closed.

[tender]

WHO: Derrica + Ellie
WHAT: Patch job.
WHEN: August-ish.
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: Discussion of violence, will update as needed.

The Gallows is not a small place, but it manages to be insular. Things don't go unnoticed for long.

And so that is why they're here now, in Derrica's room, with her satchel open across the bed. She'd corralled Ellie, pressed her into sitting upon while Derrica drew a chair up in front of her. The shutters have been pushed open to let in the sea air, cooling the space.

Derrica hasn't asked what happened, not in so many words. There's a way to draw that out of Ellie, but she doesn't know how to say it. Not yet. So she's examining her with very gentle hands, careful as she takes in every bruise and scrape.

"I can ease most of this," she tells Ellie. "If you like."

Because that's important too: what Ellie wants, what she'd like Derrica to do. It's always important that someone makes the choice to ask for her magic, rather than the bandages and ointments in her satchel.

Comments

[notathreat]

"Yeah," Ellie whispers back, settling with her on the blankets, close to her side, watching the slip of stars she can see on the velvety black of the night sky. With the shutters open they can better hear the echoes of the sea below, steady as a heartbeat.

It's relaxing.

Without thought, she pulls up the blanket, reaches across Derrica to tuck it in around her back, the movement mindless, tender, like it's something she's done hundreds of times, making sure they both have enough to stay warm. She catches herself, her hand briefly pausing before she slowly pulls her arm back, letting herself settle.

"Thanks."

slap a bow onto this pls

[tender]

It's unexpected, and all the sweeter for it. Derrica is so aware of Ellie's boundaries, of what she'd asked that first day they'd met. The brief arrangement of the blanket, and the shift in proximity with which she accomplishes it, feels remarkable. Having closed her eyes, Derrica opens them to look at Ellie, watching her. Assessing, making certain of Ellie before smiling at her.

"You're welcome," Derrica tells her, to the tune of anytime.

An easy promise to extend. It comes without hesitation, as Derrica exhales, closes her eyes again.