|
|
Post by Tanner on Dec 21, 2020 2:01:06 GMT -8
"...Y'all right?" the jackelope asked, looking up from his book. Rowan was staring at the ceiling, head ringing with a sparking aura as the dimmed lights come into focus. Moving his head sent the world momentarily wobbly, then a sharp spike of pain that seemed to orbit between an imagined space around the brain and skull.
"Mild concussion, keep the ice on it," he continued, leaning in his chair to watch the newer Fall Courtier get his bearings. Rowan recognized the place; he had been at Tanner's motley's house before. It was a rental on the university campus, back in the Leadon Mirror's territory.
Apparently he had gotten a lift.
Mercilessly, the Bright One hovered out of sight as she called out, and got the affirmative that he was awake.
"I can take you to the hospital if you want. Cinder's parents are loaded. Otherwise...we have Fruit, if you can stomach it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Rowan on Dec 21, 2020 12:52:18 GMT -8
He tried to sit up, by his entire being wasn't really down with that idea. He lied back down, trying to stop the world from being all bright and loud and otherwise unpleasant.
"I feel like I got hit by a truck. I don't think Fruit is gonna make it worse. Hey Cinder," he said as almost an after-thought.
He tried to remember how he got here. He was glad he was with Tanner. He understood Rowan and how to deal with him, so the Snowskin didn't try as hard to be 'normal'.
"What happened? Last thing I remember is a pretty epic date with the concrete."
|
|
|
|
Post by Tanner on Dec 22, 2020 1:51:54 GMT -8
Tanner texts something into his phone, rather than shout across the house to his motley members — for Rowan's sake. "You...went to go apologize to Loki about digging around in his brain and redirecting his emotions. Things went exactly as expected," he said, taking a sip from a mug as he put down the book.
"He's good, by the way. Said you fucked up his face and to give you props." Tanner winced a bit at the thought. "I don't think he meant to smash up your head, though. Loki only really puts people in the hospital if he thinks you're a genuine piece of shit."
|
|
|
|
Post by Golden Boy on Dec 22, 2020 1:53:45 GMT -8
"The definition varies," Golden said dismissively, putting a plate of Amaranthine down in front of the Darkling. Without the periphery, the Fairest thief moved like a ghost. He on as quickly as he came, the topic of the Fireheart bringing him obvious discomfort.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rowan on Dec 22, 2020 14:29:10 GMT -8
"Thanks," he managed to call out after Golden Boy.
He looked at the Fruits, and slowly put one in his mouth. The flavour bloomed as the Glamour within did its work.
"Yeah, remind me to not do that, next time." He kept a straight face, but secretly he was glad. It was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "Was he the one who called you?" He eats another Fruit.
"I was trying to follow Falicity's advice. About playing nice."
|
|
|
|
Post by Tanner on Dec 22, 2020 22:25:25 GMT -8
"Naw I...kept an eye out," he admitted, rabbit ear twitching as he shrugged. "He's got some quirks, like most Elementals. More landmines than you'd be used to, but it isn't like he's nuts."
The Twilit Page didn't really want the newer Darkling to think all this tools were worthless in a nuanced social exchange. "You didn't run, and you didn't resort to magic. That's a relief. He would have matched the goal post-" he cut off his paranoid thought with a cough into his arm, holding the cuff of the sleeve to keep it from sliding down. "I mean, Felicity is popular, so her advice is probably legit. But...she's also an entertainer, so don't be surprised if things don't work out the same way. Did she prompt you to confront him?"
He blinked rapidly as he shifted back to fiddling with the book. "Getting a better idea for what you want for yourself? Besides just being cool with other Changelings?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Rowan on Dec 22, 2020 23:20:20 GMT -8
"No,she just told me I needed to play nice with the other Courts," he admitted.
"It didn't fell right, you know? Using magic for this. It's what got me in trouble in the first place." He took another bite. "I don't know what it says about me, that Contract was my first reflex." There was a secret shame there, that he didn't dare voice. He had managed to keep his Clarity this time, but just barely.
"I was so excited to finish high school and go to college. Feels kinda pointless now. So many of my plans are just... pointless." Bitterness crept into his voice as he stared at the plate.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tanner on Dec 22, 2020 23:42:13 GMT -8
"All right, well, seems like you were both on the same page," he chuckled dryly, while noting the plate. "The Chevaliers will probably poke you a bit next event. Not in a bad way, though. Want anything to drink?"
He smiled sadly at the man's guilt about wanting to use a Contract, "Why do you think that's weird? It's a normal instinct to have. I would have kicked a stalagmite if he came at me without even thinking." The embodiment of a prey animal shrugged, fixing his jacket again and he mulled something.
"Why's it pointless?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Rowan on Dec 22, 2020 23:50:23 GMT -8
"I look- I'm a grown up. I'll never know what prom is like, or graduation. I can't go to college because I'm too old, or university because I don't know enough. I had barely started high school, Tanner. I didn't have a ten-year plan."
His anger rose, but not at the person sitting in front of him. He was angry at Them, and at what had been done to him. So many years, just gone. He took a deep breath as the ringing in his ears returned. "What I want is a Mountain Dew, but what I need is probably water." Pause. "Ohmygod I am a grown up!" He looked both shocked and disgusted.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tanner on Dec 23, 2020 0:14:29 GMT -8
"You're allowed to do both," Tanner said with a nervous laugh, sending off another text. He felt a little silly not getting it himself, but disappearing on Rowan in a moment of heightened emotion would probably come off as ditching.
"I attend post-secondary. There's lots of people who get their GAD and then see what they want to do next. You see people in their forties pursuing degrees, man, you'll be okay. The world also doesn't revolve around paper...despite what you were told to keep you from checking out on homework." His smile was tight, some empathy shining through his dark stare. "We got fucked over. I'm not a fan of how my mind works now, when I used to breeze through the gifted programs." His fingers tap rapidly for a moment, before he clenched his fist. Rowan had seen the pills; Tanner had gotten away with an adult ADHD diagnosis to try and cheat his curse.
"You age slower, too. You just got here." His head tilted, antlers casting odd shadows in the dim lighting. "We also have this bullshit magic and connections in the city that can squeeze you into places to make up for what was stolen. Let your mind catch up with the body. Time's weird for us. Make some friends, find out your new interests, go from there."
|
|
|
|
Post by Rowan on Dec 23, 2020 23:01:00 GMT -8
"I know what you mean. I heard some of the things they say about me, even if I look like I didn't." Cold, weird, creepy. It's not like he wanted to be these things. They felt comfortable and safe, but most Lost were deterred by them.
"Making friends might be the biggest hurdle," he confessed. "I mean, I have you guys, but I can't keep relying on you to get me out of trouble. You have your own things to deal with." He eyed the book in Tanner's hand.
"Time, huh?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Tanner on Dec 24, 2020 0:27:08 GMT -8
The title was Living Folklore: An Introduction to the Study of People and Their Traditions. The jackelope's ear twitched again, "Sorry, man. Just like Ogres can be intimidating, Darklings tend to be painted with the same brush." His smile was small, but warm, "But people who're limited like that aren't interesting enough to get to know anyway. If there's a pattern, pay attention? Not to the comments themselves, but where it's coming from."
He shrugged, sinking into his chair a bit. "...You'd be surprised what kinds of things you can discover about yourself and others," he chuckled.
Golden manifested again with a can of Mountain Dew, and a tumbler full of tap water, giving 'His Majesty' a flourished bow before catching the thrown coffee cup with an expert hand. "Your turn for dishes," Tanner sniffed, habitually adjusting the sleeves of his jacket; he refused to wear one with thumb loops like a kid.
There was a long gap of silence, which meant the Beast was dancing around something that made him exceedingly uncomfortable.
"'Relying on us?' ...Did Cinder say something?" his expression darkened a bit, wheels turning fast, "I get that she cares, but she needs to pump the breaks a bit on spreading my business."
|
|
|
|
Post by Rowan on Dec 24, 2020 13:59:10 GMT -8
"No. That's not what- I just meant that you keep pulling me out of tight spots. It's been a year now, I need to get it together."
He felt bad. Had he said something he shouldn't have? He had his own place now, and he would go there tomorrow morning. The Fruits would have done their thing by then. He really hated to impose like that. He cracked open the can and took deep, long gulps.
"But hey, I appreciate it. You ever need something done, hush-hush like, let me know."
He pointed at the book. "Is that related to...?" he mimed the horns of a bull.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tanner on Dec 24, 2020 16:32:40 GMT -8
The worry leaves Tanner's face as he realized Rowan didn't know what he was talking about. The Beast coloured a bit, "Naw you're fine, I just misunderstood."
His attention quickly roved across the room at the Darkling offering espionage, relaxing a bit when he confirmed Golden Boy wasn't hovering to pounce on that opportunity. "I mean, if I'm ever in a weird spot, sure."
His head tilted as Rowan drew his attention back to his Winter Reading, "Homework. But it's useful for us on the Wyrd side of things, actually. We're all threaded with patterns and archetypes, that get worse the more connected you are to Magh Meall. I can lend you some of the books I've already read for my courses, if you want." The redirection was quick, not wanting to dwell on a misunderstanding. But then Tanner always had a nervous energy about him, despite his well known Will to Act.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rowan on Dec 24, 2020 17:49:53 GMT -8
Rowan gave Tanner a quick once-over. What had the Page understood?
Had he just poked at something he shouldn't have?
"Nah, I'm good for now. But I'll keep it in mind if I ever decide to for the G-A-something-something." He didn't have anything against reading, honest. It's just that it wasn't exactly the most thrilling activity.
|
|
