thewarningafter | IC inbox for Snowblind

[By god, such insight. He is astounded by your medical acumen. Also, unspeakably bitter that he can't say any of this aloud because the last thing he wants is to piss off the one sane doctor around who's apparently able and willing to assist him, but maybe he can get a few parting shots off once he's a safe distance away or something. Ugh.]

Thank you.

[His voice is as dry as he can make it without giving offense, except he probably fails miserably because what the fuck is not offending people, does not compute, the only way his tone could be more arid is if it were actively on fire, but anyway.]

I'll do that. Anything else?

[Stephen would probably think it was funny if he did say that out loud. This is him trying for levity, and if he were on video Karkat would see the little grin that comes to his face at the dryness of the response he does get. He's business-like, though, in his tone.]

The next step is to get it back in alignment and splint it, but unless you have someone with you who can help it'll be better not to try until we get there in the morning. Have you been warming those fingers?

[He heaves an exasperated sigh.]

Yeah, I was told pretty explicitly that I need someone with hands for that, but whatever. I'm with the Cat, and yes, I was a good little wiggler and listened to John's medical advice. Do I just keep doing that now or what?

Well, yeah.

[Okay, Karkat is grating on him a little bit. He's just trying to be helpful; it's not his fault he was the second doctor called and can't be there yet to actually do anything more than rehash John's advice.]

Yeah, keep doing that. If they re-freeze it'll be worse the next time.

[... What, really? Ugh.]

How long do I have to keep doing it? Until it heals all the way? How long does that take?

[Don't worry, Stephen, John didn't tell him everything and he really doesn't understand how this works.]

If you've thawed the tissue out you shouldn't need to use warm water to bring it to temperature again, but you're going to need to keep it warm and clean so it doesn't get worse. It's probably going to be a few months before it's fully healed.

[Oh for fuck's sake.]

Keep it warm. Right. That won't be a challenge at all. Should I just cut off my limbs now and get it over with? It amounts to the same thing anyway. Hell, I could even donate them for science, or maybe use them as emergency rations if things get really bad! Why didn't I think of this sooner? You know what, fuck it, where can I find a saw or something? Or maybe if I stay out in the cold long enough, they'll snap off on their own! What's your professional opinion, Doctor Strange? Should I go for it?!

Well, I was going to suggest wrapping your hands with the spare clothing I've been picking up for this kind of situation, but if you're set on eating your own arms I'm sure we can arrange something.

[Why are you such an asshole, Stephen.]

Why didn't you say that to begin with?!

[Also, why. Just in general. Why.]

Sorry, I didn't realize you were going to jump straight to self-cannibalism.

[He makes a disgusted sound but moves on.]

What kind of spare clothing?

T-shirt and a set of scrubs. Bed sheet and towel if you need them -- nothing especially warm, but there's enough fabric there that it's better than nothing.

[He could really use the sheet and towel himself, but he's not the one with frostbite ~~yet.~~]

[Not really what he was hoping for, but like he said, it's better than nothing. Although...]

Let me know when you see me? What's best, I mean. Other people probably need it, too.

[He doesn't trust easily, but he'll trust Doctor Strange's judgment on this.]

We might have to tear the sheet into strips to make your splint, depending on whether Claire has anything else we can use. Hope you don't mind pink.

Why would I mind pink?

[He sounds genuinely confused. Have fun explaining that one, Stephen.]

It's...not a traditionally masculine color?

[He knows as soon as he's said it how ridiculous a statement that is to put before an alien.]

[... Oh, right. He thinks he remembers something about this now? Maybe. Whatever, humans are weird.]

Yeah no, trolls don't go for that shit. If anything, it's a royal color? Because of the empress and everything. Hemospectrum.

You mentioned that before.

Yeah. That thing.

[He sighs.]

It's a big deal for us, whatever. Anyway, that's why.

[For a split second there's a flippant comment on the tip of his tongue about dressing Karkat up like royalty, but Stephen bites it back, thinking of the way Davesprite has reacted to his jokes.]

We'll get you set as best we can, alright?

[......]

Was that a pun.

More of a play on words.

[Why is he trapped here with these people. Why.]

Okay, you know what? Fine. Yes, let's do that. I'll see you later, yeah? Try not to die until then.

Same to you, kid.

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