[Action]

[13th_captain]

[As night falls, anyone near the northern edge of the village might spot a figure slowly limping his way towards the southern reaches of town, headed towards House 25. Closer observation will reveal that it's Arumat, battered and bleeding and dragging his right leg as he doggedly trudges on in silence. There's a makeshift splint on his injured

Comments

[tionysus]

[Myuria has been waiting for a sign - Arumat's things have remained in his room, so she knew he was coming back. It was only a matter of time before the sounds of someone returning - definitely missing Draco's aristocratic grace - brought Myuria out of her room to check what the cat brought in.

There's a relieved and yet exasperated sigh as she sees Arumat on the couch. He looks like he's breathing, so Myuria will go back to her room and return with her staff to heal him properly. However, she won't miss an opportunity for some good-natured teasing while she gets to work.]

You've made quite a mess.

[13th_captain]

I'm not cleaning it up.

[He shifts just a bit to make himself more comfortable, an involuntary sharp hiss of pain escaping his lips as the movement jars his leg. From the sweat beaded on his forehead and the way his mouth is set in a thin line, it's clear he's in far more pain than he's trying to let on, and it's not hard to see why: aside from his leg, the visible areas of pale skin are mottled with dark bruises and peppered with gashes of varying depths and lengths. It's pretty clear they wanted this to hurt-- testing his pain tolerance, perhaps?

Of course, actually admitting to being in pain is one of the last things Arumat will do.]

[tionysus]

You're not doing much of anything right now.

[And she means it as an order, not an insult. It's going to be a long night of healing, so she may as well get started.]

[13th_captain]

[He snorts.]

I'm not so helpless that I couldn't fight if needed.

[... which is a total lie considering he's a bloody lump on the couch right now.]

[tionysus]

[She's definitely noticed the blood, and probably has gotten some on herself. Still healing, though.]

I'm sure once you've rested, you won't mind reupholstering the couch. Doesn't seem like a fight is going on right now.

[13th_captain]

Heh... easier to get a new one once I've finished bleeding on it. It's not worth the effort to salvage it when we can replace it for free.

[He closes his eyes for a moment before forcing them open again.]

How long was I gone?

[tionysus]

Now that's just laziness, but I'll let it slide this once.

[She pauses, frowning.]

...Six days.

[13th_captain]

Only six?

[It felt like a hell of a lot longer than that, that much is for certain. He's a little bit surprised that she's actually been keeping track.]

Looks like they didn't find me interesting enough to keep around.

[tionysus]

Only six.

[And now, back to healing.]

It looks like they were done.

[13th_captain]

I wasn't done with them.

[If anything, it's his pride that's injured the most. Being helpless like this, especially in front of Myuria, is making him antsy.]

[tionysus]

If you were, it'd be their blood you tracked all over the floor on the way in.

[Well, it's not as bad as being a wreck and having to be held down to be healed? Good times.]

[13th_captain]

Who says some of it isn't?

[Oh, if he had a bit more energy, there would likely be a repeat of that incident.]

[tionysus]

The wounds you're bleeding out of.

[Except now there's just Draco in the house to help restrain Arumat and that's just kind of hilarious.]

YOU SAW NOTHING

[13th_captain]

I've survived worse.

[But he is looking pretty pale there...]

NUTS

[tionysus]

Keep bragging.

[She's noticed and is trying to fix it. Hopefully she stocked up on blueberries while he was gone.]

NUTS TO YOU, I SAY

[13th_captain]

... telling the truth is hardly bragging.

[And suddenly he just seems... tired, now that the adrenaline is starting to wear off.]