May 30 00:42:22 106 PA
From Chronicles
May 30 00:42:22 106 PA
Golden Carafe - Leonard's Room
Despite the wee hour, Leonard is both present, and awake. Neither of these choices appear to be any more wise than, say, magically compelling someone in their own home. He is currently sprawled on the couch, doing an excellent impression of someone who was run over by a truck. Twice. Then the truck reversed back over him and had all tires go flat. The majority is merely perceived in his form and features, but he also bears a slash through his shirt and an accompanying broad, yet shallow, cut on his exposed skin. The raven known as Edgar is also present, perched atop the kitchen counter.
Vixen slots the key into the door and turns it, pushing into Leo's place without a moment of hesitation. That comes after a step in, her eyes scanning the main room intently. Fixing on Leo. But she doesn't take in his details as she nudges the door close. Of course, there isn't the homey comfort making that came with her arrivals before. The boots remain on and the coat hanging on her shoulders. "I'm just here getting some things. Can't take it all now," she declares as she turns back towards him.
Leonard, in all his apparent weariness, still startles when the door opens. He pulls himself to sit upright, then simply nods to her explanation. It is Edgar who speaks, from his counter perch. "You're not going to pummel or stab him? It seemed to appease the other one."
Vixen glances towards Edgar, then back to Leo, noting the cut he has. There's a flash of concern, but she stifles it the next moment. "I guess Emayn came to see you. She must not have been too mad, you're still alive," she states simply. "No, I'm not gunna hurt you, Leo. I'm not gunna do nothing, cause.." She's interrupted when an orange and black flash streaks for her, Tiger leaping up. She catches him, the cat lightly frightened of the prior commotion. "There's my baby," she murmurs to him, enfolding him into a close, protective embrace.
"That thought did occur," Leonard admits this with a sigh before simply watching her and Tiger, "and maybe you should. Then the both of you would agree on something." It could merely be the neural mace to the head, but he is anything but smarmy.
"What did you think would happen, Leo? Did you think she'd just not freak out? Play the semantic game all you want with your nudges and freeing bullshit. You effected her mind in a way that wasn't her choice," Vixen points out firmly, turning to start moving towards the converted office. "I hope whatever happened here didn't mess up my broadcasting gear," she adds as she heads over that way.
Leonard rolls his shoulders, even though the gesture is rather pointless with her moving. "If it's any consolation to you, I'm reasonably certain that she returned the favor. She wanted the same answers to the same questions as you, I suppose... and, no, I don't think anything happened to your gear.,,"
Vixen pauses just at the doorway to the office, snapping a look back at him. "Knew she could do that.. very good to know." She cants her head slightly and turns back towards him, taking a step in his direction, but keeping her distance. "What do you mean, 'reasonably certain'?" Her mind is ticking now.
"That was about the time she zapped the shit out of me," Leonard snorts, although it comes out as more of a sigh, "so things get a little fuzzy. As you said, she wasn't quite /that/ upset... but not far from it."
"Well, are you going to answer me then?" Vixen considers him quietly. "What did you think would happen? How was seeing her crawling all over you supposed to alleviate all my concerns? I don't get your thought process, Leo.. or even if you were thinking. Cause you obviously didn't clue to a woman that likes her freedom and what taking even a sliver of that away would cause."
Leonard finally pulls himself to his feet. "The only thing I took was the restraint she was tired of exercising. That's why she was running of. She was sick of ...behaving herself. I didn't know what would happen, and that's exactly why I did it. This could've gone on indefinitely, and I was tired of it all, as it was. So I took all the debate, discussion and whatever else, and forced it into an instant choice. For all of us." Which turned out so wonderfully well, of course.
"Life is about that, Leo," Vixen states. "Discussion and debate. Worry and trouble, strife and fucking effort." She frowns faintly. "It's about finding the best way, which isn't always the fastest way. Hopefully you learned that today, but it don't sound like it. Maybe I should wail on you a bit, see if that knocks a clue into your thick head." She shakes her own head and wonders, "How long until my being difficult would have had you casting that shit on me? Cause I can be real difficult at times, Leo. As you've seen. Before, I didn't even think you capable of it, but now.. well, now I know you are. And I don't feel so safe no more."
"I've always been able to do that, Vix," Leonard matches her frown, "but I've never influenced you like that, nor would I... This doesn't have anything to do with her, does it? It's all about what I did. So, it was fine to use when rabid dogboys are trying to gut people, or shadowthings are roughing people up, but not to save myself and the people I give a damn about a bunch of pain? Why is that?"
"Using it to defend lives is fine," Vixen states. "But when it comes to relationships, you can't cut corners." She then shakes her head slightly then and turns her side towards him. "Look, I can't do this.. you need a teacher or a mother or something, not a lover. I got enough troubles running my own life without trying to teach you all the little subtleties of right and wrong and why you don't just cast mind spells on people when you're supposed to talk, listen and understand. And I can't be your fallback plan while you go looking to see what's out there. I tried that, Leo. Maybe you doubt how close I was to loving you, but it was so very close. And I hung on stubbornly after, hoping that what I saw in you at first would come back. You don't know how hard it was for me to sit in that fucking club and keep my mouth shut while you stared at that elf. And I can't keep doing things like that for you. That's why we're where we are. What you did was just the last straw. The final thing that I just couldn't get past." She turns again, moving towards the office.
Leonard lowers himself back to the couch heavily. "I'm not going to try and change your mind, Vix. That seems to be your biggest worry, and my pushing you was what led to all this, anyhow. You do whatever you need to do..."
"That's too bad Leo.. really too bad," Vixen murmurs as she moves in to the converted room. She gently sets Tiger down on the desk to free up her hands. He allows her to separate from him, but lingers close to her as she checks over her gear. The holographic display of the computer flicking through various statistical layouts before she nods slightly. All in order, yes. It's a late at night at Leo's and Vixen is in, checking her gear. He's slumped on the couch, his birdy companion perched nearby. And he's looking a bit worse for the wear.
Leonard begins to reply, but she's already moved into the other room, he doesn't really know what to say, and it would apparently amount to naught, regardless. As if matters were exhausting enough, a slash is cut into his shirt and shallowly into the skin beneath. His general demeanor and perk also resembles that of someone recently overrun by a large vehicle, and more than once.
Late to the party, but Maya arrives at Leonard's door still in her outfit from earlier. There is a momentary hesitation before knocking on the door but she finally lifts her hand, banging on it without regard for Leonard's sleep, or his neighbors' peace. Her face is serious, set into tight lines, her worry over this showing in a tightness around her eyes and mouth.
Vixen glances up when she hears the knock at the door. Frowning faintly, she finishes her check and straightens, scooping up Tiger as she moves back towards the main room. But she lingers at the mouth of the hall, glancing towards Leo, then the door, even should he be there by the time she emerges.
The extent of Leonard's shift for the door is a turning of his head to look towards it. He's far too drained on every level to do much else, although there is a touch of curiosity at the knock, perhaps even hope. Afterall, it can't get much worse. Even hooded figures with scythes would get an invite and a cup of coffee right now.
Outside, Maya waits, a small frown appearing on her face as she glances up and down the corridor. Obviously uncertain if anyone is home, there is a long pause before she knocks again, this time louder and more firmly. A soft mutter to herself shows the irritation at the delay.
Vixen frowns faintly and moves forward to do it without a word. Though she eases up to the door carefully and quietly, peering through the peephole. Because you never can be too careful. But once she sees who it is, she's quick to open the door. "Did I tell you to come get things and forget? I'm sorry, girl, I'm just not thinking straight right now," she murmurs, turning aside to let the other woman in.
No cloak nor scythe, but Maya still gets a weary wave from Leonard. "Hello, Maya." While he looks like he could use a hug or thousand, there is no expectation of such. She's likely here on Vixen's behalf, so he merely sits.
Maya's surprise at seeing the other woman is obvious and she glances between the two, lifting her hands almost defensively. "Uh, I can go, if I don't need to catch and take home a cat..." Neither get a hug, the occasion too serious and awkward for enthused hugs.
"I'm actually glad you're here, you can help me carry a few things. It would be rough doing it myself," Vixen replies to Maya. The cat still in her arms, though she holds on to it for now. She then looks towards Leo and adds, "You should probably get a look at him. I don't suppose that cut is so bad since he didn't go to the hospital. But I'm sure there's.. infections or something. I'll go get some things together."
"There's a knife or two in the kitchen if the cut isn't deep nor numerous enough." Leonard notes optimistically as he reclines on the couch. "It's apparently therapeutic." If it's supposed to be witty, the flat tone is sorely lacking.
Maya's gaze flickers to Leonard, a frown of concern appearing between her eyes. "What happened?" She asks quietly as she moves across to him, her eyes flickering over his cut, lips tightening. Leonard's comment just gets a steady look in reply, another soft reply to his mind, "I don't think I deserved that comment." With that, she bends her head to inspecting it, considering it in silence.
"Ema paid him a visit," Vixen supplies for the 'what' in general. "He's lucky to be alive. Funny none of this seems to have taught him much." A touch of the bitter in that last, but she ends it there for the moment, turning to take Tiger with her as she goes back into the bedroom. Pulling one of her bags up to start slipping immediate needs into it. Matters of hygiene and basic clothing needs being what she focuses on now.
The cut on Leonard's chest is several inches long, but already clotted and just deep enough to have bled. His blandness softens with Maya's otherwise unheard comment, and he manages a tired, but apologetic smile. "She thought to even the score in lieu of a discussion, but I'll live."
Maya nods in reply to Vixen's explanation, her forehead wrinkles as she considers the cut. "You've been lucky." She informs him quietly, sitting back on her heels, her hand resting on the seat next to him. "Does it feel even?" The question is quietly spoken before she rises to her feet. "I'll clean it. Have you got anything here?" She glances between the pair, giving Leonard a look of unspoken question.
Vixen will be away in the bedroom, hunting clothes. But her general direction can be looked towards. She picks carefully through her wardrobe, though quickly as she knows well what is within. And Tiger watches her from his place, sitting on the bed where she left him.
"I hope so," Leonard doesn't sound especially hopeful, even if Ema feels they're square, "and there should be some things in the bathroom." The normal fare of rubbing alcohol, bandages and the like.
Maya studies him for a moment before she moves to get the supplies, returning with an armful. She kneels in front of him, narrowing her eyes at the wound. Then she takes up the alcohol and a piece of cotton wool, leaning forward to clean it gently. Her movements might be gentle but the alcohol isn't so kindly, and she glances up, concerned despite the tightened lips.
Vixen will come out as Leo is being treated, carrying a well packed bag in one hand and a pair of boots in the other, a et that are midcalf length, violet like many of her clothing items. Tiger follows after as she takes it to the door and sets it down. "I'll disconnect my broadcasting equipment just before we go. We can get it set up and only have about an hour of dead air.
Leonard winces at the sting, but most of his frown is from other sources as he watches Maya. "You don't need to do that, you know. I 'm a big boy, and can take of myself." There is no emphasis behind the words, however, and he doesn't otherwise discourage her doctoring.
Maya glances up, lifting eyebrows slightly. "And I can see that you have already cleaned it up and dressed it. Oh wait." The light sarcasm in her voice vanishes as she lifts her gaze to the other woman, giving her a small smile and a nod. "I've asked about the flat, the guy is going to come back to me." A brief hesitation before she speaks casually, "I thought Coventry place..." Her hands carry on cleaning his chest until it is thoroughly done.
Vixen grins faintly and murmurs, "Never even been in there before," she comments to Maya. "There's just some places you never go cause you know you just won't belong.. I guess maybe its about time." THe young woman nodding to Maya as she glances towards the bedroom again, thoughtful. "I'll need to get a few things too, but I've been saving up a bit," she notes."
"As perfectly tended as I've done everything else, of course." A touch of sarcastic return, with a heavy smothering of anti-mirth in Leonard's reply before he lifts a brow and glances from Maya to Vixen's general direction past his head and back at their discussion.
Maya begins to open bandages, considering his stock against her need for them. "Then aren't you a lucky boy that I came over." She replies wryly, lifting her gaze just in time to return Leonard's glance. She lifts eyebrows but doesn't explain, nodding instead at him. "Take off your shirt." She tells him before replying to Vixen. "It looked nice. I thought it would suit."
"It'll be fine, I'm sure," Vixen agrees, though she's eyeing Leo after his latest commentary. After a few moments she asks him, "So what are you going to do about the refugees and the wood? I was going to wait on it, but I don't want to get caught flatfooted when you do decide. So you might as well tell me now."
Leonard leans himself upright and follows doctors orders, peeling off the cut shirt and dropping it to the wayside. The subtle scent of oil and herbs, primarily the latter, accompanies his disrobing. Perhaps moreso for Maya as he turns slightly away from her at Vixen's inquiry. "I can still handle that, Vix. It's not an issue."
Maya's eyes narrow slightly on the man's torso, a less feminine look than scientist but she continues to dress his wound. She is silent, letting the ex couple talk as she does her job. She listens, glancing up occasionally until his wound is dressed, nice and clean. Then, she sits back on her heels, clearing up the remains of his medical kit.
That wound dressed, and Vixen having gathered the most important things, the girls are ready to leave. The new flat awaits to be looked over, and therefore Leonard gets left to himself, to nurse his wounds, physical and emotional.
