bakerstreet | Marooned!

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Marooned!

THE MAROONED MEME

When you’re stranded. When there’s no way out.

At least this you’re not alone.

WHERE ARE YOU STRANDED?
1: Island. Surrounded by the ocean, shipwrecked on an island. Far away from any civilization.
2: Planet. Is it an uninhabited wasteland? A teeming forest, crammed with alien life forms? Does it have enough oxygen? Storms? Predators?
3: Moon/Asteroid. Low atmosphere, low gravity. You better hope that you have a survival pod where there’s enough air and heat.
4: Adrift. A ship on the ocean; a power-dead space station; a skimmer floating through the levels of a gas giant.
5: Oasis. Not quite marooned in the same sense, but you’re surrounded by empty desert, too far to cross. You might as well be trapped by the water of the oasis.
6: Cave. Again, not quite in the same sense, but something has left you trapped underground. Did you slide down a chasm? Suffer a cave-in? Either way, you’re down here to stay, for the time being.
7: Other.

WHO’S WITH YOU?
1: A friend. You’re in this together.
2: An enemy. Maybe war brought you both here, and war left you stranded behind. Could be that you’re an enemy in a more mundane sense: school rivals, an assassin and her prey.
3: Strangers. You were both on that boat for vacation, and now you have to survive together.
4: A lover. Some honeymoon, huh?
5: Other. For any other variation.

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
1: Food and water.
2: Shelter. There’s a storm coming. The nights are cold, here. Or do you just want a sense of security?
3: Communication. How can you get someone to come rescue you?
4: Predators. Something’s trying to kill you…
5: Escape. If you can just fix the ship…
6: Each other. One more hour and you might kill each other.
7: Injury/Disease. One of you needs medical attention. Hopefully the other can muddle through.
8: Other. Any other problem you can think up!

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You're serious, aren't you?

[ It's like staring at a goddamn unicorn. She honestly seems to have no ulterior motive here. Maybe he's starting to lose it, if he can't figure out what her angle is, if he thinks that there isn't one at all.

Fine. Alright. He'll buy into it for the time being, if only to have one less thing to worry about. With a grunt, he goes lax against the ground again, chest rising and falling deeply from the effort. ]

...Agent Washington.

[ That's all she needs to know. The less particulars she gets wrapped up in, the better. ]

[She gives him a smile, dimpled and sunny.]

It's nice to meet you, Agent.

[A funny name, to be certain. But it suits him. He's kind of a funny man. In very, very funny armor.]

Now that we're friends, I hope you'll let me get you some water. I'll fill up your helmet and be back here quick as you please.

I'm very, very fast.

[She nods serenely.]

Fine. You...you do that.

[ And he lets his head thump back against the grass, licking his lips and tasting copper again. Not from the back of his throat, as it turned out. No lung damage, as hard as it was to breathe in the moment. Maybe something split or bitten on the inside of his mouth, but it would heal quickly enough.

He just has to hang on long enough to let her get back. And try to wrap his head around the situation. Long enough to think and he'd formulate some kind of plan, but for right now?

Yeah. Lying down wasn't so terrible, after all. ]

I'll just...wait here.

[She stands up with a smile, offering him a quick curtsy. Then she tucks the helmet under her arm and grabs a branch with her other hand, hefting herself up into the canopy.

Easy as breathing.

There's so much to parse out about this whole thing. She wants to know all the answers. Like where he came from. How he got here. And if he has some way to leave. Or, well, most importantly, if he would take her with him. But it's too soon to think about all of that. He's still a Human. And a skittish one at that.

So she settles for putting that aside for the time being, leaping into the next tree. And the one after that. And the one after that, off to the falls to fill the helmet, her braid thumping against her back.]

[ That leaves Wash with time to think about his predicament. Admittedly, it could be worse. He can try to make the best of this, to secure what he needs, and get back again. There's too much riding on being able to make it to Sidewinder at this point, and if his partner comes looking for him...

Adriadne is going to wish she only had him to deal with. Not a fate he'd wish on anyone, much less someone who appears willing to help him despite his less than chipper reception.

Trying to unclench, in the hopes that it will ease some of the ache that radiates through him from the crash, he tries to focus on the sound of that water, wherever it's coming from. ]

[For all of her speed heading out to the falls, it takes her a great deal longer to get back. Balancing the water was something she hadn't quite accounted for and, eager not to spill too much, she has to move with care.

Which, of course, doesn't mean her heart isn't racing.

Another person. She can't even remember the last time she spoke to someone. Other than herself, of course. And occasionally some of the tamer plants she's been attempting to cultivate. It must have been in Valeria, of course. But she has no sense of how much time has passed. Time doesn't matter here in the same ways it did back there.

But after a reasonable stretch of it, she returns to his side--on foot this time--triumphantly holding up his strange helmet, brimming with water.]

We should probably try to get you sitting up. It wouldn't do to have you drowning while you drink.

[She sets the helmet to one side, reaching her hand under his shoulders.]

Do you think you can sit up?

[ She's barely gotten the words out before he's pushing himself upright, swallowing a pained sound as he drags himself off of the grass, a patch of which is now a sticky, rusty-brown color. One shaky hand moves to grasp the bottom of the helmet, before tipping it towards his mouth.

Thankfully, the helmet has protective coating to prevent the wires and electronics on the inside from being damaged by the water, but there's nothing to be done about the smell. And consequentially, the taste. Salt and sweat musk permeate his senses, but he doesn't care. He's gulping down as much as he can until his stomach twinges in pain, and the rest damn near goes toppling to the ground before he lowers it to rest against his thigh. A fresh stab of pain lances through his body, but at least the heat no longer feels quite so intolerable.

He'll still need to peel himself out of the suit. Somehow. Right now it's doing more harm than good, he knows that, but the thought of being exposed is more than a little intimidating...even if his only company is this poor girl. ]

[Ariadne sits back on her heels, watching him drink his fill. When he lowers the helmet, she takes her torn-off sleeve and folds it up into a little pad, before dipping it in the water.]

It's never cold this time of day, but at night, it'll cool off a little.

[Slowly, making sure he can see her hand, she starts to dab at his forehead with the wet sleeve.]

How are you feeling, Agent?

[Her eyes slide over the mess in the grass, before turning back to him.]

Where's the bleeding?

[ At first he jerks away from the touch, his eyes settling on her with the same wariness as before. Then, once it's clear she's deliberately trying not to spook him, he seems to relent with a grumble. The makeshift towel does feel good against his skin. He'd been all but roasting alive in there... ]

Just peachy.

[ He huffs quietly, shaking his head. Alright, no need to bite her head off. ]

Feels like it caught me under the ribs. Won't know for sure until I look.

[ And considering how all of this had taken the wind out of his sails considerably? That might be a while yet. Finally, his gaze shifts back to hers. ]

What were you even doing here?

[She smiles slightly, cleaning off the rest of his face and neck with care.]

It's the only place with water. I have to come by once or twice a day.

I've never run into a person here, though.

[And with that, she starts looking along the side of his armor, trying to find latches.]

We need to get you out of this.

[ It's when she gets to his neck that he jerks, pushing her hand away. Boundaries were boundaries, and that? Was edging close to dangerous territory. No offense meant on that one, Adriadne. ]

No, I mean why are you here. Wherever 'here' actually is.

[ There's that squint to his eyes again, like he's trying to read her, before ultimately giving up and glancing down at his armor. Fair. He does need to get out of it, but the idea of her hovering while he does so?

Little bit awkward, there. ]

...yeah, alright, fine. Just turn around or something.

[Her forehead crinkles up a little bit in confusion, but she nods and stands up, taking a step back before...spinning around. In a full circle.

Why did he want her to turn around? Is he examining her?

Maybe the scars on her back are showing, where her sleeve used to be.

That's an uncomfortable thought.]

I was sent here.

Banished, I guess, you could say.

[ This time, his incredulous look is very, very visible. Alright. Maybe staying out here for so long on her own had an effect on her.

On that count? He could sympathize to some extent. Not that he wanted to. ]

Why were you banished? And...no. That's not what I meant. Turn...

[ He gestures with one hand in a spinning motion. ]

...and face that way. While I get out of this.

[The idea of turning her back on a Human is a little bit unsettling, but Ariadne nods and turns to face the other way. A muscle in her back twitches slightly. And she feels a bit of heat running along her scars.

Finally, she decides to close her eyes and concentrate on listening. She has no reason to believe he'd sneak up on her from behind, but it's a good practice.]

Oh. I took something from someone and gave it to someone else.

The first someone didn't like that.

So you're a thief.

[ Alright, well that makes a certain level of sense. Or at least within the realm of possibilities. She doesn't seem like a violent offender on any level, though what does he know of her, really?

She won't get her scars stared at, thankfully. Wash has plenty of his own, most of which he has no intent of discussing with anyone. The main focus now is peeling himself out of his armor, one piece at a time. She can probably hear him grunt and breathe a little heavier as he stretches to remove the clasps on his pauldrons, his arm guards, and his chest piece. They fall not too far from him, and once undone to the torso, he starts to unzip the undersuit.

Of course, it catches. And he curses again under his breath, trying not to wince as the tugging pulls at the material now matted to his side with slowly clotting blood. ]

Oh, no. Thieves have bad intentions. I never do.

[Which has probably helped her not to regret things too much. At the very least, she finished what she started out to do. If taking a backseat is the price she has to pay--all alone, without any company--then that's more than worth it.

She hopes.

But Ariadne winces as she listens to him.]

Are you sure you don't need help?

Intentions...don't count for much. Sorry to break it to you.

[ The words squeeze out before he surrenders for a moment, both hands falling to brace him up so he doesn't topple back gracelessly into the grass. There he sits, panting for a moment, trying to summon the will to finish dragging the suit apart before peeling out of it.

At least to the waist. ]

They matter to me.

[She frowns, biting on her lower lip for a second. He just sounds like he's in so much pain.]

Can I turn back around now? Someone's gonna have to clean your wound and it probably shouldn't be you. In case it hurts.

Like I said. Doesn't count for much.

[ Because intentions could lead to so many things. So many paths, so many opportunities to make mistakes and get people hurt, and then where were your good intentions? Could they bring people back, repair what had been destroyed?

No. The answer, as far as he was concerned, was no. ]

This isn't the first wound I've had to dress in the field. I'm a soldier. That comes with the territory.

That may be.

[Ah, the sounds of a snarly male and a snarly male's pride.]

But I've been here longer than you have. I know what the...field...has to offer.

Besides, what if it's some place you can't reach?

[ Wash's hand drops and he eyes her steadily for a moment. Something tightens in his jaw, works in a circle, before he finally gives in with a heavy sigh. You know what? She wants to help that bad, fine. She can help. ]

Just...don't touch my neck. It's a long story.

[It's a long story she looks forward to hearing someday. Really, any story will do. It's just been...so long...

Shaking her head, she turns around again and marches back over to him, ripping off her other sleeve. If she even notices his neck, scars, or body in general, she doesn't show much sign of it. She just folds up the sleeve and wets it, crouching down beside him.

The scent of his blood is...strong. For the first time, she feels a nagging doubt. What if she doesn't have what it takes to keep him alive. What then?]

There are some cobwebs in the caverns beneath the falls. They might help the bleeding...

Cobwebs?

[ And there was that long-maintained skepticism raising its head again. Where did this girl get her medical licence? Hogwarts?

It's not like there are many options, but he still frowns as he peels back on the suit. Where it sticks to skin, it has to be tugged free, upsetting the wound further, but with her watching Wash doesn't do more but grit his teeth and swallow through it. ]

If I could find the ship, there's bound to be some medi-gel in there somewhere.

Medi-gel?

[It means nothing to her, but she doesn't dwell on the question.

No, she leans forward and immediately presses the fabric against his side, trying to stem the bleeding. Not quite as effective as a cobweb, but you learn to work with what you have.]

We're going to have to make sure there's nothing stuck in you...

It's a gel that...you push a little nozzle, and it turns into foam that expands in the wound. Sanitizes, seals, and medicates all in one go. Stings like Hell, though.

[ He wouldn't complain. But venturing out into the sands to look for the ship isn't an option right this five minutes and he knows it. Like it or not, he has to try and tend to himself with what he has and recuperate.

And this girl, like it or not, was his only ally in that.

The lines around his eyes tense as she presses, but he bites back the noise once again. Just breathe through it. It's fine. They're going to deal with it, and he's gonna live. ]

Don't suppose you were a medic as well as being a thief?

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