(no subject)

[not_his_pa]

William almost falls through the Front Door as the wall he was leaning on isn't there. His knee is wobbling, he's bent over in pain and his face has some bad bruises on it, he just wants to get to a chair.

With a breath that hurts, he hobbles to a chair and sits before looking at his hands, his knuckles are scraped and he's not sure he can move again.

If he can rest here at least until walking doesn't make him feel like he's going to fall then he'll go home. He needs to keep everyone from worrying and stay in one piece.

(OOC: All threads timed to after Ellen's.)

Comments

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Whurf?"

You've got a very concerned dog sniffing at you, William.

[not_his_pa]

He's not really focusing that well but he does realize that's Dogmeat and offers one of his hands,

"Hey Dogmeat, I'll be fine. Just need to rest and then I'll get home."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

The dog licks the offered hand and pokes his nose against it uncertainly. That doesn't smell like a happy human, no.

[not_his_pa]

He winces at the lick, his hand isn't in good shape,

"It ain't that bad. They surprised me,"

Maybe if he says it enough, it will become true and he won't hurt so much.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"I've been there," says Dogmeat's owner from behind him. "And even with armor that's not a place you want to be. William, my father was a doctor- do you want me to help you, at least a little?"

[chameno_koritsi]

"William?" comes the exclamation turned concerned question from Thalia. She had been about to give him an enthusiastic hug but she caught sight of his state just in time. "What happened?"

[not_his_pa]

Since Ellen helped, he's not hurting as much and he's cleaned up slightly,

"Just some bad luck of gettin' hurt by some men in town."

[chameno_koritsi]

Her jaw works a bit before she replies, a little too casually, "Oh? You just tripped and fell on someone's fist?"

[not_his_pa]

He looks down and fiddles with the bandages on his hands,

"No, I bumped into them and they wanted someone to hurt."

[chameno_koritsi]

Her anger fades when he looks down, replaced by worry.

"Then it's their fault for being jerks. What happened?"

[almosthonorable]

Mug of hot coffee in hand, Ben pauses a few steps away from William's table.

"You're supposed to run that herd — they're not supposed to run over you."

[not_his_pa]

He was hoping that Wade or his father wouldn't see him like this, it means things might get set in motion that aren't good.

So he tries for a laugh but its painful and bitter and would suit his father quite well, "I wouldn't mind the herd if they had. They'd just be followin' their nature."

[almosthonorable]

Ben moves closer, all the better to survey the damage.

"Some might say men are only followin' their nature, too."

[not_his_pa]

Ellen helped to clean him up but he's bent over from being hit in the ribs, the knee and elbow he landed on when they pushed him over hurt and his face is turning pretty colors,

"Didn't know 'em well enough to say. They wanted someone to hit and I crossed their path. Nothin's broke and I ain't dead."

[almosthonorable]

"Sounds like it ended as well as it could've, considerin'."

Ben's voice is light, but his eyes are unreadable as he takes an empty chair.

"How many?"

[lasthalfmile]

For a moment, Dan merely sits and watches the boy (his son) as he gingerly walks to find a new seat in the bar. It's obvious that he's hurting, and while Dan wants to march straight over there and figure out just who in the hell dared to put a hand on his child...he needs a moment to sit and watch.

(And contain the anger that's boiling in his chest.)




Once he's controlling his emotions, he rises from his seat and heads for the table William's found himself at, dropping into a chair without invitation.

[not_his_pa]

He's focusing on not falling over as his knee keeps feeling like its going to go out from under him and breathing.

Things have been happening fast and he needs to not get bowled over just get well enough to walk, ride home and convince Ma and Mark that they don't need to do anything.

When his father sits down, he looks up and bites his lip because he can't fall apart. He's a man and his father can't fix it and he won't cry.

[lasthalfmile]

"I'm gonna take a guess and figure that ain't from fallin' off one of the horses, is it."

Dan's seen what a man's fists can do to another man's body; he's seen the way men act out in violence and during drunken rages.

[not_his_pa]

"No, sir. I didn't start it,"

Keeping his voice steady shouldn't be this hard, but he knows he's let everyone down by walking into their paths.

[lasthalfmile]

"I never suggested you did."

He's not mad at William; he wouldn't be mad to find out that his son had thrashed the other boy from heaven to hell and back, either. And he's certainly not disappointed.

Boys will be boys, Alice. You've gotta let 'em fight.

"Let me get you a drink and you can tell me what happened."

[filemyclaim]

He's in one peice, by Dixie's estimation - but just barely. Her expression is filled with agitation and attitude as she tucks a hand to her hips and stares at the boy.

"Mercy's sake, at this rate you're going I'll be singing at your funeral."

[not_his_pa]

He flinches at what she says and looks up,

"It wasn't on purpose, just ran into some trouble. Don't joke about that, please."

[filemyclaim]

"I'd never be cruel. Unless it was to make you straighten up and fly right." She sighs. "What happened?"

[not_his_pa]

"I know but came close to losin' Mark and already lost Pa, don't want to think about it. Got in the way of some men who wanted someone to hurt. Ellen looked me over so it ain't as bad as when I came in,"

The medicine's been wearing off so he's hurting again but he'll survive.

[filemyclaim]

"Then don't think about it," she soothes. "Just rest your head."