[Closed]

[belligerentwarrior]

WHO: Freya, Pen, Lucy, Minako
WHERE: Pen's house
WHEN: July 1st, morning
WHAT: this isn't where I parked my car New-AU shenanigans
WARNINGS:

Comments

The Argument

[belligerentwarrior]

[Freya didn't question it at first. The sun was rising, but it was still too goddamn early for her to care, so she let sleep pull her back under. That wasn't difficult, between the pleasant warmth of another body and the familiar scent of the pillow.]

[She wasn't sure when it all clicked together, dozing as she was. Familiarity. Company. Freya's eyes snap open, confirming it. Penelope.]

[Shit.]

[The taller woman rolls onto her back with a groan to put a little space between them, covering her eyes with a palm. She swore, she fucking swore that this time, she wouldn't end up here, falling into the exact same pattern they always did.]

[Well. At least, not so soon, anyway. It's what, a week, at best?]

[But even with her protest, even with her simmering frustration, there's an almost-equal desire to scoot back, wrap her arms around Penelope, and pretend like nothing had ever happened. ...Which was half of what Freya was frustrated with in the first place.]

[...and beneath all of that, something still didn't quite add up.]

You know, [she drawls after a moment, her voice still a tad hoarse with grogginess,] I usually remember how I wind up in your bed.

[mincingminuet]

[The motions where what startled Penelope more than anything. The noise was easy to shut out, but movement anywhere near her tended to wake her up. She was a light sleeper, had been since basic, was even more so after a combat tour. That was just how things were...

but when she opens her eyes, it wasn't an enemy. It was her.

Pen's eyes widen slightly, her mouth opening, but she doesn't move away or pull the sheets up over her bare skin. Yes, there it was, the familiar ache of a morning after making up. Breathing in slowly, she tried to recall what had led up to this.

It had only been a week, but it wasn't that bad of an argument. She may have sworn she wouldn't go right back to Freya again, but apparently that resolution had been short lived. Not that she minded, really. There was an unmistakable desire to reach out and pull herself closer. So, she does just that, a hand on Freya's waist accompanied by a gentle smile.]

Yeah. I usually remember how that happens to. [shaking her head...] Not that I'm ever mad seeing you in the morning.

[belligerentwarrior]

[Freya turns her head slowly at the touch, and the moment she lays eyes on that smile, her resolve cracks. It doesn't shatter, but the fractures run deep with a powerful longing. She doesn't respond in kind to the touch, but Freya doesn't shy from it, either.]

[And she might be staring, just a little bit.]

Yeah. Same here. [How did Freya wind up here? She didn't remember drinking last night.] 'cept for the "morning" part.

[mincingminuet]

[When Freya doesn't pull away, Pen slides a little closer, using the hand to pull herself the rest of the way. Just short of kissing range, she nestles her head on a pillow and breathes in Freya's scent.

Staring? Bother her? Not hardly.]

This is true. It's unusual to see you before eleven. [she stifles a giggle.] The bedhead is real with you. Glad you're back though.

[No matter what she might have said last week.]

You don't remember anything either, do you?

Post Arguement

[mincingminuet]

[After stalking out, Penelope made a bee-line for the kitchen, monsters appearing around her. The tomato, Tons, White Hare...her cat. She was annoyed enough that she didn't even notice the roombas in the corner or the computers lining the living room walls as she made her way there. Too much nerd shit for her.

She also didn't necessarily notice that there was anyone else around, so it was entirely possible she'd storm by one or more girls on her way to the kitchen in her bathrobe. Tearing open the fridge, not bothering to hide the noise, she started looking for stuff.]

Christ. Why can't she just...[Groan...] ...Why the hell is there so much Mountain Dew?

[Mumbling to herself, she pulled out some eggs and began cracking them, wondering when she'd have a normal morning again.]

[complementing]

[There's a trill of a cute phone alarm down the hallway, and it goes on for a good fifteen seconds before it stops.

Blissful silence for a moment longer, and then:]

Oh my god?! ラグナ? コロちゃん? どこにいるの?!

[A slew of Japanese continues after that, mostly to the effect of "what the fuck" and "where the hell am I". Koromaru, who'd tucked himself in the corner of the living room the night before, perks up and immediately heads down the hall to his human.]

よかった! 無事ですか? ラグナは? わかない? ...じゃあ、一緒に見てみましょう。ナイフ持ってきて。

[Cue a very bewildered puppy coming out with his knife in his mouth, and Minako in a sweater and pajama shorts, Evoker in hand. When she sees Pen, she blinks at her, turning just as confused as Koromaru.]

Pen? What are you doing here?

[mincingminuet]

[Pen's immediate reaction is to reach for the pistol she has slipped into a kitchen drawer, a Desert Eagle. The sound of an unfamiliar person, and an unfamiliar animal was enough to set off those reflexes. The instant she recognizes the voice, however, has her slipping the firearm into the pocket of her robe.

She spins and waits, arms folded...]

It's my house.

[Eyebrow lifting...]

Dunno what you're doing here. The party was last weekend.

[complementing]

[Minako tucks her Evoker into her pajama pockets, a deep furrow forming between her brows. Deeming that the situation doesn't require it anymore, Koromaru tucks his knife into his pet bed and then wiggles past Pen's legs to go for his water bowl. Completely normal! He doesn't understand why Leader is freaking out.]

I don't know what I'm doing here either? I fell asleep in my own apartment, and then woke up in that room.

[long_live_the_queen]

[A much fluffier cat soon joined the menagerie, sitting close to the other cat and further away from the tomato monster. He trilled, otherwise patiently waiting for his breakfast.

The cat's nearest caretaker was less composed, though. Lucy had been doing what she usually did when she heard raised voices, which was sit quietly and find something else to do. Which, this time, was try and figure out what the fuck all her stuff was doing in this room. The house she recognized--this was Pen's house, and this was one of the spare rooms over the garage, and those were Pen and Freya's voices. All of Lucy's things seemed to be accounted for, so...what?

She'd stumbled out of her room after the arguing stopped, in a too-large shirt and shorts she used for sleeping. And someone just about as tall as she was and blonde rushed by without saying anything, startling her.

After collecting herself for a moment, Lucy shuffled into the kitchen, combing her hair with her fingers.]

Uh--Pen?

[mincingminuet]

[Pen spun at the sound of a voice, her hand reaching instinctively for a drawer. It froze halfway through the motion, her fingers dropping down. With a soft sigh of relief, she sagged back against the counter.]

Hey. Lucy. Sorry about that.

[Did she mean going for the gun, or the shouting? The world may never know.]

You sleep okay?

[long_live_the_queen]

It's fine.

[It's okay, in another life she's used to being shot at. Lucy didn't move so as not to escalate things, looking at Pen levelly.]

Mostly. What day is it?

Post-Argument

[belligerentwarrior]

[Freya emerges in sweats and a tanktop a few minutes after Pen, definitely more brooding than stalking in her posture. She didn't look around either, her look distant in thought, heading straight to the pantry.]

[And she startles back with a yelp when she opens the door, fire magic beginning to curl around her fist. It dies out quickly enough as Freya straightens with a scowl, accepting the can from the Tonberry lurking inside the cabinet and slamming it shut--much to the protest of the hinges.]

[Now there's a stalking to Freya's movements as she starts the coffeemaker, retreating to the living room to stare angrily out the window as soon as the task is done.]

[complementing]

[So Freya probably heard all of this, and once things settle down a bit, Minako will be joining her in the living room, a mug of tea in her hands.]

Mind if I join you?

[belligerentwarrior]

[It was difficult to miss that commotion, and had the morning gone any differently, she'd have been extremely amused. She was as confused as the rest of them, at a little of that still showed in Freya's expression as she glances over at Minako. The look's brief, though; Freya might not be able to explain why the hell she was here, but she certainly didn't mind. It was actually kind of nice to have an outsider to their living space to be around, at the moment.]

Knock yourself out. [She turns her gaze back out the window.] Hell of a morning, huh?

[complementing]

Oh, definitely.

[She seats herself on the couch, taking her favorite corner spot.]

It was pointed out to me that with this, I can apparently check "wake up in someone else's apartment not knowing how you got there" off my iol to-do list.

[long_live_the_queen]

[The living room was already occupied by someone on the couch, but said occupant was quiet. The fluffy cat in her arms seemed extremely concerned by all the noise, back all spiky and pupils small. Lucy kept stroking his ears to try and calm him down.

After Freya had been lurking at the window for a few moments, Lucy spoke up.]

What happened?

[In the argument, or in the kitchen. Dealer's choice.]

[belligerentwarrior]

[Freya's shoulders drew up tight for a second, then slumped as she sighed, a hand reaching up to brush back her tangled hair.]

Oh, you know--just a sparkling day in ever after. [Freya waved a sarcastic hand at the emphasis. It fell back to her side.] Tonberry's bein' an ass.

...we wake you?

[long_live_the_queen]

Sort of. [Another scratch at the cat's ears.] Was more concerned at all my stuff being in different places from last night.

[A vector drifted over Lucy's shoulder to grab a comb off of the coffee table, then floated over to hover near Freya's shoulder.]

for lucy;

[complementing]

[Well! All of that was very exciting and confusing. Mostly confusing. Minako is now tucked into a corner of the couch, texting Ragna about her situation.

It's officially summer break, so while her desire to return to her apartment is lined with a personal, quiet urgency, there's technically no reason for her to need to hurry. It'll take some time to get all of her things moved back into their proper apartment, besides. She should relax in Pen's nice house. Be a good guest before leaving.

Finally done texting, she sets her phone down and yawns.]

Sleepy...

[Come be her pillow, Lucy.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Lucy had finally combed her hair into some reasonable state of less-tangled, had pet the cat until he was less alarmed about shouting voices, and had gotten some tea. All important things.

Minako had seemed busy the last time Lucy walked by, but not this time. She perked up out of her morning slouched posture, and slipped sideways onto the couch while the other girl was yawning.]

Are you exhausted from sleeping all day?

[complementing]

No, from everything that just happened.

[She shoots her friend a small and tired smile, leaning back into the couch and relaxing into the softness.]

I'm much more used to relaxed mornings.

[long_live_the_queen]

[Lucy made a face.]

I bet. Waking up with all your stuff moved around isn't relaxing at all.

[There was some lint or fluff or down feather or something stuck to Minako's hair. Lucy leaned over to lift it away, gently but fussily smoothing her hair back down.]

Like some really fiddly burglar came through, or something.

The Apology

[mincingminuet]

[A bit later, after talking to Minako and Lucy...and breakfast...a shower, and several other things, Penelope finally goes looking for Freya.

Whatever room she happens to be in, or if she's outside or something doesn't matter. Pen's stewed long enough and calmed down enough to slip up to her and reach out, a serious and drained look in her eye.]

Hey. Can we talk? About this morning.

[belligerentwarrior]

[Outside she was, trying to nap in the shade of one of the trees. Freya worked tonight, and it was pretty unusual for her to be up before noon. The summer weather was pleasant, even if the grass was getting a little dry and scratchy despite their best efforts, and... it wasn't inside.]

[She hadn't known what to do with herself, and leaving again seemed in poor taste. The backyard had seemed significantly less awkward than remaining inside.]

[Freya cracks her eyes open quickly enough, not even truly dozing; there was too much on her mind. She sits upright and regards Pen with a look that's just as serious, and just as drained, and nods.]

Right. Who's going first? [She knows this pattern well enough, even if she hates it.]

[mincingminuet]

[Pen does know the pattern, and she's sorry that it happened. Really, genuinely sorry. Settling down within easy reach of Freya, she dips her head and starts.]

It'll be me. [Another sharp breath, her hands fumbling for something to do, Pen continues.]

I'm sorry. I was insensitive. I really should worry more about the why. But...just, the way I see it? Everything is fine so long as we're together. Because I love you.