[Seasons IC Inbox][un: haagentus]

[godofdust]

You've reached Guizhong! I'm probably busy, so leave me a message, won't you?

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[Voice to Text]

[forkeroni]

Hey, darlin'.

'm gonna need ya to come down to stables with all the tools y'can muster. And I'd like ya to not be upset by what'cha see.

's a long story and I don't really wanna talk 'bout it right now. My charge is too low fer it.

[When she does get down to the stables, she'll find Boothill laying against Taima's chest (who was also laying down), a charging cable running from his lower back, over the horse's hindquarters, and connected to the wall. But, that wasn't the alarming part, of course.

It was the fact that his arm had been ripped out of the socket, the same arm as last time. It was laying on the ground nearly his sprawled legs, his side covered in dried blue blood. He looked worse than the first time it happened, blue blood splattered in other places before the main injury, hair completly disheveled. His eyes were pulsing slightly as he charged, but also as the warning system blared silently in front of his eyes of the egregious injury and loss of blood, half closed as he "rested" but alert enough that they opened further once he heard Guizhong arrive.]

[godofdust]

[The text is very cryptic, but enough to worry her and spur her into some very quick action. She gathers everything she can think she might find useful and even a few things she might not, shoves everything into a couple of bags, and heads out to the stables immediately.

When she walks in and sees him sitting there every trace of colour immediately drains from her face. He'd see the way her posture shifts, straightens, how she deliberately steels herself against asking when he told her not to, against any show of visible upset because he asked her not to be, and she marches over to him in silence.

The bags are set down, opened, and then she picks up the disembodied arm and checks the connections where it had been torn from his body. Her face is paper-white, but she says nothing while she examines the limb, just glancing at him briefly before she leans in to look over his shoulder as well.]

This is worse than last time.

[For several reasons.

Her voice sounds strange. Distant. Detached. Her brow furrows a little, then she turns away to start rummaging for tools.]

[forkeroni]

Yeah, it is.

[He knew it was unfair to ask her to not be upset, and he can see the strain it puts on her. But, he really couldn't deal right now. Not when he could still see the way Castorice went down, followed not too long after by Tribbie. Boothill hardened his heart to a great many things since he began his vengeful journey.

But people dying who shouldn't have to, kids dying... that was something he could never stop feeling a way over. Boothill could never. What's worse was the tears that ought to have come could not, could never. He couldn't properly cry over theor deaths anymore, the fact that they'll return in a few days didn't matter.

But, despite what he asked her to do, Boothill couldn't resist reaching over as best he could to run his knuckles gently across her pale, white cheek when she was done rummaging through her tool bag.]

'm sorry, darlin'.

[godofdust]

[She flinches slightly and looks over at him when he touches her. Her fingers curl over his hand, squeeze it gently, then push it away.]

I can do what you asked, but you need to let me.

[Don't try to comfort her. Not when he had asked her to not be upset. That isn't fair.]

There'll be time for apologies and everything else later. All right? I need to get this attached before you bleed out.

[forkeroni]

[Boothill didn't argue and simply nodded. His voice was quiet as he said, "Okay."

She was right, he couldn't disrupt her work, especially after he asked her not to freak out right now. He lowered his arm to rest against his thigh and settled in. His emergency systems was already slowing the bleeding, but with some of the tubes that carried the blood being severed, it couldn't completely.

So, Boothill waited, almost alarmingly and inhumanly still, as she worked.]

[godofdust]

[Much like the first time this happened her first port of call is to get the more vital parts connected back together. There's tearing, worse than before, though she can see it isn't along the lines of her previous repairs. At least they held.

At one point or another she has several small tools laid out in front of her, switching from one to the next as she tries to realign various parts and join them back together seamlessly. She ends up with blue 'blood' on her hands, wrists, smudged up to her elbows and over the fabric of her skirt, and doesn't seem to notice. It takes over an hour before she's satisfied with her effort.]

That... that's a start. Don't try to move it.

[He won't be able to. All she's connected back up is the vital systems to carry fluids. Anything else had to wait.]

How are you feeling?

[forkeroni]

[Boothill didn't speak, at first. He was so still, but aware as the alarms inside of him faded away once the vital systems recognize he was no longer in any danger of losing more blood. Then, his eyes seem to twitch a little, side to side, and then he looked down at his lap, his head following after. His brows furrowed, bangs stained blue covering his eyes.]

Forkin' awful.

[He didn't mean physically. There was a pain in his voice. He wanted to hit something, but he couldn't move, he wanted to shoot something but he was completely out of bullets. But, Boothill didn't even have to strength to growl angrily. His hand other hand clenched so tightly the metal creaked.]

Jus'... muddle fudgin' awful.

[godofdust]

[She allows a moment for her expression to... crumple, slightly, hoping he doesn't see. Then she takes a deep breath and reaches for his hand, curling her fingers in against his palm.]

This isn't the best place for these kinds of repairs. Especially once I start trying to close things up.

[They need somewhere a bit more clean. A stable certainly isn't it. With how intricate and delicate everything in his joints is, and as damaged as it is, she doesn't want something getting in there that shouldn't be.]

Once you can move, we should go.

[forkeroni]

[Boothill forced his hand to uncurl, gently tangling their fingers together. He was quiet again, but he listened. An hour wasn't a very long time, but he had enough energy that he should make it up to Guizhong's apartment.

He reached behind himself to unplug.]

We can go now. Taima needs her rest, too.

[And, for him to not bleed all over her.

He carefully lifted the dismembered arm, cradling it close and mindful of her repairs. Even before gaining the Absolute Balance ability, Boothill's uncanny way of movement was smooth. But now, he needed the ability. Boothill hated that he took so much damage. Still, he was up and he didn't fall over.]

[godofdust]

Good girl, Taima.

[Guizhong quickly packs up her things, swings one bag over her shoulder and keeps another in her hand, and places the other hand against the base of Boothill's back.]

It's not too far, you'll be all right.

[She hates this, but she's held it together through worse. There is just something so incredibly jarring about seeing someone with their arm ripped off.]

[forkeroni]

[To be fair, and he may mention it later, but this wasn't a usual occurrence for him. Boothill just somehow had bad luck in Ellipsa. Or, at least, with these explorations. Boothill was only able to hold it together because he had simply been through worse and Guizhong's presence and knowledge was more comforting than she may ever known.

Boothill trusted her completely.

They walked to her apartment, thank goodness for elevators so even less energy consumed, and probably scared some of the residents in the process. He didn't exactly feel aches and pains in his joints but he sure felt like lying down.]

You should get washed up, I can wait a li'l longer, darlin'.

[godofdust]

[She gives him a bit of a look when he says that, after briefly glancing down at her arms and the blue fluid under her fingernails.]

I should finish fixing you up, first.

[After all, she'd only have to get herself clean again after.

So she gets him sat down, pulls up a chair, and dumps two-dozen tools out over the coffee table.]

I'm not sure if I ought to be cross with you. [Since he hasn't told her what happened and she hasn't pressed to ask. She sets his arm carefully in position to start repairing the delicate wiring that allows him to feel and move his arm and hand.] Should I be cross with you?

[forkeroni]

[Boothill certainly felt like she was gearing up to lecture him. But, he shook his head at her question, removing his hat to hook against another chair.

He sighed heavily, keeping unnaturally still once more.]

It was a... gosh darned massacre, Guizhong. Not... not everyone made it back. It was sheer forkin' stupid luck that all I got was a busted arm.

I'm cross enough with myself for the both o' us so save yer energy.

[godofdust]

[Huff...]

All right.

[It happens that she has more important things to focus on right now anyway, and just as well that when she's not being a disaster gremlin she is incredibly adept with such intricate work.

As Boothill already knows.

It still takes her hours to get his arm fully reattached. Hours of silence, of carefully testing each new connection, of making sure Boothill is still alert and keeping her mind on-task so she doesn't make a mistake. Before she starts to enclose anything in a more permanent way she makes sure to sterilise everything, clearing the fresh connections of even the smallest speck of dust.

Now and then, while she's working, Boothill might notice the smallest flashes of gold light from the tools she uses.

It's dark outside by the time she's done. She sits up and stretches, groans slightly, then sighs.]

I'll run some systems checks in the morning, but... I think I'm done for now.

[forkeroni]

[It was a bit of an awkward silence, but with her focusing on the repairs and he charging while staying still, it ended up passing fairly quick. He did notice the golden light, but didn't press.

It was a bit of a shock to suddenly realize just how much time had passed, it was dark outside and lights were on inside. His eyes followed her as she sat up and stretched. With his newly reconnected arm, Boothill reached over to gently take her arm and pull her up so he could bring her close.

Close so he could press his face into her stomach and wrap his arms around her, fingers clutching her dress as he gave the smallest shudder. There were no tears, he couldn't cry. But his voice was rougher and muffled against her.]

I watched another little girl die today.

[godofdust]

[He'll hear the little catch of her breath when he pulls her but she doesn't resist, standing beside him while he wraps his arms around her. She frowns softly, first running her hands lightly over his shoulders and then stroking one against his hair, trying not to get her fingers tangled in the strands knotted by dried blood.

Her hands and arms are still stained with it, along with grease and oil and other things. She's not thinking about that.]

Boothill...

[His name comes out so softly, worry and concern clear in her voice. Despite what he had said earlier she feels like now is the time that she should be allowed to fuss a little bit.]

What happened..?

[forkeroni]

[Boothill didn't exactly set a time limit, he never meant for her to never be upset or fuss. He just wasn't sure he could handle it right then but right now... She could fuss all she wanted.

He didn't answer right away. He had to think about what happened which brought on the emotions all over again, his fingers tightening in her dress.]

We was explorin' that abandoned mansion on the outskirts of the Autumn segment. Everythin' was goin' fine til we got to some room full o' dismembered body parts. Some kinda experiment place, I reckon. Turnin' people into clocks? I don't even forkin' know...we never got a chance to find out.

Monsters appeared and we was trapped in the basement. Strong monsters, the kind that require more an' one person to defeat, each. We tried to escape, get the hell outta dodge but...

[His metal frame shuddered again and he had to refrain from squeezing any tighter.]

Castorice tried her best ta stall, Tribbie an' were blastin' at the ceiling because no matter how many walls we went through, there was no end to the fudgin' basement. One o' the monsters tried grabbin' Tribbie, but got my arm instead. I tried to keep 'em all away from her, but once Castorice went down...

[His voice cut off out and he shook his head against her stomach.]

I just barely got outta there alive, Phainon got through the ceilin'. Got me out but the girls...they was already gone. I tried. I tried, Guizhong an' I still couldn't make it. I couldn't make it again. An' I got no one t'blame but myself.

[godofdust]

[It sounds horrific. She hates that he had to go through it - that any of them had to go through it - but these explorations... she knows that none of them come without risk.

And that sometimes, they just go very badly.

She keeps stroking his hair while he's talking, letting him find what comfort he can hiding against her and refraining from pointing out that he could hold her far tighter than he thinks he can.]

What do you need from me right now, love?

[forkeroni]

[This is only his second exploration and while his last one did not go swimmingly either, no one died. Boothill largely participated in quests and other odd jobs.

But, still, he knew things like this could happen, but no one actually expected it. And, unknown to him right now, it was largely because Aventurine pressed a big red button.]

I don't know, darlin'.

[He didn't have anyone to comfort him previously. So, he didn't know what to ask for.]

Just... Jus' stay with me.

[godofdust]

Of course...

[And she knows it means a lot more than simply being present. She curls her arms around his shoulders and hugs him close, leaning down to carefully kiss the top of his head.]

Though, I do need to clean up... you're quite welcome to come and sit with me.

[It isn't as if she has any embarrassment about being naked around him, after all.]

[forkeroni]

[He did tell her she could wash up earlier, so he wasn't surprised by that. He nodded and finally let her go.]

I'll join you in a minute.

[Boothill wasn't the type to get all that bashful either. He stood up to do some more movement tests with his arm. He didn't doubt her work, it was just habit.

Eventually, he unhooked the charging cable and entered the bathroom and undressed. He set the cropped jacket and pants and holster in a neat pile to the side. He wasn't going to join her in the tub itself, but he did need to clean the blood off himself. The synthetic blood was fairly harmless, but it wasn't good to leave it on the metal for too long.]

[godofdust]

[While he's checking himself over, she takes a hot shower for the sake of not sitting in water with a film of synthetic blood and hydraulic fluid residue on the top. After that, though, she does run a bath.

Leaning over someone's mangled shoulder for several hours would leave anyone sore, and she's no different.

She bundles her hair up into a high bun and sinks herself into the water just as she hears the door open, and she rolls her head towards the sound as she drapes an arm out of the side of the tub and makes a little grabby motion with her fingers.]

Darling.

[forkeroni]

[Boothill let out an amused snort. Even as his emotions ran wild, she always had a way to turn that around.

He sat himself down next to the tub, taking her hand into his to tangle their fingers together. He leaned against the porcelain, matted hair sliding over his shoulder. He didn't want to dirty up the water just yet, seeing as she clearly just sat in to relax after washing herself off.

The bun was adorable and he reached over to pull a stray from her cheek.]

Don't sit in there too long, you'll shrivel up like a raisin.

[godofdust]

Oh no~

[Lightly sing-song. She smiles a bit, tilting her head just so she can watch him.]

Would you still love me if I was a raisin?

[forkeroni]

What kinda silly question is that? O' course I would.

[Boothill chuckled quietly, although it was subdued. It wasn't so easy to be his usual self right now, but being with Guizhong made it just a little easier. ]

Would ya still love me even if I wasn't a cyborg? Just a plain ol' cowboy?