Zack feel better -

Sigh. ]

Yes, yes. As you say.

[ Though it is a slow process, lifting his arms. In fact, he has to rest his wrists upon the man's shoulders, to ease the tension of torn muscle. ]

[Zack has seen enough of the people he loves hurt. If G'raha can just let Zack take care of him that would be an ease on Zack shoulders more than G'raha knows.

It actually makes the job a little easier when G'raha rests his wrists on his shoulders. Zack can come in closer, his arms slowly wrapping around G'raha's body as he uses the bandages to wrap nearly and firmly around his torso. Taking care to not tie them too tightly or aggravate the clean stitches.

He'll be able to tilt his head enough to glance at G'raha's face.]

Once we're sure the bleeding has stopped enough we can go talk down that corsair.

[See? Be good and let Zack take care and they can go investigate the job together!]

[ That much G'raha can understand. Too much suffering, too much loss. Now that he is here and the immediate danger is gone as well as the rush of adrenaline and all of the emotions that come with it? G'raha can acknowledge that this, really, is for the best. It also means that his body feels a little heavier. To help himself out - but really more for Zack's benefit - his hands shift so that he can comb through black strands of hair. Soothingly.

Helps him by keeping him focused on a task instead of the tightness about his abdomen. Zack is doing a good job and Raha makes a note of that. This man knows first aid and seems a little too familiar with this. Red eyes meet brilliant blue-green and Raha hopes they aren't as worried as they had been but moments ago. ]

I'm done fighting you on it, Zack. If you need me to behave, I will do just that.

[There's been one too many times that Zack has wrapped his own wounds too. He's pretty damn used to bandaging himself and other people up. It's a good skill to have and he wonders if he should brush up on the rest. Maybe Aerith could teach him a thing or two.

The small show of attention and giving in from G'raha has him glancing at him. Zack catches his gaze and he eases into a less worried expression. A smile, even.]

Oh, good. I was worried I was going to have to tie you down.

[He's not quite done with the bandages but almost. Another wrap around G'raha's torso and there. Snug as a bug. He gingerly lets his fingers rest on G'raha's sides.]

How's that feel?

Edited 2024-01-25 05:09 (UTC)

Surely you would not have done such a cruel thing to a wounded man...

[ Ah, a smile. A smile is so much better. Raha wants to ask him questions. Wants to ask him why he had been in such a panicked state. Why had Zack been so insistent, so stubborn? What is with the almost terrified look in his eye and the anger in them upon initial approach?

So many things he wants to know. G'raha realizes that Zack has a history of loss, but more information. To know more about this man that is patching him up out of concern.

In truth, he's feeling tired. the shock of it all is wearing off and G'raha feels like he could fall over. ]

It feels like you have too much practice...

With how much you were fighting me before, you'd be surprised what I'd do.

[A playful little threat in return. Zack grins and with the work done Zack might actually leave G'raha to rest here. But his shoulders sag lightly and he doesn't have it in him to leave just yet. So he plants his hands on either side of G'raha's hips on the bed and leans there.]

As for the practice... Yeah. You could say I've had way too much practice wrapping bandages. But that's the life I had before as a soldier. But hey, it's coming in handy, right?

I wouldn't call tying someone down due to being stubborn a fitting punishment....

[ His words are slugging. Slow. G'raha is coherent, yes, but it's clear that he is growing more and more tired. He should shoo Zack away. Should tell him to go take care of things now that the bandages have been applied and G'raha is in no danger of bleeding out.

Yet he attempts to coax Zack into at least sitting - either on the bed or on the floor. If on the floor, then the man can still keep arms around G'raha. Rest his head in Raha's lap so that the man can continue to stroke dark strands of hair. ]

I've never seen you so livid.

[If G'raha coaxes him into sitting it will be where G'raha can still rest on the bed. So he does that sitting on the floor and resting his back on the side of the bed. He lets out a short sigh.]

He hurt you. [It seems like a pretty simple explanation why Zack was so instantly pissed.] I don't want to see you get hurt. It scared the hell out of me.

[He tilts his head with a small grin.]

What, wasn't it cool how I came out of nowhere to avenge you?

[ As long as Raha gets to continue to stroke Zack's hair. It's genuinely a soothing gesture for him right now.

'He hurt you.' A simple explanation that has Raha smiling. Someone getting that mad on his behalf. While he has come to understand that there are people out there that do not want him to come to harm, this hits different. Perhaps because his feelings towards this man are different. ]

Hmm. I didn't mean to scare you. [ How many people has Zack seen be hurt for him to react that way? ] Just remember that it would be the same for me if you were to be hurt.

[ Red eyes meet blue green. Zack is so full of himself. Honestly, it makes Raha feel better. He huffs a small laugh then groans with pain. ]

It was "cool." I suppose.

[He'll sit there like a good boy, enjoying the strokes through his dark hair. It feels good and it's soothing his antsy energy too. He'd been about ready to go crack some more thug corsair skulls (can't sit for a long while!!) but he could sit a while longer.]

I wouldn't want you to break a knuckle for me, but yeah. You get it then.

[Hearing G'raha's laugh even with the wheeze from the pain has Zack nodding. He better take it easy...]

I've seen a lot of people that I care about get hurt before. There's been too many times that I've done everything I can to protect them and they still get hurt somehow. I can't let it happen, anymore. That's why you should let me protect you.

[So it's a bit of trauma for him as well. Things he wishes he did better, regrets and what ifs...]

[ Closed ] If you like, I will tell you a tale.

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