ishotyouuu | IC Inbox

[They're both not happy about this arrangement, that much he can tell. Honestly, Wade's not too pleased with it either-- having to breach a child's comfort zone is a delicate matter even in the best of times, but he knows he needs to make sure that they aren't going to be suffering some other problems somewhere down the line. He could always send them to the clinic, of course, but... they'd asked for his help specifically. It feels wrong to pass them off to someone else, at least right now.

He turns to Chara with a reassuring smile, once again suppressing the urge to tousle the kid's hair in an attempt to comfort them. It's harder than he'd expected.]

Of course you can stay, kiddo. I'm gonna need an assistant, after all. Always good to have an extra pair of eyes to point out what I might miss.

[He returns his gaze to Frisk.]

Okay if you lift your shirt up a little bit? I just wanna take a look first.

[Every time he speaks to Chara, they warm up to him a little more. People always say that first impressions are the most important; but Frisk has to wonder why, when their own first impression of a guy in heart boxers doesn't seem to have been accurate at all.

Sans really does have good friends.

They nod slowly in response, nerves automatically drawing their gaze towards Chara, before they stop themself. Let go of their Partner with both hands, lean against their shoulder as they grasp at the bloody patchwork of their sweater, lift it up to show their ribs.

They can't see it for themself. It's kind of bad, because if there's something to see (the bright, angry redness that covers their sides like a haphazard pattern; the discoloration too vivid and heavy not to turn into bruising- something that matched their cheek and chin, or would, when the blood was washed off), then they can't. They don't know how bad it seems, even if having their arms raised at all makes it a little harder to breathe, puffing out soft breaths into the dirty fabric.

The benefit to this is being capable of ducking their head down, and knowing Wade and Chara can't see their face, either.]

[It is warm...this man was kind. They say that humans didn't need kindness to live. And Frisk thus far was the only exception to the rule. But this man gave them both an out if they needed it. A stick to draw that line. Something kind. And perhaps it was time to--

It's gone when Chara sees the pattern of bruises on Frisk's ribs where their boot - no, Frisk's double's boot don't think about that - connected. Repeated kicks. It stopped at four. No, you're mixing things up the double didn't stop. It wouldn't have stopped until C - Frisk died and--

Stop. Just stop. Breathe. It's not about you Chara. It's not. Just look at the bruises and then at the man. It's okay.

It's not.

But Chara does stare at Wade, trying to keep some semblance of calm.]

...what would you like me to do?

[They're both taking this so seriously that Wade's sure he would be stifling a laugh if this had been any other situation. As it stands, it's not at all funny. Wade feels a surge of sympathy rise in his throat at the way Frisk's friend-- Chara, was it?-- takes a calming breath; glances at Frisk and then back at Wade as if they're an actor practicing their blocking in a play. It causes Wade's smile to once again grow gentle, as if calming down a frightened animal.]

Oh, you get the most important job. Stick close to your buddy here. Make sure they're doin' okay. I'm gonna be looking for broken ribs and I'm gonna try my best to be gentle, but depending on what the damage is, it's gonna hurt.

I'm gonna do my very best to stop before things get too bad, but if it looks like they can't take any more, you need to tell me, okay?

[He glances up at Frisk, doing his best not to wince at the large bruising pattern he already sees on their stomach.]

That goes for you too, champ. Don't try to be brave here. Looks like you're gonna be pretty sore regardless, but if somethin' hurts really bad I need to know about it. Otherwise I might hurt you more, and I really don't want that on my conscience, y'know?

[A nervous laugh; quickly cut off with a clearing of his throat.]

Okay. You're still okay with me touchin' you, right? I-I just wanna make sure.

Edited 2017-03-04 14:02 (UTC)

[They're glad their face is hidden behind their sweater, because if it wasn't, they'd have to explain the wobbly smile that graces their lips. Especially when nothing he's said is funny.]

It's okay. Chara won't let you hurt me.

[Nothing they have to say is funny either. They don't think it sounds all too intimidating, but it's a warning, all the same.

He really should try not to hurt them.]

[He really shouldn't. Chara has no way of knowing about Wade's abilities and skills, how he could easily outpace a child. But that would not stop them.

Determination is a hell of a drug, and hurting their Partner was the worse thing you could do.

That said, Chara does understand what Wade is going to be looking for and how poking bruised and broken ribs would hurt. They'll give him that and not much else.]

I will keep an eye on you both. Please, proceed.

[Wade nods to them both, and the thought occurs to him that this is a more serious situation than he'd initially thought. Not that he'd been making light of it to begin with, but... something about Chara's strange red eyes boring into his gives him the impression that's there's much more at stake here. He swallows hard, suddenly feeling oddly intimidated by the two small and injured children, and lets out a breath.]

Okay. Here goes.

[He's gentle, like he'd promised-- he doesn't prod the heavily bruised areas more than he needs to, doesn't linger too long on any particular spot; constantly checks in with a glance upward to see how Frisk is dealing with the pain. The child's ribs seem to be intact from what he can gather, which is a good thing-- he doesn't have much medical background beyond what he's learned in the army, but he's pretty sure the only treatment for a broken rib is to just let them heal on their own.

Doesn't mean the injuries don't bother him any less, though. Wade shakes his head in disgust.]

Man. Somebody really roughed you up, huh. You said it was a double of yours?

[He's as gentle as he can be; even so, the touches aren't so much causing pain as they are an announcement to what's already their. Frisk sucks in a breath, and tries not to let it go, flinching under fingers that seek out the worst of it, biting their lip hard.

It hurts. It's not his fault.

All they can do, is slowly lean into Chara a little more. Take a bit of strength that the other doesn't really have to give; neither of them do, right now. Sorry, Partner. They need you, and it's not fair.]

...m-mhm.

Chara and Sans- didn't want it to kill me.

[It's true that Chara doesn't have a whole lot of strength kicking around. But regardless they will hold their Partner up until Wade is done. It won't be long and they'll stay here until it's done.

But Chara also has to try to ignore the hiss of breathe and the echo of a boot colliding into Frisk's stomach. They keep watching. They have to.]

....you do not need to worry about that Frisk. The consequences of that being's actions were already paid for.

[When they have a chance to sit and think themselves, Chara will not regret it. No matter how many times, or if they can see their LOVE increase when they close their eyes.

Hurting their Partner like that is the worst thing you could do. And so Frisk's double reaped what it sowed.]

Sorry, sorry--

[Said in response to Frisk flinching as Wade's fingers graze a particularly ugly bruise. He glances up at them, forcing another reassuring smile on his face.]

They both did good, then. Wouldn't have expected Sans to have the energy to do something like that, but hey-- I've been surprised by people before.

You're all set, by the way. No broken bones, from what I can feel. Stock up on aspirin for a week or so, though-- you're gonna be sore as hell.

[He turns to glance at Chara.]

Okay if I take a look at you now, champ?

[A soft sigh of relief, though they lag for a moment, before pulling their clothes down.

You get the hell away from my kid.

That's what he said, wasn't it. You get away from both of 'em.

Maybe, if they were in a better place for it, Frisk would think on that. Would take it a little more to heart; except the very next moment, he'd crumbled to dust over their form, and what was left was-

Brutal honesty. The chance to do something nice for once. When they're all set, Frisk gently take a hold of the folder that Chara's holding onto- it's okay. They'll keep it safe, until Chara's ready to hold onto it again.

Aside from that, they offer the most encouraging nod possible. It's okay. He's okay.]

[Chara hasn't processed those words either. It wasn't that they wanted to focus on what his double said, it's just--

"You'd think everyone's learned by now, what happens to the people you claim to love."

Easier to understand. Easier to apply. They could see themselves as the monster who turned someone else to dust at their most vulnerable rather than the one who came when someone called for help.

"Chara" was what came when one called for Genocide. They can't help anyone.

Wade finishes with Frisk and they take the folder from Chara. So it's their turn. And Chara's sure that what Wade said still applied. They could still say 'no' to this, and a part of them wants to. Even if someone came to them with the best intentions in mind there was always that voice in the back of their head that says it will never end well. And as nice as Wade has been so far, he was still an adult. Still something that set off warning bells.

But Frisk was here. And what they said about Chara not allowing Wade to hurt them applied both ways. They don't know a thing about what the man was capable of, but that wouldn't stop them. So Chara takes a deep breath and closes their eyes before lifting their own shirt.

Like they said, there were a few nicks along their skin from a knife. LV 14 was a time when you knew exactly where to slash with a knife to hurt someone. But there's also a plethora of bruises dotting Chara's skin, from having to tank quite a few blue bones and jump out of the second floor of a building as it fell apart.

There are also some old scars, clumped very close to each other, on their left side. But ignore those. They don't matter.]

[If anything, Wade's even more gentle with Chara. He'd only known the kid for about five minutes or so, but that was enough time to understand-- at least to a certain extent-- what they were comfortable with. Frisk seemed, at least in his modest experience, to be the outgoing one; the one who flirted with dragons like a pro despite only being around ten years old.

Chara is... well, he doesn't know them enough yet to form an opinion. But the saying goes that you could tell a lot about a person by the way they shake your hand. Wade figures the same could be said for the way that someone takes your hand, and from the very start Chara's grip on him put him in mind of a rabbit that's been caught-- tense, mistrustful; anxious to break free but too exhausted to make the effort.

Maybe he's a little off-base here-- reading too much into things has always been a particularly annoying habit of his-- but it doesn't stop him from being as careful as he can with his examination. The amount of blood is worrying, but the cuts seem largely superficial, barring one higher up on their flank that just won't seem to stop bleeding, but fortunately it's not deep enough to require stitches. Wade passes over their torso once more with his hands to make sure nothing's broken before turning his gaze upwards.]

Okay. Wow. Looks like you got in quite a scrape there, kiddo. Okay if I wrap a bandage around some of the deeper cuts? It'll itch a little, but I'm not gonna tie it too tight.

[He's not mentioning the old, white, puckered lines gouging through their flesh. But that doesn't mean he's not making a mental note of them.]

Edited 2017-03-19 04:17 (UTC)

[They already know from recent experience that he'll do his best- they know. Seeing just reinforces the fact; he's as gentle as he can be, doesn't let his hands linger for long, and their own eyes follow the trail of cuts and blood with a grim set to thinning lips, breathes shallow. Whatever they have to be, to alleviate some of the pressure on their ribs. So that Chara doesn't have to worry about them, and they can be there for Chara.

Their voice is a soft addition to the examination, describing his hands movements and what he's looking for- or what he's finding. Their Partner keeps their eyes closed, and Frisk is their eyes. They tell them when his hands are moving up, or down. If they're slowing for another cut. And they go silent completely when Wade speaks, looking at him with half-lidded eyes; it's the most open they've been, around him.

They're not trying to unsettle, but they also have to know they're seeing this.]

Can Chara borrow your shower?

[Wade's connections between a caught rabbit and Chara is correct. Their breathing is shallow and controlled, their body tense. Almost as if this 'rabbit' was waiting for the hunter to decide what to do with it.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

But it doesn't. Wade looks over Chara's injuries just like he did with Frisk and their Partner narrates what the man is doing. Something to keep track of what's going on while Chara tries to not think about why they had those wounds. All of them, new and old.]

I don't mind.

[They don't address Wade's comment about the 'scrape' they got into, nor Frisk asking if Chara could use his shower. The latter because Chara didn't care one way or another and the former because they weren't going to talk to anyone about their...conversation with Sans's double.

Another thing to take to their grave. Ahahaha.]

Edited 2017-03-21 15:25 (UTC)

[Wade can't help but wonder if these two are having a secret conversation he isn't privy to; some innate twin thing you saw all the time in movies and TV shows. Wade has never been a twin, not technically-- his encounters with his alternate selves kind of blurred the line on many occasions-- so he can't really confirm or deny the validity of the "psychic twin" trope. There's something going on between these two, though, that much is certain.

Frisk's question startles him out of his thoughts, and he allows a sheepish, bashful smile to cross his face-- of course they both would want to get cleaned up before first aid was administered. Chara especially, considering all the blood.]

Oh! Sure! Sure thing! Bathroom's the first door on the left down the hall. Don't worry about messing up the towels either-- that's why I only got red ones, y'know?

[A nervous chuckle, quickly cut off.]

Uh... just make sure to come back so I can finish patching you up, okay? I-If you still want me to, I mean.

[Shower would be good. Used to stop in Waterfall, sometimes. They remember dunking their hands in the water, watching the thick coating of caked dust dissolve into the water, like it had never been there at all. Problem was it had.

Used to dunk their entire body into the water, sometimes. It smelled bad, like mud. Like the swamp behind their school. The thick coating of caked dust would dissolve into the water, like it had never been there at all.

But it had.]

Partner..? [They give Wade a wane smile, something brief and barely felt at all, before their attention is on Chara. Hard to focus on other people at the best of times; harder still, right now. They're the only thing to be determined about.] You can go first.

[They can come along, if they don't want to be alone. Cover their eyes or face the corner, wait their turn.]

IC Inbox - hadriel

no subject

no subject

[cw for child abuse]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[cw for self-harm]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject