We're more than carbon and chemicals

[lucetimods]

Who: All Draftees
What: Fighting Third Party
When: 26th, 27th, 28th, 1st, and 2nd
Where: The Southern Farmlands
Summary: See here for overall details.
Rating: Probably gonna be gorey in places :|a

DOESN'T NEED A CUT. People should know how this works, if not, just follow other people's lead. I'm gonna set up some strategist threads at the top, for the four strategists to use if they want to, otherwise people should start their own threads.

((Mod Note: Since this has been asked a few times, just fyi, the livestock do not talk. Happy hunting!))

Comments

[simplestgift]

[Archie manages a neat slice at the woman's hamstrings, but he's not much more than a biting fly at this point. He's losing blood quickly, and is having greater and greater trouble breathing. And there's Sayo, in far greater danger than Horner, so he peels off and stumbles toward her, reaching out a bloody hand to take her arm.]

Run! [He rasps.]

[memoryboxes]

[She's pulled up on her own will, but realizes what Ami had taught her—Archie was in considerable danger, bleeding like he was, so she made it a point to return the gun to her kimono and pick up the medical kit she'd dropped helplessly to her side.

And she proceeds to run, consciously trying to lead Archie to the nearest place where she could look at the damage done to him.]

[originaljackass]

[Shit, you guys can't run while Jack Horner is in the middle of being awesome!

Time to end this quickly. He delivers a powerful blow to her face, sending her to the ground. He immediately pins her to the ground, his hands at first landing on her breasts. There's an awkward moment that passes. Jack smirks devilishly and she just snarls furiously. Before she can react, he seizes her throat with one hand, to strangle her. His other hand proceeds to continue pounding her face in until she's no longer the dirty-but-somewhat pretty warrior she was before. His blows are relentless and without remorse, even when she stops resisting, seemingly dead.

Not that he's going to risk it. Jack figures he would heal from a beating like that, so there's a good chance she will. So he kicks her limp body over, presses a foot against her spine, then grabs both wings and pulls with all his might. The feathery appendages rip away from the flesh with a sickening tear, coating Jack in more blood that this time, isn't his own. He tosses them aside and in a fit of anger, kicks the corpse in the side a half dozen times.]

That's. Why. You. Never. Stab. Jack. Fucking. Horner. BITCH!

[KICK. Satisfied his point has made, he goes to collect the pistols he dropped. Maybe he'll check on Archie after that.]

[simplestgift]

[Kennedy manages to keep up with Sayo, fueled solely by adrenaline. Once they've reached a spot away from the action, he stops, sinking to the ground, hand pressed to the cut across his ribs. Glancing up at Sayo, he sees she's put away the gun, and gives her a nod.]

You'll want to reload that.

[memoryboxes]

[She looks at him for a moment, thoughtful, and then crouches down next to him with a determined look crossing her countenance while opening the kit. There isn't any enemy's around—she eyes the sky nervously, and then:]

Take off your shirt, Archie-san. We have to treat that before it gets any worse.

[Because you're bleeding all over yourself, and that's not good.]

[originaljackass]

[Jack will approach the two of them soon enough, his pistols tucked in place and keeping an eye out for any more goons. He's soaked in blood, but his wounds are already closing up. He glances over Sayo at Archie.]

You look like hell, Kennedy.

[simplestgift]

[Now that he's stopped moving, the sheer amount of PAIN PAIN PAIN is catching up to the lieutenant. But pain is something he bears fairly stoically. He's pale and tense and stiffly attempting to obey Sayo's orders when Jack arrives.]

All things considered, I'll--[his breath catches briefly as he lifts the torn linen shirt over his head]--take that as a good sign. [He tosses the ruined garment to the ground and leans back on his elbows before easing himself to the ground.]

[memoryboxes]

[Sayo just purses her lips and readies herself to help the wound—it's shallow, at least, that's good. She gives him a small 'this will sting' before she pours a bottle swiftly across it. Cleaned the wound. Sewing it up wouldn't be a good idea just yet, because a.) she's not sure her hands with hold still for that and b.) she's not exactly a professional.

She proceeds to tape gauze over the slash, and then forces him up just enough to start wrapping the wound. Tightly, but not too tight as to hurt him further. He looks to Jack.]

Will you help me get him back to the medical center?

[originaljackass]

[The medical center? Augh, that's so far away in the other direction. On the other hand... well, he is out of ammo. And he isn't spoiling for another match like that one.]

Sure, leave it to your old pal, Jack. [A smirk at Archie as he kneels down beside him, opposite of Sayo.] Looks like you owe me one again, Kennedy.

[simplestgift]

[But Archie's trying--painfully--to sit up.] I can walk. [He can barely breathe, but he can walk if it means Jack Horner isn't carrying him anywhere.] She got me in the chest, not the legs, damn you.

[Excuse him. He is trying very hard not to flash back to the last time he had a bandage wrapped around his chest. Things did not end well.]

[memoryboxes]

I'll have none of that! You're growing pale and you can barely breathe! [Perhaps a little more sharply than Sayo would normally manage to pull off; Nami-san had been hurt badly with her so close at hand, and there were so many people getting injured.] If you don't like the idea of two people helping you, then I'll carry you myself, Archie-san, but now is not the time to be stubborn.

[originaljackass]

Your heard the lovely lady, Arch. Pick your poison. Me or her.

[Granted, it would be kind of interesting to see Sayo carry him all that way. But Jack would be kind of obligated to stick around in case of an attack. And hell, that would take twice as long.]

[simplestgift]

I'll walk, thank you. [Sayo can't carry him, and Jack is not coming near him. After sitting up and getting hit with a wave of lightheadedness that knocks him back on his back, he grinds his teeth.] ...How far is it?

[memoryboxes]

[Sayo grits her teeth at the sound, shoulders squared, and picks up the gun to shakily reload it, uncharacteristically stricken with anger—something she's not very used to, really. It makes her hands tingle with numbness. Why do you have to be this way?

You could die.]

I'm going with you, and if you fall, then I will make sure you return to the medical center.

[originaljackass]

[Oi, this is going to take forever. He might just grab the idiot and carry him off and get this over with.]

A good few miles to the skiff I came in on. Assuming it's still there, anyway.

[simplestgift]

[This is not going to work. Archie actually looks pained now, and not just from the physical problem of, you know, a serious wound. One hand touches the bandage gently, and he can hear Lt. Bush's voice.

Kennedy. Please. Don't prod at it. It'll make it worse.

Then Dr. Clive's. He can't make it any worse, Mr. Bush. Let him do as he pleases.

Kennedy closes his eyes and heaves a sigh, giving in at last. But Sayo can't carry him.]

Jack...?

[memoryboxes]

[Her gaze travels from Jack to Archie, anxious—quietly hopeful, as the gun hangs in her hands.]

[originaljackass]

[To his credit, he's not smirking about this like he could be. Sure, maybe when Archie is safe and better, he'll taunt him about this. But right now? He's keeping serious.]

Yeah?

[simplestgift]

[And while Archie will never tell him, he appreciates that Jack is keeping serious. His breathing is hitched.]

Carry me. Please.

[memoryboxes]

[Oh thank god. She manages a little smile at that.

Good.]

It looks like the winged people are backing away—I don't see anything moving ahead.

[originaljackass]

Yeah, you just give me warning if any of those bastards start showing up again.

[He doesn't exactly feel secure being guarded by an old flintlock pistol. As for Archie, he secures his arms underneath his back, then lifts him effortlessly. He turns westward now and starts walking.

And then a whisper to his cargo:] Hey Arch, make sure you introduce me to the babe once we get there.

[simplestgift]

[...Archie is not going to address that. He holds on precariously, the position not making breathing any easier.]

S...Sayo, you were...very brave. And a...splendid shot.

1/2

[memoryboxes]

[Sayo offers a reassuring smile—in her experience, smiles help, even when someone's injured; something easing about them, she thinks. Hopes.]

I have you to thank, for lending me your expertise.

[At least her hands have calmed, and her heart seems to settle, though she still worries for Archie's health. She quietly prays there's no more interruptions from the enemy as they go.]

[memoryboxes]

Though...

[She looks at Jack, unsure.]

Sir... You were stabbed, and yet you're okay.

[how :|]

[originaljackass]

[He's also blood soaked. But otherwise okay.]

Let's just say there's over a billion people back home that'd be pretty damn disappointed if Jack Horner got done in so easily.

[Yes. That is in fact how it actually works.]