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[theycalledmeacurse]

username: rogue

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text; un: thomas

[rickitikitarr]

you owe me that drink

[theycalledmeacurse]

Just name the time and place, sugar. For you, my schedule is wide open.

[rickitikitarr]

Well, there's pretty much only one bar, so we're not spoiled for choices.

Meet me there in ten?

[theycalledmeacurse]

I'll see you then.

[ Literally, thank goodness. ]

[rickitikitarr]

[Ricki is waiting. He's the one who looks just like his voice sounds- leaning all languid into the bartop and watching the door with a smile.]

{ action }

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ Rogue steps into the bar already wearing a smile, actually looking forward to something for the first time in a while. It feels good. Her vision still isn't 100%, her peripheral still fuzzy, but she can see well enough now to make out his face and that smile he's flashing her way. Her own grows even broader and she stops halfway to him, setting a gloved hand on her hip. ]

Well damn, sugar. If I'd known you were this handsome, I'd have been flirting with you this whole time.

[rickitikitarr]

[This makes him laugh aloud, chin tilting up, gesturing at her to take the seat next to him.]

That sounds like good news. You're back in the land of the sighted?

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ She nods as she takes the indicated seat, propping her arms on the bar but keeping her attention on him. ]

For the most part. It's been slow coming back, and there's still a bit of blurriness, but I can make out your gorgeous face now, so I consider it a win.

[rickitikitarr]

You're a charmer.

[He says, still delighted.]

And you've got your gloves, I see?

[So he reaches out, resting his hand palm up on the bar top so she can show him.]

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ She's a flirt, but it's just how she communicates. ]

I found them on my bed. A bit suspicious, of course, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

[ Not when it means she can set her hand in his, showing off the thin rayon gloves that match her jumpsuit perfectly. ]

[rickitikitarr]

Very nice.

[He says, and rubs his thumb lightly over her knuckles, then draws his hand gently back to go for the bottle, to pour her a drink.]

So, she wasn't actually a Midnight but I think a Mystique is close enough to count.

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ Having someone touch her hand, even for just a moment, makes her heart clench and her breath catch in her throat. It's been so long, but now isn't the time to give into those emotions. If she does that without preparation, she might never climb out of that hole again.

The world tilts as he says that word, that name, and her body goes incredibly still. ]

What did you say? [ It's quiet, the words disjointed and yet falling over each other, as if she doesn't know she's even saying them. She, he'd said she. ]

[rickitikitarr]

There's a young lady here named Mystique who seems like one of yours. Blue, head to toe, blue as a blueberry. Naked, don't ask me why.

[A mystified shake of his head.]

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ The panic sets in before he's even finished speaking. A coiling in her chest of fear and anger and utter distress that leaves her trembling, though she's already holding so still that it won't be noticeable until she reaches for the drink he's poured for her. She almost drops it on the way to her lips, but once it's there, it's tilted back and the entire thing consumed in seconds.

It's nowhere near enough. ]

I have to go.

[ The words stumble over themselves as she stumbles as well, right off the stool as her body struggles to respond to her commands. Fight or flight, there's a rising urge for both within her and she's not at all sure which will win out. ]

[rickitikitarr]

Woah, woah, woah, Rogue-

[He says, coming up after her, not to grab her but to make sure she doesn't keel over. All of that lazy flirtation vanishes, now he's just asking, calm and private.]

Come on, let's get you out of here- let me walk you to your rooms at the very least, you look like you've seen a ghost.

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ If he does touch her, she'll lean into it, unconsciously gravitating toward the only comfort she can see in this moment. But even if he doesn't, she won't put more distance between them the way she usually would; the bomb he's just dropped on her is far too distracting for that. ]

I wish she was just a ghost.

[ Her voice wavers, her throat so tight it feels raw. Flight is slowly winning out, a need to move, put space between herself and where she heard this awful news. Worst of all? She feels guilty for her ridiculous overreaction. ]

I'm sorry, Ricki. I'm so sorry, I--

[rickitikitarr]

No. There's absolutely no need to apologize.

[He promises, arm tucking neatly around her, in that case, walking them briskly towards the door and away from the bar, the small crowd that always hangs out in here.]

You're going to be all right. Let's go. Nothing's keeping us here.

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ He leads and she lets him, putting her trust in him completely as she tries so hard to rein in her emotions that are going completely haywire. It's been hard enough here trying to deal with being the only one remembering a genocide, let alone recovering psychologically with everything she'd learned in her last day on Earth. But now, this? ]

I can't do this.

[ Voice pitched higher than usual, accent coming on thicker, she tries and tries to steady herself, but she can feel the tears coming as they reach the hall. ]

She can't be here.

[rickitikitarr]

Hey, hey,

[He murmurs quietly, tugging them into an alcove and folding her into a hug. He holds his wrists carefully so his hands don't touch her skin, turns his head to the side so she can press against his shoulder.]

You're just fine. Deep breaths. It's just us here right now, you have all the time you need to compose yourself and decide exactly what to do. And if you like, I can just throw her out an airlock, hey? I mean, worst comes to worst. You're just fine.

[He's definitely not serious about that, but comfort isn't always about logic or accuracy.]

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ Oh lord, when was the last time she had a hug? When was the last time someone had wrapped their arms around her with our fear and just offered her selfless comfort? It sinks into her and settles like a form of shock, and for a few moments all she can do is stand there, arms useless at her sides. But the ice breaks and as she goes plummeting into the depths of her emotions, she reaches up to clutch at the material of his shirt. ]

I'll remember that offer, sugar.

[ It's a weak attempt at humor, sad and broken as the rest of her feels, but at least it's something. Right? ]

( text | post-event )

[possidetur]

Are you still here?
-- Vanessa

[theycalledmeacurse]

Yes, I'm still here. Why, who isn't?

[possidetur]

A friend that I'd met here. I don't know if it's an isolated occurrence or if there are others that have also disappeared.

[theycalledmeacurse]

I'm so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, I don't think it's isolated - there are a bunch of people I used to see around here who I haven't seen in a while, too many to be just a coincidence.

[possidetur]

Then we should ask why it is occurring now, and why in groups.