hadriel_logs | he was down on the floor with his lips to a glass

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he was down on the floor with his lips to a glass

Who: Maketh Tua and open
What: Aftermath of the doubles event.
Where: Apartments, Guard HQ
When: 26th and onward
Warnings: Alcoholism, depression, mentions of death and torture, probably swearing. I will match format.

Apartment

[Stars, she's tired. All the time now. Ever since Henry took her home from Hope's temple, she's been drawn to her bed and its blankets, a refuge that she can hide in and forget everything else. Anyone who knows Maketh will have noticed a change in her routine. She's sleeping almost the entire day, getting up only to drink or vomit from the drinking. If she goes out at all, it's in the middle of the night, a move engineered to let her avoid as many people as possible.

The best way to get in touch is to bang on her door, loud enough that she can't ignore it.]

Guard HQ

[Quietly, Maketh has changed all of her shifts to avoid the most people possible. So while she's still performing her duties, she's doing them out of sight and largely around two in the morning. If you've got insomnia and happen to wander in at odd hours, you might see her rewriting damaged reports, or trying to clean the mess off the floor.

Often she keeps a bottle of whiskey on her desk. Not to drink - not when she's working - but as a taunt. She often stares at it.]

Around the city

[By choice Maketh has turned into something of a nocturnal creature, rarely leaving the apartment - or indeed the room - during the day. But at night she goes out, either to check things with the guard or just to wander. Sometimes she goes to the river and tries to imagine what lives at the bottom. Either way she's alone.]

Wildcard

[Dealer's choice. Hit me.]

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At least Rey wasn't expecting a normal reaction. Not after everything so far. There is nothing normal about this -- or anything in relation to her life, for that matter.

"Well, you're hardly the only one around here."

That is hardly comforting.

Maketh laughs at that, loud and a little desperate. Stars, this is mad. "I shouldn't have done that. I know, I know---"

Stop. Focus.

Maketh shifts from foot to foot, eying Rey carefully.

"You--you will be all right, won't you?"

She waves a hand, dismissive. "No worries. Am a lot harder to put down than that."

If the scar on her throat is any indicator, and the marks on her body, both visible and not. Rey has taken several heavy hits during her time, and her previous lifetimes, to have a good sense as to what her limits are.

It wasn't much different than with Faye, really. Like back then, Maketh just had some issues that needed to sort itself out. Sometimes you just need to go to town at someone. It's a totally valid form of help!

Edited (wow that sure was a freudian slip if i'd ever written one) 2017-02-10 03:24 (UTC)

Maketh swallows hard. Focus now. Don't be foolish. "I know that. But I---"

It shouldn't have happened at all.

She shivers. Tries to smile.

"You'll be fine."

Rey said she would. So it's okay. It's going to be okay.

No, it really shouldn't have happened. But it did, and if anyone understands psychotic episodes that result in anger and violent stabbings, it's Rey. So she withholds any judgment that would be cast on Maketh over something as seemingly unforgivable as attempted murder of an ally.

"Yes, will be fine." She pauses, giving Maketh a hard, studying look. "Will you?"

Rey already knows the answer, but it needs to be asked.

Don't laugh. It's not right. Maketh covers her mouth with her hand, eyes watering from the force of holding everything inside. But she doesn't laugh. She feels her teeth against her hand from the smile and so her words come out muffled. "No. Yes. In time. But not right now."

This is one of her bad moments.

She shivers. Drops her hand and the smile both.

"It's all right. I will be--fine."

It's obvious, yet not even hearing Maketh's response makes Rey feel any more at ease. Any of her other selves would have turned and walked out. Left her to her madness or struck her down if the option seemed enticing enough.

Will any of them ever be fine? If it isn't a wicked counterpart wrecking havoc to the city and its inhabitant, it'll be something else. It's always going to be something else.

So she doesn't reel back. Doesn't retreat or push away like she had intended a few seconds ago.

Instead, she takes Maketh's shoulders and pulls her in to bring her own arms around the other woman.

Because it's better than saying the bitter truth, or telling a sweet lie.

"Ah--"

This is happening. This has happened. There's a moment where Maketh is sure she's imagining things, that she's finally lost her mind in a way that can't be recovered. Rey is warm and solid, holding her close.

Stars. Maketh shivers just once and leans into it, closing her eyes.

Unlike before, Rey's hold isn't oppressive in attempt to subdue Maketh this time. There isn't the same concern that she might start physically hurting herself again. It's different now.

Maybe she's gotten soft. A year ago, she wouldn't have thought to extend such a gesture to anyone. But then, a year ago, she didn't have family in this place. She didn't see it as a second chance, or a possible home compared to the alternative she has to look forward to. And maybe that has made her go soft.

So what?

She's still strong. She could throw a grown person down flat on their back with little to no effort whatsoever. But she doesn't strengthen her hold, and gives Maketh the time she needs to retreat or stay, to cry or compose herself. Whatever she needs right now.

"We're good?" Rey finally asks.

Just wants to be sure.

It takes time to slow her breathing down, to make sure that she won't do anything foolish like start crying. Maketh shivers just once, then steps back with a nod. She can't manage a smile, but she meets Rey's eyes briefly. "Yes. I--will not do that again."

Pointless gestures like forced smiles wouldn't mean a damned thing, anyway.

"Good. Nick probably wouldn't appreciate it very much if you did." Just saying.

Maketh huffs, patting her hand against Rey's arm. "No, he wouldn't."

Stars, Nick would be so disappointed if he knew what just happened.

She shivers, then bumps her head against Rey's chest. Just for a moment. "I'm sorry."

Truth be told, Nick's disappointment would probably be worse than righteous fury. But in the end, maybe he would understand. After all, they've both hurt each other when not in their right minds. What makes this any different?

She rests a hand over Maketh's shoulder. Saying that what she did is okay would be another lie.

"Might have broken my brother's nose and attacked my father with a machete once. Believe me, am very familiar with what the start of a break looks like."

It's not right to laugh at something like that. Maketh just shivers and swallows it down, shaking her head. "I've never--not where anyone could see."

There are rules. There have to be rules.

To be fair, Rey wouldn't have held it against Maketh if she did laugh. The thought is appreciated nevertheless. She has other concerns.

"Have long have you been doing that?"

Maketh shakes her head. "I don't--it doesn't matter. It's done. I swear."

It's hard to believe her. That Maketh means that, and isn't just saying what Rey wants to hear in order to put her mind at ease. She falls quiet, studying Maketh's features for a few seconds.

"Punching bag helps sometimes. Cathartic. Should get one."

Having something to take any pent up aggression on is one stress relief.

"Punching bag. Right."

It wouldn't hurt. It would be better than taking it out on someone else. She's done this before and always regretted it.

Maketh shivers. Tries to smile.

"I--thank you. For...well. I don't know. Not killing me."

While not an ideal solution, it's preferable to stabbing your friends and allies. Rey learned this on her own terms.

She waves off Maketh's attempt to smile; a silent indication that she is not going to encourage anyone to feign wellness for her sake.

"Please. Wouldn't have killed you over shit like that. Could have knocked you out or something before it came to that." But then no one would have learned anything, would they?

Well. Yes. Maketh grimaces.

"I know. But I--appreciate your restraint, nonetheless."

She's quiet a moment.

"I will be better. Perhaps not right now. But--soon."

Restraint isn't exactly Rey's strong suit. She's impulsive and violent. More action than reaction. So it says a lot about how much she's changed over the decades when she didn't just snap Maketh's neck right then and there.

Maybe she's gone soft; her claws are dulled. That very well may be, though. This is life now.

"All right." She nods, then glances down with a grimace. "Well, should get cleaned before Nick shows up somewhere."

She straightens the hem of her tanktop. The wound may be closed, but the blood and the hole are still there, practically begging for suspicion. Especially from her roommate. And he doesn't need to start worrying about Maketh's mental stability to think that she might be a potential danger to others.

Even if he'd be a little bit right on that mark.

Maketh shivers just once, trying to think logically. It's not much of a mess - the guard post will survive - but Rey's clothes will have to be hidden. "Can I do anything for you?"

Reluctant, she shrugs.

"Not really." Then, a frown. "Am going to have to stockpile on shirts, though. Keep running through them."

Or, rather, they get ruined by things running through her. Usually with something sharp.

Maketh huffs, coming dangerously close to laughter. It's not right. It's really not. "I--all right. That's...that's probably wise."

"Agreed."

There is a moment's pause as Rey glances away, then returning her attention back to Maketh.

"Going now. You should eat something, if you can stomach it." Unlikely as that might be.

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mismanagement - 2017-02-25 17:07 (UTC) - Expand

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