I won't pretend that I intend to stop living

[mildwildchild]

Who: erryone in Pride
What: recovering from the events of December 7
When: late December 7/early December 8 - ???
Where: Pride HQ and wherever else they're allowed to go
Warnings: Carnies? references to I Will Twist the Knife


So maybe you've just gotten back from the most mellow kidnapping ever and you're itching to tell your bandmates about what went on with the cool helmeted guys while everyone else was at that stuffy party. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait a little while to tell them, but that's okay - surely you can keep yourselves occupied until everyone else returns.

Or maybe you're one of those who wound up at that party of Naomi's, and your night was a little less fun. Now you're back at HQ, possibly with mended physical injuries and almost certainly with a few new psychological scars. Now's your chance to check in on your friends and bandmates who missed out on all the trauma and deal with things as best you can.

Comments

[traumatizing]

It looks worse than it is.

[This is pretty much what he didn't want. Terry frowns, taking Maxxie's hand so he can both get it away from his neck and give it a reassuring squeeze.]

I'm fine, okay?

[notahobby]

[It takes Maxxie a moment to tear his eyes away from the bruises, pulling his hand away and frowning up at Terry's face.]

Nothing's fine. This is all so fucked up. She said she'd make it better, but... you still look like this. And the guys are all messed up too, and I'm-- I was fucking getting high while all of this was happening.

[traumatizing]

[He puts both hands on Maxxie's shoulders, squeezing gently in some attempt to be reassuring. He doesn't really know what to say to make Maxxie feel better, and he frowns in sympathy, silently scanning his face for a moment or two before he speaks.]

You know you don't need to feel guilty about that, right? [He lightly brushes one of his thumbs back and forth.] It's not like you could've done much except get fucked up too.

[notahobby]

Well how the hell am I supposed to feel?

[He looks him up and down again and sighs, making no move to get up or anything.]

[traumatizing]

I don't know.

[He sighs and reaches for his shirt, carefully getting off Maxxie to sit next to him on the bed.]

But I know you didn't do anything wrong.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie watches him go, then lies back down again and turns onto his side to curl up a little.]

I just don't know where we're supposed to go from here. I can't look at anyone without remembering that room... you and the guys and Yuffie... It was so fucked up.

[traumatizing]

[Terry hesitates, but he lifts his hand after a moment to brush some of Maxxie's hair out of his face.]

That must've been awful. [Frown.] It must be awful.

[notahobby]

I don't know what to do! I know no one attacked me and that they didn't mean it... they couldn't help what they were doing... but I'm afraid now.

[He sighs, closing his eyes, not flinching away from Terry's touch.]

I can't stop being afraid.

[traumatizing]

[Terry sighs softly and shifts a little closer to Maxxie, combing his fingers through Maxxie's hair in an attempt to be soothing.]

Well you're safe right now.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie curls up a little tighter and sighs again.]

Sorry. I know you didn't exactly sign up for this. Wasn't part of the whole friends with benefits package.

[traumatizing]

It's fine. [He gives Maxxie a small smile.] I really don't mind.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie rolls onto his back and looks up at Terry, apologetic.]

Good, because I can't go back to my place right now.

[traumatizing]

[He inhales sharply as he puts his shirt back on, and very slowly and carefully lays down next to Maxxie. He does realise that he can't really lay on his side like he wants to, but this is happening now. He'll just turn his head to look at Maxxie instead.]

I'm not exactly great company right now, but you can stay here a while. [He smirks a little.] We have really good coffee.

[notahobby]

[He quirks a smile.]

So I've heard.

[He takes a deep breath and lets the silence settle for a moment before he turns back onto his side and shuffles a little closer to Terry.]

[traumatizing]

[Terry sighs softly and lifts his hand to brush his fingers lightly along Maxxie's jawline. He does really wish he could turn on his side to face Maxxie, but it'll do more harm than good really.]

[notahobby]

[He smiles gently.]

I'm sorry all this happened to you.

[traumatizing]

I'm sorry too.

[And worried, but that can sit on the backburner.]

[notahobby]

[Maxxie reaches out to put his hand on Terry's chest, softly so that he doesn't hurt him.]

I just wish I knew where to go from here.

[traumatizing]

[He sighs softly and covers Maxxie's hand with his own.]

None of us have had the chance to really process what happened yet. [sigh.] You'll figure it out.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie gets in a bit closer, still giving Terry a couple inches of room so that he doesn't hurt him accidentally.]

I hope so.

[traumatizing]

I'll help you. [He closes his eyes - he's still not really tired, but it's relaxing.] Friends rather than the 'with benefits' part of the whole thing, you know.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie feels a rush of affection for him, and a bit of heartache too, that this guy is lying here beaten and bruised and is offering to help him. It's not right, but it's what he needs, and maybe if Terry feels comfortable enough with him he'll let him know when it needs to go the other way.]

Thank you. You're a good friend.

[traumatizing]

[He smiles.] I try.