[SWEET AIKAWA... SWEET SIEGHART. who could have done this to them.
Nikaido runs to the front of the cart, quickly leaping up and taking the reigns and directing the horses to get the hell out of dodge. Several of the barrels fall over with one or two rolling out the back end, but fortunately none of them contain any corpses. They tear out through the exit gates, leaving behind the bodies of fallen soldiers and lifeless friends alike.
It doesn't take long before the shouting and gunfire and other cacophonous sounds fade into the distance. The horses rush along the path and the cart jostles around, which probably isn't great for either of their injuries, but. They're making good time, at least, and no enemies come swooping in to stop them. Their forces are all probably too busy dealing with the absolute confusing as hell news about what happened at the checkpoint.
Nikaido is silent from where she sits at the front of the cart, for the most part. Soujirou is still back here too, but he's tucked himself away beside a barrel, and is silently watching the absolute mess that is a dude with one arm trying to staunch the bloodflow of a dude with a massive set of claw marks down his back.
Eventually, after what probably feels like a small eternity, the horses begin to slow down. Should anyone be willing or able to look outside, they'll see they've entered a stretch of farmland village, with small buildings dotting the fields around them.]
Anyway like, Aikawa's already bad enough off that the jostling can't really make him... worse. I like how this is just the most awkward cart ride with Aikawa being basically in critical state and everyone just sits around him awkwardly.
I'm sorry to say he is not in a state. Can someone please wrap his head I'm begging. He's probably just in general very delirious and very unsteady. Wobblehands in head trauma. This is a weird one lads. ]
Soujirou, hand me the bandages from the kit over there.
[His right arm trembles above Aikawa from the fever racking his body now that the adrenaline has largely run its course. He swallows down the urge to retch and squeezes his eyes shut to fight off the nauseating wave of dizziness as he sways in place. Blood begins to seep from his open left shoulder wound, but he sucks in a breath—cut short by sharp pain from his broken ribs—and presses down on Aikawa's back with renewed zeal.
Once he gets the bandages in question, he asks Soujirou for assistance in getting Aikawa's head wrapped. That is, Soujirou can hold it in place while Sieghart does the wrapping with gritted teeth.
Then the horses slow, and Sieghart's eyes flit to the opening in the back of the cart. He dares not move his head around too much, lest he lose all sense of balance and tip over. He pants slowly, yet shallowly, as they near their destination.]
[Soujirou will help! Though as soon as he moves to his unsteady feet, his reason for staying motionless and silent will probably be clear: he's clutching his side with both hands, which appears to be bloody. Maybe that has something to do with one of the stray bullet holes in the cart's side! did y'all really think i'd let this child get through this cyoa unscathed.
Anyway, he's still a little trooper and he'll insist on helping to hold the bandages in place as Sieghart works, giving Aikawa's forehead a gentle little rub after wiping his hand on his shirt. He even tries to help Sieghart bandage his own arm, though that's a tall order since that ain't gonna do shit for a wholeass severed limb.
The cart comes to a stop eventually, though. They'll be able to hear the sounds of people rushing over from outside, joyous shouts of 'they're here, they made it!' and 'those are Kondo-dono's men, right?!' ringing from outside. Though there's also some concerned yelling from near the front - 'Nikaido?! Are you okay?!'
The fabric flap at the back of the cart flips open soon after, and light floods the interior of it. The excitement and teary-eyed relief of the group standing outside immediately melts into concern, though, considering how GNARLY THESE GUYS LOOK. People are immediately shouting to each other and calling for medical supplies, climbing in to try pulling out all of the injured as carefully as they can. Maybe Sieghart or Aikawa will catch sight of some others carrying an unconscious Nikaido into one of the nearby buildings as they're scooped up into the arms of people who feel like allies, like people they can trust.
Before the two are pulled from the back of the cart completely, Soujirou reaches out for both of them, giving Aikawa's hand a squeeze with his little bloody one and reaching out to rest the other against Sieghart's cheek, leaving a small smear. He speaks quietly - maybe too quietly to hear:]
...Thank you for bringing him home.
[As the welcome party begins to carry them both toward the houses, their vision will start to white out, ears ringing as they lose consciousness.
The next time they open their eyes, it will be somewhere much more familiar, at least.]
[ SOUJIROU!!!!!! Well he isn't dead so it's fine I guess. The way we lost Lucretia... help...
Aikawa continues to not be in any reasonable shape to respond to all the hubbub, though, wheezing as he tries to maintain consciousness in splitting pain plus the large amount of blood loss. Adrenaline is fully gone by now, and he can only do his best to keep his equally splitting consciousness together. Out of spite more than anything, that after all they went through, after all this pain and bullshit and misery -- the last thing he's going to let happen is crawl out of the grave with his body no longer his own, yet again.
Or so he can try, at least, because whether he wills it or no, and even if his body is somewhat of a war tank (also whether he wills it or no), both bodily limits and CYOA have decreed his consciousness will fade.
Soujirou's words, though -- he'll remember that. Maybe.
Who doesn't deserve to go home -- have a place to call home? ]
[Sieghart has only one priority in mind here, and it's to keep Aikawa alive. The dressing Soujirou put together for his severed arm is already soaked and due for a change, but he's still got some blood left to keep applying pressure when he feels warm arms around his body that pull him toward the light.
Despite the dizzying nausea that rocks his senses and the burning pain radiating from his bitten leg, he feels secure. It's a strangely nostalgic feeling, and one he hasn't felt in years. Soujirou's hand against his cheek gives his attention a place to focus, and the child's visage blurs in his vision.
Home, huh?
Before he slips into oblivion, all Sieghart can think is that Aikawa had better live.]
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Nikaido runs to the front of the cart, quickly leaping up and taking the reigns and directing the horses to get the hell out of dodge. Several of the barrels fall over with one or two rolling out the back end, but fortunately none of them contain any corpses. They tear out through the exit gates, leaving behind the bodies of fallen soldiers and lifeless friends alike.
It doesn't take long before the shouting and gunfire and other cacophonous sounds fade into the distance. The horses rush along the path and the cart jostles around, which probably isn't great for either of their injuries, but. They're making good time, at least, and no enemies come swooping in to stop them. Their forces are all probably too busy dealing with the absolute confusing as hell news about what happened at the checkpoint.
Nikaido is silent from where she sits at the front of the cart, for the most part. Soujirou is still back here too, but he's tucked himself away beside a barrel, and is silently watching the absolute mess that is a dude with one arm trying to staunch the bloodflow of a dude with a massive set of claw marks down his back.
Eventually, after what probably feels like a small eternity, the horses begin to slow down. Should anyone be willing or able to look outside, they'll see they've entered a stretch of farmland village, with small buildings dotting the fields around them.]
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Anyway like, Aikawa's already bad enough off that the jostling can't really make him... worse. I like how this is just the most awkward cart ride with Aikawa being basically in critical state and everyone just sits around him awkwardly.
I'm sorry to say he is not in a state. Can someone please wrap his head I'm begging. He's probably just in general very delirious and very unsteady. Wobblehands in head trauma. This is a weird one lads. ]
no subject
[His right arm trembles above Aikawa from the fever racking his body now that the adrenaline has largely run its course. He swallows down the urge to retch and squeezes his eyes shut to fight off the nauseating wave of dizziness as he sways in place. Blood begins to seep from his open left shoulder wound, but he sucks in a breath—cut short by sharp pain from his broken ribs—and presses down on Aikawa's back with renewed zeal.
Once he gets the bandages in question, he asks Soujirou for assistance in getting Aikawa's head wrapped. That is, Soujirou can hold it in place while Sieghart does the wrapping with gritted teeth.
Then the horses slow, and Sieghart's eyes flit to the opening in the back of the cart. He dares not move his head around too much, lest he lose all sense of balance and tip over. He pants slowly, yet shallowly, as they near their destination.]
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Anyway, he's still a little trooper and he'll insist on helping to hold the bandages in place as Sieghart works, giving Aikawa's forehead a gentle little rub after wiping his hand on his shirt. He even tries to help Sieghart bandage his own arm, though that's a tall order since that ain't gonna do shit for a wholeass severed limb.
The cart comes to a stop eventually, though. They'll be able to hear the sounds of people rushing over from outside, joyous shouts of 'they're here, they made it!' and 'those are Kondo-dono's men, right?!' ringing from outside. Though there's also some concerned yelling from near the front - 'Nikaido?! Are you okay?!'
The fabric flap at the back of the cart flips open soon after, and light floods the interior of it. The excitement and teary-eyed relief of the group standing outside immediately melts into concern, though, considering how GNARLY THESE GUYS LOOK. People are immediately shouting to each other and calling for medical supplies, climbing in to try pulling out all of the injured as carefully as they can. Maybe Sieghart or Aikawa will catch sight of some others carrying an unconscious Nikaido into one of the nearby buildings as they're scooped up into the arms of people who feel like allies, like people they can trust.
Before the two are pulled from the back of the cart completely, Soujirou reaches out for both of them, giving Aikawa's hand a squeeze with his little bloody one and reaching out to rest the other against Sieghart's cheek, leaving a small smear. He speaks quietly - maybe too quietly to hear:]
...Thank you for bringing him home.
[As the welcome party begins to carry them both toward the houses, their vision will start to white out, ears ringing as they lose consciousness.
The next time they open their eyes, it will be somewhere much more familiar, at least.]
no subject
Aikawa continues to not be in any reasonable shape to respond to all the hubbub, though, wheezing as he tries to maintain consciousness in splitting pain plus the large amount of blood loss. Adrenaline is fully gone by now, and he can only do his best to keep his equally splitting consciousness together. Out of spite more than anything, that after all they went through, after all this pain and bullshit and misery -- the last thing he's going to let happen is crawl out of the grave with his body no longer his own, yet again.
Or so he can try, at least, because whether he wills it or no, and even if his body is somewhat of a war tank (also whether he wills it or no), both bodily limits and CYOA have decreed his consciousness will fade.
Soujirou's words, though -- he'll remember that. Maybe.
Who doesn't deserve to go home -- have a place to call home? ]
no subject
Despite the dizzying nausea that rocks his senses and the burning pain radiating from his bitten leg, he feels secure. It's a strangely nostalgic feeling, and one he hasn't felt in years. Soujirou's hand against his cheek gives his attention a place to focus, and the child's visage blurs in his vision.
Home, huh?
Before he slips into oblivion, all Sieghart can think is that Aikawa had better live.]