softness

[ascienti]

[ Urianger - or, Umbrosa as his documents said - had finally gotten free. Even if he didn't know where the others were... or if they were safe. Blood dripped from his injuries, imperials shooting at him. But either he had fallen deaf, or nobody was shooting at him anymore.

After a few moments, he realised it was the latter. Stumbling to sit, Umbrosa took off the stolen helm to begin to dab at the blood on his head. Damn... he'd survive. Wouldn't he? He didn't seem to notice anybody staring - though some were. A Garlean?! With the third eye and everything? His lips trembling, Umbrosa mumbled a single word. ]

...Help...

Comments

[wordsoftravelling]

[It's just chance she's here, at this particular moment- but not as much that she reaches out. Partly out of interest, of course- reasons practical and appearance-wise- but also that they're meant to be helping.]

Here- sit down. Let's take a look at you.

[ascienti]

[ He turns his head quickly to examine her... and wow. A Miqo'te, and she wasn't trying to hurt him.

So, he doesn't struggle, and sits for her, averting his golden-brown eyes. ]

...You're a Miqo'te. Can you-- hear anybody chasing?

[wordsoftravelling]

[ooh. She expected- well, a bit of objecting, but this is nice. It's a shame he's turned away, though, his eyes looked quite nice.

She stops to listen, ears swivelling this way and that.]

No- sounds just like the usual people passing through. Should we be expecting someone?

[probably- and especially in that outfit, let's be honest. But- she's willing to take a chance on him trying to escape.]

[ascienti]

They were-- shooting. [ He whispers, as he continues to brush a hand though his hair - more blood on his black gloves, they feel heavier and heavier. ]

...Imperials, I mean. [ He says, his voice raising a little - his gaze darting around before it focuses on her for now. ]

[wordsoftravelling]

[she reaches out to start combing through his hair a little, too- she can get a little more of it out.]

Imperials-!?

[she puffs up, hissing a little.] So you were escaping?

[ascienti]

[ He lets out a soft whine, as her hands brush though his hair. There's some old scars under it... inflicted quite some time ago. ] Yes. I... had a chance. [ A deal with an Ascian, but he'd never say it. Or that she's his Master... ]

...I'm not one of them. I s-swear.

[wordsoftravelling]

[she tries to make her work swift and painless, then, frowning at each scar.]

And you took it… very good!

[she pauses- and smiles, ears up.]

Oh, I didn't think so! You're a lot more charming than other Imperials I've had the fortune of meeting.

[ascienti]

...I'm not charming. Not like...

[ His voice trails off, and his eyes widen. ] My friends. They're still-- hss! [ He tries to stand, but his injuries are getting to him. He'd run without them - by the Twelve, they'd still be... fuck. His gaze wavering, he tried to stand again - less swiftly this time. ]

[wordsoftravelling]

[she'd tease, but she reaches out to hold him, concern on her face.]

Easy! I've got you, but… I don't think we'll be making it back there very quickly. We'll look for them when you're healed up a bit, all right?

[ascienti]

...They're not safe. Not with those-- [ but he is held, and he lets himself be held. ] ...I don't want them to be harmed, Lady...?

[wordsoftravelling]

… [they probably aren't safe. The Empire does- bad things to people- but she can't just let him go back, either- not like this. She nods, and offers him a smile.]

T'rhabye- T'rhabye Genhu. I doubt they'd want you harmed either, though. Let's… get inside, and we'll see what can be done, hm?

[they're not that far away from a building- it looks safe enough, at least.]

[ascienti]

[ He nods, softly. But he cannot dare give his real name - even if she's helped him, he can't trust her. ]

...Umbrosa cen Ascienti. I-- lead the way, T'rhabye.

[ His legs feel so shaky - but they haven't felt that way in a long time. ]

[wordsoftravelling]

[she wouldn't blame him, considering, but as it is she nods and puts an arm around him to help support him.]

This way. [and she starts walking- careful to see how quickly he can take it.] Cen… That's… artisans? What trade were you in? [she's talking to distract a bit.]

[ascienti]

...You'd be surprised what's seen as art to them.

[ He mumbles, as he walks so very slowly. His voice lowers a little more. ] Being a subject of... art gave me that title. [ Nero liked him and pushed it on him. Being a genius gave him that right. But he grips to her a little tighter. ]

[wordsoftravelling]

I… probably would be, I suppose. [given what a bad feeling that's giving her now.

She squeezes him a little, frowning.]

Tch. That's not exactly equal… What would you have like to be doing, then?

[ascienti]

This may sound queer for one like me, but... the arcane arts have always interested me.

[ Of course they had. He had been so skilled before, but now he couldn't harness his own Aether nor the Aether of the land as well. It felt wrong. His free arm - his free hand - moved to touch his third eye, and he frowns. ] Creating pure calculations and art of the past, to help others.

[wordsoftravelling]

Oh- really? Well- that which can't be done easily does draw people…

[she hesitates, watching him. Is this a good idea? But…]

It'd be interesting to see if you could. It could be someone would find a way- that you might find it, since you're the one interested in it!

[ascienti]

[ He nods a little, his eyes looking so very soft, behind all the pain. They're nearly at the building, but he still looks so very scared. ]

Exactly. Though we cannot seem to harness our Aether in regular ways, there are some forms of Magitek which siphon Aether from the land. It's why...

[ It's one reason they wanted to take Eorzea, but he doesn't say that, trailing off. After a moment, he whispers quietly. ] ...I don't want to become like Magitek.

[wordsoftravelling]

[gods. she hopes he'll feel a little better once they're inside and she can properly deal with this… At least this seems a slightly better topic.]

Oh- yes, that's definitely one way around it.

[makes sense of some of the devices she's seen, too. She tilts her head, with a soft sound.]

That's not the path you'd like, though?

[mm. let her just get the door, it's fine.]

[ascienti]

[ The entrance feels weird - but perhaps that's because there seems to be a slight smell of crystals in the room. The room, however, is rather nice - a 1-room outpost, with a sturdy bed and a medicine draw nearby.

As they're inside, though, he decides to simply ask, his gaze broken: ] Have you heard of... bio-engineering?

[wordsoftravelling]

[huh. That's interesting- she peers for a moment, tail twitching, then turns to Umbrosa. They'll be able to do something better than her field first aid now.

She cocks her head, with a hum.]

Bio-engineering…? I can't say I'm very familiar with it. The Allagans… used to do something like that, didn't they?

[ascienti]

...And anything the Allagans did, Garleans mimic.

[ He limps over to the bed, so he can just lay down. He doesn't want to stand anymore. ]

[wordsoftravelling]

Ah. Of course. [she grimaces- he might half-catch it as she goes to fetch ointments and potions.] …too much for hope for you didn't… get caught up in that?

[and she comes over, frowning a little, concerned.] Where's it worst?

[ascienti]

That's the art practiced.

[ For now, he doesn't want to add more. But replicating Allag was quite an art. He does half-catch it, and sort of shakes his head. ]

...my arm. [ He says, quietly - slight moving his right shoulder. A pause, before he realises: ] ...You can remove whatever you need.

[wordsoftravelling]

[she hisses, ears going flat.] Gods- for them to go that far- [ugh.]

All right. Thank you- I realise, after that… it can't be easy. [she sets everything to one side, and reaches out to start taking his shirt- in one piece, for now- they'll find something better later, but he'll still need something to wear. (Though she wouldn't object, really.)]