singillatim | I need new clothes, I need somewhere to stay

[ It's been such a long month. At this point, she's an exhausted, skittish thing. Lieutenant Noonien-Singh's death has been a terrible blow, and there's the added devastation of the fact that Lieutenant Little won't talk to her — won't even come to the door when she'd tried to call.

Despite things, Kate checks the message board relatively regularly, just in case. In case of... what, exactly, she doesn't really know. Maybe it's the comfort to the routine of it, in a place where there seems little other routine. And she stops, lips parting in surprise at the sight: someone replied to her note.

It's been almost a month since she added the drawing of the creature to the board, and there's been nothing added to it. Why would there be? No one knows what that thing they all dreamed about it. But... someone does, clearly. She doesn't recognise the handwriting, though, as she plucks the reply from the board with a shaking hand to look at.

Her lips don't move, but there's a thought accidentally broadcast — quietly horrified: 'Is this blood...?' ]

[ Shit. It's a kid. That presents a problem Lalo hadn't anticipated. He'll have to be careful about how he approaches her. She's cute, innocent-looking, and almost looks to him like a doe, or a baby bird, the kind that needs to be gently cradled in your hands to avoid being crushed. Lalo, despite his charm and skill at manipulation, has always crashed through life from Point A to Point B like a bull in a china shop, mowing down anything and anyone in his path. He's not accustomed to the kind of care he can already tell he'll need to take with her, but all he can do is try is best. To be gentle. Easy.

He still has something she wants, after all, so hopefully she won't be too skittish to deal with him.

The thought, inadvertently broadcast into his own mind, in a young girl's voice and not his own, is a strange experience; it startles him a little, to hear another voice so clearly ringing in his head. But he almost instinctively understand what it must be. Her thoughts. The girl's. Wondering if it's blood.

He feels slightly bad about approaching her. Maybe he'd feel guilty, were he capable of guilt. But he steps forward anyway, calling out a: ]

Hey!

[ As he steps towards her. He moves slowly, trying not to startle her. His good hand, previously gripping his injured arm, is held up as a gesture of goodwill.

He's smiling too, but it's a pained smile. He looks pale; he's lost blood. Some of the blood he's clearly has soaked all the way through, from his injured arm all the way through his sleeve. He has bandages, from where the old man tried to patch him up, but they're soaked through at this point too. They'll need to be changed, or better yet. He'll need to be stitched up. The wound will need to be disinfected.

Despite his injured, there's a decidedly unnerving cheerfulness about him. In a less dire situation, it might seem like a kind of easy charm, or even welcoming; right now, though, his cheeriness contrasted with his dire physical situation gives a sort of uncanny valley effect.

Despite that, Lalo means truly no harm. At least not to Kate, and not in this situation. ]

Don't be afraid. I come in peace.

[ A deep, only slightly shaky breath. An almost awkward laugh at his own dumb joke. Slightly pained, just like his smile. He can't help thinking that she almost reminds him of a bit of Ciro, with the aura of shyness and the innocence that lingers around her. ]

I should let you know, I'm the one left that note for you. You drew that? You're very talented. [ He means that completely. Lalo might be manipulative but he's also genuine in his friendliness, and sincere in his compliments when he gives them. He sees no contradiction between his genuine good cheer and doing what he has to do to protect himself.

He does keep some distance. He is aware of how it would look for a man his age to get too close to a young girl he just met, and he doesn't want to spook her any more than Lalo . ]

I can give you the information you want. The old man, he told me a lot about that thing you drew. But you have to help me too. Okay? [ He looks at her to gauge understanding. ]

Edited (I thought of a better tag lmao I'm so sorry! ) 2024-01-31 02:04 (UTC)

[ Her stance is cautious; she isn't shaking in her (snow)boots, exactly. But timid enough, trying to be polite more than anything — stepping back a half-step and staring at him. She mumbles a soft 'Oh, um— hey.' before she really gets a good look at him, concern flashing in her face: blood. His arm's hurt.

She isn't good at accepting praise, her head dipping down in a shy sort of nod of thanks, lips pressed into a thin line that attempts to smile. That's... really nice of him to say. But her eyebrows raise slightly as he continues: the old man. ]

You... mean Methuselah? You spoke to him, about the monster? [ It... makes sense, considering everyone seemed to have had the dream. This man would have, too. Maybe he asked Methuselah about it.

Her eyes flick to his arm, again. He needs help. He'll give her the information if he helps her. ]

You're hurt. [ She says finally, there's a beat. ] You want me to help with your arm? I— I mean, I don't know, I'm—

[ She's not exactly good at that sort of thing. But... if he knows about that monster...? ]

[ He nods when she asks if he asked Methuselah about the monster. ] Ay, that's right. I'd be happy to tell you what he told me.

[ He winces, but he tries to keep up his smile in place. He nods when she asks if he wants help with his arm. ]

That's right! Smart girl. He taught me a little bit of first aid. I can help walk you through it. We'll need supplies. Stitches, disinfectant...

What do you say?

You're... sure you want me to do this? [ She finds herself in a little bit of a fluster about it all. This man's been with Methuselah and he's told him about the monster? There's a degree of frustration there, behind her eyes. Why does it need to be a trade?

Her hands come together in front of her and she wrings them, her lips pressed to a thin line. A... suture kit? Disinfectant. Bandages, too. There's one particular person she knows will absolutely have all those kinds of things. She just... needs to go ask for them.

Oh, she doesn't like this. This is... so dumb of her. But he'll tell her about the monster form their dream. Finally, still a little flustered, Kate nods. ]

Can you... go wait in the Hall for me, please? I can... I can get what you need. I won't be long, I promise.

[ How does he explain to her why he can't trust anyone? She's a child, and she seems like a sheltered one at that. She wouldn't understand. But he can oblige her request. ]

As you wish, my dear.

[ Lalo takes a deep breath, and with that, makes his way into the Community Hall to wait. ]

[ Kate nods, shifting a little anxiously on the spot to watch him go in before she turns, heading towards Blackrock Road. She'll be asking Harry Goodsir for those supplies, and a little flustered about the whole thing when she goes to ask — but like she's got this, and she's going to get some important information. She'll be fine, it's okay. She's got this. Right?

In terms of good ideas, it's not really all that much of one.

(... Sorry, Harry.)

When she does return, she's a little frazzled, but she has what she needs to see to his injury. She finds Lalo and takes him to sit at one of the tables. She takes care to set out everything she needs, even going off to wash her hands. This is... all very intimidating, and she's... definitely putting on a brave face. ]

Okay, [ She takes a deep breath. A little dizzy, a little nauseous. ] let me see.

[ When she takes a deep breath, Lalo offers her a gentle, encouraging coo. He can tell she's frazzled, and truthfully, he doesn't actually like asking a little girl to do something like this. But he doesn't think he can trust anybody here, and he's afraid of what they'll do while he's injured. ]

Hey, hey. It's okay. You're doing great. Take another deep breath for me. That's it. You can do this. [ He offers her out his injured arm, for her to look at. ] Let me know when you're ready for me to tell you what to do next.

Edited 2024-02-11 21:52 (UTC)

[ Kate nods shakily, taking another deep breath as he directs her to. Like, she feels bad. Maybe she should have asked Mr Goodsir to help with this...? But... no, like. It's fine? She can do this, right? Totally.

He'll talk her through it, and it'll be totally fine. And then she moves to start peeling away the bloodied bandages and— her expression falls a little. Yikes. ]

Oh, this looks super bad. What happened?

That's good! You're doing great.

[ Lalo remembers everything he was told; he's ready to impart his knowledge on her when she asks a question.

What happened isn't a secret, but she's so young and already so frightened that he's reluctant to give her too many gory details, if only because freaking her out might make it harder for her to help patch up his wound.

He tries to be honest, but as discreet and non-graphic as he can. ]

I was attacked by an animal. [ Quickly: ] I don't think you need to worry, though. Doesn't seem like they come into town much.

I need new clothes, I need somewhere to stay

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