[Van isn't actually difficult to find, propped up against a tree and covered with a light dusting of snow.
He's also clearly had a bad time of things. The Malnosso were kind enough to return his shirt with him; crumpled in his lap, instead of on him. There are wide rings of bruises around his arms at the joints, the sort that might be made by a person struggling violently against their bonds, well past the point when it began to harm them; which is, of course, exactly what happened. His hair is lank and stringy, and he clearly hasn't had a shave in far too long; something that's only highlighted by fact there is ink smeared across his face from the corner of his mouth, and gathered in droplets in his beard. There's a pen in his hand -- or between his fingers, rather, because they're much too red and swollen at the joints to do something like hold a pen. It used to be a very nice fountain pen, until he yanked the nib out with his teeth to get at the ink inside.
Whatever else she may think of her brother, he is a stubborn bastard.
He barely reacts to her presence, just stares at her for a moment, tired and resigned, before closing his eyes.
Now that she has come to help him, everything just hurts worse.]
[action]
He's also clearly had a bad time of things. The Malnosso were kind enough to return his shirt with him; crumpled in his lap, instead of on him. There are wide rings of bruises around his arms at the joints, the sort that might be made by a person struggling violently against their bonds, well past the point when it began to harm them; which is, of course, exactly what happened. His hair is lank and stringy, and he clearly hasn't had a shave in far too long; something that's only highlighted by fact there is ink smeared across his face from the corner of his mouth, and gathered in droplets in his beard. There's a pen in his hand -- or between his fingers, rather, because they're much too red and swollen at the joints to do something like hold a pen. It used to be a very nice fountain pen, until he yanked the nib out with his teeth to get at the ink inside.
Whatever else she may think of her brother, he is a stubborn bastard.
He barely reacts to her presence, just stares at her for a moment, tired and resigned, before closing his eyes.
Now that she has come to help him, everything just hurts worse.]