[ there's a beat can you believe kaeya is considering saying no? there's a moment of hesitation on his face as a hand moves to start to edge his jacket off. the range of motion is... not with this one at the moment. ]
If you wouldn't mind. I'm. It's hard to lift my arms at the moment.
[ his skin is so tight from the heat. he shivers a bit in mild disgust at the sensation. this is ~pitiful~ and he hates it. ]
[ he'll let it happen, the strength kind of withers out of him as it starts, shoulders slumping a little. he'll help wiggle out of the jacket. the healing crew has done good to make sure his burnt arm is cleaned and carefully wrapped where it needs to be, and the sleeve is nearly burnt away so it will fall easily, but the rest of his clothing clings where he's been singed elsewhere. ]
Hah. I... Yes, I appreciate that.
[ no cheeky remarks, he's helpfully clinical about it, wincing a bit. ]
It was truly hell down there. There were people beneath our very feet this whole time...
[ he frowns, seeing all this. it really is going to be an effort, but kaeya has been a really good guy, so he doesn't mind the efforts. (not that he'd complain helping anyone, but added bonus. ]
That's so hard to imagine... but we all saw you come back with them.
[ he's working carefully at picking the shirt off of him after unbuttoning it. trying not to hurt him in his peeling. ]
Xie Lian tried to convince all of them... we all did, but they were so frightened. I... their children wanted to see the sun so we too who we could. Whoever was willing to come.
I hate that we've torn them away [ he doesn't wince as things are pulled and tugged. okay no maybe once or twice, but he takes it patiently, knowing this is for the better. ] But if we can get them settled here... they can thrive. They won't have to be afraid of the sky like their elders.
There were... all fire and rage. They nearly burnt us alive. We barely managed to escape, but those people were so fearful, they'd have rather seen us dead than help. I get it... fear makes you protective. But a young girl... she helped us.
But fine, yes, cut me out of this damnable thing... [ the shirt is the same fabric that was tied around rochalízo's eye when he arrived. ] Please...
[ quietly as he pulls out a knife. the thing isn't great, but it'll help at least make tearing easier. so he starts to make work of stripping that off, as well. ]
The people underground were... mm. They hated us. For taking their children, for disturbing those beasts simply by falling downwards through no choice of our own. But their children came to us wanting to see the sun. We couldn't leave them there with those monsters, they would have been killed.
[ the knife cuts through easily, and kaeya helps where he can, pulling and adjusting, trying to minimize any pain that might feed back to rochalízo. he'll be free soon enough. ]
We were trapped... the only mental links we had were between our group. No one up here would have known. Perhaps that's for the better. [ a tight laugh, followed by a cough, followed by an "ow". polaris twitches softly from where he's curled up on the bed, a soft noise like a whine. ] No one up here had to experience being burned alive in such a narrow tunnel.
[ his burnt hand trembles. ] Perhaps that was all according to Their plan.
[ And, at some point, while he is listening, he does check on the bath to make sure the water isn't overflowing. Stopping it and coming back. He doesn't break up their talk, but does motion that it is ready.
The ones who run the show. Who watch the Watchers.
[ he motions to kaeya's pants and kaeya just shakes his head, able to at least manipulate the buttons on his trousers, and sitting at the edge of the bath, he can get the rest off into a folded pile. he's not shy, and in fact, he's actually! chill about it. the bath looks too good for him to be concerned with anything when kotetsu is doing him a favor with this sort of dignity. he doesn't stop their conversation either. ]
I think they placed us down there. Somehow.
[ he'll slip into the bath slowly, only because the water against his burns hurts, not as bad as the ones on his arms, but still red and raw. ]
[ he doesn't care, either. he knows this is to help out with kaeya and that's all there is to it. no reason to get weird about it. besides, everyone's had to deal with strip checks already. no big.
but he does help him get into the tub. the water isn't too hot, luckily, probably more mild because of factoring burns. ]
...Wish I had something to help with those injuries.
[ really. he's grateful as the water soothes with the lightest touch, mild is good he draws his knees up and wraps an arm around them. once he's settled, it starts to truly feel good and he drapes an arm over the edge, resting his chin on his arm. ]
You're a good man, Kotetsu Kaburagi. I know our time in Krankaz towards the end was difficult for you. But you're so resilient. I just... wanted to make sure you knew that... I have respect for you.
[ he turns to rest his head fully on his arm now. ]
[ he can't help but feel really warm from these words. settling himself on the floor next to the tub, arm resting on the ledge for now. he offers a soft smile in return to his words. ]
I've had a lot of good people around me to help support me through it. I owe everyone a lot.
[ there is a pure fondness in his voice. he truly does care about the people he's gotten to know here. ]
Wild, huh?
But I'm glad I've gotten to know you, too. None of it's easy here, but we keep going forward because we need to.
[ he laughs a bit at that water flick. instead of flicking anything back, he reaches out to gently pick a small piece of fabric off of him. being very, very soft about it to not hurt him.
but then he pauses at the question and just turns a light shade of red, burying his face in his arms and feels like he's dying all over again. he mumbles into his arms. ]
I didn't see anything. It was something over my link. I'm guessing some embarrassing memories or something.
he stills as that happens, fingers tense until he realizes that the gentleness that kotetsu is using keeps it all to a minimum. when he relaxes, it goes even easier, and he's left pressing his cheek into his arm. another flick. ]
Must have been very embarrassing to make you blush like that.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ he argue it further, but at least he took a chair. it's something. ]
I'll get that started. We'll get you back to yourself in no time.
[ and disappearing in the bathroom to get the water running at a decent temp before coming back up. ]
Are you going to need help getting out of those clothes?
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If you wouldn't mind. I'm. It's hard to lift my arms at the moment.
[ his skin is so tight from the heat. he shivers a bit in mild disgust at the sensation. this is ~pitiful~ and he hates it. ]
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Don't worry, I won't mention this to anyone else.
[ he gets the pride thing, but sometimes, a bro has to rely on their roommate. and he's a fussy dad-type. ]
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Hah. I... Yes, I appreciate that.
[ no cheeky remarks, he's helpfully clinical about it, wincing a bit. ]
It was truly hell down there. There were people beneath our very feet this whole time...
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That's so hard to imagine... but we all saw you come back with them.
[ he's working carefully at picking the shirt off of him after unbuttoning it. trying not to hurt him in his peeling. ]
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I hate that we've torn them away [ he doesn't wince as things are pulled and tugged. okay no maybe once or twice, but he takes it patiently, knowing this is for the better. ] But if we can get them settled here... they can thrive. They won't have to be afraid of the sky like their elders.
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And there were monsters, right? It's... really hard. I'm glad you were able to save some of them, but that's so hard knowing not everyone would come.
[ he debates a second and then goes for his bag ]
It might be easier cutting this off, so you don't have to bend too much. Especially since the shirt's already damaged.
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But fine, yes, cut me out of this damnable thing... [ the shirt is the same fabric that was tied around rochalízo's eye when he arrived. ] Please...
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[ quietly as he pulls out a knife. the thing isn't great, but it'll help at least make tearing easier. so he starts to make work of stripping that off, as well. ]
Fear drives so much. It's heartbreaking.
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[ the knife cuts through easily, and kaeya helps where he can, pulling and adjusting, trying to minimize any pain that might feed back to rochalízo. he'll be free soon enough. ]
We were trapped... the only mental links we had were between our group. No one up here would have known. Perhaps that's for the better. [ a tight laugh, followed by a cough, followed by an "ow". polaris twitches softly from where he's curled up on the bed, a soft noise like a whine. ] No one up here had to experience being burned alive in such a narrow tunnel.
[ his burnt hand trembles. ] Perhaps that was all according to Their plan.
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[ And, at some point, while he is listening, he does check on the bath to make sure the water isn't overflowing. Stopping it and coming back. He doesn't break up their talk, but does motion that it is ready.
Even so, he points at Kaeya's pants. Need help? ]
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[ he motions to kaeya's pants and kaeya just shakes his head, able to at least manipulate the buttons on his trousers, and sitting at the edge of the bath, he can get the rest off into a folded pile. he's not shy, and in fact, he's actually! chill about it. the bath looks too good for him to be concerned with anything when kotetsu is doing him a favor with this sort of dignity. he doesn't stop their conversation either. ]
I think they placed us down there. Somehow.
[ he'll slip into the bath slowly, only because the water against his burns hurts, not as bad as the ones on his arms, but still red and raw. ]
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[ he doesn't care, either. he knows this is to help out with kaeya and that's all there is to it. no reason to get weird about it. besides, everyone's had to deal with strip checks already. no big.
but he does help him get into the tub. the water isn't too hot, luckily, probably more mild because of factoring burns. ]
...Wish I had something to help with those injuries.
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[ really. he's grateful as the water soothes with the lightest touch, mild is good he draws his knees up and wraps an arm around them. once he's settled, it starts to truly feel good and he drapes an arm over the edge, resting his chin on his arm. ]
You're a good man, Kotetsu Kaburagi. I know our time in Krankaz towards the end was difficult for you. But you're so resilient. I just... wanted to make sure you knew that... I have respect for you.
[ he turns to rest his head fully on his arm now. ]
Your heart really is wild.
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I've had a lot of good people around me to help support me through it. I owe everyone a lot.
[ there is a pure fondness in his voice. he truly does care about the people he's gotten to know here. ]
Wild, huh?
But I'm glad I've gotten to know you, too. None of it's easy here, but we keep going forward because we need to.
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[ he looks at kotetsu on the floor tenderly, flicking him with a little bit of water with a lazy hand. ]
Oh... hey, Kotetsu. While I have you here, tell me what all that was about in the boat? You made that face... and then your daemon jumped on you.
[ and rocked the entire boat. he's raising a brow softly. ]
What did you see?
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but then he pauses at the question and just turns a light shade of red, burying his face in his arms and feels like he's dying all over again. he mumbles into his arms. ]
I didn't see anything. It was something over my link. I'm guessing some embarrassing memories or something.
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he stills as that happens, fingers tense until he realizes that the gentleness that kotetsu is using keeps it all to a minimum. when he relaxes, it goes even easier, and he's left pressing his cheek into his arm. another flick. ]
Must have been very embarrassing to make you blush like that.
[ flick flick more water he's a lil shit ]
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It probably was. I didn't ask what happened. Easier not to pry into your link's private life, right?
[ but he lifts his head a bit, cheeks still holding a little blush as he looks at kaeya like this. ]
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[ he just offers him a smile, taps his own cheek briefly. your face is still blushing. cute. ]
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It makes you wonder what the guy has hidden.
[ a huff of laughter. ]