END OF ARC 1: DAY 169-170 DOWNTIME

[asgardmods]

[The first battle is over, but the second will begin any time. For two days, the enemy forces will remain on the other side of the battlefield, working on strategy and tending to their wounded. Both sides have taken heavy losses, and the Arena is full of the hurt and dying.

The battlefield itself has turned to a bloody, muddy mess. The elves will be asking the Army Engineers group and anyone else willing to help them lay timber and gravel out to make the ground easier to walk on for the next battle.

What will you do in your breathing space? Keep working, mourn your losses, or retreat from the horrors of war?]


[ooc note: This log takes place IC on Days 169-170/Nov 4-7. Please be sure you've read the plot post and the battle log's starting info thoroughly. Make absolutely sure that you include the day/rough time in the subject line of top-level comments, as well as if your thread is open or closed.

In addition to the battle log, there is a full-event log for those hiding out in Folkvang here. If you have any questions, please direct them to the mod post so everyone else can see them!]

Comments

[singlehandedly]

[The bright orange hair is hard to miss, especially for one who is looking for those he knows among the injured. Malik spots him, even crouching there, and finally wanders over. By now, he's dragging his feet a little, but in comparison, he reminds himself, this is nothing.

The dai comes to stand beside Ichigo, looking down at him.]

Ichigo.

[Don't be asleep. If you fall unconscious, you'll need some luck to survive, for all the miracles these people can work with their healing.]

[suppressthedark]

[He gives a start as his name's called, wincing and glancing up at the person who'd just called his name.]

...Malik?

[That's...unexpected. For now, he's too tired to even be wary, and he's already been told that everything's...mostly worked out. He tries to stand, but settles back down with a grunt when his body complains at it.]

[singlehandedly]

This is not a good place for rest.

[You look like hell. You need rest, and you probably need a healer to look at you, too. Please tell me you're able to walk.

That goes unsaid. Perhaps it's just on hold for now, as he looks down at Ichigo and can't quite hide how tired he is himself.]

[suppressthedark]

[Everyone's tired, aren't they? Trying their best and continuing to fight, to heal everyone...He can't just sleep at a time like this.

Gritting his teeth, he slowly, slowly manages to get to his feet, hissing as the burn on his leg gives him a new shot of pain. He's mostly leaning against the wall, but he's up.

After all, he's had worse.]

Ngh....I know.

[singlehandedly]

[Malik notices. The gritted teeth, the hiss, the way he's evidently not wanting to trust his legs to carry him.]

But rest you should. We do not know when the fighting will continue. [A beat. He knows how it is, to not want to take up the energy of those who are healing when there are those who may not last the hour. Priorities are important, but at the same time, it is pointless to go into the next battle in a condition that will only get you killed then.]

If you do not wish to be healed, at least see that your injuries are treated.

[suppressthedark]

[He thinks about protesting-he's not that bad off, there are others-but he can tell Malik already knows and understands.

...It helps. A lot. Maybe he doesn't have to be so wary around the older man anymore. His unconscious tension drops off, and he pushes himself off the wall, still wobbling on his feet a bit.]

...Yeah. Guess you're right.

[There's a pause, and while he doesn't say it-he can't say it, Malik is still mostly a stranger to him-it's obvious he's going to need some help.]

[singlehandedly]

[Yes, there's a pause. Malik inwardly curses himself for not realizing - the reason Ichigo was not on his feet isn't because he intended to rest, but because he had no other choice. This one truly is remarkably stubborn.

Malik sighs, but doesn't need to be asked, the boy's posture and expression do his talking for him just fine. So he stands beside him, wrapping his arm around Ichigo to steady him like it's the most natural thing in the world.]

[suppressthedark]

[Remarkably stubborn was the best description of Ichigo, really. He tenses a little at Malik's touch, but at least he's not dumb enough to try and move away.

...Like he really could right now, anyway.

Unfortunately, he's wandered a bit away from where most of the healers and doctors are, so it might take a while for him to walk over there.]

[singlehandedly]

[Might take a while? Doesn't matter to Malik. A few minutes is nothing, but don't expect him to break any possible awkward silence. He needs air for breathing right now, and for steadying this noviceinjured teen.]

[suppressthedark]

[I see what you did thereHe should be focusing on breathing and walking, but the awkward silence gets at him until he has to say something to break it.]

...Thanks.

[You know, for helping him walk. And finding him before he fell asleep, because that wouldn't have gone well.]

[singlehandedly]

[you see nothing. Plenty of ways to brush it off. 'wouldn't have heard the end of it from ezio', 'can hardly let you get out of the fighting', 'then who will I hire for a replacement', but he doesn't say any of that. He's tired, and it seems out of place during times like this. Dying is not a laughing matter. Not ever.

Not even here.]

It is nothing.

[And they march on. But it shouldn't be much further, now.]

[suppressthedark]

[He nods in reply, but he's used up his energy in just saying that one word, so now he has to focus on walking again.

Thankfully, They're finally there, and he manages to take the last steps and get to a chair all by himself, even if it does cause him to wince again.]

Nnhhh...

[He's in more pain than he lets on, honestly.]