week three - wednesday evening (handsome jack)

[eisenundblut]

[Prussia's stumbling on her way back from the beach, still checking her bandages as she moves. Newt had already helped her with the worst of her scratches, and the rest she'd been able to take care of herself, so at least she isn't visibly bleeding anywhere. Her blouse is unfortunately the shreds of cloth she used as bandages, so she's just walking around in her plain white bra. Don't get too excited now. And don't say she never gave you anything.]

Jack!

[She's a little too tired and injured to be properly enthusiastic, but she's not disappointed to see him. Instead, her lips curve into the start of a smile as she holds her side.]

Thanks for earlier, mein Schatz. It sucked, but... we'll be okay.

Comments

[eisenundblut]

It's okay, lots of people get hung up on it. But nah, the president, the Bundeskanzlerin; they're my bosses. Don't think about it too hard, you'll hurt your head.

[She waves her free hand dismissively, then grimaces. Ow, no, okay, that stretched a couple cuts she didn't want to stretch. Fuck.]

France had a whole saying about like... us, the country? We're a ship, and the people are the... sails? Or the wind or something. Anyway, point is, we're nothing without our people to keep us going. We're... I dunno, shaped by our experiences, by the perceptions of our citizens, by our culture, our language, our bosses... but we're people, too. Me and Austria both. Seen a lot of shit in eight hundred years.

[She looks like she wants to start feeling sorry for herself again, talking about Austria, but she forces it aside for now in favor of patting Jack's shoulder with the hand that's over it.]

I like you too, mein Schatz. You did a good thing today. Proud of you.

[almosthandsome]

Yeah, sorry, I still don't get it. But it doesn't matter, you're cool. Whatever you are.

[He's had enough headaches on this island, he doesn't need anymore. She's a country, he's not gonna think any further about that.]

That's a hell of a long time, shit. And I've been feeling old! [And also a hell of a long time to know somebody. That's gotta be messing Prussia up. Jack's not the best at sympathy, though, so he doesn't try and say anything. He contemplates giving her a gentle squeeze with the arm he has looped around her, but that'd probably just hurt her right now.]

Yeah, I did pretty good, didn't I? Kept it cool under pressure, didn't puke. Now I can add 'battlefield surgical attendant' to my resume, that's pretty sweet!

[eisenundblut]

[IT... SURE IS MESSING HER UP!! But she's trying to deal with it, in her own way. It's why she needed to obliterate her entire brain with alcohol, though.]

Kesesese, you've got some years to go before you catch up with my awesome self.

[She pats his shoulder again. Please don't live to eight hundred, Jack, humans aren't supposed to do that. There's all kinds of movies about bad stuff that comes from that!!]

You didn't puke. That's a lot more than I can say about a lot of kids who've gone through this stuff. You want more training, maybe try talking to Erhard. Another one of my precious citizens, he's a real trained doctor.

[She's... so proud she's almost sparkling. Both the Germans here, both doctors!! She's so proud of them both.

...She'd be proud of them no matter what though lbr.]

[almosthandsome]

Oh no, nope. Gonna pass on that. I am not the doctoring type, learned that for sure today! I will participate in an emergency only capacity. I'm glad I did good, I'm glad the kid's gonna live, I'm glad I scored some points with you...I'm good. And I'm sure your doctor is a great doctor.

[Jack's got his bragging rights. He doesn't need to get himself roped further into this whole beach-front triage thing. He'd like to keep one set of clothes blood free if at all possible.]

So just...ya know. Out of curiosity...how many points did I get today?

[eisenundblut]

Hope we don't have many more emergencies like this... Leave it to me. You can be my assistant, that'll make it better, ja?

[She pats his shoulder again with another quiet kesese. This stuff isn't for everybody. It should be left to cool people like her, but, well, things don't always work out that way. Not in this kind of situation.]

...?

[She gives him a glance, clearly confused.]

What points? You have a bet going with somebody? Who's going to get my Awesome Award of Awesomeness or something?

[almosthandsome]

If hope was...something plentiful...aw shit, I forget that stupid phrase. Anyway, I wouldn't bet on it. But yeah, sure. I'll stick with you when shit gets gory.

[He returns the pat, since that seems safer than a squeeze.]

What? No, I just mean...come on. Where'm I standing, is what I'm getting at. Cause for most of us, life is short and getting shorter by the minute. And I'm not the kinda guy that rolls over and gives up just 'cause things are getting doom-y. I dunno about you, but I wouldn't mind having some fun before everything goes completely to hell. And you...you're pretty cool, Prussia.

[eisenundblut]

...

[Wait. She gets it now. And is still kind of ??? about it honestly because people... don't come right out and call her cool. Nobody actually calls her cool? It's absolutely the right thing to say to get her panties off.]

You know I'm all about havin' fun, kid, but I don't think you want my awesome blood all over the place. Kesesese...

[She might be covered in bandages now, but moving too much will absolutely reopen those wounds. Also she's genuinely not used to anyone taking an interest in her, in any fashion, so... she's honestly a little flustered? She's dumb.]

[almosthandsome]

Oh geeze, I don't mean...like now. I just mean in general. Like...say, when you're doing a little better, am I gonna look like an idiot if I ask ya for a walk along the beach or to one of those little private places or something? I'm just trying to feel this all out. But it's dumb to be coy about it. Mind games and shit drive me crazy.

[And Jack honestly thinks he's the smoothest thing in the galaxy. He is clearly crushing this! He's giving her a shirt and helping her and everything. Classic hero moves.]

But again, already got blood all over. Kinda getting used to it. How messed up is that?

[eisenundblut]

Oh... haha, yeah, 'course I knew what you meant!!

[She didn't.]

Tell you what. Take that Jaeger on a walk along the beach with me, we'll see what happens, ja?

[She's trying to sound cool even though she's still ??? about all of it. And also completely heartsick over Austria at the same time. She's a mess just drown her in the ocean tbh.]

[almosthandsome]

I'll take that! And don't think I'm gonna be all butthurt if nothing happens. I'm just letting you know I'm available for you. For whatever. Everybody wants different things when the world's falling apart.

[He likes to drown himself in his favorite vices. He still likes her as a person. Or whatever. But he's gonna give it a shot, he's going nuts here.]

But you let me know when you're up for that walk.

[eisenundblut]

Aaah, you're right about that. But that just means we have to keep fighting back to make sure the world doesn't end on us, oder? We'll keep fighting until we win.

[She pats his shoulder again, finding some of her usual nonchalance now that the pressure feels off.]

I'm flattered, mein Schatz. It's about time someone recognized how cool I am!

[-She says, coated in blood. So. Cool.]

[almosthandsome]

Obviously you're cool, you're hanging out with me! I only hang out with the coolest people.

Gotta be honest, though, not really sure what our odds are here. How the hell do we 'win' this without most of the island dying?

[He doesn't give a serious crap about most people here, but there's a small circle he'd be really pissed off to see die. Plus he wants to survive, and get back to whatever the hell he's getting back to.]

I don't wanna sound like a Downer Dan over here, but...a bunch of people couldn't even handle the jungle for an afternoon...

[eisenundblut]

Ahaha, natürlich!

[She's silent, though, giving the question serious thought at odds with her usual cheerfully dismissive demeanor.]

We figure something out. I'll figure it out!! I just need to find the right people to fight and then crash bang pow-- ow!! Fuck!!

[She'd tried to punch the air with her fist but nope, shit, that hurt. She sags more against Jack as she bites back another swear of pain.]

Anyway, don't worry about it. Leave it to me, I'm the best! The mistake was they went without taking my awesome self along!!

[Which. is kind of fair?? Her group survived with the least amount of injuries, after all.]