♕ |[33]| O cruel hands that hold me powerless! O helpless soul of me!

[had_not_lived]

[Audio; filtered away from Billy and Todd]

[He sounds a little shaky. Good luck getting him to explain that, he won't.]

I-is there... Can I stay with someone tonight?

[ooc; after this, which is still in progress. XD also brb inna few~ <3]

Comments

audio;filter

[adamantined]

Our sofa has a pullout. We've also got an extra bed.

Are you okay?

[action;]

[adamantined]

[It's a lie that she picks up on, but she's not willing to press right away. She's not unobservant enough not to match up days and times and what's going on with the Network and parse through the details, figure things out like lining up the pieces of a puzzle even when the picture on the box is missing. With everything else piling on top of this, though, Claire lets it drop, shutting her eyes as she nods and gives Neil one of her trademark smiles: small and sad and unfortunately understanding.

Moving forward, through motions, makes her feel better, and Claire turns on her heels, socks rubbing against the hardwood floor, until she's at the table again, reaching over the edge and into a laundry basket filled to the brim with a couple blankets and a pillow from her room. A little girly - white and fat with feathers - but still comfortable.]

You'll probably feel even better once you've had time to digest... whatever it is that happened. And sleep a little, even if that might be hard.

[She heads into the living room to toss the

[action;]

[had_not_lived]

[He stays where he's standing for a moment, watching her walk away. As long as Neil has lived here, he's still deeply out of place; rather, out of time. Half a century stands between them; and though it often doesn't seem like much at all, right now he can't move past it. Boys don't talk about this sort of thing. Good boys don't do this sort of thing; and there's a little part of him that still recoils in horror from his own proclivities, at war with his rational mind that shuts him up. Admitting to being cheated on and dumped requires the admission of a relationship, after all. He's not sure he'll ever be comfortable putting it into those terms.]

Maybe tomorrow. After I get a little rest, maybe then I can talk about it.

[He doubts that, though. Still, forcing a smile-- a much calmer and much more genuine one than before, he follows after her.]

[action;]

[adamantined]

[Claire looks up from yanking the mattress out of the belly of the couch - one more sharp tug and it's free - blowing hair out of her face as she does so. She gives Neil a nod, that same smile still in place, and starts unfolding the bed section by section.]

You don't have to, really. I just... want to realize that the offer's there, I guess. Anyway - [She straightens up, goes for the blankets she tossed on the other, smaller couch] - this is pretty much good to go. The only person that might bother you during the night is Mister Muggles, and he'll probably just sniff around.

[action;]

[had_not_lived]

I don't mind.

[He'd lend a hand, but she has such easy control of the situation and he's just... lost. He ran out without any of his things, without a clear idea of where he was going; he hasn't thought past tonight. Where he'll stay. What he'll do about their deal with the deities. How to go on living.

It's too much for one night, on top of the rude shock of finding Todd and Billy together; and even if it's not that late, he's tired. Run down more than anything.]

You're a really good friend, [he says with that sad little smile, out of ways to say thank you without sounding like a broken record.]

[action;]

[adamantined]

Well so are you.

[This is said as if it explains everything, as if pointing out this tiny, seemingly significant fact is some sort of gigantic clue. For Claire it is. Outside of this place, she doesn't get to have the kinds of relationships with people that she gets to have while she's here. She barely even gets to have friends. Maybe she's making up for lost time.

The bed made up completely, Claire straightens and comes around to the other side, arms crossed even though she'd like to hug him.]

If you're sure you don't need anything, I can let you get some sleep.

[action;]

[had_not_lived]

Mmn. I'm fine,

[he assures her. It's not a good description of his state; he needs to find a better word because really he isn't fine, not nearly; but for the moment he's as all right as he can be. At any rate, if he can't sleep it won't be her fault. Mending a broken heart is no simple task.

For her sake, though, he's trying to cheer up outwardly; it's a little easier to keep things under wraps with someone to put on a brave face for.]

G'night, Claire. Sweet dreams.

[action;]

[adamantined]

Goodnight, Neil. Sleep well.

[She lingers a moment after she's said it, turning to head back into the kitchen and flip out the lights. Claire knows the layout of the apartment more than well and has no problems navigating to the hall in the dark. She's tired herself, but she leaves her bedroom door open and stays up a little bit longer, just in case.]