recolle | [Closed] At the end of it all...

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[Closed] At the end of it all...

WHO: Penelopes and Freya
WHERE: Penelope's apartment
WHEN: Post Event
WHAT: A reunion, dinner, comparing notes from the last three weeks and other things
WARNINGS: Language, likely mention of violence, death, body horror, and other unpleasant topics.

The battle had left Penelope drained in a way that only a fight could, even more than three weeks of near constant anxiety and terror. When Retrospec's announcement had gone up and everything returned to normal, it'd all come crashing down at once and as loathe as she was to suggest splitting up...it had to happen for a time. Freya needed to get clothes and stuff from home, and probably needed to follow up with Minako, and Pen desperately needed not only a shower but also to calm the damn cat down.

And put in the order for food. Food was required. And not just any food. The best damn stuff she could get off Grubhub on short notice. So, she'd lent her girlfriend the car and set about these tasks, waiting for Freya's return. The delivery came quickly enough, and she'd stuck it in the oven to keep it warm. Steaks, potatoes, greens, a jug of water and a nice bottle of red wine Yuff had left before she'd frittered off for the weekend like nothing weird had happened. At least they'd not have to deal with that particular distraction.

Glancing up at the clock from her perch on the seat nearest the door, Pen rocks back and forth, an uncomfortable knot forming in her stomach. It'd only been a day. Plenty of time for reality to shift again. She hopes that's just anxiety talking, and she wants to hope that she'll hear the keys turning in the lock soon...but can she really expect it?

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"With people in it, yeah?"

She's going somewhere with this. It's important.

"And not just the usual strangers in a crowd or people you knew?"

"Yeah, the weird dreams about people had people in them," she responds dryly, but not unkindly. "Fair lot of 'em were strangers."

Dry look meet puffy cheeks.

"Don't be like that. You know what I mean. I saw...hell, people just getting onto the app. Including my roommate, and my cousin."

"Right. Remember thinkin' the same thing. None of it felt right."

Freya frowns briefly. "But your roommate is still out of town, isn't she?"

"Yuffie's been by. I think she's already headed back out though. So, she may have the app when she gets back."

Which means that they do still have the place nominally to themselves. Save the cat and the armada.

"Wonder if it was some sorta preview."

"Like some kinda beta test, to see who reacts how they want 'em?"

Freya shrugs. "Doesn't sound crazy. Don't know if I want these people dragged into this right mess or not."

"Agreed. I mean, Yuff and Felicia on it would make my life easier. But Orihime? My cousin doesn't deserve this."

She just needs to rub free and be Hime.

Freya sets her fork down, leaning back in her chair. She's hardly a third through her steak and hasn't even started on the potatoes, but she's already full. Real meals would be something she'll have to work back up to.

She tilts her head curiously at Pen. "Felicia, huh? You know her?" She must, by the 'make my life easier' bit.

Pen tilts her head to one side in the opposite direction, smiling a little sheepishly.

"Uh. Yeah. Actually...she was my first real girlfriend," she says sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. "We started talking again a couple of months ago."

Not that she thinks there's anything wrong with that, but she feels compelled to add:

"Just getting together every now and again for coffee and tea. Y'know, friend stuff."

Freya arches an eyebrow, but the corner of her mouth quirks up slightly with it.

"You and the PT. Thought you said I wasn't your normal type." She runs her thumb along Pen's hand again. "You know I trust you. Don't sweat it."

Hell, she was okay with Pen sitting on other people's laps and kissing them at parties. She didn't see a reason to be alarmed.

Pen laughs lightly and pulls Freya's hand up, kissing the back of it over one of the bite marks.

"I know you do. Just felt right, making sure you were aware. Hah...and she wasn't quite like she is now back then. I mean, she certainly was fit but not a gym rat like you."

Looking a little wistful, she gives her head a shake. Felicia was all kinds of charming even now.

"And she's such a dork. In the best way."

Edited 2017-08-27 17:50 (UTC)

"Mm. Seems kinda like it. Don't know her all that well." Freya lightly squeezes Pen's fingers.

"Wouldn't wish that hell app on her. Or anyone, really, but I guess they deserve to know."

"She's good people. I hope you'll get the chance to know her better. She's...important to me."

For being so understanding. About everything.

"Honestly, I think having her knowing will be better. She's tougher than she looks. Better her than some kid, if more crazy shit goes down. And Yuffie too. Who...you are definitely going to have to meet at some point."

"Oh, I'm sure I will. Bet I'll be seein' a lot of her, unless she stays out in the city as much as she does on the road."

Freya finally reaches for the wine, pouring herself a glass. She's quiet a moment, watching the red liquid. Speaking of crazy shit...

"You okay? You sounded pretty awful in those labs."

Penelope is quiet a moment, sipping more of her own wine as she thinks over that question. Is she okay? Really okay? In the end, are any of them?

It's not the answer she gives though.

"I'm...okay ish. A little freaked out, but I'm out of there now. That place wasn't real. Never was. So...yeah."

She takes another long pull on the water, to balance the wine.

"I remembered other me, going into a lab like that. She was there to find something. And put a stop to it. If she can be okay with it, I can too."

"Even if those places were fake, the experiences weren't." The bites and bruises over marring Freya's body was proof enough, among... other things. "But if you're ready to move past that, I won't drag you back to it."

Those messages, coupled with the portraits of the lab, concerned Freya. With the glimpses she saw, Pen's words, the fear in her voice, and Lucy's alarming text (it's not safe here, the ass), it's not difficult to imagine what the rest of the place was like. But... if Pen was processing it just fine, Freya wouldn't dig up those gruesome memories. Not as long as her partner actually seemed she was okay.

Freya lifts her glass, taking a sizable gulp of the wine.

"I'll be okay," Pen says again, kissing the back of Freya's hand one more time. "I've been through worse."

She would be. She had to be, now that she was home, more or less whole. There wasn't much of a reason to dwell on it, but she did feel like Freya was a little more uneasy than normal. Or at least was concerned, and admittedly she had plenty of reason. Pen hadn't exactly been in the best of mindsets during all of that.

"I was pretty freaked out. I still am, but it's in the past, y'know? Having you here with me helps, a lot."

Looking up at her, she puts on a less strained smile, full of quiet admiration and genuine gratitude. There was no trepidation in that.

"Knowing that when I got back I'd have you to support me helped me get through this. I'll be okay, I promise. But if...you don't mind, would you mind staying with me a few nights? Until Yuffie gets back, at least? Or let me stay with you?"

Edited 2017-08-27 20:44 (UTC)

That smile softens something Freya's tired features. The way that Pen sometimes looked at her, with that kind of sincerity, always did melt something in Freya, made her feel warm. It made her feel like everything she did was good enough, and at the same time, spurred her to be better.

"Always. Was gonna ask the same thing, really. Figured it'd be good for me to stay here a couple days."

Freya didn't know if she could handle being so close to Minako, listening to her crying, or worse, the abnormal, deathly silence that was for sure to reign for a while. Or laying there at night, imagining her grief.

And she missed Pen, and her warmth and her presence and her voice. It all seemed easier around her. She's spent too much time not being there for her partner, regardless of circumstance, and it wouldn't be right to leave her alone now.

"As long as you need," Pen answers with a bright nod.

That made it easier, not having to wheedle or make too much of a fuss about it. She really didn't handle being alone too well, and knew that having someone here would be all but required for her to sleep at all. Freya...well, that it was her? Made it all the easier. It was always lighter, around Freya. She knew she could trust her, knew she wouldn't just up and leave for no reason, and she knew implicitly that the taller woman wanted to be around her, didn't see her as a burden.

"Thanks, babe."

She pauses a moment, the warmth fading a little, shifting into concern. Just a little change, but leaving it unsaid wasn't right either.

"How about you, Freya? Are you going to be okay? With..." she trails off, not wanting to say it, feeling like Freya would know what she meant. "Because if you need someone to talk to, I'm here for you."

There were little subtleties about that questions Freya appreciated. Asking her if she would be okay, since she obviously wasn't. Dimly, Freya remembered something from her classes, and wouldn't be surprised if she was suffering from a degree or two of psychological shock.

"Thanks, pretty girl." She starts stroking Penelope's hand again, and this time kept that little soothing motion going. "I'll pull through this, don't you worry. It might take some time to get my head on straight again, but I will."

Somehow. Freya didn't know what she was supposed to do to accomplish that. She had no personal experience with death of any sort. Time, she supposed, was probably the biggest factor. Maybe she'd ask Pen about it, later, after they've both had time to recover from their ordeals.

Pen returns the gesture, thumb making a slow rolling motion over the hand she held. She didn't like it, but grief? That was processed differently by everyone, and all she could do was be there.

"I know you will. Just...remember I'm with you, every step of the way. We're a team, you and I."

But for now, that was something to brush off, set aside. Rising a little from her chair, she kissed Freya's cheek, tongue licking off a little bit of sauce as she pulled back.

"You made a mess, you know. Eating so fast."

Freya smiles, or as much as she has this evening. It's somewhat duller than compared to normal, but for understandable reasons. "Didn't think you'd notice, bein' such a mess myself."

She tugs lightly on Pen's hand, urging her closer.

Chuckling, she edges closer, scooting the chair with the hook of her leg. She hardly needs urging, with that smile.

"As if I'd be looking at anything but you after the last few weeks. Even messy, you're still gorgeous."

She takes a moment to drain the rest of glass.

"So, what you're saying..." Freya rotates her chair to face Pen, the corner of her mouth quirking up slightly. "Is that I'm a hot mess."

Pen's glass is halfway to her mouth when Freya starts to turn, and it's at her lips when Freya speaks...and in true fashion, she snorts and very nearly spit-takes whine at the joke.

Coughing, she manages to splutter it into the cup and just starts laughing.

"Oh...my god!" Setting the cup down, she just keeps on shaking with laughter, leaning over to bump foreheads with Freya. "Yes! That's exactly what I'm saying!"

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