keep holding on

[with_coffee]

[backdated to the 15th]

Robin Rice left Jo in the kitchen and went straight to Wyatt as he had planned. It was hard to yell and easy to be reprimanded. Eventually, he finds himself by the pier, sitting on the railing as he once did months ago. He's not contemplating suicide this time. No, that would be a lie. He's not seriously contemplating

Comments

[francis_barnam]

If you asked Francis about his little girl issues he would deny them vehemently. He doesn't have issues. He can't afford to have issues. But he also can't stand seeing a girl get hurt. Not after Morgan. Of course, he doesn't process it in this sort of way. He's very good at building up horrible levels of denial. Everyone needs coping mechanisms. Francis has his, nothing more or nothing less.

And so he thinks nothing of it when he sneaks up behind the man, hitting him hard in the back of the head with his fist.

Just returning a favor.

[pplrunincircles]

It all happens so fast that Elizabeth's not sure what actually happened at first. One second, there was a sharp sharpness against her throat and a smelly dude's face all up in her grill. The next, he's been dropped to the floor, and-

"Oh, it's you! Hi again!" Elizabeth waves at him as if they've met in the sunny park while walking their respective adorable puppies. "I... totally had that covered. I mean, I meant to stop him before he had the knife to my throat, but uhm... thank you! You're like my lifesaver now. Literally." She nudges the unconscious body with her foot, wondering if he'll be alright.

She didn't see his death when she looked into his eyes so he must be.

[francis_barnam]

"Just returning a favor," Francis says. Nothing more. "You save my dry-cleaning, I keep you from getting raped."

Because those are totally equatable. But on a more serious note. He can't imagine what she needs in a neighborhood like this.

"You really shouldn't be in this part of town alone. Even if you would have had that covered, what if he had friends?"

It's hard to believe this naive little death angel could take on one guy with a knife, nonetheless five or six. Francis kicks the man for good measure, shoving his hands in his pockets.

[pplrunincircles]

"I don't know if you can really call that a favor in comparison. It's more like you know something much bigger and more awesome than a favor. It's like-" Elizabeth's eyes goes wide as she stares at him. "Rape? Why would he want to rape me? That doesn't make any sense."

She raises an eyebrow at him.

"I'm here looking for dying people. Ya know. Doing my destiny type. I don't know. If he had friends, I would have hit him and ran? They couldn't keep up with me and eventually I'd find... somebody who could help or they'd give up on running."

He was only human after all even if he did have a knife. Also, she has pepper spray somewhere in her backpack. In half a second, she would have brought her hand up and forced his hand away. Elizabeth is totally stronger.

[changingtheodds]

Ruvin isn't sure what draws her down to Navy Pier today. She's not painting, not looking for anyone in particular.

She doesn't think she is, anyway. But then, she and Robin always do just seem to... Understand. Somehow. She's not surprised to see him. She relieved. She's glad.

Ruvin hauls herself up onto the railing next to him. "Hi," she says. It's cold. She's in a coat and mittens and she still can't help shivering into the bite of Lake Michigan's wind. "I saw. Your journal entry."

[with_coffee]

Robin jumps at the sound of her voice and turns to look at her even though he recognizes her voice immediately. He hadn't been expecting anyone, which is silly since the last time that he was in this position (even if his thoughts are in an entirely different place) there were about five people that felt it necessary to approach him throughout the evening and night.

"Jesus," he mutters in his surprise and then in a much softer, ridiculously relived tone, "You're alright."

He takes in a deep breath as he tries to work through her words instead of his own emotions and thoughts.

"The- The last one? About her being alright? I hadn't realized- I didn't know that you were... friends."

[changingtheodds]

Ruvin bites her lip and looks down to hide the little smile on her face. She doesn't hide it very well. "Sorry."

She threads her arms around one of his and hugs it close. "I'm fine," she says, and is surprised to find that it's even true.

There's still something missing. She still knows it's gone. But, while it's not okay, it doesn't scare her quite so badly any more.

"We met, once. A while ago. Neither of us could sleep. I didn't-- I wasn't sure if she was the Rachel you meant. When the Muse got you. I thought maybe, but I wasn't sure."

[with_coffee]

Robin raises an eyebrow at her. She doesn't hide that smile very well or perhaps he knows her well enough to see it for what it is. "Sure you are," he says with a tiny smile of is own.

He had turned his attention back to the waves after they'd said hello. Robin finds it's often best not to face people in his current state even if it's not suicidal, even if he could be worse off. There's enough in his expression that they're better off not seeing.

Then she speaks, again. I'm fine. And she sounds so sure of it that he almost believes it, too. Robin has to turn to look at her to see it in her face. He's surprised. He wasn't expecting that. When Chicago implodes, it seems to take everyone with it in their own personal hells. Whatever Chicago decides to serve up that day

[destroytheother]

Elizabeth might like to give people the benefit of the doubt.

Josef gives them no such benefit.

Josef strides toward them with tight knuckles and he's hungry for some damage. A murderous shade obscures Josef's eyes as he pulls the man him away with a snarl.

Shoving him up against the wall, Josef's elbow digs deep into the man's neck. "Answer her question."

[pplrunincircles]

Elizabeth hadn't really been shaken until this point even when the knife had pierced her skin. She'd been reaching up with her one hand to push his hand away. Her knee had been aimed toward his groin. She hadn't expected Josef. She hadn't expected him to look like this, act like this.

Still. She's not afraid of him, only wary of the situation.

The man is not dumb. If he answers truthfully, he knows that the guy with the elbow to his neck will not like it and may kill him.

"Josef," Elizabeth says, softly, not reprimanding so much as concerned. "It's okay. He doesn't have to answer."

Which is good as it's rather hard for the man to answer with an elbow in his neck.

[destroytheother]

Rather hard to answer him, sure. But not impossible, and that's the point, it's meant to hurt, it's meant to punish. And Josef needs the man to answer her. Partly to fuel the anger, partly so she can know once and for all her good faith is misplaced and wasted.

Faintly he hears her, detects the concern in his voice but Josef can't bring himself to answer. His other hand grips the man's wrist painfully tight, until the knife clatters to the ground.

His grip on the man's neck loosens barely. His gaze holds a warning.

"Answer."

[pplrunincircles]

Elizabeth doesn't know how to react or what to do. She walks up closer to them both, because she doesn't want Josef to kill the man though it looks like that's what he wants.

"Really," she says. Her voice is quiet, not nearly as strong as she'd like. Her hand reaches out to touch him though she stops just short of actually doing so. "It's okay."

The man squirms. He wishes he hadn't dropped his knife. Never had to go through this much work to get a piece of ass before even all the other times he forced it.

"Why the fuck's it matter to you?"

It sounds pained and strangled as the words are forced out of his throat. He doesn't know what this guy wants. If he tells him the truth, he'll be killed for sure so what's he threatening him with?

[oncekittentits]

Kittentits is a mess. Hungry, dirty, tired. No money, no home, no motivation.

Some of these she could work on. But it's hard. Hard to see any reason to do so. She doesn't have anything left. The CLF won't take her. She doesn't know where home is. She doesn't even know if there is a home.

But she stole a phonebook, and is currently pouring through it, just hoping that somehow she can find some hint. It's ridiculous to think that maybe if she sees her name, it'll click. But she doesn't have anything better. Little does she know she's already passed her address. But it doesn't keep her from continuing to pour through it. She's so focused, she doesn't even notice Romeo.

But the storekeeper whose steps she's sitting on notices her.

It doesn't take long for the situation to escalate. There are fucks flying fucking everywhere, and before she knows it she's hit the shopkeeper and someone's got a cellphone out and is calling the police.

Fuck has never been more applicable.

[the_recruiter]

Romeo turns to watch his little pet get into another fight. He had known she was there though he hadn't felt the need to approach her. She exists because he wants to have a bitch in this city who understands his importance and adheres to it, but it's not a subject he needs to be constantly reminded of. The last time that he saw her she was in a fight as well.

...really? What would she do if he wasn't around?

He walks up to them and places a hand on Kittentits shoulder when he gets close enough to do so. His gaze remains on the shopkeeper.

"I'm so sorry about this." His grip on her shoulder increases. Possessive. Maybe even a little painful. "You see this is my sister. I'm afraid she has severe mental and emotional disorders. We'll be happy to return what is taken and then can take her home to put her on her medication so she stabilizes. I promise she won't' cause you any more trouble. If you could, please, not contact the authorities about this, it'd be appreciated. Our mother would hate to see her baby girl locked away."

[oncekittentits]

She would probably be dead if it weren't for Romeo. On so many accounts. It's one thing to be horribly violent. It's another thing to be horribly violent and cursed with the dumb.

But that hand on her shoulder-- before she's even thinking about what she's doing, she flails back, trying to elbow him in the ribs. And then Kittentits realizes who it is and feels mortified.

She makes a soft noise, not even sure what to say, but just breaks down into apologies. It's hard to really understand what she's saying, it's so rushed and pathetic.

The shopkeeper just stares, not even sure what to make of the situation. "...just don't let her come round here again," she says, reaching up and touching her jaw gingerly. "She packs a hell of a punch. You shouldn't let her wander away like that, considering her situation."

[the_recruiter]

Romeo had expected that reaction from her. He knows her movements after all. He knows her. His hand reaches up to grab her elbow before it can hit him.

He sends her a sharp look when she breaks into incoherent apologies. "Be quiet." As wonderful as the sound of her pathetic pleading is at his presence, it's difficult to think.

Romeo raises an eyebrow at the woman. She is being rather annoying with the way she's looking at him. He hates it. He may have to kill her later. Her blood would taste so good.

"My sincerest apologies. Sometimes she figures out the way out of her room. We won't let that happen, again. Will we, sister?" He yanks her away from the scene and doesn't stop walking until they get around the corner where they can't be seen. "Tell me. Why is it that I'm always pulling you out of trouble? I realize that you've got no common sense, but are you completely incapable of taking care of yourself because of it?"

Romeo doesn't seem all that annoyed. There's a slight sound of amusement in his tone but nothing else.

The following thread takes place on October 25th....

[nothingsodivine]

Des is practically bolting in the opposite direction that Martha's headed, trying to make it to the Conrad, which means that he only barely has time to stop when he realizes that Martha's actually right here... On the sidewalk. He skids to a stop, catching her, rather than actually plowing into her and takes a few moments to pant.

"...I have... Something.... To show you."

...Hi, Martha. Your world is about to get progressively weirder.

[smithnjones]

Martha starts to look up to apologize to whoever it is until she realizes that she recognizes those hands and she recognizes that panting. She shuts the folder, pulls it against her chest with one hand, places her hand on his arm with the other, and looks up at Des.

A mixture of concern and confusion already takes over her features.

"...what kind of something?"

[nothingsodivine]

Des takes a couple steps back, revealing that in one hand he's holding a rather thick hardcover book that looks like he just bought it at a bookstore somewhere. He's still panting a little bit- he ran all the way once he realized what was going on and never thought about stopping to call a cab or something. There is no time for cabs.

He holds up the book.

"This." He'll explain when he can breathe again. Really.

[smithnjones]

Martha looks at the book, looks at Des, looks back at the book. She opens her mouth to ask what this book is about and then closes it again. He's breathing rather heavily, and she's sure he would have already told her if he could.

"Okay. Breathe. How far did you run exactly?" Martha shakes her head. It's not important for him to answer that question though she wishes he'd have called or hitched a ride. The book is important. Obviously. She steps toward him and reaches for it. "What is it?"