slide tackling my mind (OTA)

[armd]

Who: Abby and YOU
What: October catch-all
When: Throughout the month
Where: All about

Content Warnings: Mentions of previous murder, and grief/loss that accompanies that


𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐎𝐓𝐀

(abby isn't interested in painting her face. she doesn't want to wear a strange costume, either. she wants to join in on the festivities without having to indulge in any of the dress-up element, it's not her style. unfortunately, it's tough to get very far without getting hassled into some form of compliance; for her safety (not that the trenchers seem to care of acknowledge that she can look after herself well enough).

eventually, abby submits. she wants to eat the food.

don't be too startled when somebody wearing a bulky gas-mask suddenly reaches over your shoulder for a tin-foil parcel of roasted pumpkin seeds. in order to eat she has to push the mask up onto her forehead, exposing her unmarked face.)

Sorry. (she doesn't sound it!) Didn't mean to scare you.

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫? 𝐢 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐎𝐓𝐀

(most people are probably thankful for their gifted photographs, but abby can barely look at hers, an uncommon reaction she can't help. last month- the ravens, all of those perfectly recreated corpses piled high- this month, and the photograph in her hand, tacky with age. dead loved ones smiling up at her, frozen in time.

she's sick of this place reaching into her brain and taking out what's there as if it has the right. sick of how trench airs her dirty laundry out for everybody to see and peruse through at their leisure, for making her relive moments she's not ready to come back to yet. it forces her hand. every single fucking time.

she tears the photograph up in a surge of fury-

-and abruptly regrets it, especially when the weather kicks up and catches a few pieces, lifting them out of her angry hands to scatter in the wind.)

Fuck! Wait–

𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬, 𝐎𝐓𝐀

(out at the edge of the pier the ocean breeze filters the worst of the dead-fish stink that darcmouth has to offer, and abby can be found here on an off day or two. nobody frequents it save for people who are there to trade, and she likes to sit and watch shipments roll in on the waves. sailors bring in all sorts of cargo: fish, mostly, but other things that are dried and salted too, and colourful fabrics, box-loads of patterns so vibrant they make her scoff with laughter to see them.

the boats are of interest too. turns out you can build ships here if you have the money and the time and the resources. abby has none of those things, but she still hangs around near the lucky few carving their own way, staring (enviously?) from the sidelines. for people like her, there are boats to rent, little two seaters, most of them smaller than owen's sailboat but still tempting.

it wouldn't be like california in the summer-time; the curving coast of santa barbara, not when the weather out here is always so goddamn terrible. but a girl can dream, right. and a girl can harmlessly price-check if she's thinking of indulging in what could be a future fun day trip.)

𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐭

(hit me up at blisters for a starter all your own if you would like one!)

Comments

[jedies]

I should be more vigilant. I'm not sure if it's a good idea.

[armd]

You can be vigilant and walk at the same time.

C'mon. Don't be a stick in the mud

[jedies]

. . . All right. I'll join you.

[armd]

Okay.

I'm in Ache. Where are you, we can meet half-way

[jedies]

I'm at Cassandra.

> action

[armd]

There a lamp nearby?
Meet me at willful machine ok

(willful machine is what's halfway when abby cuts the distance diagonally, and perhaps the best place to talk a walk when there's something on your mind. there's so much to look at out there, it's always busy. full of colour, and sight, and sound. obi-wan might beat her there: the nearest lamp is out at the waystation and she has to walk to that, but it doesn't take her long. she arrives in the middle of the docks, slightly dizzy from the sudden shift.

at least she doesn't throw up this time? baby's first teleportation wasn't so great.)

[jedies]

[ obi-wan arrives shortly, his hood pulled over his head and cloak tight across him, arms folded. it's hard to tell if he looks off or not, but he's certainly extremely pensive and quiet when he arrives. ]

[armd]

(sir, simply put: the vibe is off.)

Hey. (hello under there... abby says it with a grin, but her brow is furrowed in concern.) Are you that worried somebody might see you out here?

[jedies]

[ obi-wan gives an answering, wry smile. ]

I'm not looking my best at the moment.

[armd]

You don't have to look your best around me, (abby supplies, shrugging,) I don't care.

C'mon.

(she'll lead him out around the crowds, because that seems like too much excitement for right now, and out toward the direction of the stables, her pace steady.)

[jedies]

[ he slides in easily, step by step with her, his gaze pensive. it's as if he's looking at nothing and something at the same time, the way he shifts and moves. ]

Where to?

[armd]

Dunno.

That way.

(she points out ahead of them, making a vague gesture with her hand.) We're just walking. (not that deep.)

Means you can stop any time you want.

[jedies]

I think I'm quite ready to walk off the edge.

[ ha ha ha . . . so funny . . . ]

[armd]

(so dramatic...)

We're not gonna do that.

(softer,) It's going to be okay. We'll figure something out. We'll get him back.

[jedies]

Even if we do, it seems I am the root cause of it.

And I have no idea what I have done.

[armd]

I suppose he won't tell you if you ask him nicely either, huh.

[jedies]

[ a dry chuckle. ]

You say that as if it's not the first thing I tried.

[armd]

He might just need time. (lev did, when they fought back in deerington. time and space before he could come back and tell her how he felt.)

I know it's hard to wait.

[jedies]

[ he sighs. ]

I can afford time at least.

[armd]

He knows that you care about him. (kinda impossible not to know.) He'll come back.

[jedies]

[ obi-wan thought so. hoped so. now he's not so sure. ]

I suppose I'm just not as certain.

[armd]

How come?

What happened?

[jedies]

[ where to even begin? the fact that it targets obi-wan's great insecurities of failure, of failing as a teacher. for not giving his student adequate care and love. it's something that stays with you, especially when it's a child you've raised yourself. ]

I — It leaves room for doubt. To look at my mistakes.

[armd]

(he really doesn't want to talk about what happened, huh. it's the second time abby has tried asking. second time he's dodged it; fine, she'll take the hint.)

Well, you're being pretty grown-up about it. (her fight with lev comes to mind. how she holed up, and ignored her feelings entirely for a day or so, brooding in her house.) D'you think he's going to be a danger to anybody?

(since he told her to stay away...)

[jedies]

[ obi-wan struggles to put his own feelings in the forefront. even now, he fears the burden they may be. ]

I think . . . it is very possible he might be.