[Seasons IC Inbox][un: haagentus]

[godofdust]

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

Permanent Catch-All Log

Comments

[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?

[godofdust]

Hmm~

[She sinks down a little into the water, wiggling his hand bit as she holds it.]

What if why I like you isn't because you're a cyborg at all? Or because you're a cowboy.

[Peek.]

[forkeroni]

Well, now...

[He leaned over the tub, hair sliding off his shoulders to land in the water. Some of the blue synthetic was coming off as he leaned further to tilt her head up so he could give her a light kiss.]

And here I thought ya liked my body.

[godofdust]

Heehee...

[She giggles softly and cups his cheeks, kissing him again.]

Every inch of it. [But still, she stands by what she said, and she glances down to where a fine oily sheen is seeping off his hair into the water.]

And I suppose it is your turn.

[forkeroni]

Huh?

[He looked down and saw the same, tsk'ing lightly and pulling his hair out.]

You can relax for a li'l while longer, darlin'. I can wait.

[She did so much for him, especially when asking her for nearly the impossible when it came to asking her not to be upset with him. It was a tall order, he knew.]

[godofdust]

You don't get to fuss over me with all you've been through today, my Ká ił’tee~ [She teases him playfully, the foreign sounds of his name pronounced with deliberate care as she pokes a fingertip softly against his cheek.]

And the sooner you're cleaned up too the sooner I can let you into my bed. I think that outcome is quite positive for the both of us.