"Yeah. Something about this eye, I guess." Which probably sounded like a weirdly obvious thing to say, but sometimes the idea of context kind of went right over Ginko's head.
He leaned over silently to untie his scarf before going ahead and rolling up the torn, blood-soaked leg of his pants, flinching and gritting his teeth at the sting of cold air on the wound. The jagged gash ran from halfway up his calf to just above his knee, bright red against his pale skin.
"Can't quite tell how deep it is. Hurts like hell, though, and it's been bleeding a lot." Thank you, Ginko, that was not obvious enough yet.
"Huh. Mine just gives me shit depth perception and makes renewing my driver's licence a pain in the ass. Wanna trade?"
All joking was set aside when the wound was revealed though. JW sucked a hiss through the gap in his teeth and he leaned close, inviting himself to prod carefully around the widest part of the cut.
"Not good...doesn't look like you've got anything lodged in there though. Alright. Well. I can't haul your enormous ass up the mountain, so we're gonna play doctor."
JW reached behind him and dragged his pack over and then made a show of laying all the parts of his kit out carefully in the snow. He always brought a water bottle with him but he never imagined using it for this.
"Big sting. Don't cry." He dumped the water over the cut and started to brush away what bits of grime he did see with a handkerchief.
Ginko winced again, biting back a sound of complaint when JW prodded at the injury. He watched uncertainly as the supplies were laid out in front of him, then nodded at the warning. "Somehow, I think I'll be able to--"
OW shit okay so much for smarmy comments for the moment. He gave a pained grunt, his hands clenching involuntarily into fists by his sides.
"What was that?" JW, meanwhile, could make all the smarmy comments he wanted! This was one reason JW would never be a doctor. He dove back into his work, leaning close to the wound to see it better. The cold bit at his bloody fingers and he often had to stop and tuck his hands under his arms to warm them back up.
First came the cleaning. Then came opening up some terrible smelling anti-septic pads that stung worse than the rocks had in the first place. As he administered treatment after treatment, JW's grin faded. He could feel Ginko tensing under his fingers and while he was half blind, he wasn't deaf. He heard all the half-started and choked out swears. It put his nerves on end. What was he doing? What was he DOING? He should have gone and gotten Shirley! She could haul them both up the cliff on one arm.
But no, he wanted to be the one to do it. Him with his shaky hands and bad eyes wanted to be the one to patch up Ginko. He sighed as he pulled out the needle and plastic-like thread. He didn't start work, he just stared at them. Maybe...butterfly bandages would be better.
"What do you think...?" He fished out the white folded bandages and held up yet another choice.
At some point, Ginko had squeezed his eyes shut in order to keep from actually seeing the damage to his leg, but he opened them again when JW spoke up. He glanced between the needle and the bandages for a moment.
"...'S going to need stitches anyway." His voice was quiet and strained, but he kept it as steady as he could. "Might as well do it here."
It couldn't be worse than trying to stitch himself up, after all.
JW let out the breath he'd been holding. Ginko was right. Conflicting emotions crashed over him as he threaded the needle and made a knot in the other end. This man trusted him. He trusted him enough to sew him up.
This man trusted him.
If he fucked up, JW was sure he'd never get that back. He wondered if Ginko would feel the same if he knew Shirley was only a few hours away. JW shook those thoughts away to fret over later.
"I'm sorry."
He began. The stitches were further apart than they should have been and they were shallow. He'd sewed up Deuteronomy a hundred times but she was dead. She couldn't get any deader. If he wound up tearing her pelt they just went into the attic and found an old stuffed beaver or part of an old coat. Anything brownish that could be gone over with woodfinish marker and made to match.
Not here.
As the stitching continued, JW found that if he stayed quiet much longer he'd start shaking again. "Got some legs, huh? I guess you'd have to."
To be fair, Ginko wasn't sure he wouldn't be unconscious or worse if they waited a few hours. But even if that weren't the case, he would take JW over someone he didn't really know any day - even someone who would theoretically have a better idea of what she was doing.
Once again, his hands clenched into fists, crumpling the fabric of his coat under his fingers. Until JW spoke again, he just focused on that, on keeping his breathing as slow and steady as he could - basically on anything other than the brief jabs of pain in his leg, and the deep, ongoing ache of the cold-numbed wound.
The sudden comment gave him something else to think about, at least. He blinked, his brow furrowing for a moment as he tried to process that. "Uh... yeah, I... kind of need them."
Sorry, JW, he's not really in any shape to be processing attempts at compliments.
JW made a distressed noise in the very back of his throat and shut his mouth. He was so bad at this.
Eventually, he tied off his work with a square knot and rested his bloody hands on his knees. "That oughtta hold. We can put the bandages back on..."
At least with it being cold, there was less chance of it festering, right? Right? JW had no clue. He'd never seen this much snow in his life. He lifted a hand to brush the hair out of his face but caught sight of it. And just stared at the red caked under his nails. This was not the kind of intimacy he'd been hoping for.
"I need a smoke." He reached back into his bag and started to dig."
"No problem." He made quick work of lighting up and after a thought, lit one for Ginko and handed it over. It wasn't the ditchweed of his youth, but it was still good. Almost medicinal but not quite as well-bred. "This is for you. It should help with the pain. Then we can figure out a better way up from here. I grabbed all the important stuff from the tent."
He then joined Ginko in leaning against the steep wall behind them. He tipped his head back, antlers keeping him from looking straight up at the sun rising over them.
"...Thanks." The first breath of smoke set him coughing, covering his mouth with his forearm. It wasn't like his usual cigarettes, that was for sure. But the smoke wasn't as strong or as bitter as his mushi repellent, either, and it didn't take him too long to get used to it.
He looked around with a quiet hum of thought, quickly picking out a few glowing forms around them. "Yeah. None that'll do us any harm."
JW continued staring upwards, wishing he could see what his friend saw.
"Good...you know, I'm starting to think I might be bad luck for you." He glanced at the bandages and tried to clean his hands on the snow that had settled at the bottom of the gully.
"...That might be a good idea. Thanks." Even with his leg stitched up and the pain receding a little as the smoke he's breathed in takes effect, he doubts he'll be able to get back up there unassisted.
...Actually, come to think of it, the smoke will probably make it harder. He may not know what, exactly, he's smoking here, but it's definitely not making him any less tired.
Meanwhile, JW, who was used to operating under a fine haze most days, stood and started looking around for a promising sapling. Finally he found one that wasn't too bendy and pulled out his pocket knife.
While he worked, his guts decided that it was time to loudly proclaim that neither of them had eaten breakfast. JW had not considered this when he lit up and he made a face as he carved out a cradle for Ginko's arm.
"Say, Ginko, you ever come across a dead person before?"
Why was that the first distraction he could think of? He wasn't sure. Maybe because with Ginko's white hair, the rest of him would have blended in with the snow eventually.
Ginko blinked and looked over at him, his brow furrowing. "...What kind of a question is that?"
A moment later, though, he sat back against the slope again with a sigh, watching JW work. "...Once or twice. Not an experience I'd like to have very often."
"Just wondering...I mean. You see so much more of your world than I do of mine." He turned the crutch over a few times and bent it this way and that. "That and this is some pretty dangerous wilderness. You saw my place. There's not a lot left somebody hasn't paved or fenced off."
"Hm. Guess that makes sense. But it's not as if people die out here all that frequently... most who are going to be out here a lot know how to deal with it."
He was quiet for another few seconds. "I take it you haven't, then?"
"Not unless the undead count." He held the crutch up and turned it over a few times in his hands before shuffling over to Ginko on his knees and laying it beside him to measure.
Gosh he was tall. Gave JW a good run for his money. Hngg.
"Though there aren't any mountains near where I live either."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
goldeneyeball) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
theattic2015-08-13 03:59 pm
no subject
He leaned over silently to untie his scarf before going ahead and rolling up the torn, blood-soaked leg of his pants, flinching and gritting his teeth at the sting of cold air on the wound. The jagged gash ran from halfway up his calf to just above his knee, bright red against his pale skin.
"Can't quite tell how deep it is. Hurts like hell, though, and it's been bleeding a lot." Thank you, Ginko, that was not obvious enough yet.
no subject
All joking was set aside when the wound was revealed though. JW sucked a hiss through the gap in his teeth and he leaned close, inviting himself to prod carefully around the widest part of the cut.
"Not good...doesn't look like you've got anything lodged in there though. Alright. Well. I can't haul your enormous ass up the mountain, so we're gonna play doctor."
JW reached behind him and dragged his pack over and then made a show of laying all the parts of his kit out carefully in the snow. He always brought a water bottle with him but he never imagined using it for this.
"Big sting. Don't cry." He dumped the water over the cut and started to brush away what bits of grime he did see with a handkerchief.
no subject
OW shit okay so much for smarmy comments for the moment. He gave a pained grunt, his hands clenching involuntarily into fists by his sides.
no subject
First came the cleaning. Then came opening up some terrible smelling anti-septic pads that stung worse than the rocks had in the first place. As he administered treatment after treatment, JW's grin faded. He could feel Ginko tensing under his fingers and while he was half blind, he wasn't deaf. He heard all the half-started and choked out swears. It put his nerves on end. What was he doing? What was he DOING? He should have gone and gotten Shirley! She could haul them both up the cliff on one arm.
But no, he wanted to be the one to do it. Him with his shaky hands and bad eyes wanted to be the one to patch up Ginko. He sighed as he pulled out the needle and plastic-like thread. He didn't start work, he just stared at them. Maybe...butterfly bandages would be better.
"What do you think...?" He fished out the white folded bandages and held up yet another choice.
no subject
"...'S going to need stitches anyway." His voice was quiet and strained, but he kept it as steady as he could. "Might as well do it here."
It couldn't be worse than trying to stitch himself up, after all.
no subject
This man trusted him.
If he fucked up, JW was sure he'd never get that back. He wondered if Ginko would feel the same if he knew Shirley was only a few hours away. JW shook those thoughts away to fret over later.
"I'm sorry."
He began. The stitches were further apart than they should have been and they were shallow. He'd sewed up Deuteronomy a hundred times but she was dead. She couldn't get any deader. If he wound up tearing her pelt they just went into the attic and found an old stuffed beaver or part of an old coat. Anything brownish that could be gone over with woodfinish marker and made to match.
Not here.
As the stitching continued, JW found that if he stayed quiet much longer he'd start shaking again. "Got some legs, huh? I guess you'd have to."
no subject
Once again, his hands clenched into fists, crumpling the fabric of his coat under his fingers. Until JW spoke again, he just focused on that, on keeping his breathing as slow and steady as he could - basically on anything other than the brief jabs of pain in his leg, and the deep, ongoing ache of the cold-numbed wound.
The sudden comment gave him something else to think about, at least. He blinked, his brow furrowing for a moment as he tried to process that. "Uh... yeah, I... kind of need them."
Sorry, JW, he's not really in any shape to be processing attempts at compliments.
no subject
Eventually, he tied off his work with a square knot and rested his bloody hands on his knees. "That oughtta hold. We can put the bandages back on..."
At least with it being cold, there was less chance of it festering, right? Right? JW had no clue. He'd never seen this much snow in his life. He lifted a hand to brush the hair out of his face but caught sight of it. And just stared at the red caked under his nails. This was not the kind of intimacy he'd been hoping for.
"I need a smoke." He reached back into his bag and started to dig."
no subject
He sat back against the cliff face, letting out a shaky breath. "...Thank you for finding me."
no subject
"No problem." He made quick work of lighting up and after a thought, lit one for Ginko and handed it over. It wasn't the ditchweed of his youth, but it was still good. Almost medicinal but not quite as well-bred. "This is for you. It should help with the pain. Then we can figure out a better way up from here. I grabbed all the important stuff from the tent."
He then joined Ginko in leaning against the steep wall behind them. He tipped his head back, antlers keeping him from looking straight up at the sun rising over them.
"Any mushi down here?"
no subject
He looked around with a quiet hum of thought, quickly picking out a few glowing forms around them. "Yeah. None that'll do us any harm."
no subject
"Good...you know, I'm starting to think I might be bad luck for you." He glanced at the bandages and tried to clean his hands on the snow that had settled at the bottom of the gully.
no subject
"Don't worry about it. This stuff happens all the time; it's not your fault."
no subject
Then again, Ginko was always bundled up head to toe. Or at least he had been since JW met him.
no subject
He took another breath of smoke. At least JW seemed to be right about it helping with the pain.
no subject
He shut his eyes and listened to the forest finish waking up. He wasn't looking forward to walking around the long way. He was pretty tired.
"How're you doing over there?"
no subject
He tilted his head back and looked up at the cliff face above them. "...Least we'll be able to see our way back."
no subject
Suddenly he got an idea.
"Both my legs still work. I'll find and carve you down a crutch."
no subject
...Actually, come to think of it, the smoke will probably make it harder. He may not know what, exactly, he's smoking here, but it's definitely not making him any less tired.
no subject
While he worked, his guts decided that it was time to loudly proclaim that neither of them had eaten breakfast. JW had not considered this when he lit up and he made a face as he carved out a cradle for Ginko's arm.
"Say, Ginko, you ever come across a dead person before?"
Why was that the first distraction he could think of? He wasn't sure. Maybe because with Ginko's white hair, the rest of him would have blended in with the snow eventually.
no subject
A moment later, though, he sat back against the slope again with a sigh, watching JW work. "...Once or twice. Not an experience I'd like to have very often."
no subject
no subject
He was quiet for another few seconds. "I take it you haven't, then?"
no subject
Gosh he was tall. Gave JW a good run for his money. Hngg.
"Though there aren't any mountains near where I live either."
no subject
He watched as JW checked the length of the crutch, his gaze drifting over the cradle carved out of the top. "...'S pretty good."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)