[ 002 ] [ Commentlog ]

[dontgiveafock]

[He'd been there for hours, back torn open from the flogging received and body a mass of agony. Joe was aware that he wasn't the worst dealt that day, but it didn't mean his pain wasn't still on the extreme. He knew he should probably sleep, that the coming days would be busy, but for the moment, the man was content to stare blankly at the ground

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[brynkitten]

[ Bryn had only expected to treat one person on the Green, but when she had seen Joe taken out there as well, she had a sinking feeling that one more person had been added to her list. The only small silver lining to this whole thing was that at least Joe wasn't dealt nearly as much damage as Alex.

She'd walked to the stocks once everyone was gone, and after a brief assessment tackled Alex's back first. She took her time with it, trying to make the most of what supplies she had, and only after she was satisfied did she look to Joe again.

Bryn moved around to the other side so she could look him in the eyes, but found him staring at the ground. She reached out and touched her fingertips to his cheek. ]

Joe?

[dontgiveafock]

[He had heard her there, tending to Alex, but Joe hadn't so much as glanced at Bryn. Perhaps if he stayed silent and still, she would pass him by without a blink and spend her time with someone worthy of it.

And then she speaks his name, and Joe clenches his eyes shut and turns his head slightly away from the touch. It's not enough to break contact. After a pause, Joe sighs.]

Bryn.

[brynkitten]

[ When he pulls his head away from her touch, Bryn pulls her fingers away, expecting that he didn't want the contact. Of course, she doesn't know why, but she doesn't make an issue of it and ask. ]

I have some salve and bandages left over for you.

[ She doesn't ask if he wants her to tend to his back, because she doesn't want to draw attention to the fact that he has a choice and can tell her no. After all, he might tell her no and that's the last thing she wants. ]

[dontgiveafock]

[He looks to her then, expression serious.]

Alex and Sollux have been tended to, aye?

[drinkuntilidie]

[After his little talk with Alex, Kevas returns to the stocks again this time with a bag in hand. Kevas can't heal him, but he can give the guy some water and food. It's the least Nel would have done and the most Kevas can do.

Kevas drops the bag next to Joe, kneeling down in front of him. He takes out a bottle of water and unscrews it before tilting it towards Joe.]

Drink up.

[dontgiveafock]

[Without argument, Joe drinks, sips small and steady.]

Dunno why yer wastin' y'time, Kevas.

[drinkuntilidie]

[Kevas lets him drink until he's had his fill.]

Mon if joo start bawlin' at me like Sollux I'm gonna sock joo in da jaw.

[He sets the bottle down and this time pulls out a loaf of bread from the bag. Just like with the water he offers it up to Joe after breaking off a smaller piece.]

[dontgiveafock]

The kid's tough fer goin' through what he did. Young, so let 'im have his bawlin'.

[He eyes the bread and is about to turn the offer down when his stomach gives a growl. So much for protesting. Joe eats what he is given. When he's done, he looks to Kevas.]

Thanks.

[vivenieta]

[It's before dawn when Nieta approaches the stocks. She brings nothing with her. She can't. Instead she crouches down in front of Joe and tries to catch his eye. Is he sleeping, or maybe passed out?]

Idiota.

[dontgiveafock]

[Just resting his eyes, Joe would say. He stirs at the word and lifts his head to look at her.]

Now there's a sight to wake up to.

[vivenieta]

I could say the same about you.

[She glances at the stocks.]

Why did you not tell me?

[dontgiveafock]

Didn't see the point of gettin' more than one of us in trouble. One of the notes they found had my name on it.

[Joe doesn't take his eyes off her.]

What would you have done if I did?

[halfbrokenwings]

[Isabella had taken an unexpected nap. Longer than a nap in fact. She likely knew the reasons why, and when she first woke with the knowledge that she'd been knocked out on purpose, fear rose it's ugly head. Then frustration that could not be considered true anger, and finally resignation.

What's been done, is done.

It was late morning when she woke, and she takes a blanket, a shirt she had been working on for Sollux, and snags half a loaf of stale bread on the way out the door. She makes for the Green and the stocks.

Sollux was gone. She had slept too long and he had been released.

She is, crestfallen. Depressed even.

Yet even as she feels that, she heads straight to Joe with the supplies she has. He had done no wrong.

So she'll approach with her poorman's breakfast and the blanket over one arm. ]

Joe?

[dontgiveafock]

[Joe looks up at the sound of Isabella's approach, lines darker than usual under his eyes. It's safe to say that Joe looks like crap. He does smile at the sight of her though, feigning once more that nothing is the matter.]

Hullo, Isabella.

[halfbrokenwings]

[She tries hard not to focus on his back. Or the blood. She tries to look at Joe's face and she sees that smile there and inside something breaks a little.

She tries to smile at you, Joe, because you are smiling at her, but it is forced. Lacking the life it usually has.]

I brought some bread, it's-

[She takes a breath.]

It's not much. And a blanket.

[dontgiveafock]

Yer a sweet thing, lass.

[He means every word. Her smile damn near breaks his heart.]

Hey now, chin up, alright? M'gonna be fine an' so are the others.

[thii2ii22tupiid]

*Sollux waits until things quiet down before turning to Joe. He keeps his voice low, but more out of lack of energy than desire not to be overheard.
And his throat is somewhat sore from shouting and cursing before.*

...it probably doesn't matter anymore, but I'm sorry about everything that happened.

[dontgiveafock]

Aye, an' me as well. Y'did a brave thing gettin' us out of there.

[Joe's respect for Sollux has boosted quite a bit in the past few hours.]

[thii2ii22tupiid]

No I didn't. I did a stupid thing not checking that place out before letting everyone else go into it. I just got lucky finding a way out.

*As has Sollux's respect for Joe.*

[dontgiveafock]

Could say the same fer me then, lad. I work 'ere and I didn't know that tunnel well enough.

[He pauses. What's done is done.]

A lot of people owe you their lives, meself included. So, thanks.

[He offers a small smile.]