[Closed] Of Wind and Sand

[mincingminuet]

WHO: Penelope and Freya
WHERE: Pen's Apartment
WHEN: June 19th
WHAT: An important conversation and some other things
WARNINGS: Language, alcohol, discussion of violence, and kissing




After the events of the previous night, staying up all night to watch and keep her teammates safe, a sound sleep was just what the doctor had ordered. She'd been quite serious about it when she said she was going to conk out for most of the day. It wasn't that all nighters were anything new, no, but the forest had been...unsettling...to say the least.

She hadn't forgotten her promise, either. Drinks with Freya that night, as much to help them celebrate surviving a horror movie as to make a difficult conversation about their troubles easier. Getting up in time to actually make it to the liquor store had been a challenge but she'd picked up some good stuff. Strong whiskey, a bottle of Fireball, a good bourbon her father had liked, and all the stuff to make a few of the classics like a Manhattan. Not all for tonight, mind, but what college student's room was complete without an enormous assortment of spirits?

Come nightfall, she's sitting around waiting for Freya to arrive, idly scraping a knife along the staff she'd been slowly whittling for a costume.

Just come right in. Door's open and I'm watching TV. the text had said, so whenever her friend arrived, she'd be waiting.

Comments

[belligerentwarrior]

(Really, you'd think they'd had enough of spirits. Har-har.)

After ghost-filled camping adventures last night, and the violent vision Freya'd experienced the night before that, Freya half-expected something dramatic and earth-shattering to happen on her way to Pen's. The journey proves uneventful, however, and she crosses the threshold into the apartment unscathed.

"Hey." A little color's returned to Freya's voice, though she sounds somewhat weary in exchange. Judging by the fact that she's wearing her now-grey RFD shirt, the taller woman hasn't had the opportunity to sleep in to the degree that Pen has.

She's also toting one of those insulated grocery bags. Freya lifts it in a vague gesture as she moves towards the fridge. "Wish I could've brought more, but I'm a little low on funds. Unexpected expenses and all that."

[mincingminuet]

(Insert Statler and Waldorf laugh here)

Looking up from her work, Pen sets aside the knife and stick and hops up.  The bucket of wood shavings gets pushed out onto the deck and into the (thankfully) warm night, and she's already heading to take the bag and play host.

"No worries, I bought more than either of us can possibly drink and I have the Chinese place down the street on speed dial if you haven't eaten yet.  Looks like you just came from work?"

The weariness and comment about money are both things she debates asking about, but decides to hold off till they've actually gotten settled.

"I can cover tonight, no big deal. Just tell me what you want."

[belligerentwarrior]

The bag doesn't clink when Pen takes it. A peek inside reveals that it's not booze, but a carton of ice cream. Rocky road!

"Mhmm. I ate a little while ago, but thanks." Freya stretches her arms and her back before continuing. "Alright, let's see it. What've you got?"

[mincingminuet]

Grinning, Pen pulls it out and drops the container into the freezer to get colder, let them get further into the drinking before they break that out.

"Well," she whisks over to a cabinet, opening it up to reveal more than a couple of bottles.  "I've got some wine in the fridge.  Just a red, use it for dinner.  I've got all the stuff to make a few more old school mixes like a Manhattan, some Fireball cooling in the freezer since I just bought that, and bourbon.  Also, Jack and Jim, and a little bit of the Captain left."

Meaning of course Jack Daniels and Jim Beam, as well as Captain Morgan.  The three college staples.

"And Coke as a mixer.  Ever had Fireball in that?"

[belligerentwarrior]

Freya she chuckles quietly and trudges after her more energetic friend, hands idly resting on her hips. As Pen opens the cabinet, an eyebrow shoots up and she mutters an Impressive.

"Nope, just straight. With Coke sounds like a great place to start." And to possibly keep going with. She circles back over to the couch, all too happy to sit, and eyes her friend's whittling project with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

"What's all this for?

[mincingminuet]

Well she's in college, and she has a roommate. This is how these things go. So, the Fireball comes out first, along with a couple of cokes and and decent sized cups no less. Looking over her shoulder as she pours, she laughs.

"Nerd stuff. A costume for Seto's convention. I'm going as a witch character from an old anime and it's been a while since I whittled anything, so I figured I'd make her staff."

Not that she really expects Freya to know Enrage (Berserk) or anything about anime at all, honestly.

[belligerentwarrior]

A reasonable—and accurate—expectation. She knows what it is and has seen a couple episodes on tv before, but Freya couldn't even name what she's seen. "Right, I think I remember something about a convention."

It takes her a while to unlace her boots enough to kick them off. She sinks back into the couch, closing her eyes for the moment. "Always heard of people dressin' up for those things. I think Minako's doin' it, too. Don't really get it."

[mincingminuet]

"Yeah. I'm going as press. I've done a lot of reviews for Seto's games, and he's a pretty okay dude all in all."

That's actually pretty high praise for him frankly. He's entirely too serious.

Sweeping into the living room she offers up a cup that's mostly coke, admittedly. She believes in starting slow for things like this. No reason to rush it.

"And yeah she is. Different show, more...cute and happy, lots of magical creatures and bubbles and such. Mine's a bit more violent, but the outfit is cool without being too outlandish. To me, it's just an excuse to make something. To some people though, it's a big time hobby and they put a lotta time into it."

[belligerentwarrior]

Proportions Freya will be a bit disappointed with, but she'll voice no complaint. She didn't buy it, after all. The taller woman opens her eyes again as she hears Pen approach, taking the glass.

"Cheers. Here's to surviving an attempted horror movie, yeah?"

[mincingminuet]

Well there's always more. Pen flops down next to her and raises her cup in agreement.

"Cheers indeed. We survived despite the odds. Damn cold last night but tonight's perfect."

[belligerentwarrior]

Freya knocks her cup against Pen's gently and with a dry hum. "And to enjoy it, we holed ourselves up inside."

There's humor to the remark, not criticism. Freya had just agreed to it at the time, but now that she's just sitting here, with company and he intention to get some degree of drunk... it was exactly what she needed after these long days. Freya hasn't felt this relaxed in a while. Perfect enough.

She downs a sizeable portion of her cup and tilts her head back against the couch again.

[mincingminuet]

With a clink, Pen does the same, taking a large gulp and sighing softly as the cold liquid conflicts with the burn of the alcohol. The cinnamon makes it sweeter, more poppy, and it hits the spot indeed.

"I can open the sliding door, let the air flow if you'd prefer," she muses, jabbing at the door with her toe.

[belligerentwarrior]

"It's not that important. There'll be more perfect nights down the road, but if you feel like getting up, I won't stop you."

[mincingminuet]

"Nah."

Another long sip of the drink and she leaned a little to one side, head brushing Freya's arm.

"Don't really feel up to it. Honestly haven't wanted to move all day, after last night."

[belligerentwarrior]

Freya shifted her drink to the other hand without thinking and slipped an arm around Pen at the touch.

"I hear you on that. Almost didn't go to work today. We knew goin' in that probably wouldn't be like any other hike, but I didn't expect that."

Sorey's behavior after nightfall was more exhausting than staying up, really. Freya wasn't sure if she was relieved or distressed that the strange things of the forest affected everyone else more than her. "It wasn't easy watching Sorey go crazy like that," she murmured after a pause.

[mincingminuet]

Equally without thinking about it, Pen slipped just a little bit closer to make it easier. Something about being hugged like this by someone bigger than her was nice, and she had to admit that it was Freya didn't hurt either.

Her eyes flicker towards the deck door and the gathering darkness outside, an involuntary shiver running down her spine.

"It wasn't. I...guess it's probably a good thing I can't talk to ghosts. Dunno if I could've kept it together even half that well. Least he stayed cogent. Can't say I'd have been the same. I'm not even sure other-me would be either."

At least, she thinks that's the case anyway.

[belligerentwarrior]

Freya hugs her friend a little closer when she shivers, like she was determined to shield them from the ghosts they could neither see nor hear.

"You're right; you don't know that. Maybe it would've been easier on the poor guy if someone else could see them, too. Maybe you're more resilient under pressure than you think." Freya pauses for another gulp of her drink. "Maybe you'd end up off your rocker. Not much use in sweatin' the maybes."

She frowns down into her glass, swirling the remains. "Not like we know anything solid, though..."

[mincingminuet]

That was a comfort, and Pen sips at her drink again while she settle against the crook of Freya's arm, warm and snug and feeling more than a little safe.

"You're right. No point in worrying about what might be and lose sight of what is. And we made it through, we're both fine, that kid's fine, Leo and everyone else is fine."

Tilting her head to look up at her friend, she can't help but ask...

"What happened in your vision, Freya? I'll...tell you mine if you tell me yours."

[belligerentwarrior]

There it was. It's why they're here, she knew, but Freya was perfectly content to not talk about it and just unwind in her friend's comforting presence. It's been getting better. Two days later and the unwelcome emotions were already easier to handle—she thinks, at least. Maybe Freya's simply been too tired to get caught up with them today.

So close, Pen would easily be able to feel her tense, and the taller woman looks away, silent for a moment before finishing off the rest of her glass. Something odd—frustration, maybe?—crosses Freya's expression before she suddenly relaxes, almost as if surrendering, head falling back against the couch.

She didn't want to talk about it. Talking wouldn't change anything. But she said she would. "...A lot happened. Do you remember that thing I told you about? The night we first met the Alraune?" Her gaze doesn't move from the ceiling.

[mincingminuet]

Pen does notice the tension and downs the rest of her drink, shifting against Freya to look more directly at her. It's bad, and if that freak out was any indication it could be a whole lot worse. Monsters in the sky...

"Yeah, only time I've ever seen you look afraid. Is it more of that thing?"

Whatever it was, it sounded horrifying.

[belligerentwarrior]

She hums an affirmative somewhat absently. "I kinda miss bein' scared of it. That was easier."

Freya sighs before she continues. "It was right where the last one left off. It just tore up everything like it didn't notice a thing, flingin' rock into the air and buildings coming down. Everyone was gone. It was a right massacre."

And then that rage is back before she can stop it, her grip on her glass turning white-knuckled and a bitter edge creeping into her voice. "And for what, so it could scoop up handfuls of land and fly right back where it came from? Like none of it mattered?" Freya's grip relaxes again, but the bitterness remains in her voice.

"I don't just see it. I feel everything. It's got jack to do with me, but I've had all her hatred sitting in my chest for the last two days, like it was my parents that were killed out there. It's..." Her voice turns quiet. "My head's been real messed up. Ended up breaking my phone, a window, and screamin' at Lucy the day before the trip. Spent all night replacing the window before the landlord could notice."

[mincingminuet]

That gets Penelope's attention and she sits up a little straighter, setting her glass down and putting a fist on her friend's thigh.  Just a bump, a "hey I'm here".  That all sounded very confusing.  Very...Godzilla-like in a way, and something about it set her teeth on grinding.  Like this was the kind of thing her other self might go fight, just because. 

"Sounds like...that...whatever it was...really messed up that other Freya's life.  I admit I have no idea what to make of that, but fuck.  I'm sorry.  I've...not had anything like that happen but jesus.  I can see why you'd be upset, both with that thing, and with what's happening."

shaking her head, she sighs.

"You want another drink?  I know I do."

[belligerentwarrior]

Her hand pats Pen's fist in acknowledgement and appreciation. "Wish I handled it better. Lucy didn't deserve that."

She offers up her cup. "Thanks. I'm going to need at least two more of those before the night's through."

[mincingminuet]

"Good thing I have 24 cokes, then"

Pen hops up slowly and refills the glasses, this time with more alcohol and less soda. Start slow, build up. Sipping her own as she returns to her seat, she'll just pass that right on over.

"So you busted a window. Did anything else happen?"

[belligerentwarrior]

Freya takes the glass again with a murmur of thanks, her arm hugging Pen to her side again. She'd always been a physically affectionate person, and the proximity was comforting.

"Uh-uh; your turn. I'm not ready for that one." Another drink, this one far more moderate than her last few.