justonetruth | (no subject)

Ran-neechan!

[A child's smile, slightly startled, mostly relieved, at the sight of Ran.]

I'm looking for a splint.

A splint?

[glances around, taking note of how well-stocked the infirmary seems to be, then starts rummaging through cupboards and drawers]

What kind?

[Waits until Ran is occupied with searching to resume hunting for a splint in a different part of the infirmary, out of her immediate vision. The ghost is in luck, and he draws the sought-after equipment out of its hiding place, letting it slip to the floor with a clatter he hopes will draw Conan's attention.]

[Of course it does. He's so on edge right now, he's noticing everything. Conan at least has the decency to look startled at the noise, and start walking towards it.

For my wrist.

[Ran hears it as well, and casts a wary glance around the infirmary before turning around to pick up the splint and help Conan with it. It's a professional brace, the kind that covers the wrist and holds the thumb as well, and she knows enough first aid ~~and has gotten enough injuries in karate matches~~ that she knows how to use it]

Is it a fracture or a break?

[undoing the fastens on the splint, checking the size and the padding on the inside. It's a little big, but it should do]

[That's Ran for you, always capable, and the ghost is content to merely watch, enjoying a side of her that he doesn't get to see very often these days. Despite himself, he's curious -- how does Ran react to the Conan that is him?]

[He's good at being a little kid. Better than most Conan's are. The kind of quiet little brother that you don't notice until he pipes up with a clue for a case.]

I don't think it's fractured. He twisted it a lot, but it didn't break.

[Those words make her pause, completely silent, and only her tightening grip on the splint shows how swiftly her anger has just been roused.

That, and the hard edge in her voice as she asks]

Who?

[she can tell which arm is sprained by the way he's holding it, and she reaches out to take it with a gentleness that's in stark contrast to the steel in her words, checking it against the splint. No, it's going to need a bit more padding. She reaches into the drawer the splint fell from and finds a roll, and starts wrapping around Conan's injured wrist, her other hand holding it firmly immobile so that she doesn't hurt him more in the process]

[Shinichi was afraid of this. 1412 knows what Ran is to them, won't hesitate to use other people to settle the score -- and a Ran going after him angry?

He squeezes Conan's shoulder in mute warning, touch not strong enough to hurt, just enough to be insistent. This could be disastrous.]

[And that touch reminds him that there is a potentially vengeful spirit in the room, and he should not send Ran after the thief, as amusing as it might be.

So he puts on his best "protective little brother" face.]

I don't want you to get hurt too.

Conan-kun.

[This is her best "stern neechan" look, as she finishes wrapping his wrist and carefully eases the splint over it]

You need to tell me so that it won't happen again.

[Potentially? Ran is involved. Venegeance guaranteed (in 30 minutes or its free).

Needless to say the cold pressure at Conan's shoulder isn't going anywhere.]

[He shakes his head, still Conan-serious (which is somehow, very different from Shinichi-serious).]

He's not hard to identify. I can stay away from him just fine.

[Not that Ran is giving up even remotely that easily. The poor boy is only seven]

But he's still dangerous. And what if he tries to go after another Conan-kun here?

[None of them are getting hurt if she can help it]

Please, Conan-kun. I need to know.

[You know, that is a problem. It's not like 1412 has a warning label attached.

... he probably needs one.]

I'm not letting you get hurt, Ran-neechan.

[Quiet, serious, making it obvious that he is not going to, never going to tell her.]

[He sounds so, so much like Shinichi sometimes, and it makes her sigh]

If I don't know who he is I might get hurt anyway. [she finishes carefully tightening the velcro straps, checking to make sure the splint is secure] I promise I won't go after him.

[Yet. She sits back on her heels and observes her handiwork. It looks stable enough] How's that? Not too tight?

[It would be stupid to think that this is the end of it, that Ran will forget this, but at least she isn't pushing this. Shinichi lets go of the pressure on Conan's shoulder, waiting to hear his response -- he's concerned too.]

[How to answer that. How to answer that...

If the ghost hadn't been here, he would have told Ran already, but he didn't want to risk the anger of a vengeful spirit.

Or just not answer it at all.]

That's good.

[A pause, glancing around.]

Do you see any painkillers, Ran-neechan?

[Gets up and starts sorting through drawers for painkillers-- ah, there are the pill bottles. She tries to find one that will be strong enough but not too strong for children]

Well?

[She isn't giving up until he tells her :|]

[It's such a joy to see Ran strong and focused, even her anger seems new to the ghost. This is how she should be, determined no matter what the situation--

No, this is bad. The fact Ran keeps pushing is a sure sign that she's not going to forget and she is going to take things into her own hands -- Shinichi starts as the lightbulb nearest him blows with a small shower of sparks.

... well, if anything, it's a distraction?]

[Sparks fly, and Conan twitches around to see what that was, who that was, what just happened, and if it's 1412 somehow the thief is going to die and Ran is here an-----

A sudden burst of pain from his ribs catches him totally off-guard, and he lets out a startled cry.]

[Ran lets out a yelp of her own, dropping the bottle of pills she'd been holding and ducking instinctively, but she still manages to hear Conan's cry of pain.

This place is getting creepier by the second. Her initial instinct (honed by years of horror movies that she really should not have watched) is to get the heck out, but the sound that Conan made isn't a good one, she can tell.

She settles for casting a quick and defensive look around, and, seeing no immediate threat, crouches by the boy in a way that will hopefully allow her to shield him should anything show up]

Conan-kun, are you okay?

[The echo of pain (dull but sending throbbing memory down nerves that no longer exist) is the focus the ghost needs to pull himself together. 1412 hurt him -- and the lines between which him exactly are blurred -- threatened Ran and might hurt others. This --]

[Quiet, still, focused inwardly, Shinichi begins to think.]

[He presses a hand to his ribs, trying not to cough, since that would be painful.

Damn ghost.]

I'm... I'll be okay, Ran-neechan. It's okay. I bet that was just Shinichi-niisan!