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

[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]

[touchofrogue]

[...uh-huh.

And so, in that case, Rogue just waves over another drink for Melaka.]

[makeitquick]

[ ... ]

So. [Topic change. What is a topic change.]

[touchofrogue]

So why the sudden urge ta drink?

[She's not normally the type to butt into other people's business, especially if she already has a good idea what's going on, but she is the type to believe that turnabout's fair play.]

[makeitquick]

...Azu.

[Yes, this is painful, but it's not as painful of Urkonn. Not as a longshot. Even if it is fresher, the comparison actually makes her feel better]

One've the first things she did was say we oughta have a beer together. We did... guess I'm trying it alone now.

[touchofrogue]

[...Rogue has no idea who that is.

But just. Simply.] Ya ain't alone yet.

[A wry glance at her Pepsi.] Although beer an' I mix about as well as me an' crowds.

[makeitquick]

That's fair. Ain't the best with me either.

[touchofrogue]

Crowds or beer?

[makeitquick]

Beer, mostly. You see crowds in warrens.

[touchofrogue]

See 'em? 'Warrens' make me think the place'd be packed.

[makeitquick]

[...Pfft] Okay, you got me. It's pretty crowded by times. By place. Versi's the biggest, so we got some space, but still - Haddyn. One of the bigger D's in Noram s'far as I know.

[touchofrogue]

"Bigger D's?" - Districts? [A nod as Rogue confirms that to herself. No, she's not going to go dipping into her memories of Melaka's essence to translate, that would be rude.]

What's it like?

[makeitquick]

Got it - but what... Haddyn or Versi? Haddyn, if you're askin' me is just... big. Really big.

[touchofrogue]

[A nod.]

Ya hear all sorts of speculation about the future back home - there's whole TV stations an' books dedicated to it. [I just hope my world gets a future.]

[makeitquick]

Been hearing. Been hearing Haddyn's not quite what people want. 'Tween the warrens, the Uppers, and the radies...