woofus

[bisouled]

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[soulus]

[Having managed to change into his regular clothes, it's easy for Rufus to pull on his collar to show her part of the dressing. He had help for this.]

As you can see, it's dry.

[He also feels dry. There isn't a lot of blood left in him. But that's not the point.]

[bisouled]

[ while it's good to see he's no longer bleeding out, she cringes instinctively when he uses one of those maimed hands to tug down his collar, reaching out to (gently) grab his upper arm. ]

Stop! Stop. Don't touch anything with your hands like that. It must hurt terribly.

[ frankly, it's kind of amazing he's still conscious. ]

If you need anything, let me get it for you, all right?

[soulus]

[He stops moving. It does hurt; however, he's experienced worse. He can deal with a bit of pain.]

. . . Please make a fire.

[bisouled]

[ that is not comforting, rufus.

Fiora sighs. ]

Sure. Way ahead of you.

[ she picked this spot to stop partially because she saw a lot of material that she could use as tinder already. She can't feel the cold too much, but she's sure he can. After a moment, Fiora stands back up, moving around the perimeter of the camp to gather sticks and dry leaves. ]

... What happened, anyway? I've never seen an injury like that.

[soulus]

[She must think that he's cold. Well, having a bit of warmth overnight will help. Truthfully, he is colder than usual due to his near miss with shock.]

I stepped inside a circle of blood . . . and my skin started melting.

[bisouled]

[ if this was anyone other than Rufus, she'd think that answer was made up. As Fiora walks back over to deposit her collection, her brow is furrowed. ]

What...?

[ no, really, what. ]

[soulus]

[If she's asking that, she heard what he said. He hates repeating himself, so he says nothing.

Start the fire already.]

[bisouled]

[ bitch she's working on it ]

I don't understand how something like that is even possible... Where did you go?

[soulus]

Dorothy and I went to a church. It connected to a school.

[bisouled]

And it wasn't half as harmless as it looked.

[ at the mention of Dorothy, her expression darkens a little, clearly pained, but she moves on. ]

... Did you find anything? Another note? At least tell me it was worth it.

[soulus]

We received something that compels someone to speak the truth, as well as the book. There was no note.

[bisouled]

[ at that, Fiora sighs. ]

Not worth it at all...

[ that item could be useful in the trial, but to be honest? the trials feel like a sadistic way of wasting everyone's time to Fiora. In any case, she's trying to spark a fire now. She misses having all her functions in times like these. ]

Sorry. I wish I could be more help, but I'm not a healer.

[soulus]

[He watches the sparks fly. His right hand twitches beneath the dressing.]

I don't need a healer.

[bisouled]

[ at that, she shoots him a look. ]

You'd better be joking. You've got half a usable hand at best right now, and you've got a great big hole right next to your heart! Do you have any idea how serious this is? I thought you might die!

[ oop! it finally catches. there is now a small fire!! ]

[soulus]

I have no intention of dying.

[His gaze snaps from the fire to Fiora.]

Is your dagger with you?

[bisouled]

Good! There's someone who'd miss you.

[ and her name is Fiora. In any case, she does. ]

... I do. Both of them, actually. When my team did well last week, the second one suddenly showed up. [ they're both in their holsters! ]

[soulus]

[Wild. He does not comment.]

May I use them?

[bisouled]

[ she stands up, then crosses her arms. ]

What are you planning?

[soulus]

My right hand is no longer viable. I'm going to cut it off.

[bisouled]

Cut it off--!!

[ she can't help but repeat it, shocked. ]

You've got to be joking! You'll bleed out on the spot!

[soulus]

Why do you think I asked you to start the fire? I brought a tourniquet as well. After I cut the hand off, I will cauterize the wound.

[bisouled]

But... there has to be some other way. I mean...

[ crestfallen, she looks at his hands - she can easily recall how both of them were stripped near to the bone. She can't argue in good faith that he could save it. Even so... ]

What will you do? Your other hand's just as bad...

[soulus]

[She's chosen a good time to look. Decided on this course of action, Rufus has begun to unravel the dressing around his right hand.]

This one is a prosthesis. It doesn't require skin to function.

[bisouled]

Still! Rufus, you can't just chop off your hand...! Why don't we ask someone to use one of their healing items on you? There has to be someone who'll be willing, right?

[ somewhat pleadingly. ]

[soulus]

It's just a hand. I can always order a replacement later.

[Off the dressing goes. He looks down at the muscles of his palm and then up at Fiora. Something like this isn't worth a healing item.]