[log] Screw up to the beat of my own drum [closed]

[spoileralert]

Characters: Stephanie Brown, Stephen Strange, Alphonse Elric, Hugo Vasquez
Location: AAB8 - 271
Date: Day 229
Summary: Event Shenanigans and a Reunion
Warnings: In comment subjects, please!

271: A small, enclosed bus stop that probably serviced the building inside the fence back when things weren't abandoned. The bus stop is enclosed completely in glass, making it possible to spend the night here, though the benches are a little uncomfortable to sleep on. Interestingly, the lights here still work, on and off--at night, the lights flicker on and off at random, which may also make it difficult to sleep. The vending machines here are smashed open, but food and drinks are still placed inside them. They do not restock when people are staying here, so make sure you don't run yourself out of food! "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN, FOR ANY ASSISTANCE PLEASE CONTACT @LELRIC." is written on a wall.

Comments

[spoileralert]

Al?

[ Steph has been miserable all day, since her reunion with Zach ended with her unconscious in the snow. She doesn't recognize the woman following Al around, but she suspects it's someone Al knows. ]

[armoured]

S-Steph?!

[He almost can't believe it's her for a second, before all of a sudden he's just charging forwards to pick her bodily off the ground and crush her into the tightest hug he can manage.]

[spoileralert]

[ Her lip trembles as she takes in the group, relief overwhelming her. It's so good to see him again, especially after the day she's had.

Then she's being swept up in a crushing hug that makes her squeak, and she hugs him back as tears escape her. ]

I missed you so much.

[armoured]

I missed you too.

[His voice is tight and small, holding her as if scared that she might disappear if he lets go.]

I-- Mr. Gray died, Steph, I failed again.

[spoileralert]

Oh, Al... I'm so sorry.

[ She liked Gabriel. Just as importantly, she knows how Al torments himself over every death, whether he could have done anything about it or not. ]

[armoured]

It was an anomaly, it just came out of nowhere and took him. I promised him that I'd help him, Steph.

[So many broken promises, it feels like that's all he does sometimes.]

[spoileralert]

Al... You've been here long enough to know, once this place decides it wants you, there's nothing that can stop it.

[armoured]

I refuse to ever accept that, if I do that then I'll stop fighting against it. I have to believe that we'll find a way to fight it.

[spoileralert]

[ Rather than try to argue the point she presses her forehead to his shoulder. ]

Did you see Zach outside?

[ Her voice is tiny, and gutted. ]

[armoured]

Yeah.

[He squeezes her a bit tighter.]

I'm so sorry, he didn't deserve that.

[spoileralert]

I... I thought maybe he was back.

[ She's not honestly sure what this means. Nobody else seems to have attracted anomalies of people who were here before.

God, she misses him so much. ]

[armoured]

[He doesn't know what to say here that would be at all comforting, so he settles on drawing her over to the nearest seat and sitting down with her still in his arms.]

Whatever that is, it's not him. It's not any of them, it can't be.

[spoileralert]

[ She sniffles and pulls a hand away to wipe at her wet cheeks. ]

He's not coming back, is he.

[armoured]

[Al is the wrong person to be having this conversation with. He doesn't want to hurt her, but he's never going to say something comforting about revivals.]

...it's probably best to let yourself grieve for him properly, he deserves that much.

[spoileralert]

[ She's already said all the comforting things to herself, over and over these past few days. Everyone else has, too. If they were going to work, they would have.

She can't really deny it anymore, but she still tries to. Her lips tighten as her eyes overflow and she shakes her head hard. She can't grieve him. He can't be gone. He can't. Not Zach. Not after Tim. Not after Kes and CLayton and Becky and Dad and everyone else she's ever cared about. ]

[armoured]

Steph, look at me.

[He relaxes his arms slightly to give her room to do that.]

I know it hurts, believe me, I know. But we owe the people we love more respect than to not grieve for their loss.

[spoileralert]

[ She looks up at him, desperation in her eyes. If he's really dead, if she lets herself feel that pain, she can't imagine how she'll ever pick herself up again.

She isn't given a choice. Grief breaks over her like a wave, and she buries her face against his armor as sobs wrack her body. ]

[armoured]

[He knows it's not going to be easy.

He's been through it before, more times than he'd like to count, both back home and here. It never gets easier, it never stops feeling like being torn apart, but it does pass. So he does the only thing that he can do, and holds her for as long as she needs to cry.]

[spoileralert]

[ She cries for a long time, but at some point remembers that Stephen and Hugo are here too and pulls herself together enough to stop sobbing uncontrollably. This is not the time, this is not the place.

She's exhausted and feeling more than a little hollow when she finally manages to dry her very red face completely. ]

Sorry. It's been that kind of day.

[armoured]

You don't ever have to apologise to me.

[He hopes that she feels a bit better for crying. It's not a cure-all, but it can be like expunging poison from a wound. Grief is better out than in.]

You're my best friend, I'm always going to want to be here for you.

[spoileralert]

[ She'll always feel like she needs to apologize, though. She doesn't ever want to take his friendship for granted, however absolute it may seem. ]

I'm really glad you're here.

[armoured]

Me too, I think we should make an effort to stick together from now on.

[She always seems to get hurt when they're apart.]

Now-- come on, you should eat something, it'll make you feel better. I promise.

[spoileralert]

[ She nods sullenly. ]

I don't want to be alone. [ That's not entirely true - she kind of wants to be alone, but she definitely doesn't trust herself to be alone. ] And I don't know how much longer Vasquez is going to want to put up with me. I've been kind of a sad sack.

[ She reaches for her bag robotically. Zach was so good about making her eat that it's habit now to obey, even when she isn't hungry. ]

[armoured]

Then he's a dummy, you're worth travelling with even if you're not doing well. Besides, we're going to work on that, because Zack and Ed would kick both of our asses if we moped over them.

[He puts a hand on her shoulder as she eats.]

Trust me, you're going to get through this.

[spoileralert]

I guess.

[ Zach would understand, she thinks. But it would kill him (again) to see her like this. He would do everything he could to cheer her up.

Once she's done with her package of rations, she pulls out the Zach and Kesara dolls out of her utility belt without even looking at them. It's become habit to keep them with her, never put away in her bag. ]

I trust you. It just... feels kinda impossible, right now.