7th Dusting

[makeitquick]

[So okay, earlier today, Melaka was on a ship. She said she'd sign up for it and she actually had a lot of fun touring around it, meeting people, and generally getting to know what was going on in the high seas. In any case, the point is that her spirits are much higher now than in December. So much so that when the makes it home and deals with Gates... she decides to finally try something she learned apparently is a check to see if people made it home she learned the other day.]

[Voice // Filtered to Harth (BROKEN)]

Hey, Harth- are... [it fails.] ...Hah. [She thought so.

She's not sure if she should feel empty or relieved. So about a month now, she knew this was going to be the case. She knew that Harth was gone. That's part of why she freaked out last month. But anyway, she now considers how she wants to spend her night? Patrol? No. Summers? Maybe, but not really. She considers... and for some reason her mind comes back to Azusa. She hasn't seen the other woman all day, but the idea of a beer with her sounds appealing right now. Well, she just made a filter, might as well make a another ones - last time she did it public, people commented on her after all]

[Voice // Filtered to Azusa (BROKEN)]

Azu, we gotta get a- [it fails.] ... Azu? C'mon, beer- [it fails.] ...Azu? [A pause. And she tries to flip through the journal to try to find that thing where he ping people. She's not there. Her voice actually sounds a bit scared] ...Azu? Azu, are you-? [It fails.

...It failed. She's... gone? She remembers the emotional reactions she's seen other people have. Buffy, when she was numb. That Cordelia woman just the other day. And during those times, she thought those people were just... silly. Because going home, that's the dream. she wants nothing more than to go home every single day she's here, there's no excepts. but right now, all that she knows is that most likely, she will never see Azusa Miura again. For some reason, she looks around her flat and sees some of the gifts she got some that woman. And... she... she's sad. She's really sad, for some reason. a lump is growing in her throat. Which is why this next part comes out throaty]

[Voice // Public]

...S-Summers. [F-fuck, she actually had her voice crack] ...Chief? Whoever. Let's get a beer.

[And even if Buffy refuses, she's going to be at the bar (Good Spirits, that is). she'll probably look silly because she'll be sitting next to a little stuffed dog as she nurses her... whatever. She doesn't even know what she's drinking. she doesn't even really care right now. The drinking isn't even a coping mechanism, not really. It's just that right now her body feels heavy and what she most wants to do (to be on a grab, to take something, to get in a fight) isn't incredibly possible here except in that stupid dome, which won't feel right and she knows it. ...Except maybe that Isaac guy? No, no. she's in a bad mood, she can't possibly focus for that sort of fight if he's at all what he talks like.

EDIT: for the broken filters feel free to assume any or all of that is public]

Comments

[touchofrogue]

Not really. [She smiles a little.] It's just a hunch, anyway.

[makeitquick]

Shame, wouldn't mind some 'bout now.

[Sip]

[touchofrogue]

I'm not really the talkin' sort... [She gives Mel a sidelong glance.] Ain't a half bad listener, though.

[makeitquick]

Huh... not good for talking, usually. ...Dunno what to say.

[touchofrogue]

[A small smile.] Then a fine pair we are.

1/2

[makeitquick]

I'll say.

[makeitquick]

...Alright, then I'll try talk, but I got a question for you first.

[touchofrogue]

[Eyebrows up.]

Shoot.

[makeitquick]

[Tapping the side of her own skull]

What'd you zap out of me?

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue glances around and lowers her voice a little in response.]

Are you sure ya want to know that?

[makeitquick]

Sure I don't wanna not know.

[touchofrogue]

It... [Ugh. She hates talking about this. And no one's ever really asked her this before. It makes her extremely uncomfortable and she passes the Pepsi between her gloved hands in short bursts of controlled movement.]

It's not really that simple. It's not like watchin' a movie forwards and backwards it's... short bursts of things, maybe a taste, or a feelin', or... really strong memory. But it's all... flashes. Like strobe lights.

[Unless she goes in and pieces it all together while the touch is still fresh, that is.]

[makeitquick]

Uh... huh. [Melaka nods here, getting herself something to nurse all set up so that she can do that while she waits for Rogue to continue. she might be being harsh - she can sense the discomfort - but she did mean what she said]

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue isn't thinking of this as particularly harsh, but it is... very uncomfortable.]

So there were little things... an' there's a big thing. [She looks the other girl straight in the eyes.] The big thing was you killin' a demon for what he did to a little girl.

[makeitquick]

[Unfortunately, Mel has a beer in hand as she hears Rogue say that last part. He eyes go wide and she puts too much force into holding the glass. It shatters into a million pieces in her hands.

She's pale. Horrified to remember that and horrified someone else knows.]

[touchofrogue]

[...yeah. Rogue'll learn from this. The next time someone asks what she took from them, unless she hates them, she'll just lie. But for now, it's the first time someone who touched her had asked her something like this, and she felt it was the fair thing to do and...

She jumps a little, her stomach twisting at the expression on Melaka's face and the implied consequences.]

I'm sorry.

[Not words used idly.]

[makeitquick]

Some... demon. [Hah. She looks at her hand - it's got glass in it, shit. She's going to be plucking those out so it can heal without going around the glass]

[touchofrogue]

[A long pause. Oh. Hell.]

That's almost what I said. [She watches Melaka pick the glass out of her hand before returning her gaze to the other girl's face.] I know he was more than that ta you.

1/2

[makeitquick]

[... She glances around now. Still picking the glass out, but]

2/2

[makeitquick]

["for a friend, I make it quick"]

...Didn't matter.

[She said, mostly to justify it to herself]

1/2

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue looks down and she speaks softly.] Yeah, it did.

2/2

[touchofrogue]

[And then back up.] But it didn't change anything. You did what you had to.

[makeitquick]

[Thinking about this and that lurking thought of how she's not going to see Azusa again. It's a bit overwhelming, but no, she doesn't want to focus on that. Doesn't want to end up crying or anything]

Yeah.

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue shifts a little uncomfortably.]

...you want me ta go?

[makeitquick]

No. [Sharply, perhaps too sharply. She's got the glass out, but she's still not comfortable with the idea of someone who knows about that just... up and going. Even if she's not comfortable with her being here, she decides the comfort level of the later is better]