❄ prius quam exaudias ne iudices

[agains]

Who: Hue & Cry, but anyone should feel free to tag in if you're feelin' it
What: Post-holiday coping, commiserating, comforting, confronting, cetcetera.
When: December 8th onward
Where: Virgo HQ + H&C Penthouse + throw a prompt if it suits you
Warnings: Mentions of violence from Twist The Knife and respective canons, please make note in subject headers if you know something else ahead of time

( check those sweet top-levels for more info )

Comments

[thelittlemerman]

[Finnick looks at Keith like he's considering it for a moment, and then he shakes his head with a sigh.]

No, I think just coffee for now. Sorry.

[agains]

Do you prefer it cold? [ A bit more of his usual self shows through, in that dense sort of way. ] Or mine is fresh, if you don't mind the germs. I would have brought over a second mug.


[ Even if ~indirect kisses~ and ~swapping spit~ weren't both culturally/logically a thing, Keith would always be willing to take one for the team. Band. Band team. ]

[thelittlemerman]

No.

[Finnick rubs his face.]

I prefer those sea salt caramel lattes from the cafe downstairs but I don't know if I can make it down there. I feel like I've been run over by a bus.

[agains]

It must have been a very large bus. [ He... doesn't mean to be negative, but this is an objective statement here. ] Should you perhaps go back to bed?

[ If they're being monitored now, with quarantines and curfews and suspicious overbearing higher-ups, it could do a man good to check out again. Keith isn't sure why he knows he can carry people out of literal car wrecks, but he's somehow sure he's done it before. Metaphorical car wrecks, maybe he can handle. ]

[thelittlemerman]

No. [Finnick's tone is resigned.] I can't sleep. I don't want to think about...

[Too many things from the night before are haunting him, but they feel compounded. It's the same feeling he got when he had that vision - the only thing that prevented him from really hurting the young man from Pride - like there's so much more in his brain dragging him down than he even knows.]

[He waves it all off, like he's pushing it away. He turns his gaze up toward Keith now, eyes narrowed suspiciously.]

Where were you last night?

[agains]

In bed, and in the penthouse. [ He's too honest to remain evasive. ] Or did you mean why I was absent from the Solstice gathering?

[ What can you lose by telling a guy in your band that you met two dudes who gave you drinks and told you to watch movies, right? ]

[thelittlemerman]

[He frowns because he figures that was obvious, and Keith was just avoiding the question.]

It was a mandatory party.

[agains]

The shuttle took us off course. We had no reception to call for assistance. [ He pauses. He'd only heard so much about what went on. ] It would sound like a far-fetched excuse.

[thelittlemerman]

[Finnick scoffs bitterly.]

You were spared.

[agains]

Spared? [ If it didn't sound like a conspiracy before, it sure sounds even more like one now.

He has a hard time being subtle. If someone's listening to them, text is a great alternative -- but Ursa could confiscate their phones at any time, too. Blurting it outright is dangerous but it's a risk he has to take. He just can't think of another way. ]

It was a hostage situation. Nobody was harmed. Did they target the party, as well?

[thelittlemerman]

No.

[Finnick looks paranoid as he glances over his shoulder for anyone listening.]

Unless they were behind Naomi and Lesadi and all of us being brainwashed.

[It sounds crazy as he says it out loud. He knows it's crazy. But attacking someone with a firepoker is also crazy and Finnick knows he was in some sort of trance while he was doing it.]

[agains]

Brainwashed? While we were being held, they did what?

[ ...that might be crazier than watching a guy turn into a fox. ]

[thelittlemerman]

[Finnick shakes his head.]

I don't know. One minute I was almost enjoying myself at that dull party and the next I was...

[He gestures vaguely, as if Keith already knows he was carrying around a firepoker looking to hit someone in the head with it.]

[agains]

...Fencing? Golfing? [ Sorry that you're saddled with such an airhead.

But the seriousness of his own evening weighs on him, and he can see that these suggestions are definitely incorrect. It must be something far more negative. ]

If you'd rather not talk about it, maybe you can arrange for time off to see a doctor? You're always punctual about rehearsals! I'm sure an exception can be made.

[ because he'll hear the truth in bits and pieces from the coverups and the whispers, and Keith respects Finnick's boundaries too much to press. ]

[thelittlemerman]

No.

[Finnick says it in a way that is immediate and firm. He doesn't want to sound crazy to anyone else.]

I just want to forget about the whole thing, okay? I just need a couple days to relax.

[agains]

[ Keith pushes his plate to the side and stands. ]

If, at any time, you would like to talk... [ He gives Finnick a serious look. ] As both bandmate and friend, I am at your disposal. Please take care of yourself, and take care.

[ He'll leave if necessary; he'll stick around if there's anything left to say to make things better.

This is probably not the time to offer a hug. It seems like physical contact is a massive no at the moment. ]

[thelittlemerman]

[Finnick's silent for a moment, working that over in his head. Usually he would pridefully protest that he doesn't need help, that he can take care of himself, but he's not entirely sure of that anymore.]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[He sounds resigned, but not sarcastic. Can he go to bed for a week now?]