[Kyle Velener] (hey. looking for a scene or waiting for someone?)
to Maija
[Maija] (sure.)
[Kyle Velener] (care to start? just need to round the kids up to do some after school chores :) )
to Maija
[Maija] The Family BBQ is closed for the evening, and her Boss/Landlord has finally retreated to their own apartment above the restaurant, leaving her in peace. They mean well, but as someone who’ll be fine in a couple days, and who doesn’t like fuss much to begin with – it’s a bit much to deal with.
Which brings us to now. It’s the building next to the BBQ, where the store front is empty, and she lives in the apartment above. She’s settled on the stoop by the street, under the protection of the awning, watching the rain. Slender fingers – pale and cold – carefully pack a pipe, before she grabs her lighter, and sets flame to the sticky green and inhales deeply.
[Kyle Velener] Nightmare roll
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 7 (Failure at target 6)
[Kyle Velener] Kyle’s night had been going so well until he’d gone to bed. A nice night of dining with some friends and catching up on gossip and remembering good times. After everyone had settled down for the night he’d crashed on the couch and drifted off.
Yet here he was wandering the streets in a daze. His mind locked inside itself as he just walks. Somewhere in his mind he’s being chased by demons and all sorts of nasties. This is probably the worst case of sleep walking he’s had in recent months. Clad in his usual black hiking boots, jeans and long sleeved tshirt and leather collar he looks normal. Yet he’s soaked to the bone and his hair is plastered over his face covering his eyes and his vision. Not a good time to be out alone and not knowing it.
[Maija] In Bronzeville, it’s never a good time to be out alone. Some of them, however, simply don’t have the ability to get around that little fact, and they do exactly what they can do – what they’re able to do – their best to survive another day.
Her sweats are clean – ish – saggy and comfortable, warm. Her sweatshirt has finally been destroyed beyond belief, and has been replaced with a zip up fleece instead. There’s not a lot of warmth to it, and it doesn’t hide the bulk of bandages or the scent of blood that clings to her torso.
Fortunately, it’s covered by the scent of weed.
[Kyle Velener] He was used to walking in dangerous locations. Half his travels have taken into areas he’d rather not be in but it’s all part of being a Strider. Sometimes the feet just carry you were Owl wants you to go. Making his way around a corner he stumbles into a lamp post and staggers bag as he’s jolted a little out of his dreams. Confusion showing in his face as he looks around unsure of were he was. Rubbing at his neck he walks past Maija without registering her being there, not out of disrespect but more out of confusion.
[Maija] She glances up as she hears him stumble into the post, eyes narrowed slightly as she holds the smoke deep in her lungs. She exhales slowly, and watches him stumble by, the grayish plume sliding from her lips in a lazy curl.
She doesn’t cough. She’s done this before.
“Lost?”
[Kyle Velener] The sudden voice causes him to jump and look around, like a rabbit that’s heard a noise and knows danger is around. It takes a moment for his eyes to register Maija and he nods as he shivers a little from the cold. Moving towards her as he looks around nervously. His voice just above a whisper as he speaks when he’s close enough.
“Yeah…..Where am I?”
[Maija] She’s reclined very carefully, her body arranged protectively, yet also carefully to minimize the pain that the weed can’t quite dull, not yet. Though she plans on getting it to that point. As fast as possible.
“Bronzeville.”
[Kyle Velener] Rubbing at his head he looks around and frowns.
“Really?’
Sighing he rubs at his arms in an attempt to warm them a little, kind of useless since he’s soaked.
“Man….I really….lost it tonight…..”
Just sits down on the ground as he rubs at the base of his neck and mutters to himself.
[Maija] There’s a brief smirk, as she glances at him, then lifts her pipe to her lips once more, inhaling deeply. She offers it to him, lazily.
“That so..”
[Kyle Velener] Looks up an waves off the offer of the pipe.
“No thanks……I have….personal troubles….”
Sighs as he staggers to his feet and moves closer to get out of the rain.
“You okay…..”
Motions to the few lumps that are obvious as he tries to kick his brain into gear.
[Maija] (Ack! Sorry! I was messing with transcripts – typing.)
to Kyle Velener
[Maija] She shrugs, just a slight lift of her shoulder under the fleece, and keeps the pipe to herself.
He has personal troubles he says, and there’s that very brief smirk once more. “Ain’t we all.” Then he asks of her bandages, and she leans her head back against the wall. “Bit o’a brawl down th’way last nigh. M’fine.”
Sorta.
[Kyle Velener] (no probs)
to Maija
[Kyle Velener] “That’s true.”
Nods as he sits down near her, giving her plenty of personal space. He had that whole drowned rat look going well with the goth look.
“Hope it’s not….too bad…..So apart from….fights, how’s things?”
He’s doing his best to chipper up and be more like himself. He hated feeling like he does right now and the urge to take the pipe from her was starting to nag at the back of his mind.
[Maija] “Same shit, different day, really.”
She takes another hit, and then sets the pipe to the side, and wraps her arms around her torso with a wince, shifting her position slightly. Whatever injuries she has, they’re worse than she’s voiced, though she hides it well. Too well. With the ease of someon well used to being broken.
“You?” She ain’t chipper – ever. But she hasn’t fallen silent, so there’s that.
[Kyle Velener] Notices her reaction and frowns as he tilts his head to look at her.
“Apart from sleepwalking…..doing good.”
Smirks as he lets out a sigh.
“Have you had…..someone check your…..injuries out?”
[Maija] “Friend a mine. Shoulda seen me afore she touched me. This ain’t nuthin. Been broke worse before.”
She takes a slow careful breath, then leans her head back against the wall again. “Be fine in a few days.”
[Kyle Velener] Nods as he looks at her. Concern showing in his eyes but that’s just usual. He hated seeing people hurt.
“I’d offer something…..for the pain…..but I don’t…..have my medicine…..pouch with me….”
Smiles as he shrugs. Figures he didn’t organise to carry his stuff in his sleep
[Maija] She reaches for her pipe and lifts it with a brief smirk. “This’ll do. Thanks, though.” A beat. “Ya usually have a medicine pouch with ya?”
Weird.
[Kyle Velener] Nods as he grins at her.
“Yeah….I have certain….conditions that require…..treatment from time….to time.”
Gives a slight grimace as he clears his throat and shrugs.
[Maija] “Ah.”
She studies him a moment, then arches a brow, slightly. “Ain’t contagious is ya…”
[Kyle Velener] Now that gets him chuckling as he looks at her. A big smile seeming to be at home on his face despite his appearance.
“No I’m harmless…..Lets just say…..they didn’t put…..humptey back together….properly.”
[Maija] “Been there, done that.”
The weed has relaxed her enough to allow some of her expressions to flicker across her face, where she’s usually so carefully guarded. Not enough to allow for a full smile, of course, but its a brief glimpse of her thought – and it passes quickly away.
[Kyle Velener] “So this brawl…..what happened…if I may…..ask?”
Starts to squeeze some excess water out of the long sleeves of his shirt as he tilts his head to look at her.
[Maija] She reaches up and pushes her hair behind her hear. “Bitch tried t’grab a kin. Saw it an’ jumped in – so did a couple other’s I know. Turned out they was four a’em. Killed one, helped kill another, a third was taken down by the others – then the last bitch went furry, hit me with claws an’ that’s th’last I remember until someone put me t’gether again.”
A lopsided smirk. “Mostly.”
[Kyle Velener] His face goes paler, paler than it already was, as he listens. Without realising it he’s shaking as his mind starts overlaying images from his nightmares with the information he’s now hearing. It takes him a moment to respond and his voice is even softer.
“Shit……not good…..”
[Maija] “They ain’t got’er. M”healer friend saved th’ther kin too, though I’m sure she ain’t gonna be grateful. She’s a bit o’a worthless bitch. Sometimes this whole duty shit? Sucks.”
A slight shrug, as she wraps her arms around her torso so that she can shift position agian – carefully – a hiss blown through her teeth before she settles again.
[Kyle Velener] Nods absently as he looks at her. His eyes imposing an image of Maija covered in blood and missing parts of her body. Rubbing his eyes in an effort to dislodge the image from his mind.
“Yeah…..it sucks……”
[Maija] “Specially when ya been runnin from it as long as I have. Finally settle down, an’ there’s th’Fuckin Nation again.”
She smirks, and slides her hands into her pockets, searching and finally coming up with a regular pack of cigarettes. She lights one, and drops the lighter by the weed pipe again.
[Kyle Velener] “Some say….We’ve got the…best idea.”
Chuckles softly as he blinks a few times and things seem normal to him again.
“I keep on the road……rarely stop for….too long…..No one likes….Damaged goods.”
[Maija] She snorts. “they always tryin t’fix ya, or tellin ya yer worthless. Ain’t no middle ground.”
[Kyle Velener] “Or telling….you that…things will get…..better with….time…..”
Rubs at the collar that conceals his neck as he feels it getting a little stiffling.
[Maija] Snorts. “Asshats.”
She sighs, with a little shurg.
[Kyle Velener] “That they….are.”
Snickers as he shakes his head.
“Doubt they….know how…..it feels to…..be shredded….and laid up…..cause they…..can’t heal…..20 times faster…..than normal…..”
[Maija] “Or care.”
She gathers her things and shoves them into her pockets and then goes about preparing herself to stand up and make the long treck up the stairs to her apartment. “Ya alright t’get home? Back in ya head n shit?”
[Kyle Velener] “YEah all….good now….”
Stands up and shakes some of the water from his hair.
“You going to be okay?”
[Maija] “Yeah. Been a lot worse of before.”
She takes a breath, and slowly works her way to stand, using the wall for support. She takes a long breath after she’s finally upright.. and then nods, slightly, as she gets her keys from her pocket and unlocks the door. “Take it easy.”
[Kyle Velener] “You too.”
Nods as he waits a moment before he wanders off aimlessly again.
[Maija] (getting late and my brain is mush. Thanks for playin!)