placation: rosebursts (and we can break the rules)
Takuto Maruki ☼ COUNCILLOR ([personal profile] placation) wrote2024-02-03 07:19 pm

LABYRINTHUM INBOX

THE DOCTOR IS IN text / audio / video / action art credit code credit
enteloki: rosebursts - pixiv @ 1615578 (pic#16992962)

[personal profile] enteloki 2024-05-29 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
That would be too convenient, wouldn't it?

[Light and airy, like they're settled across a counter enjoying dinner and talking about something mundane - people, places or a shared nostalgia.

With Maruki settled on a disgusting floor - clothes, cosmetics and everything else strewn in places it shouldn't, Akechi goes behind a checkout counter to scavenge. Their first aid kit is limited and every passing day is a reminder to ration.

An old water bottle freckled with plastic residue. Sealed, iffy, but useable. A single band aid with floral print. No kit. He takes both and a hideous lime green scarf.
]

No, my persona has no capability to heal and even if it did, I wasn't lying about being out of stamina. Robin Hood might have one more attack left, if we're fortunate.

[Grim reminders of reality. Akechi's at his limit - nearly two days with near constant battles enough to run him ragged.

It's not comfort that settles in the pit of his stomach as he takes stock of Maruki's injury. It's nothing. It's-

A blood soaked back serving as a permanent, persistent reminder that he isn't battling alone. That he isn't the only one willing to fight, to kill, to survive. That there's no argument over sanctity of fake realities and lives when they're both in the trenches.

He wants to be alone and-

Akechi's never been gentle. Isn't a doctor. All his skills come from youtube videos after agonizing palace escapes and makeshift cures with salvaged supplies.

Maruki knew what to do.

And so, Akechi remembers and relives that lesson like the videos he used to watch in the middle of night to wind down.

Water on lime green cloth, press it against the injury - rinse, repeat, wipe until it's only speckles of flesh shining through clotting veins. He isn't gentle by nature, but he makes an attempt to not do to Maruki what he would do to himself. Unpracticed, rough, but not uncompassionate.
]

We'll need to reassess our plan later.

[Lime green speckled and stained - the design looks better. Wearable, in a hilarious way.

He holds a hand out - a silent request for the satchel while the mental video is paused in his mind.
]

After we eat, drink and rest. You'll be sleeping first.
enteloki: EIEN @ (pic#17183951)

[personal profile] enteloki 2024-05-30 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Akechi doesn't want to ruin the imagery Maruki has in his mind - behind the healer is a fighter. A killer. A man soaked in blood that isn't his. The persona may have a healing skill or it may-

Rip itself through body and spirt, claw through his chest and tear apart a perceived ego to reveal the truth in dark flames.

The video rewinds. Starts again - Maruki had done alcohol wipes next and the small squares seem like a pathetic mockery to an exposed gash - raw and deep. He might need stiches - Akechi could try. He did them on himself, watched a video, but-

He mulls the thought around until the alcohol stings his nose. He's not a fucking doctor - this is all to upkeep an image anyway. A prince should care and assist when needed. There's no chance Maruki could do this on his own and thus, he has to step in.

Nothing more.
]

It's awful. [Pause, and-] This will hurt, but you can handle it. Bear it and bite down on this - [A shitty polka dot blouse is tossed over the good shoulder, right into his lap. A way to cut his teeth.] - if it's too much.

[Still airy and neutral, he waits until there's some kind of acknowledgement of what's about to happen before-

Maruki's hunched form twists. Shifts. Reminds of him of being pressed against the wall of a safe room - back when injuries made tears prick at the edge of his vision. When he pressed salves and alcohol into wounds that needed immediate attention because the trek to lower levels was treacherous. When he would press his palms deep in his eyes until blooms of color appeared in dark lids because it hurt and -

Even if it did, everything healed the second he left the Metaverse. Maruki won't have that luxury.

Akechi pauses - silent, tired and-
]

There's no shame in feeling pain. You'll get used to it, in time.

[He unwraps another wipe, intent on using both hands to work fast.]

Are you ready?
enteloki: rosebursts (pic#16981120)

gross laughing crying throwing up summoning a void consuming the earth turns my spirit to ash

[personal profile] enteloki 2024-05-30 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
[There's a brief concern Maruki might pass out. An annoying problem because he doesn't have the excess energy to roll a grown around the floor like a fucked up katamari to wrap bandages.

The thought doesn't make him relent. He continues to peel red tinted wipes from his gloved hands and open new ones until the wound is coated. They're down to a single digit amount of them now. An unpleasant thought. Maruki's next battle will have to be as a last resort. Dodging will be their first lesson outside of this shithole.

Back to the video - ointment. Gauze. Bandages. The little packets of treatment low in number - while Maruki recovers and talks, he squeezes the limited supply against small slips of gauze. Tries to rub the sides together for better coverage, even if it's thin. It needs to be on the wound, not bare skin. It's during this goddamn craft session he really hears that comment a few seconds after he originally said it and-

Akechi lets out a snort of a response. If he can fuck around like this, he's holding up better than he thought.
]

I still have mine for bartering if you're so desperate. I'm thinking a plate of ebi nigiri and fatty tuna will suffice. [A beat.] Jagarico too.

[He continues to unravel, disperse, press little pieces of gauze against his shoulder and back - focusing on the worst parts. There won't be enough for the entire line.

Once Maruki's situated, he'll scavenge the room. A city likely has laws and standards for the working environment. An employee area somewhere should have more than a old, floral band-aid.

A rumble. A shake. It's far away - almost sounds like a looming storm rolling into the city. The final stand of upright cosmetics toppling to the ground with a sudden crash.
]

Even as a joke, I can barely stomach the thought of taking it.

[The issue is-

Maruki may need it. The dungeon had done a number on his hands and while Akechi held out for the extent he could, it did require healing at the clinic. He didn't ask where the abilities originated. The additional concern of coming back to reality with marred skin that will ruin his status compelled him to do it. He can't risk it.
]

You'll need to take off your shirt for me to wrap this effectively. I'll find another one for you afterwards - this one is a lost cause anyway.
enteloki: antibiotical (pic#17006417)

[personal profile] enteloki 2024-05-30 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
I'm certain she would. Venat is a kind individual - I doubt she would deny much without reason.

[Venat. A bizarre footnote in his own social circle. Feelings oscillate towards dislike and neutrality with every piece of information she provides. Her brand of logic, reasoning and calm-

Detestable. He can't stand it and-

The wound on his arm a pulsing, persistent annoyance he wants to keep with him awhile longer. A reminder of weakness and wrath towards a world that ripped his strength away.

The final piece of the mental video ends and Akechi plays musical body parts to finagle their remaining roll of bandages around him. He moves quickly, but doesn't seem to care that much about jostling him around. It's necessary. This isn't fun for him either.

And just like that -

Their roll of bandages is down to a pathetic nub. Maruki's injured. Robin Hood's on fumes and Akechi with it.

It doesn't look great, but there's something to thriving in adversity and this is a path he's traveled enough that his metaphorical shoes are worn to shreds. It's so fucking typical. Simple. All you do is keep going.

He slaps the dulled floral band aid to the edge of Maruki's injury - the smallest piece not covered by a true bandage out of spite, maybe, and-

Time to move again. He pushes himself up from the ground - presses his hands against his thighs to force his upper body up when his muscles ache. Shirt. Food. Drink. Supplies.
]

You'll have to be on your own for a moment. I'm going to look around and don't plan to be gone long.

[A shuffle to the crumpled up, bloody shirt to get the size on a crimson tinted tag. An exact size will be impossible, but he needs to know how far to deviate. Akechi doesn't want to fuck around with it too much and-

It's tossed again - further and into a pile of forgotten jeans.
]

If I may suggest, please take the time to get some sleep. There's nothing around us and should be safe for the foreseeable future.
Edited (w o r d s ) 2024-05-30 04:48 (UTC)