[log] Lean on me [closed]

[zunesareawesome]

Characters: The Sorcerer Not-Yet-Supreme, Star-Cat, Star-Lord, and the Librarian
Location: Building 318 and various
Date: Day 339-343
Summary: The visiting of Flynn Carsen to the clan of Snow.
Warnings: References to character death, drowning, blood (because this is a scary building), more CW's in ensuing threads.




318: The stench of blood is thick in this garage, with blood long-soaked into the concrete floor, staining nearly the entire expanse. There are empty wooden tables to be sat on if you would rather not sit on the floor, though they've all been flipped as if in anger. One of the tables has been broken into pieces and burned, and another has pieces missing as if someone had begun to break it into pieces but was interrupted. The whole place has a hostile air to it, and the walls sound like they're breathing at night. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TWO, CONTACT @LELRIC FOR ANY ASSISTANCE." "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX, PLEASE CALL @LELRIC FOR ANY ASSISTANCE NEEDED." and "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EIGHT, FOR ANY ASSISTANCE PLEASE CONTACT @LELRIC ANY TIME." are written on one of the walls.

Comments

[cahooted]

"How's the hand?"

Having spotted Stephen roaming around the house Flynn moves over to greet him properly once he has (reluctantly) stored his gear (without letting too much of it touch the nasty ground). He smiles; it's good to see him, really see him and outside a creepy telepathic murder pit.

Still, Flynn can tell he is not well and his condition immediately sends a pang of worry and guilt through him; with his focus so strongly on Peter he hadn't really thought about the state the other man would be in. Well, time to change that.

[thewarningafter]

Stephen's right hand, the one splinted and wrapped, hangs by his side. He still doesn't withdraw his left hand from his pocket. He looks distant and confused for just a second, like he somehow wasn't expecting a question along those lines.

"It isn't any worse," he says with a shrug. "Prognosis is decent."

The red lines that outline all of his scars are mostly hidden with his clothing on. A few peek out from the ends of his sleeves, and they've only just begun to creep up his neck and under his beard.

[cahooted]

Okay, so on second thought – maybe not the best greeting in the book. Especially with the... everything else that seems to ail the sorcerer. At Stephen's confused stare Flynn hovers awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. He notices the lines here and there, too, and with a sinking feeling. That must mean that at some point Stephen had jumped as well. When? How? Could Flynn have prevented it? Should he bring it up?

Maybe later.

"It's good to see you, Stephen. How are you holding up?"

[thewarningafter]

Stephen has enough self awareness to see the way Flynn looks at him and at least try to focus in on the conversation. The question actually gets a huff of bitter laughter out of him.

"I could be worse," he admits, as though that means anything. "This was...kind of supposed to be a break for a while."

Before Bluestar died. And never mind that it was a break for the purpose of giving him a chance to at least start the detox process.

"The clinic's kind of nice," he adds, realizing only after he's said it how ridiculous it is to describe a barren house equipped with bloodstained mattresses as nice. Relatively speaking though? Yeah.

[cahooted]

Flynn sobers and nods. "You went there for the hot water, huh? We were planning on stopping by there ourselves."

Or rather he was, after House told him about it. But he's mindful enough not to mention that little fact, or his slightly selfish reasons to head out there. He's also pretty sure that any building is kind of nice compared to this place.

"I'm sorry. Peter... told me what happened. Let me know if there's anything I can-- Is there anything you need?"

[thewarningafter]

"Time," replies Stephen. "And hope. I'm still worried about Peter."

To the point where it barely occurs to him that Peter's been worried about him in return. Peter's clearly the one of them with the most tenuous grasp on mental health, though.

He frowns, catching something in Flynn's words. "We?"

[cahooted]

"Me too. He's taking this very hard."

How are you taking it? he wants to ask but it seems to blunt, too direct. Maybe he can ease himself into that conversation another way.

"Yeah, me and Nicole. We were traveling together before I came to meet you guys. Have you met her? She's from my world."

[thewarningafter]

"Oh," says Stephen. Of course Flynn has other friends. He remembers that. "Maybe once or twice on the network. I'm sure she's on the census."

Everyone's on the census.

[cahooted]

"She might be. I mean, she hasn't been here that long and I haven't really looked at the census recently but yeah."

His expression softens. "We, uh. I would have introduced you guys but we didn't want to risk the group getting too big. What with anomalies and all that. And she's really tough and can look after herself."

He is so worried.

[thewarningafter]

"It's not that big of a group," says Stephen, whose desperation for company despite his driftiness is probably showing. "Four's not a big group."

[cahooted]

Flynn smiles, a little on the sheepish side. Like with Peter it doesn't feel good to omit Harley but he doesn't want anyone else involved with the whole Joker affair either. And they have more than enough on their plates here, really.

"I'll... Okay. I'll bring her next time then. You'll like her."

[thewarningafter]

"Good," says Stephen. "Glad we got that settled."

He glances around the garage, expression tightening a little. "We'll have to move on from here tomorrow. I...going back over to the clinic isn't a good option. Not anymore."

[cahooted]

Flynn nods, sobering. "That... yeah. But moving on sounds good. If I'm being honest I can't wait to get out of here. And I think a friendlier place than this bloodhole would do Peter good. And you too."

After a moment's hesitation he reaches out and places a hand on Stephen's shoulder.

[thewarningafter]

Stephen sucks in a breath like he wasn't expecting that, like he's suddenly having a harder time holding himself together. The moment passes, more or less, as he offers Flynn a weak smile.

"I used to play bass for Bloodhole," he says, rather than address Flynn's concern for him.

[cahooted]

"Bass?" He returns the smile, allowing Stephen the opt-out. He knows he'd appreciate one if their roles were reversed.

"Always pegged you more for a piano kind of guy."

[thewarningafter]

That gets a huff of laughter, but it's a hollow one, sad in another way. "You wouldn't be wrong," he admints.

He still misses his piano.

[cahooted]

"I had a feeling."

His mind wanders back to what Nicole told him regarding Peter. You are doing something by just being there for him. It might not seem like enough, but it counts. Maybe this here... counts, too? If only a little, he'll take it.

"Me, I used to have clarinet lessons."

[thewarningafter]

"Only lessons?"

This is getting easier. It helps to not talk about anything recent...or anything of substance.

"You choose that, or did your parents when you were a kid?"

[cahooted]

"Well, I was never in a band." Figures.

"I liked the sound, actually. But I never got really good at it, I guess I just preferred to spend my time reading. ... It did help me play a magical instrument to uncover a secret map once, though?"

[thewarningafter]

Stephen huffs out a laugh. "Of course it did. I always just played for fun. Liked the way it felt."

Elegant. Precise. All the things he'd seen in himself.

[cahooted]

He grins. "That was pretty cool. If I may say so."

It's good to hear him laugh. "You know, I'm starving. Have you eaten yet?"

[thewarningafter]

"Not since this morning," Stephen admits. It never seems worth the risk to stop midday, not if they haven't reached a shelter. "Didn't have time to stop at the convenience store, either, but we can go in the morning, stock back up. We're practically on top of it."

[cahooted]

"Oh!"

Flynn blinks. "Well, then I think it's about time. Come on, I got some snacks left, we can share."

[thewarningafter]

Stephen has food of his own, but he's grateful for another topic to latch onto, and with a resupply so near there's no need to go on half-rations or refuse Flynn's food. "I've still got some things; I'll grab it."

[cahooted]

"Alright."

Flynn takes a look around, trying to scout a place that is... the least disgusting to try and force something down?