Oh, it's so ironic; you've got the good book, your name's still on it

[silkandstone]

There are a lot of commuters on Chicago's streets today, who can be caught between or at their destinations.

Ruvin is on her way to see Wyatt. She wasn't sure about doing this, but... She felt better, last time she was there, however brief their talk was. And even if the medication has side effects that she didn't expect, it still helped her

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[rattle_thecages]

The stubborn, foolish part of Rachel had hoped that when she opened her eyes she'd be back in the Conrad. That it was all a nightmare she could lock up inside her mind, never to be revisited. A strangled noise filled with frustration leaves her once the tape starts playing again, Joker's scarred laughter blasting through the speakers. She will not go crazy, she will not -

The noise is static on her skin.

"I believe what doesn't kill you only makes you...stranger."

No, no.

"Well hello, beautiful."

Stop. Stop.

"She was going to wait for me, Alfred."

At the knock she lifts her head, but Rachel doesn't move from her spot.

[silkandstone]

He knocks again, to be polite, despite the fact that Rachel can't unlock the door from inside. As soon as he opens it, the playback stops. Den glances up, catching the tail end of the last statement. "I can't say I'm surprised you selected that particular compilation."

And then he's inside and the door closes behind him. "How are you, Miss Dawes?"

[rattle_thecages]

Rachel's jaw locks at the sound of his voice. She is not discussing Bruce with this man. "Of course you're not surprised, Mr. Clark." Rachel doesn't spare him a glance. Her voice is tight, barely restrained in its anger. "I'm not a spontaneous individual."

The playback is still ringing in her ears, despite the fact there is silence at long last. She finally looks at him once he has the audacity to ask how she is faring. As if he gives a damn.

Defiant. Always defiant. It's her downfall in moments like these. "Would you really like me to waste my breath and your time by stating the obvious? Do tell me exactly what it is you'd like to know."

[silkandstone]

He sets the cooler down, takes out the wine bottle, glasses, the packaged food inside and spreads it carefully over the table. With nothing for sustenance but tea, cookies, and condensed milk, he imagines she's rather hungry at this point. At long last, he sits, taking his glass and narrowing his eyes at it, as though the wine soured during the walk.

"You aren't much of an opponent like this, Miss Dawes."

[designed2kill]

Luka is loitering in the park, practicing her Rift power when she spots Aniki practicing her sword. Recognizing her as the woman she helped beat up some CLF members with, she walks closer. She stops some distance away, wanting to leave Aniki with plenty of space to move. She doesn't say anything just yet, watching as the other woman moves slowly through the motions of the drill. Once Aniki comes to the end of the drill, then she'll say hello, but for now she doesn't want to interrupt.

[anjelsword]

Aniki does finish, eventually, sheathing her sword with a flourish and bending into a stretch. She spots Luka when she straightens up out of it and tilts her head. Well, well. What d'you know.

"Hello, little lass. Been keeping yourself out of trouble?"

There's a little bit of a smile at that, ironic and amused. Luka does not seem the stay-out-of-trouble type.

[designed2kill]

"Hello, Aniki," Luka replies. "I've been very good for Aaron. He's been very satisfied with my work." She sounds very proud of that.

"But if you mean the kind of trouble when we first met....well. How am I supposed to stay in practice if I never fight? There is no one good to spar with where I live. But I always win, so it is not serious trouble."

[anjelsword]

"True enough." She grins at Luka's victory declaration. "You work for someone named Aaron, do you?"

That would be-- Well. She's not even sure. Ridiculous, really, but that's Chicago, it so often seems. "What do you do for him?"

[npcyoface]

When Ruvin gets to Wyatt's office, the receptionist is seated at her desk. She's actually a new receptionist, not the same one that was here last time. Mary is on the phone when Ruvin enters. Paperwork is stacked up on the desk.

"Okay. Appointment moved to- uhm... When did we say, again? Okay! Good. Uh-huh. Right. Thursday. 11. I'll- Okay, but-" Mary frowns and puts the phone up. "Hi! I'm so sorry about that. Can I help you?" She moves some papers over trying to find the schedule which is, also, on her computer if she could ever figure out how to get to it. "Did you have an appointment?"

[changingtheodds]

"I hope so. I mean, I hope you can help me. I don't have an appointment, I just... Need to talk to someone. I've been here before. There was another girl, then, but... I came with Robin Rice?"

She doesn't know how that will help, mentioning Robin, but somehow it makes her feel better.

[mindbulletz]

The receptionist nods glancing at the schedule now that she's found it. "He has no appointments for the rest of the day so it should be okay. I'll just- Uhm. One moment!"

Mary gets to her feet and walks to the door, opening it and sticking her head in. "Sir? A girl is here to see you. She knows Robin? Okay."

Mary pushes the door open for her and turns back.

"He says to come directly in."

And when she does come in, Wyatt will look up at her from his desk. He had almost thought it was Jo. Funny how all of Robin's little loved ones keep making their way directly to Wyatt. Useful really.

"Ruvin, it's good to see you, again. How can I be of assistance today?" He stands from his chair and gestures to one of the couches in the room. "Would you like to take a seat?"

[changingtheodds]

She sits, obedient and almost abashed this time. She remembers the way she acted before, which doesn't exactly make asking for help now easy. "I know you spoke to Robin. About the medication. I probably should have said that I was... That I'm a shapeshifter."

...Okay, there was nothing in there implying the need to talk. Fail.

[beanshield]

Bean was out on a perfectly normal walk with Potato on this perfectly normal day when she met something perfectly abnormal. She's not actually sure what it was--it was sort of like a mix between a spider, a camel, and something with spines, and it also apparently has green blood, since that's what ended up all over Bean's clothes when she accidentally banished it. It sort of...exploded.

Now she's making her rather shaky way back home, though considering she's gotten lost, that might take awhile. Potato is walking close to her. Bean turns a corner without thinking and runs smack into Ruvin.

"Eep!"

[changingtheodds]

Ruvin stumbles and catches Bean's shoulders to steady them both. "I'm sorry! Are you all right?"

She glances down at Potato, then back at Bean, worried about the look on the girl's face and feeling like she's seen her somewhere before. Her hair is rather distinct, but nothing particularly strange for Chicago.

[beanshield]

"Oh, no, I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going! Are you okay?" She blinks a few times to bring the other girl's face into focus. Potato positions himself in between the girls, watching Ruvin with a suspicious look.

Bean finally gets a look at herself and starts trying to wipe off some of the goop. "Oh man, I'm a mess too...I didn't get any on you, did I?"

[changingtheodds]

"Wh--" Ruvin looks down at herself, then back at Bean, snapping out of her daze long enough to take in--really take in--Bean's filthiness. "Oh. A little, maybe, but that's-- That doesn't matter."

Bean is obviously not okay. "What happened? Are you hurt?"