[ The purpose to taking out the case had been threefold. One to check the depth of the injury, two to potentially heal it if it's too deep and three to give it back to Hickey. The first purpose was fulfilled to Angelo's considerable relief (it's a little odd to eyeball the depth of a human wound from damage to an inanimate object, but it's also more intuitive than Angelo had feared) and the others are rejected, to his surprise. He had thought Hickey would want the case back on his own body as soon as at all possible... but he won't protest having it returned to his care by force. It's comforting to feel it sit against his body. It reminds him of the way it would flap in that battle a month ago.
Angelo nods and doesn't chance a verbal response, least of all when Tozer is dutifully back with the medical crate and opening it up beside him. The contents are greatly diminished, both by necessity of former treatment and by... well, these empty bottles may explain their earlier predicament, huh? Angelo frowns at it, but doesn't let it distract him for long. There's wounds that need dressing.
Without a word, Angelo takes over in peeling away the last of Hickey's coat and then also the rags that are left of his undershirt. The chest is a bloody mess, a nauseating arrangement of meat. But unlike with Armitage, threes only flesh and no organs, no splinters of bones. Angelo exhales, forcibly slow. This, he can work with.
Despite not having had more than very basic first aid training, Angelo has treated his fair share of wounds... on himself, and on other boys in the Butterfly. As much as he loathes getting his hands dirty, this isn't the first time he does so and it's notable enough that Tozer, despite hovering, stays out of his hair and let's him proceed. Angelo decides to make use of that obedient streak. ]
We need to stop the bleeding. Cornelius, you need to sit up. Tozer, help hold him upright. I'll wrap the wounds.
[ It's going to be ugly to clean these later when they don't have the water to do so now, but beggars can't be choosers. Angelo is starting to remember what it was like to live by that maxime.
There's a grunt from Tozer that could mean anything from 'yes sir' to 'bugger off' but the man does obey without further question. In the background, Hodgson's counting has subsided as the rhythm has started to come more naturally to him, De Veoux, Manson and Pilkington. How fortunate there's an even number of them to row, even with Angelo and Tozer busy here and Diggle groaning in his unconscious state on the ground of the boat.
Angelo misses sterile bandages as he handles the Victorian version that, to him, looks far too much like rags. Even so it gets the job done and before long, the quickly reddening straps of cloth are covering Hickey's chest whole. It's Angelo's cue to shoo Tozer away, tell him to attend to Diggle instead. He can handle dressing Hickey himself, wrapping him back in his shredded coat before digging for an additional blanket. It's only once he spread that over the other man that he feels ready for conversation again. Angelo exhales very slowly, a second and more final time. It's over. For now. ]
... we left the doctor. He did this to us, didn't he?
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Angelo nods and doesn't chance a verbal response, least of all when Tozer is dutifully back with the medical crate and opening it up beside him. The contents are greatly diminished, both by necessity of former treatment and by... well, these empty bottles may explain their earlier predicament, huh? Angelo frowns at it, but doesn't let it distract him for long. There's wounds that need dressing.
Without a word, Angelo takes over in peeling away the last of Hickey's coat and then also the rags that are left of his undershirt. The chest is a bloody mess, a nauseating arrangement of meat. But unlike with Armitage, threes only flesh and no organs, no splinters of bones. Angelo exhales, forcibly slow. This, he can work with.
Despite not having had more than very basic first aid training, Angelo has treated his fair share of wounds... on himself, and on other boys in the Butterfly. As much as he loathes getting his hands dirty, this isn't the first time he does so and it's notable enough that Tozer, despite hovering, stays out of his hair and let's him proceed. Angelo decides to make use of that obedient streak. ]
We need to stop the bleeding. Cornelius, you need to sit up. Tozer, help hold him upright. I'll wrap the wounds.
[ It's going to be ugly to clean these later when they don't have the water to do so now, but beggars can't be choosers. Angelo is starting to remember what it was like to live by that maxime.
There's a grunt from Tozer that could mean anything from 'yes sir' to 'bugger off' but the man does obey without further question. In the background, Hodgson's counting has subsided as the rhythm has started to come more naturally to him, De Veoux, Manson and Pilkington. How fortunate there's an even number of them to row, even with Angelo and Tozer busy here and Diggle groaning in his unconscious state on the ground of the boat.
Angelo misses sterile bandages as he handles the Victorian version that, to him, looks far too much like rags. Even so it gets the job done and before long, the quickly reddening straps of cloth are covering Hickey's chest whole. It's Angelo's cue to shoo Tozer away, tell him to attend to Diggle instead. He can handle dressing Hickey himself, wrapping him back in his shredded coat before digging for an additional blanket. It's only once he spread that over the other man that he feels ready for conversation again. Angelo exhales very slowly, a second and more final time. It's over. For now. ]
... we left the doctor. He did this to us, didn't he?