[At some point, Ozpin had carried him back to Clover's home. Enlisted the Spiritomb that had been hovering around to lull him to sleep, perhaps. Qrow doesn't really remember. He comes to with a start, and he jerks upright before a groan is pulled from his throat, a hand pressed against his side, fingers brushing against the burn scar there, under fabric that's ridden up. That's right....Ozpin had found him. And then...brought him here? He must have, because he wasn't able to call for help. He rubs at his eyes with the heel of his hand, trying to remember. There's....a hazy image of Ozpin sitting with him in one of those streets, against a wall mercifully free of blood, but he wonders if he imagined that.
Trying to stand turns out to be an unfortunate choice; he's not healed enough for it yet, apparently. (There's a note from Ruby on his nightstand with a grumpy face that could've told him that much, whoops)
But he finds his Fluid set up next to him, powered up again--at least for the moment, and an impulse takes him.]
[ Ah. For a very long moment, Ozpin simply stares at this message. He does not know what to expect next: has something else gone wrong? Is this concern for his absence? Or has Qrow regained enough lucidity to regret accepting Ozpin's help, his comfort? He is aware that he overstepped.
But it October, and there is no ignoring a practical message. He texts back. ]
[Am I needed there? What a loaded question, honestly. Qrow'd like to snap, of course he's needed, would like to be bitter about Ozpin leaving them at a time of danger and uncertainty again, but he's lucid enough to realize that he's projecting, that this isn't the time or place for it.
It's an effort to be reasonable, though. Especially with the faint hazy memories of Ozpin tending his wound earlier still at the back of his mind. Too bad you can't cauterize wounds of the heart.]
not right now
[There's incense lit in the room where he's resting, presumably an extra precaution until he was well enough to properly fight again. He was not able to look for the others, but he hasn't heard any sounds of swords or explosions, which suggests things are quiet, for the moment.
....He hates that there's a small part of him that wants to ask Oz to come anyway, to have someone to talk to while his Aura works on his healing. He pushes the feeling aside; he's not that lost child anymore. Instead:]
it's safer if we all stick together, though
[That's the only reason that Ozpin should come back and nothing emotional whatsoever it's just good SENSE for him and Winter and even Raven to pool their strengths here. Ozpin had always been the one to emphasize teamwork, after all.]
[ Again, a delay as Ozpin regards the text and tries to parse out all that is unsaid in it. Safer if we all stick together. Ozpin has not been welcome as part of we since that day in the snow. The invitation to Clover Lane had been one made of a Huntsman's practicality, a very tenuous olive branch. This could be read the same way, and yet.
The idea that Qrow wants him back, even after that moment on the streets— bloodstained brick at their backs, Qrow's hand in his, Ozpin soothing him softly— well. Perhaps there were two ways the aftermath could have gone: Qrow would draw further away, or...
Or this. Perhaps it's strengthened something. Perhaps it was a show enough of good faith to matter.
Eventually: ]
I will return this evening.
[ Not that evening is a terribly stable concept at present. But, well. He'll be back soon enough. He'd not been planning to stay away for the remainder of the month— not unless Qrow truly reacted poorly to the show of affection. And it seems he hasn't.
He is too tired, already, to deal comfortably with this much heightened emotion. It wears on him more heavily than the fights against Grimm. ]
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text; after the cauterizing thread
Trying to stand turns out to be an unfortunate choice; he's not healed enough for it yet, apparently. (There's a note from Ruby on his nightstand with a grumpy face that could've told him that much, whoops)
But he finds his Fluid set up next to him, powered up again--at least for the moment, and an impulse takes him.]
where are you?
no subject
But it October, and there is no ignoring a practical message. He texts back. ]
I am with Winter on Princess Drive.
[ I am safe. ]
Am I needed there?
no subject
It's an effort to be reasonable, though. Especially with the faint hazy memories of Ozpin tending his wound earlier still at the back of his mind. Too bad you can't cauterize wounds of the heart.]
not right now
[There's incense lit in the room where he's resting, presumably an extra precaution until he was well enough to properly fight again. He was not able to look for the others, but he hasn't heard any sounds of swords or explosions, which suggests things are quiet, for the moment.
....He hates that there's a small part of him that wants to ask Oz to come anyway, to have someone to talk to while his Aura works on his healing. He pushes the feeling aside; he's not that lost child anymore. Instead:]
it's safer if we all stick together, though
[That's the only reason that Ozpin should come back and nothing emotional whatsoever it's just good SENSE for him and Winter and even Raven to pool their strengths here. Ozpin had always been the one to emphasize teamwork, after all.]
no subject
The idea that Qrow wants him back, even after that moment on the streets— bloodstained brick at their backs, Qrow's hand in his, Ozpin soothing him softly— well. Perhaps there were two ways the aftermath could have gone: Qrow would draw further away, or...
Or this. Perhaps it's strengthened something. Perhaps it was a show enough of good faith to matter.
Eventually: ]
I will return this evening.
[ Not that evening is a terribly stable concept at present. But, well. He'll be back soon enough. He'd not been planning to stay away for the remainder of the month— not unless Qrow truly reacted poorly to the show of affection. And it seems he hasn't.
He is too tired, already, to deal comfortably with this much heightened emotion. It wears on him more heavily than the fights against Grimm. ]