logsinthenight | INTRO LOG: OCTOBER

INTRO LOG: OCTOBER

characters: everyone.
location: the harbor, as well as the rest of town.
date/time: october 1-3.
content: beacon's newest batch of residents arrives on the ferry. scavenger hunt prizes are awarded. the ferry capsizes in a blaze of glory.
warnings: n/a.

welcome to beacon.

It's dim, and the room won't stop swaying, gently rocking you back and forth. A loud sound startles you fully awake, a deep, moaning call: a foghorn. As your eyes adjust, you note faint red light streaking through the room from a tiny, round window.

You've found yourself in a private room, lying on a bed. The last things you remember are the events that led up to your death. Beside you is a folded tablet and a lantern that glows steadily with a healthy flame.

You're on a ship. And that ship is docking.

Making your way to the deck, and eventually the pier, you find only moonlight to greet you, and a dark forest beyond. There are other people here, each with their own unique lantern, and many of them look just as lost as you are. On the ferry you've just disembarked from, the speaker system begins to play a song.

In the distance, across the waters of the lake, you can see the tall silhouette of a lighthouse, its red light slowly turning.

•••

Luckily for all the newcomers, the tablet and the town have some resources available for playing catch up! In fact, as soon as they're prompted to enter a network username, an app containing all sorts of useful welcome information will launch. Newcomers can always check out the weekly bulletins and the records in town hall as well, and everyone's welcome to get in touch with the NPCs through their inboxes.

When the ferry docks, it seems as though you've been spared from any weirdness this month! It's good to have a break now and then, isn't it? And if you participated in the scavenger hunt, you're probably eagerly awaiting your promised prize—

But, ohp, what's that sound? Is that the ferry's engine firing up again? The ship roars to life again as some brave mutineers overthrow its autopilot system. Crowley and the Winter Soldier man the ferry's control room while Aziraphale flits between the cargo hold and the deck, attempting to assuage any accidental kidnapees with reassuring words and cake.

Unfortunately, the joyride is shortlived. Between the ferry's complex control panel and the haphazard attempts to override it, all the group manages to do is send the boat charging full speed ahead—which would be great if it wasn't facing the beach. The ferry jolts forward and careens smack into the dock, tearing down the entire structure and punching a sizeable hole in the ferry's hull.

Well, that could've gone better. But there's no time to dwell on the mistakes of the very recent past! The ferry is sinking, and quickly! Looks like you'll have to scramble if you want to save what's left in the cargo hold before the whole thing goes under... And that's gonna be awfully tricky without a dock.

Oh, and maybe save the new arrivals? Make sure they don't drown? But, then again, if they go down with the ship, they'll just show up again in the church... The same can't be said for the restock for the general store!

As smoke billows from the damaged ferry and the last the harbor disappears into the lake, the Lighthouse Keeper appears on the network with a pretty straightforward question. Also, the ferry's song changes, so. That happens.

ooc.

Hey there, wonderful players, and welcome to In the Night! For this intro log, you are officially without a chaperone. Rastus is back at the bonfire, Will is characteristically elusive, and Robin is, well, you know where she's at. It's up to the veteran residents to fill in the new folks.

And regarding the ferry disaster... Well, you have some options. Here's what you need to know:
This is a player plot organized by MJ, Xy, and Gail! A big thank-you to them for providing us with this intro log event!

Whether or not your character and any packages addressed to them are affected by this plot is up to you! If you would like to assume your character avoids dealing with this chaos and somehow grabs their delivery without issue, go right ahead!

Similarly, if you're looking for an opportunity to make your character's life harder, injury and death are always on the table! Or maybe it's your package that takes the abuse, lost forever to the lake's depths or washing up all waterlogged a week or two down the road. In short: How you engage with this plot is entirely up to you.

What happens to the ferry and the dock? Within a couple of hours, the ferry will sink completely, and anything on board when it goes down is lost forever. Which bodes super well for the ferry, huh? Sure hope the next batch of newcomers has some strong swimmers. Oh, and the dock is gone, too. If you want it back, you'll have to rebuild it.

As for Crowley, Aziraphale, Bucky, and anyone else on the ferry or dock during the collision... Hope you boys like concussions, bruised ribs, and a broken bone or two, because you've got 'em! The exact injuries are up to you, but they're the equivalent of a semi-serious car accident.

One last thing: The fate of the shop restocks, including all of the food for the month, depends on you! Let us know if your character will be participating in the rescue attempt. In exchange for letting us beat up your character, you can save a portion of the month's supplies! We'll let you all know on October 3 what the rations for the rest of the month will look like.

DELIVERIES

The following packages can be found in the cargo hold:

The monthly store restock
For Daylight: A variety of gardening tools piled into a wheelbarrow, as well as packets of seeds for the following plants: Boneset, dogtooth violet, starflower, Carolina springbeauty, pipsissewa, bloodroot, red columbine, narrowleaf blue-eyed grass, harlequin blueflag, and purple pitcherplant; he will also receive a translation for the following: An invitation to join the speaker as company
For Aziraphale: A record player, the complete discographies of a variety of bands (Abba, Rob Zombie, Tool, Hanson, Eiffel 65, and Spice Girls), a two-tiered wedding cake, and packets of seeds for the following plants: Strawberry, cherry tomato, cucumber, blackberry, carrot, potato, raspberry, and pumpkin; he will also receive a familiar copy of a familiar book: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, along with a blue ribbon that reads "BEST IN SHOW"
For Bruce: A handheld metal detector and a rechargeable battery for it, a chisel, a climbing harness (that, according to the packaging, is the #1 Safety Rated!) and a 50 ft. coil of rope
For Cao Pi: A go board
For Rosinante: A sextant, and 3 cartons of cigarettes; he will also receive a translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "Danger! Run and hide!"
For Kuai: A basket of 16 mooncakes, as well as incregredients for more
For Javert: 3 pairs of handcuffs, a greatcoat in Javert's size, and a trunk full of swords in varying styles and conditions; he will also receive an electric chainsaw
For Kol: A record player, the complete discographies of a variety of bands (New Kids on the Block, Weird Al Yankovic, Sound Garden, Ke$ha, INXS, and Spinal Tap), a cooler full of blood bags and ice packs, and an assortment of stamps; he will also receive a translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "I'm lost" or "Need directions"
For Elena: A journal; she will also receive a portable generator (powerful enough for a single power tool or small appliance; can be charged through a typical wall outlet)
For Xayah: A thick journal and a glass vial of black ink; she will also receive a sizeable roll of barbed wire, as well as a stuffed animal
For Ignis: A spice restock (with a few new ones mixed in!), 3 paired of leather gloves, and... 12? pairs? of glasses? They're all in slightly different prescriptions, though. A variety pack!; he will also receive a power drill (runs on a rechargeable battery or can be plugged directly into a wall socket)
For Riku: A wood stove, a set of paints, and 5 canvases; he will also receive a translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "Looking for water" or "Thirsty"
For Matt: A rosary and a Braille Bible... which is more of a collection of volumes, really; he will also receive a translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "Looking for food" or "Hungry"
For Noctis: Two complete sets of the Lord of the Rings series (except, wait a minute... they appear to be the novelizations of the movies); he will also receive an SD card that, when plugged into a tablet, will upload GPS directions to a new location...
For Rosalind: A crate of basic all-purpose lab equipment, a fancy microscope, an emergency eye wash station, a mortar and pestle, a lab coat, a Lite Brite, and... the things she needs to make things float, whatever those are; she will also receive a pair of dousing rods (that will actually point in the direction of water, checkmate atheists)
For Jason: A translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "Sympathy" or "I'm sorry"
For Coraline: A translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "Teach me"
For Eliot: A bottle of hospital grade painkillers (it contains 10 doses and functions similarly to Vicodin)
For Allie: A bottle of strong antibiotics (it contains 10 doses and can fight off most any infection)
For Vanitas: A portable camping stove (runs on a portable battery or can be plugged directly into a wall socket)
For Hope: A soldering iron (runs on a portable battery or can be plugged directly into a wall socket)
For Quentin: A cannister of foaming bandage (can be used 5 times to immediately close a wound/stop semi-severe bleeding)
For Mary: An SD card that, when plugged into a tablet, will upload GPS directions to a new location...

If you submitted an item request last month and we've missed it here, let us know!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You and me both.

[ she can tell that's a lie, could tell it even without the slight falter in his tone of voice. she straightens a little in her seated position, which oddly feels a little better, and her fingers tighten around the ruined book. if he doesn't tell her to drop it, she's not about to let it go. ]

I needed a break. I saw you here. [ and maybe she should have kept going or gone back or left him alone, but then she'd seen him hurt and saw the desolate expression on his face and didn't want him to be. ] Were you going to keep going?

( he already told her to leave it, beyond that... well, he supposes Elektra will do what she wants to do. they do tend to butt heads most when what she wants doesn't line up with what he wants, and they always have. in the end it's not really a battle he's got the energy to undertake, especially when it seems so pointless.

a break. he hadn't exactly stopped because he thought he needed a break, his body just decided it for him. he's bone tired, sore, and the adrenaline has crashed enough that it's getting harder and harder to ignore it. Matt's honestly not sure how he's going to get up at this point. he probably doesn't have much in him to keep going, though he'd push if he had to. as it is... )

No point. Everything left isn't going to be salvageable. ( spoken with certainty, because he is fairly certain. he could tell the lost causes as he fished through the water. anything he can reach is already to waterlogged to be saved; the rest has sunk too far to recover. )

[ she nods. she'd stopped for a similar reason (well, that and she'd seen him at the shore), and maybe she could keep going, but the way that her ribs keep flaring up in pain tell her that that would be a very bad idea. she stands, a bit of a slower process than normal, and pauses for a minute once she's upright, letting her painful, exhausted form adjust to the new position before extending a hand to him. ]

Let's see if we can get you something for your shoulder, then.

( Matt is remarkably capable of pushing himself past the point of exhaustion. he pays for it after, undoubtedly, but he's talented at ignoring what his body is telling him if his brain is determined enough. for a good cause, he's capable of working himself to death, that's how he ended up here. he hasn't exactly learned much from it, though maybe enough to accept her help when it's offered.

he grimaces at the idea of getting up, though he does take her hand with his uninjured arm. it's not his dominant hand, which makes getting up even more awkward. it probably hurts the both of them equally, though not as painful as it would have been to struggle up on his own. )

Are we going to see about your side while we're at it? ( he inquires, because if they're going to worry about his injury, hers is at least as concerning. he doesn't actually need to hold onto her for appearances, there's nobody around to see the blind guy operating perfectly well on his own. he takes her arm anyway. ) I've got supplies back at my place. We might as well go there.

[ it's not an unusual decision, except for the fact that they are who they are and in spite of everything here, she's still not entirely sure where they stand. she's been giving him space where she can and they've been getting along, better even than they had been at home. getting him into an upright position is a painful process for them both but it's managed before too long, and his arm remains on hers even as they both stand.

it's for appearances, she reminds herself. for the new arrivals and those in this place who don't know about his sensory perception yet. she's still not complaining. ]

Might as well. [ there's not a whole lot to be done about bruised ribs or dislocated shoulders except to let them heal. and not strain them by exerting yourself, but. well. ] You ready to get moving?

( there's not much either of them can do but rest, find some pain killers, and possibly a hot pack. ice isn't an option, as far as Matt is aware there's no place in Beacon that has any. he can warm up some rice at best but it might not be worth the effort for the good it'll do. Elektra's ribs would benefit from being wrapped, just to stabilize them, but other then that, they don't have a lot of relief to look forward to.

other than sleep, and that is admittedly tempting. )

As ready as I'll ever be, ( he agrees. away from the water, the destruction, and the frustration. there's nothing left for them here at the water, it's about time to walk away from it. ) Come on. ( the hand on her arm doesn't even seem to be for appearances, because he leads her where they need to go — in the dark with only the light of their lanterns, Matt knows the way easier than she does. )

[ they would probably also benefit from getting clean, too, although she's sure with the two of them in their current conditions that's bound to be a difficult task. not impossible, but not easy, especially if they're determined to do so on their own (which she's suspecting he will be).

he still takes her arm, though, and she knows it's to help guide her to his place, but it's progress. they're in a better place now than when they'd first arrived, and sometimes one doesn't even have to be in peril for them to spend time together! how about that? ]

( he's not agreeing to a shared shower, no matter how practical it is!!! Matt, for his part, doesn't really intend to shower anyway. just getting to his bed is probably enough, he'll worry about the rest in the morning. he's always been one to just get to safety and black out, and worry about the rest in the morning.

it might have been smarter to go to her room, it's not as far out in the dark. neither of needed the slog to the village, though they make it without one of them collapsing. Matt doesn't have much to say, focused fairly completely on getting where they need to go. his tiny cabin is dark when they get there, dark and quiet. the light of their lanterns doesn't help much. )

We should... wrap your ribs. ( his voice gives away how tired he is, even if Matt refuses to let himself sleep before he's sure she's sorted. the cold of the night only made the cold of the water worse, and he's freezing — he has to fumble with the buttons of his shirt with one hand, and not his dominant one. he gives up before he even manages one button, apparently that is too much work when he's worried about something else. specifically, Elektra — because of course the fact she's shivering seems more important than the soggy clothes he probably needs help to shrug off. ) ...You need a blanket. I'll get you a blanket.

[ she doesn't mind the trek, knowing both of them would prefer to have the privacy. him due to the fact that he's still keeping up the appearance of being totally blind and her due to just preferring it. she doesn't say anything and neither does he (although she'll for sure have something to say about him not bothering to shower if only for the sake of getting clean and warm; you are not getting hypothermia on her watch, murdock).

her hand covers his as he tries in vain to unbutton his shirt, and yes, she's shivering, but his hands are practically quaking. her hand tightens around his fingers for a moment before she unbuttons his shirt himself - methodically and quickly, all business. ]

I'll find it. You get in the shower, you're freezing.

Edited (keywords) 2019-10-18 19:37 (UTC)

( even if he wasn't playing the poor helpless blind guy act, Matt would still want to have his privacy. he's lived alone since he was too old to stay in the orphanage, and the only exception to that was when he shared a dorm room with Foggy. he likes people well enough, it's not that, not really. Matt just prefers the independence, and the quiet, of living on his own. he doesn't prefer to be alone, it's just easier for everyone involved.

not practically shaking, his hand definitely is shaking. sort of why he gave up on the button, that was never gonna happen, and he doesn't want to admit it. not to himself and not to Elektra. it shouldn't really be a shock, not after all they've gone through here, that she wouldn't let him silently struggle. Matt doesn't even offer up any sort of fight when she takes his hand, and then does what he can't for him.

his expression is intentionally guarded, with her so close. he doesn't have his sunglasses to hide behind. even with all the steps they've made, it's still a bit of a struggle to trust this is real, that she won't disappear the second he lets himself make the mistake of being sure she'll be there. she makes it hard to stay distant, when she openly shows her concern, when she goes out of her way to look after him, even when there's honestly no reward for it. he's conflicted with himself more than he's conflicted with her at this point.

her hands are gone almost as soon as they were close. he considers fighting her, that he doesn't want a shower, he'd rather just strip the wet off and go to bed... but it'd be pointless. she's right, and while Matt can happily ignore his own needs when there's nobody there to witness it, it's harder to get away with his overly catholic self hatred with someone else around. ) Fine. But I won't be long, and you're next. And then we wrap your ribs.

Fine.

[ her focus while undoing his shirt is purely on the buttons, even as her fingertips catch over his chest as they move, very deliberately not looking at his face as she works. she knows offering to help him in the shower would be overstepping, so she doesn't in spite of her concern of how he's going to get himself clean. ultimately, she doesn't care if he does get clean as much as she does that he gets warm.

she still doesn't know quite where she stands or how he views her, just that they're in a comfortable enough place that she doesn't want to push too far and wreck the fragile thing that they've built. he might not ever love her the same way she loves him again, and she's becoming more and more okay with that, just glad to be a part of his life again. or afterlife, as it were. ]

Where should I look for them? [ blankets, supplies, whatever else she may think of. painkillers, definitely. ]

( she's distinctly not looking at his face, almost determinedly so. despite the fact he can't actually look her in the eye even if she did. her touch is nearly as cold as his skin, and yet every spot she grazes him seems to have a ghost of her left behind, lingering. it'd be easy to let his mind wander to a different time, when this sort of thing was easy between them. when she picked off his clothes with a laugh and he distracted her with kisses, touches, anything he could land if she'd let him.

he grimaces at the warmth of the memory, his head going back to a place that is so far from the moment they're in. he steps away from her when the sodden fabric falls open, rubbing a hand over his useless eyes. he's already heading to the bathroom as directed, and with his back mostly to her Matt gingerly shrugs off the shirt, one side at a time. if it hurts (it does, of course it does), the only hint at it is in an expression she can't see. )

There's a bureau next to my bed. ( it has any linens he's managed to scrounge up — blankets, sheets, towels. the painkillers he keeps in the bathroom with all the other first aid supplies, but when Elektra returns she'll find the kit outside the door waiting for her, the bottle settled on top.

he's not long in the shower. she's right that he doesn't care much about getting particularly clean, just about bringing some kind of warmth to his skin. it helps, and it is a slight comfort on his shoulder. unfortunately he can't stay under the water forever, and when he turns off the spray the cold clings to his skin all over again. dressing is the only thing that will help with that, and he can't get to his clothes until he leaves the bathroom. he comes out with only a towel but she's seen far worse than his chest before, he's too tired to be precious about nudity. ) Your turn, ( he says, not calls. he knows she's close. )

[ he's capable of moving enough to shrug off his shirt, even though she knows it has to be painful. it's a good sign, good enough that she's fairly confident that he won't require help getting into or out of the shower (and tentative connection be damned, she cares enough to not let him so it alone if she thinks he's about to collapse).

she pulls the shirt away as he shrugs it off, nodding to him when he informs her of where the linens are but not moving to find him until a few minutes after he's closed the door and started the shower running, listening for a stumble or crash. hearing none, she heads upstairs to find blankets. part of her wants to find clothing, but he's only told her where the linens are and she's not sure he'd appreciate her snooping any further.

in the past, that wouldn't have stopped her. but things are different now.

in the end, she pulls out two blankets (wool, they'll generate the most warmth) and comes downstairs just as he's stepping out. she walks towards him, pulling the one on top free and shaking it open before draping it around his shoulders. it's not that cold in his place, but going from the heat of the shower to the chill in the fall, eternal night air still has to be something of a shock. ]

Here. I didn't know where to find your clothes.

( no, he's not about to collapse. maybe he should be, but Matt has an unbelievable tolerance to exhaustion and pain. he'll pay for his refusal to stop moving in a handful extra hours of sleep later.

there's honestly not much to find. perhaps she'd be surprised by the small collection of dark clothes stowed away in the bottom of a drawer. black slacks, black shirts, black gloves, a black mask — none of them worn but all ready and waiting, for a moment he needs them. it's the only particularly questionable thing hiding in his bedroom, and it's not something Matt would welcome anyone seeing. it wouldn't be much of a surprise for Elektra.

he hears her shaking out the blanket and somehow Matt still stiffens in momentary surprise when she spreads it over his shoulders. not for long — it stings, for starters, and there's no real reason for it. ) I'll find something, ( Matt tells her, even quieter than usual with her so close. ) There's a bathrobe, I left it out for you. ( it's the ridiculous, huge, dated kind — ridiculous, but warm. of course he left it for Elektra, she's smaller than he is, she'll lose her body heat faster once she's out of the shower. ) I'll meet you in the kitchen when you're done. I mean it about your ribs.

( he's going to wrap them before he passes out, Matt refuses to accept any alternative. )

[ so will she, but first, shower. and then her ribs. they've started aching more and more as she's started to slow down and stop constantly moving, and she nods in agreement as he mentions the robe and reiterates his intentions to wrap them once she's out of the shower.

he'll hear her struggle as she starts pulling her clothing off. every movement that requires her to bend or stretch, like pulling her sweater off and bending down to remove her shoes and leggings, causes her ribs to flare in pain and she'll occasionally have to stop and lean against the wall for support. eventually she makes it into the shower, and though her intent was to get as clean as possible, it's an immense relief just to stand under the heat, the flaring of her ribs fading to a dull but persistent ache.

she steps out before too long, careful as she wraps a towel around herself and then pulls the bathrobe to cover it. it's absurdly large on her, her fingertips just poking out from the cuffs and the waist hanging somewhere around her hips, but it's warm enough to keep her from trembling as the night air hits what skin is exposed.

she comes out to meet him in the kitchen, securing the belt of it around her. ]

We should do something for your shoulder, too.

( if Elektra had been listening in on him, trying to sense a struggle, Matt knows about hers. his hands itch with wanting to go and help her, even the most limited of gestures. it's really the blind leading the blind, they're both hurt and they're both exhausted and both are not likely to feel much repaired without time and sleep. and yet they're both suffering in their distance, a chasm between them that both can feel and neither will cross, for different reasons.

Matt is dressed by the time Elektra exits. nothing remarkable — sweats intended for warmth, more than anything else. he brought some clothes for her to wear, though they'll be laughably big on her if she bothers. he figures anything will be better than the cold and wet she left behind in his bathroom.

in the meantime, he's a man on a mission — he's got his first aid kit ready, painkillers out, and his expression is determined and expectant. ) I'm not sure there's anything to be done. ( if she has an idea, he won't argue. it's just that there's not much to help a formerly dislocated shoulder, once it's back in place. as for her ribs, he's aware that to accomplish what he wants, there's no helping it; it's going to be uncomfortably close and intimate for both of them. )

Whenever you're ready. ( he winds the bandages between his fingers, gaze looking at her but at the same time, not. an idle reminder that while he can sense her, he can't really see her. there's been plenty of sexual tension between them during sparring, enough that it's static. almost palpable. there's no sexual tension here; all he's concerned with is wrapping her ribs, not the indecency required to accomplish it. )

I'll think of something. Maybe a heat pack.

[ she'll bother, once her ribs are wrapped to his satisfaction, but there's no point in dressing when she's going to need to be undressed for him to do that anyway.

he's all set up for her, painkillers and bandages set out at the counter. she nods to him, then turns to find a chair and pulls it closer to him, glancing at him (but not) before sitting backwards in it. ]

It might be easier if I sit like this.

[ she straightens her back, wincing a little, and then pulls the robe off before undoing the towel. it's not necessarily awkward to be topless in front of him, given what he's going to be doing, but the cold does make her shiver. she glances back over her shoulder at him. ]

Do it quickly.

( a heat pack. it'd probably help, and the fact Matt has nothing to say about it is more or less concession to the argument. ice is beyond them, heat could be managed... though not quite as easily as plugging in a heating pad or throwing one in the microwave. it wouldn't be an impossible feat to accomplish, just far more difficult than it would be in another situation. if Matt gets his way, he'll convince her to bed before she can spend pointless minutes on a heat pack that is bound to only have minimal returns. that said, he's pretty used to Elektra doing as she pleases whether it's what he wants or not, so he's not exactly hopeful he'll be able to convince her.

it's a little easier, it's true. there might not be any particularly easy way of doing it, though that's not going to stop him. Matt doesn't have anything clever to say. instead he focuses on wrapping the bandages around her, tight enough that she'll feel the pressure. a good pressure, when it comes to ribs that don't appreciate being pushed so far from where they like to be. any time his fingers touch her skin, they seem impossibly warm compared to slightly damp skin exposed to the air.

he's trying to work quickly, though he does pause about halfway, touch lingering at her side as he slips a few fingers under the bandage to check how tight it is. it's the most intentional touch on her naked skin so far, his fingertips a scant few inches from her spine. still, it's a starkly different touch then when his hands used to stroke up her bare back. it's practical and concerned more than intimate. ) Too tight? ( he'll loosen it for her if she needs it. )

[ there's methods they can use if he's willing to get rustic. if he's got rice, they can heat it without cooking it and wrap it in a hand towel. it might not last long, but it could offer enough relief to let him fall asleep a little easier.

she remains still as he works, arms folded on the back of the chair and trying not to shake at the cold. the pressure is already helping her ribs ache a little less; the bindings are tight but in a way that feels on its way to healing the damage.

she swallows when his fingers slip underneath the bandage, moving over her bare skin, though she knows the intentions behind it are purely practical and medical. the touch is warm against the chill in the air and the warmth spreads over where she's been touched, offering a little comfort and relief. she looks back at him and shakes her head. ]

No, it feels good.

( he can feel the slight race in her heartbeat at his touch, though it's less from pain and discomfort than it is surprise. he probably could have just asked without checking, let her answer over checking the binds himself. Matt's not really that kind of guy, though — and of all people, he's not shy with Elektra. he's had his hands all over every inch of her body, touching a bare spot on her back doesn't even seem remarkable with all the familiarity they have between them.

Matt doesn't respond, just finishes winding the bandages around her. the longer he takes, the colder she'll get. he ties it off, pats her side in a mostly unconscious gesture, and then retrieves the robe to put over her shoulders. he's quite clearly starting to feel his exhaustion, just by how slowly he moves, and the look on his face. it's clear Matt is beyond worrying about much else — he held onto exactly enough energy to see Elektra settled and now he's fading, fast.

maybe his exhaustion is a good excuse for what he says next. )

You don't have to go. ( he could make a ton of arguments as to why it's more practical — once she's dressed and starting to warm up, it wouldn't make sense to go back out into the cold. that they're both pushed far past the point of exhaustion, it wouldn't be smart for her to travel back alone. that they've got a better chance of getting warm and staying warm if they share a bed. his head is past the logic of all that, though. he says it because he can already guess that she'll slip away, probably after he's asleep and against better judgment but she'll do it all the same. either because leaving is something she's remarkably good at, or if he's more honest about it, because she thinks it's what he wants.

tonight, it's not what he wants. it hasn't been what he wants for awhile, actually. it's just the first time he's actually vocalized the fact, over keeping his silence and letting her go, when it isn't really what either of them want. )

[ she pulls the robe on carefully, her ribs still tender even after his careful work. she's securing the tie around her waist, expecting to dress and head back to the inn, when he tells her she doesn't have to leave.

it's unexpected, even after the time they've spent sparring, even after what he'd just done for her. there's a lump in her throat that she swallows against and her heartbeat quickens, just for a second. although she knows the offer is likely just for practicality and to make sure they survive the night without too many complications due to their injuries, or freezing to death.

still, it's an offer she's glad to accept. she nods. ]

Okay.

( practicality would be a good excuse. it's not really what prompted him, though his thoughts are slowed enough by his exhaustion that Matt probably doesn't even know what prompted him. it's a lot on exhausted mind to admit that he just wants her close, despite how many times he's told himself to keep her at arm's length. it is a hell of a lot harder to remember his stupid rules at a moment like this one.

he nods, rubbing wearily at his jaw. he offers, she accepts, and it's over. just like that — he doesn't have energy to complicate it further. maybe it's better if it isn't complicated. )

We can share the bed, or I'll sleep on the couch. ( despite the fact they've shared a bed and then some in the past, Matt doesn't have it in him to make assumptions about whether she's still comfortable with the prospect now. it'd be enough just to know she's still nearby, he thinks. )

[ she finally stands, drawing the robe tighter around herself and trying to suppress her shivering. he mentions that he'll take the couch or share the bed with her and she shakes her head, coming to stand in front of him, placing a hand on his wrist. ]

If anyone takes the couch, it's me. This is your place and you're still freezing. [ and exhausted, she can tell at this point that he's dead on his feet. ]

Edited 2019-10-29 01:11 (UTC)

( it’s true, he’s exhausted and unbearably cold, the kind that leaves joints and muscles unforgivingly stiff and static. Matt usually keeps the temperature of the cabin fairly low, with senses so sensitive the sound and feeling and smell of sweat isn’t at all enjoyable. he’s cranked it now, in attempts to help warm them up, and he still doesn’t feel that much warmer.

it only makes it easier to point out, ) We can share the bed. It’ll be warmer. ( and nobody has to freeze on the couch because of some misplaced sense of decency or modesty or distance. there was no point in it — they both needed warmth and they both needed rest. sharing a bed just made the most sense.

that said, the longer he forces his eyes to stay open the more likely he is to pass out before he gets there. ) Forget about the heat pack, we can worry about it when we wake up. ( he might be blind but he doesn’t need to stand around listening to her change, or using his weird sonar on her naked body, so Matt heads for the bed. he’s confident Elektra will follow when she’s ready.

he figures there’s at least a 50/50 chance she listen to his dismissal of a heat pack. )

[ she's about to protest, but another chill moves through her and she shivers harder and the idea of spending the night on his couch sounds instantly unappealing in spite of how badly she needs the rest. she nods, in acceptance of his offer and his refusal of a heat pack, and takes the offered clothing and disappears back into the bathroom with them.

elektra dresses as quickly as possible, her ribs aching in protest, and the robe is slipped back on over her borrowed clothing once she's dressed. the clothing is a few weeks worn and smell like him and it's comforting in a way that's dangerous if she doesn't want to jeopardize the relative peace between them, especially when she's on her way upstairs to share his bed.

she doesn't dwell on it, leaving the downstairs behind and quickly making her way upstairs to join him. ]

INTRO LOG: OCTOBER

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nsfw (some nudity)

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