socrowdedinhere | (no subject)

Rand: *nods and shifts back. He'll let Darnell start working on his wound. He gasps and suddenly pulls back from Darnell a bit, realizing he's gotten some of his blood on Darnell's shirt* I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! *please don't be mad at him for ruining your clothes!*

Darnell: *blinks, startled* Didn’t mean to what?

Rand: *looks down at Darnell's messed up shirt, then back up at Darnell's face...*

Darnell: ....... *looks down* Oh. It's fine. If it doesn't wash out, I have other shirts. *had already taken his shoes and socks, jacket and tie off to get in the water with the boy. Looks up to meet the boy's gaze* People are more important than clothes. I knew when I hugged you that I'd get blood on me. That's just how it goes. I'm not upset and you're not in trouble. It's okay, really.

Rand: ...*studies Darnell... and relaxes. He nods and will let Darnell get back to work* S-sorry. Thank you...

Darnell: *gives him a smile* You're forgiven and you're welcome. C'mon. *will get him to come back closer again so he can finish*

Rand: *moves back to Darnell, it won't take too long to get his cleaned up, treated, and bandaged...*

Darnell: There. Are you hungry? I have some stuff in my satchel. *which he left on the bank with everything else - he's learned to keep protein bars and the like on him*

Rand: *tummy growls in answer.* I-I...yes.

Darnell: *soft chuckle and will help him back out of the water and they'll settle on bank of the stream, Darnell pulling two bars to offer the boy*

Rand: *accepts* Thank you. *he'll open one and start to eat.*

Darnell: *will just...sit in silence with the boy for the moment, enjoying the surroundings - has a GAZILLION questions buzzing around his head, but...until the boy's ready to talk...he just wants the kid to feel comfortable with him, to feel safe with him, to trust him*

Rand: *softly, after he finishes the first bar* ...You’re really nice... my maker always hurt us... I... thank you.

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Darnell: *small grin* I've just sworn to not be anything like my father, and to help whenever I can.

Rand: ...*Nodnod. He leads Darnell to a lake and then starts heading around to a cave tucked away in such a place as to be hard to spot. He motions Darnell to be quiet as he slinks into the cave.*

Darnell: *will catch his shoulder, getting him to stop - whispers* You don't have to go any farther, Rand. Go back to your hideout. You'll be safe there. I'll come find you later once I'm finished here.

Rand: *shakes his head, whispering back.* No. If my brothers or sister see you they might kill you if I’m not with you. I’m your olny chance to convince them that you won’t hurt them and that you can and will stop our maker from hurting us anymore.

Darnell: ……… *nods* All right. *gestures for him to lead the way*

Rand: *sneaking along, carefully picking his way along when he freezes and spins around.*
*Darnell will feel more than hear the deep, subsonic, rumble from behind. A massive creature looking like a mix between a crocodile and a bear blocks their way back. Glowinf blue eyes ate locked on Darnell, and there is clear threat in the way the giant beat is looming closer with each deliberate step.*

Darnell: */flinches/ at the sight, but then…holds his ground, both hands up where they can be seen, glancing at Rand*

Rand: *cautiously approaches, reaching to touch the great snout. The beasy rumbles again and the boy hunches a bit.* He’s a friend... *a lower arm waves Darnell to come closer.*
Beast: *rumbles again, but the /threat/ in its body language has eased a very slight amount.*

Darnell: *steps up slowly, hands still forward and out slightly, palms turned down*

Rand: *takes one of Darnell’s hands and will put it on the beast’s snout.* Friend.
Beast: *rumbles again, the “tone” somehow softer.*
Rand: He’s uncertain of you. He can’t speak, but he understands.

Darnell: *nervous but calm, will softly rub that big snout* My name is Darnell. I'm here to help you, like I'm helping Rand. Him. *realizing the beasr wouldn't know who 'Rand' is* We'll find a proper name for you too.

Beast: *rumbles*
Rand: He wants to be called Tony. Like Ironman. *smiles* He wants to be a superhero.
Tony: *grumbles. Raaaaand. You’re embarrassing him! He turns his head away a little without really pulling from Datnell’s touch.*
Rand: *grins* He won't make fun of you. I’m sure of it.

Darnell: *blinks* You understand him? Good, that'll make things SO much easier. *grins at the beast* Hey, I don't see why not. Ironman's big and strong, just like you. *nods* All right, then. Pleased to meet you, Tony.

Rand: That’s why I said you needed me with you.
Tony: *a short, soft rumble.*
Rand: He wants to know if you can take off his collar. ...Our maker uses it to cause him and our brother pain so he can control them.

Darnell: *had assumed that nust meant needing the sight of him, but communication is even better* Oh! Here, let me see. I'll try. *will move closer in to get a look at the collar*

*It’s a mechanical device, and getting it off will be like a puzzle. It’ll take a bit, but Darnell will manage. And then he’ll find out that this nasty piece of tech has spikes piercing Tony’s thick flesh. The giant creature /sighs/ in relief when Darnell finishes peeling the collar away.*

Darnell: */gasps/* Oh my goodness! Tony! *horror and sympathy in his tone. He's /very/ gentle as he gets the collar off, apologizing for any additional pain he causes in doing so* There! Will you let me get some ointment on those wounds? It'll sting, but it should keep them from getting infected which would be far worse.

Tony: *rumbles and lightly bumps Darnell’s chestbwith his snout.*
Rand: He’ll let you.

Darnell: * pets that big snout affectionately* Thank you, Tony. *digs the ointment out of his bag* I'm going to dig my finger into the holes a little bit. It'll hurt, but I'm not doing it to be mean or because you're in trouble. I just want to make sure the ointment gets down into the wound and not just sit on the surface, all right? *once acknowledged, he'll get to work, going quickly, gentle but thorough*