The Great Apartment Smoke-Out
Who: Willem and Marcello
When: Saturday Afternoon, March 20th
Where: Willem's Apartment
What: Marcello discovers Willem smokes.
Marcello: It was an idle Saturday evening. Marcello had spent most of it working out possible job possibilities in his notebook since Theatricality was facing transition, but just wound up doodling in watching TV for the most part. "Gonna grab an apple." He chirped to his nearby roommate and got up and left for the kitchen.
Willem: Willem nodded as he passed, then opened the balcony doors and stepped outside. Putting some tobacco in his pipe, he lit it with a lighter and then leaned against the door with it between his teeth. Soon trails of smoke were winding about his head.
Marcello: Pulling the fruit from the fridge and almost accidentally shutting the door on his fingers as he often did, he swiveled on his heels and headed back toward the living room. He gave it a quick rub against his shirt and was about to bite into it, when Willem's form against the balcony door made him freeze. He turned rather pale and stared like a deer in headlights, mouth slightly agape. Somewhere by his feet the apple landed with a soft thud.
Willem: It is the lack of movement which catches his attention. He sees Marcello come out of the kitchen in his peripheral vision, tracks him lazily while he walks back towards the couch. And then he stops. Curious, Willem turns around, taking the pipe out of his mouth to blow smoke into the air as he raises an eyebrow at his roommate and the apple now on the floor.
Marcello: The smaller man stood still and rigid and for a moment, there was only silence between them. But there wasn't silence in his head. As his eyes locked in of the swirling smoke, he could hear the crackling of flames and shrill, desperate screaming. Finally, his brain reminded him that he was exposing himself in such a way, and that he needed to force words out somehow. "You..you shouldn't.." He began, swallowing with difficulty. "Don't do that."
Willem:There is something in the way Marcello goes pale, stares like he’s not really seeing Willem and staring right through him all at once that makes something in the Dutchman’s chest clutch with not quite fear. He doesn’t quite hear what the other man says through the glass, so he opens the door. “What did you say…” he asks, keeping his voice low like you would to a frightened animal that might bolt any second.
Marcello: "…s-stop.." Twice Marcello tried to force the word out, but it just barely left his lips at a low whisper. His hands shook and he back-stepped a little before freezing in place again. It was all over now. He was opening the door. He was bringing that awful weapon inside. It would catch on the carpet. It would set the place ablaze. It would devour the building, unit by unit until its flickery, fiery spawn had engulfed everything. "s-stop.." Lucy-Junibelle, Ninjte, Willem; Everyone one would die. "Stop..." Just like before. "STOP!" Marcello yelled finally. It was a cry of desperation more than anything. "Don't come near me! Put it out!"
Willem: The first word comes out as a whimper, the second a plea. The third comes out as a desperate shout that makes Willem jump. Almost before his brain has caught up he sets the pipe down on the ash tray he leaves on the table out there, moving inside towards the younger man. “Marcello,” he asks, his voice going a bit sharp as he watches his roommate for any clue as to what the hell is going on. “What’s wrong?”
Marcello: Although he back-stepped a bit when Willem approached him, it wasn't the Dutchmen his eyes were focused on. He could still see the offending weapon through the glass door. The smoke that snaked its way out of it and up into nothingness twisted his stomach into tight knots. He didn't put it out. No, not completely. And after it took all of the Seborgan's strength of will to ask him to. Willem was being cruel to him. To him, and every other person who resided in this building. Everyone was in danger and it made the younger man tremble a little, his quivering lip now a bit more noticeable. He couldn't even hear the man's words or even see him. 'Water', he kept telling himself, willing his feet to move toward the kitchen. 'Water. Water or everyone will die.' Before he knew it he was scrambling to fill a glass in the sink, but it slipped from his unsteady hands and shattered.
Willem: He stopped when the other man back-stepped, eyes wide as Marcello turned and ran towards the kitchen. When he heard the sound of glass breaking, he rushed in to see Marcello standing by the sink with glass all over the floor. He stopped at the door, not able to go any further with bare feet. Instead, he let his voice do the work for him, projecting the words into a command that hopefully would get though to his roommate wherever in his head he now was. “Marcello,” he snapped, “calm down and tell me what’s wrong.”
Marcello: The brunette physically winced as his roommate's crisp bellowing voice rung in his ears, and finally he could hear it. It was so sudden and so sharp, it almost hurt and he held his ears for a moment. With a few deep breaths he relaxed, staring at the shattered glass and water surrounding his feet. He realized what had just happened, and that he had just revealed an ugly part of himself. "I.." He began, eyes a bit misty. He honestly didn't know what he was supposed to say, he was so ashamed. "...I'll clean it up." And with that he knelt down and started picking up the pieces.
Willem: When Marcello snapped out of it, Willem let out a long breath. Although the ashamed look was just as painful to watch. “Marcello,” he said, his voice much softer and quieter, “leave that there and come here for a second. Please.”
Marcello: Swallowing, he stepped over the glass and walked over next to Wilm. He liked Wilm a lot and thought he was pretty nice most of the time, but Marcello had a feeling he was not the kind of person you'd want anger. This was it. He would have to explain himself. He felt sick inside just thinking about it. If only there was a way to distract the Dutchman. There had to be some way out of this. "I can pay for it. I'll buy a new one. I promise." Yes, the glass. If he focused his attention on the glass, perhaps that would be enough.
Willem: Willem wants to reach out and tilt Marcello’s head up till they’re looking at each other, but he fears if he touches the man Marcello will start panicking all over again. “I’m not worried about the godverdomme glass, I’m worried about you having a panic attack.”
Marcello: "It's nothing. I'm okay." Marcello's voice was low and unfamiliar, as if his mind was still very far away. And in a lot of ways it was. Though he was trying his hardest to force those thoughts... those vivid, graphic images out of his head. Even after that was mostly subsided, his mind kept tracing back to that pipe left on the balcony. A few times he even dared to let his eyes art over towards it from across the room. Maybe forcing himself to look at it would somehow make him a bit more brave, or at least more adjusted to the reality that such dangerous a thing was still within close range. But it wasn't working, and after everything that had happened he was now feeling the after effects. He touched his forehead, sick and dizzy. "Dio.." He uttered. "Um..can I sit down or..or something..?"
Willem:And now Marcello looked like he was going to puke. Willem pushed him towards the couch, nodding, while he went into the bathroom and grabbed the small trash can from beside the sink. There’s a cup setting on the counter, there for when they rise after brushing, and he fills it with water and brings it along. He puts the glass into Marcello’s hands, puts the trash can in front of him.
Marcello: He took the glass and tried to smile up at Willem, but it really just came across as an awkward grim line before his gaze dipped down to the floor again. "Thanks Re," He said quietly. "You didn't have to. I'm okay." He took a sip of water, slowly. "...I'm okay." He repeated, as if he himself needed reassuring. For a while he was quiet and still. Then his eyes darted back to the balcony again. "Can you please..just.." He bit his lip, "Make sure that thing is out. It's dangerous." He took another sip.
Willem: Willem watches as his roommate drinks the water. He still hasn’t figured out just what’s going...and then he stops, and goes back over Marcello’s words in his head. “You saw me smoking...” he says slowly, putting the pieces together in his head, “and that’s what set you off?” It’s hard to believe, considering Marcello’s never had this reaction to his smoking before. Except...he’s trying to remember the other times Marcello would have seen him smoking, and realizes he can’t remember ever smoking when the other man was there. But he must have mentioned it to him right?
Marcello: Marcello bit his lip a bit and turned away. He didn't want to lie to the Dutchman, but he also didn't want to admit the truth. Closing his eyes, he nodded slightly. He decided he would be honest with the man, but remain very careful with his answers. "I don't like it." He began simply. "People could get hurt." It was all he could manage to say for now. It felt like he was being interrogated with the man towering over him like that. He clenched the glass in his hands a little. "Sit down or something." He murmured uneasily.
Willem: Willem sighed, but moved to sit next to next to the other man as he’d been asked. “I know it’s not good for your health,” he said, mentally rolling his eyes at his roommate’s exaggerated concerns. “But I’m not going to die anytime soon. So you can stop worrying.”
Marcello: Marcello shook his head. "It's not that." He said quietly, staring into the ripples in his glass. "I mean.. I mean it's dangerous." His voice went quiet as he found himself treading quiet close to subject he just didn't want to touch, which made me all the more uneasy. "..accidents happen." He didn't realize it then, but his olive eyes had once again misted over and there was a lump in his throat he couldn't quite swallow.
Willem: Oh. OH. He glances outside at the pipe sitting on the ash tray, before looking back at his roommate. “They can, yes. I’ve been smoking for several years now, so I know how to take precautions. I never smoke inside, and I always make certain to put everything out before I bring it inside. So you don’t have to worry about my burning the apartment down any time soon.”
Marcello: Olive eyes trailed from one spot on the floor to another. It seemed like the younger man was trying to reason with himself that Willem's words ought to be reassuring and that he should trust him, but he was still having a difficult time. He winced a little when Willem made light of the expression or 'burning the place down', because it wasn't something the brunette took lightly. "You sound so sure of yourself." He said. "But you can never be too sure. Don't make the same mistakes.." He bit his lip, going pale. He'd said too much. "Sorry. I need the bathroom." Standing quickly and setting his glass down on the coffee table, he retreated to the bathroom without a word and shut the door behind him. His back leaning against the door, he pressed a hand to his face, frustrated and ashamed of himself. A soft whisper escaped through his quivering lips as his slid down the door to sit on tile. "God.."
Willem:Willem watched, stunned, as the other man fled the room. He heard the sound of the bathroom door locking, and then silence. He sat there for another moment, then went to stand outside the bathroom door. “I’m not sure why you’re so upset, and I’m not going to pry. I’m also not going to quit smoking either.” He said through the door. “But I’m not going to do it while you’re here. I’m not that much of an ass.” And with that he turned and walked out to the balcony, putting out the pipe completely before taking it back to his room. He smoked more for comfort and to settle himself then for the nicotine buzz, so he could wait till either Marcello had left the apartment or was asleep.
Marcello: Marcello curled into himself a little, resting his chin upon his knees. Carefully and silently, he listened to Willem's words. Some things he felt comforted to hear, other things he didn't. After it all he was actually able to relax a little, though his eyes were still damp. Despite everything, despite all the swirling emotions within him, Wilm was able to somehow give him enough piece of mind to smile that night. "Thanks.." He said quietly, not sure if Wilm was even listening at this point or not. "Thank you for not asking me to explain. Maybe I'll tell you one day but..I'm not ready yet." And with that he inched over to the tub and climbed in, curling up. He would sleep there for the first time since he first moved in. It's not that he was afraid to face Wilm now. He could've if he wanted to. He just felt that maybe they needed some time apart because of him. It had been a long, troubling night and staying here would just make things easier. He could calm down here, in his unorthodox place of comfort. He let out a heavy sigh and his eyes fluttered shut, lashes finally settling upon his dampened cheeks. >
When: Saturday Afternoon, March 20th
Where: Willem's Apartment
What: Marcello discovers Willem smokes.
Marcello: It was an idle Saturday evening. Marcello had spent most of it working out possible job possibilities in his notebook since Theatricality was facing transition, but just wound up doodling in watching TV for the most part. "Gonna grab an apple." He chirped to his nearby roommate and got up and left for the kitchen.
Willem: Willem nodded as he passed, then opened the balcony doors and stepped outside. Putting some tobacco in his pipe, he lit it with a lighter and then leaned against the door with it between his teeth. Soon trails of smoke were winding about his head.
Marcello: Pulling the fruit from the fridge and almost accidentally shutting the door on his fingers as he often did, he swiveled on his heels and headed back toward the living room. He gave it a quick rub against his shirt and was about to bite into it, when Willem's form against the balcony door made him freeze. He turned rather pale and stared like a deer in headlights, mouth slightly agape. Somewhere by his feet the apple landed with a soft thud.
Willem: It is the lack of movement which catches his attention. He sees Marcello come out of the kitchen in his peripheral vision, tracks him lazily while he walks back towards the couch. And then he stops. Curious, Willem turns around, taking the pipe out of his mouth to blow smoke into the air as he raises an eyebrow at his roommate and the apple now on the floor.
Marcello: The smaller man stood still and rigid and for a moment, there was only silence between them. But there wasn't silence in his head. As his eyes locked in of the swirling smoke, he could hear the crackling of flames and shrill, desperate screaming. Finally, his brain reminded him that he was exposing himself in such a way, and that he needed to force words out somehow. "You..you shouldn't.." He began, swallowing with difficulty. "Don't do that."
Willem:There is something in the way Marcello goes pale, stares like he’s not really seeing Willem and staring right through him all at once that makes something in the Dutchman’s chest clutch with not quite fear. He doesn’t quite hear what the other man says through the glass, so he opens the door. “What did you say…” he asks, keeping his voice low like you would to a frightened animal that might bolt any second.
Marcello: "…s-stop.." Twice Marcello tried to force the word out, but it just barely left his lips at a low whisper. His hands shook and he back-stepped a little before freezing in place again. It was all over now. He was opening the door. He was bringing that awful weapon inside. It would catch on the carpet. It would set the place ablaze. It would devour the building, unit by unit until its flickery, fiery spawn had engulfed everything. "s-stop.." Lucy-Junibelle, Ninjte, Willem; Everyone one would die. "Stop..." Just like before. "STOP!" Marcello yelled finally. It was a cry of desperation more than anything. "Don't come near me! Put it out!"
Willem: The first word comes out as a whimper, the second a plea. The third comes out as a desperate shout that makes Willem jump. Almost before his brain has caught up he sets the pipe down on the ash tray he leaves on the table out there, moving inside towards the younger man. “Marcello,” he asks, his voice going a bit sharp as he watches his roommate for any clue as to what the hell is going on. “What’s wrong?”
Marcello: Although he back-stepped a bit when Willem approached him, it wasn't the Dutchmen his eyes were focused on. He could still see the offending weapon through the glass door. The smoke that snaked its way out of it and up into nothingness twisted his stomach into tight knots. He didn't put it out. No, not completely. And after it took all of the Seborgan's strength of will to ask him to. Willem was being cruel to him. To him, and every other person who resided in this building. Everyone was in danger and it made the younger man tremble a little, his quivering lip now a bit more noticeable. He couldn't even hear the man's words or even see him. 'Water', he kept telling himself, willing his feet to move toward the kitchen. 'Water. Water or everyone will die.' Before he knew it he was scrambling to fill a glass in the sink, but it slipped from his unsteady hands and shattered.
Willem: He stopped when the other man back-stepped, eyes wide as Marcello turned and ran towards the kitchen. When he heard the sound of glass breaking, he rushed in to see Marcello standing by the sink with glass all over the floor. He stopped at the door, not able to go any further with bare feet. Instead, he let his voice do the work for him, projecting the words into a command that hopefully would get though to his roommate wherever in his head he now was. “Marcello,” he snapped, “calm down and tell me what’s wrong.”
Marcello: The brunette physically winced as his roommate's crisp bellowing voice rung in his ears, and finally he could hear it. It was so sudden and so sharp, it almost hurt and he held his ears for a moment. With a few deep breaths he relaxed, staring at the shattered glass and water surrounding his feet. He realized what had just happened, and that he had just revealed an ugly part of himself. "I.." He began, eyes a bit misty. He honestly didn't know what he was supposed to say, he was so ashamed. "...I'll clean it up." And with that he knelt down and started picking up the pieces.
Willem: When Marcello snapped out of it, Willem let out a long breath. Although the ashamed look was just as painful to watch. “Marcello,” he said, his voice much softer and quieter, “leave that there and come here for a second. Please.”
Marcello: Swallowing, he stepped over the glass and walked over next to Wilm. He liked Wilm a lot and thought he was pretty nice most of the time, but Marcello had a feeling he was not the kind of person you'd want anger. This was it. He would have to explain himself. He felt sick inside just thinking about it. If only there was a way to distract the Dutchman. There had to be some way out of this. "I can pay for it. I'll buy a new one. I promise." Yes, the glass. If he focused his attention on the glass, perhaps that would be enough.
Willem: Willem wants to reach out and tilt Marcello’s head up till they’re looking at each other, but he fears if he touches the man Marcello will start panicking all over again. “I’m not worried about the godverdomme glass, I’m worried about you having a panic attack.”
Marcello: "It's nothing. I'm okay." Marcello's voice was low and unfamiliar, as if his mind was still very far away. And in a lot of ways it was. Though he was trying his hardest to force those thoughts... those vivid, graphic images out of his head. Even after that was mostly subsided, his mind kept tracing back to that pipe left on the balcony. A few times he even dared to let his eyes art over towards it from across the room. Maybe forcing himself to look at it would somehow make him a bit more brave, or at least more adjusted to the reality that such dangerous a thing was still within close range. But it wasn't working, and after everything that had happened he was now feeling the after effects. He touched his forehead, sick and dizzy. "Dio.." He uttered. "Um..can I sit down or..or something..?"
Willem:And now Marcello looked like he was going to puke. Willem pushed him towards the couch, nodding, while he went into the bathroom and grabbed the small trash can from beside the sink. There’s a cup setting on the counter, there for when they rise after brushing, and he fills it with water and brings it along. He puts the glass into Marcello’s hands, puts the trash can in front of him.
Marcello: He took the glass and tried to smile up at Willem, but it really just came across as an awkward grim line before his gaze dipped down to the floor again. "Thanks Re," He said quietly. "You didn't have to. I'm okay." He took a sip of water, slowly. "...I'm okay." He repeated, as if he himself needed reassuring. For a while he was quiet and still. Then his eyes darted back to the balcony again. "Can you please..just.." He bit his lip, "Make sure that thing is out. It's dangerous." He took another sip.
Willem: Willem watches as his roommate drinks the water. He still hasn’t figured out just what’s going...and then he stops, and goes back over Marcello’s words in his head. “You saw me smoking...” he says slowly, putting the pieces together in his head, “and that’s what set you off?” It’s hard to believe, considering Marcello’s never had this reaction to his smoking before. Except...he’s trying to remember the other times Marcello would have seen him smoking, and realizes he can’t remember ever smoking when the other man was there. But he must have mentioned it to him right?
Marcello: Marcello bit his lip a bit and turned away. He didn't want to lie to the Dutchman, but he also didn't want to admit the truth. Closing his eyes, he nodded slightly. He decided he would be honest with the man, but remain very careful with his answers. "I don't like it." He began simply. "People could get hurt." It was all he could manage to say for now. It felt like he was being interrogated with the man towering over him like that. He clenched the glass in his hands a little. "Sit down or something." He murmured uneasily.
Willem: Willem sighed, but moved to sit next to next to the other man as he’d been asked. “I know it’s not good for your health,” he said, mentally rolling his eyes at his roommate’s exaggerated concerns. “But I’m not going to die anytime soon. So you can stop worrying.”
Marcello: Marcello shook his head. "It's not that." He said quietly, staring into the ripples in his glass. "I mean.. I mean it's dangerous." His voice went quiet as he found himself treading quiet close to subject he just didn't want to touch, which made me all the more uneasy. "..accidents happen." He didn't realize it then, but his olive eyes had once again misted over and there was a lump in his throat he couldn't quite swallow.
Willem: Oh. OH. He glances outside at the pipe sitting on the ash tray, before looking back at his roommate. “They can, yes. I’ve been smoking for several years now, so I know how to take precautions. I never smoke inside, and I always make certain to put everything out before I bring it inside. So you don’t have to worry about my burning the apartment down any time soon.”
Marcello: Olive eyes trailed from one spot on the floor to another. It seemed like the younger man was trying to reason with himself that Willem's words ought to be reassuring and that he should trust him, but he was still having a difficult time. He winced a little when Willem made light of the expression or 'burning the place down', because it wasn't something the brunette took lightly. "You sound so sure of yourself." He said. "But you can never be too sure. Don't make the same mistakes.." He bit his lip, going pale. He'd said too much. "Sorry. I need the bathroom." Standing quickly and setting his glass down on the coffee table, he retreated to the bathroom without a word and shut the door behind him. His back leaning against the door, he pressed a hand to his face, frustrated and ashamed of himself. A soft whisper escaped through his quivering lips as his slid down the door to sit on tile. "God.."
Willem:Willem watched, stunned, as the other man fled the room. He heard the sound of the bathroom door locking, and then silence. He sat there for another moment, then went to stand outside the bathroom door. “I’m not sure why you’re so upset, and I’m not going to pry. I’m also not going to quit smoking either.” He said through the door. “But I’m not going to do it while you’re here. I’m not that much of an ass.” And with that he turned and walked out to the balcony, putting out the pipe completely before taking it back to his room. He smoked more for comfort and to settle himself then for the nicotine buzz, so he could wait till either Marcello had left the apartment or was asleep.
Marcello: Marcello curled into himself a little, resting his chin upon his knees. Carefully and silently, he listened to Willem's words. Some things he felt comforted to hear, other things he didn't. After it all he was actually able to relax a little, though his eyes were still damp. Despite everything, despite all the swirling emotions within him, Wilm was able to somehow give him enough piece of mind to smile that night. "Thanks.." He said quietly, not sure if Wilm was even listening at this point or not. "Thank you for not asking me to explain. Maybe I'll tell you one day but..I'm not ready yet." And with that he inched over to the tub and climbed in, curling up. He would sleep there for the first time since he first moved in. It's not that he was afraid to face Wilm now. He could've if he wanted to. He just felt that maybe they needed some time apart because of him. It had been a long, troubling night and staying here would just make things easier. He could calm down here, in his unorthodox place of comfort. He let out a heavy sigh and his eyes fluttered shut, lashes finally settling upon his dampened cheeks. >