soulping | Amalthea + Takshaka

Amalthea + Takshaka

You have been instructed to leave the front foyer and enter one of the rooms down the center hallway. Room 136's door has an anatomical illustration of a goat crushing a snake under its hoof. A cat looks on, curious.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah—th-[COUGH] thank you . . .

[. . .]

[but she hesitates instead of reaching for them]

It won't cure anything. It might make you feel a little better. But--what are you thinking? You're not going to be able to help anybody if you're sitting here doubled over in pain and trembling.

I-I can't control my hand, Swan-san—that's why I'm [COUGH] n-not drinking.

--here.

[And he reaches out to try to firmly grasp the hand that she's trying to hold onto.]

I'll keep it in check, all right? Now use your other hand to take the pills.

[The hand is feverishly clammy in his grip, and it tugs against him, fingers twitching.]

Okay . . . !

[DOWN THE HATCH GO THE PILLS]

[His eyes widen just a little in surprise. And then he's calm again.]

I've got an idea.

Mmmm?

Let's splint this weird hand of yours and bandage it tightly to the splint.

. . . s-so that it—mm, that's a good idea.

[So he's going to go break a chair leg to make a splint, and also grab some bandages, then come back to her...]

C-Can you make sure my arm doesn't move at all?

I'll--there might not be enough bandages. Wait.

[And he's going to tear a couple long strips of fabric off his jacket.]

I'll bind it to your body. Together with the splint, that should immobilize it.

[BUT YOUR JACKET]

I—thanks, I'm s—[COUGH] I'm sorry, I'll get you a new jacket.

[For a moment, a flicker of emotion!]

Jeez, it's a jacket. If we win this--

[A small smile.]

If we win this, my patron will probably just give me a new one. So it's fine.

[And he sets to work binding her arm!]

B-But it's because of me that it's ruined—s-so . . . Let me help?

You don't have--

[Checking himself.]

All right. All right, you can help me get a new one.

[Smiles faintly, even as fatigue seems her slumping a bit against him by accident. Quickly tries to straighten herself!]

. . . An' I'm gonna make soup for everyone after, too.

I'll help. Soup is good.

[He seems to perk up a bit at that smile! But then he glances around them at the state of this room and everyone in it and quickly sobers up again.]

But let's not think about that now.