[Maybe she should've kept those thoughts to herself, especially with how upset Joric already is. But it's too late now. Frowning at what is clearly a threat towards whoever did this to her, Daisy tilts her head to look up at him.]
Don't. We don't know what else they're capable of.
[ Her words can't drain the anger from him so quickly. Despite having full control over that emotion now, he still wants this person to pay. ]
Nor do they know what I am capable of.
[ No, he has no special weapons or magic, but what he has is brute force and a berserker's mindset that makes it harder to feel pain in the moment. Daisy may be a capable fighter, but his body can handle more of a beating. ]
[ He makes a bit of a face at that, wanting to disregard it all, but knowing he can't. Still, that stubborn part of him rallies against it, wanting to say he doesn't care or "let them try," or some such thing. In the end however, he merely sighs aloud. ]
[Daisy tenses at his tone, knowing he means it. She’s aware of how hypocritical it would be to tell him not to do that, knowing she’d be saying the exact same thing if their roles were reversed.]
Please, don’t.
[Her fingers twitch, trying to reach for his hand, but any movement beyond that hurts too much.]
[ He's angry, though obviously Daisy isn't the target of his anger. Yet it needs an outlet of some form. Battle had always been a good excuse to unleash his fury, but without that reason it's either punching a wall or letting out a long scream. Or this, which is gritting his teeth and fuming, like a saucepan on a simmer. It's building and building, but whether he'll boil over, he doesn't yet know. ]
You were lucky to have survived. If you hadn't been able to reach me-
[ He falters and raises a hand to cover his eyes a moment. There are no tears; just an overwhelming sense of loss that had had the potential to become reality. ]
[Daisy can’t remember if she’s ever seen him this angry before, and it makes her stomach feel as though it’s dropped at the sight of it.]
No, that’s not what I’m-
[A knot forms in her throat, making it difficult to keep talking. Between him pointing out that she could’ve died, and him overcome with emotions, Daisy doesn’t know what to say. She wishes she could embrace him, but she can’t. The heart monitor gives away how her heart is pounding in her chest.]
[ Joric had been listening to that heart monitor as she rested and now he lowers his hand to look over and see if anything's wrong before looking back to her. ]
[Daisy frowns only when his eyes are closed, watching him for a moment. She knows he has to be exhausted, and it’s tempting to just stay quiet so he’ll hopefully fall asleep.]
I’ll be okay.
[She’s not it’s a very reassuring at the moment, with how little she’s able to mask her discomfort.]
[ His eyes open and he gives her a look that seems to say: "that's bullshit." But a moment later the look melts away, replaced with something tinged with sadness, or guilt. ]
You will be from now on. I am going to protect you.
[Daisy had a feeling his protective nature would amplify after this, but she was hoping he wouldn’t. She almost tells him she can take care of herself, but she doubts that would go over well. Especially now.]
You can’t always be there to protect me, Joric.
[She tries to be gentle when she says it, not wanting to upset him.]
And whatever guilt your feeling? It’s not warranted. Even if you had been there, they were strong.
[ Logically he knows this, but he doesn't want to agree with it. There's a brief flicker of annoyance on his face, but only because she's right. As to the rest... ]
So am I.
[ He prides himself on it. After all, it's all he has to offer anyone. ]
[ Something about those words sting, and he's not sure why. Maybe because she views him wanting to protect her as a job and not something he'd do because of how he feels about her. Maybe it's something else. Whatever the case, he feels unexpectedly wounded by it and he looks away for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. ]
If it was a job, I would be getting paid.
[ His mouth suddenly feels dry and he clears his throat. ]
But I have never wanted such a thing. Only to make sure you're safe. That's all.
[She can see that she upset him with what she’s just said, and it leaves her feeling guilty for saying it out loud. She knows that he views his worth with his ability to protect and use his strength, but she doesn’t want him to run himself into the ground by doing so for her.]
I know.
[Daisy speaks softly, licking her dry lips as she thinks of what to say next.]
I just don’t want you to hurt yourself in the process.
Daisy, I can take a great deal before I consider myself to be hurt. This is something I wish to do, and do it better than I clearly have already failed to do.
[ He feels tired, but not so much in his bones. It's a mental sort of tired. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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And what of their own secrets? What right do they have to decide on punishment? When they are found, they will see what a true punishment can be.
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Don't. We don't know what else they're capable of.
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Nor do they know what I am capable of.
[ No, he has no special weapons or magic, but what he has is brute force and a berserker's mindset that makes it harder to feel pain in the moment. Daisy may be a capable fighter, but his body can handle more of a beating. ]
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[Daisy says softly, wishing she could reach out with her hand and touch him. But any movement at all right now hurt.]
But I don't want you to do something that would get you into trouble, or worse.
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If that is your wish, then I shall bide my time.
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Bide your time?
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[ He's trying to calm himself for her sake, but his tone turns out a bit more growly than he means. ]
I will wait until I know, and then they will pay for what they did to you.
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Please, don’t.
[Her fingers twitch, trying to reach for his hand, but any movement beyond that hurts too much.]
I don’t want you to get hurt.
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[ He glances down at her looking so frail beside him and he heaves a sigh. ]
But I can't let things lie and let that be it. Not after what happened to you.
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And then what? They retaliate, and it never ends until someone dies.
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[ He's angry, though obviously Daisy isn't the target of his anger. Yet it needs an outlet of some form. Battle had always been a good excuse to unleash his fury, but without that reason it's either punching a wall or letting out a long scream. Or this, which is gritting his teeth and fuming, like a saucepan on a simmer. It's building and building, but whether he'll boil over, he doesn't yet know. ]
You were lucky to have survived. If you hadn't been able to reach me-
[ He falters and raises a hand to cover his eyes a moment. There are no tears; just an overwhelming sense of loss that had had the potential to become reality. ]
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No, that’s not what I’m-
[A knot forms in her throat, making it difficult to keep talking. Between him pointing out that she could’ve died, and him overcome with emotions, Daisy doesn’t know what to say. She wishes she could embrace him, but she can’t. The heart monitor gives away how her heart is pounding in her chest.]
I’m still here.
[She manages to choke out after a moment.]
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Yes, you are.
[ He swallows hard. ]
But it could have easily not been so.
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I know.
[Her hand twitches where it rests, wanting nothing more than to reach up and touch his face.]
But thinking about all of the what ifs won’t help you.
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[ It's a mumbled admittance on his part. It's true he's not handling this well; try as he might. ]
If I am upsetting you, I'll try to stop.
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[Daisy trails off, not exactly being truthful.]
I just don’t like seeing you like this, knowing there’s nothing I can do to make you feel better.
[She admits softly, before adding…]
And I know I’d be feeling the same way if our roles were reversed.
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[ He sighs, closing his eyes and lying back next to her. ]
It is the same for me, knowing I can do nothing to ease your pain.
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[Daisy frowns only when his eyes are closed, watching him for a moment. She knows he has to be exhausted, and it’s tempting to just stay quiet so he’ll hopefully fall asleep.]
I’ll be okay.
[She’s not it’s a very reassuring at the moment, with how little she’s able to mask her discomfort.]
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You will be from now on. I am going to protect you.
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You can’t always be there to protect me, Joric.
[She tries to be gentle when she says it, not wanting to upset him.]
And whatever guilt your feeling? It’s not warranted. Even if you had been there, they were strong.
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So am I.
[ He prides himself on it. After all, it's all he has to offer anyone. ]
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It’s not your job to protect me.
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If it was a job, I would be getting paid.
[ His mouth suddenly feels dry and he clears his throat. ]
But I have never wanted such a thing. Only to make sure you're safe. That's all.
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I know.
[Daisy speaks softly, licking her dry lips as she thinks of what to say next.]
I just don’t want you to hurt yourself in the process.
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[ He feels tired, but not so much in his bones. It's a mental sort of tired. ]
You need more rest. We will talk later.
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