Event Log: Speak Your Truth

[hadrielmods]

Who: Everyone in the city
What: The event log for the Speak Your Truth
Where: All over the city
When: April 3rd-April 9th
Warnings: None

There's a secret burning in your chest. It's hot behind your ribcage, and you need to let it out or else it might consume you- but who would you tell? Who could even begin to understand what you need to say? Your closest friend? Your significant other? Maybe even someone you don't get along with very well? It's hard to know who to trust and who will even understand, but in a strange way, neither of those things seem to matter- all you can think of is what will cause someone the most pain.

Maybe you're trying to get it out in the open so you can put it behind you. Maybe you just need to come clean because the guilt is eating you alive. Maybe you just really want to hurt someone- regardless of the reason, you're aching to tell someone else your darkest secrets.

Will they understand? There's only one way to find out, and it won't be pleasant for either party involved. Good luck, Hadriel!

► This log covers April 3rd-April 9th.
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If your secret gets a bit bloody, please let us know here.

Comments

[restinglichface]

[For the first time in a long time, Lup doesn't catch Drake at his apartment.

The whole week's felt miserable to the elf, trying to ignore her hurt and worry, counting down the seconds until the next batch of arrivals join them in Hadriel, just waiting for the relief that'll come when she has Barry back with her. But until that moment, everything just feels dulled in comparison to before, quiet and dark, like the whole world's on hold until Lup sees her husband again.

Unfortunately that isn't the way the world works. Hadriel keeps moving, always in constant motion, the same with the people in it.

So Lup finds Drake at the speakeasy, and even if she isn't feeling particularly chatty, her legs move automatically to where he's sitting, the woman taking the seat next to him without pause. It's been too long, everything's been too crazy. Catching a drink with her dearest friend should be easy.]

Hey, Drakey. What's shakin', hon?

[braveoff]

[ Lup takes the seat as Drake is taking a drink, so he needs a moment to turn and greet her properly. He smiles broadly and reaches over to drape an arm over her shoulders, scooting her in closer against him. ]

There's my favorite girl. Where've you been, Lup?

[ Even as he asks, though, he's noticing there's... something off. His smile fades as he studies her, turning into a furrow between his brows and a worried look. ]

...you okay?

[restinglichface]

[It helps to see him smile, to be reminded of the happiness that still exists out there in everyone's lives, to know it isn't all worry reaching out endlessly. But even as she's just beginning to settle in next to him, the tense line of her shoulders going just a little loose at his grin and fondness, of course Drake realizes something's wrong. It's Drake! He's too damn perceptive.

Not that Lup's gonna give it to him that easy. Even if she's already beginning to feel a certain weight tugging at her from within, a little godly influence that might help loosen her tongue.]

Not sure what you mean, babe. I look like a million bucks.

[braveoff]

[ That's some quality deflecting, Lup. Drake realizes his mistake when she tries to bluff, maybe what she needs is to not talk about it and with what's going on right now, well. He shouldn't have asked. His smile comes back, not quite as bright as before but still genuine. ]

Well that's nothing new, you always do.

[ Let's try this again. ]

So what's up? Usually you just roll the dice and pop into our living room... felt like a night out? Or did you check there first?

[restinglichface]

[It's enough. The elf is just going to lean right on into her friend, taking up all that good real estate at his side, a lanky arm hanging off of Drake's shoulder while she scoots in close. It's been a few days on her own, pretending that things are all alright, and maybe she's just a little more touch starved than she realized.]

Some things never change.

[But more often than not, they do.]

Believe it or not, I came out here to get trashed, not to stalk your tight ass, Holloway. It just worked out for the best that you were already here. So, what are you doing here? Felt like a night on the town?

[braveoff]

[ They're both cool to the touch, weather on this planet be damned, so Drake's content to snuggle Lup as much as she wants. But he blinks at her comment. ]

You were going to get trashed without calling me? I'm wounded.

[ Drinking alone might be another potential red flag, but maybe he is just overestimating his own importance. It could be nothing, except he doesn't see Barry or Taako either... hmm. Drake lifts his glass again, swirling the contents. ]

My patrol finished up down here, I thought we could go out for a change. Ephemera should be by soon.

[restinglichface]

[He's right to be suspicious. For all that Drake knows of Lup, she just doesn't do alone. She's too extroverted, gregarious to the extreme, even when she sets off alone, Lup's just the type of woman to draw others to her, so that she's never on her own for very long. Especially after her years of imprisonment, being alone is just the one thing she always seems to avoid.

And drinking has always been a social activity for her. Coming to the bar to drink alone? Drake's sharp enough to never miss a beat with his friends.]

Oh! Ephemera is coming too? We should do shots! Can we do shots? If this night doesn't end with someone doin' body shots off'a someone else, it's a total failure.

[braveoff]

Unless he decides to hide from the event, but I think he'll be here. We can totally do shots either way.

[ He glances around again -- still no sign of her people. Oh well... they'll get a head start? ]

Pick your poison and I'll go grab a bottle. How many glasses should I get?

[restinglichface]

I mean, that's totally fair. If only we all could hide from these shitty events all of the time.

[If only.]

Ten. Five shots for each of us. Or, if you're a wimp, six for me.

[braveoff]

[ In a way it does answer the question Drake was subtly asking -- how many people to expect joining them. He's a little more worried now but manages to grin for her anyway, pushing himself up from the table for a moment. ]

Let's just refill them, less to clean up.

[ He's back quickly with a bottle and four glasses, in case anybody else they might drink with wanders by, reclaiming his seat beside Lup. He pours their first shots with the skill of someone who's covered a bar a million times before, and nudges her glass over to her. ]

Five each, huh? You mean business. What's the occasion?

[restinglichface]

[His skills are impressive as ever. Since leaning of his magic hands playing bartender, there's absolutely no way that the elf doesn't bully him into pouring for them every time they drink. Lup loves her a good show.

Drake's barely begun nudging the glass over before the woman's already throwing her shot back, downing it in an instant. Her skinny frame shudders under the hot burn, but Lup drops her glass back down with a clang against the table, ready for her next. She doesn't mean to answer him truthfully, plans on just playing the part of the teasing friend she always does, but something suddenly tightens in her chest and the words just flow so freely.]

Barry's gone. Up an' disappeared again.

[braveoff]

[ Drake nearly chokes on his own shot but manages to swallow it with just a small cough, setting the glass down and looking surprised. It's probably just the event that has Lup confessing so easily to what's wrong, but.... shit. Shit. ]

Lup, I-- don't panic yet, arrivals are in a few days and people from your world bounce back and forth all the time. It's probably just another blip.

[ He refills both their glasses as he speaks. ]

If you need company until then you know you're welcome over anytime, right?

[restinglichface]

[Her long ears dip down, low enough to brush her own shoulders at the sudden admission, but there's little point in being frustrated by it. Drake would have known sooner or later. And she knows he's right, knows everyone is right, it's just a few days till Barry's back. Just a few more days.]

Yeah, I know. It's... [Her hands clasp the next shot, holding it between her palms while she tries to find the words dangling at the tip of her tongue.] It's friggin' stupid, but I know it's just temporary. An inconvenience. Someone's just tryin' to make me sweat a little.

[But she's still a little sad over the whole thing. And drinking that sadness away seems like the best way to handle it.]

Thanks, though, Drake. I'll probs take you up on that. Might help to get a change of scenery for a few days.

[braveoff]

[ It being temporary doesn't actually make it easier, Drake's pretty sure. He's glad it is, one way or another, that Lup doesn't have to face the rest of her life without her husband, but just because it's not the end of them doesn't mean it can't still feel horrible. Drake reaches across the table to put his hand over one of Lup's, squeezing gently. His smile is small and soft but encouraging. ]

You should, you'd be the center of attention. When do you ever pass that up?

[restinglichface]

[For once? Lup just wants to be left alone, even if that won't help her in the slightest. The thought of being the center of attention makes her stomach flip.]

Ha, you know me. 'Chagirl lives for the attention. I'll pack a bag an' come hang for a few days.