[ His expression softens. Some part of him isn't certain what to say. Loss has been a part of his life for a long time. He has a feeling Killua is not a stranger to it, either, even as young as he is. But each time feels fresh.
In the end, he simply nudges Killua towards Roach. Might as well give the kid a ride to the infirmary. The injury doesn't look critical, but they shouldn't linger, either. ]
You can tell me about him some time. [ He digs through his pack to come up with a cloth and offers it over, to wrap up Killua's hand in the meantime. He tips his head towards the horse. ] Ever been on one?
[ He doesn't need too much nudging. All resistance from earlier is gone, and now Killua just looks exhausted and sad, and much more his age. ]
Yeah... sometime.
When Geralt offers the cloth, he finally pulls his hand out of his pocket and extends it toward him in silent acquiescence. He probably can't do it on his own. The infection clings to his skin like a dark sheen over his fingers and halfway up his hand, with tendrils snaking up like veins around his wrist. Looking at it, he doesn't think it looks like much, but he knows better.
He should have known better. Gon would be furious. ]
...hm?
[ Killua seems to shake himself out of his other thoughts, looking back over to the mare. ]
A horse? Yeah. They're not common, where I'm from. But Gon and I went to this place where they didn't allow technology and--
[ It's a place full of terrible, painful memories. He doesn't get into that part. ]
Well, there were no trains or planes or anything, so we had to ride horses.
[ He silently wraps up Killua's hand, tucking the ends of the bandage around the injury. It's temporary at best; he needs proper treatment soon. But at least it'll feel better wrapped up. ]
I couldn't tell you what a train is. [ An invention in another age or world, he supposes. It's not important, either, but since Killua seems distracted with the conversation, he decides it's not a bad idea to keep it going. ]
Hop on, then. [ He looks down at the boy, eyebrow raised, the faintest hint of amusement. ] Or should I lift you on?
[ He doesn't know what a train is? Well, they don't seem to have trains here, either... They have horse-drawn carriages and omnibuses but no vehicles with engines, so it's probably not that weird. Though they have magic, so they can use teleporters instead, which makes the lack of trains and planes make more sense. Not that he knows where Geralt is from, but--
Oh. Killua blinks, then goes a little bit red at that look Geralt is giving him. He pulls his hand back now that it's wrapped, tucking it against his chest. ]
N-no! My hand's a little messed up; there's nothing wrong with my legs. Stupid.
[ At least he sounds more like himself now, and the tears are gone. Without waiting for further invitation, Killua braces his good hand against the mare's flank and vaults up onto her back. Behind the saddle, as that seems to be Geralt's seat. Which means he's sort of perched on Roach's butt like a weirdo. ]
[ That's certainly the Killua he remembers. He doesn't quite smile -- yet, until the boy seats himself just behind the saddle. He can't help it. It's...he has to say, it's the first time he's ever seen anyone do that.
Apparently, his one-time experience with horses wasn't much experience at all. (Wait. How did he ride the horse then? Not like this, Geralt hopes.) ]
On the saddle. [ He mounts Roach himself; she's patient, at least, letting the two of them adjust on her. Killua's small. It won't bother her much to take both of them back. ] And hold on. Try not to fall before we get there.
[ Killua looks down at the saddle suspiciously. But when Geralt lifts himself into it, he scoots forward as bidden. ]
I wouldn't fall off. I'm not that hurt...
[ Also, he doesn't really know where to hold on. ]
What am I supposed to hold onto? Its tail?
[ That last part being obviously facetious, though the question is real. Is he supposed to grab onto the back of the saddle? Or... Geralt? That would be weird, wouldn't it? ]
[ Teaching someone of Killua's age how to sit upon a horse feels a bit like teaching them how eat with a spoon -- normally, one simply knows by now -- so there's more than a flicker of amusement as he watches the boy get situated. ]
Don't touch her tail. [ He glances over his shoulder. ] Hold onto me.
[ Or he can balance on his own. Either way, Geralt's already moving Roach off at a steady trot. It's not often he lets anyone on her, so Killua can count himself part of an exclusive club. ]
[ Killua can balance well enough on his own, but in all honesty, he's not feeling his best so maybe it's not a bad idea. After a moment's hesitation, he grabs Geralt by the side of his belt, a sort of 'just in case' hold. ]
Uh... lots of stuff. But I guess you don't know what they are, if you don't even know what a train is.
[ He considers this; it proves a good distraction. ]
So you know carriages? Imagine those, but without horses. They use machinery to power themselves. Well, a person has to drive but you don't need animal power. Those come in small ones that fit a couple of people, called cars, or really big ones that fit dozens of people, like buses. Bigger than the omnibus in the city, and without the horses, like I said.
Trains are like that, but even bigger, and they run on rails. They carry more people faster, but they have to follow set routes, while cars can kind of go wherever there are roads in whatever direction.
Um... There are also airships. Kinda like regular ships, I guess? Except in the sky.
...you've heard of ships, right?
[ there are at least some of those in Aefenglom, if not! ]
[ Huh. It's a fascinating description and the sound Geralt makes suggests he can only vaguely absorb some of it. Though there's enough magic that powers this city in unexpected ways -- like the lights -- he supposes it wouldn't be unusual for more of it to power...
Air ships? ]
Ours stay in the water. [ He considers for a moment. ] Sounds like a recipe for vessels falling out of the sky.
[ Roach continues to canter through the woods, the city's silhouette looming in the distance now. He can't imagine any carriage-like invention going through woods this dense, but maybe Killua's world has little by way of trees. ]
They're made to stay in the sky. You know, like ships are made to float. I mean, if it gets damaged or there's a huge storm or something, I guess that'd be a problem -- same as a water ship.
It's not like airships go around falling out of the sky for no reason.
[ Geralt doesn't need to look back to practically hear Killua rolling his eyes. ]
No? [ Geralt most definitely doesn't need to look back. ] Must be crowded up there for the birds.
[ It's possible Geralt is just fucking with Killua at this point, though as always, it's difficult to discern from his voice alone. Briefly, he considers the plight of those who tested the first flying ships. Probably didn't go well.
As they cross through into the city, the temperature drops. Most of the green disappears into white. Killua doesn't seem to be getting worse, which is about as good a sign as he can expect. ]
[ Killua grumbles without really being annoyed, and as the temperature begins to drop rather drastically, he actually scoots a little closer, his good arm winding around Geralt's waist since he doesn't seem to mind. He's the one who said to hold on, right?
The conversation is a decent distraction, and Killua keeps up well enough -- trying to explain what he knows about the mechanisms of airships and how there are definitely people driving them so they don't crash into birds -- but he's getting tired, even if it doesn't show. He'll be glad to get to the Coven. For now, he's trying to ignore the guilt and embarrassment at letting things get so bad. ]
[ Geralt continues to look straight ahead, if only so Killua doesn't see the faint smile that tugs on his lips at the boy's indignance. He listens without interruption for most of the ride. Talking keeps Killua both distracted and tells Geralt he's still doing okay.
Luck's on their side; nothing interrupts them through the city. It's quicker going on the flat cobblestone roads, even with the heavy snow on the ground. Geralt pushes Roach to go faster now that he knows they're home. The Coven looms ahead, with its open yards and fences.
He stops just outside the block leading up to the infirmary. Geralt hops off first, reaching up to offer Killua a hand down if he wants it. ]
[ As a stubborn brat, Killua ignores his help, jumping down off the horse on his own to land lightly on his feet in front of Geralt. His infected hand, however, is back in his pocket in a flash, like he doesn't want Geralt to see. ]
[ Stubborn brat is about right. Geralt knows better than to make any offer of escorting him inside; besides, they're at the front gates and the Coven will take care of their own. He has no reason to linger.
He might look in later, though. If he's in the area. ]
Mm. [ He takes Roach by the reins to lead her back home, where the stables are warm. ] Next time you want to blow off steam, come find me.
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no subject
In the end, he simply nudges Killua towards Roach. Might as well give the kid a ride to the infirmary. The injury doesn't look critical, but they shouldn't linger, either. ]
You can tell me about him some time. [ He digs through his pack to come up with a cloth and offers it over, to wrap up Killua's hand in the meantime. He tips his head towards the horse. ] Ever been on one?
no subject
Yeah... sometime.
When Geralt offers the cloth, he finally pulls his hand out of his pocket and extends it toward him in silent acquiescence. He probably can't do it on his own. The infection clings to his skin like a dark sheen over his fingers and halfway up his hand, with tendrils snaking up like veins around his wrist. Looking at it, he doesn't think it looks like much, but he knows better.
He should have known better. Gon would be furious. ]
...hm?
[ Killua seems to shake himself out of his other thoughts, looking back over to the mare. ]
A horse? Yeah. They're not common, where I'm from. But Gon and I went to this place where they didn't allow technology and--
[ It's a place full of terrible, painful memories. He doesn't get into that part. ]
Well, there were no trains or planes or anything, so we had to ride horses.
no subject
I couldn't tell you what a train is. [ An invention in another age or world, he supposes. It's not important, either, but since Killua seems distracted with the conversation, he decides it's not a bad idea to keep it going. ]
Hop on, then. [ He looks down at the boy, eyebrow raised, the faintest hint of amusement. ] Or should I lift you on?
no subject
Oh. Killua blinks, then goes a little bit red at that look Geralt is giving him. He pulls his hand back now that it's wrapped, tucking it against his chest. ]
N-no! My hand's a little messed up; there's nothing wrong with my legs. Stupid.
[ At least he sounds more like himself now, and the tears are gone. Without waiting for further invitation, Killua braces his good hand against the mare's flank and vaults up onto her back. Behind the saddle, as that seems to be Geralt's seat. Which means he's sort of perched on Roach's butt like a weirdo. ]
no subject
Apparently, his one-time experience with horses wasn't much experience at all. (Wait. How did he ride the horse then? Not like this, Geralt hopes.) ]
On the saddle. [ He mounts Roach himself; she's patient, at least, letting the two of them adjust on her. Killua's small. It won't bother her much to take both of them back. ] And hold on. Try not to fall before we get there.
no subject
I wouldn't fall off. I'm not that hurt...
[ Also, he doesn't really know where to hold on. ]
What am I supposed to hold onto? Its tail?
[ That last part being obviously facetious, though the question is real. Is he supposed to grab onto the back of the saddle? Or... Geralt? That would be weird, wouldn't it? ]
no subject
Don't touch her tail. [ He glances over his shoulder. ] Hold onto me.
[ Or he can balance on his own. Either way, Geralt's already moving Roach off at a steady trot. It's not often he lets anyone on her, so Killua can count himself part of an exclusive club. ]
What do you ride if not horses?
no subject
Uh... lots of stuff. But I guess you don't know what they are, if you don't even know what a train is.
[ He considers this; it proves a good distraction. ]
So you know carriages? Imagine those, but without horses. They use machinery to power themselves. Well, a person has to drive but you don't need animal power. Those come in small ones that fit a couple of people, called cars, or really big ones that fit dozens of people, like buses. Bigger than the omnibus in the city, and without the horses, like I said.
Trains are like that, but even bigger, and they run on rails. They carry more people faster, but they have to follow set routes, while cars can kind of go wherever there are roads in whatever direction.
Um... There are also airships. Kinda like regular ships, I guess? Except in the sky.
...you've heard of ships, right?
[ there are at least some of those in Aefenglom, if not! ]
no subject
Air ships? ]
Ours stay in the water. [ He considers for a moment. ] Sounds like a recipe for vessels falling out of the sky.
[ Roach continues to canter through the woods, the city's silhouette looming in the distance now. He can't imagine any carriage-like invention going through woods this dense, but maybe Killua's world has little by way of trees. ]
no subject
It's not like airships go around falling out of the sky for no reason.
[ Geralt doesn't need to look back to practically hear Killua rolling his eyes. ]
no subject
[ It's possible Geralt is just fucking with Killua at this point, though as always, it's difficult to discern from his voice alone. Briefly, he considers the plight of those who tested the first flying ships. Probably didn't go well.
As they cross through into the city, the temperature drops. Most of the green disappears into white. Killua doesn't seem to be getting worse, which is about as good a sign as he can expect. ]
no subject
[ Killua grumbles without really being annoyed, and as the temperature begins to drop rather drastically, he actually scoots a little closer, his good arm winding around Geralt's waist since he doesn't seem to mind. He's the one who said to hold on, right?
The conversation is a decent distraction, and Killua keeps up well enough -- trying to explain what he knows about the mechanisms of airships and how there are definitely people driving them so they don't crash into birds -- but he's getting tired, even if it doesn't show. He'll be glad to get to the Coven. For now, he's trying to ignore the guilt and embarrassment at letting things get so bad. ]
no subject
Luck's on their side; nothing interrupts them through the city. It's quicker going on the flat cobblestone roads, even with the heavy snow on the ground. Geralt pushes Roach to go faster now that he knows they're home. The Coven looms ahead, with its open yards and fences.
He stops just outside the block leading up to the infirmary. Geralt hops off first, reaching up to offer Killua a hand down if he wants it. ]
no subject
Thanks for the lift, old man.
I'm good from here.
no subject
He might look in later, though. If he's in the area. ]
Mm. [ He takes Roach by the reins to lead her back home, where the stables are warm. ] Next time you want to blow off steam, come find me.