See I was on the verge of breaking down. Sometimes silence can seem so loud

[blazetodefine]

[OOC: Over a year ago, I made a post with all 14 of my characters that almost reached 925 comments. I only have 8 characters now, but lets see how far that goes. :D Feel free to tag in. Multiple times with one character or with multiple chars. It's open for forever. And I know there have been a lot of posts lately but I haven't made one in over a

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[wearsnomask]

The bittersweet-like smile shifts into something brighter. "Thank you. We're going to Paris," she answers, tucking her hair back. Even saying it sounds like something of a dream, and it's not. "We both love it, for reasons of our own and reasons we share. It'll be nice to go back and try to leave Chicago in Chicago."

The first time she went to Paris, she came back lighter than she'd felt in a really long time. She showed Martha pictures of it, and--that feels like forever ago, too. If Rachel tried listing everything that's changed and everything that's happened since, she'd lose count.

Oh, Robin. There is definitely kissing. Anne doesn't notice at all, though Rachel pokes at his waist in warning as she skitters off, and now everyone may carry on in their respective tags. Ahem.

"That will be very much appreciated," Rachel says, still laughing. It is good coffee. She's fortunate she gets to have Robin's coffee any time she wants.

"I hope so, too," Rachel murmurs in response to Martha, lips pressed against the rim of the thermos as she takes another sip. She no longer tries to answer with a silver lining. It's far too realistic, Martha's hope, and her feet are firmly planted on the ground.

Horrible things happen all the time. One starts to get too comfortable, and horrible comes back around again. If it's not plagues, it's tornadoes, and if it's not tornadoes, it's the CLF, and so on and so forth.

She thinks it says a lot about them both they're still standing, roaming the halls of this place that houses Wanderers they each like to protect in their own different ways. "No, there hasn't been much time, has there?" she asks. She doesn't think she's properly spoken to Martha since the Conrad's destruction.

"I'm doing good, for the most part. Tiredness doesn't seem to register to me anymore. It's been a tough couple of weeks. Whatever progress I'd made on our trip to Washington was effectively torn down. Starting from the ground up again is frustrating, but there isn't much that will keep me from doing so." It's also overwhelming, to say the least. The bitterness she'd been feeling only weeks ago doesn't creep into her voice.

Rachel only has so many switches to find herself. Her reaction to the CLF post was worrisome to her. Not because of the memories it brought back, but because of how detached and desensitized she felt to the whole ordeal. She doesn't want to start caring less, ever.

"Work helps. Robin and friends help. I'm tired but there are good days and bad days." She's quiet again, taking more sips of the coffee in between. She's earnest, and just as serious when she asks, "And you?"

[smithnjones]

"I really feel that Paris is your city. The both of yours," Martha says, and she's smiling too, folding her arms over her chest as they walk. "I've heard about it from you, and when I hear about Paris, I think about you both."

She remembers seeing those pictures. It does feel like... It feels like it was much too long ago, because she was sharing ideas for her wedding then as well.

It's only been months though, hasn't it? It hasn't even been a year yet.

One learns the meaning of realism after living in Chicago as long as they have. The important difference between them and the many people on the street is they still know how to hope too. They simply hope realistically.

As Martha told Jack, it feels like every time that she starts to gather up enough pieces so that she won't cut her feet when she walks, something else breaks.

It does say a lot about them both. People look up to them, because they've lived so long as Wanderers in this dark city, and they're still walking with their heads held high and the cores of them still basically intact. They're still fighting. Martha is quiet as Rachel answers, and she frowns deeply but she understands.

They fight so hard, and sometimes they have so little to show for it. Sometimes they have a pile of rubble to show for it. Martha shakes her head. "It has been tough," she agrees, and she doesn't remind Rachel that she's not alone and doesn't give her any hopeful speeches, because she knows that Rachel knows them already. "And it's only going to get tougher."

It's a good thing that they're not alone, because no one would survive alone in this city. So many people don't survive even when they're not alone.

Martha smiles, a little at the question, but it's tired. "There are good days and bad days," she agrees, and then she takes a long drink from her coffee. "I believe I'm... better. Better than I have been in a long while, like I'm standing on almost solid ground again for the first time... in a very long time."

Their serious, heart to heart conversation is going to be interrupted in a few seconds unfortunately, by a teenage boy running down the hallway with only a towel to cover himself.

[xandtheman3]

And here comes said teenager.

Xander Harris was given a towel by Spencer Reid. Unfortunately, he has a precarious grasp on it, and he is trying to hold it up and run at the same time.

It is not working out all that well for him, because as soon as he tries to run past Martha and Rachel, he trips on something on the floor. The towel drops.

And the women get to view the entire package that young Xander Harris has to offer.

Xander fumbles for the towel with shaking hands, and he pulls it back up in a quick attempt to cover the bits. "There was-- Clothes-eating monster," he says quickly. So this situation is not made better by hot women apparently.

The pornos lie.

"Sorry," he says... and he's looking about as embarrassed as he's ever looked and running down the hallway again.

[wearsnomask]

"I feel it's our city, too," she replies with a smile. "It was the first vacation I've taken in years. Back in Gotham, I'm sure I wouldn't have considered it. It's strange. A year ago, I wouldn't have been able to consider any other city that isn't Gotham as mine. Now things are very different."

Harder, in some ways.

Once you're at the very end of your rope, you don't have much of a choice if you want to keep being who you are.

It's comforting, in a way. They don't need to remind each other of all the reasons why they should fight. They're acutely aware of each of them and sometimes, they don't want to hear them. Knowing is not enough. There needs to be the will. They both have the will, and they'll pull through. Changed or unchanged. Most likely the former.

"It is," she agrees solemnly. She doesn't flinch and she doesn't waver. She certainly doesn't give Martha another speech. They've both given speeches at different points in their life. She's talking to a friend, not standing at a podium. "It's going to get a lot worse before there are any chances of it getting better. It's a mess. Messier than before. There are so many new Wanderers. They all want to fight, and they all want their own way."

Rachel shakes her head. "If anyone is expecting to see the results now, they're in for disappointment."

Challenges are the harsh winds that strip you from everything but the bare essence of what you are. Once you know who that is, there isn't much. The new wanderers come in with so much energy and impulse. After a year of living in the city and knowing how it words, Rachel understands that's not enough.

And then there is a naked boy.

Rachel stops in her tracks, nearly drops her thermos, and blinks. "Uh."

She is going to stare at your face, Xander. She will not look below and torment you further.

However, the sight of a stark naked teenage boy running down the hallway is...amusing. Not to mention, it's reminding Rachel of another towel incident both she and Martha were witness to, as well. It seems to be their thing now.

Rachel turns to Martha and can't help but laugh once Xander is out of earshot. She laughs hard and it feels good to laugh.

[smithnjones]

"Things can change so much in a year, in four months even," Martha says, and she's thinking back on this last four months especially, but there are times when so much can change in a month, in a week, in an hour. An entire life can be turned on its head in a matter of moments.

Time is a funny thing, and she learned so much about it while she traveled with the Doctor. She understood that it's not as linear as people are often made to believe. There are hundreds of thousands of possibilities.

In some other universe, she still has Des. In some other universe, she's dead. In some other universe, maybe she's lost her mind and she's killing. There's no use wishing for another universe. This is the one that she has. Martha will make the best of it. It's all anyone can do.

"I know," she says with a long sigh. "And many of them held positions of leadership where they were from. Many of them come in, thinking it's a simple solution when we know it isn't, when we know this city. They'll learn eventually. Everyone does. I'm mostly hoping to keep the death count down as much as possible while we fight against this. You haven't met... too many people that are trying to fight back with violence, have you?"

Martha has been trying to keep track of anyone that seemed to have tendencies toward that. They're the ones that have the biggest chance of getting into trouble, getting themselves hurt or killed.

It's not about not having hope. It's about being realistic, taking what they have and fighting back in the most effective way possible.

Martha is staring as well. She has seen many things in her time in Chicago, but she-- A naked boy running down the hallway is not anything that she expected to run into on their rounds. Her eyes are wide, and she's still staring until Xander has run out of sight.

It's only then that Martha looks at Rachel in turn and bursts into laughter with her. The heaviness in her chest lightens. For the moment, there's only Martha and Rachel after seeing yet another naked male in front of them. "Males certainly know how to lose their towels around us, don't they?"

[wearsnomask]

"They can," Rachel says, and she shakes her head. "If you'd told me I'd be back together with Robin, living in a new place that's already home, dealing with something like this again, I'm not sure I'd have believed it."

Which isn't wise. It's Chicago, anything can happen. And considering the former part of her statement is pretty much the best thing that happened to her, she can't fully complain.

"I look at them, coming in with so much energy and determination. Reminds me of myself. I didn't know what I was getting into, either. I was so certain I knew the way." She swallows thickly. It's why she let herself trust a man in a park with a poetry book and fancy expositions. It's what led her to that room, for seven days, and she was never the same.

"I've met some," she admits with a sigh. "I've met with others that are conflicted. I've tried to make them see lashing out with more violence would only give the CLF the justification they're looking for. It'd give them a legitimate excuse to go after us, and it'd give the public's fear of us further reasoning. We have to make our next move smartly, but fear and anger aren't rational."

Plenty are operating on both. "I've spoken to Jack briefly about it. There needs to be some reinforcement. On order and chain of command. There are enough sides to this mess as it is."

Of course, she can't linger on these thoughts when there is a naked teenager running past them. Rachel doesn't want to be mean. She certainly doesn't want to laugh but really now.

"They certainly do. It must be our powers combined. I'd hate to think what happened if we walked into a men's locker room."

[tempered_scars]

Wesley Gannon is on his way out. Unbeknown to him, he'll be meeting up with his brotherthing-in-training at Navy Pier after a ship comes out of the Rift.

For now, he's just passing by, and he sees the two women in their laughter.

He also saw Xander running past, towel barely hanging around his waist.

He bristles. It's a reminder of that night in the Washington hotel room. His cheeks may be a little bit red.

"You two ladies ought to be ashamed of yourselves," he says, as dignified as he possibly can, and then he's back on his way out.

...It's possible Rachel is only laughing harder.

[smithnjones]

"I think it's impossible to have clear expectations about the future. You can hope, and you can plan, but with the way this city works, you can never tell what will happen in a month or two months. It isn't always a bad thing, but... it does keep you on your toes," Martha says. "I've always hated that saying, expected the unexpected because it's such an impossible thing to do."

People will always have expectations, and it's impossible to expect something that they can't imagine will happen.

Martha offers Rachel a small smile, understanding. They both understand, and in a way, they're in such similar positions. "I felt exactly the same when I'd first fallen through. I was used to traveling to other planets and universes and times, and I'd done so much already. This was supposed to be one more adventure, and then I'd be back home."

There's a bit of a sigh at that. "They're not rational at all, and it's nearly impossible for people to be levelheaded with videos like that one circling around. I can't say that I blame anyone, but..."

Yes, they're interrupted from their serious conversation by nakedness.

"Think about it this way, Wes, it's not you. Towels simply like to drop around us," Martha says with a wide smile that then breaks off into further laughter along with Rachel.

It's not until she is able to breathe again that she lets out a long sigh. "Brilliant timing, really."

[wearsnomask]

Wes hears that Martha. He hears that and the narration cannot keep him out of this tag. He strides back toward them, a finger wagging at each of them in recrimination. "We said we ain't gonna talk about it and it never happened," he reminds them in a hushed whisper.

"What didn't happen?" Rachel asks, eyes wide with innocence.

His eyes narrow at Rachel, before he looks at Martha helplessly. His cheeks are slightly red again as he is reminded both these ladies have seen his...package. "Just...darn towel. You ladies--"

Then he is off again for good.

Rachel's hand is splayed over her stomach, and she only drops it once she stops laughing. It's not just good to laugh, it's good to see Martha laugh.

She looks back to where Wes was leaving in all his indignant glory.

"Do you think he's upset?" she asks with a deadpanned expression on her face. She lets out a long sigh in tandem to Martha's. "Sometimes it's too easy. I have a feeling he might not take a trip again if it involves us both."

[smithnjones]

Oh, Wes. Martha cannot even keep a straight face when he returns to them, and she's only trying not to laugh too hard, but this attempt is completely ruined by Rachel's question. She starts to laugh harder especially when it's combined with Wes' expression.

She can't even manage an innocent smile or words anymore.

She's only laughing, rather endlessly. It was a glorious... package, and the highlight of that weekend!

It's good to be laughing with her friend. It feels almost normal. It feels light and good, and it takes her a long while to stop laughing. Martha rests her hand against Rachel's arm and pulls back, shaking her head. Her stomach hurts.

"I... think he might be a little put out," Martha says, and she isn't able to achieve a deadpanned expression. She smirks at her. "Oh, he'll go with us if he knows what's good for him. He just... might not take a shower next time... or jump in a pool."

[tempered_scars]

This tag is unnecessary.

[wearsnomask]

Rachel does not feel she can comment on the package, glorious or not. In fact, she did not see much of it to have made an assessment. Thorough or otherwise. It's simply his reactions that are worth it.

It was only a bit of a peek, really.

It's a normal, light moment, and if it must be at Xander Harris and Wes Gannon's expense, then so be it.

"Men. They can be so easy to rile up sometimes." Rachel grins at Martha's expression. It's not quite deadpanned but it's still far too amusing.

"On that note, care to tell me about your trip? Goodness knows you listened to me go on and on about mine."

[smithnjones]

His reactions do make it all the more enjoyable. If he had taken it in stride or boasted, they would not bring it up so often... or laugh about it whenever they did.

It was a wonderful peek.

The boys can sacrifice their hidden packages to give these wonderful woman a laugh. It hardly seems like very much to ask!

"Honestly, they... really can," Martha says with a bit of a smirk. "It's what makes them so much fun!"

One of the many things that make men fun.

"It was incredibly fun and... relaxing. Wes took me to his hometown, showed me some of the places there--"

They are going to be interrupted by a tiny, red headed angel flying by with her wings out, practically running directly into Martha but missing her and landing on the floor instead.

[pplrunincircles]

Elizabeth clamors back up to her feet. She has been around the Tower enough to recognize both of these women, and she is honestly embarrassed when she wouldn't normally be. It doesn't help that she'd been blushing as she was running away.

"Sorry," she says quickly. "Emergency! There is an emergency! Someone's naked under a... table! I'm getting them clothes."

Martha's immediate reaction is ...

"If you go to the second closet down the hallway on the left, there should be clothes there."

Elizabeth jumps up, flails, and nods with a wide smile, still blushing. "Thank you. I better-- She's naked, and it's cold when you're naked and human. I'm guessing. Okay, thank you! Also, it's really nice to... run into you both. You're doing a great job for the community, and you have like-- I'm a huge fan. Okay. Clothes!"

And then she's running off down the hallway again.

"...I've really no idea why so many people are getting publicly naked in the Tower today."

[wearsnomask]

Rachel does not remember so many things happening before when helping make the rounds. She is not complaining. They are very welcome distractions, and she bites her lip again to keep from laughing.

She will not laugh at the tiny angel with the very pretty red hair.

"Thank you--" Rachel begins to say. She is about to ask for Elizabeth's name, even. Except she does not get the chance, for the girl is already dashing away.

Cue more laughter. At this point she does not know what to expect next.

"You know, I'd say something about that, but considering the latest development with my Rift power, I probably should not be one to talk."

Rachel attempts to say this in a dignified manner, but there is no possible way one can speak of involuntary nakedness via shapeshifting with any sort of dignity or propriety.

Particularly when Martha saw the journal entry in question in which she and Max were humiliated for life.

Ah, well. She tries.

[smithnjones]

Martha doesn't remember so many things happening on any other round before. Well, that's not exactly true. There has been times that it's been one thing after another, but it's never been so many hilarious things in a row.

Sorry, Rachel. Elizabeth feels that someone being naked is an emergency that she can't really waste any time for. If she were naked under a table, she would be flipping out. It's really too bad that she's only run into these two wonderful women in the middle of an emergency.

Martha is laughing too, shaking her head.

"Considering the Rift and its tendency to be able to do nearly anything, it's probably a bad idea for any of us to talk. We'll wake up one day, all of us, unable to put on any clothes."

It's sadly not that far fetched.

The Tower will turn into a nudist Tower temporarily.

"This has certainly been an exciting adventure," she says, turning and smiling at her as they walk. "I'm glad I've had someone with me to enjoy every twist and turn."