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

Yuffie - Ota

[cleartranquil]

1

[ Yuffie's going to be surprisingly easy to find for the most part. She looks for all the world like she's behaving. She keeps lounging around the Carnies suite in clothes she's stolen from other members of the band, or in the bars with food in front of her. She's quiet, and watching things, a little like a particularly irritated large cat. It makes her somewhat harder to approach than usual, though she does seem to perk up the moment spoken to, like a light switch flipped on. She's thinking and planning, and if asked, it's all about the new album.

It's a very good cover. ]

2

[ Though, if you are a friend of hers, she's likely showed up to bother you, more prone to appearing out of nowhere than before, and even more of a frequent stalker than usual. She's clearly got things on her mind but she is putting her friends first as best she can, checking on them at various hours throughout the day. ]


3

[ About the only time it's clear exactly what she's feeling is when she's in the gym. She's wearing herself out. That much is clear. She's trying to be protective of her former injuries, and she's trying to be careful, but there's an edge of actual anger and violence to her working. For once, she can actually be found at the punching bags, hands wrapped like she knows what she's doing, and periodically she'll stop, check something on a laptop, and fix her footing or the placement of her hands.

It's comforting, and it makes her calmer, but it's like something she knows better than breathing, without her body being able to really keep up. It's irritating, and it makes her work harder. The little parts of what she's seen make her think that this is something she's going to have to be good at...and she's never going to be anything less than the best. ]

2

[mildwildchild]

"JESUS - "

Unfortunately, no matter how well-intended Yuffie's actions, Jamie isn't doing so well with people appearing out of nowhere. His startle reflex, once Yuffie pops up in his immediate vicinity, is almost hilariously counterproductive: he just sort of flattens himself against the wall and freezes, staring like a deer in headlights. Yes, hold still and offer a potential attacker unobstructed access to your vital organs, that'll show 'em.

[cleartranquil]

"Hi, Jamie."

Yuffie gives him a moment to realize exactly who he's being visited by. He's not the fist person to jump out of his skin entirely upon seeing her. She's got her hands jammed in the pockets of her sweats, and she looks ridiculously unthreatening compared to usual but that doesn't particularly mean much when you're on edge. Her hair's even brushed down instead of spiked off the top of her head.

".....You're moving pretty well." She says with a smile, choosing to make a joke out of it instead of teasing too severely. She's trying to be nice.

[mildwildchild]

Once it sinks through the panic clouding his brain that he's not in imminent danger of being shanked, Jamie blinks rapidly a few times and slowly relaxes. It's a very gradual thing, like all his joints are encased in melting ice.

"Y-yeah," he manages, relieved that his voice isn't shaking quite as badly as he thought it would. He finally brings one hand up to scrub at his face. "You're - um. How are you doing?"

[cleartranquil]

She lifts one side of her shirt high enough to show off the angry white line along her ribs. It's shut, and looks significantly further along than it should be, but she is still careful with it, and it still hurts to go anywhere near.

"Doin' much better than I thought I was gonna be." She says with a grin, dropping the cloth and leaning against the wall he's using to stay up.

"How about you?" She sounds a bit more serious when she asks, actually looking him over like she's checking to make sure he's alright. So he scared the everloving shit out of her at the party. What of it? It's not every day someone nearly dies on you.

[mildwildchild]

He looks horrified at the sight of the scar, going even paler than he was already. A wave of guilt sweeps over him and he can't meet her eyes as she leans up next to him and checks him out.

"I'm - "

He starts to answer her question, but he can't bring himself to follow through. That scar, he knows, is more or less his fault. If he hadn't gone and done something dumb and gotten himself nearly murdered, he wouldn't have needed anyone to intervene, and Yuffie wouldn't have had her side sliced open like that. Bad enough that his idiocy had gotten him hurt without dragging Yuffie into it too. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

His joints unlock enough for him to wrap his arms around himself, finally.

"I'm sorry," he says quietly.

[cleartranquil]

It takes her a moment to realize he's upset, and she frowns, tipping her head and bending at an odd angle to get a better look at him. It hurts a little to do, but she's not going to change her way of moving too much.

"Woah, why're you apologizing?" Yuffie asks, looking baffled. To her, it's confusing and just seems...silly. Why would he need to apologize? He didn't do anything. All he did was get hurt. Not like that was his fault or nothing.

"Jamie?" She says, a little quieter, and she straightens up to put a hand on his shoulder. She's not really sure what she should do in a situation like this. They're not her forte they're....they're someone elses. "Hey, it's okay."

[mildwildchild]

He tenses a little at the hand on his shoulder but doesn't pull away; it's a kind gesture, but he doesn't feel like he deserves comfort right now, especially not from Yuffie.

"Just - if I'd been smarter about stuff, I..." He goes silent for a few moments, still too upset and miserable to fully articulate his thought processes. He finally shrugs - helpless, frustrated - and manages, "I fucked up. I fucked up, and you got hurt."

3

[variaboss]

[ Should he even be walking around? Between what Predator did to him and almost freezing to death (and being drugged) he should probably be in bed. But he's Xanxus and he's walking around because he refuses to languish in bed. Besides, he has to do some physical therapy bullshit to help him recover from being kneecapped with a baseball bat. He just didn't expect to see the Tiny Terror at the bag. ]

[ For someone so large, he can be really quiet when he wants to be. He steps around her to go to the other side of the bag to hold onto it for her. ]

Remind me to bring you along next time I hit the bars.

[cleartranquil]

[Yuffie hits the bag again before she really notices him, and half jumps out of her skin, eyes wide and falling into a stance she doesn't intend for. Though once she realizes who it is, she smiles at him and relaxes almost instantly. She looks like she's been working for a while, her hair's gone totally flat and because of her shirt being mostly a ripped apart cover for her sports bra the scar along her ribs is obvious and looks angry. She probably should've stopped a while ago.]

You just wanna see me try and take on someone twice my size that's not you.

[Yuffie is going to take advantage of him holding the bag for her, since he's here, and she starts up again.]

How goes PT? Therapist thrown off the top'a HQ yet?

[variaboss]

[ That shirt looks a little familiar. Probably one of his. He's stopped caring if she steals his shit. She looks better in it than he does. Still, he has to wonder what has her hitting the gym so hard. Probably that fucked up party. He wishes he could have been not in the state he was. He might have been able to step in and protect his "family". But because of that, he's not going to tell her to take a break. Yuffie does what she wants. He'll just make sure she doesn't hurt herself doing it. ]

Of course I do. Watching you kick a big guys ass is like on the top of my to do list. But just remember, only I get to wear you like the latest in fashion accessories.

[ He makes certain that the bag is held still, bracing for her impacts. ]

PT sucks balls and not in a good way. Doc says I'll be rid of the damn cane soon though. Too bad, I was really starting to rock the leather pimp look there. And if I'm going to throw anyone off the top of a building, it's not going to be the doc.

[ He's certain she knows that his list starts with the CEO and then works it's way down to Predator. ]

[cleartranquil]

A' course, Xan. I don't like anybody else enough. You know you're my favorite.

[She grins, and her stance changes suddenly, a hit from her fist shifting to one from her elbow now that the bag's not rebounding it's easier. She's clearly enjoying something about this, and it's making her light up in a way she normally only does on stage. ]

And I'll make sure you have a front row seat to the ass kicking.

[Yuffie seems to get in a rhythm of movement as she talks and is paying less attention to perfection in her stance. It gets a little more fluid.]

You could always fake the limp after. [She says and then her grin grows again.] Then when people underestimate ya you could smack'em with it.

[variaboss]

You think they'd fall for that shit? Maybe I could get laid even more by it. Poor Xanxus. Gotta take care of him. Think I can milk it for a while?

[ Though honestly, he pretty much hates the idea of pity. It pisses him off to think of anyone pitying him. That's why Yuffie is his favorite too. She doesn't pity him at all. In fact, she seems to be enjoying the fact that he's holding her bag. He almost wishes he was good enough to step around and see how she handles a target that hits back, but at the same time, she's a Carnie and he doesn't really want to hurt her. ]

But when you kick ass, I want to take bets first. I'll give you a share of the cash. We could make a killing.

[cleartranquil]

[She laughs, and leans around the bag for a moment.]

Oh, poor baby. Better give him a good time, take his mind off how much pain he's got to be in.

[She says all of that with a very dramatic voice and putting her hand over her brow to show off exactly how dramatic she's being. After a moment of giggling to herself, she goes back to hitting the bag. She feels pretty good right now, to be honest, and she almost feels like she could take on the world. Or at least one or two guys in a barfight. Same dif, really.]

I better get half. But we'd make a killing so half is still pretty fucking awesome.

1

[iitrebel]

Please tell me you're not high.

[Forgive Artolo if he's a bit curt and miserable looking. Avoiding near death does that to a guy. He just wants to get a drink at the bar and be drunk enough that the events of that night just... stop being a thing, he guesses.]

[Anyway. If the bar is filled with people hopped up on drugs, he wants no part of it right now.]

1

[cleartranquil]

[Yuffie turns in parts, first her eyes, then her head, then she actually turns in her chair. She's gives him something of a look over and then her confused expression grows into a very strange little smile that creeps up her face.]

You got the wrong Carnie for that question.

[And then she tips her head, having looked him over. Gee, he looks about as happy as she is.]

And you look terrible. Sit down. Have a drink. You'll like life lots better.

[iitrebel]

That's the plan.

[Even if his manager would do that annoyed pursed lips thing at him drinking. CoT is supposed to be gothic and classy, after all. Boy, did they hire the wrong percussionist for that one. He flops into the stool next to her, immediately flagging down the bartender to get his drink first.]

[It's only after that very important matter is settled with that he glances back to her.]

So, sugar high instead?

[cleartranquil]

Go for caffeine and way too little sleep, and you'll have smacked it right on the nose.

[Yuffie flags the bartender to let him know to put Artolo's drink on her tab. The Carnies have a pretty extensive one, why not share? Besides, it drives Camilla nuts.

Yuffie's got something obnoxiously colored in front of her to drink, and a plate of fries that she's picking at periodically. She's not had the best appetite, what can she say? ]

You're from Crown a' Thorns, right?

[iitrebel]

Yaaaaaay sleep deprivation.

[Said in the most deadpan tone he can muster. But you know what should really get a cheer? Alcohol. Hallelujah. He takes a good big gulp for himself, even as he tilts his head curiously at Yuffie. The act of generosity is new. Due to his sparkling personality, most people don't buy him shit.]

Hey. Artolo Apemis. Percussionist.

2

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[When Yuffie checks on Luci, she's laying on her bed in the same pajamas she's been in for days. She's snapping and setting her thumb alight, then extinguishing it, then repeating. The door opens and Luci doesn't make an effort to hide what she's doing.]

Should you be walking around?

[cleartranquil]

I'm fine, I'm fine.

[Yuffie stops right in the doorway when Luci's thumb lights up. Her eyes are wide and she looks a little confused for a moment before confused just flattens out into something more blank. She's still trolling around in Xan's shirts and her hair is completely flat, she looks very little like the wild girl most people know. Yuffie tilts her head and leans on the doorframe, crossing her arms and staring at Lucifer's hand.]

....So my magic theory isn't gonna be that weird to you.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci flicks both of her thumbs from her position laying on the bed and holds them up.]

Thaaaat's right. Figured out I can do this last night in the middle of all that bullshit. No idea why or how but nifty, isn't it?

[There's so much sarcasm there.]

[cleartranquil]

[Yuffie steps further into the room and climbs up on Luci's bed to sit crosslegged by her feet. It takes her longer than it usually would, and she winces as she moves, but she manages it.]

I....saw a lot of weird stuff again, but that might'a just been the massive blood loss?

[It's really not, but it's an attempt at a joke. Also Terry saw her have one of her flashes, which means that...well. She has no idea what it means. Her eyes are wide as she looks at the fire on the end of Luci's fingers.]

That's amazing. Is it like...really hot? Like real fire?

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci sits up, less bothered by the wrap around her shoulder where Shen got her pretty good. She takes her lit thumb and pushes it into her forehead and shrugs. Nothing's happening.]

Lights paper, lights cigarettes, I can even burn things into wood. But it doesn't feel like anything to me.

[She holds it out to Yuffie for inspection.] What'd you see?

[cleartranquil]

[Yuffie watches in something like awe and reaches out to un her hand over the flame the way she would with a candle. She laughs in a sort of glee as she talks.]

Holy shit, Luci. It's..That's so cool.

[When Luci asks her for the follow up, Yuffie shrugs.]

I saw these people. They were being controlled, I don't know how but by something really powerful.

And I got the name of a place.

But Nibelhiem isn't a name that shows up on anything. So. I dunno what to do with it.