Rufus Catch-All

[misstrust]

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[misstrust]

[ Oh, it's fine. Dorothy has already stripped enough in this game to guarantee she will never be a bride--

Which is to say that when he glances up, she meets his eyes and holds that gaze for three seconds, which should be easy enough to translate as permission.

Her leg-- is still broken! But also rather swollen tonight. ]

[soulus]

[With permission, he works swiftly. There isn't much to be done. The leg is swollen, so he enters the bathroom and exits with some towels that he folds to elevate the limb without bending it.]

The swelling has gotten worse.

[misstrust]

I think it should... improve, later. I've had to put some weight on it.

[ Unintentionally.

Well, and he also just saw the Olympic dash for the bathroom, but apparently this wasn't the first time. ]

... Thank you. [ It's a quieter murmur. ]

[soulus]

[He glances at her, accepting the gratitude in silence. Then he leaves the room, leaving the door ajar by an inch as he does, and returns a moment later with a towel and a medium bowl, which he sets down on the nightstand beside the water.]

Use this if you feel ill again.

[misstrust]

... I'm relieved you didn't contract this. It's a rather... miserable experience.

[ That bowl is probably going to be her best friend for the rest of the night. ]

[soulus]

At the very least, we know what we should do to avoid this next time.

[misstrust]

Yes... avoid touching bodies or suspicious anything... without gloves.

[ Said with a groan but a faint smile as she leans back. ]

Also you... don't need to worry about changing the dressing tonight.

[ Saturday can be his day off. ]

[soulus]

Is it still clean?

[If she's been throwing up as often as she's implied, the wound may be more than a little unhappy.]

[misstrust]

... Hopefully.

[ It hurts, but. It doesn't feel like anything reopened?? ]

[soulus]

May I take a look?

[misstrust]

Nothing about my body gives you pause, does it...

[ Said dryly, as she leans forward to lift her nightgown up. When the dressing is removed, the area around the wound is a wee bit inflamed from being aggravated. ]

[soulus]

[Bodies are bodies.

He takes a quick peek, because he doesn't have the supplies for a full dressing change.]

It's just inflamed. It should improve with rest.

[misstrust]

And this is the part where you tell me to fight on and leave me to try to sleep?

[ Which. Valid. ]

[soulus]

. . . Will you be able to?

[misstrust]

... No, but that's fine. You've done more than enough for me.

[soulus]

[There's a beat before he nods and turns toward the door.]

Then I will excuse myself.

[misstrust]

[ The horse shifts to her feet briefly, if just to nudge Rufus' leg with a soft little snort. And that's it, she seems content with that.

Dorothy is just going to nod wearily and watch him leave. She'll get herself under the blankets eventually and maybe sleep will happen. ]