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[Ingo just sort of lies there, letting both brother and Pokemon shove him about as they see fit.

This whole resolution he had about holding it together for Emmet isn't working out particularly well, is it? He stops whatever his runaway tongue is saying - more apologies - and buries his face in Emmet's white fur to try and collect his thoughts. This is fine for right now. Emmet needs this, so it's allowed. But Ingo cannot get so caught up in what he wants that he loses track of what actually matters.]

You smell like blood.

[oh no that probably wasn't a helpful observation]

[Emmet nodded. Two signs against Ingo.

SHIRT. RUIN.]

[At least it wasn't a shirt Emmet was overly fond of. But still, it was ruined. Holes in the back from where he was shot. The blood on the front. There was no way of saving it!]

You should put on something clean. It will make you feel a little better.

[Not "better", because it won't. But the feeling of dried bloody fabric against his skin had bothered Ingo quite a bit.]

Perhaps wash, too. [That he has not done. His energy gave out after doing the bare minimum of hiding evidence.]

[Emmet knew he had to get cleaned up. He wanted to get cleaned up in fact, he even knew he would feel better if he did so! But right now the idea of just getting wet seems too much.]

[He wished he lived in some space-age hellscape instead at the moment because then they could just...teleport the filth off of him or zap it with some special laser.]

[Emmet did not make a move to change or go wash up though.]

[He instead petted Gliscor.]

Edited 2023-08-16 03:41 (UTC)

[Ingo’s not really making much of a move to let go of Emmet and get up, either.

Finally, he just hooks the claws of his left hand carefully into the fabric at Emmet’s back and tears. More than one way to take off a shirt! It's a little awkward with his non-dominant hand, but his right is still curled into a fist. He's sort of forgotten how to unclench it.]

[Okay, that works. He removes the rest of the shredded shirt and goes back to laying down.]

[MISS. YOU.]

[REGRET.]

[WANT. MORE. TIME. YOU.]

[Ingo flails behind him for a moment before giving up.]

The blanket, please?

[Gliscor drags the knit blanket - a birthday gift - off Ingo's bed and drops it on them. Ingo immediately sets about wrapping it around Emmet. It isn't terribly cold down here, but ever since his first winter as a manticore, he worries about these things! The remnants of the bloody shirt get tossed blindly into a corner.]

Thank you. It's alright, Emmet, I'm here now. [He presses his forehead against Emmet's again.]

[Emmet moves as close as he can to Ingo. It was scary, Ingo. And not the fun kind either.]

[But Emmet isn't signing anymore, his hands are too busy kneading the blanket now.]

[Ingo goes quiet as well, though on his end it's mostly because he's begun grooming Emmet's hair with his tongue again.]

[Emmet is not fighting this at all. He just lays quietly next to Ingo as Ingo grooms him, kneading at the material of the blanket and Ingo.]

[Emmet is keeping his eyes open, focused on seeing what he could of Ingo, trying to store up as many memories of he could of the Warden so when he dies again, he does not have that regret.]

[A low purr builds up in Ingo's chest as he grooms. It's satisfying - it makes him feel like he's doing something concrete to take care of Emmet, even if really he knows it's not helpful at all. Really, it's probably alarming that he's so easily fallen into such a monstrous behavior.

The purring helps that part of him that starts to itch if he's silent too long, but it's an unconscious action. It doesn't totally fill the need.]

Gladion will want to see you. When he gets back.

[Emmet doesn't say anything, he is just also purring softly. Emmet knows he should check on his dog, Emmet knows he should check in to work to make sure he hasn't been fired, Emmet knows he should get cleaned.]

[But all of it seemed like too much right now.]

[Between licks, he goes on:]

You must let me know if you are hungry. I can get you something. Nothing too big right now. I do not - want to cook.

[Really, he doesn't much want to let go of Emmet for long right now. Though he nearly trips over himself to add:]

Though of course if you want something fresh, I will make it!

Edited 2023-08-17 01:15 (UTC)

[Emmet's stomach rumbles, answering the question for Ingo. Emmet was very hungry, but the idea of eating right now- especially the meat he knew he needed and craved from dying just the idea of it felt wrong in his mouth.]

[Too hard, too firm, too stringy.]

[He also did not want to leave Ingo's side.]

[Ah. That makes sense - in truth, Ingo had rather suspected he must be hungry. Ingo himself was hungry when he came back to life, far more so than he ought to have been so early in the month.]

Do you want to come upstairs with me to get something?

[He doesn't really want to go anyplace without Emmet, either.]

[Emmet nods as he slowly starts to sit up, still keeping a hand someone on Ingo, be it on a sleeve or back.]

[Ingo starts rising as well, reaching out to pull Emmet up with him.]

Are you thirsty? We can make tea, too.

[Emmet shrugs at the question, was he thirsty? He didn't know.]

[Emmet follows Ingo to the kitchen. Staying consistently within arm's reach.]

[Ingo keeps hold of Emmet, keeping half an eye on him as he leads the way out of his room and back upstairs. It's for the best anyway. Lying on the floor may be all he deserves, but Emmet ought to be somewhere more comfortable.

The pair head into the kitchen. Ingo stops at the pantry first, reaching into the back of the top shelf and withdrawing the Special Jerky to offer it wordlessly to Emmet. That's another thing - he couldn't send Gliscor for that, he doesn't like involving him in such matters.]

[Emmet takes the jerky, but looks down at it. Jerky was hard! But also Ingo made it (sometime in the past).]

[Emmet rips a small bit off and slips it into his mouth, he doesn't chew- he is hoping it will get softer. Or perhaps break down enough for him to just swallow.]

[He looks back at Ingo.]

[Ingo knows the jerky isn't something Emmet favors, though not quite the reasoning. Who would want it, really? For all that they're necessary provisions, it's a rather vile concept.]

Nothing fresh, I'm afraid. I have...not been cooking. If you'd like, I could make something quick?

[There's still some fresh meat left in the fridge; they both died too soon after their hunts to have used it all. Ingo doesn't especially want to cook anything now; he'd rather just focus on being with Emmet, since it seems he needs that. But he'll do whatever his brother wants.]

[A pang of guilt. If he hadn't died, Ingo wouldn't be this sad, he would have at least not laid on the floor.]

[Emmet shook his head, moving to bump his head against Ingo again. He was hungry, but he didn't want to not be near Ingo, and cooking would mean Emmet would have to get out of the way.]

[Once it felt decently soft, he swallowed the bit of jerky. He ripped off another piece. Put it in his mouth. A part of him hoped this would give him the energy to soon stop smelling like blood. Like cold, despite knowing he didn't- it was still in his nose.]

Edited 2023-08-17 03:52 (UTC)

Alright.

[Should he put up more of a fight? Go against Emmet's wishes in order to make sure he's properly fed? No - Ingo doesn't want to part so quickly either. He turns to put a kettle on with one hand, then links his arm around Emmet's to wait for the water to boil.]

Mr. Cheesecake has been well.

[That was good.]

[He kept on staring at Ingo. Tears trying to form again, he was sorry Ingo. It was scary.]

[He wanted to say something, vocally or sign. Something to communicate to Ingo, but again- nothing was coming to mind.]

[Ingo rests his head against Emmet's in turn. He ought to be talking. But it's hard to know what to say. Nothing has happened to him since Emmet was gone, really; nothing he thinks is worth being said.]

I, ah...I will make something decaffeinated. Better not to stay up, perhaps. And there is some sweet mochi left over, if you want some of it after you are done with that!

[He might have offered it first, but...well, it's that hunger, you sort of need to see to it.]

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