I refuse to learn from my mistakes [Open]

[fjorgedinfire]

characters: Fjord and OTA!
location: Downtown shopping center; later the Invincible
date/time: 23rd Feb, spanning the next however long
content: Fjord thought infiltrating some crocodile spirits was a not terrible idea, and must face the repercussions
warnings: Some bodily hjarm, first aid thereon

[ 1. Closed to Soldat ]

It takes Fjord a bit more effort than he would have liked to make it clear of the water-logged bottom floor of the shopping center, and stumble his way out of the building completely and into the night. His lantern is still strapped to his waist, and a leather charm bounces with a tinny little clink with every laboured step he takes; the sound, as well as the bob of the lantern, is extremely irregular, as he clutches tightly to his left side with one hand and limps down the stairs and into Downtown proper.

He looks like shit. His entire everything is still completely soaked through, dripping with water; his breathing is laboured, grunting and wincing and cursing with every stumble as he tries to hold his blood-slick armour tight against his wounds. But there's a mindless determination to his form, nonetheless - where he looks like he's going to keep moving to find help, even if it kills him.

[ 2. The Invincible, OTA ]

After he's been rescued, and fixed up enough that he's not at immediate risk of dying, Fjord can be found at the Invicible again. He's not great about sticking to orders for bedrest, though: he's just as often found in the main living area, nursing some heavy-duty bandaging around his entire torso - which is visible even through his newest acquisitions, a plain grey t-shirt and black tracksuit pants - and also an ale at one of the tables in the corner, where he's propped himself up in a corner to keep his torso straight.

Until he gets banned back to his bedroom in room 203, or retreats there to give himself an actual proper break. The hardest part is making sure he doesn't leave to go on his patrol route; he doesn't like sitting still and doing nothing, and he's gotten used to having Jester and Caduceus around so that injures like this didn't happen.

(Those injuries are going to be a surprise for everyone, as well. He didn't tell anyone he was going to explore the mall.)

Comments

[fjorgedinfire]

Fjord keeps half an eye on Sora with his bag in case he needs to snatch it away, but he's more invested talking logistics with Soldat.

"Not that I'm aware of, but I haven't had much of a chance to test it either." He takes a sip of his coffee. He'd prefer black, but this is fine. "It's got a finite amount of space, as far as I'm aware - like I said, there's a weight limit, and the size of things matters a bit - but I should be able to keep plenty of food in there, if I focus on things that won't rot easily. Jerky, hardtack - I can keep glass bottles in there." He's very clearly thinking in terms of what might last for a sailor.

He jumps, and winces, at Sora suddenly yelling at the bag. It's about as successfully muffled as you'd think a thick layer of leather would do; it is also pitch black in there.

[worthallthis]

"Kid. No yelling," Soldat scolds, but gently. They gesture for him to give the bag back to Fjord if all he's gonna do is make people twitch with it.

For Fjord's sake, they shrug a little over the mug of their coffee. If fresh food isn't a thing, then at least it's somewhere spirits can't get to. Maybe. "If you can keep some cans and jars and things in there. That will at least be a safe place. Unless the bag can be stolen."

[arsarcanum]

Sora winces and removes his face from the bag. "Sorry," he says, scratching the back of his head. "Just wanted to see if it would echo."

Still, he'll give the bag back to Fjord, curiosity as sated as far as he understands the thing, then wrap both of his hands around his coffee mug. "How do you get things out of there without any light? Do you just feel around for it?"

[fjorgedinfire]

"If they're gonna steal it, they have to go through me first," he says firmly, taking the bag back and moving to tie it back to his belt. "But it's not like most people know it's special, unless I tell them. Ain't no reason anyone should go assuming it is, it just looks like a bag."

And to Sora: "Well, turning it inside out works pretty well. But mostly I just reach in and pull things out, sometimes it takes a bit of digging."

[worthallthis]

"The spirits here," Soldat explains carefully, "managed to steal my knives. All my knives. Do you even know where I have all my knives on my person right now?" Of course not, no one knows where they keep all their knives on their person. "They did, somehow. Keep that knotted to your belt, just in case." And some spirits can probably untie knots, but not all of them.

[arsarcanum]

Sora makes a face. "I'd definitely bash my hand on something if I tried that. Props, bro." He'd end up dumping it all out and then feel bad about the mess and spend hours trying to put it all back. Maybe it's best that Fjord has the bag instead of him.

Sora glances over at Soldat. "They steal things? Huh. I know they can be kind of random and sometimes they do things without knowing it's mean, but I didn't know they stole things."

[fjorgedinfire]

"I would be curious to know if any guess I make about the number of knives on your person is accurate," he says dryly. Or if Soldat would be honest with their answer on it. "But I'll keep that in mind."

And true to his word, he is actually looking down to make sure he ties it on very securely. "Feels like I'm trying to keep one of my team-mates out," he comments, with a slight grin.

[worthallthis]

"Eight," Soldat says blandly. This may or may not be true. It really is an excessive number of knives, though. "You had a teammate who would steal your things?"

The spirits technically only stole shit for about two days, and then gave it all back, but a couple of them have gotten ideas from that. Soldat has one in particular, a porcupine-looking little guy, that seems to take personal pleasure in snatching their things and leaving them in funny places to find later. In the absence of Owl Friend, Soldat is starting to look more forgivingly on this behavior.

[arsarcanum]

That's too many knives, Soldat. Sora looks over at them, nose in his coffee mug, trying to decide if he's going to believe them or if he's going to give them the benefit of the doubt. Hey, those are two very different things.

"I'd believe that. I had a friend who stole anything that wasn't tied down. He was a pirate, though." Sora turns to Fjord, coffee in hand. "You sailed, right? Any pirates on the team?"

[fjorgedinfire]

"I mean, technically, all of the Mighty Nein are pirates now," he points out, tying off a final knot. "But naw, Nott was always a thief. Rogue, technically."

Soldat would recognise the name; might even be able to remember the small goblin it belongs to, from Fjord's memory that he found. "Back when Mollymauk was alive an' with us, Nott tried going through my stuff to steal something. She's got a bit of a pickpocketing streak, I suppose it comes with the territory."

[worthallthis]

"The kind of screechy one?" Soldat recalls dubiously, ignoring Sora's look. If you wanna know the truth, gonna have to ask, kiddo. "Why would she steal from her teammates, though." That seems counter-intuitive. Steal from enemies, or unaffiliated, but not backup. (Maybe if they were like field command. And it was some kind of quiet rebellion? Her field command woulda probably been this guy. Yeah, pretty dumb, then.)

[arsarcanum]

Eh, he's going to ask later. Benefit of the doubt and pirates for now. (Mollymauk died while Fjord was alive? He first thinks that's really sad, then wonders if the timing had to do with anything, but then goes back to thinking that's really sad.)

Sora shrugs. Jack was the same way. Kept trying to nab his Keyblade the first time they met and traveled together. Probably would have kept at it if Sora hadn't just given him the thing and shown him what would happen if he succeeded. "Debt to pay? Something she wanted to buy? People just like stealing things too, I think."

[fjorgedinfire]

"She just likes stealing things, as far as I'm aware. Buttons, shiny things, gold pieces. First time I caught her was actually because Molly already did, found her going through my stuff looking for this recommendation letter I got. Now, that she was trying to steal for Caleb, to get him into that fancy magic school," he admits, "But mostly I think Nott just like the thrill of the hunt."

[worthallthis]

Weird. But honestly, who is Soldat to judge other people's hobbies? They punch things and make origami. And feed people. They got excited over a new gun. "Still not great for team cohesion to go stealing from them," is all they say, only a little dubiously. "Think you're feeling up to heading for the Invincible, Fjord?" They'd like to get their boots and coat back before Fjord decides he likes stealing things, too. That is a very nice coat.

[arsarcanum]

That's actually kind of charming. "The thrill of the hunt, huh? Relateable." Sora would have loved to be able to meet her if she didn't have to die to come here.

Sora would feel a load better if Fjord stayed long enough for one more heal, but he really does need to get back to his night routine, if only because he is afraid of what will happen to him if he doesn't have it. "You good? If you leave now, I can't heal you again."

[fjorgedinfire]

"Well, someone doesn't want me to get fully healed up," he points out slyly, giving Soldat a playful side-eye. "But yeah, I think I'm about good to head back. I'd really like to make sure my armour doesn't get stolen now, that shit was expensive." And there's no Pumat Sol here to try and make him a second set.

He finishes his coffee and stands up - a little stiffly, between the bandages and the still being sore, but he manages it completely fine on his own. "Thanks again for all the healing you did so, Sora. I dunno how well I would've gone without that."

[worthallthis]

"Nobody comes by the mall this time of the night," Soldat assures him. "Should be fine." Two heals is plenty. No overworking Sora's magic muscles, either-- and Soldat wasn't kidding about wanting Fjord laid up a little while. They absolutely want their thermal imaging scope before Fjord ventures out into the woods, just in case it winds up helping.

Sora gets a little hair-ruffle as Soldat gets to their feet, too. "Thanks, kid. You did good."

[arsarcanum]

Yo, Sora's magic muscles are super tough! So rough and ready! But Sora's gonna playfully duck, letting them get a couple good ruffles in before gently knocking their arm away, pushing his hands into his pockets. Yeah, yeah, he did good. They all did! Except Fjord, who only mostly did good.

He gives them both a once over before he grins, shrugging. "Glad to help. I can go pick it up and keep it in my room? No one uses the other bedroom anyway, it'll be safe until you come back." And he's pretty sure he can find that armor! Seeing it on Molly's unconscious body has basically seared that armor into his memory, thanks.

[fjorgedinfire]

'Mostly' good still isn't bad, especially considering he was at a very real risk of dying.

"I'd rather grab it myself, no offence," he says. "If I strap it on tight enough, ought to help keep my ribs in place. It's got enough fuckin' belts on it."

[worthallthis]

Soldat nods approvingly. "My tac vest can do the same." Not that they're wearing it right now, so that isn't obvious. "It'll be better support than the bandage alone. Let's go pick it up and get your ribs strapped in, Fjord. You get some sleep, kid, you did hard work yourself."

And they'll give Sora a gentle push in the direction of the stairs he'd come down earlier.

[arsarcanum]

Sora will let himself get pushed, hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Two dinky Cure spells and I worked hard, okay, sure. Stay outta trouble, Fjord. 'Night!"

And out of the thread Sora goes with a little wave and a jog back to the stairs. He's sure you two have this handled! Time for him to get back to Christmas presents.

[fjorgedinfire]

Fjord gives Sora a wave as well, and waits until the kid has his back turned before he lets the pain show on his face again, brow creasing slightly as he closes his eyes, lets out a soft sigh and holds himself a little less straight.

"Sooner we get that armour, sooner I can go to fuckin' bed," he mutters, as he starts walking towards the doorways with Soldat. "I think I deserve that much."

[worthallthis]

Soldat holds the door for him, glad they no longer have to carry him. Two cure spells are no joke, Sora, this is a marked improvement. "Don't know about deserve. But need, yes. It's still a trek back to town. But I'll walk with you. Gotta finish my patrol, anyway." And that's the route: loop back down to Beacon proper.

[fjorgedinfire]

"Thanks." He does appreciate the company right now; it's no fun walking home feeling sore and beaten up all alone; he went through enough of that in the orphanage. Having someone by his side is a goddamn blessing. "And sorry again. For bein' stupid."

But there's a slight grin on his face as he says that. Because yeah, he does genuinely regret being stupid, but it is a dumb turn of phrase to say out loud.

[worthallthis]

Soldat sighs a little, in a slightly-exaggerated put-upon kind of way. "I'm used to it. Feel like I wind up surrounded by people who do stupid shit. That's why they got me." Somebody has to look out for all the idiots out there, right? Might as well be the murder machine. "So apparently now you got me, too."