[ Shinobu turns from where she was putting away some supplies and walks briskly towards him to get a closer look at his face. ]
Wen Ning! [ Concern makes her voice sharp. It helps cover up how her throat and respiratory system are still suffering some effects from the all that smoke she inhaled on Friday. ] Please don't apologize. With a wound like that, taking a little more time wouldn't have hurt.
[ She holds out a hand to him, to help if he wants to accept it but also to show there isn't anything to forgive. ]
[ She guides him to a chair in front of a clean table with a number of supplies on it. There are clean and empty jars, and jars full of herbs, oils, honey, wax, etc. It seems like she's making salves.
Royce is a name she didn't expect to hear from Wen Ning. She notes that but doesn't comment on it. ]
I'm glad you're accepting help, for as much as you want to be doing something.
[ She understands that, which is why she didn't automatically tell him to turn back around and go home. ]
If you have to adjust... you can help me make creams and salves. It shouldn't tax you too much.
[ There is no shortage of burn victims after all, and while this can only help those who didn't suffer terribly, it's more than nothing. ]
[It's a good thing she doesn't comment, or she'd be hearing more about Royce, probably. He really doesn't know what he'd have done without him lately.]
O-of course. Just show me what to do, and I think... I'll be fine.
[As long as he goes slowly, anyway. He's still getting used to a lack of depth perception, and he really doesn't want to knock anything over; an abundance of caution should do it, he thinks, even if he won't get as much done.]
[ Shinobu sets out the items in order for him: herb infused coconut oil, melted beeswax, honey, aloe vera gel. Every ingredient has some sort of ladle or tool to help scoop it out.
She points. ]
Take a small jar or tin and combine all the ingredients together from right to left. The oil and wax will need to be reheated eventually, but until it solidifies, do your best. You don't have to rush. As long as everything is mixed well together, it'll be fine.
[And he'll set to work, moving slowly and cautiously, steadying each container with one hand first before he dips the contents out, then steadying the smaller container he's transferring it to. It helps him to be sure of where exactly they are.
While most of his focus is on this, and he doesn't look up-- he does eventually speak as he carries on.]
Things really only seem to be getting worse, don't they...? Do you think we're any closer to seeing an end to it?
[ Shinobu does all this with a practiced ease, but she does it slow and steady, too.
He's not looking at her, but his question makes her smile reflexively. ]
I don't know. [ The dark part of her says she doesn't think it will stop until they make it stop. ] I hope it will. I know a number of us are trying to find the right people to bring this to an end, but they all seem elusive.
...mm. When we managed to catch one of them, we still-- this is all that came of it.
[A slight gesture to his bandaged face, there, with a small shake of his head.]
We weren't able to get anything at all, except that he was willing to die before he'd tell us anything... if enough of them are like that, then-- then it'll be difficult.
[He stops working, there, hands going still. It's something he hates considering, knowing the sorts of things they've done.]
It's... it's hard to think about things having come to this. [Wen Ning exhales a soft breath, there, hesitating before he murmurs-] Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't have left.
You help enough as you are now. Even when you shouldn't be pushing yourself while adjusting to your new vision, you're still here.
[ She gestures to the small stockpile of salves. ]
Do what you feel is right and what makes you happy, not what you think you should have done. If it will ease your mind and you wish to be with the Xian Le again, I won't stop you.
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no subject
Wen Ning! [ Concern makes her voice sharp. It helps cover up how her throat and respiratory system are still suffering some effects from the all that smoke she inhaled on Friday. ] Please don't apologize. With a wound like that, taking a little more time wouldn't have hurt.
[ She holds out a hand to him, to help if he wants to accept it but also to show there isn't anything to forgive. ]
We'll take it easy today.
no subject
Mm, I know, but I can't.... there's too much happening for me to rest too long. I just-- have to adjust, and I can't do that without practice either.
[Everyone is lucky he hasn't insisted on going to the range to start practicing shooting again yet, let's be honest.]
I'm all right, though. Royce has been helping, and so has young master Wei... Itaru did a good job. There just-- wasn't any saving it.
no subject
Royce is a name she didn't expect to hear from Wen Ning. She notes that but doesn't comment on it. ]
I'm glad you're accepting help, for as much as you want to be doing something.
[ She understands that, which is why she didn't automatically tell him to turn back around and go home. ]
If you have to adjust... you can help me make creams and salves. It shouldn't tax you too much.
[ There is no shortage of burn victims after all, and while this can only help those who didn't suffer terribly, it's more than nothing. ]
no subject
O-of course. Just show me what to do, and I think... I'll be fine.
[As long as he goes slowly, anyway. He's still getting used to a lack of depth perception, and he really doesn't want to knock anything over; an abundance of caution should do it, he thinks, even if he won't get as much done.]
no subject
She points. ]
Take a small jar or tin and combine all the ingredients together from right to left. The oil and wax will need to be reheated eventually, but until it solidifies, do your best. You don't have to rush. As long as everything is mixed well together, it'll be fine.
no subject
[And he'll set to work, moving slowly and cautiously, steadying each container with one hand first before he dips the contents out, then steadying the smaller container he's transferring it to. It helps him to be sure of where exactly they are.
While most of his focus is on this, and he doesn't look up-- he does eventually speak as he carries on.]
Things really only seem to be getting worse, don't they...? Do you think we're any closer to seeing an end to it?
no subject
He's not looking at her, but his question makes her smile reflexively. ]
I don't know. [ The dark part of her says she doesn't think it will stop until they make it stop. ] I hope it will. I know a number of us are trying to find the right people to bring this to an end, but they all seem elusive.
[ In a most frustrating way. ]
no subject
[A slight gesture to his bandaged face, there, with a small shake of his head.]
We weren't able to get anything at all, except that he was willing to die before he'd tell us anything... if enough of them are like that, then-- then it'll be difficult.
no subject
[ Her smile is ever present. It didn't budge one bit after saying something so harsh. ]
If only they could show that much dedication towards bettering this town instead of destroying it.
no subject
[He stops working, there, hands going still. It's something he hates considering, knowing the sorts of things they've done.]
It's... it's hard to think about things having come to this. [Wen Ning exhales a soft breath, there, hesitating before he murmurs-] Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't have left.
no subject
[ There's no judgment in her tone, and her hands don't stop moving. She'll be able to open a store by the time she's done. ]
no subject
[A slight shake of his head, as he manages to nudge himself into continuing his efforts.]
I can't... I can't help thinking I might have been able to help more, if I stayed.
[If he'd been there when Xie Lian took over.]
no subject
[ She gestures to the small stockpile of salves. ]
Do what you feel is right and what makes you happy, not what you think you should have done. If it will ease your mind and you wish to be with the Xian Le again, I won't stop you.