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Lattice was glad when the day came when she and Petro agreed to go for a walk. Her little table was littered with papers covered in words. At first they were letters to her sister eloquent, questioning as to why she hadn't written back but soon the letters became sad, longing and pages upon pages filled with a single phrase 'where are you?'

Where did she go? Why wouldn't she write her anymore? Did Needle suddenly tire of her and didn't want to hear from her again? Was Needle in trouble? Lattice didn't know and she felt an aching fear in her heart. She didn't mind pain, she even welcomed it but this pain was more than she could handle. Lattice didn't like this pain, she didn't want it anymore.

Please. Make it go away.

She left her papers littering the table and parts of the floor as she exited her room and went to meet Petro out by a small tree she liked the look of. Petro would make it better. He'd make her forget that her sister hadn't written to her in a while. She hoped.

Lattice twisted and pulled at her ink stained fingertips anxiously as she waited for Petro. She was ignoring the knot in her stomach and the desire to weep carefully she pushed the emotions back and tried to swallow them. She felt nothing, she felt nothing at all. She was an Engraver...

Petro was more often than not on time whenever he arranged to meet with someone, having never liked the excuse of "Running on Filipino Time" as some of his Clansmen did. Tardiness only became an issue, oddly enough, when classes were involved. The horse boil left the monster dorms at a brisk trot, intending to arrive early for his meeting with Lattice.

It was just for a simple walk but Petro did not want to waste another minute lest he ended up making the Engraver ghoul wait. When their designated meeting spot came into view, the horse boil found Lattice was already there. Immediately, the brisk trot became a speedy canter as he came up to the ghoul with a wide, warm grin and a cheery, "Lattice!"

He slowed down to a jog when he was near enough, only to pause when he noted the anxious movements of Lattice's fingers. Normally she projected an aura of calm about her but today there was something... off. Square-root brows furrowed. Was he late? What if he got the time they were supposed to meet wrong and now he made her think he stood her up!? Jack damn it, way to go, Tro!

"Did I make y' wait long?" he asked, eyes wide in concern and worry and apology.

She saw his tattoos as he came closer she worked hard and put on a tenuous smile to greet him with in turn, "Petro!" Lattice called back in what she thought was a cheerful tone but in fact it was strained, burdened with the sadness she currently felt.

Lattice was trying to hold it together but as it was she was currently held together by a string. Still she wore her smile and shook her head, "No you didn't keep me waiting at all," she cleared her throat and looked away from him. She didn't want to cry in front of him she didn't want to cry in front of anyone to be honest.

Petro might have been considered a close friend already but that didn't mean she wanted to disgrace herself in front of him with weeping. She didn't want to bring him down. Forcing herself to look at him again Lattice's smile trembled lightly as she spoke again, "R..Ready for our walk?"

Despite the assurance from the ghost ghoul that he hadn't kept her waiting, the horse boil still couldn't help but notice the sense of... agitation? Anxiety? That was emanating from the engraver. But as he couldn't see any physically visible cause for her state of distress, the tikbalang wouldn't push it. He instead offered her a relieved sigh, "'S good then."

Instinctively, his arm was offered to Lattice, "'M always ready for a walk," along with a bright cheery smile. It never occurs to the horse boil that she wouldn't be able to see his bright smile without the slight distortion it caused to the tattoos on his face. Still, he hoped getting her body to start moving would help relieve the engraver of whatever it was that was making her anxious. Body language outside of spars seemed to be too complicated for Tro. Or perhaps he could read them just as well. He just... didn't know how in Jack's name he was supposed to deal with it.

I am fine. I am fine. She's just busy.

Busily in her mind she coached herself or at least tried to but even this attempt made it worse as she nodded toward Petro though the nod was a bit odd and mechanical almost. It wasn't that she wanted Petro to worry, she was trying to make him believe everything was okay, "Yes..It is good," she murmured softly. When he came forward and offered his arm her trembling hand moved to latch onto it.

Threat of tears stung her eyes before eventually they simply poured out and down from behind the mask, but still she wore her smile trying to act like she was fine, "Yes, ready." She echoed back at him. Everything was okay. She was crying but everything was okay. Tears dripped down her face as she waited for the boil to move forward. It seemed the Engraver was in denial about her obvious distress at the moment.

O-oh Jack, w-was... was Lattice crying?! Brown eyes widened in horror and concern at the sight of the tears that streamed down the masked ghoul's face. There were many things that Petro did not like, seeing a ghoul upset and crying being at the top of the list, along with not knowing what to do to make it easier for her. "No, this ain't good," he frowned, a hand slowly reaching pausing briefly before the pad of Tro's thumb brushed away a tear. "Something ain't right," he spoke in a low but firm murmur.

Why was she crying? Did someone make her cry? Was it that wrath demon from Human Studies?! "Why're y' crying?" Ever the blunt horse monster, Tro had no intentions of dancing around the subject or pussyfooting about.

Tears continued unstopping for a few moments despite any attempts to wipe the tears away her smile broke and finally the expression of sadness lay heavily upon her features. Petro's insistence was enough to pull the truth out of her, "N...No...No it wasn't him. M...My sister," she said brokenly trying to turn her face away from Petro. She felt ashamed for breaking so much of her composure in front of him.

"Eh-eh-every day..Le-le-letters but lately there has been n-no letters," she explained trying to be clear as possible amidst the sobbing tones. She sniffed lightly, "She...She must be in trouble she hasn't sent...sent me a single thing."

After all what else could be keeping Needle from writing?

When the Engraver mentioned her sister, Tro was unable to keep himself from asking, "Something happened to Needle?" It undoubtedly would only make things worse for Lattice, but Tro wasn't really known for his tact. Hopefully, the concern and worry in his voice was enough to indicate he meant no malice by his question. He let the ghost ghoul turn away, beliving that she didn't want him to see her cry. And so, he would grant her that want.

He stayed close by, always within arm's reach should Lattice want someone to hug (he'll deal with the puncture wounds afterwards in that case). His worry regarding Needle did not diminish as Lattice continued to tell him, in between sobs, about letters. He remembered how the sisters mentioned writing to each other after the Fearados attack, "Have the Elders'v y'r Clan told y' anything?" he asked. He was certain if something had happened to his momma or itay or any of his close cousins, he'd get some letter informing him.

Maybe that was also how the Engravers worked?

"I...I...I don't kn..know," She wept openly at this point her hands reaching to cover her face as if to stop the tears but it was to no avail. There was only sobbing answering his second question before she finally spoke up, "I ...I don't know. They co..could be punishing me. I-I-I've been so ho-ho-horrible since away from my c-c-clan!"

This caused a new torrent of weeping. She'd been too open. Too happy. She'd been smiling everywhere and it was horrible. She was ignoring all her teachings and now they were going to keep Needle from her and...

Suddenly she turned toward him and cried out before eventually she just hugged on to him needles in her arms and all. Normally she took precautions. Usually she didn't do this at all but she wanted or rather needed someone to tether her down lest she spiral out of emotional control. Needles jutted into Petro and probably felt more than just a little unpleasant.

Something told the tikbalang he had said the wrong things and asked the wrong questions. Maybe it was the fact that Lattice wasn't just crying but she was outright weeping and the sight, the sound, of her in such a state of distress gave Petro a gnawing ache in his chest. Why was her Clan punishing her? Was this his fault? Had he been a bad influence on Lattice?

He couldn't say anything, didn't want to say anything, lest he made thing much worse. He squashed his desire to ask and clarify for the reasons behind the ghost ghoul's punishment, choosing instead to attempt to rest his arms on her shoulder in the closest thing to a hug he could give her.

Except she was suddenly facing him, oh Jack, the gnawing ache in his chest multiplied by ten-fold at her tear-streaked face and the despair and fear she was openly displaying. Part of him wished Lattice still maintained the controlled monotone and neutral expression she usually wore but another part of him (which he will acknowledge only later) felt... privileged to witness such an honest, open display. As terrible as the situation was.

But whatever thoughts he had, they were promptly shoved back as pain stabbed his torso from every which way when the ghost ghoul hugged him. Teeth grit and the veins in his neck bulged as he forcibly kept himself from crying out in pain. No, deal with it, Tro, suck it up. She isn't attacking you, she's seeking comfort. Stiffly, carefully, the horse boil gently stroked the ghoul's hair, making soft whickering noises in an attempt to calm her. No easy feat as he was currently acting as a horse pincushion.

Right now she was so absorbed into her own sorrow that she didn't quite realize how she was affecting Petro just by being this way by showing so much of her raw emotion. She just couldn't hold it in anymore the dam had busted and with it came the flood of tears. Her arms stayed wrapped around him despite of how tense he felt in her arms. Slowly she was calming down thanks to his not pushing her away or reacting badly even the sounds he made comforted her to some degree. She just wanted someone, anyone to care for her show her affection. He was her friend he was there he was solid.

...He was solid.

Lattice's sobbing had quieted but now she froze her eyes widening as she realized what she was doing. Oh Jack. Oh Jack. She hugged Petro. He must be in so much pain. "Petro," she murmured softly, "I am sorry. I am so, so sorry." She was sniffling a bit in between as she apologized.

She almost felt stuck to him she didn't want to suddenly remove herself but she didn't want to slowly pull away either in fear it might pain him. As far as she was concerned they might as well be fused together in the hug. "I'm so selfish," new tears started to pour out.

"'S alright," The horse boil assured her, despite the fact that he was currently impaled with numerous sharp spikes. As long as she hadn't punctured any vital organs, Tro would be able to handle the injuries. He had to be able to withstand pain if he was going to be a decent Warrior for his Clan.

Don't show weakness. Bear it, Tro, y've done it before. Repeating that to himself over and over again like a mantra had helped. As did the gradual calm that returned to Lattice. Still, the needles hurt something fierce and it took every ounce of Tro's control to hide just how much it hurt. He would only allow himself a wince with each movement, a minor twitch of his eye.

Hearing Lattice call herself selfish, Tro continued to stroke her hair, softly murmuring, "Y' ain't. Y'r worrying about Needle. Can't be right selfish if y're doing that, yeah?" He understood that people tended not to think when they were upset (he should know, he's done so plenty of times back home, sometimes even when he wasn't upset).

Petro, however, had no idea how to untangle himself from her arms. Actually, he wasn't even sure if he should. Would that make his injuries worse?

Despite the assurances she didn't feel much better about their current embrace. She tried to avoid such things and Petro was just standing there letting her. She couldn't understand why he didn't just gently push her away or something, he had hands on her shoulders he could have stopped her but here they were together. She buried her face into his chest for a moment just a small moment taking comfort from the fact that they were this close, "You are my best friend," she uttered quietly, "and here I am hugging you and hurting you...and...and crying about myself and missing my Sister."

Petro was so kind to her so understanding and yet here he was taking pain. Always taking pain but she wasn't sure how to let go. What if it hurt more? She just rested her forehead against his chest before she uttered softly, "I...I'm going to let go now and I will help you put something on the wounds."

Please don't say no. Please don't try to walk this off.

Suddenly Lattice unwound her arms from about him pulling away trying to do so in a swift simple movement so as not to pain him any further. She wouldn't have thought less of him if he cried out, "Sorry!" she apologized again tears still trickled down from under her mask.

The horse boil's brow was beaded in a cold sweat from the pain of having numerous needles stabbing into his back but he tried his best not to keep this from becoming obvious. He wanted to assure Lattice he was fine, that he was more concerned about her. Because he is very concerned about her and her sister Needle. Because he was raised to put the needs of others before his own and doubly so when it was a ghoul and ten-folds over when it's a ghoul he deeply cared for such as Lattice.

Seeing her hurting like this makes him wish he could numb the white-hot stinging that was slowly merging into one solid wall of agony.

Before he can say anything, Lattice lets go of him. And it suddenly feels like his lungs are robbed of all the air as blood spurts from his wounds. He all but crumples to his knees, arms clutching at his back, every muscle in his body taut, his skin now drenched in sweat and needle-thin trickles of blood.

"Use my bahag," he grunts to the Engraver through grit teeth, both his palms struggling to staunch the bleeding. He doesn't want her to use her obi. She'd already ripped a set during their encounter after the Fearados attack. His loincloth will do, despite it having seen better days since his spar with a certain valkyrie reaper.

Words could not describe how horrible she felt at this point. There just was no way she could put words to the amount of guilt she felt due to the fact that she caused him so much pain. Someone that she considered a good, close friend and she caused more than just a little harm to him. Tears started up again as he crumpled to the ground.

This was not the most stable day for the usually in control Lattice.

No! Stop your sniveling. He needs help.

She stubbornly held back the rest of her tears as she nodded a bit, "O..Okay," it wasn't like she would see anything interesting enough to be scandalized and thus with no hesitation she wandered forward and began to rip up parts of his bahag to use for bandages muttering soft words to him.

"I'm so sorry. So sorry. I should have been in more control," she murmured guilt weighed heavily on her shoulders.

Petro could only shake his head in response, his body was starting to feel unusually cold from the bloodloss. "'S a bit loose," he whickered softly, as he reached out to touch the back of Lattice's hand, encouraging her to wrap the make-shift bandages tighter. He knew the ghost ghoul could see ink, he wasn't certain if she could see blood. He hoped she couldn't, because his hands were covered in it and he had just unintentionally gotten some on her.

"Y' still up for that walk?" he wheezed, trying to chuckle and lighten the mood. He slowly moved to wipe at the fresh tears on the ghoul's face, realizing only at the sight of the red streak he left where the pad of his thumb brushed against her skin. "Think we oughta get cleaned up," he added lamely.

She nodded a bit as she moved to wrap tighter where it was need to be wrapped tighter not sure how else she can do to help him, "Maybe we--..." Pause at the word we. Who was 'we'? Other than herself and Petro but...

We... Right now she wasn't a 'we'. She was just Lattice.

Lattice cleared her throat a bit, "I..should help get you to the nurse's office?" The attempt to lighten the mood was not unnoticed but really she didn't feel too much like laughing or smiling. His thought to get cleaned up brought a small nod as she moved to try and help him to his feet. It was obvious that she would feel rather horrible about this for a while.

"A..Are you okay to move?" Lattice asked softly, not noticing or seeing blood though she knew it was there by the smell in the air and the of course the sticky wetness that was there when she had wrapped up his wounds as best she could.

Again all Tro could do was nod, sharply drawing breath whenever Lattice pulled at the make-shift bandages a little too tightly. But the tension was good, welcomed even, as it helped slow the bleeding down. Long enough for Lattice to be able to accompany Tro to the Nurse's office. The horse boil was beginning to become a regular there, it seemed.

"Got some blood on y'," he softly murmured, lightly brushing the back of his hand against Needle's cheek, "Y' don't mind if I lean on y' a bit?" he asked. He probably could walk unescorted but it would take some time to get to the Nurse's. He didn't want to cause Lattice any more stress as it was.

Hopefully, Nurse Cricket wouldn't object to him arriving in his bahag. Well, not in his bahag the way he was meant to be. He will assure her that he had attended her Sex Ed class and he did listen to her. This was just an accident and in no way anyone's fault. Especially not Lattice's. He doesn't want her blaming herself for this.

She almost went to loosen the makeshift bandages but thought much better of it, leaving it. it wasn't like they would stay there for long and something needed to be done to lessen the bleeding in general. When she finished she leaned lightly into the hand and let him wipe the blood away or rather smear it across her cheek a bit, "Sorry." Lattice murmured again for probably the millionth time but she didn't care. First she panicked about her sister and now she hurt Petro.

"I don't mind," Lattice responded as she moved to try and help Petro to his feet as best she could so he could then lean on her, "just be careful."

Lattice couldn't help but mentally curse the needles for their existence. They were a source of pride as much as they were a hindrance. The Engraver waited for Petro to be ready to move.

"Thank y'," he nodded gratefully. Slowly, carefully, Petro placed a hand on Lattice's shoulder. He couldn't lean against her for support, not with those spikes in her arms. But if she walked ahead of him, he could steady himself better that way. Not to mention she would effectively spare anyone ahead of them the fate seeing the horse boil bear it all. Not that Tro was particularly conscious or embarrassed to be naked in school or walking behind a ghoul.

"'M good," he told the engraver in a soft whicker. "We can head over to Nurse Cricket now."

"Welcome," She replied and once she felt his hand on her shoulder and heard his words she nodded slightly and moved forward toward where she thought she recalled the nurse's office was of course Petro was always free to correct her course whenever needed.

Once they arrived it was an interesting ordeal trying to explain to the Nurse why Petro was wearing pretty ... nothing though Lattice helpfully pointed out that Petro was indeed wearing SOMETHING but that didn't seem to help matters at all. Lattice stayed by Petro while he was looked over given some sort of 'cover' and then they were essentially made to leave as soon as they were done.

Lattice paused a few moments after they were outside the office and seemed to be hesitating over something. She honestly didn't want to be alone for now, "Petro...?"

Petro's encounter with the Nurse was uneventful, as there were no bugs (children as the ghost faculty member called them) stepped on and the bandaging was accomplished quickly. The remnants of his bahag, unfortunately did not look like they could be salvaged and Tro dreaded having to explain to his momma just why he needed a new one for everyday wear.

Returning to Lattice's side, the tikbalang found it ironic how he had first considered himself to be her guide, believing he would be the one to lead the ghoul and ensure she would be comfortable. But just look at him now: Bandaged, mostly naked, and undoubtedly made the Engraver more upset. This was no one's fault but the horse monster still couldn't help but feel like this was his doing.
So when Lattice called to him, he wasn't sure what to make of it. "'M here," he answered, instinctively reaching for her hand only to hesitate and instead brushed his fingers against her shoulder.

Her hand reached up to rest her fingers on his despite having to somewhat awkwardly bend her arm so she didn't pierce herself, "I...I know." She smiled just a little for the first time since the whole ordeal began. Her fingertips wiggled against his hand a moment before she moved to face him looking up at where his face ought to be.

"...I want you to stay with me at least...overnight. I don't wish to be alone. I fret too much when on my own." She said quietly as she faced him. If he said no then she would simply try to deal but she'd much prefer that he said yes. Quietly she awaited his response.