[This time Douman ends up falling. But the kid twists and ends up bouncing off one branch down to another like a cat until he finally lands in a crouch, looking just as amazed at what happened as the rest of the world.]
Did you see that!? I- Ow!
[Watch the kid survive the fall, just to twist his ankle while trying to get up, and fall into Sakura's arms.]
[Douman clings to Sakura's arm and shakes his head hard, because doctors are bad news-! They ask you all sorts of questions and cost a lot of money, too! And there's no telling if they can even make you better in the end!]
L-let me down! I can walk if I just wait a little and try enough, I'm sure! I'm tough!
[The kid looks suitably cowed for a moment - and then switches into full-on stubborn mode.]
I can still go to a doctor after it's not getting any better.
Right now I need to find food and shelter for us both. That's the proi- important! I can worry about my pain once we're safe! I'm not gonna let it drag you down too!
W-We'll first have to see if it's really broken! Let me down and I can [he trails off, even clinging a little harder as Douman's body betrays how little he wants to try and find out how much putting weight on his foot is going to hurt again.]
.........just let me see if I can stand on it or not? Mama said that it's not broken if you can still make it move as it should.
[Okaaaay. Here goes-! Douman is not at all sure that he can do it - forget about lying about what he feels, he's always been terrible at that - but if he wants to keep at least a shred of respect from his new follower, he has to do this!
So he lets his feet touch the ground. First the good one, then the other and- ]
Ouch! S-See?? I can still stand! [He wobbles for a moment but then pulls himself together and stands a little straighter, looking obviously pale and in pain, but also a little proud of himself.] A-and I can even do this!
[He holds on to Sakura's arm for safety as he lifts his had foot and oh! That actually does feel better, even as he wriggles first only his toes and then the whole foot.]
No! [He quickly lets go, ends up putting some weight on his twisted ankle (because that's what it still actually is) and just as quickly holds on again, blushing and pouting.]
It's not broken-broken, so that means that I'm going to get better if I wait a bit. I survived the whole fall from up there, so I'm strong! You don't have to leave me behind!
Retainer. Not servant. [There's a faint sniffle as Douman fights with himself. He doesn't want to take the help- doesn't want to appear weak. If he has learned one thing ever since he was all on his own, then that you mustn't appear weak. But Sakura is also right. His foot right now is no good. But will it be more shameful to take the help or to stay stubborn and it really gets worse?]
Retainers are like big name warriors or samurai. They choose to stay with and listen to a lord, and the lord looks out for them in return. [He'd always wanted to have tons of them - super-skilled people who like him and are happy to stay with him, and who he could support and make happy in return.
After a long pause he climbs on that back.] ...But if you're not a good lord, they'll leave. And I don't even have anything to pay the doctor with. I don't wanna be a burden.
[Unlike his usual cocky tones his admissions are soft and subdued. Douman isn't used to admitting his weaknesses. All he knows is that he doesn't want anybody else to hear.]
[ sakura waits patiently until douman is properly on top of his back. his arms go behind douman, secure before he stands up and starts walking. he's done this so many times that it's second nature to offer his back. ]
Tch, what's with you being all sad. You're gonna be the greatest lord ever, right?
We'll get your foot fixed and you'll be on your way. Everyone hits a bump now and then. Doesn't mean you're weak.
Mmn. [Douman just buries his head against Sakura's shoulder, envying its strength while his shame bites deep. He knows that it's unlikely that he'll ever get to be the lord he dreams of being. He knows that it'll probably be a little miracle if he just manages to make it long enough to become an adult. But that doesn't mean that he'll give up on those dreams.] Why are you so nice to me?
I do. [Right now he is as subdued as a kitten nestled into Sakura's jacket's pocket, but there is still a tinge of pride and self-assurance in his voice.]
You're much stronger than me. You could have just blown me off at any time you felt like it. Instead you played this game with me and are even going out of your way to help me now. That's so nice, it's icky!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
[This time Douman ends up falling. But the kid twists and ends up bouncing off one branch down to another like a cat until he finally lands in a crouch, looking just as amazed at what happened as the rest of the world.]
Did you see that!? I- Ow!
[Watch the kid survive the fall, just to twist his ankle while trying to get up, and fall into Sakura's arms.]
no subject
[ he's still fretting, trying to catch him. ]
no subject
My foot...! It broke! [He looks up with big tears wobbling in his eyes.] What am I gonna do if I can't run!?
no subject
[ what is he supposed to do with tears. he's not competent enough to handle it. ]
Look, I'll carry you to the clinic, okay?
no subject
[Douman clings to Sakura's arm and shakes his head hard, because doctors are bad news-! They ask you all sorts of questions and cost a lot of money, too! And there's no telling if they can even make you better in the end!]
L-let me down! I can walk if I just wait a little and try enough, I'm sure! I'm tough!
[E-even if he's sure that it'll hurt...! ;_; ]
no subject
And if you make it worse? If you can never walk again?
Are you willing to pay that price?
no subject
I can still go to a doctor after it's not getting any better.
Right now I need to find food and shelter for us both. That's the proi- important! I can worry about my pain once we're safe! I'm not gonna let it drag you down too!
no subject
Either you go or I pick you up and carry you there. Your choice.
no subject
.........just let me see if I can stand on it or not? Mama said that it's not broken if you can still make it move as it should.
no subject
Just a little weight. Don't lie about it either. I'll know.
no subject
So he lets his feet touch the ground. First the good one, then the other and- ]
Ouch! S-See?? I can still stand! [He wobbles for a moment but then pulls himself together and stands a little straighter, looking obviously pale and in pain, but also a little proud of himself.] A-and I can even do this!
[He holds on to Sakura's arm for safety as he lifts his had foot and oh! That actually does feel better, even as he wriggles first only his toes and then the whole foot.]
no subject
So what, you're gonna hold onto me the whole time to walk?
no subject
It's not broken-broken, so that means that I'm going to get better if I wait a bit. I survived the whole fall from up there, so I'm strong! You don't have to leave me behind!
no subject
finally, sakura bends down, offering his back for douman to climb on. ]
Look. We're going to the clinic. So you can get better. And I'll be there the whole time, okay?
After all, I'm your . . . servant. I won't leave you behind.
no subject
Retainers are like big name warriors or samurai. They choose to stay with and listen to a lord, and the lord looks out for them in return. [He'd always wanted to have tons of them - super-skilled people who like him and are happy to stay with him, and who he could support and make happy in return.
After a long pause he climbs on that back.] ...But if you're not a good lord, they'll leave. And I don't even have anything to pay the doctor with. I don't wanna be a burden.
[Unlike his usual cocky tones his admissions are soft and subdued. Douman isn't used to admitting his weaknesses. All he knows is that he doesn't want anybody else to hear.]
no subject
Tch, what's with you being all sad. You're gonna be the greatest lord ever, right?
We'll get your foot fixed and you'll be on your way. Everyone hits a bump now and then. Doesn't mean you're weak.
no subject
no subject
I'm just fulfilling my orders. Right?
[ he IS being nice. and he gets that pride is on the line here. when you're alone and have so little, pride is all that keeps you afloat. ]
no subject
You're much stronger than me. You could have just blown me off at any time you felt like it. Instead you played this game with me and are even going out of your way to help me now. That's so nice, it's icky!
no subject
[ sakura doesn't see the point of acknowledging that. he's not nice. he's just . . . the way he is. ]
Anyway, we're nearly there. I'll put you on one of the beds.
no subject
Tell me what you want first.
no subject
What kinda question is that?
no subject
no subject
Focus on getting healed up first, you little brat, before you go spouting off like that.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
I think this is a good spot to wrap?
sounds good!