spellbinders | here we go again...

[She has to put her worries aside for now. She really did take a beating this time around. She's torn, but she knows that this is the right thing to do.]

Okay. We need to go somewhere. I don't have a lot of energy left for anything.

[This fight was much more brutal than the last. She was pretty much meeting her minit within one to two more blows.]

I apologize.

There's nothing to apologize for, Haru. Just follow me.

[ not that she has much of a choice, what with jude's slender hand still wrapped around her wrist and all.

jude tugs her back into a tent, a bit cramped but still big enough for several people. there are a couple of injured palai resting on laid out mats — not the most comfortable beds in the world, but the best jude and madoka could scramble together between these sudden circumstances and limited resources — and a few more vacant ones. jude releases her wrist and reaches to the side to grab a large first aid kit, wordlessly inviting her to sit down by nodding his head toward one of the makeshift beds. ]

I know it's not much, but I'm sure you understand. First, I'm going to use healing magic to close up your wounds and replenish some of your energy, although you'll still need to rest for a little while. After that, I'll disinfect everything properly and patch them up. Are you dizzy at all? Nauseous? On a scale of one to ten, how bad is the pain?

[ his tone is more serious than usual, but still gentle, as gentle as jude always is. he presses his thumb to her wrist to check her pulse as he speaks. ]

[She wasn't going to refuse a second time. She knows that overdoing it would be in her worst interest. So she follows him slowly and carefully. Trying not to agitate anything to a worse degree.

She sits down on the makeshift bed and almost takes a relieved sigh. She hasn't sat down in what felt like hours.]

I'm more tired than anything else. Using both my power from home and the one given to me here... it was too much.

[She sighs.]

The cuts are a four, the places where the jellyfish got me are about a seven.

Don't worry. It's safe to rest here. As soon as we're done here, you can lie down if you need to.

[ he breathes out a light sigh before getting to work, fingertips suddenly alight with a bright white light. wow, that was an interesting rhyme. fortunately, jude doesn't have to touch the scrapes and bruises and nasty stings to heal them — he simply hovers over them with both hands. haru should feel a faint warmth as the pain slowly but surely dulls. ]

How do you feel? Talk to me.

[ he's taking things slow, conserving his energy, but he'll use stronger magic if he has to. ]

Like I've been hit by a truck.

[She's talking, but she isn't enthusiastic about anything at the moment. Haru's normal demeanor seems kind of defeated in this situation. She's mad that she wasn't able to help more... she's in pain because she took those hits to help save the Palai.]

Why won't they give up?

[ a forlorn frown tugs at jude's lips. his chest twists, but he appreciates haru's blunt honesty. this is hard on all of them.

he hangs his head, still casting a healing spell, bathing them both in a warm glow. ]

I wish I could answer that. I do.

But you did great out there. You helped a lot of people. Be proud of that.

It's hard to be proud when you didn't get to complete the job.

[But she's just being hard on herself. She knows the importance of protecting people and helping people. She does this at home. She fights battles at home. Why was this battle so hard and not nearly as satisfying?]

Forgive me.

Haru...

[ the bleeding has stopped, her injuries less tender than they were minutes ago, so the healing light dissolves into little specks of dust, and then, nothing.

before opening up the first aid kit, he kneels on the ground before her and clasps her hand in his, giving it a light squeeze. a friendly gesture that he hopes is reassuring and meant to be comforting. ]

Remember what I said? There's nothing to apologize for. I think we all wish we could be doing more here. This is...

[ he releases a shaky breath. ]

It's more than any of us are equipped to handle. Especially when it was sprung on us like this. And you haven't just helped with the fighting — the barriers, too. Without you by our side, more Palai would have been hurt. You helped to prevent that. Give yourself a little more credit.

[It takes her a moment to orient herself to where Jude is. He's there, with her, holding her hand and telling her to stop being so hard on herself. But she was really good at being hard on herself sometimes.

She just wanted to be useful and helpful.

But she understands where he is coming from.]

Thank you, Jude. I don't really know what more to say right now besides that.

[She really is thankful to have found so many good allies here.]

Edited (wow i can spell on this fine sunday) 2017-09-03 20:12 (UTC)

[ she is useful and helpful, not to mention both a good ally and a good friend. jude wishes he could communicate that to her, but this will have to do. ]

You don't need to say anything else. It's alright.

[ he offers her a small smile before dabbing some disinfectant onto a cotton swab. ]

Sorry, this might sting a little. It'll be quick.

[ considering the condition she's in, he's sure she can take it. haru may look soft, but she's proven herself to be tough as nails. ]

[It's fine, really. Communicating is hard right now.]

This is nothing.

[She'll try to give him a small smile through the stinging. Because while it kind of sucks... it helps too.]

Thank you for doing this.

Edited 2017-09-03 21:21 (UTC)

That's what I'm here for.

[ it's just as quick as he promised, and then he's peeling off small bandages. there's not too much he can do for the stings, unfortunately, but as far as he knows, cold packs are the next best thing for them if hot water isn't available. luckily, he has one on hand. ]

Here. Apply this to the stings, and get some rest. The magic I used should speed up the healing process for both the wounds and the stings. You'll be back on your feet in no time, but for now, take it easy.

Do you think maybe you could stick around for a while?

[She doesn't want to keep him too long, but the company is nice. Not being alone is nice. She's going to carefully apply the ice pack to one of the worst stings, gasping as the cold touches her skin.]

Not too long, or...you don't have to. The company is good for the moment.

I don't mind.

[ with a calm smile and a hum, jude makes himself comfortable by her bedside, sitting himself on the edge and letting his legs hang over the side. ]

In fact, I'd be happy to. I have nowhere else to be.

It makes me happy to hear that.

[She's almost visibly more relaxed. She doesn't think she could have handled being left alone with this.]

I fear this won't be the last time the Palai have to deal with this. Isn't this exactly why we were creating a means of defense for them?

[ he's glad. she was definitely more than a little worse for the wear. ]

You're right. I have the same worries. We didn't even have the chance to finish building until...

[ until, well. this. ]

I wish I had something reassuring to say, but I'm coming up short. I'm sorry.

[For the moment she is trying to ignore how badly she's sore, or how much damage had been done to her before Jude healed her.]

No, we didn't. Which means we have to finish it before anything else happens.

[The ever determined Haru emerges again.]

You've done quite enough for me in this moment.

We will. And your help has been irreplaceable. As soon as this is...

[ jude swallows thickly. he has to start over once he thinks about what this being over means. bodies, chaos, total destruction. it won't be easy. ]

... As soon as this is over, we'll get right back to it.

[It's her turn for some reassurance. She's going to grip Jude's hand again.]

We're going to see things that will be unpleasant. It's better we prepare ourselves now so we can help our fellow coven members and our Palai hosts pick themselves back up.

[This is terribly hard even for her.]

... You're right.

[ jude smiles weakly. ]

Haha, looks like we'll have to postpone that tea party just a little longer.

[ it'll happen, though. ]

As long as we all make it out of this alive, I believe our tea party can wait. Plus, it give us more time to plan... right?

[Definitely trying not to look on the grim side of things right now.]

Right. And we're making it out alive.

[ something about that has given him renewed determination. ]

What can I do from here that would be helpful?

[Sshe hates the thought of being idle. She really does. If there was evens omething small that she could do to continue the effort.

Though, she really should be thinking about not stressing herself out.]

What you can do is rest. What did I tell you? You've done more than enough. You're still recovering.

[ he squeezes her hand again. ]

I know you're frustrated. So am I. But I can guarantee you that going back out there when you haven't had enough time to recuperate won't be good for anyone.

[She doesn't like it, but, she's going to keep his hand for a moment and just...sit here. Sit here and think about all the ways she could argue. But all the ways she knows that it seriously won't help anyone.

So she shifts in her bed.]

I apologize. It's just... I'm at a loss at the moment. Being taken out of action when you were so determined to keep helping.

[It's fine though.]

I won't do anything to concern you or anyone else.

here we go again...

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