((Joey continued from: Babette's Supper Club))
((OOC: Fair warning, I will be gone from April 6th until April 16th. If you join this thead, feel free to write around me a bit))
The morning announcements. One week's worth of morning announcements had happened since Joey Grey had been thrown onto this island and told that he was part of Survival of the Fittest. While that realization had long since sunk in, Joey still found himself in situations that made the whole thing way too intense. It was way too intense to hear about people he knew killing his friends. It was way too intense to witness people he knew dying.
It hadn't quite been a full day since Joey watched (who he now knew was) Claire strike Matt in the head, causing Matt to cascade through the docks and to his death. Unlike when he had witnessed Yasmin's death, Joey didn't feel fear. Joey was angry. He was angry at Claire. He was angry at the whole damn thing. He just wanted to go home, crash on his bed, listen to some music, really anything but what he was currently doing.
Joey stopped briefly to examine his map. He was close to the inland lagoon. He had put a star next to it on his map, indicating that it may be a spot where people would go seeking clean water. Joey was fairly certain it was a salt-water run-off, but he'd have to check anyways since his supplies were starting to run low.
As he moved into the area, the brush beneath his feet and all-around him became denser. His hook swords proved useful as make-shift machetes as he mowed his way towards the water. He noticed that it was noisier here than other parts of the island. He could hear the birds in the trees, he could hear his own footsteps much better than any other spot he'd been.
Finally, he reached the water side. He bent down to inspect the water. It appeared pretty clear, but it would take a quick taste to determine if it was salty. Joey cupped his hands, filled his hands and brought them to his lips.
"Dammit." He said as he spat the water back into the lagoon. He remembered from his Geography classes that they had studied bodies of water. He believed the term for this lagoon was brackish. The water wasn't nearly as salty as the ocean, but it was not something he could fill his bottles with.
A twig snapped somewhere nearby.
"Shit."
Joey looked around frantically, trying to hone his vision and hearing to any movements or any additional noise. He heard another noise as if something was moving around the perimeter or the lagoon. He didn't want to shout out to whatever was making the noise. Matt had proven that could be a bad idea. Instead, Joey slowly backed up into a particularly dense part of the brush and laid flat on the ground, hookswords at his sides.
He could still hear the noises as he glanced around. It was then he noticed something.
No..damn...
He'd left his bag right next to the water. He couldn't very well get it now, there was a clear noise of something with size moving around this area.
Joey gritted his teeth, and tried to refocus, waiting and hoping whatever it was either passed soon, or revealed themselves.
In Silent Seas We Drown
In Silent Seas We Drown
Stuff. Things. Stuff and things.
((Kammy continued from No Time Left))
Walking around felt ethereal, false. Her mind kept drifting, forgetting what had happened, and for minutes at a time, Kammy had it fixed in her head that she needed to keep looking for Michelle, had to find her before...
And then she remembered, and it cycled around all over again. It had been a driving force, motivation for nearly a week, and now the goal had been kicked out from underneath her, before she even got there. Worse yet, their paths had intersected twice, if only Kam had acted differently... if she'd just decided to rest in the hospital after the fight with Alex, if she'd followed up on those suspicions right back at the beginning...
Those thoughts were driving her insane.
Kammy was barely paying attention to her direction any more. There was some vaguely conceived notion about making Eliza pay and that was about it. Even then, the concept just seemed so hollow. Eliza deserved to die, Kam kept telling herself that, over and over. Michelle was and would still be dead though, and at that point, Eliza would be feeling none of the pain that Kammy was, would be done and gone. Justice maybe, punishment no.
There had to be some way to... to...
Struck with almost physical force by the thought, Kam stumbled, foot coming down heavily on a dry stick, snapping it.
For the first time in a while, Kammy's eyes focused, actually paying attention to her surroundings. Ahead was a large pool of water, a collection of rocks surrounding it. Lagoon. She could nearly have blundered straight off the island and into the water without noticing. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, and then she paused.
There was a bag laying by the waterside, seemingly abandoned. Eyes narrowed, she took another sweeping look around. Nobody in sight but...
The molina was in her hand. Michelle's blood had dried now, staining the metal murky brown. Kam's other hand came up to clasp the grip. Surely nobody would just leave a bag there by itself.
"If someone's there... come out. I'm armed but I'm not looking to fight."
Walking around felt ethereal, false. Her mind kept drifting, forgetting what had happened, and for minutes at a time, Kammy had it fixed in her head that she needed to keep looking for Michelle, had to find her before...
And then she remembered, and it cycled around all over again. It had been a driving force, motivation for nearly a week, and now the goal had been kicked out from underneath her, before she even got there. Worse yet, their paths had intersected twice, if only Kam had acted differently... if she'd just decided to rest in the hospital after the fight with Alex, if she'd followed up on those suspicions right back at the beginning...
Those thoughts were driving her insane.
Kammy was barely paying attention to her direction any more. There was some vaguely conceived notion about making Eliza pay and that was about it. Even then, the concept just seemed so hollow. Eliza deserved to die, Kam kept telling herself that, over and over. Michelle was and would still be dead though, and at that point, Eliza would be feeling none of the pain that Kammy was, would be done and gone. Justice maybe, punishment no.
There had to be some way to... to...
Struck with almost physical force by the thought, Kam stumbled, foot coming down heavily on a dry stick, snapping it.
For the first time in a while, Kammy's eyes focused, actually paying attention to her surroundings. Ahead was a large pool of water, a collection of rocks surrounding it. Lagoon. She could nearly have blundered straight off the island and into the water without noticing. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, and then she paused.
There was a bag laying by the waterside, seemingly abandoned. Eyes narrowed, she took another sweeping look around. Nobody in sight but...
The molina was in her hand. Michelle's blood had dried now, staining the metal murky brown. Kam's other hand came up to clasp the grip. Surely nobody would just leave a bag there by itself.
"If someone's there... come out. I'm armed but I'm not looking to fight."
"If someone's there... come out. I'm armed but I'm not looking to fight."
Those were the last words Joey wanted to hear. Specifically the part about being armed.
The noise had indeed been another one of his classmates, a female one at that. Joey found himself between a rock and a hard place now. He couldn't see the girl, and she couldn't see him. Problem was she knew someone was there and if she was armed and started to feel threatened, she could start hunting around. It wouldn't take her long to find him, and he was in a terrible position to defend himself.
On the other hand, if he just casually revealed himself and she turned out to be a killer, she could waste him right there, no if ands or buts.
On yet another hand, she might be bluffing. She might not have a weapon at all. She might be testing him.
Joey's mind raced for a few seconds. Every way this scene played in his head ended with him being found or revealing himself. In this case, despite every instinct he had, despite all of the battles with his fear and paranoia, he thought the smartest thing to do would be to answer the girl's call to come out. If she turned out to be hostile, well, at least he wouldn't be killed in a shitty hiding spot with his face in the grass. He could be killed facing down his attacker.
"H-Hey...it's Joey. Joey Grey. I'm coming out now. I'm not hostile either. I have two big swords with me. I will place them at my side after I stand up, I just want you to know I have them so you don't freak out when you see them okay?"
Joey scuttled his way out of his hiding spot and slowly rose up to face the person who'd called out.
It turned out to be Kammy So'oialo, and boy, she wasn't kidding about being armed. Joey slowly showed Kammy the hookswords before laying them down on the ground beside him as a show of his non-hostility.
All that was left to do was hope that Kammy stayed true to her words too.
Those were the last words Joey wanted to hear. Specifically the part about being armed.
The noise had indeed been another one of his classmates, a female one at that. Joey found himself between a rock and a hard place now. He couldn't see the girl, and she couldn't see him. Problem was she knew someone was there and if she was armed and started to feel threatened, she could start hunting around. It wouldn't take her long to find him, and he was in a terrible position to defend himself.
On the other hand, if he just casually revealed himself and she turned out to be a killer, she could waste him right there, no if ands or buts.
On yet another hand, she might be bluffing. She might not have a weapon at all. She might be testing him.
Joey's mind raced for a few seconds. Every way this scene played in his head ended with him being found or revealing himself. In this case, despite every instinct he had, despite all of the battles with his fear and paranoia, he thought the smartest thing to do would be to answer the girl's call to come out. If she turned out to be hostile, well, at least he wouldn't be killed in a shitty hiding spot with his face in the grass. He could be killed facing down his attacker.
"H-Hey...it's Joey. Joey Grey. I'm coming out now. I'm not hostile either. I have two big swords with me. I will place them at my side after I stand up, I just want you to know I have them so you don't freak out when you see them okay?"
Joey scuttled his way out of his hiding spot and slowly rose up to face the person who'd called out.
It turned out to be Kammy So'oialo, and boy, she wasn't kidding about being armed. Joey slowly showed Kammy the hookswords before laying them down on the ground beside him as a show of his non-hostility.
All that was left to do was hope that Kammy stayed true to her words too.
Stuff. Things. Stuff and things.
It belatedly occurred to Kammy that if this was a potential trap, openly calling out probably wasn't the best idea she could have had. For a moment she considered turning on her heel and booking it, then steeled herself. She couldn't just bolt from everything she walked into; turning away was what had got-
Well, anyway. Having called out, running would just give her away further.
A tense couple of seconds ticked by as no response of any form came. Neither voice nor ambush. Then a slight stammer, a rustling of foliage, and then someone was speaking from nearby. Kam automatically tried to call the name from memory. Joey Grey... not a killer as of today at least, which was something. Internally she winced that that had become her first instinct, a mockery of her hope back at the beginning of all of this. Otherwise, Joey was a person that she sort-of knew, more someone that she had a couple classes with than a friend. Knew the face... not the person.
Kammy tried to avoid thinking about how many people she knew were still alive. The one she knew best wasn't.
"I hear you," Kam said, sounding calmly than she felt. A pause. "And thanks for telling me."
Joey appeared shortly thereafter, laying down his weapons as he'd promised; a surprising show of trust. Kam wasn't sure she would have trusted herself at this stage. Christ she probably looked like a mess too, with that barely-changed dressing around her head, the bloodstains on her hands, the red eyes from crying.
She sighed softly. "Sorry if I spooked you," her free hand rubbed at her throat for a moment. Speaking felt sore, she'd probably strained something screaming. "I'm... I'm at a bit of a loose end right now and-" Kammy stopped. "Sorry. You uh... holding up?" half a shrug. "Given circumstances."
Even talking felt weird. It came to mind that this was the first time she'd spoken to someone without asking after Michelle. Kam blinked away a tear. There wasn't any point in crying, any more.
Well, anyway. Having called out, running would just give her away further.
A tense couple of seconds ticked by as no response of any form came. Neither voice nor ambush. Then a slight stammer, a rustling of foliage, and then someone was speaking from nearby. Kam automatically tried to call the name from memory. Joey Grey... not a killer as of today at least, which was something. Internally she winced that that had become her first instinct, a mockery of her hope back at the beginning of all of this. Otherwise, Joey was a person that she sort-of knew, more someone that she had a couple classes with than a friend. Knew the face... not the person.
Kammy tried to avoid thinking about how many people she knew were still alive. The one she knew best wasn't.
"I hear you," Kam said, sounding calmly than she felt. A pause. "And thanks for telling me."
Joey appeared shortly thereafter, laying down his weapons as he'd promised; a surprising show of trust. Kam wasn't sure she would have trusted herself at this stage. Christ she probably looked like a mess too, with that barely-changed dressing around her head, the bloodstains on her hands, the red eyes from crying.
She sighed softly. "Sorry if I spooked you," her free hand rubbed at her throat for a moment. Speaking felt sore, she'd probably strained something screaming. "I'm... I'm at a bit of a loose end right now and-" Kammy stopped. "Sorry. You uh... holding up?" half a shrug. "Given circumstances."
Even talking felt weird. It came to mind that this was the first time she'd spoken to someone without asking after Michelle. Kam blinked away a tear. There wasn't any point in crying, any more.
So far it was going well. Kammy didn't immediately blow holes in Joey's head or torso, and she spoke with the tone of someone who wasn't bluffing as a lure.
She spoke about being a loose end, and now that Joey was able to take some deep breaths and really look at Kammy, he could see she looked the part. Her hands look almost rust coloured and her head was wrapped with bandaging that was in deep need of a changing. This girl had clearly been through the ringer on this island. It made Joey feel selfish for thinking he'd had it rough so far. He was standing there without so much as a scratch on him in addition to his ankle's swelling subsiding. Kammy was the image that Joey had seen on his computer screen the few times he had watched SOTF game footage. She was one of the ones who was getting the full bore experience of the shit.
Even through the visible damage, Kammy selflessly inquired about how Joey was holding up.
"Uh, well, I guess I'm okay...given the circumstances. I've seen two people die, but I haven't had to fight anyone, and no one's come after me so far. I'm lucky I guess."
Joey shuffled his feet a bit, letting his eyes fall down to one of his swords on the ground.
"You know, I still have my full first aid kit in my pack. Do you want me to try my hand at changing your mummy scarf? You can tell me about how that came to be if you like. Better to know who did it to you, just in case I s'pose."
She spoke about being a loose end, and now that Joey was able to take some deep breaths and really look at Kammy, he could see she looked the part. Her hands look almost rust coloured and her head was wrapped with bandaging that was in deep need of a changing. This girl had clearly been through the ringer on this island. It made Joey feel selfish for thinking he'd had it rough so far. He was standing there without so much as a scratch on him in addition to his ankle's swelling subsiding. Kammy was the image that Joey had seen on his computer screen the few times he had watched SOTF game footage. She was one of the ones who was getting the full bore experience of the shit.
Even through the visible damage, Kammy selflessly inquired about how Joey was holding up.
"Uh, well, I guess I'm okay...given the circumstances. I've seen two people die, but I haven't had to fight anyone, and no one's come after me so far. I'm lucky I guess."
Joey shuffled his feet a bit, letting his eyes fall down to one of his swords on the ground.
"You know, I still have my full first aid kit in my pack. Do you want me to try my hand at changing your mummy scarf? You can tell me about how that came to be if you like. Better to know who did it to you, just in case I s'pose."
Stuff. Things. Stuff and things.
"That's something, at least."
Kammy meant it, a little, anyway. Maybe it was just some shred of empathy left in her that it was good to see that someone was going through all of this without absolutely everything fucking up for them. Not that it would matter, in a couple days Joey would probably wind up dead just like all the rest of them were going to.
That wasn't a doubt for Kam any longer. Even if the cavalry came along, it was too late to save anything Kammy cared about. How many of her friends were even left alive? So many people close to her on the announcements, and she couldn't even protect the one she'd been looking for from the beginning.
Joey commented on her head bandage. Kam touched it. She'd forgotten about that, almost. She also hadn't touched it for what was probably more days than was totally healthy. Probably looked awful if it had still been bleeding at any point... There was a distant thought that her hair had to be ruined after- man, when had she even brushed it last?
That she could think about her hair was very nearly enough for her to crack a smile, but not quite.
Then Joey went ahead and asked how it had happened. Kammy flinched. She'd not had Alex and Carlon in her head for a little while now, and they came crashing right back.
"It was... it was a fight. Alex Ripley thought I was acting suspicious or something like that, and she came after me with an iron bar. I thought she was going to kill me so, so I... well, I shot her. I couldn't think straight, didn't know how to get her to stop."
Kammy paused.
"If... you don't want to treat my head any more, I understand."
Kammy meant it, a little, anyway. Maybe it was just some shred of empathy left in her that it was good to see that someone was going through all of this without absolutely everything fucking up for them. Not that it would matter, in a couple days Joey would probably wind up dead just like all the rest of them were going to.
That wasn't a doubt for Kam any longer. Even if the cavalry came along, it was too late to save anything Kammy cared about. How many of her friends were even left alive? So many people close to her on the announcements, and she couldn't even protect the one she'd been looking for from the beginning.
Joey commented on her head bandage. Kam touched it. She'd forgotten about that, almost. She also hadn't touched it for what was probably more days than was totally healthy. Probably looked awful if it had still been bleeding at any point... There was a distant thought that her hair had to be ruined after- man, when had she even brushed it last?
That she could think about her hair was very nearly enough for her to crack a smile, but not quite.
Then Joey went ahead and asked how it had happened. Kammy flinched. She'd not had Alex and Carlon in her head for a little while now, and they came crashing right back.
"It was... it was a fight. Alex Ripley thought I was acting suspicious or something like that, and she came after me with an iron bar. I thought she was going to kill me so, so I... well, I shot her. I couldn't think straight, didn't know how to get her to stop."
Kammy paused.
"If... you don't want to treat my head any more, I understand."
Joey listened as the story from the girl quickly turned violent. He had hoped that maybe she had just slipped and hit her head, but instead, Joey was now looking at someone who had had to fight for their life. He was looking at a girl who had managed to give herself more time.
He took a moment before giving his response, trying to analyze everything.
"Ripley is dead now. I remember hearing her name," He stated before continuing on, "And if she really did attack randomly, what other choice did you have? None. You weren't announced as having killed her though."
Joey paused, his eyes scanning Kammy. He wanted to be certain that he was making the right call.
"I believe you. People go fucking nuts in this place. I wasn't in the greatest shape myself. I let my mind get the better of me," Joey said as he tapped his head with his index finger, "The way I'm seeing it now is that it's one less person to deal with. That might sound cold, but if she was a threat, then the threat is gone."
Yeah. She was a threat, and she isn't one anymore. End of story. Bottom line.
It was the best justification he could think of at the time so he had to run with it.
"Let's get that first aid kit and get you cleaned up. I think this water is safe enough that you can wash up a bit."
Joey then bent downgrabbed his swords, turned and walked over to where he'd left his pack and began rummaging for his first aid kit.
"Alright bud, time to do your best impression of a doctor." He muttered to himself as he found the kit and waited for Kammy.
He took a moment before giving his response, trying to analyze everything.
"Ripley is dead now. I remember hearing her name," He stated before continuing on, "And if she really did attack randomly, what other choice did you have? None. You weren't announced as having killed her though."
Joey paused, his eyes scanning Kammy. He wanted to be certain that he was making the right call.
"I believe you. People go fucking nuts in this place. I wasn't in the greatest shape myself. I let my mind get the better of me," Joey said as he tapped his head with his index finger, "The way I'm seeing it now is that it's one less person to deal with. That might sound cold, but if she was a threat, then the threat is gone."
Yeah. She was a threat, and she isn't one anymore. End of story. Bottom line.
It was the best justification he could think of at the time so he had to run with it.
"Let's get that first aid kit and get you cleaned up. I think this water is safe enough that you can wash up a bit."
Joey then bent downgrabbed his swords, turned and walked over to where he'd left his pack and began rummaging for his first aid kit.
"Alright bud, time to do your best impression of a doctor." He muttered to himself as he found the kit and waited for Kammy.
Stuff. Things. Stuff and things.
Joey didn't flinch or turn away, spit on her, call her a killer. Kammy didn't know if that had been what she was expecting, didn't know what she was expecting at all, really. It had been the first time she'd actively told someone about what she'd done. There'd either been other priorities, other things to think about... and she'd just wound up assuming they either already knew or didn't care.
To say it was a weight off her shoulders would have been a lie, but this was the first properly friendly face she'd seen in a week. That he wasn't turning away meant something.
Kam smiled sadly when Joey said she hadn't been announced the killer. "No I- maybe that's right. But I knew she was getting spooked, aggressive, I could have-" she sighed, knuckled her head. "Maybe it was announced as 'Makatala' or something? I - just trust me when I say that she was definitely dead when the fighting stopped."
A threat. Kammy's face twitched, unreadable. That's how it had felt when Alex had born down on her with that metal bar, like there wasn't anything Kam could do to stop the other girl hitting her but shoot her. Like Kam was worth more, just for being her, or something and... christ she would drive herself nuts going down that road.
Instead of saying anything, she just nodded.
Kam headed on after Joey, letting her bag slip off of her shoulder, hesitating a moment before allowing it to drop to the floor. After so long the thing felt almost like a part of her. Which is most ways was just as shitty as everything else. Made her uncomfortable aware of how little she'd changed clothes over the last week or so. Hygiene, huh?
"Okay so... well let me just apologise in advance if this is gross. I haven't touched that bandage since I put it on and that was something like four days ago."
...Fuck. She really hoped she hadn't picked up an infection. It would be hurting more than a dull throb if it was infected, right?
Kam tried to call those half-forgotten conversations with Michelle about first aid to mind, and found the memory causing tears to well up again. Goddammit. Goddammit Michelle...
To say it was a weight off her shoulders would have been a lie, but this was the first properly friendly face she'd seen in a week. That he wasn't turning away meant something.
Kam smiled sadly when Joey said she hadn't been announced the killer. "No I- maybe that's right. But I knew she was getting spooked, aggressive, I could have-" she sighed, knuckled her head. "Maybe it was announced as 'Makatala' or something? I - just trust me when I say that she was definitely dead when the fighting stopped."
A threat. Kammy's face twitched, unreadable. That's how it had felt when Alex had born down on her with that metal bar, like there wasn't anything Kam could do to stop the other girl hitting her but shoot her. Like Kam was worth more, just for being her, or something and... christ she would drive herself nuts going down that road.
Instead of saying anything, she just nodded.
Kam headed on after Joey, letting her bag slip off of her shoulder, hesitating a moment before allowing it to drop to the floor. After so long the thing felt almost like a part of her. Which is most ways was just as shitty as everything else. Made her uncomfortable aware of how little she'd changed clothes over the last week or so. Hygiene, huh?
"Okay so... well let me just apologise in advance if this is gross. I haven't touched that bandage since I put it on and that was something like four days ago."
...Fuck. She really hoped she hadn't picked up an infection. It would be hurting more than a dull throb if it was infected, right?
Kam tried to call those half-forgotten conversations with Michelle about first aid to mind, and found the memory causing tears to well up again. Goddammit. Goddammit Michelle...
((Minor GMing approved))
Kammy's slight smile, as she gave one last comment about the incident with Alex Ripley, was one that Joey read as a person not quite at terms with the event 100% yet. He knew that feeling all too well.
"Yeah, the past is the past." He mumbled as he sifted through the contents of his first aid kit.
Kammy made her way over to where Joey was now kneeling. As she removed her bag from her shoulders she made a comment about the bandage being 4 days old.
"Uh, no worries. Should be okay. I've got some disinfectant here, I just need to find the tape to hold everything together."
Joey removed his shirt, placing the "Boss Man" writing side on the ground. He looked down at his torso and could see the toll the island was taking on body. The muscle tone on his tanned body had slightly diminshed and he looked like he'd lost weight from eating and drinking next to nothing.
He began to sort out the tools and supplies from the kit that he thought he would need.
"Okay...tape, shears, disinfectant spray, bandages." He quietly said each item as he lay it down on his shirt.
Joey looked over at Kammy again. He really hoped that he could do this without any issues as that would mark the first time on this island that he had managed to actually help someone.
"Alrighty then. Scoot over here and we'll get started."
Joey looked down at the supplies on his shirt again. Everything was ready.
"Okay. If something hurts too much, stop me."
Joey put his hands up on Kammy's head and began to slowly remove the bandaging. There was a little bit of an odor coming from Kammy's head, but it was tough to tell if it was from the blood matted into her dark hair, or from the wound itself.
Joey got lost in his thoughts briefly before noticing a bit of resistance on the bandaging.
Shit.
The bandage was stuck pretty good to head now. The blood had lightly congealed, and this part was not going to be fun. Likely, the wound has scabbed, and once Joey tugged on this part to remove the bandaging, it would start bleeding again, on top of causing Kammy some pain.
"Umm...you're not going to like this Kammy. I'm going to have to give this a tug and likely it's going to hurt. The bandage is stuck down pretty good...The only other thing I can think of would be to try and cut it off, but I still think it's stuck down too much. Do you want me to just pull it, or try and cut it?"
Dr. Joey Grey, bedside manner specialist.
Kammy's slight smile, as she gave one last comment about the incident with Alex Ripley, was one that Joey read as a person not quite at terms with the event 100% yet. He knew that feeling all too well.
"Yeah, the past is the past." He mumbled as he sifted through the contents of his first aid kit.
Kammy made her way over to where Joey was now kneeling. As she removed her bag from her shoulders she made a comment about the bandage being 4 days old.
"Uh, no worries. Should be okay. I've got some disinfectant here, I just need to find the tape to hold everything together."
Joey removed his shirt, placing the "Boss Man" writing side on the ground. He looked down at his torso and could see the toll the island was taking on body. The muscle tone on his tanned body had slightly diminshed and he looked like he'd lost weight from eating and drinking next to nothing.
He began to sort out the tools and supplies from the kit that he thought he would need.
"Okay...tape, shears, disinfectant spray, bandages." He quietly said each item as he lay it down on his shirt.
Joey looked over at Kammy again. He really hoped that he could do this without any issues as that would mark the first time on this island that he had managed to actually help someone.
"Alrighty then. Scoot over here and we'll get started."
Joey looked down at the supplies on his shirt again. Everything was ready.
"Okay. If something hurts too much, stop me."
Joey put his hands up on Kammy's head and began to slowly remove the bandaging. There was a little bit of an odor coming from Kammy's head, but it was tough to tell if it was from the blood matted into her dark hair, or from the wound itself.
Joey got lost in his thoughts briefly before noticing a bit of resistance on the bandaging.
Shit.
The bandage was stuck pretty good to head now. The blood had lightly congealed, and this part was not going to be fun. Likely, the wound has scabbed, and once Joey tugged on this part to remove the bandaging, it would start bleeding again, on top of causing Kammy some pain.
"Umm...you're not going to like this Kammy. I'm going to have to give this a tug and likely it's going to hurt. The bandage is stuck down pretty good...The only other thing I can think of would be to try and cut it off, but I still think it's stuck down too much. Do you want me to just pull it, or try and cut it?"
Dr. Joey Grey, bedside manner specialist.
Stuff. Things. Stuff and things.
Joey took off his shirt and Kammy winced. Not at the sight of him, she didn't especially care; just for him to want to remove clothes, he had to be concerned about getting it dirty. How bad did her head look, exactly? Kam hadn't precisely been carrying a hand mirror around to check on her appearance.
Kam shifted on over up to him as his hands went to her head. She really probably should have been taking care of it, there were just, just, well...
Never mind.
Internally, Kam wondered what Joey had gone through. He'd only said a little, and it was enough to give a bit of an impression. Were his friends still out there though? Did he have anyone that he was looking for? They'd been whittled down so far, and by each other, whether circumstances or intent or accident or punching their own ticket. Kam could barely remember who had been on the trip any longer.
As if it couldn't get any more fucked, so many people were dead that Kammy was struggling to remember names.
A couple of quiet hisses of pain made their way between Kam's teeth as Joey started unwrapping the bindings. It had probably needed stitches, not just slapping a bandage on it and calling it good. Ugh.
Kammy grimaced.
"It's going to hurt either way. Let's get it off and go from there."
Kam braced herself.
Kam shifted on over up to him as his hands went to her head. She really probably should have been taking care of it, there were just, just, well...
Never mind.
Internally, Kam wondered what Joey had gone through. He'd only said a little, and it was enough to give a bit of an impression. Were his friends still out there though? Did he have anyone that he was looking for? They'd been whittled down so far, and by each other, whether circumstances or intent or accident or punching their own ticket. Kam could barely remember who had been on the trip any longer.
As if it couldn't get any more fucked, so many people were dead that Kammy was struggling to remember names.
A couple of quiet hisses of pain made their way between Kam's teeth as Joey started unwrapping the bindings. It had probably needed stitches, not just slapping a bandage on it and calling it good. Ugh.
Kammy grimaced.
"It's going to hurt either way. Let's get it off and go from there."
Kam braced herself.
Joey grimaced slightly as Kammy said to just rip it.
"Alright..."
Joey's tone was shakier than he wanted it to sound. He didn't want to give off an aura of weakness while he was performing this bandage change. Joey's mind flashed back to all the scrapes and cuts he'd had in his life and how the removal of the bandage was always the worst. Especially once he'd gone through puberty and found himself with a spattering of hair on the arms and legs.
"Okay, on the count of 3."
Joey pulled the dressing tight to where it was stuck down.
"1...2...3."
Joey tried to pull the bandage up with as minimal force as he could muster, but it didn't want to move.
Shit.
"Alright, count of three again, I'm going to really pull it this time since it doesn't want to peel back."
He braced the dressing tight again, and this time he looked out across the lagoon. This was not going to feel good for Kammy or himself.
"1...2...*Joey inhaled*...3!"
Joey gave a mighty tug at the dressing and this time there was an accompanying tearing noise. Joey wasn't sure if it was the scab coming off, or if a good amount of hair that was matted around the dressing had just come with it. He could have looked at the old dressing, but there were two problems that prioritized themselves in Joey's senses.
The first was Joey fighting his gag reflex due to the smell. It smelled like the inside of a mechanic's garage. A really metallic smell, mixed with the enticing aroma of dead cats.
Joey felt his chest heave, but he managed to keep it to just one heave.
The second problem was that Joey's free left hand which he had rested on Kammy's head for a small amount of stability was now feeling the warmth of fresh blood coming from under the scab that had dislodged itself from the girl's scalp when the dressing had been removed.
"Shit, it's bleeding again..."
Joey frantically looked around for something to put pressure on the wound. He only had the one set of fresh bandages, and no towels. The only thing he saw was his shirt on the ground. He would have to clean the wound when it stopped bleeding anyways, so if his shirt was a little dirty, that shouldn't be too bad...right?
Joey dislodged his carefully organized collection of supplies from his shirt and quickly pressed it to Kammy's skull.
"Just uh, just stay like this for a few minutes, until the bleeding stops. It isn't super bad, but I can't put fresh stuff on until it stops."
"Sorry about all this..."
"Alright..."
Joey's tone was shakier than he wanted it to sound. He didn't want to give off an aura of weakness while he was performing this bandage change. Joey's mind flashed back to all the scrapes and cuts he'd had in his life and how the removal of the bandage was always the worst. Especially once he'd gone through puberty and found himself with a spattering of hair on the arms and legs.
"Okay, on the count of 3."
Joey pulled the dressing tight to where it was stuck down.
"1...2...3."
Joey tried to pull the bandage up with as minimal force as he could muster, but it didn't want to move.
Shit.
"Alright, count of three again, I'm going to really pull it this time since it doesn't want to peel back."
He braced the dressing tight again, and this time he looked out across the lagoon. This was not going to feel good for Kammy or himself.
"1...2...*Joey inhaled*...3!"
Joey gave a mighty tug at the dressing and this time there was an accompanying tearing noise. Joey wasn't sure if it was the scab coming off, or if a good amount of hair that was matted around the dressing had just come with it. He could have looked at the old dressing, but there were two problems that prioritized themselves in Joey's senses.
The first was Joey fighting his gag reflex due to the smell. It smelled like the inside of a mechanic's garage. A really metallic smell, mixed with the enticing aroma of dead cats.
Joey felt his chest heave, but he managed to keep it to just one heave.
The second problem was that Joey's free left hand which he had rested on Kammy's head for a small amount of stability was now feeling the warmth of fresh blood coming from under the scab that had dislodged itself from the girl's scalp when the dressing had been removed.
"Shit, it's bleeding again..."
Joey frantically looked around for something to put pressure on the wound. He only had the one set of fresh bandages, and no towels. The only thing he saw was his shirt on the ground. He would have to clean the wound when it stopped bleeding anyways, so if his shirt was a little dirty, that shouldn't be too bad...right?
Joey dislodged his carefully organized collection of supplies from his shirt and quickly pressed it to Kammy's skull.
"Just uh, just stay like this for a few minutes, until the bleeding stops. It isn't super bad, but I can't put fresh stuff on until it stops."
"Sorry about all this..."
Stuff. Things. Stuff and things.
This was beginning to grow from treatment into an ordeal. Kammy tried to skirt around the reasons that she hadn't been paying attention to her personal health all that much, but it was damn hard not to consider them. It wasn't like taking a break would have made any difference in the end, a cynical part of her observed, earning itself the ire of every remaining mental fibre.
That thought meant Kam was barely concentrating for the first time Joey gave a tug at the dressing. She felt it, felt the cloth sticking to her head as he tried to pull it away. Her breath caught for a moment.
She bit her lip. Obviously it was stuck down, Joey had already said that. The clinging feeling from the pull though... that made abundantly clear what was going to result when the bandages were removed. Urgh.
This was going to hurt.
The knowledge of that fact didn't make the reality of it any more pleasant.
"Fuck!" Kammy clenched her teeth, face scrunching up as her makeshift effort was ripped away, a pluck across her scalp telling her that some of her hair had joined the bandage in vacating her head.
The dull ache was replaced with a sharp stinging pain, and Kammy had to force herself not to clap her hand to the wound right away. No - she needed, needed some kind of - christ thinking was hard with that-
The blood was already trickling down her face again, an uncomfortable reminder of what had happened when she had first received the injury.
"Fuck," she repeated, less vehemently. It hurt, but not as bad as actually getting hit in the head, and it gave her something to focus on other than the grief that was constantly circulating around her heart, rending at the pit of her stomach.
Joey pushed something up to her head, stemming the bloodflow for a moment.
"Okay. Okay... I think I'm good, hurts but- ow- not too bad."
A pause.
"Thanks."
That thought meant Kam was barely concentrating for the first time Joey gave a tug at the dressing. She felt it, felt the cloth sticking to her head as he tried to pull it away. Her breath caught for a moment.
She bit her lip. Obviously it was stuck down, Joey had already said that. The clinging feeling from the pull though... that made abundantly clear what was going to result when the bandages were removed. Urgh.
This was going to hurt.
The knowledge of that fact didn't make the reality of it any more pleasant.
"Fuck!" Kammy clenched her teeth, face scrunching up as her makeshift effort was ripped away, a pluck across her scalp telling her that some of her hair had joined the bandage in vacating her head.
The dull ache was replaced with a sharp stinging pain, and Kammy had to force herself not to clap her hand to the wound right away. No - she needed, needed some kind of - christ thinking was hard with that-
The blood was already trickling down her face again, an uncomfortable reminder of what had happened when she had first received the injury.
"Fuck," she repeated, less vehemently. It hurt, but not as bad as actually getting hit in the head, and it gave her something to focus on other than the grief that was constantly circulating around her heart, rending at the pit of her stomach.
Joey pushed something up to her head, stemming the bloodflow for a moment.
"Okay. Okay... I think I'm good, hurts but- ow- not too bad."
A pause.
"Thanks."
Joey continued applying pressure.
"No problem. It should be fine to bandage up again in another minute or so. Sorry that it hurt."
After a few silent minutes, Joey removed his now bloodied shirt, which thanks to being red only looked like it was very damp.
The bleeding had stopped, and Joey could finally tend to the wound.
"This is going to sting too." Joey said as he readied one of the sterilizing wipes from his first aid kit.
Joey felt Kammy's body tense as he began to wipe the wound area with the sterilization. He made sure he used two or three of them, all the while apologizing for causing the stinging pain.
"There, I just need to wrap it up and you should be good to go."
Joey picked up the bandaging from the ground and shook it to remove a few specs of dirt. He began to wrap the bandage, making sure that he was keeping it tight on the wound area. After checking with Kammy that the bandaging was comfortable for her, Joey finished off the job with the medical tape.
"Well, it isn't pretty, but that should hold up for another day or two, and I still have a few of the wipes and enough bandaging to do that one more time."
Joey looked up at the sky to see it the light of day was starting to fade.
"Should we move on from here you think? There isn't really any shelter here, and we saw how good my hiding spot worked out."
"No problem. It should be fine to bandage up again in another minute or so. Sorry that it hurt."
After a few silent minutes, Joey removed his now bloodied shirt, which thanks to being red only looked like it was very damp.
The bleeding had stopped, and Joey could finally tend to the wound.
"This is going to sting too." Joey said as he readied one of the sterilizing wipes from his first aid kit.
Joey felt Kammy's body tense as he began to wipe the wound area with the sterilization. He made sure he used two or three of them, all the while apologizing for causing the stinging pain.
"There, I just need to wrap it up and you should be good to go."
Joey picked up the bandaging from the ground and shook it to remove a few specs of dirt. He began to wrap the bandage, making sure that he was keeping it tight on the wound area. After checking with Kammy that the bandaging was comfortable for her, Joey finished off the job with the medical tape.
"Well, it isn't pretty, but that should hold up for another day or two, and I still have a few of the wipes and enough bandaging to do that one more time."
Joey looked up at the sky to see it the light of day was starting to fade.
"Should we move on from here you think? There isn't really any shelter here, and we saw how good my hiding spot worked out."
Stuff. Things. Stuff and things.
((OOC: Sorry for the double and shortness, just gotta move the kid))
"Look, I think we should just move it on. It's getting late, and I don't think this is the best place to hang around."
Joey placed the supplies back in his bag and slung it across his shoulder. He then scooped up the hook swords from the ground and began walking.
((Joey continued in The World According to...))
"Look, I think we should just move it on. It's getting late, and I don't think this is the best place to hang around."
Joey placed the supplies back in his bag and slung it across his shoulder. He then scooped up the hook swords from the ground and began walking.
((Joey continued in The World According to...))
Stuff. Things. Stuff and things.
For now, she was patched up. For now she wasn't going to keel over from the injury not being properly treated... Kammy hoped, anyway.
Slowly, Kam nodded.
"Let's track something down."
She followed Joey.
((Kam continued in Curtain Call))
Slowly, Kam nodded.
"Let's track something down."
She followed Joey.
((Kam continued in Curtain Call))