Coping techniques

JP with Lucian, Omni, Zeeke, Lorem and Bandorchu

Alexis watched the exchange, pushing away her grief and regrets about Boyce’s passing to focus on the situation at hand.

Her worry for Voah’s state and her sympathy for Gonyaul added more weight to her heart. But she didn’t know how to help either of them.
Still, she came over to at least help her friend out with Wim.

Hopefully, Tarmen would be able to calm Voah to a point where they didn’t have to worry about her wandering off in the middle of the night or worse.

But with how this was going, at this point she was preparing to step in if things escalated even further.

Wim reached up his good hand and patted Gonyaul’s cheek.
“Gooood to see you too,” he slurred slightly.
“It was a sad day,” he said still on an emotional roller coaster.

Gonyaul was quieter and more reserved in his demeanor than usual, as he tended to Wim’s arm, using the techniques Alexis had shown him in the caves. It was like a small bit of shine had been extinguished behind his eyes.

He was grateful for Alexis coming to help him. He was more thankful that she was just near and it really helped to calm him internally.

Wim’s gesture and drunken words forced a smirk out of him that snowballed to a smile fighting to be released. He nodded, putting his left hand on Alexis’s arm and then his right on Wim’s good arm. He looked at them both and gave a light squeeze.

“It was sad day.” He paused trying to keep it together. Wim was hurt, they lost Boyce, Hunter and Islana were still away, and the incident with Voah just now, were still being processed.

“But it still good day.” He assured with a little pilot light of hope still flickering behind his eyes; it wasn’t fully put out.

“Good Wim, when ready I make a better place for you over there.” He added, not wanting to rush the man.

Alexis gently grabbed Gonyaul’s arm, making him look at her.

“It’s alright.”
She quietly said.
“Don’t force.”

Looking down at Wim she added:
“He’s right, we need to get you over to the camp. I know it’s not fair. I’ll carry you, alright?”

Tarmen gathered a small bundle of the mushrooms and bread to give Voah, though he wasn’t sure how to go about it.
Based on the looks she gave him he was pretty high on the Inquisition list.
He had thought about leaving her as she pleased, it was definitely his preferred method when people got pissy, but if this was the mold than it was something he didn’t want her to suffer through.
He found her not far from their little camp, back to his approach. Not wanting to startle her in range of an attack, he sat a few paces away and tossed the bundle to her side.
“Eat. If you are goin’ to condemn us, at least do it with a clear head.”

As Gonyaul’s eyes met Alexis’s his expression relaxed back to a state of sadness. She was right. He didn’t feel good at the moment and he was too tired to force channel the teachings of his elders. Sometimes things just aren’t good and you have to grieve he concluded.

In fact, he didn’t feel like talking anymore at the moment about any of those issues. He signed thank you to Alexis.

He rose to his feet. If Alexis was carrying Wim then he could be put to use somewhere else. “I go get Voah tent ready.” Which was his tent he had not yet gotten around to setting up since Wim was the priority.

Voah, sitting against a wall sulking, said nothing. Didn’t even look at Tarmen, but begrudgingly took the bundle and some of its mind clearing contents.

With one motion, the Arbiter made it perfectly clear to Tarmen.
Not now.
Not looking to waste either of their time, he promptly rose and began walking back. He did throw one last comment over his shoulder, devoid of any sarcasm.
“See you at camp.”

Gonyaul had moved on to setting up a tent for Voah and was nearing completion. He was just putting the finishing touches on the interior. He took the forearm linen wraps of his outfit and laced them in a decorative pattern along the ceiling of the tent, using the tent’s structures at the top as the anchor points. In his culture, it was a message that one could leave behind to indicate an open invitation to talk was available.

He added an additional blanket, that he found from the wagon, underneath his in order to act as more of a cushion from the ground. Once he was content it looked orderly and comfortable he exited in satisfaction.

Looking around, he noticed everything else in camp was already in tip top shape thanks to Alexis.

Gonyaul just wanted to be alone for a moment. Going off somewhere in the ruins could be too risky, so instead he crawled inside the parked wagon out of sight.

Gonyaul took out his meditation wrap and wound it round his eyes and head. It was just him, thoughts, feelings, and breath.

Carefully and mindful of Wim’s wounds, Alexis carried the young lord over to the camp.
Setting him down gently on the prepared bedding, she made sure he got some liquid into him aside from the egg booze.
Who knew how long he had been out without food and drink.
She offered him some rations, too, unlike with the water however, she did not insist.

When she was satisfied that everything was done that could be done for Wim, she settled down, preparing for a very long night.

They were not out of danger, so keeping watch was unfortunately necessary. She had a hunch though that none of her companions might be up for the task, at least not right now.

She’d just have to hold out as long as she could.