maskormenacelogs | you're a little bit damaged

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you're a little bit damaged

WHO: Aerith Gainsborough, Josuke Higashikata, Kanaya Maryam
WHERE: The Swear-In and then Nonah 006
WHEN: Backdated to February 10th, sometime after 10PM
WHAT: Kanaya brings Josuke to see Aerith after discovering him to be more than a little worse for wear following an unfortunate encounter with Dio Brando.
WARNINGS: Mentions of various injuries and possible language.

[Getting himself home or to the nearest hospital should be a priority, but Josuke's compulsion to make sure others haven't been hurt as a result of his actions remains too great for him to ignore. Even in his condition—face and hands spotted with small lacerations; rips and tears in his clothing, several of which have been stained around the edges with his blood; and only one good arm to use, the other an awful color and swollen to an obscene size, supported in a makeshift sling made from his jacket—he remains tenacious in his efforts to survey the area. For anyone who might need help. For signs of his great grandfather, whom Dio would be sure to run into before long, or for signs of the vampire himself...

Fortunately, it seems as though Dio is long gone and any bystanders that remained during his confrontation with him stayed well enough away so as to remain unharmed. No one thanks Josuke as he passes because they haven't any idea why the fight broke out in the first place. They aren't aware that their lives were threatened, and the only way Josuke could ensure their safety on such short notice was to sacrifice his own, to draw Dio's attention to himself. But it's better that way. Better that they remain ignorant. No one needs to go looking for that man and wind up with injuries like his to show for it...

...or worse, even lose their lives.

By the time he runs into Kanaya, he's been ignoring his throbbing head and broken arm for the better part of an hour. Or at least that's what it feels like. While the pain hasn't subsided, much of it has numbed, but even he knows he won't be able to keep up his manhunt too much longer if he doesn't stop to hydrate and tend to some of the deeper gashes that haven't yet stopped bleeding.

As he draws up behind his friend, a figure as distinct and recognizable as his own even in the midst of such a large crowd, he asks simply, if tiredly...]

Know where I can find some gauze and tape?

[Because that'll really help. Really.]

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[ Just before he opens her mouth, as she becomes aware that someone's behind her, that familiar metallic scent hits her nose. She can smell a person's blood when it's still in their body, but it smells very different once it's outside. She casts a quick glance over her shoulder. ]

Josuke! Jesus, what happened?

[ She gives him a quick once-over, just long enough to determine she'd like a better look, any protests be damned. He looks like a mess, and she's not letting him out of her sight until she's sure he's being taken care of.

She places a hand behind the shoulder of his good arm to gently but firmly lead him off to the side. ]

Come on, let's find somewhere you can take a seat.

[There is definite protesting, both of the silent and vocal variety as Josuke throws repeated glances over his shoulders still on the lookout for Dio or Jonathan, and tries (in vain) to convince Kanaya that he's fine. Really, he's had much worse, this is nothing.]

It's worse than it looks, alright? It doesn't even...you're not even listening, are you?

[Or if she is, she's doing a good job of letting it appear as if his attempts to assuage her worrying are as good as in one ear and out the other. But maybe...that's not such a bad thing. She promises a place to sit and Josuke can't quite keep the relief the suggestion brings to his expression from showing, even if he is afraid he won't get back up again too soon if he allows himself to relax now.]

Honestly, Kanaya, I just need a—

[—a smack upside the back of the head, maybe?

Because whatever he'd been about to say is abruptly interrupted by a string of muttered curses when someone accidentally bumps into his side. He's feeling more tender than he'd care to admit, and without being able to rush around and keep his mind focused on something else, all that pain is finally starting to catch up.]

[ Kanaya throws plenty of curses and shade herself, baring her fangs at the person as they pass. ]

Watch where you're fucking going! I have a hurt man here!

[ But, frankly, they'd done her a favor in demonstrating just how okay Josuke isn't, without her having to pinch him in an arm that's clearly broken. She's no fool, no one wears an improvised sling without reason.

Luckily, they aren't far from a bench, so she pulls him over to it before she pulls a first aid kit out of her purse. Because of course she has a first aid kit in her purse. ]

Sit. Talk. Tell me how this happened and why you're trying to pretend it didn't. I'll need to take a better look at this...

[ She points to his arm but doesn't quite touch it, but she'll need to remove that sling, get it out of the way so she can survey the damage. She can only smell that there are wounds, her nose won't really tell her exactly where they are. ]

[Josuke makes the mistake of laughing a little at Kanaya's raised voice, the jostling of his arm not helping his comfort levels any.]

I don't think they meant it...

[Still, he won't say he's not grateful for the way she's spoken up, because he is. Just like he's glad for the questions when they finally sit down, even if he'd really rather not answer them.

How exactly does one talk about Dio, anyway?]

You probably won't believe me if I say I ran into the Heaven Scent displays, will you?

[More like was thrown into, but you know.

He takes a breath before lifting his good arm up, fingers fussing clumsily with the knot he managed to tie his jacket into. When it's come undone, he pushes the garment off his lap and onto the bench next to him, expression turning dark for a moment.]

Truth is...I ran into someone my family doesn't get along with too well. Really don't wanna get you involved...and I really wanna find out where the asshole's gone before... [He sighs. Heavily.] ...before he finds Jonathan.

Take it easy. I'll handle the jacket.

[ Though she'll probably need to get his shirt off, too. Since it already looks damaged enough, and fitting it over his bad arm won't be worth it, she just takes it by the collar and rips it down the middle, then splits the sleeves. She pulls gauze out of her kit to place over his wounds, tearing strips of his shirt to hold them in place. ]

Josuke, you aren't in any shape to do anything like this, much less track anyone who's already done this much to you. Have you tried calling your grandfather?

[H-his shirt! He really liked that one, too!]

Hnngn...

[Josuke pouts as Kanaya's busy hands tear up what had previously been a really nice article of clothing, the only thing mildly sobering his expression being the bared birthmark around back of his neck and shoulder. Which he promptly covers with his good hand.

With Dio present, it feels a little too much like a target.]

Of course I didn't call him...what do you think I am, stupid? [The hand covering the star mark quickly abandons its task to point accusingly at Kanaya.] Don't answer that!

It's just...I know him. Doesn't matter if I think of a lie, he'll see right through it. He'll know something's up. And if I tell him the truth...he'll get even more stubborn. I'd never be able to find him before Dio!

Then maybe don't lie to him? If you're worried how he'll react to a phone call, how much worse will it worry him if he sees you like this?

[ Shit, just as Kanaya looks at him, she feels that old urge in the pit of her stomach, telling her that someone has to pay. Blood begets blood. But that's not the priority now, and possibly shouldn't be at all, much as she hates the thought of letting it go. ]

If you thought you'd be in any shape to protect him, that line of thought appears to have already brought you to the state you're currently in.

Speaking of, I'll need to check your arm. This is almost definitely going to hurt.

[ She wonders if she shouldn't have him bite down on something, or maybe numb his arm first. But she's just diagnosing right now, and maybe the pain will bring him back to reality a bit. She'll give him a painkiller in a minute. She starts with her hands around his elbow, gently feeling his arm to assess the damage and locate the break. ]

[Josuke's initial response comes only in the form of an exaggerated sigh, though it's hardly anything to do with being annoyed by Kanaya's questioning and more to do with mentally preparing himself for her examination.

It doesn't help.

As soon as she begins prodding around his elbow he hisses through clenched teeth, good hand shooting down to grab the seat of the bench in a white-knuckled grip.]

I didn't want this. [He takes a deep breath, slow and steady. Focuses on visualizing the words he wants to say to make it easier not to lose track of them as she continues her inspection.] But I'm not sorry it was me, because it's better than it being him. You of all people should understand, Kanaya.

In my shoes, you'd probably think the same damn thing. Right up to feeling like shit for worrying him...but knowing that if you could at least find him, you'd be able to think of a way to keep him from leaving your sight. You could keep him safe. Even if...hell, even if it meant sitting on him or something fucking stupid like that.

[Besides, Jonathan could probably heal him with the Ripple. The older man might not be gentle about it, but it'd be worth it. And most important of all, they'd be safer together.]

...I shoulda never left his side earlier.

[ She just purses her lips ruefully, he absolutely has her number, and in his position she might have done the same thing. But, there is one significant difference that helped develop her "better i'm hurt than anyone else" philosophy to begin with. ]

If it were me, you never would have seen me injured before I'd already healed. That's a crucial part of that sort of practice, if you're going to take on another's pain, you never let them see how it hurts you. You don't give them the opportunity to feel responsible for the consequences of your choices. Which is easy when you regenerate.

And sometimes protecting people means you have to trust them, and find a way to work with them against a common enemy. Doing it otherwise is fucking stupid, and I know that because I have a long history of being fucking stupid!

[ Which makes her just feel more frustrated with him, comparing him to the martyr complex she's always had and tried to chill with since she had Ashiah. She feels a little ashamed of it, thinking back, and that she only finally developed her sense of self-preservation for someone else's sake instead of her own. Letting it lapse a last week to fight Tetsuo only drove that home, how disappointed she felt in herself for letting Ashiah down, and how much worse it could have if she weren't in any shape to return home to her. ]

I am the worst person you could possibly use as an example worth following.

[ As she continues down his forearm, she just sighs out in anger and shakes her head. ]

Josuke, I can't find the break here, there's hardly any bone left to be broken, your entire arm is just in shards! I won't even be able to set it.

[ She lets his arm down gently, and rolls back on the balls of her feet, looking up at him pensively from where she's squatted in front of him. She can't fix this on her own, much like he can't fix his problem on his own.

Maybe her solution should be to provide a better example. ]

We need more help than I can provide. But I know who to ask.

...yeah, I'll keep that in mind.

[Josuke concedes to keep from arguing. It isn't that Kanaya is wrong, but she doesn't have all his understanding of the situation, either. Explaining everything would take more energy than he has at the moment, and more presence of mind than the prodding of his broken arm allows. It's just easier this way.]

He did a number on it, huh?

[In hindsight, he doesn't think he could have done better than he did. Except to have never spoken up at all. But would that have guaranteed Dio leaving him alone? Somehow...Josuke doesn't think so. Their clash was inevitable. And painful. But, most importantly, it wasn't without advantage. What he knows now about Dio is far greater than anything he'd ever known about the vampire previously. And this time he knows from experience, not mere rumor. If their paths cross again in the future, he'll stand a better chance of being able to hold his own. Or protect other people.

Speaking of other people, Josuke realizes when Kanaya mentions asking someone else for help that he's been lost amidst his own thoughts. He looks at her, expression briefly confused as he plays mental catch up, and then nods, thinking he at least has the gist of what she's suggesting.]

Alright. I won't ask who. Let's just go.

[Because the sooner they went, the sooner he could try to get back here. Or at least, that's the logic behind his sudden willingness to cooperate.]

[ She takes his jacket and ties it back up as a sling. It's no good for the jacket, but maybe she'll make him a new one later. Before she rises back up, she taps out a text to Aerith. ]

It's no big mystery, my roommate's a healer, so I'm taking you to her. Come on, up on your feet.

[ She helps him up, holding him steady with his good arm over her shoulder. Once he's steady, she starts pulling threads to open a portal home. ]

Aerith! Did you get my message?

[ That she literally just sent like not even a minute ago. Come on, Kanaya. She starts to clear off the table, just to give Josuke somewhere to lay down. Sure, this is what couches are for, but the table would be so much easier to clean blood out of. That's just the sort of thing she knows a lot about. ]

[A part of Josuke is still raring to fight. Kanaya, Dio, anyone who gets in his way to make sure Jonathan is alright. But he knows that in his current condition, with fatigue catching up to him and all of his injuries slowing him down and hindering even his ability to concentrate, he won't be of help to anyone. So he doesn't fight. He lets Kanaya fashion his jacket into a makeshift sling again, and lets her guide him through her portal and back to her home where...]

Your roommate's Aerith? She's the healer?

[As he's being settled onto the tabletop, he can't quite keep the look of surprise off his face. They've never really met formally, but they've spoken a few times. She thinks he's out of his mind for dating a certain someone. What's she gong to think now, seeing him in this condition?

Ugh...]

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