[log] When she was just a girl she expected the world [closed]

[spoileralert]

Characters: Stephanie Brown, Alphonse Elric, Edward Elric, Greed
Location: Building 58
Date: Evening 75
Summary: Sad sack Steph is rescued by altruistic Al
Warnings: Depression symptoms

After her conversation with Clayton Steph basically shut down. She created a pile out of all her stuffed animals, sheets and towels in the corner of the room next to her own dried blood and curled up there, waiting to feel less like shit. Her broken nose had stopped bleeding, but it still ached.

She didn't move until the door opened, and even then just to glance up and see who it was.

Comments

[armoured]

[It had been a combination of knowing that Steph was already in the tunnels looking for medication for Dr. House, along with a wish to look for medication for Tim himself, that had brought the (much smaller) katamari towards the entrance to the tunnels.

He had not, however, expected to see Steph there already when he opened the door, giant frame blocking out the fading light. Is she... is she hurt? God, his heart flies into his throat and he strides across the room to drop beside her within seconds.]

Stephanie--

[The lights of his eyes flare briefly in concern as he scans her for injuries, easily catching the broken nose and feeling his stomach lurch.]

What happened? What-- ? How did this happen?

[He thought she had been with Rhys and Angel, protected and doing fine.]

[ossifragant]

[He's been too used to just traveling with Al and Ed for the last few days that it's honestly a shock to see Steph already inside, and in bad shape on top of that.]

Steph-- Stephanie.

[Shit, that doesn't look good. But he doesn't know the first thing about first aid.]

[forfeits]

[ it's difficult seeing someone they care about hurt, especially Steph of all people and much like Al, the moment Ed can get into the room he's at her side. he even pulls off his first coat to drape over her, whether she's hurt or not. it's cold, and laying on a floor in a place like this is no good. ]

What the hell happened? Are you okay? [ once he finds out what happened, who did this... ]

[spoileralert]

[ The three of them are such an unexpected and welcome sight that Steph feels her eyes watering. She sniffles, and winces at the pain that results. Some light bruises have formed around her jawline, but she's otherwise unhurt: just miserable. ]

H-hey. I was gonna call... tomorrow. [ Maybe. If she felt up to it. She doesn't feel up to a whole lot. ]

I'm okay. I just. I got in a fight.

[ She pulls herself up into a sitting position. She doesn't bother trying a smile. ]

[armoured]

[He doesn't even hesitate in wrapping his arms around her, albeit gently in case he hurts her from some further unseen injuries. It's probably not the most comfortable position, because... armour... but the warm intent is there in spades.]

With who?

[Or what? Is the unspoken question. But if it had been one of the creatures here, surely she would not have escaped once it had her in attack range.]

It's okay, we're here, you can tell us.

[ossifragant]

[Greed hesitates for a fraction of a second before he joins Al and Ed on the floor next to Stephanie. He digs through his pack for a second before pulling out a roll of gauze, about half-gone. He offers it to Stephanie, looking worried.]

Here. You need this more than me right now.

[forfeits]

You can tell us. We're not gonna let anything happen to you.

[ while they're around, Ed knows the three of them will go out of their way to protect their friends. seeing the gauze, he nods his head. she'd need it. ]

I have some rubbing alcohol and a towel, too. To help you get cleaned up. [ he reaches out with his hand and carefully squeezes one of hers if she (and Al's hug) will let him. ]

[spoileralert]

[ She stares at them all, lip wobbling, and despite the chill of Al's armor she feels safe. Hell, even Greed is worried about her, and she wouldn't have guessed he gave a damn.

What will they all think when they know the truth? ]

Looks pretty bad, huh?

[ She takes the gauze with one hand and gingerly pokes at her nose - yes, there's a cut right where the swelling is worst. Her other hand gives Ed's a weak squeeze in return. She must've fallen asleep at some point - she's still tired. ]

It was Rhys. Over the pills, [ she glances at Al, ] I told you about?

[armoured]

What?!

[Of all the things she might have said, this is what he might have least expected. Rhys did this to her? RHYS?! He always thought that man was nice, even diffident, not the sort to go beating up his allies.]

You mean the ones you were fetching for Dr. House?

[Thank god someone mentioned that as his name so he doesn't have to sully the moment by using Dr. Hotstud.]

Why would he do that?

[ossifragant]

What?!

[It's not like Greed knows Rhys particularly well, but that sounds]

What the hell is going on? Why would he do something like that?

[And Stephanie is such a mess that he's not exactly interested in going out to look for Rhys to get an explanation. Dammit.]

[forfeits]

[ Ed doesn't know Rhys all that well, either, but he knows him better than that, he'd like to think. especially after everything that has happened recently. ]

Maybe he has a reason, but it still doesn't make any of this right!

[ not when it means hurting people to get something, not in a place like this. ] How long ago did this happen to you? [ he hopes she hasn't been here long, at least. ]

[spoileralert]

This morning.

[ She pulls away from Al and rubs under her eyes - the closest she can get to poking her nose without hurting it. ]

I. Um. I tried to lift the pills from his pocket. He grabbed me, and I flipped him, and then he... he grabbed me again, and I kicked him, and he broke my nose. Then Angel told me to leave.

[ She looks down so she doesn't have to meet their eyes. Yes, this is 100% her fault. ]

[armoured]

[Although he is still worried about Steph's condition and finds it hard to believe Rhys and Angel would behave that way, a little wriggle of disapproval works its way into his thoughts now.]

Why would you try to steal the pills in the first place? I thought you were all going to fetch them for someone else.

[Was she in pain herself that she needed them? But if that were the case, he couldn't imagine Angel or Rhys being so cold hearted as to not let her have at least one or two to ease her suffering.]

You need to tell us everything, Steph, from the beginning.

[ossifragant]

[None of this is adding up. Greed stares, looking more confused than anything else, though mostly he just looks vaguely worried.]

We'll listen, Stephanie.

[He's not going to judge.]

[forfeits]

We're just here to help, okay?

[ but he's with Al -- why try to steal them at all? if she's in pain they can help take care of her, but. ]

We're a team, after all, we have to look out for each other.

[spoileralert]

I know... [ She sounds utterly like a child caught out after curfew. She still refuses to look at any of them, focusing closely on the floor. The droplets of her dried blood catch her attention. ]

Dr. House and Clayton are having some kind of fight. Rhys and Angel are really pissed that Dr. House called the Admin to fix his ribs, and Clayton asked them to go pick up his pills from the pharmacy. I knew none of them were going to actually give Dr. House the pills, so I thought I could... short-circuit the fight, if I took the pills out of the equation.

Talk shit get hit, I guess.

[armoured]

Stephanie.

[His voice is firm as he reaches down to try and take her chin in his hand, to lift her face in order to look directly into her eyes.]

I know it's hard, and I know you're scared, but you have to try and explain from the beginning. I don't understand, what were they arguing about? And even if they had argued, they don't seem the sort of people to keep needed medication away from someone just because they're disagreeing.

[ossifragant]

[Greed's face is mostly neutral, but his brow is furrowed in one of those ways that indicates he's trying to understand something.]

Why would they keep medication away from a doctor?

I think I'm missing something here.

[forfeits]

What kind of medication was it? They weren't trying to use it for themselves, were they? [ not that he suspects Rhys or Angel as the types to do that, but it's possible. this place makes people desperate.

Ed doesn't like House one bit, but he'd never go out of his way to hurt him. ]

And either way, they shouldn't have hurt you. No matter what the situation is.

[spoileralert]

I'm not -- [ Ok maybe she's a little scared, because Rhys really freaked her out and she doesn't really trust Angel anymore. ] I'm okay.

What I've gathered is, House is addicted to his-- whatsit-- Vicodin? Narcotics. Rhys needed pain killers, and Angel stole them from House. House thinks Clay gave her the idea, which I can buy since he seems to have planned all this anyway. House found out that the pills had gone to Rhys and called for the Admin to fix Rhys' ribs for revenge. Angel freaked out, and then Clay suggested they go get more of House's pills. So basically: [ She rubs under her eye again, but this time it's to brush away tears. It hurts to talk clearly and she's still pretty miserable about all of this. ] House is a jerk and an addict, Clayton is a well-intentioned manipulator, Angel is a selfish thief, Rhys is a bipolar cyborg and I'm the dumb miserable kid with a broken nose.

[armoured]

[This is a tangled web, and one he can't help but feel frustrated by. He's tried so hard to advocate open communication, trust, and teamwork, and even his own friends are still working their own agendas.]

Why did you try and steal them back, you should have talked to them. Angel and Rhys arent bad people, and Clayton is a doctor, they surely wouldn't have let it go without making sure House wasn't suffering.

[He might be a jerk and an addict, but stealing his lifeline here still isn't okay.]

...I'm going to go and talk to Rhys and Angel.

[He's so mad at all of them, he wants to knock their stupid heads together.]

dont mind me I couldn't resist

[spoileralert]

[ She grumbles: ] I don't like having doomed arguments.

[ossifragant]

[Well this sounds like a horrible mess. Greed sighs, running a hand through his hair.]

Even if all of us can't be in one area, there's no reason for people to keep secrets from the group. Al's right, those two need talking to.

[...]

Are you going to be okay, Stephanie? That's a nasty wound, and I don't know anything about fixin' a broken nose.