she's no stranger to treating people, but this - it just feels different. it feels like they're doing what they can to buy themselves and the rest of the group a little more time, while something slowly but steadily whittles away at their numbers.
[ and what, he wonders, is the cause? was it the thing inside of marie alone, the thing that made her dangerous, the ticking time bomb? did the prism play a part? or the dreamer's supposed beast?
he washes his hands. ]
When talking to people, today, to check their injuries and for any signs of glitter or dirt... many of them said that you were taking care of them, or had checked in.
[ he washes his hands. ]
We are lucky to have you, Su Jiuqing. I hope that you are not counting yourself out.
[ he washes his hands, because he can't let himself feel anything, and the blood feels like it won't go away. ]
but he keeps washing them. her gaze flicks from his face, to the water that's coating his hands and no longer running red. she watches the way he doesn't pull them out from the water.]
I would never count myself out. I know I'm capable of helping, and I'm glad to be able to do it.
[her own hands are clean, too - having washed up - and she reaches over to take one of his hands in hers.]
[ though the motions continue, even as the water runs clear, chang geng's expression remains fairly even. but maybe too even, pinched in place at the corners. some part of him knows that he's doing this, the one grounded in reality, but he just keeps seeing it, as if he's pooled it in his hands.
and then, it's not just his hands.
he closes his eyes. his hands don't shake, but he almost seems - numb to it, or at least forcing himself to be, for the moment. ]
[because that's just it - they're not alone. for better or for worse, they're all caught in this mess together. jiuqing isn't entirely sold on the idea that every person here can be trusted, but... there are some, who seem trustworthy. who, in the past three weeks, have given her no cause to distrust them.
chang geng is one of those people.]
I know that it can be difficult to remember, at times, but... it is true. We aren't alone in this.
[she lets go of his hand, not wanting to linger on the contact for too long lest it make him uncomfortable, and goes to stow some of the clean, unused bandages.]
[ the blood is gone - he doesn't see the overlap, doesn't smell the iron tang, doesn't taste it in his mouth any longer. it's small comforts, to chang geng, when he can still feel his pulse thrumming. he has a responsibility, to keep himself under control.
he will not let himself succumb to a darker part of himself, especially not after hearing marie's confession today.
we aren't alone in this.
as he moves to dry his hands, there's a moment of reflection. but... ]
... Miss Su. [ a beat, a moment of hesitation that is not totally characteristic of the kind of person he is, and then he continues. ] You have your acupuncture needles with you, correct? Could I ask a favor of you?
[ he looks down at his hands as he dries them, then sighs out some of the tension, as if releasing steam from his lungs, and - ]
I... have an affliction, not wholly different from Miss Marie's. [ she deserves transparency, and the reason why he's asking this favor. but it's clearly difficult for chang geng to reveal this to someone.
but he trusts her. chang geng trusts jiuqing. ] It's duller, here, from what I've noticed, and I'm quite used to managing it on my own, to the point that it isn't something that's ever caused harm to anyone - but this has struck a chord.
Keeping my blood pressure lowered, and remaining calm, tends to offset when it starts to rise to the surface. Accupuncture, as well. [ a hand raises, and he gestures his thumb across his forehead specifically. ] Would you be able to perform some for me, today?
[oh, hm. she wouldn't have guessed that, but then, chang geng has incredible self-control - and if it's been dulled here, then that makes a certain amount of sense. she wonders, was marie's not dulled at all? or perhaps this was dulled, and in her own world it would have been more intense.
that's a sobering thought.]
I see... [she watches the gesture of his thumb across his forehead, then nods. with the bandages put away, she moves to where she's put down her bag, and pulls her set of acupuncture needles from it.] I'd be glad to help. Shall we get started now, then? There's no time like the present.
[ chang geng prides himself on control. prides himself on keeping it contained, on not hurting anyone. seeing marie succumb to herself in the past, and knowing that she was helpless against it when taking buzen's life, rings far too true of what could become of him if he lets it. hallucinations and nightmares could become reality.
he could become marie. he could fall into his own wicked, different as it is from her.
he doesn't want that. he never has. ]
I appreciate it, perhaps more than you know. [ receiving it the way she has, and agreeing to help. chang geng sets aside the towel, moving to take a seat so that it's easier for her. ] Taking care of it now will at least get an early start to what troubles will come from tomorrow...
[she nods, setting out her acupuncture needles so that she can pick them up easily. this is the part where i have to admit that i don't know a thing about acupuncture.
she does, though, so chang geng will at least be in very good hands.]
I can do this for you regularly, if you'd like. It's no trouble.
[ there are... squints, remembering from snowend research, about 40 points in the face/neck? give or take. some are mirrored on either side of the face/neck, others are central from the forehead to the chin. each one is technically associated with a different part of the body, so is thought to influence the face, that part of the body, and the general connection of the qi from face to body part.
but chang geng trusts jiuqing's capabilities with her needles to not completely mess it up. and hopefully he never needs whole-body acupuncture...
he tilts his face up for her, eyes closed, as if he's used to the process. ]
It would be more responsible of me to say yes to that, I think. Especially if things keep going as they are.
[that he's familiar with the process certainly makes it easier.
partly to keep his face steady, and partly because it's touch week, jiuqing brings a hand up to cup the side of his face, careful not to block off any of the points she'll need access to. she's quick and efficient as she puts each needle into place.]
It does not seem as though this is going to stop anytime soon.
[rather, it only seems as though it will escalate.]
[ everything in his body is tense, enough that she'll likely be able to tell from just the touch to his face, but he keeps his eyes closed, keeps his body still. even when he speaks, very little of chang geng moves.
if only they knew what was in store for them, next week. ]
We predicted that things would not get any better, after we got this medical bay. Most times, I do enjoy being right, but in this case... not so much.
[she'll agree with him there. jiuqing hasn't ever really shied away from saying i told you so, but this is the sort of situation where she really wishes she wasn't right.
it sounds like chang geng understands that wholeheartedly.
she's working carefully as she speaks.]
You likely won't hear me say that again. I don't often wish to be wrong.
[ the corners of his mouth twitch up, if only a little, hearing her say that.
he wishes that they wouldn't have to be right or wrong, about predictions here. but he has a feeling that won't be the case. they have so much to prepare for, and the medbay almost as a premonition -
truthfully, it's something that can easily instill dread. maybe it'll work out. maybe they'll figure it out.
he has to hope for it, considering he's sitting and having jiuqing do this for him. ]
We have that in common. [ of course ] Hopefully tomorrow will reveal something to us, but... best to be prepared, I think.
I suppose that's all we can do at this point. Make preparations for the things we do know, and gather more information to fill in the blanks for what we don't.
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. [ as they say - but, also... ] Find the truth between. I'm not the kind of person to sit idly by, and it's obvious many others are in the same boat.
[ his eyes open to look up at her, bangs out of his face to make it easier for her to work. ]
Whatever needs to be done, to tear down the walls of this place, so that we might all return home.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
she's no stranger to treating people, but this - it just feels different. it feels like they're doing what they can to buy themselves and the rest of the group a little more time, while something slowly but steadily whittles away at their numbers.
she hates it. it makes her furious.]
We're lucky to have you.
no subject
he washes his hands. ]
When talking to people, today, to check their injuries and for any signs of glitter or dirt... many of them said that you were taking care of them, or had checked in.
[ he washes his hands. ]
We are lucky to have you, Su Jiuqing. I hope that you are not counting yourself out.
[ he washes his hands, because he can't let himself feel anything, and the blood feels like it won't go away. ]
no subject
but he keeps washing them. her gaze flicks from his face, to the water that's coating his hands and no longer running red. she watches the way he doesn't pull them out from the water.]
I would never count myself out. I know I'm capable of helping, and I'm glad to be able to do it.
[her own hands are clean, too - having washed up - and she reaches over to take one of his hands in hers.]
...but it's nice, not to be doing it alone.
no subject
and then, it's not just his hands.
he closes his eyes. his hands don't shake, but he almost seems - numb to it, or at least forcing himself to be, for the moment. ]
... something to remember. That we are not alone.
no subject
[because that's just it - they're not alone. for better or for worse, they're all caught in this mess together. jiuqing isn't entirely sold on the idea that every person here can be trusted, but... there are some, who seem trustworthy. who, in the past three weeks, have given her no cause to distrust them.
chang geng is one of those people.]
I know that it can be difficult to remember, at times, but... it is true. We aren't alone in this.
[she lets go of his hand, not wanting to linger on the contact for too long lest it make him uncomfortable, and goes to stow some of the clean, unused bandages.]
no subject
he will not let himself succumb to a darker part of himself, especially not after hearing marie's confession today.
we aren't alone in this.
as he moves to dry his hands, there's a moment of reflection. but... ]
... Miss Su. [ a beat, a moment of hesitation that is not totally characteristic of the kind of person he is, and then he continues. ] You have your acupuncture needles with you, correct? Could I ask a favor of you?
no subject
he doesn't strike her as the type to hesitate, and it's not long before he's speaking again - when he's finished, she nods once.]
Of course. What can I do for you, Sir Chang?
no subject
I... have an affliction, not wholly different from Miss Marie's. [ she deserves transparency, and the reason why he's asking this favor. but it's clearly difficult for chang geng to reveal this to someone.
but he trusts her. chang geng trusts jiuqing. ] It's duller, here, from what I've noticed, and I'm quite used to managing it on my own, to the point that it isn't something that's ever caused harm to anyone - but this has struck a chord.
Keeping my blood pressure lowered, and remaining calm, tends to offset when it starts to rise to the surface. Accupuncture, as well. [ a hand raises, and he gestures his thumb across his forehead specifically. ] Would you be able to perform some for me, today?
no subject
that's a sobering thought.]
I see... [she watches the gesture of his thumb across his forehead, then nods. with the bandages put away, she moves to where she's put down her bag, and pulls her set of acupuncture needles from it.] I'd be glad to help. Shall we get started now, then? There's no time like the present.
no subject
he could become marie. he could fall into his own wicked, different as it is from her.
he doesn't want that. he never has. ]
I appreciate it, perhaps more than you know. [ receiving it the way she has, and agreeing to help. chang geng sets aside the towel, moving to take a seat so that it's easier for her. ] Taking care of it now will at least get an early start to what troubles will come from tomorrow...
no subject
she does, though, so chang geng will at least be in very good hands.]
I can do this for you regularly, if you'd like. It's no trouble.
no subject
but chang geng trusts jiuqing's capabilities with her needles to not completely mess it up. and hopefully he never needs whole-body acupuncture...
he tilts his face up for her, eyes closed, as if he's used to the process. ]
It would be more responsible of me to say yes to that, I think. Especially if things keep going as they are.
no subject
partly to keep his face steady, and partly because it's touch week, jiuqing brings a hand up to cup the side of his face, careful not to block off any of the points she'll need access to. she's quick and efficient as she puts each needle into place.]
It does not seem as though this is going to stop anytime soon.
[rather, it only seems as though it will escalate.]
no subject
[ everything in his body is tense, enough that she'll likely be able to tell from just the touch to his face, but he keeps his eyes closed, keeps his body still. even when he speaks, very little of chang geng moves.
if only they knew what was in store for them, next week. ]
We predicted that things would not get any better, after we got this medical bay. Most times, I do enjoy being right, but in this case... not so much.
no subject
[she'll agree with him there. jiuqing hasn't ever really shied away from saying i told you so, but this is the sort of situation where she really wishes she wasn't right.
it sounds like chang geng understands that wholeheartedly.
she's working carefully as she speaks.]
You likely won't hear me say that again. I don't often wish to be wrong.
no subject
he wishes that they wouldn't have to be right or wrong, about predictions here. but he has a feeling that won't be the case. they have so much to prepare for, and the medbay almost as a premonition -
truthfully, it's something that can easily instill dread. maybe it'll work out. maybe they'll figure it out.
he has to hope for it, considering he's sitting and having jiuqing do this for him. ]
We have that in common. [ of course ] Hopefully tomorrow will reveal something to us, but... best to be prepared, I think.
no subject
[(narrator voice) it won't.]
I suppose that's all we can do at this point. Make preparations for the things we do know, and gather more information to fill in the blanks for what we don't.
no subject
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. [ as they say - but, also... ] Find the truth between. I'm not the kind of person to sit idly by, and it's obvious many others are in the same boat.
[ his eyes open to look up at her, bangs out of his face to make it easier for her to work. ]
Whatever needs to be done, to tear down the walls of this place, so that we might all return home.
no subject
[she meets his gaze and smiles as she slides the needles into place.]
I really don't care what it takes to get out of here. We'll see it done, no matter what.