When Tomorrow Comes

[Faith Augustin]

22nd Zi'da 716

She didn't want him to go. Or, more precisely, she didn't want to be left behind and so wanted to go with him. Or actually, if she was being completely honest, maybe she wanted to be the one who went of the two of them. Actually, Faith decided, it was just complicated. "It's like the shadow beast and the bandits in the woods." She put her hand in his, sitting together on the log outside their tent and spent a few trills just fidgeting her warm hand around in his, her finger tracing his palm and then each of his digits until finally settling, entwined together and she held on to him like she was worried that, should she let that hand go, he might fly away. "I want to jump in front of you and take it on myself. I want you to let me jump in front of you. And I feel so very loved when you step forward, but so worried for you too." She squeezed his hand and a shadow of a smile crossed her face. "At least I'm getting better at telling you how I feel." That much was true, there was no doubt and it was an improvement on 'leave the dishes till the morning' as a response to him telling her he loved her. She lowered her head to examine their hands clasped together and after a few trills a sigh escaped her.

"I have some rules, Padraig. I'm afraid they are non negotiable." Lifting the hand which wasn't clasped in his, she stroked his cheek, feeling the stubble which had grown into more than that over the past few trials and she smiled. He suited a beard, she decided. "You come back. That is my first and only rule. Alive and whole." Neither of them liked this, neither of them wanted it to be this way, but she knew that if she went she would slow him down. He wouldn't be able to prioritise what he had to prioritise because he was worrying about her. It had to be him doing it and that was that. "I've been assigned one of the squires as my guard while you're gone", he would wonder about that and worry at it she knew, so best to put his mind at ease. "I will cook and fuss and worry. But I will be perfectly safe here and I'll have my sword and crossbow with me." It wasn't her safety that she was worried about, it was his.

But, the decision had been made, it was the right decision and they needed to make sure that he had everything. "So, come on then. What are you taking, how are you packing it and making it accessible? You have complete access to my very practical and logical mind. If there were qualifications in organisation, I would have them. Let's make you the most efficient physicist in all of Rynmere, shall we?" Just what he was going to take, that was important. Also, of what he was leaving behind, if there was anything that she should keep an eye on, have with her, that kind of thing. After all, at the end of the trial, she wanted to make sure that he had every advantage.

As they spoke the small, pure white and very odd looking kitten walked over, its tiny feet leaving a pattern in the snow as it almost danced in an attempt to avoid getting cold paws. It moved quickly, stopped to prepare itself and, with a small wiggle of preparation, jumped into Padraig's lap. Faith smiled in delight as it then circled around, balancing and finally settling on a spot where it could happily fall asleep. Of course, it made things exponentially more difficult to pack and check things with a four-tailed kitten in one's lap, but Quattro really didn't seem to care.

[Padraig]

Padraig knew she was worried. So was he. For similar reasons, but different ones. Still, as they sat side by side on the log, touching, he tried to reassure her. "I'll be alright. I promise not to blow myself up while I'm gone." It was a poor attempt to infuse a little humor into a moment that wasn't funny in the least.

He knew that what the warden had planned for them was dangerous, and he wouldn't tell Faith that she ought not be worried at all. He didn't want her to go, but he'd also resolved not to leave her side for the duration of the campaign. He had good reason, so far as he was concerned. It wasn't just his distrust of the man who'd harmed her already, or a lack of faith in those who'd been assigned to watching him. It was both of those in part. But there was an added element of danger, leaving so few behind at camp, and her among them.

"I considered refusing," he admitted, while watching the small kitten they'd found, push her nose through the snow and come up with a mound of it on her forehead. "But if what skills I have are needed out there, well, what keeps some from dying, ultimately keeps all of us safer." Would she have been a distraction if she was with him? Maybe. But he wasn't convinced that her absence would be a lesser one. But if he was to keep his promise, and not get himself killed, he'd need all the focus he could find. "Alive and whole," he vowed, and leaned over to kiss her, just as Quattro jumped into his lap.

"But you have to make me a promise too. That if something was to happen, that you won't take any unnecessary chances. That you will keep your guard close by," he added, though he wasn't at all pleased that she'd only been assigned a squire to watch over her. "That if danger was to come within range, be that Sintih or anything else, you will use that crossbow. And if closer, you will use that dagger and not think twice. I want to return to find you alive and whole." It went without saying that if he returned to find so much as a scratch on her after the assurances they'd been given, there'd be the devil to pay for somebody, no matter their rank, low or lofty.

"I've got the leather satchel I purchased with Nitelite. I'll carry my sword, my dagger and bow, though if there's any bolts to be fired, I'll probably lend them out." One lucky shot that clipped the edge of a target, once, did not a crack shot make after all. "I'll carry what materials the warden may need," he added. "and the first aid kit I purchased before we left home. Anything else?" he asked her.

[Faith Augustin]

"That's a good start, at least." She bumped her shoulder against his, like she had so long ago it seemed, at a street party. "It's not in the slightest bit funny, but I appreciate the sentiment." Both of which were completely true. He was torn and conflicted but, as far as Faith was concerned, he had made the only decision which made any sense at all. Because by doing this, he protected all of them. All of them on the mission, in the camp and in Andaris. But when he repeated her words back to her, alive and whole, Faith was moving to kiss him as he did the same to kiss her and she pulled herself against him, closing her eyes as she allowed herself just that moment of losing herself and her worries in his arms and embrace. "Alive and whole. I love you. Only you, for me. All of the words, Padraig, like a charm to bring you back safe. Alright? You have to now, or you'll ruin my belief in fairies and pixies and the spirit of good luck." Her hand on his cheek tugged ever so gently at his facial hair and she grinned at him, or did her best to at least "I like you with a beard. Or without one. Or with stubble, too. I think when it comes to you, I am not at all discerning. There are so many things I want to say to you. You know them all don't you?" She thought and believed and even knew that he did, but she still wanted to check. She chuckled though, as the cat jumped up at him and she smiled "She wants you to be safe, too."

But he wanted a promise from her, and she was not at all surprised. She heard the whole thing out and she nodded her head. "I promise. No unnecessary chances. I'll keep the guard close by. Any trouble, I'll use this crossbow and if it's closer I'll use my gladius. Which is not a dagger. It's much bigger." It really wasn't, but she was only small so, perhaps, proportionally at a real push. Lifting his hand, she kissed his fingers and smiled. "Be sure and safe. I'll do the same. One trial, we can tell our grandchildren about it. Which will be a long way away because I personally am still unsure about our ability to care for this little princess and we are ages away from a dog. But we'll have all of it, one trial, and come to that, we have all of it right now. So I'll stay safe because by doing that I'm looking after your future. So you do the same, because then you're looking after mine." She smiled, kissed him once again and bumped her forehead against his as she whispered "And the dog's. Come on, you"

So, sorting out his things, putting them in order and she paid extra attention to the medical kit. "Alright. I need to fuss a little now, alright? This. Let's look at this and make sure you know what to do with it all. So, let's start with someone who is unconscious." First thing, she reminded him, check their breathing. Then, check if they were bleeding anywhere "Get your hands all over them, don't be shy. Wet patches is what you're looking for. That can be tricky in conditions like this. But blood is a different consistency to melted or melting snow, and what you're most concerned about is the feeling of it still pumping or oozing out. Find the bleeding, stop the bleeding, save the life." It was basic, but important.

"Pressure and elevation stops bleeding. As much pressure as you can. Careful with head wounds, though. If you come across a head wound, your best bet is this" A small bottle of the smelling salts was pulled from the bag "This can wake up someone on the verge of consciousness, force them awake. That's a good thing. Wake them, keep them talking. If they're lucid, making sense it's fine. But don't let them sleep, people can go downhill fast with head wounds and if they're sleeping, you just don't know." She sighed, then, thinking about it.

"Thinking about it from your point of view. What sort of wounds might you be likely to see? Burns, I guess and general abrasions. Cold is a complicating thing. Anything specific?" She was treating it like a panacea, she knew. The cure-all that was this first aid kit, but basically "It might come in handy, and I like to feel useful." Please, blessed Famula, she prayed, care for this man. Guide him safely home and let him serve the cause the best way he can but keeping himself all in one piece whilst he does.

[Padraig]

"To be honest, it itches a little," Padraig confessed, regarding the beard. More of that probably had to do with roughing it in the outdoors, with limited opportunities to take a proper bath.

"And I know. All of them. I know you do too. But I should say it more often. I love you," Padraig said more solemnly. All the things she didn't or couldn't say, and he hoped she realized the same about him. This was all new to him too, and communication was something he was working on. It had been only him before, and the one thing about being alone, was he'd never had to guess what he was thinking, or develop a knack for reading himself. Stumbles along the way, but he was getting there.

Idly, he'd been scratching the kitten's head with the tips of his fingers. It had taken to purring, and had a real knack for it. The rumbling from it's little body rivaled their quiet voices and he could feel the vibration on his leg where it sat. "A dog? That's an awful big step?" he teased her then. "I'm not sure what Quattro would think of that." But she'd spoken about children, grandchildren, though each of them had agreed they were not nearly ready for that. But when she said it, he realized that it wasn't such a terrifying thought. Not now, maybe not for a while. But the distance between now and then, should they change their minds, made it a much less worrisome prospect.

So, medicine, triage as she called it. Padraig knew just a little, mostly learned from Faith, but it wasn't nearly enough. Still, if he was put in a position of needing to do what he could to save a life, he'd rather be prepared than not. "So, find the bleeding, stop the bleeding. With pressure or a tourniquet?" That much he'd learned when together they'd help with trapped and injured souls in the rubble of a collapsed wall back in Andaris. As for head wounds..."What if they're conscious but not talking sense?" he asked. Babbling incoherently, he meant.

As for likely scenarios, he suspected they couldn't predict them all. Burns, yes. "Stab wounds, arrows. Frostbite?" he wondered aloud.

[Faith Augustin]

"It itches? I can help you with that. Ironically, a little talc with lavender, combed through. It will ease it. It's just because we're probably both stinky." Her hand trailed, following the curve of his jaw and she wished that she could just say everything she wanted to. "I know you do", she whispered when he told her he loved her and a fleeting smile lit her expression "I told you that before, but I think I didn't tell you it well. Do you remember? I asked you to promise me that it would be worthwhile. You told me it would but that it was new for you too. 'I know', I said, standing at the sink, and I meant that I know it's new for us both. I know it's huge and overwhelming and I know that you feel how I do. I don't think that quite went over though, did it?" Her finger outlined his lower lip and she breathed in, wishing that she could just hold on to this moment and not move from it. "I like how it makes me feel when you tell me. But you prove it true with your actions, and those keep me in no doubt, Padraig. None at all." How could she doubt, after all, his feelings for her, when his actions shouted so loudly.

She looked down at the cat, though and she could not help but smile. What a large noise for such a small creature! She nodded and gave a slight smile when he said that a dog was a big step. "A big step. Not a step yet. Not for a while. But one trial, maybe. Though you get to take it for walks, it will stop you getting fat from my cooking." Light, teasing, something they did with each other a lot and necessary also so that they didn't get overwhelmed with the intensity of what they were feeling. They could only do that in bite sized pieces right now, and then they needed to move. On to, for example, medicine. First aid, specifically.

"Pressure in the immediate moment. Those trills can save the life", she nodded, earnestly. "Then get the tourniquet on whilst maintaining the pressure. One handed tourniquet tying is a skill. Close to an art form. I've put a pencil in between the bandage and the limb and just twist the pencil around and around. Keep doing it until the bleeding stops, then release the pressure and tie it properly." Conscious, but babbling? Well, that was more difficult, she explained, because people tended to get nervous in battle, nerves, anxiety and so on could lead to someone babbling. As could shock. "Check the head. Always. Bumps, areas of tenderness, and the eyes. If their pupils are different sizes. Keep them awake. Regular checks. Nothing you can do with a first aid kit, really, but try and keep them sitting up. If there's swelling, elevating it lessens it, and with a head wound, swelling can kill."

She considered then, the other things that he said. "Here. This for burns" She labelled the pot. "It's scarf rot, ironically. But yes. Burns. It's a balm, don't pull any skin, let it do it's work and don't bother it. If someone has an arrow in them, or bits of blown up stuff, whatever you do, don't take it out. Leave it in there, bandage around it. Then, get them back to camp and I'll deal with it." She paused then and touched his hand. "I'm sorry, that sounds arrogant. Frostbite, warm them. But not too quickly and keep the extremities from touching each other, so wrap each limb. Keep them moving though, if possible, wiggling fingers and toes to increase circulation and again, don't let them sleep."

Putting the things back into the bag, Faith sighed "I don't want to sleep. Because then tomorrow comes and when tomorrow comes, you have to go. I think I started here, but I don't want you to go." She smiled, though and motioned to the tent. "You should go sleep though. You need all your sleep. Please don't stay awake tonight, Padraig, I'll just worry more tomorrow. Promise me?" She was quite serious and more than happy to spend the night awake and watching him for once. Ironically, she had spent a lot more nights awake than he had and she had the endurance for it.

[Padraig]

"It won't make me smell like lavender?" Padraig asked when she offered up a cure for what itched him. The relief would be worth dusting a little talc on his face. He wasn't so sure about a flowery scent. But he chuckled when she reminded him of their first conversation after she'd been freed. "I think that maybe there were a few cues that both of us missed, those first few trials."

"There's an older woman who comes into the apothecary shop every few trials," he said then, "and she carries a little dog in her bag. A bald thing that shakes and snarls and snaps from inside its sack. Not one of those please. If there's to be a dog, make it a large one...with hair." But back to the topic of handling injuries, out in the field. So a bump to the head, shock, keep them talking, keep them engaged, prop them up a little. Right.

No pulling out arrows, balms for burns, warmth and wakefulness for frostbite. It was a lot to remember. But if he thought long and hard on it, most of it made sense. Which made it easier to remember. Hopefully however none of it would be necessary. But chances were, if they were engaged, some of it would

As for sleep, he couldn't promise he'd be successful. He might as well have promised he wouldn't worry about her while he was gone. But he would. Padraig could only promise that he'd try. "I'll sleep," he told her, "so long as you are there beside me."

[Aeon]

Faith

Knowledge:

Logistics: Choosing items to pack
Blades: A gladius is bigger than a dagger
Medicine: Find the bleeding. Stop the bleeding. Save the life.
Medicine: Different ways to stop bleeding
Medicine: How to deal with a head wound
Medicine: Tourniquet: The Faith way
Medicine: Scarf rot for burns
Medicine: How to deal with frostbite
Padraig: You don't want him to go
Padraig: It's complicated
Padraig's rules: Stay alive and whole
Padraig: The grandfather of your future grandchildren
Padraig: Truly loves you and has proven that fact

Loot:

Padraig's love!

Injuries:

N/A

Fame:

N/A

Magic:

These points can NOT be used for Domain Magic

Devotion:

+1 to Famula (pray to Famula)

Story:

5/5

Collaboration:

5/5

Structure:

5/5

Padraig

Knowledge:

Logistics: Choosing items to pack
Blades: A gladius is not the same as a dagger
Medicine: Check for breathing and bleeding
Medicine: Find the bleeding. Stop the bleeding. Save the life. Easy?
Medicine: Different ways to stop bleeding
Medicine: How to deal with a head wound
Medicine: First aid kit: It's got all you'll need. (probably)
Medicine: Tourniquet: The Faith way
Medicine: Scarf rot for burns
Medicine: How to deal with frostbite
Faith: Getting better at expressing emotions
Faith's rules: Come back alive and whole.
Faith: Dark jokes don't blow her mind
Faith: You don't want her to go
Faith: It's complicated
Faith: You'd make pay whoever hurt her
Faith: The grandmother of your future grandchildren

Loot:

Faith's love!

Injuries:

N/A

Fame:

N/A

Magic:

These points can NOT be used for Domain Magic

Devotion:

N/A

Story:

5/5

Collaboration:

5/5

Structure:

5/5

General Comment:

This thread was so adorable! So lovely! So full of honest emotions unlike the rest of the Rynmere threads! No wonder you two were chosen as the ship of the year! Seriously, your writing is so beautiful you make me smile just by reading this type of thread! Faith and Padraig seem to be living in a fairytale in the world of darkness, it's so awesome and I love it so much! God, their love is like in one of those unrealistic romantic movies which we all know we love to hate, except your writing is far better than whoever wrote those movies! Oh god this is so adorable! I've gotta admit, this was one of the best threads I've had the pleasure of reading in a while, keep up you two!

Story: Wonderful, beautiful, definitely no issues here!
Collaboration: The way you two write together, it's just so amazing, and your characters reflect that connection in a more romantic, but so fudging teasing way! Just do it already!
Structure: Who put this thing here, I'm trying to enjoy the story...


Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or concerns. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!