I've used them since I was a child. Most men had them, for protection of their families if nothing else, at least one. My father taught me. I'd not made a profession of it until later, when I became a soldier.
I should think so, those who might have use of them. You could say yes, perhaps a stick until you could lift one of metal, should the child start very young.
It could be resolved with some whisky and a needle, I'm sure.
Near the entrance to the beach, there's a bench at the street. I've a few swords with me, you'll see them.
[Three of them sticking out haphazardly from a black bag set beside him on said bench, one with small streaks of blood on the blade, a forth in a scabbard on his belt.]
( she stresses because she cares. it probably isn't too bad given the frequent conversation and lack of complaint about the blood but not being able to get there quickly doesn't help.
but at least walking she can speed up a little, knowing the quickest route to the beach and it's easy to spot the man and his swords )
You couldn't even take it off? ( accompanied by a swear in german.
but she does at least pull her medical pack at to put next to him, fishing out some gloves first before turning to start assessing him )
You know, the coffee was nice. I vote for more coffee and less stab wounds to get me to meet you.
[He can tell she's hurrying along as he catches sight of her, and shakes his head slightly to himself before Adrienne gets to the bench. His eyebrows knit together briefly at her question and the clear displeasure of his choices, whatever they may be.]
Take what off?
[As she sets her pack out on the bench, D'Artagnan pulls up the bottom of his jacket, the buckles and several buttons already undone, white fabric underneath it stained with blood and looks worse than it is, which he explains as he peels that shirt away from his skin, sticking a bit. The laceration at his side above his hip is a few inches in length, not very deep, and oozing a bit of blood where it hasn't clotted over. There may be bits of sand around it, and despite his claim of being too fresh for infection, the skin around it is tender and slightly inflamed.]
It happened early on in the fight, then we sort of... resorted to brawling at one point.
[Why the patch of blood is larger than it should be, and why it's still bleeding, as he'd never stopped moving.]
( which gets him one of those very unimpressed doctor looks as she sighs, lifting his shirt a little higher to move gloved fingers in to feel first around the wound )
Tell me what it feels like.
( as if the hissing she expects isn't enough. but she doesn't press for too long before moving her hands back )
You're going to lie down. I need to get this properly clean before I can stitch and bandage it.
[There is a hiss, and a low quiet noise of discomfort, but his tone never changes from dry sarcasm.]
Like I've been stabbed.
[D'Artagnan feels that's over-stating it and there's a difference between a glancing blow and an actual stabbing. Still he does as she says when she pulls her hands away. Oh, maybe it's the sword he should have removed, as it's what he does first, setting that belt and the other collection of blades aside on the ground so he can lie down on the bench. It's really an inconvenient place to do this when she's insistent about such things. His jacket goes too, but there are so many buttons and buckles and straps, and his gauntlets are buckled over it... it takes a minute.]
... You've my gratitude for your assistance, Adrienne. I don't think I've said it.
( and she's really glad that he did text her even if she's doing a good job of chiding him. chiding means caring, get your stab wounds sorted quicker. gosh.
the minute gives her time to dip back into her back to pull up what she needs, dabbing first some water onto a cloth to clean away anything from the skin away from the wound before switching cloths to start cleaning the wound )
You know when people will tell you something will sting? I'm going to be as gentle as I can.
( but it's gonna sting. a lot. the sand is one of her biggest concerns here )
( not that this is fully infected yet but it wasn't looking nice. which is why she's meticulous about it, double checking each section to make sure there are no grains left in even when it already looks clean )
Do you normally fight guys that can heal?
( one last pass over before she'll entertain digging into her kit for stitching )
( huh. normal world. hers has magic and things but a normal world feels like what she used to feel. because it certainly wasn't everywhere or seen as normal like in some worlds )
Was that weirder or the technology?
( considering he'd made a point to tell her when he was from it felt a necessary question )
[That is a question, and he has to think about for a moment. He'd been overwhelmed with many things when he'd first arrived. What made the most sense to him was, unfortunately, what others have deemed the 'draconian' style of punishments and restrictions. People were publicly humiliated, flogged, executed, on an almost daily basis in Paris. The cruelest parts of his own society still exist in this place, out of step with the advancements.]
The technology, I think. I can accept different... people, from other worlds and not aligned with mine and dismiss it as such. I've not to think too hard on it. But technology seems like it might be similar in the future of my world. I'll not live to see things like that, of course, but... I'm more intrigued with it than supernatural things. Food preservation, plumbing and running water readily available, all that these devices facilitate. It was a lot to get used to.
If it helps some of us that grew up with technology are also terrible at using it.
( she was definitely not a technology-minded person. she could do what she knew and it was a small amount. which didn't really have the same scale as his knowledge but she's trying to be reassuring and distracting whilst also causing some pain by tending his wound. which is getting the stitching started on it, neat and careful )
What do you miss most about home? A place you went, a person... a hobby you haven't found here?
That's a comfort to know. It's complicated, to say the least.
[And he currently lives with someone from 1813, so they're... a bit behind the times still. Gripping the side of the bench, he tries to remain very still as she starts the stitching, an occasional irritable noise of pain. The question has him looking away for a moment, and he might have ventured to a lighter answer if she hadn't specified a person, and there's one always at the back of his thoughts.]
Constance, my wife. A great many other things... I'd go back, of course, if I'd the choice.
[It's awkward, he understands. He's only met one other person who talked about their spouse at home, but she had seemed more to want to distance herself from it.]
Yes. I'm afraid I might speak of her too often, truthfully. It's not... upsetting to, not in the way one might think.
[He pauses there for a moment, hitting on the reasons why it's maybe 'too often'.]
It's important for people to know before we... because I do feel I'm being unfaithful.
[Sill he'll endeavour not to impose, or speak of Constance unprompted by a topic of reference where it surfaces naturally, but if he should wish to, it's good to know there's someone to talk to.]
I've no cause to go on at length about it presently, though I'll not hesitate when it is that I do. The invitation to do so is appreciated. I'll repay you for your kindness on both fronts in coffee.
( she places a bandage over it to keep it clean, tugging her gloves off and standing back up, getting her kit tidied away )
Practice. The bandage stays on for two days, don't get it wet. I'll text you to arrange a check for your stitches but if they bleed or feel painful let me knoe first.
( just in case it somehow did get infected still. or he was a fool and ripped them )
[Not overly so, but he'll not go sparring on the beach for a time. As she puts her things away, he sits up and tugs his shirt back down over the bandage, moving his jacket over to cover the blood stain.]
I do appreciate you coming, Adrienne. We can meet whenever you'd like, and I promise the café will be without incident.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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i know hobbies start as children but swords?
was it wooden?
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i'm out of the lift
how's the bleeding?
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i'm hoping i have enough bandages
describe where you're sat
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Near the entrance to the beach, there's a bench at the street. I've a few swords with me, you'll see them.
[Three of them sticking out haphazardly from a black bag set beside him on said bench, one with small streaks of blood on the blade, a forth in a scabbard on his belt.]
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( she stresses because she cares. it probably isn't too bad given the frequent conversation and lack of complaint about the blood but not being able to get there quickly doesn't help.
but at least walking she can speed up a little, knowing the quickest route to the beach and it's easy to spot the man and his swords )
You couldn't even take it off? ( accompanied by a swear in german.
but she does at least pull her medical pack at to put next to him, fishing out some gloves first before turning to start assessing him )
You know, the coffee was nice. I vote for more coffee and less stab wounds to get me to meet you.
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Take what off?
[As she sets her pack out on the bench, D'Artagnan pulls up the bottom of his jacket, the buckles and several buttons already undone, white fabric underneath it stained with blood and looks worse than it is, which he explains as he peels that shirt away from his skin, sticking a bit. The laceration at his side above his hip is a few inches in length, not very deep, and oozing a bit of blood where it hasn't clotted over. There may be bits of sand around it, and despite his claim of being too fresh for infection, the skin around it is tender and slightly inflamed.]
It happened early on in the fight, then we sort of... resorted to brawling at one point.
[Why the patch of blood is larger than it should be, and why it's still bleeding, as he'd never stopped moving.]
It'll be coffee again next time, I promise.
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( which gets him one of those very unimpressed doctor looks as she sighs, lifting his shirt a little higher to move gloved fingers in to feel first around the wound )
Tell me what it feels like.
( as if the hissing she expects isn't enough. but she doesn't press for too long before moving her hands back )
You're going to lie down. I need to get this properly clean before I can stitch and bandage it.
( one more unimpressed look before she adds )
And you definitely owe me coffee.
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Like I've been stabbed.
[D'Artagnan feels that's over-stating it and there's a difference between a glancing blow and an actual stabbing. Still he does as she says when she pulls her hands away. Oh, maybe it's the sword he should have removed, as it's what he does first, setting that belt and the other collection of blades aside on the ground so he can lie down on the bench. It's really an inconvenient place to do this when she's insistent about such things. His jacket goes too, but there are so many buttons and buckles and straps, and his gauntlets are buckled over it... it takes a minute.]
... You've my gratitude for your assistance, Adrienne. I don't think I've said it.
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( and she's really glad that he did text her even if she's doing a good job of chiding him. chiding means caring, get your stab wounds sorted quicker. gosh.
the minute gives her time to dip back into her back to pull up what she needs, dabbing first some water onto a cloth to clean away anything from the skin away from the wound before switching cloths to start cleaning the wound )
You know when people will tell you something will sting? I'm going to be as gentle as I can.
( but it's gonna sting. a lot. the sand is one of her biggest concerns here )
Should I ask how the other guy looks?
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As I've said, I've had worse. I'm sure it won't hurt as badly as a gunshot wound cleaned with brandy, let's say.
[Though he will twitch and hiss a few more times during her ministrations.]
He won, and I think he heals quickly.
[Certainly wasn't bleeding as much, as far as D'Artagnan could see.]
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( not that this is fully infected yet but it wasn't looking nice. which is why she's meticulous about it, double checking each section to make sure there are no grains left in even when it already looks clean )
Do you normally fight guys that can heal?
( one last pass over before she'll entertain digging into her kit for stitching )
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I've never seen it before. My world doesn't have... magic, or people with abilities.
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Was that weirder or the technology?
( considering he'd made a point to tell her when he was from it felt a necessary question )
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The technology, I think. I can accept different... people, from other worlds and not aligned with mine and dismiss it as such. I've not to think too hard on it. But technology seems like it might be similar in the future of my world. I'll not live to see things like that, of course, but... I'm more intrigued with it than supernatural things. Food preservation, plumbing and running water readily available, all that these devices facilitate. It was a lot to get used to.
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( she was definitely not a technology-minded person. she could do what she knew and it was a small amount. which didn't really have the same scale as his knowledge but she's trying to be reassuring and distracting whilst also causing some pain by tending his wound. which is getting the stitching started on it, neat and careful )
What do you miss most about home? A place you went, a person... a hobby you haven't found here?
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[And he currently lives with someone from 1813, so they're... a bit behind the times still. Gripping the side of the bench, he tries to remain very still as she starts the stitching, an occasional irritable noise of pain. The question has him looking away for a moment, and he might have ventured to a lighter answer if she hadn't specified a person, and there's one always at the back of his thoughts.]
Constance, my wife. A great many other things... I'd go back, of course, if I'd the choice.
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Do you talk about her?
( before asking nosy questions. sometimes people talked about those from home but not always )
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Yes. I'm afraid I might speak of her too often, truthfully. It's not... upsetting to, not in the way one might think.
[He pauses there for a moment, hitting on the reasons why it's maybe 'too often'.]
It's important for people to know before we... because I do feel I'm being unfaithful.
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( because she could see that side of it. not that adrienne did romance but she understood it for people that did )
And whilst I'm just a friendly doctor... I'd listen to you talk about her.
( almost done )
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[Sill he'll endeavour not to impose, or speak of Constance unprompted by a topic of reference where it surfaces naturally, but if he should wish to, it's good to know there's someone to talk to.]
I've no cause to go on at length about it presently, though I'll not hesitate when it is that I do. The invitation to do so is appreciated. I'll repay you for your kindness on both fronts in coffee.
[He gestures to her stitching.]
It's very neat.
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Practice. The bandage stays on for two days, don't get it wet. I'll text you to arrange a check for your stitches but if they bleed or feel painful let me knoe first.
( just in case it somehow did get infected still. or he was a fool and ripped them )
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[Not overly so, but he'll not go sparring on the beach for a time. As she puts her things away, he sits up and tugs his shirt back down over the bandage, moving his jacket over to cover the blood stain.]
I do appreciate you coming, Adrienne. We can meet whenever you'd like, and I promise the café will be without incident.
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